The Villain's Retirement-Chapter 34: Maids

They both spent the entire afternoon in the library.

By the time their carriage returned, it was already just a few minutes before the banquet. But thanks to the maid servants, they were able to wear everything they needed to wear for the gathering. After all, everything was already prepared.

In the place they were staying, there were a lot of servants however they had been assigned only two servants each to assist them during their stay.

The moment Ard stepped into the dressing room, the atmosphere subtly shifted. Ard did not show his reaction. He was already used to this treatment all his life. At the same time, he had only been here for a day.

’Am I really that scary?’ Ard thought.

On his side, the mood was entirely different.

"Miss Clara! Miss Lina! Look, look!" Zayn spun around excitedly, his half-finished formal outfit fluttering. "Don’t I look adorable?"

The maids surrounding him laughed openly. Ard frowned inwardly. He could not believe such shamelessness was coming from the kid. Moreover, one thing he had noticed was how the kid’s demeanor or behavior totally changes when he is around other people but him.

"You already look like one, Young Master Zayn," Clara said warmly as she fixed his collar. "But stop moving, or I’ll never finish."

"I can’t help it!" Zayn grinned. "This is my first real banquet! Do I really have to wear these many layers?"

"Yes," Lina replied teasingly. "And you’ll thank us later when everyone compliments you."

"Really?" Zayn’s eyes sparkled.

Clara hyped him. "You’re very popular around here, you know."

Zayn puffed his chest proudly. "As expected of me."

From across the room, Ard glanced over, a faint hint of amusement crossing his face.

Then he looked at the two with him, their cheeks faintly pink. At his crimson eyes, the duo froze then immediately straightened, even without him using cognitive fracture. Then as they hurried into motion.

"L-Lord Ard, it’s okay now, you can put it on," one of them said quickly. "We’ll finish adjusting your outer attire at once."

Ard gave a small nod, his expression calm as ever. "Thank you. Sorry for the trouble, considering the time."

"T-Trouble?" the other maid blurted out before she could stop herself. "N-Not at all! It’s our honor."

As they worked, adjusting the dark, perfectly tailored coat along his broad shoulders and fastening the silver clasps at his chest, the contrast was impossible to ignore.

The duo swallowed unconsciously then exchanged glances.

The young man’s tall frame filled the room effortlessly, posture relaxed yet commanding. It was like his persona carried weight.

One of them, clearly braver than the others, smiled shyly. "The outfit suits you extremely well, my lord. As expected."

Ard glanced down at himself briefly then at the adult size mirror in front of him. "Does it?" Then, almost absentmindedly, he added, "I’ll trust your judgment."

That simple response made the poor girl nearly melt.

Soon, the final adjustments were made.

The maids stepped back, admiring their work.

Ard was standing tall and composed. His slightly long black hair was tied on the back of his neck. And his ruby-like eyes made the maids look away.

’This man...’ one maid said to herself, then continued, ’is so beautiful! I almost do not want him to go.’

Meanwhile, Zayn was still the same, bright and lively, practically glowing with excitement.

Then soon.

A new but more luxurious carriage could be seen outside their building as if ready to depart through the iron gates. Then besides the servant on the driver’s seat, two men could be seen waiting outside: one who looked in his forties and a a young man in his late teens.

Standing at 6 feet height, the tall old knight stood straight as ever. He was armored and even armed with a sword. His shield was missing. Still, he bested the knight role too much.

The young man on the other hand was someone Ard had already met before, but was seeing for the first time since.

It was the young knight, Gary.

He leaned lazily against the carriage door, arms crossed, wearing an expression that looked like he wanted to sleep.

But unlike Faller who was dressed in his usual outfit, the young man was currently wearing tailored formal wear.

When they went out, Zayn climbed up first, eyes bright.

"Hi, Gary! You’re coming too?" He started. For who knows when, he had already grown closer to him. Ard observed. He found it reasonable.

However, it wasn’t the boy the young knight seemed to be interested in.

’This guy...’

Gary kept looking at the young man draped in noble clothing. He had to admit the other young man’s aura already made him feel sorry for all of the other young and single male nobles who would be attending the gathering tonight.

Replying to the kid, Zayn then opened his mouth catching himself looking too much.

"Yeah. Sort of," he said. "I have to go. I also have my obligations to attend this as per my house commanded."

Zayn’s eyes widened. "You’re a noble?!"

Well, that was obvious by how shiny his armor was back then and how lackluster his effort was. Moreover, all knights in the human realm, may they be commoners or peasants, when knighted automatically becomes a lawful noble of society. For Gary who could use mana while at the same time being a soldier, it was obvious he was a knight.

Ard do not know if Zayn was acting dumb or not. After all, he was reading way too many books to not know such basic information.

However, his plan worked as Gary smiled weakly and answered. "Unfortunately."

Whatever it was, he didn’t sound happy.

Then, without warning, Gary suddenly turned to the other young man. He straightened and bowed properly—clean, formal, unmistakably noble—toward Ard.

"Thank you for saving me, Lord Ard de Salience!"

This was the first time Ard had seen Gary since the Demon Lord incident. He had heard he was among those who rode ahead to the nearest noble house to call for reinforcements.

At his gesture, Ard returned the bow with a slight movement of his head.

Honestly, though, he was still a bit confused about these customs.

Suddenly, Faller then spoke up, as if he had saw a problem.

"Introduce yourself properly."

Gary looked stunned for a moment but then realized his mistake and complied immediately, turning much more serious as he bowed again, this time, in a much better gesture.

"My apologies, Lord. I am Gary Van Oriones—the seventh son of House Oriones. Nice to meet you again."

Ard was expressionless.

But that surname hit harder than expected. Even for someone like him who had practically lived under a cave until just recently, he had heard of that name.

The Oriones house: it was one of the most famous houses in the continent and among the best in the the Kingdom of Lorynthia for being a reputable lineage of swordsmen. Twelve years ago, Ard had crossed paths with a member of Oriones house calling himself the eldest son of a ducal house. Before he had realized, Ard remembered cutting off his right arm.