"Dammit, I should've taken her in right from the start," Leon thought, surveying the aftermath of the situation. Observing the scene and recalling what he had heard, he firmly resolved: such mistakes could not be repeated in the future. With this thought, he turned his attention back to the elves standing before him.
"W-what have we done wrong, my lord viscount?" asked one elf, barely able to remain on his feet, his voice trembling with fear.
"Viscount?" Yuria whispered quietly, instantly recalling Leon's na. He was a well-known figure among the elves: it was thanks to him that the reason why so many of their kin disappeared in the ruins had co to light. So respected him for it; others feared him.
Leon cast a cold glance at the elves and abruptly raised his voice.
"For your barbaric behavior!"
The echo of his words rippled across the square, causing the elves to shuffle nervously. Giving them no ti to offer excuses, he pulled several letters from his pocket and threw them at their feet.
"Deliver these to the leaders of your villages," Leon said, his voice sharp with irritation. Then, fixing them with a heavy gaze, he added firmly, "Do it quickly, and get out of here."
Finishing his command, Leon pulled out a Desert Eagle and, holding it in one hand, fired into the air. The deafening sound shattered the silence, driving two of the elves into a panic. Without looking back, they bolted.
Left alone with Yuria, Leon turned to her, his stern expression softening into a kind smile. He approached her slowly, careful not to frighten her.
Seeing his gentle expression, Yuria felt her anxiety ease slightly. As Leon drew near, he spoke quietly but confidently.
"Miss Yuria, would you join on my ship? We need to discuss sothing important."
"Huh?" she responded, bewildered, not fully understanding what was happening.
Before she realized it, she followed Leon toward the shipyard, where her attention was imdiately drawn to his vessel. Yuria's eyes widened in amazent—before her stood a massive airship, its size and architecture utterly breathtaking.
"This ship... is it yours?" she whispered, hardly believing that such a young man could own sothing so magnificent.
Leon didn't answer. Instead, he gestured for her to co aboard.
Once inside, Yuria initially felt uneasy—the thought of being in an enclosed space with a man made her nervous. But after an hour, her fears began to dissipate. Leon was calm and composed, and their conversation soon turned into a friendly dialogue. He shared stories of his travels, discussed elven culture, and, with each word, Yuria found herself feeling more at ease in his presence.
At one point, Leon unexpectedly pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to Yuria.
"What is this, my lord?" she asked, curious, studying the docunt carefully.
"It's a contract, Miss Yuria," Leon replied with a slight smile. "I'd like to hire you as my maid."
"Huh? W-why?" she asked, her eyebrows shooting up in confusion.
Leon explained calmly:
"You see, I'm a viscount. And as you probably know, viscounts usually have nurous servants—maids, butlers..."
Yuria nodded in agreent. She had worked for a noble before and knew this to be true.
"Well," Leon spread his hands, "I don't have any."
Yuria stared at him in astonishnt, unsure how to respond.
"I'd like you to beco my first maid," he continued, clarifying. "Moreover, I'd like you to take the position of head maid. Everything you need to know is outlined in the contract." He pointed to the docunt in her hands.
Yuria hesitated. She was already inclined to decline—the thought of her son, Kyle, who could return at any mont, weighed heavily on her heart. However, out of courtesy, she took the contract and began to read it carefully.
At first, she skimd it without much interest, but as she read further, her curiosity grew.
First, it guaranteed her a decent salary, far surpassing what she had ever earned before.
Second, the contract included a clause ensuring her complete safety: under the viscount's protection, she wouldn't have to fear for her health or her life.
But most importantly, it stated that Leon would allow her to live on his estate with her family.
This particular detail made her heart soar. If she ever found her son Kyle, she would be able to bring him to a safe and secure place.
Yuria smiled faintly to herself, feeling the heavy burden on her soul begin to lift. After a brief mont of deliberation, she realized this was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.
"I accept," she finally said, taking the quill in hand and signing the contract.
Hearing her words, Leon's warm smile deepened.
"It will be an honor to work with you, Miss Yuria."
He extended his hand for a handshake.
Blushing slightly, Yuria reached out her hand. Their hands t, and Leon gave her a gentle shake.
"Welco to House Bartfort."
With that, they set off toward the Bartfort estate.
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