The coachman leaves and I stand dumbfounded. This is not a mere castle, it’s a fudging fortress. I noticed it as we passed the main gates to the castle, but what looked like fences were very tall walls. Should I be worried? Only a mage can create such a high-level illusion that requires a lot of mana to pull off something like it.

As I contemplating my life because of the cold, a tall well-clad man walks towards me from inside the castle. As he got closer to me I recognized the golden blond hair. It was the same man from the pastry shop!

“It’s you!“ I blurted without thinking and the man chuckled.

“It’s a pleasant surprise indeed,” he says as he stands in front of me. “I didn’t expect our guest would be the lovely lady I bumped into at the pastier“

My cheeks burn up but I have to get myself together. It was the same gentleman from the shop and I somehow felt like there was an ally within the castle, even though he was a total stranger to me. He seemed approachable.

“But, what are you doing here, sir?“ I ask him.

“I’m Count Lucius Tempest and I’m his lord’s confidant. I’ve been tasked to welcome you and escort you around the castle.“

Kill me now. Do you think he will kill me for having bumped into his confidant? I could get beheaded. I’m too young to die so soon!!

“You okay miss?“

I snap back and smile, “I’m alright My Lord“

“Now if you will follow me…?“

“Lily“

I follow Count Lucius as he shows me around the castle. Before we started he asked if I had a recommendation letter on me and I showed him the black envelope and he seemed static.

He showed me the main areas the Marquess would go to or be at, such as the dining room, the training grounds, the portrait room, the drawing-room, and the conference hall. These places were important and he advised me to get used to each route to make protection easier.

At the end of it, we stood by a large door which Count Lucius said was the Marquesses office. He gently knocks on the wooden door and an authoritative enter can be heard from the other side. The count opens the door and leads me inside.

I follow and the office feels cold instantly. The color scheme was dark with dark blue and black hues decorating the walls and curtains. At the far end of the room was a large office desk with documents pilling and overflowing. In the middle of the office was a space with two small dark blue sofas and a black rectangular coffee table.

By the bookshelf to the left stood a tall man in a black robe, and the man’s long silver hair was braided. After taking the book he was looking for, he turned around and he wore a black mask which covered his eyes.