Guard Captain

The next morning, the gentle sunlight spilled in through the window, and Vivian's eyelashes fluttered as she began to wake.

The sleep she had last night was sweeter than anything she had ever known. The incredible softness beneath her and the faint fragrance lingering in the room were things she, having only ever lived in dark, damp shacks, had never experienced.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Vivian realized something and snapped her eyes open. She had actually forgotten that she was in the lord's bedroom.

She sat up quickly, only to find herself covered by a brand-new wool blanket. She hurriedly pulled it back to check her clothes.

Everything was as it should be, and only then did Vivian let out a small sigh of relief.

But the next moment, her eyes dimmed again. She was a Daughter of Misfortune. The lord had brought her here, washed and cleaned, only to do nothing?

That meant the lord's words from last night must have been lies.

Vivian wasn't afraid of death, but she was worried about her twelve-year-old sister.

She thought of her sister, who had stayed by her side to forage for wild vegetables and fruits after their heartless father abandoned them. Her sister had never cried from hunger, always acting sensible and forcing smiles to cheer her up.

"Little sister! I'm sorry! You must live on!"

Vivian prayed silently in her heart. If the gods hated her, then let all the misfortune fall upon her alone. Please, let her sister live a life of luck!

"You're awake!"

Just as Vivian wondered whether she should walk out of the bedroom or wait where she was, a soft voice came from the doorway. It was the handsome and kind lord.

"L-Lord!" Vivian scrambled off the sofa and knelt on the floor, barefoot.

"Get up!" Nalant said gently, then added, "Vivian, look who's here!"

"Sister!"

Just as Vivian was confused, a voice she knew all too well came from the doorway.

"Lilia!"

Looking up, she saw a girl wearing a brand-new maid's uniform standing at the entrance. It was her sister, Lilia.

Vivian's expression turned to one of pure joy. She had thought she would never see her sister again.

"Sister, the lord said I can be a maid in the castle from now on! He said he'd pay me ten Copper Coins a day!"

"What? You're to be a maid?"

Vivian couldn't believe it. Being a castle maid was a noble profession. How could the relative of a Daughter of Misfortune become one?

Vivian couldn't help but look at Nalant.

Nalant smiled and nodded. "From now on, you will be my guard captain, and your sister will be a castle maid. I thought this might help you serve me with more peace of mind! Vivian, are you willing?"

"I... I am willing. Thank you, my lord..."

Vivian's eyes reddened. She finally knew that the lord's words from last night were true.

"But my lord, I... I don't know how to fight!"

Forget being a guard captain; even a regular guard needed a strong, sturdy build. Vivian felt completely out of her depth.

"Ding! System side quest: Help the Daughter of Luck, Vivian, understand her abilities!"

"System reward: Information regarding a second Sprite!"

"Hmm? It can do that?"

The system had actually issued another quest.

However, this side quest was practically a gift for Nalant, as he had intended to have Vivian demonstrate her abilities anyway.

He hadn't expected to receive information about a second Sprite, which left him overjoyed.

"Vivian, you don't need to worry about that. You'll know what your abilities are soon enough! Come, the servants in the castle have already started breakfast. Go eat, and once you're finished, I will officially appoint you as guard captain!"

"Yes, my lord!" Vivian replied, feeling uneasy.

Afterward, Nalant brought the two sisters to the first floor and handed them over to Thomas.

In this world, commoners could not sit at the noble long table in the castle dining hall; doing so would result in being hanged for contempt of nobility. Nobles were expected to uphold this rule as well.

Sitting alone at the six-meter-long table, Nalant ate what was the most sumptuous breakfast in the Storm Territory: a piece of white bread and a slice of roasted smoked meat. Just as he was about to finish, a manservant brought Captain Quick into the dining hall.

"Is it done?"

Nalant looked at Quick, took a white towel from the servant to wipe his hands, and then spoke in a leisurely manner.

"Yes, my lord. The ten young serfs you requested have been brought here. Four of them have worked as hunters, and the others are the strongest youths in the territory!"

"Very good!" Nalant nodded.

These ten young serfs were the candidates for the second guard squad Nalant was forming.

He had ordered Quick to handle this on his very first day in the territory, all to keep Anthony in check.

After all, Anthony had five guards of his own. He needed to form a squad of twenty to effectively suppress him.

After speaking, Nalant picked up an exquisite mask from the edge of the table and left the dining hall.

When he arrived at the castle courtyard, Vivian had finished her breakfast and was watching Thomas teach Lilia how to be a proper maid.

"My lord!"

Vivian, who had a faint smile on her face, immediately suppressed it when she saw Nalant, kneeling respectfully on the ground.

"Get up, Vivian! Put this mask on! From now on, whenever you go outside the castle, wear it!"

He had found the mask in the castle's storeroom; it had been used by the nobles who once held balls here.

The castle had seen four different barons, all of whom had met their downfall here, leaving behind many odds and ends.

No one cared about these inexpensive items, as everyone feared that objects in the castle were tainted by misfortune. In the end, it worked out perfectly for Nalant.

"Yes, my lord!"

Vivian knew that if she walked outside the castle, she would surely terrify anyone who recognized her. She took the mask and obediently put it on.

"Hiss, no wonder nobles like this sort of thing!"

When Vivian put the mask on, Nalant was stunned.

The mask was exquisite, covering only the area around her eyes, and was made of hollowed-out copper.

The intricate patterns were breathtaking. It wasn't stifling to wear; instead, it looked incredibly luxurious. Paired with Vivian's fair skin—a rarity among serfs—it created an image that was both graceful and wild, a look that walked the line between temptation and dignity. It was quite the thrill...

"Greetings, my lord!"

Outside the castle, ten youths in ragged clothes, aged eighteen or nineteen, knelt in unison and shouted their greeting.

The irrepressible joy on their faces was clear.

Being a direct guard to the lord was arguably the most prestigious job in the territory. Not only was the pay generous and the status high, but they would also be by the lord's side.

Being chosen by Quick felt to them like winning the lottery in a past life.

"Do you all know what you are here to do?"

"We do, my lord!"

"Very good! Then I announce that from this moment on, you are officially my, Nalant Berwick's, subordinates—guards of the Storm Territory!"

"Thank you, my lord! We swear to serve you with our lives!"

Hearing Nalant's words, all the youths grew excited, shouting their oaths of loyalty with all their might.

From the moment they swore their loyalty to Nalant, they gained the qualification to shed their status as serfs.

If they were lucky enough, performed enough meritorious service, and were capable enough, they would have the chance to become commoners or even be granted a plot of farmland.

Though not even one in a hundred managed to reach that point, at least they had something to look forward to. This was why the guards of minor nobles were so loyal.

"Very good. Now, come and meet your captain!"

"Vivian! Come here!"

Whoosh!

As Nalant's words fell, everyone at the castle entrance erupted into an uproar.

Never mind the young serfs; even the guards like Quick looked as if they had seen a ghost.