Villain Path

Chapter 70. Family bonds

The next morning, Shen opened his eyes, and almost immediately there was a knock on the door.

"Teacher, are you awake?"

Annis seems intent on becoming his personal servant. Shen turned his head and looked at the thin door, through which the silhouette of a girl shone through.

"Will you have breakfast at your place?"

"I'm not hungry," he said. "Arrange for tea to be served on the terrace."

With these orders, he began to remind himself of a noble person.

Shen got to his feet and swayed slightly. Lately, weakness has been haunting him constantly, he even managed to get used to it. Ignoring him, he got dressed and tidied up his hair. Hmm. And where is his serenity of solitude in the black castle? Where there was no need to worry so much about whether the hair was normal and whether the belt was tied correctly.

His thoughts again bumped into Muan, and he recalled his recent dream. A very strange dream, not a nightmare of Deep Darkness and not the product of his own confused consciousness, there were too many bright details around, it was too strange what was happening.

Shen went out into the hallway and then onto the terrace.

Ir Shuer's estate was truly huge. It consisted of many passages, courtyards, pavilions, galleries and rooms, and for Shen it seemed like a real labyrinth. Yesterday he was able to appreciate only a small part of it.

Al stood by the door.

"Good morning," Shen greeted, to which the disciple only bowed.

"Is everything good?"

"This disciple is doing well!" Bowing, he squeezed out quickly.

Shen thought it wasn't good at all. It has been a long time since he heard Al say "this disciple" about himself. It's not good at all.

He raised his hand and placed it on the fluffy golden crown. Al flinched and finally looked directly at him.

"Good morning," Shen repeated.

" Good morning, teacher."

A quick stomp was clearly audible on the wooden flooring, Annis twisted around the bend with a tray in her hands. Shen removed his hand and turned to face her.

"Your tea, teacher!"

It was a truly amusing sight. Despite his concern, Shen finally smiled sincerely.

The girl brought a tray of tea and a soft pillow. After carefully placing the tray and pouring the tea into one of the bowls, she bowed and stepped aside.

Shen sat down on the pillow and looked around the picture. «No, well, that's not the point!»

"Hey, you two. Are you going to stand there while your teacher is suffering from loneliness?"

"Teacher?" Annis was taken aback.

"Sit next to me. Let's drink tea together."

"Yes teacher!" the girl immediately exclaimed happily.

Al nodded discreetly and knelt beside the tray. He reached for the teapot, but Shen got there first and poured tea for them himself.

Next to his rooms was a small patio with a garden of white stones. Shen gazed thoughtfully at the cherry tree that had long ago thrown off its leaves. His thoughts were still confused from sleep.

A maid hurried along the path past a tree with a pile of linen in a basin. Her hair looked inky, like a raven's wing, and her puffy, pink lips stood out on her pale face. Shen followed her hurrying figurine with his gaze, reflecting on family ties. Shuer had children and grandchildren. A large warm family of several generations lived in this house. A family...