An Owl's Rise

Chapter 485: The Taidale Family Estate (2)

Evelyn was on edge the entire journey from the front gate to Maeve’s residence.

She could feel numerous sets of eyes on them, watching from afar.

Most of them seemed to be either just curious or dismissive from what she could tell since there was no emotion behind the presences.

Yet, there were a few that were radiating immense hostility.

Evelyn made note of the directions the hostile gazes were coming from.

Most of them were coming from several mansions near the center of the estate, but one in particular was coming from the central palace.

’They’re not even trying to mask their animosity. No wonder Maeve the decision to run away once she lost her parents. I doubt anyone would want to live in a hostile environment like this.’ Evelyn thought, feeling sympathetic towards Maeve.

It was not easy for her to put aside her hatred for humans, but Maeve was slowly growing on her.

Perhaps she saw her former self in the girl, or it was all just pity. Evelyn could not be certain exactly why Maeve did not infuriate her quite as much as other people.

Still, it was not easy to get past her own biases so easily. Years upon years of malice did not go away just because she found a single human she did not completely loath.

’No, I need to keep focused. We’re basically surrounded by enemies on all sides. I need to be ready for when a fight breaks out. That’ll at least give me the chance to take out some of my frustrations from being in a coma for nearly five years.’

Evelyn remained vigil for any dangers, but none of the hostile people that would have happily killed Maeve in cold blood made any moves.

They just continued to watch until the carriage pulled into the courtyard in front of Maeve’s residence.

After that, all of the gazes abruptly vanished, and Evelyn realized quickly that it was due to some sort of anti-surveillance enchantment around the building and its immediate surroundings.

Bylur, acting as the coachman, pulled the magic carriage up to the entrance of the main building.

The design of the structure remained Evelyn of a cross between Mediterranean and East Asian architecture.

Though this was just her first impression from seeing the exterior and comparing it to her knowledge from Earth.

There were plenty of aspects to the estate’s buildings that were completely unique to this world and did not fit in line with anything Evelyn knew from her past life.

Once Evelyn had her fill of examine the architecture, she turned her attention to the people that were lined up outside of the front door and bowing in Maeve’s direction.

From their clothing, she could tell that they were the servants that managed the residence.

There were only six of them, which seemed a bit low for such a large area to maintain.

However, Evelyn could sense that five of them were at the low tier of the acolyte rank, while an older matronly looking woman who appeared to be in charge of the servants was at the high tier of the acolyte rank.

This did not make them particularly strong, but with access to magic and enhanced physical abilities, they could likely accomplish the work of dozens of regular workers by themselves.

’Well, none of them should be any real threat.’ Evelyn thought, losing interest in the women.

Her job was merely to keep Maeve safe for the duration of their stay. She would leave social interactions to her or Lucia.

"""We welcome you home, Young Mistress.""" The six servants all said in unison.

"Thank you all. It is good to be back. I wish to pay a visit to my parents’ graves before anything else. Please continue with your normal duties for now. I will call on all of you later to discuss the future."

Maeve walked inside with her head held high, and Evelyn, along with Rehni and Lucia followed behind her.

Bylur, unlucky, was being treated like a low level servant and was directed to park the carriage in the residence’s carriage house.

He gave Evelyn a desperate look, hoping she would help him out and explain that he really was not a coachman, but she turned away and abandoned him to his fate.

He was not in any real trouble, and perhaps Maeve’s staff would be more open with him if they thought he was just some unimportant guy that had been hired to ferry Maeve around.

Before the four of them could enter the main building though, one of the servant approached Maeve and kneeled.

"Young Mistress, please forgive me for interrupting you. But I noticed that Amelia and Josephine are not with you. Will they be arriving at a later time? We’ll need to have their rooms prepared for when they return."

At the mention of her two close handmaidens, Maeve’s expression clouded over for a second.

She had been forced to leave the two of them behind, along with the rest of the personnel she had brought to the Miris Sect.

Her flight from the sect had not been forced on her and rushed.

Vivienne had not wanted to take any risks in her being stopped from leaving and escaping from the Miris Sect’s fate.

As she had been inducted as a core member of the sect, under normal circumstances she would have been forced to stay and fight.

To lower the odds of anyone discovering her, Evelyn, Lucia, Rehni, and Bylur had taken only her.

"I’m sorry Beatrice, but neither of them will be joining us for a while longer. Both of them are still in the Miris Sect with my great-aunt. I know that you must be worried about your sister, but Lady Vivienne will make sure that she’s safe." Maeve responded, her face having become a stony mask.

She knew that she was lying to both herself and Beatrice.

Truthfully, she had no idea what had happened to Amelia or Josephine, or any of the other people she had brought with her.

Considering that they had been left in her grand-aunt’s care, and Vivienne was currently missing, there was a good chance that they were being held as prisoners, forced to work as slaves, or dead.

Still, Maeve could only hope that they were safe. Otherwise, the worry would affect her judgment. Something she could not afford right now.

"U-understood."

Beatrice’s voice started shaking, and she swiftly slinked away. Her spirits obviously having fallen. No doubt she had heard at least a little about what had occurred between the Deamhain and Miris Sects. Learning that her sister, Amelia, was still there, naturally weighed on her.

Evelyn watched all of this with a disinterested expression, though a small part of her heart did feel for the woman.

Her siblings meant a lot to her. Feeling concern for them was something that she could relate to.

’We haven’t heard anything from Verrader in far too long. Aralee told me that he sent a message to the Verdant Warlord’s Domain three years ago, but he’s been completely silent since then. Whatever he’s doing, I hope he’s okay.’

After worrying about her current life’s brother, her thoughts started to shift towards Mason.

Other than the inheritance he had left behind for her, she had not found any other traces or clues as to what might have happened to him.

She was working under the assumption that he had ascend to the next plane of existence, but it was just as likely he had died.

’No, don’t think about that. I just need to worry about our current objective. Mason’s fine, and I’ll find him some day.’ Evelyn thought, reassuring herself.

Without any other distractions, Maeve entered her home for the first time in more than five years. With Evelyn, Lucia, and Rehni following behind her.

Wistfully, she looked around, a nostalgic expression on her face.

Still, she only paused for a few moments before cutting through the entry way and heading to the back of the building.

There she exited out of a set of double doors that led into a beautiful garden.

All manner of flowers and pruned shrubbery grew in a beautifully curated garden, and there was a small stream that fed into several ponds holding dazzlingly colorful fish inside of them.

It was an idyllic looking place, but Maeve hardly paid the scenery any mind.

Instead, she walked purposefully towards a large mausoleum that was barely visible in the distance.

Evelyn was surprised to see that there was a enchanted gate that would bare people entry, but with how much enmity there was between the different members of the Taidale Family, perhaps it was a necessary precaution.

The gate opened for Maeve without resistance, her blood being the key to open it. So long as she was alive, only she and the family’s patriarch could enter this place and give others permission to as well. Though, her paternal grandparents would have been able to as well, if they were still around.

Once they were inside of the stone building, Maeve headed directly for two raised coffins in the center of the Mausoleum.

There she kneeled down and bowed her head.

Evelyn could hear Maeve’s heartbeat rapidly increasing, and she was trying to hold back a flood of tears. Something she failed at after just a few seconds

"Father, mother, I’ve finally returned. When I last left, it was in shame and fear. But I’ve reached the arcanist rank and have powerful allies backing me. I promise you both, I’ll take my rightful place as the next head of the family, no matter what. Just as the two of you always wanted."