At the duke residence:
After Ryan left with Viviana, Oliver and his head butler Delca were together in his study discussing what had happened earlier that day. There were a couple of explanations that Oliver could think of but he wanted to hear it personally from Delca. This man was not only his butler but also a very old friend. He trusted this man with his life and Delca himself was not just any butler at all. In fact this man knew how to wield a sword and fight better than any night. Skilled not only with the sword but also with the bow and any other kind of weapon as well. A mana sword is the least problem one would have when facing this old man. The age was not a problem at all, in contrast to how he looks, this butler was still quite agile and skilled. One would need to look at him with caution since he is more than he seemed to be.
"What do you think about Vivana?"
"She is a lovely child."
"You can be honest with me, we are old friends after all."
"That was my honest thoughts about the girl."
"I see..."
"If I may, I believe the princess has a very unique ability."
The moment the butler said that, Oliver couldn't help but stop doing what he was doing and instead looked up to the man, quite shocked but also confused. He never knew that the girl had an ability. However her bright golden eyes were proof that she would have a very strong one. It is the blood through her veins which was closer to the dragon than being a human. He never saw such eyes in his family before and he should know about this since they have a family room with all the portraits of everyone inside.
"Pardon?"
"Earlier the other day, Lady Viviana healed the head maid Emilia at her side."
"Healed?"
"Oh my. Did she perhaps not say anything about this?"
"This is why I called you here."
"I see."
"Tell me what exactly happened."
"I escorted her as you have ordered me to do but we ran into Lady Rosetta on the way here."
"Rosetta you say? She shouldn't be around this part of the mansion. Looks as if I have to talk with my brother about this."
"The lady loves to walk around and this is the shortest way to the garden where she was supposed to be. I believe she simply wanted to go there on her own."
"No matter how short this way is, there are rules in this house."
"It is my duty to prevent this from happening. Please punish me as you can see fit."
With that the butler bowed before Oliver and even took out a small dagger to present to his master. Anyone seeing that would immediately jump to conclusion and think that Oliver here was the bad guy and bullying the poor butler. As much as it looked like this, it was not the case at all.
"Stand up. How many times did I tell you not to do this? You can't prevent everything from happening."
"I understand that."
"Now what happened when they saw Rosetta?"
"Lady Rosetta immediately called Emilia over since the maid was supposed to be one of hers."
"True... I should have made sure she knew about the change."
"As the duke and everyone knows, she has quite the temperament."
"You mean she is bullying the weak and letting out her anger at everyone."
"You may take my words as you wish."
"I know you too well Delca... You don't have to beat around the bush in front of me."
"What would the others think if they would hear that? Walls have ears and eyes as you know best."
"I do, which is why I appreciate your honesty with me."
"Your welcome, Sire."
Oliver knew how Rosetta was. That child hated everything and just wanted all the attention. Female brown children were rare and this was why she was spoiled by everyone. However this child was spoiled rotten to the core. Her personality was over the top rude and shouldn't even be tolerated yet everyone made that mistake. It was basically his and his brother's fault as well as his fathers for it. That was what Oliver knew deep down. He feared that he might make the same mistake and spoil Viviana rotten. Then again, he found her on the brink of death in the forest all alone without any hint of anything. This child didn't have anything at all. It may not be good but he couldn't help but want to spoil the child.
"So in the end Rosetta used her whip to teach the servant a lesson, right?"
"Yes, Sire."
"What did you do?"
"I couldn't do anything as the princess was faster than me protecting her maid."
"You couldn't do anything or you didn't want to do anything?"
"I wanted to test out her personality. I am deeply sorry for failing my job and letting the young miss get hurt."
"I trust you. It's fine if this happened once but keep in mind if this happens again, you will be punished."
"Yes, Sire."
"Did she perform like you expected it?"
"Not at all. I thought that the princess would hide and call for help. Instead she chose to act and protect her servant. She even threatened Miss Rosetta to not hurt her people."
"Oh did she?"
"Yes. Furthermore she healed the wound the maid had gotten from the whip and got the whip out of Miss Rosetta's hands using it against her."
