Damon stood upon the balcony of his room, the cool night air brushing softly against his skin as he gazed out into the vast expanse beyond the manor, where the sky stretched endlessly, adorned with countless stars that shimmered faintly against the deep darkness, while the moon hung high above, casting a pale, serene glow over the estate.

For a moment, there was nothing in his mind—no calculations, no plans, no lingering thoughts—only a rare stillness as he allowed himself to simply exist within that quiet, his white hair swaying gently with the wind, his figure standing almost like a painting carved into the night itself.

That calm, however, did not last.

"Knock!" "Knock!"

A knock came.

Soft and measured ,yet enough to disturb the fragile silence he had settled into.

Damon let out a quiet breath, his gaze lingering on the sky for just a second longer before he turned slightly, his voice carrying back into the room.

"Come in."

The door opened slowly as Sahira peeked her head inside first, as though unsure whether she was interrupting something important, before stepping in fully, a tray balanced carefully in her hands.

Upon it rested a simple dinner along with several small vials and packets—medicines, arranged without precision but clearly gathered with intent.

Damon stepped back into the room, leaving the balcony behind as he approached her, his eyes briefly scanning the tray before shifting to Sahira herself, who stood with her gaze lowered, her fingers tightening slightly around the edges as she spoke, her voice hesitant and uneven.

"I-its... I-I don’t know what happened to you... s-so I brought... a bit of medicine... for everything... a-and this..."

Her words trailed off, uncertain.

Damon said nothing in response as he reached forward and picked up the plate, taking a spoon in hand before beginning to eat without hesitation, a calm, almost indifferent motion that visibly surprised Sahira, whose eyes lifted just slightly in disbelief.

I’ve already taken anti-poison pills, Damon thought quietly as he continued eating, his expression unchanged. They won’t protect against everything... but at the very least, I won’t die from something trivial.

The thought settled with quiet certainty.

This is a test... but I won’t be careless, even if not her...there can be others who can mess with my food.

As he ate, his gaze lifted toward Sahira again, his tone shifting from casual to firm without any visible change in expression.

"While we are here, only you will prepare my food," he said evenly, each word measured and clear. "No one else is allowed to touch it, or even get close to it. Do not bring me anything that has come into contact with others... understood?"

Sahira blinked, startled by the sudden weight of his words, before nodding quickly, her expression tightening with a mixture of confusion and resolve.

"Y-yes..."

Damon held her gaze for a moment longer before adding, his voice quieter but heavier.

"I am trusting you... do not disappoint me."

That made her nod again, more urgently this time, as though trying to reassure him without words. But an almost unconscious smile formed onto her lips , probably even though she was unaware of it!

Damon then gestured lightly toward the chair.

"Sit."

Sahira hesitated, clearly unsure, but obeyed nonetheless, lowering herself onto the seat with a careful, almost rigid posture as she watched him finish his meal. Once he was done, Damon placed the plate back onto the tray with deliberate calm before looking at her again.

"You must have met your fellow workers by now," he said, his tone returning to something lighter, though his eyes remained observant.

Sahira flinched the moment Damon asked the question, her shoulders tensing ever so slightly as though something within her had been struck unexpectedly, and Damon, who had been watching her without interruption, did not miss even that small reaction.

Her gaze lowered further before she gave a hesitant nod, her fingers tightening faintly over the fabric of her dress as she answered without meeting his eyes.

"Y-yes..."

Damon’s lips curved into a faint smile, not warm, not cold, but something in between as he leaned back slightly, his gaze still fixed on her.

"And...?" he prompted.

Sahira swallowed lightly before speaking again, her voice carrying a trace of uncertainty.

"I-It was master... who ordered them... n-not to come in front of young master..."

A soft chuckle escaped Damon at that, low and unsurprised, as his thoughts aligned instantly.

...As expected.

"And," he continued, his tone calm but intent, "did they ask anything about me? Tell me everything... in detail."

Sahira hesitated for a fraction of a second.

Then—Her mind slipped back.

***

The workers’ quarters had been far from quiet when she arrived.

The moment she stepped into the area, she had been surrounded almost immediately, maids, attendants, and servants gathering around her in a tight cluster, their faces filled not with curiosity, but with something far more raw—fear. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Their voices overlapped as they spoke, each trying to ask before the other, their words tumbling out in anxious urgency.

