Liana knew Javier could defend himself. Just days ago, he had effortlessly dealt with a skilled assassin group sent to eliminate Lord Garius''s family. He hadn''t just defeated them—he toyed with them, dismantling their formation and striking fear into their hearts before finishing them off mercilessly.


    Still, leaving him unsupervised often led to mischief, so as she hurried toward the manor, she hoped he wouldn''t cause too much chaos in her absence.


    As Liana reached the grand halls of the Armand estate, she spotted Mrs. Errte, the head of the personal maids and leader among the household staff. The woman carried herself with the stern grace of someone who had served the family for decades, her sharp eyes immediately catching Liana''s approach.


    "Liana?" Mrs. Errte asked, pausing her task.


    Liana bowed politely, her movements crisp and respectful. "Mrs. Errte, I have something urgent to report."


    Before Mrs. Errte could respond, the imposing figure of Mr. Alf, the butler, emerged from a side corridor. His presence wasmanding, his silver hair neatlybed and his expression unreadable.


    "Liana," Mr. Alf began, his deep voice carrying authority. "Isn''t your duty to attend to young master Javier? Why have you left his side?"


    Liana straightened, her tone unwavering. "Yes, it is my duty, Mr. Alf, but this matter requires immediate attention. It concerns the estate''s security and the safety of the household."


    Both Mr. Alf and Mrs. Errte exchanged a nce, their expressions hardening. They could tell from Liana''s demeanor that she wasn''t exaggerating.


    "Speak, then," Mrs. Errte urged, folding her arms. Your journey continues with empire


    Liana nodded and exined everything, her words precise and measured. "A group of nobles from the Klimbert household, led by their youngdy, entered the estate unsupervised. They harassed young master Javier, mistaking him for amoner. When he dismissed them, one of their guards attempted to strike him down. This happened within the pekko pen, with no guards present to patrol the area."@@novelbin@@


    Mr. Alf''s eyes narrowed. "No guards? Are you certain?"


    "Absolutely," Liana confirmed. "I''ve observed no patrols near the outer sections and around the estate all morning. This negligence allowed the Klimberts'' people to wander freely."


    Mrs. Errte''s lips thinned in disapproval. "This is uneptable. The security of this estate is paramount, especially with the recent assassination attempts."


    "Indeed," Mr. Alf agreed, his tone grave. "Viscount Garius entrusted us to ensure the safety of this household. Allowing outsiders to act with such impudence is a failure on our part."


    "Just because there''s a grand party tomorrow evening, and most noble houses are attending to congratte our lord on his promotion to Count, how dare these guards neglect their duty!" Mr. Alf''s voice was sharp, his usuallyposed demeanor cracking with fury. His clenched fists and icy tone revealed the depth of his frustration.


    Mrs. Errte adjusted her posture, her stern gaze turning sharper. "Indeed. Theircency is inexcusable. The safety of this household should never bepromised, no matter the asion."


    Liana, standing firm, added, "The Klimbert household''s arrogance andck of respect are equally troubling. They acted as if the Armand estate was their own territory, threatening the young master without hesitation. Their guard even attempted to harm him within our own grounds."


    Mr. Alf''s expression darkened further. "The Klimberts have always been envious of our lord''s progress. To act so brazenly during a time of celebration… it''s not just arrogance—it''s provocation. A reminder of their past animosity."


    Mrs. Errte nodded solemnly. "We must ensure this doesn''t escte. Viscount Klimbert has been quiet for years, but this incident could signify deeper motives. However, the immediate concern is the negligence of our own guards."


    "This party must proceed without a single w," Mr. Alf dered. "But the Klimberts will not leave this estate without understanding the consequences of their actions."


    "Agreed," Mrs. Errte said firmly. "This is the Armand household. Disrespect will not be tolerated."


    Lord Garius appeared from the shadows of the corridor, his presencemanding and stern. Behind him trailed a group of personal maids, their expressions alert and focused.


