Elisa picked up the [Searl Daily], opened [Simon’s Log], and reread the passages concerning the [Finger Bone] and invisibility, extracting the key information.
A thumb, cold to the touch, the body also becomes cold after use, but body temperature does not decrease… The last two details were things the male servant had discovered through his research this morning.
This finger bone should be a transcendent item, possessing an unknown spell that could produce an invisibility effect.
Transcendent items were controlled objects everywhere. If the police learned about it, there would definitely be trouble.
Fortunately, clever me has plenty of experience in this area. When I questioned the three thieves just now, I secretly used a blood spell to slightly disrupt the circulation in their throats. They won’t be able to speak for two or three days.
Tonight, I’ll go out again and erase the memories related to the [Finger Bone] from the three thieves’ minds. That spell takes quite a bit of time, and there was neither enough time nor an opportunity to use it at the manor.
In truth, Elisa didn’t think the three thieves would be stupid enough to tell the police about the [Finger Bone]. Not only would it fail to reduce their sentences, it would also get them transferred to the Church, where they would face even harsher punishment.
But it was better to be safe than sorry. Elisa had seen far too many fools in the archipelago.
When I erase their memories tonight, I might as well ask whether they have any hidden money. Better it goes to me than to the police station.
Having finished considering the matter of the three thieves, Elisa moved on to the next problem.
How could she get the [Finger Bone] out of the male servant’s hands? Cash compensation or an exchange of items would both work.
This [Finger Bone] was far too dangerous. She absolutely, absolutely could not leave it in the male servant’s possession!
Elisa checked the latest entry in [Simon’s Log].
[The invisible Simon followed Eve and entered an empty bedroom with the maid.]
What are you trying to do?! Get out of there now!
Be careful, Eve! There’s a pervert following you!
[Simon circled the maid, looking left and right, front and back, up and down. The maid was busy changing the bedsheets and noticed nothing.]
Left and right is one thing, but what exactly do you mean by looking front and back, up and down?!
Elisa put down the newspaper. This can’t go on. I have to save Eve!
She pressed the call bell on the tea table. Its clear chime rang through the corridor and reached the ears of her personal maid in the next room.
[Eve heard the young lady’s summons, put down her work, walked past Simon, and headed toward the young lady’s bedroom.]
Elisa breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
[Simon followed behind Eve.]
Her smile vanished, and Elisa’s eyes widened.
What do you mean you followed Eve? Where are you planning to go?!
Don’t come over here!
As a veteran transcendent, a powerful figure whose name was known throughout the archipelago, of course I have ways to detect invisible people and methods to break invisibility.
But I can’t use them! My public persona is that of an innocent merchant’s daughter. There’s no way I could discover an invisible person, much less dispel their invisibility!
I have to pretend I haven’t noticed him and let the male servant do whatever he wants to me!
Heaven knows what that scumbag male servant might do!
Miss Elisa shuddered, filled with regret.
I originally thought he would only target the maids and that they were the ones in danger. I never imagined he would actually turn his claws on me, his mistress!
[Simon followed Eve into the young lady’s bedroom. He circled the sofa once, confirming that Miss Elisa, who was sitting on it, could not see him.]
Who says I can’t see you? I can see you perfectly clearly!
But I can only pretend I can’t. Stay away from me! Stop staring at me!
Miss Elisa now fully understood what it meant to be caught in a trap of her own making. She tried to salvage the situation.
“Miss Elisa.” Eve stood beside the sofa, looking around for the reason the young lady had summoned her.
Ignoring the male servant staring at her, Elisa calmly instructed, “Please fetch Miss Maria.”
“Yes, young lady.” Eve acknowledged the order, left the bedroom, and went to the butler’s room to find Maria.
Elisa prayed silently: Follow her. Follow her…
At the edge of her vision, the male servant remained motionless, showing no intention of leaving.
Oh no. Is this male servant really after me?
Elisa had no choice but to consider whether she should do something to protect herself, even at the risk of exposing her abilities.
Before she could make a decision, Maria arrived at the bedroom.
Elisa brought up a random topic and chatted with Maria, continuing to think about how to deal with the male servant.
She soon discovered that her worries had been entirely unnecessary.
As soon as Maria arrived, the male servant’s gaze immediately shifted from her to Maria, without the slightest hesitation or lingering attachment.
[Compared to the youthful Miss Elisa, Simon preferred the mature Miss Maria.]
“……”
Although she had successfully escaped danger, Elisa felt no relief whatsoever. She even wanted to grab the male servant’s head, turn it back toward herself, and tell him that this was what an elegant figure looked like!
Miss Elisa nearly failed to maintain her composure. She couldn’t help glancing at Maria’s chest. Beneath the black-and-white maid uniform, the curves were quite substantial, giving an impression of weight even at a glance.
She then looked down at herself. The neckline of her pale-yellow dress was trimmed with lace, concealing her modest curves and giving her a light, delicate appearance.
The difference was far too obvious.
After a brief moment of gloom, she comforted herself: Elisa, oh Elisa, your figure means nothing. You’re a transcendent, not a dancer. Power is what you should be pursuing!
It’s all that lecherous servant’s fault! I never used to think about this!
Haah, I suddenly understand Mabel a little better.
Elisa sighed softly, raised her head, and met Maria’s eyes.
Maria quietly looked away, turning her gaze toward the teacup on the coffee table.
“……!”
Oh no, Maria saw me comparing our figures and sighing just now!
Once would have been bad enough, but now it’s happened twice. She must think I’m a young lady who’s excessively concerned about the size of that part of her body!
I’m not! I’m really not!
Elisa desperately wanted to defend herself, but any such defense would only deepen the impression rather than clear her name.
That damned male servant!
[Simon felt Miss Elisa glare at him. He looked more closely, but it seemed to have been his imagination.]
[The finger bone’s effective duration was about to end, and Simon left the young lady’s bedroom.]
He’s finally gone!
Elisa wearily rubbed her forehead.
She asked Maria, “What is Simon doing?”
Hurry up and do something about him!
Maria replied, “Mr. Simon didn’t sleep last night. He’s resting in his room now.”
He’s not resting at all! He’s following maids around everywhere!
He even barged into my bedroom and mocked my figure!
And now I still have to think about how to reward him!
Elisa suppressed her frustration.
At least the male servant had only looked and hadn’t done anything else. Thinking about it that way, his conduct could be considered upright, even if only by a tiny margin.
Not every man could resist the temptation to do whatever he pleased with a maid.
Elisa had come to a somewhat favorable opinion of the male servant’s character. She said to Maria, “My father may come to visit sometime in the next few months. We’ll need to prepare a personal servant for him.”
Maria understood what the young lady meant. “I’ll inform Mr. Simon.”
Strictly speaking, a first-rank male servant was not considered a senior servant. Only upon reaching the rank of personal servant would one truly become a senior servant, effectively half a master of the manor.
Maria left the bedroom. Elisa lay on the sofa, staring at [Simon’s Log] through gritted teeth.
[Simon returned to his bedroom. Drowsiness washed over him, and he soon fell asleep.]
[The Young Lady’s Late-Night Lessons] was available again, even though it was not yet late at night.
Elisa told the maid that she was going to take a short nap and entered the dream classroom. She changed the lesson from [Mysticism] to [Combat].
“Prepare to die, you pervert!”
In the dream, Elisa charged at Simon with her fists swinging.
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