Chapter 14: An Uneasy Heart
Maya couldn’t help but notice the significant changes in Charle, but she was smart enough not to ask or pry. As a seasoned head maid, she understood the cardinal rule: you only know what your master wants you to know. Even if you discover something you shouldn’t, you must pretend to be oblivious.
Otherwise, even a Serving Maid renowned for her loyalty could be disposed of. Maya had personally handled the disposal of more than a few Serving Maids. When the master believed that your death was the only way to ensure their peace of mind, then death was your only path.
Eighty percent of Serving Maids met unnatural ends. The rest either swore to spend their lives in ascetic practices at the Serving Church or were turned into cripples, unable to hear, speak, or write. And that was considered a merciful outcome by their masters.
The reason for this was their unwavering loyalty. Their masters entrusted them with highly confidential matters, but as the secrets piled up, the masters inevitably grew uneasy. The only solution was to silence them permanently.
Maya was luckier than other Serving Maids because her relationship with the Countess she served was not purely professional. They were not only mistress and maid but also lovers. This allowed Maya to access more secrets and power, reaching a point where even the Countess’s newly ascended son wouldn’t dare to act against her easily. Otherwise, how could she have survived until now?
As Owen had guessed, Maya’s rich life experiences and personal encounters had transformed her from a pure Serving Maid into something more complex.
Of course, she still adhered to the fundamental principle of a Serving Maid: never harm your master. But within that boundary, what was wrong with striving for a better and happier life?
Owen was unaware of Maya’s thoughts. He was busy researching the System.
After breaking through the limitations, his Progress Value limit had reached twenty points and started to touch upon the supernatural realm, providing him with more options.
However, after some research, Owen realized how inadequate a twenty-point limit was. Any decent supernatural target either exceeded the limit or offered poor value for its cost. This left him struggling with decision paralysis, so he decided to focus on the immediate situation.
With the increased limit, the recovery speed of Progress Value had also significantly improved.
Owen observed that the recovery from zero to three points was the fastest. It slowed down noticeably at five points, and after ten points, the recovery became increasingly slower. To reach twenty points, it took three to four times longer than recovering from zero to ten.
Therefore, the most efficient approach was to exchange for troop types that cost three to five Progress Value points. This would allow him to assemble a cavalry force.
Although Swordsmen and Archers were quite useful, cavalry possessed a greater deterrent effect.
The only cavalry options available for three Progress Value points were Scout Cavalry and Light Cavalry. The former was more suited for reconnaissance, while the latter lacked combat power, only capable of bullying ranged units and poorly organized light infantry. In a direct confrontation, their casualty rate would be too high, making it more cost-effective to exchange for Cuirassiers.
Although it took longer to accumulate five Progress Value points for Cuirassiers, these heavily armored cavalry, equipped with lances and shields, were capable of charging enemy formations head-on. They were not as fragile as Light Cavalry, and their defense against arrows was also improved. They possessed considerable deterrent power on the battlefield.
With even a small squad of Cuirassiers present, anyone considering provoking Owen would carefully weigh the consequences. After all, even a knight would struggle against a charging squad of Cuirassiers.
To maintain secrecy, Owen chose not to exchange for troops within the castle. He took his soldiers to the Magic Horn Forest for a hunting expedition. This was a noble tradition, a precaution against wild beasts driven out of the forest by food scarcity before winter. Even if you weren’t a skilled hunter, you were expected to participate, observing your soldiers at work. It was a matter of tradition.
However, Owen’s actions were all a ruse to deceive Maya. In reality, he was no match for her wit and felt insecure. He wanted to keep his secrets hidden, much like a married man instinctively hiding his private savings. It was a survival instinct of male creatures.
Owen didn’t bother concealing his distrust of Maya. He knew his attempts to deceive her would be futile. It was better to openly display an attitude of “you haven’t earned my trust yet.”
This was perfectly normal. He was the master, the noble. It was natural for him to be suspicious of everyone and not easily trust anyone. Maya didn’t find anything amiss.
In truth, Owen’s inner thoughts were more complex. As a transmigrator, he felt a deep sense of loneliness and relied on Maya both physically and emotionally. However, he wouldn’t completely trust her.
The reason was simple: experience.
His diverse life experiences had shaped his complex heart. This was why Owen was willing to trust Charle but remained cautious with Maya.
In his past life, the consequences of misplaced trust were limited to heartbreak and financial loss. But in this world, the price was often more direct. Murder was far too easy. Who knew what kind of torture he might endure if his secrets were discovered? What methods might be employed to control him? There were too many unknowns.
Uncertainty and fear made it difficult for Owen to fully trust anyone, even Charle was only halfway there.
As for gaining his complete trust, Owen believed it was impossible. Even dying for him wouldn’t suffice. This was a world of magic where anything could happen. Death wasn’t necessarily irreversible. Therefore, no amount of caution was excessive.
Despite their intimate interactions, which they both enjoyed and cherished, Owen wasn’t a naive young man easily blinded by love. He wouldn’t readily expose his vulnerabilities for the sake of romance or a fleeting infatuation. Life’s trials had taught him to remain calm and avoid impulsive actions, as he often couldn’t afford the consequences.
Driven by these concerns, Owen instinctively wanted to keep some cards close to his chest. The Magic Horn Forest was just the first step. He hoped he wouldn’t need to use it, but if he did, it would be worth the effort.
He chose the Magic Horn Forest for two reasons. First, it was relatively close to the castle. Second, it was a dangerous place where people rarely ventured.
The poisonous Magic Horn Trees, the cunning and ferocious Magic Horn Goblins, and the wild beasts that roamed the forest were enough to claim most lives. Only desperate bandits would willingly enter this place, ensuring its secrecy.
However, although the outskirts of the Magic Horn Forest were relatively safe, it was only a relative term. Therefore, Owen not only exchanged for some Farmers but also some additional troops, powerful troops. Otherwise, he might not find any survivors on his next visit.
It seemed irrational for Owen to waste valuable labor in the Magic Horn Forest before even rebuilding the city walls. But he wasn’t acting purely on logic. He was still a foolish novice. Many of his meticulously crafted plans had never been put to use, making his utilization of the Golden Finger pathetically inefficient. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have entrusted so much work to Maya despite his lack of complete trust in her. It was all to improve efficiency and avoid waste.
Moreover, the arrangements in the Magic Horn Forest were more of a way for Owen to soothe his inner anxieties than a genuine backup plan. He had invested considerable effort in it.