As unbelievable as this story was, the duke couldn't help it but just listen to what the butler had to say. He also didn't think that the child he brought home would be a sleeping tiger cup. She was definitely strong and gentle at the same time. He could tell, judging by how the girl acted to save the people that belonged to her, that the girl had a strong sense of justice and wouldn't let anyone bully her or her servants at all. If anything he was sure that Viviana would pay the person back ten fold if not even more. This fact alone made the young man smile while listening to his butler explaining the situation even more.
"It was quite something to see her let Rosetta pull her hair as well. I believed that the princess would fight back as well. However, contrary to what I believed she called for help."
"Which is how I saw what happened."
"Yes, Sire."
"Clever. No one would have believed her except the people who were there that she got hurt herself."
"Indeed."
"Do you believe she knows that her ability is healing?"
"No, Sire. She seemed rather confused when Miss Emilia's wound healed up."
"I see. Understandable. She is still young after all."
"Indeed."
"Delca, I want you to watch over Viviana to make sure the child doesn't lack anything at all."
"You do not have to tell me that."
"Oh really... seems as if she made you fond of her."
"Indeed. I like the little princess."
This was not really something which was usual for the butler to say. The only other person the butler considered family and a close friend was Oliver. They shared a story and it was quite the dramatic one as well. Delca was very young when his family decided to actually sell him off to even out their gambling debts. In the process he was sold as a slave and it was only after a bit of time that he managed to escape and get into a mercenary guild. It was there that Delca encountered hard times. He was in fact a tool trained to kill and to gain information no matter how. No one dared to save the young child or take him in after he made a mistake and was captured and sold again. That was until Oliver saw the child who was the same age as him.
Oliver was the one who got Delca out and gave him a position close to him. They trained together and Delca soon realized that Oliver didn't let him do hard work but made him train in things to keep him alive. He was protecting Delca from everyone and was treating Delca on an even footing. This was how they became close friends and partners in crime till this day.
Delca was simply Oliver's right hand man and would do anything for his savior. Needless to say that that also included killing as well. This man was skilled enough that no one would find out about the assassin which made him a very dangerous variable. However Oliver didn't mind at all since they grew up together and Oliver was quite proud about judging people. He judged Delca to be safe and a reliable resource and a good friend. That he was also in the right.
"Wow. Seemed like my sons are not the only people she managed to get on her side now. I am impressed."
"Doesn't the Sire also like the girl."
"I do. Otherwise I wouldn't have ever made my father see her and requested it personally."
"That is also very true."
"She just has something around her which makes me believe that she could in fact lead the Underwoods. I don't know yet what it is but I will find out soon. That is something my instinct is telling me."
"I am sure you will, Sire."
"I only wish that you would stop calling me that."
"You are aware that I am not allowed to do that."
"I am but as a friend, I want to be on equal terms with you."
"And that we are. What you did and did in the past are enough for me."
"I see but tell me if there is anything I can help you with."
"I will."
Oliver looked at his butler and could only think about Viviana. It seemed to him that the girl was a strange one. Never did anyone manage to make his butler and friend this attentive to anyone not even his wife could do so and yet this kid did. He thought that it was impossible and yet here he found himself seeing the thing he never thought he would see. Delca was a good butler who knew how to get the job done no matter what. They were together and Delca knew his wife and his kids since they were babies. Still he didn't had any lingering attachment or feelings like he showed towards Viviana. It may be just curiosity but deep down Oliver knew it was more than that. The girl had simply something around her to make other people like her. However that also meant that she would have a talent for people to hate her. There were always people which would be jealous about her and try to get her off her position.
The more the duke thought about his daughter, the more he found himself worrying about her.
"Should I get some guards around her?"
"Does Sire want her to hate you?"
"No but what has this to do with that?"
"It will seem as if the Sire wants to observe and monitor her. I believe she will find it quite pressuring."
"Is that so... how about 2 knights which can serve her as maids?"
"That might be a good idea."
"Very well. Then please find our two swordsmans. One female and one male preferable."
"I shall do so immediately."
With a light heart, Oliver watched Delca get out of the room and could only sigh in relief to finally have some assurance that nothing would happen to his little daughter. Now all he had to worry about was the moons festival. There he had to face his father and not only would he need to do that but his daughter as well. All eyes will be on her and the pressure the child would need to face is something he didn't want to let her know yet.
"I wonder if everything will turn out good..."