Usually, an affection level would rise after finishing a special event or scene through some interactions. Sometimes all the player needs is to witness it, then the game will mark the scene as a replayable event in the gallery.
But this maid's affection had risen without his knowledge.
In this regard, the system was lacking. If this were in the game, there would have been a notification prompting interaction with the maid and confirming the conditions for the affection level increase.
Looks like from now on, affection could change while he was unaware. He might just find a green-heart affection turning into a black because of some misunderstanding.
Of course, if a misunderstanding was resolved, greater affection was recovered in return. Xian thought this was the game's way of showing how characters felt guilt and regret after misunderstanding the player. It was a frequently abused mechanic, one that made the whole system rather twisted.
Players would manipulate scenarios and misunderstanding to quickly gain a chunk of affection.
In the game that might work, but now he had to be careful utilizing it in the future.
'Speaking of, I forgot to check Serika's affection level…' Xian clicked his tongue at the missed opportunity. Last he remembered, she had a gray heart at 50.
"Is something wrong, Sir Xian?"
"No. Lets go." Right now, he wanted nothing more than to lie down in his bed. Maybe he can get her to pick some books, since he wouldn't be moving around anytime soon.
However, just when they were about to leave, the door swung open.
Serika had come back. Xian instantly inspected her affection level.
'This…'
Green Heart: 9
If gray heart signified indifference. Green meant recognition. Not to the point that they will purposely approach and greet you, but you certainly exist to them, in favorable view at that.
He would've thought that her affection had gone down based on the way she beat him up. Or maybe, it was high before but went down after their spar?
'No, what is she doing here?'
Serika brought two more maid's in tow, with confused and hesitant expression. They carried things he recognized, boxes filled with vials, containing healing potions.
Serika glared at the maid beside him, making her step back. Xian was about to do the same only to get a kick and flew back in the training ground again.
But this time, he landed standing. His heart surged with anger.
"What's the meaning of this, Serika?"
"Hah, don't act so familiar." If earlier she looked impatient, now she looked downright pissed. "This means I'm beating you down until you're half dead."
She dashed forward like a blur and slashed. Xian, late to react, blocked with his bare arms, leaving a deep blood red gash in his skin.
Serika didn't stop and followed up with a flurry of strikes. Without hesitation she made Xian bleed from his wounds. The wooden sword couldn't cut, but ruptured his skin open anyways.
Xian silently endured. He didn't even scream.
"Is this another of that bitch's order?" Finally unable to take it, he decided to let loose.
Serika flinched, wide eyed upon hearing that.
"… What did you call her?"
"Fuckass, I called her bitch." Xian snarled and took the nearest two daggers available.
Right now he didn't want to understand why. He wanted a clean hit at her no matter what it takes.
A sword aimed right at his eyes flashed and he tilted his body just in time to see it pass in close proximity.
Then another kick at the abdomen hit him, and unlike before he endured and slashed with his two blades, grunting.
"Hahh.." He felt pain over all his body. But there was enough anger to numb it.
"I'll take your eyes, if I hear one more insult." Serika warned chilly. But Xian was unperturbed. Her Affection level hadn't gone down much. Only four points lower.
'I think I get the situation.' So he was going to relish in it.
"Shut up." He snarled. "Come, so I can beat you, you damned brat." And taunted her further.
"Hah! Interesting. That'll make me feel less guilty."
They fought a bloodied battle, as red stained the training ground. Although it was all Xian's blood. He disregarded the strikes and went for the kill, even if he knew he'll miss.
The whole time, he can hear his own beastly grunt while trying to catch Serika.
Eventually he stood battered, the butler uniform Moris had given torn on its shins and torso. It was even stained due to his bleeding. He can feel a few ribs on him barely holding on.
"At least you've got guts." Taking a familiar stance, Serika was about to end the battle.
Xian with vision already blurring entered a state in between consciousness and passing out.
'Where's the enemy… ah it's her. That rude girl. I'm gonna teach her a lesson.'
Even his thoughts were random and he felt like lucid dreaming.
Serika moved to strike.
She brought her sword down, intending to hit Xian in his temples.
"!!"
But it got caught in his hand instead. She pulled back with careful force but the grip was too tight.
Until it got crushed in his hands. Serika widened her eyes in shock.
"Raah!" Xian lunged at her, with both his hands ready to smash her.
She sidestepped, confident in avoiding him easily, but then Xian twisted his direction impossibly.
Xians whole body was coming at her. With his widespread arms and large body she failed to evade him.
