'Good thing I trusted Jay with this,' Gin thought as he observed the butler welcoming the guests with impeccable grace.
The mont Jay inford Gin about the invitation, the man had gone into action, enlisting the services of a seasoned hospitality expert. After glancing at the guest list, Jay had turned pale and imdiately began making frantic calls and arrangents until he found the right person.
The butler had proven extraordinary from the mont he arrived.
He swiftly orchestrated adjustnts throughout the estate, directing the staff with practiced efficiency.
Any lingering flaws in the property's upkeep vanished under his oversight. Gin found himself regretting that the butler's employnt was only temporary.
Hiring him permanently would have been ideal, but the butler had already committed to another position and was rely filling in due to a brief gap in his schedule.
'Not like I'll be hosting events like this often,' Gin mused.
He had no plans to endure the hassle of extravagant gatherings again. Without the butler, he wouldn't have prepared half as much. He'd have simply served food and drinks—nothing more. Still, he couldn't deny that things were running smoothly.
Gin took a deep breath and stepped out to greet the guests personally. He had hoped this occasion might help strengthen Jay's connections with Owen Frieden and Kyrie Lynchfield, but Jay had fled in terror.
Despite Gin's assurances that both Owen and Kyrie were friendly and approachable, Jay feared them excessively. Ironically, he claid he would have attended if only Andrella Willex had been the sole guest—though in Gin's view, Andrella was far more intimidating.
Regardless, the evening unfolded seamlessly.
The butler ensured that hospitality remained flawless from beginning to end. After the al, the group gathered in the drawing room for conversation.
The butler's ticulous touch was evident even in the atmosphere of the room.
Gin glanced at his three guests, all of whom wore expressions of quiet satisfaction. He silently comnded himself once more for temporarily hiring the butler.
"This has been a truly elegant invitation," Kyrie remarked, her voice carrying an air of genuine appreciation.
Owen's eyes sparkled as he turned to Gin.
"I couldn't agree more. I didn't expect you to go to such lengths for this gathering."
A bead of nervous sweat trickled down Gin's temple.
He fought the urge to blurt out that he hadn't done any of the work and instead held his composure.
Monts like this tested his impulse control.
'Maybe I've finally started to adjust to this hidden world,' he thought.
Perhaps that was why he could manage his impulses more effectively now.
Kyrie's voice drew him from his thoughts.
"I couldn't co empty-handed, so I brought a small gift for you."
Gin hesitated, feeling awkward. He recalled how he had arrived empty-handed the first ti Owen invited him to his estate.
Was it too late to prepare a return gift?
As he mulled over the idea, Kyrie produced an elegant box and presented it to him.
"Hm?" Gin murmured as he took the box.
He felt a familiar presence emanating from within—sothing he recognized from artifacts. Though he had sensed the magical signatures of various artifacts on Kyrie before, he had paid little attention until now.
Opening the box, he found a finely crafted bracelet. He looked up at Kyrie with curiosity.
"This... is an artifact, isn't it?"
She nodded.
"That's right. I heard you have a keen interest in artifacts, so I thought this might be useful to you.
I don't have much need for it myself."
Artifacts, especially those fashioned into accessories, were highly valued due to their rarity and utility. For Kyrie to casually gift one as a housewarming present spoke volus about the wealth of the Lynchfield family.
"Thank you. This will certainly aid my research," Gin said sincerely.
His words prompted wide-eyed reactions from both Kyrie and Owen.
"You're researching artifacts?" Kyrie asked in disbelief.
"Of course. Whether it's artifacts or magical tools, studying and analyzing them is essential for growth," Gin replied nonchalantly.
The two mages exchanged incredulous glances.
"Are you doing all of this... alone?" Faela pressed, her voice tinged with astonishnt.
Gin hesitated.
"Isn't that normal? Magic research is usually a solitary endeavor."
"How exactly do you manage it?" Kyrie's confusion deepened. The feats Gin had demonstrated—such as the mana transference spell—were far beyond what a typical mage could achieve alone.
"It's just analysis," Gin answered casually. "Don't others do the sa?"
But now it was Gin's turn to feel uneasy.
He realized he had once again spoken too freely.
Despite being a mage, his understanding of the norms in this hidden world was limited. He still stood apart from the other mages here, though their kindness had montarily lulled him into a false sense of familiarity.
Owen's serious gaze bore into him, breaking his thoughts. The mage let out a sigh before addressing Gin in a low, cautionary tone.
"Gin Mage, you must exercise greater caution. You're too open with your knowledge."
Gin lowered his head slightly in embarrassnt.
"Was I too reckless?"
Owen nodded gravely.
"Yes. This isn't the first ti you've revealed more than you should. It's one thing to demonstrate your abilities, but you must limit such displays to people you can trust completely."
"Understood. I'll be more careful from now on."
Still, Gin couldn't help but feel frustrated. How was he supposed to know what was appropriate to reveal? He had assud research was a common practice, especially since Owen himself had ntioned analyzing spatial artifacts not long ago.
"I guess I got too comfortable," Gin said with an awkward chuckle. "You all feel like friends, and I let my guard down."
Owen paused for a mont, his expression briefly freezing before relaxing.
"Friendship is valuable, but rember—you've only t us a handful of tis. You should remain vigilant."
Gin bit back the urge to point out that he'd seen Owen just as few tis. Instead, he nodded quietly.
Owen sighed again and reached for a box of his own. It was even more ornate than Kyrie's, and faint magical energy pulsed from within.
"I brought a gift as well. I hope you'll accept it."
Gin accepted the box with a grateful smile.
"Thank you. I'm truly honored. I'll be sure to repay your kindness in the future."
As he opened the box, he couldn't shake the feeling that this gathering had taken on a far deeper significance than he had anticipated.
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