The one who came out from inside the mansion was a beautiful girl the same age as Ziel. With wavy black hair and blue eyes. She has white and smooth skin and is about 165cm tall. She looks very beautiful though not on the same level as Princess Aishia or Princess Freya.
"Dad, you're home." The girl smiled at Duke Hazell and then she hugged him.
"Yeah, I'm home, Clara." Duke Hazell returned the girl's hug with a warm smile.
Clara Castilene is the only daughter of Hazell Castilene and Eleanor Castilene. Her black hair is what she got from his father. Because Eleanor Castilene has blue hair and is not a native of the Neigal Kingdom. .
"Dad, when did you arrive? and who is he?" after breaking free from his father's arms, he realized that there was an unknown with his father.
"I just arrived and your mother picked me up at the front. And he is the one who will be your servant. His name is Ken Nijisaki." Duke Hazell introduces Ziel to Clara.
"Really dad? I thought you forgot about that. Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Clara Castilene. And it looks like we're not that far apart in age. I'm glad to be your acquaintance." Clara introduced herself to Ziel the same way her mother did. Looks elegant and dignified.
"My name is Ken Nijisaki. Please forgive me if my manners are not very good. I am currently 16 years old. I also feel happy to acquaintance with you." Ziel lowered his head and put his hand on his chest while introducing himself.
Ziel could see that Clara Castilene was very spoiled by her parents from their exchange.
"That's good since we're the same age. Hopefully, we can get along quickly. So please don't be too stiff." Clara smiled beautifully like a blooming flower.
"I understand. I am pleased to serve you." Ziel nodded slightly in response. He didn't show any expression at all when he saw Clara's beautiful smile.
"Okay because now you have a butler. You can't be lazy with your training. Now Ken needs to rest because it's a long journey and he starts working as your butler starting tomorrow. Raven, please take Ken to his room." Duke Hazell was feeling very tired and wanted to rest soon.
"Yes sir. Ken, I will take you to your room." Raven comes and walks towards the room reserved for Ziel.
"Okay, then I'll go first." Ziel lowered his head to Duke Hazell and the others then walked after raven.
***
It's midnight, in a room that looks like a study room. Duke Hazell sat on his desk reading the report.
Knock...knock...knock...
"Honey, it's me. May I come in?" Eleanor's voice came from behind the door.
"You can come in honey." Duke Hazell answered while continuing to look at the report in his hand.
Eleanor came in and held a cup of tea in her hand. She put her teacup on her husband's desk. And she was sitting on a lounger not far from there.
"It's the middle of the night honey, you just rested for a while after coming home from the previous trip. Is work that important?" She was worried to see her husband's face that looked tired.
"This is very important because it concerns my attack today." Duke Hazell said with a darkened face.
"Did that person do it?" Eleanor wanted to know who had attacked her husband on the way back home.
"I still don't know who it is, but the person I am most hostile towards right now is that person. Marquis Jacob Remington." Duke Hazell sighed heavily and leaned back in the chair.
"Insolent, so the previous attack on this mansion was his doing?" Eleanor gritted her teeth while holding back her anger.
"Calm down honey, right now all I'm thinking about is Clara's safety. Luckily I met Ken on this trip so I don't have to bother looking for anyone else." Duke Hazell had a look of relief on his face.
"Can he be trusted, honey?" Eleanor asked Duke Hazell, she still had a little doubt about Ziel.
"You know how I am, right? I can't possibly make a suspicious person as Clara's bodyguard. Although I don't know exactly where he came from. But I'm sure he's not a spy. It's just my feeling, but I believe it. He's the right person to look after Clara." Duke Hazell seems to trust Ziel even though it's the first time they've met.
"Well if you think so, I believe in your decision." Eleanor smiled sweetly and no longer questioned her husband's decision. She then got up from her chair and approached Duke Hazell and gave him a light kiss on the lips.
"Please don't be late. I'm going back to my room honey. Good night." She then walked out of the room.
"I'll work on it. Good night honey." Duke Hazell smiled at his wife and refocused on the report in his hand.
***
Just past midnight, Ziel who was sleeping suddenly opened his eyes.
"Haah... I haven't even started work yet and trouble has arrived." Ziel sighed heavily then immediately got up from his bed. He then put on a robe to cover himself.
As he was about to leave he saw a dinner knife on the table next to his bed. Then he took it and disappeared from his room.
***
Duke Hazell's residence was quite spacious. Apart from the large and luxurious mansion building. The garden area is even bigger than that. Many flowers and trees are planted there so that the residence looks beautiful and refreshing. Behind the trees, there are 4 people dressed in all black and covering their faces.
"Execute according to plan, this time must not fail!" The man in black and holding a dagger gave an order. He looks like the leader of the group.
"So our target this time is Duke Hazell's daughter?" Another person in black spoke, he was carrying a wand-like magician in his hand.
"Yes, this is an order from the boss." The leader answered in a low voice.
"Hehe... can we enjoy it before we kill her?" Another person in black who was holding an ax in his hand spoke while laughing.
"No, we have to kill him as quickly as possible and get out of here. Do you understand?" The leader spoke threateningly.
"Okay... okay..." But the person holding the ax seemed to ignore it.
"Yawn...let's finish soon because I'm sleepy." The last person holding 2 tridents in his hand.
"Yeah, let's finish soon..." The leader suddenly stopped talking. He felt a terrifying feeling that sent chills down his spine. He had never felt that way during his time as a murderer. Like a kitten meets a tiger. His body was shaking and he couldn't move.
It wasn't just him who felt it, all of his men fell silent and their bodies were also shaking and dripping sweat from their foreheads.
"Run away!!!" The leader forced a scream from deep within his lungs.
But the leader's shout was too late. A barrier formed and blocked their escape path.
"Damn it! What is this? Quickly break this barrier and run away from here!!" The leader shouted and attacked the barrier. But the barrier was not scratched in the slightest.
"No way! Not even a scratch with the strength of the captain who is a dagger master!!" The man in black who was holding an ax was shocked to see his captain's attack did not affect the barrier in front of him.
"I can't believe we can't break this barrier. Let's attack together!!" The leader shouted in frustration at his subordinates.
They unleashed their full power attacks, 5 magic circles and aura seals were visible on their bodies. The 4 people are at the master level.
[Thunderball]
[Mountain breaks]
[Dead Slash]
[Pierching Heart]
Their combined full power attack was aimed at a single point of the barrier. So the barrier will be impacted many times.
Boooooooommmmmm...