They fell to the ground with Xian on top of her. He glared with unfocused eyes as he tilted back his head, then bashed it onto her face. That did it as he fainted leaning to the side.
"Huh?" Serika's expression was dazed before slowly contorting and realizing what happened. In shock, he roughly threw Xian away.
She wanted to wake up Xian and beat him to a pulp again but he was already timed out in the ground.
"Hey! You three saw nothing!" She shouted to the three maids with stunned expression.
She was in trouble. Carmillia had ordered her to drive Xian away under the pretext of keeping him out of trouble. The patriarch had informed her lady that he would be sending a special butler, but in Carmillia's eyes he was far too weak to be of any use. And judging from their earlier exchange, he was the type who would stubbornly cling to his duty no matter what.
Breaking his spirit was the only way to force him to leave. Many more enemies would come for her in the future, so it was better if he cut ties with the household now.
Although she doubted the duke wouldn't somehow find a disposable role for him, at least it will prolong his life.
Wiping the drop of blood on her nose, she snarled at the maids frozen in their places. "What are you all standing for? Heal him!"
Just then she recognized one particularly concerned maid who rushed over before anyone else, the one wrapped in his arms earlier. She was muttering while healing him, but she didn't bother to understand it.
'Is something going on between them?'
'Lucky them. They have time for useless things.' She mused, sitting on the ground and watching the three maids join forces tending to Xian.
At first, she hadn't known what to do to thank that guy. If it weren't for him, she might have been a corpse with a broken neck by now.
But the lady's orders came first. She had even warmed up beforehand to show off. In the end, her mouth ran off spouting harsh words, and she ended up beating him severely.
She hated stale fights most of all. Xian was just… really pathetic when they fought. She doesn't even want to do it again. It felt bad roughing up her savior.
'He probably hates me now.' Sighing Serika thought that it's inevitable. He even began to provoke her by calling the lady derogatory terms and calling her a brat.
But she didn't dwell on it, anyone would be angry if they're suddenly beaten and humiliated. And they were bound to separate ways soon.
There's no way someone improves in battle just because of a one week beating.
'At least, he was a bit chilling…' She felt her hair stand on end slightly as Xian swung blindly like a beast. It was also hard to gauge his strength since it was fluctuating from weak and strong blows.
There was one more thing she realized.
'His body already houses aura. But it felt trapped.' She can tell that its at the level of a trained warrior, but the lady saw something else. Just his weakness in terms of battle and she turned out right. Still, a warrior could gauge another's strength better than a mage could. Her lady was bound to misjudge things like that.
Xian was a confusing man for her. It was like he was made up from scratch to become that way.
Soon enough, the maids carried him to his room. Probably.
She also left the training ground and changed into her armor.
Once she wore it, she stopped mouthing off. She became a blade that responded only to threats and orders. As usual, she followed the young lady wherever she went, making sure there were no dangers nearby.
At night, after their duties.
They slept near the Carmillia's room in order to respond as quick as possible should an intruder pay a visit.
While changing her clothes, someone came in the room.
But she didn't panic. It was Lucinelle, the woman she called sis.
"Did you thank him?" Lucinelle spoke with a soft voice, like gentle song. It fit perfectly to her saint like appearance, long bright yellow hair and eyes.
"N-no… Orders come first sis." Serika hesitatingly answered. "Besides, I'm doing him a favor anyways. I mean, it's lady's orders but still…"
"That won't do. You should thank him. You're here by my side because of him."
"… Okay. I'll find a chance to."
Serika's expression softened. They weren't sisters by blood, but sworn sisters by circumstances. Even so, they forged a bond like real siblings and promised to be family. And to protect Carmillia together.
"That's good. Appreciate goodwill, just like the mercy Madam and her daughter gave us." She smiled at her now docile sibling.
Serika recalled the days of her tumultuous childhood and how they had ended up in this estate.
Lucinelle came from the ruined household of a count, while Serika had belonged to a modest baron family that had been caught in the same incident. They recognized each other through their families' ties and ended up together in the same orphanage.
But then it was attacked by slave poachers. The orphanage burned, and just when she thought they were about to meet their end…
That was when they met Carmillia.
Together with the benevolent mistress of the Montagne household and the family's signature dark-armored guards.
"Do you want to save them, Carmy?"
She held the small girl's hand, dressed in a simple white dress as she stared at the chaos before her. The child's hollow eyes turned toward the woman as she spoke.
"…Why should I?"