"I-is young master angry...?"

"Did he say anything... about punishing us...?"

"Is he going to call us...? O-or beat us...?"

"T-this wasn’t our fault... it was master who gave the order... we couldn’t disobey...!"

Some of them looked as though they were on the verge of tears, their eyes red, their expressions strained as they waited for her answer, as though their fate rested entirely on what she would say next.

Sahira stood there, momentarily overwhelmed by the intensity of it, her own thoughts tangled as she tried to process their reactions, but after a brief pause, she steadied herself, drawing in a quiet breath before speaking, her voice hesitant but sincere.

"H-he... didn’t react much...," she said, her words slow at first, then gaining a little strength, "y-young master... has changed... h-he won’t hit you... a-anymore..."

There was a visible shift.

A subtle easing.

"He... won’t...?"

"Really...?"

Sahira nodded, more firmly this time.

"Y-yes... he has become... good..."

The tension did not disappear entirely, but it loosened enough for their shoulders to drop slightly, the immediate panic easing into cautious relief, though uncertainty still lingered in their eyes.

Taking that moment, Sahira gathered her courage again and asked quietly,

"I-is there... any medicine... for general use...?"

The reaction was immediate and sharp.

The brief calm shattered as their expressions twisted once more, this time into alarm far more intense than before.

"M-medicine...?"

"Did he beat you...?"

"Did young master hit you... badly...?"

"Did he take his anger out on you instead...?"

Their voices rose again, but now they were directed entirely at her, their concern misplaced yet urgent, their eyes scanning her as though trying to find signs of injury.

Sahira shook her head quickly.

"N-no... it’s not like that... i-it’s young master who is hurt..."

There was a pause.

A single, suspended moment.

Then—

An immediate visible relief.

"Oh... thank goodness..."

"I thought after you... it would be our turn..."

"Y-yes... I was really scared..."

"I’m glad it wasn’t us..."

The words came one after another, lighter now, almost casual in comparison to the fear they had shown moments before, their concern dissolving the moment the threat shifted away from them.

Sahira stood there, watching them.

And something in her expression changed.

...How can they...?

Her gaze lingered on their faces, her thoughts turning slowly, almost unwillingly.

They aren’t even a little worried... that young master is hurt...

Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.

They only care... about themselves...

***

[Back to present]

Sahira’s voice slowly returned to the present as she finished recounting everything, her words trailing off into a quiet conclusion as she lowered her gaze once more.

"T-that’s all..."

Damon listened without interruption, his expression calm and unreadable as he absorbed every detail she had shared, and after a brief pause, he gave a small nod, his voice even as he responded.

"Understood."

The matter seemed to settle just as easily as that, without further questioning or visible reaction, as though he had already drawn whatever conclusions he needed. A faint yawn escaped him shortly after, his posture loosening slightly as the weight of the day finally began to catch up.

"It’s time to sleep," he said simply.

Sahira immediately rose to her feet, her movements quick but careful as she bowed lightly, her voice carrying its usual hesitation.

"I-I will take my leave then... y-young master..."

Damon’s gaze shifted toward her, observing her for a brief moment before he spoke again, his tone casual, almost indifferent.

"You can just sleep here if you want."

The words landed unexpectedly.

Sahira stiffened.

"T-that... that won’t do!" she said quickly, her reaction immediate as her composure wavered slightly, her hands tightening at her sides before she forced herself to continue.

"Y-young master is... in talks of engagement with Count Halewind’s daughter... i-it’s not appropriate for us to sleep in the same room..."

Her eyes drifted away, her voice dropping into something softer, almost reluctant as if saying to herself rather than Damon.

"At least... not in the manor... where everyone is looking..."

Damon listened, his expression unchanged as he gave a small, nonchalant response.

"Fine."

There was no insistence, no teasing, no further comment, as though the matter held no real importance to him.

Sahira bowed again, more formally this time, before turning and leaving the room, the door closing softly behind her as her presence faded from the space.

Silence returned.

Damon moved toward the bed without haste, settling onto it with ease as he stretched slightly, allowing himself to relax for the first time since arriving.

...It’s indeed more comfortable on this bed...

The thought passed through his mind as he lay back, the quiet of the room wrapping around him once more.

***

"He must have rested enough! Call him to meet me!"

"M-master , t-that!...Y-young master h-he is...."