    "Hmm? Errte? Alf? What''s wrong?" Garius''s sharp tone cut through the tension.


    Errte and Alf exchanged nces before stepping forward. "My lord," Errte began, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "There has been an incident involving the Klimbert household''s entourage. They disrespected the young master and even attempted to harm him. Liana intervened, but theck of patrolling guards within the estate is concerning."


    Garius''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "The Klimberts..." He mulled over the name, his voiceced with disdain. "Their audacity knows no bounds. And our guards? cking during a time like this?"


    Alf bowed slightly. "Yes, my lord. I take full responsibility for this failure. I''ve already instructed for their negligence to be addressed immediately."


    Garius''s gaze shifted to Liana, who stood resolute amidst the tension. "Liana," he called, his deep voice tinged with authority.


    "Yes, my lord?" Liana responded promptly.


    "Who is protecting your young master right now?"


    "Buddy and Pikko, my lord," she answered without hesitation.


    A faint smile tugged at Garius''s lips. "Hmm, those two are strong monster-type birds. Good. But Liana…"


    "Yes, my lord?"


    Garius''s eyes bore into hers, sharp and unwavering. "Go directly to him. Ensure his safety. Use any means necessary if the situation esctes further."


    "Understood, my lord." Liana bowed deeply before swiftly exiting the room, her movements purposeful and precise.


    Garius then turned to Alf and Errte. "Alf, Errte."


    "Yes, my lord?" they responded in unison.


    "Summon Hesbeirn immediately. He will handle the dismissal of all negligent guards. Inform him to rece every single one of them, except for those who are actively guarding the manor and those proven to be doing their jobs properly."


    "It will be done at once, my lord," Alf replied with a firm nod.


    Garius''s expression remained cold, his sharp eyes gleaming with determination. "No onepromises the safety and dignity of this household. The Klimberts will learn their ce soon enough."


    Errte bowed. "We will ensure that, my lord."


    Lady Francesca gracefully walked into the manor, herposed demeanor radiating elegance. Her dress flowed with each step, showcasing her refined taste. She paused when she spotted Garius standing in the corridor, giving orders to Alf and Errte.


    A soft smile graced her lips. "Darling..."


    Hearing her voice, Garius turned. The hard lines of his face softened instantly as his sharp eyes lit up. He approached her without hesitation and kissed her passionately, his hand gently resting on her cheek.


    "My love," he murmured as they parted, his deep voice warm.


    Francesca''s smile widened, her gaze fond. She noticed the slight relief in his features, knowing her presence always soothed him. Behind her stood her personal maids, a group of highly trained women, watchful for her safety.


    Garius nced at them and nodded approvingly. "I''m d to see you''re not walking alone. I trust your safety to these capable maids."


    Francesca chuckled softly. "Of course, my dear. You''ve ensured that I''m always well-protected. But tell me, what''s caused you to look so serious?"


    Garius''s smile faded slightly as he looked toward Alf and Errte. "There was an incident involving Javier. Some from the Klimbert household dared to disrespect him. Theck of proper patrols on the estate adds to my concerns."


    Francesca''s eyes narrowed, her calm expression shifting to anger. "The Klimberts again... They''ve been a thorn in our side for generations. How is Javier?"


    "Liana intervened before anything serious happened. She''s with him now, ensuring his safety. But I won''t let this negligence slide," Garius replied firmly.


    Francesca nodded, her confidence in him unwavering. "I trust you''ll handle this, as always. Let me know if you need my assistance with those pests."


    Garius smiled, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "With you by my side, my love, I have all the strength I need."


    Francesca chuckled, her mood lightening as she leaned closer. "And don''t forget, you have a grand celebration day after tomorrow. Let''s not let these matters sour the asion."


    Garius nodded, resolve firm. "Of course. But I won''t allow anyone to think they can undermine this household, especially not on the eve of my ascension to Count."


    ( End of Chapter )