A smile blossomed on Raven's lips towards the man who seemed a little too respectful to herself.
That was a bit weird considering the blatant disrespect that she has recently experienced and what the original owner had experienced in the past.
''You may rise.''
''Thank you for your benevolence, fourth young lady.'' The man straightened his back, and Raven got the opportunity to observe his features that gave a fierce yet chilling aura as first impression.
Such a person....she couldn't help but trace the scent of blood from him.
'He's really tall.' Raven also noted an obvious fact. There was a huge difference between this man and herself. Once again, she cursed this body of the original owner's for being so small. If she wasn't at a distance away from the man, she would have to crane her neck just to stare at him. She was even doing that at the moment!
Raven also noticed how the man used the pronouns to address herself apart from her title. That also meant that he wasn't just a servant of this manor…well that was plainly evident from his clothing.
'Lily seems okay with it.' Raven glanced at the maid at her side.
''Commander.'' Lily greeted with a nod before giving an introduction to the curious Raven. ''Young lady, this is Commander Igor of the Langston army.''
In other words, a person of the original owner's dearest father.
'I guessed right...' Raven deepened her gaze on the commander. As someone whose hands have been stained with blood from a young age, she had developed a third sense to detect people similar to her.
'There's only one memory of him and the original owner. I did not expect him to have this position since his title was not known.'
Once again, Raven blamed the original owner for having such little information of her family and people that were so vital for her survival.
''It is an honor to meet you, fourth young lady, and congratulations on reaching the age of succession.'' Commander Igor congratulated courteously.
''You as well, commander and thank you.'' Raven returned with a smile.
Before moving to the main reason of his presence at the sixth madam's manor, Commander Igor observed the person of recent rumors in a glance. It wouldn't be pleasant if he made his scrutinizing gaze obvious, especially to his master's daughter.
'She does have more semblance to his excellency…..unlike before.' Commander Igor noticed a difference between her of then, and now, her eyes in particular. The first moment he came in contact with the fourth young lady, her eyes were filled with terror and vigilance towards himself and the grand duke. It was the day of her pre-test, when the second young master had saved her from danger. At the beginning of her pre-test, she held only fear and confusion, but…. after that incident, her eyes changed as if they were the cause of her almost death.
Well….they were, but no one could be blamed as the pre-test was a tradition among the descendants of the Langston family. The fourth young lady could never escape her fate unless she welcomed death willingly, without a fuss.
''His excellency deeply understands fourth young lady's situation.'' As Commander Igor spoke, he turned away from Raven and lily and they followed after him. ''These elite slaves that are presented before you fourth young lady, are ten of the finest and unsurpassed in terms of battle skills.'' They walked through the double doors leading to the battle grounds opened by Commander Igor's men.
'I guess the rumors were true….' Commander Igor noticed the lack of knights in the sixth madam's manor. Even the entire manor itself and the interior was not worthy of a wife and daughter of the famed Langston family.
''Your chosen one can serve as your training tutor, fourth young lady. I can also stop by time to time to observe if you are taught correctly by the elite slave that you will choose now.'' Stopping in front of the lined up elite slaves, Commander Igor stopped speaking and waited for Raven, who briefly swept her gaze over the battle grounds before focusing her interest on them. Lily stood behind her, observing and waiting to hear of her decision.
A deafening silence reigned over the battle grounds for a brief moment. Everyone waited patiently for the words of the young lady in their midst.
Commander Igor was slightly behind Raven and so her actions were observed from time to time. The smile on her lips never dropped as her gaze was on each elite slave, closely studying them from up to down.
Her behaviour was not a surprise to him. Though that did not mean the sight did not stun him, just not that much.
If the fourth young lady could give such eyes similar to the Grand duke and elicit those rumors of the dead assassin in her room, then she might be different from her former self. Besides, Commander Igor was aware of the Grand duke's helping hand in preventing the fourth young lady's death before her age of succession.
The Grand duke was also someone who would never assist his children in the succession battle. He was a man with no love towards them.
'That power might be the reason….' Commander Igor concluded his entire thoughts into these words. At the same time, a childish voice brought forth his attention to reality.
