The Development Diar Chapter 44 : Chapter 44

Chapter 44 : Symbiosis

The car had driven for less than half an hour when it ca to a stop. With the inertia of the halt, Eve withdrew from her brief rest and glanced out the window at the imposing building before her.

At a glance, it stood no fewer than three stories tall, constructed entirely of stone. Above the main entrance stretched a massive bay window spanning two floors, and on either side hung the distinctive banners of the Hatherin Family.

On the flags, a crimson rose seed to dance in the air, yet not a single petal would ever fall.

This residence could be called the lifeline of the Hatherin Family. Within it were stored all docunts and secrets accumulated over a century of legacy. Even at the entrance stood four ard bodyguards.

Eve lowered her gaze and tilted her parasol downward at the sa ti. Her pace was neither hurried nor slow as she passed beneath the discreet scrutiny of the guards. Just as she reached the door, it opened automatically.

Before her rose a staircase leading to the second floor. Corridors branched left, right, and center toward different rooms. Without pausing, Eve folded her parasol and stepped inside.

It turned out the door had been opened by two maids. One accepted her parasol, while the other bowed and gestured toward the stairs. “Miss Eve, correct? This way, please.”

By rights, an ordinary maid should not receive such treatnt. But what did that have to do with Eve? Beneath her carefully maintained exterior lay a status not displayed in the open.

As she began ascending the stairs, Eve suddenly stopped under the maid’s puzzled gaze and spoke in a perfectly serious tone, “May I trouble you to show

to the restroom first?”

“Eh?”

“Is there none?”

The maid froze briefly before hastily explaining, “N-No, you misunderstand. This way, please.”

For a mont, Eve had nearly been alard. She had thought such a grand residence might truly lack a restroom. They said money should be spent wisely—surely that did not an forgetting even the handle of the blade.

Five minutes later…

She felt thoroughly refreshed. She had held it in the entire way.

Fortunately, her self-control was strong. Anyone else might have needed to enter with their legs pressed together. While privately admiring the restroom’s luxurious design, Eve also resolved never to leave the house again without first making use of one.

Returning to the matter at hand, the maid led Eve to the top floor of the residence, finally stopping before a pair of double doors adorned with intricate relief carvings.

Knock, knock.

After knocking, she did not wait for a reply. She stepped inside briefly to report, then reerged and gestured for Eve to enter.

Counting this visit, it was only Eve’s second ti in this room—an office ford from the combination of several studies. The towering bookshelves lining the walls, exaggerated in height, no longer surprised her.

Her gaze swept briefly before settling on the middle-aged man seated behind the desk. “Cold old fox” was a fitting epithet, and he was none other than the current Hatherin Family Head.

Constantine Hatherin.

The mont he recognized her, much of the cold indifference on his face collapsed. He rose to his feet, adjusted his monocle, and smiled as if greeting an old friend. “Miss Eve, how delightful to see you again. Have you been well recently?”

“Good day, Family Head. All is well with . I trust the sa is true for you,” Eve replied, hands folded before her abdon, neither humble nor arrogant, observing proper etiquette.

“There is no need for such formality between us,” he said as he walked toward her, gesturing to the sofa. “Please, sit, sit.”

Truthfully, as the Hatherin Family Head, he was unaccustod to Eve addressing him so formally. Setting aside their respective positions, it was largely a matter of identity. Yet Eve had insisted on preserving appearances and adapting to local customs.

They had once debated the matter, and in the end Eve had prevailed through sheer refusal to yield.

After she took her seat, Constantine asked warmly, “Would black tea be acceptable? We recently acquired an authentic selection from a Victoria tea estate. It has quite captured my favor.”

“As you wish, Family Head.”

Constantine nodded with a smile and pressed the bell at the side of his desk. Soon, the sa maid returned with an elegant tea set.

He personally slid a cup toward Eve and casually began, “I hear you have beco Vivian’s Personal Maid? Was that also her decision?”

“Yes.”

“I see…” Constantine’s voice trailed off. He rubbed the ring on his finger, and the smile on his face faded sowhat. “Then Miss Eve, do you know why I have summoned you?”

Eve lifted the teacup, ignoring the steam as she took a sip. “Family Head may speak plainly.”

Constantine tapped his fingers against the sofa armrest. “My people reported yesterday that she left the manor, and you accompanied her.”

“What concerns the Family Head?”

“Well, it is just…” He faltered briefly.

Eve set down her teacup and leaned back gracefully, crossing one leg over the other. “You have close ties with [Raven], and I am rely one link in that transaction, serving as an eye within the Hatherin Family.”

“If your concern is solely for the Young Miss’s safety, there is no need for such anxiety.”

At that, Constantine retrieved a cigar from a box on the desk. As he reached for the cutter, he paused and asked, “Do you mind?”

“As you please.”

It was an oddly deferential gesture. He lit the cigar and exhaled slowly, falling into contemplation.

Raven—an organization that moved through the shadows. The only trace it left behind was its na. Few could ever make contact with it. After all, work that involved taking paynt to kill was not clean.

When Constantine, as Hatherin Family Head, first encountered them, it had been with his own life at stake. To survive, he had made a deal with the organization’s leader.

The Hatherin Family would provide legitimate channels to launder illicit funds into lawful assets. When investigated by the Central Church, they would use noble privilege to intervene in judicial matters or offer refuge.

In return, Raven would grant equal conditions. They would never target the Hatherin Family and would eliminate other enemies as necessary, ensuring security.

Both sides would share intelligence networks, assisting one another in acquiring leverage over rival nobles.

They were, quite literally, tied to the sa rope.

To ensure the Hatherin Family would not betray the arrangent, Raven had placed an “eye” within the household—its ace, Eve.

…

Constantine’s concern was simple. His daughter had stepped outside the sphere of supervision, accompanied by a mber of an assassin organization. Even if the risk was small, one could never dismiss the possibility.

After a long while, his brows remained furrowed. “Since Miss Eve has spoken thus… what I truly wish to ask is this: where did you take her, and for what purpose?”

“You are aware that Miss Vivian, in addition to her regular studies, must also learn family history and social etiquette…”

“I am well aware. I arranged those myself,” Constantine interrupted. “But what does that have to do with her leaving?”

“rely to relax.”

“Relax?” Constantine leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped.

Eve sighed inwardly on Vivian’s behalf. “The Young Miss requires space to breathe. As for the degree of supervision, I believe the Family Head understands it well enough.”