Koa glanced at Neri, who gave him a subtle nod. With surprising ease, Koa overpowered Nathan, covering his mouth with a finger.

“Do you think he woke anyone?” Koa whispered.

Neri sighed. “Nathan, we’ll let you go, but you have to promise not to yell again, okay?”

Nathan’s teary eyes met hers. “Okay. Release him.”

Koa released Nathan, who fell to the floor with a grunt. Neri shot Koa a warning glare. He raised his hands in surrender. “I swear, that was an accident.”

Nathan rubbed his arm and looked at Neri with wide eyes. “Who is this?”

“This is my friend. We were both kidnapped—except he knew it from the start, and I only barely found out after being rescued.”

Nathan eyed Koa warily. “How’d he get in?”

Before Koa could answer, Neri said, “I snuck him into the carriage before we left.”

Nathan stood and dusted himself off. “Neri, you should be careful. What if he was a bad person?”

Koa chuckled. “You wouldn’t be alive right now if I was.”

Nathan gave Koa a sharp look but hid behind Neri.

Koa was two years older than them, noticeably taller.

“Koa, stop trying to scare him,” Neri said with a small smile. “Nathan, want to hear a secret?”

Nathan nodded eagerly.

“Koa is a martial artist and a skilled swordsman.”

Nathan’s eyes widened. “Wow! A martial artist? I’ve never seen one before!”

Neri signaled to Koa, who stepped out onto the balcony. With a swift leap, he launched himself into the air, using light footwork — Qinggong — to silently land on the ground and then spring back to the second-floor balcony. Spinning mid-air, he landed with a graceful bow.

Nathan bounced up and down with excitement. “That was awesome!”

Neri squeezed her brother’s hand. “Nathan, can you keep Koa a secret? I’ll introduce him to everyone later, but for now, you have to pretend you never saw him.”

Nathan tilted his head in curiosity. “Why not just introduce him now?”

“Because he’s on a secret mission. For now, he can be our secret friend.”

Nathan’s grin lit up the room. “Sounds cool! Okay, from now on, you’re our secret friend!”

Suddenly, Neri tensed. Someone was approaching. She glanced at Koa, but he was already gone.

Her heart quickened. The presence outside radiated a dangerous, murderous aura — the same she’d felt at the training grounds. The figure lingered near the door for several minutes, then finally walked away.

Nathan tapped her shoulder. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding his mouth shut.

She released him, whispering, “What’s wrong, Neri?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go to sleep.”

“Neri?”

“Yes, Nathan?”

“When will Koa come back?”

“Maybe after winter. It’ll be too dangerous for him to come every day.”

Neri looked at Nathan sleeping soundly beside her and chuckled softly. “Sweet dreams, Nathan.”

Two weeks had passed since she reunited with her family. Neri was still adjusting to their love and care. She was used to relying only on herself. The only people who had truly worried about her before were Koa—and maybe her apprentice.

Now, she had a mother, a father, and three amazing brothers. Nathan said she had three other brothers, but apparently, he counted himself as the third.

The sound of footsteps outside her room woke her. Trained to recognize familiar steps, she listened carefully: Joel, her parents, two older brothers, and... someone else. Impossible. That person hadn’t been there when she was kidnapped. How could they be here now?

She pretended to sleep.

The door creaked open. They all walked in.

“Happy birthday, Nerissa and Nathan!” her mother exclaimed.

Nathan sat up. “It’s morning already?”

Neri sat up too. “It’s our birthday?”

Her father smiled and sat beside her bed. “That’s right. You and Nathan are officially 13 years old.”

Neri glanced behind her family. “Are those the maids Mother talked about yesterday?”

Her mother clapped excitedly. “Yes! Neri, choose one to be your personal maid.”

Her maid? Neri felt a mix of excitement and pressure. Choosing poorly could be a burden.

“Please, introduce yourselves.”

One by one, the maids stepped forward. The last one knelt before Neri and said, “Greetings, Princess Nerissa. It would be an honor to serve you.”

Neri extended her hand. The maid took it, placing her right hand over her heart, then gently taking Nerissa’s hand and touching it to her forehead, symbolizing that her loyalty is heartfelt and will be kept close to her mind.

This was a silent gesture of oath made by the guild.

“That’s... an odd way to greet a young lady,” her mother murmured suspiciously.

Neri interrupted quickly, “I choose her.”

Her mother’s eyes widened. “Neri, she wasn’t supposed to offer her service. She’s still young, new, and unfinished in her training.”

Neri’s eyes sparkled. “Mommy, can I train her? Then she’ll know everything I like. After all, she’ll be my maid.”

Her mother sighed but couldn’t resist Neri’s charm. “Very well. Choose as you please.”

Neri squealed and hugged her mother. “Wonderful! Thank you, Mother!”

Her mother carried her out, glancing sharply at the maid. “Your first assignment: get Nerissa ready and take her to the globe garden. And remember, if you fail, you’ll be dismissed from this mansion immediately.”

The door closed, leaving Neri and the maid alone.

The air instantly cooled, and the maid could sense the ominous aura projecting from this child.

The maid dropped to her knees. “Forgive me, Master.”

Neri walked to the balcony and gazed out into the morning light. “Did you know today is my birthday... Did you, Enya?”

Enya looked up at her young master. For the first time, she saw a flicker of emotion behind Neri’s usual calm, mature facade.

The pause in Neri’s voice sent a chill down Enya’s spine.

“I did not,” Enya said quietly.

Neri’s gaze hardened. “You may rise.”

Enya stood, head lowered.

“What brings you here, Enya? After my disappearance, I thought you’d be more than eager to try and take my place.”

Enya knelt again. “I wouldn’t dare defy my master.”

Neri’s calm eyes pierced through her.

“So tell me, how did you get in?”

“It was your teacher. He put me on the list of hired maids.”

When Neri was first named heir a year ago, Enya was furious. But after challenging Neri, she saw her intelligence and cunning. The position as heir was made for Neri alone.

Enya carried out her mission without emotion, as if she had nothing to lose.

“Neri, I chose you not because my teacher recommended you, but because I trust you’ll do your job well. Don’t disappoint me.”

“I won’t. I’ll begin now, my lady.”