''Commander Igor, are elite slaves generally gender limited?''
''I'm afraid not, Fourth young lady.'' He replied.
''Then….'' The stare from Raven was enough for commander Igor to understand that she needed an explanation why there were only males and not females among the elite slaves.
''As I said earlier, they are one of the finest elite slaves….''
''Does the commander mean that there are no females equal among them….'' Raven interrupted, eyeing the men with chains around their wrists. All were dressed in loose grey tops and bottoms, not dirty and smelly like normal slaves from auctions.
''There are, fourth young lady. But females are weaker than the males in terms of size and strength. Their proficiency of skills would hardly rival that of the males.'' Commander Igor paused a bit. ''Your chosen slave will be your training tutor, and in my opinion, there is no female that will be a good match for that position. His excellency also chose these slaves personally, fourth young lady.''
In other words, she could not change them if she wanted to.
Raven understood. Though, she didn't expect the Grand duke to have a hand in picking out the elite slaves. Perhaps he did this with his other children as well.
Raven did not put much thoughts into the Grand duke's actions and gave up on checking out the female elite slaves. She was indeed curious about them, but the original owner's dearest father personally chose these elite slaves for her. The same as his other children, she must make her choice from his own choice, even if she was reluctant.
''I can't choose more than one elite slave?''
''I'm afraid not, fourth young lady.''
''That's disappointing.'' Raven was regretful that she wouldn't be able to choose her personal maid. If she was allowed, she would have ordered the commander to bring out strong female elite slaves. Well….she didn't expect to find such maid like lily so easily. Even getting her training tutor from these elite slaves would be a bit hard.
If only the sixth madam had a rich background, then her training tutor would have been hired a long time ago. Lily wouldn't have needed to take on the position unless the sixth madam desired her to do so.
Raven's criteria for her training tutor were someone to be proficient in not only swords but in specific weapons. This world seemed to value swords as the finest weapon. Even the assassin that wanted to kill her had a sword as well.
In her former life, she loved using daggers and small knives. Poisonous needles were also her specialty. It would be amazing if she could find someone like that among these elite slaves.
'I shouldn't have much hope though…..' Raven was aware that her wish was merely a fantasy. Finding someone proficient in daggers, small knives and needles was going to be difficult.
What if that kind of person did not also exist? In short, she had to limit her unreal expectations.
'I should just teach myself….' She sighed regretfully to herself. The main reason she wanted someone like that was for cover. At least, the sixth madam and lily would not suspect her. She was also curious about the fighting skills of this world. Maybe it was different from her former life, but there wouldn't be a way of knowing, as her wish was merely a fantasy.
''Fourth young lady?''
''Forgive me for spacing out, commander.'' Raven smiled towards the questioning commander. Right. She needed to make her decision and not needlessly waste time in her thoughts.
'Hm..' Turning her gaze back to the elite slaves, Raven wondered for a moment how she should make her decision.
''Commander, which elite slave among these has been serving the Langston family for the longest time?''
''The answer to your question is that slave, young lady.'' Commander Igor pointed to the elite slave, standing at the end of the line.
''I see…'' Raven took note of the young boy with the only different skin color. ''How long?''
''A long time, fourth young lady. Nine to Eleven years, I suppose.'' replied Commander Igor. He had an opinion of this slave as well.
''Hmm..which slave is the weakest, commander?'' As though as she knew how to make her decision, the corner of Raven's lips tugged up into a wide smile. Her eyes focused on every lowered head of the elite slaves. For a moment, her eyes lingered on the smallest in size among them at the end of the line.
''The same slave, fourth young lady.''
'Really...' Raven's smile became wider. Her eyes twinkled, knowing that she might have an idea of her tutor among these slaves.
''Who is the strongest among them?''
''This slave, fourth young lady.'' Commander directed Raven's stare, pointing at the person at the beginning of the line. She eyed the person whose physique was slightly larger than the boy at the end of the line.
''Then Commander, why don't I have a battle between them right now?'' Returning her gaze back to the commander, Raven suggested with her never-dropping smile. However, her smile had a faint chill and her eyes flickered with a murderous glint.
'I can't believe I am using the same method as them.'