Night fell quickly over the Thorne mansion. Alisia was seen walking through the second-floor hallway.
She was currently heading somewhere—namely, her father's study.
Alisia stopped as the guard stationed there opened the brown door in front of her.
"Please, Miss," he said politely.
Alisia nodded with a smile, an expression that perfectly reflected her image as a sweet woman.
She then stepped inside. Her blue eyes immediately fell on the middle-aged man who was none other than her father, Julian Thorne.
Julian, who recognized the sound of Alisia's footsteps just as well, lifted his head.
Just like his daughter, Julian's lips curved into a smile. He quickly closed his documents and focused on Alisia.
"You called for me, Father?" Alisia asked.
"That's right. Sit down." Julian rose from his seat and led Alisia to the sofa nearby.
"Sit," he said again.
Alisia nodded, then took her seat. Julian did the same, sitting across from her. The only thing separating them was a glass table covered with snacks and teacups.
"I heard you've acquired a new servant," Julian said as he sipped his tea.
"So you already know."
"Of course. Nothing escapes my notice in this mansion—especially not you, my daughter."
Another smile appeared on Alisia's beautiful lips as she, too, drank her tea with her head slightly lowered.
"Did he come here with you?"
Alisia shook her head. "He'll start working tomorrow, Father," she replied.
Julian studied his daughter, who seemed different today for some reason.
Yes, it was true. He admitted that Alisia was a girl who smiled easily and was quite cheerful.
But she seemed a little more cheerful than usual today.
Her face was radiant, and her eyes sparkled.
"Do you like your servant that much?" Julian asked.
At his question, Alisia immediately looked back at her father.
She nodded. "Yes... I suppose you could say that."
"You said he'll start working tomorrow, so how could he have made you this happy already?"
Alisia's eyes shifted, and her expression clearly showed that she was remembering something.
"It seems I didn't choose the wrong servant this time, Father," she said, recalling Alessandro protecting her reputation.
Julian frowned when he heard that. "What do you mean? What did he do to make you so certain this time?" he asked.
"From what I've seen, Leo is a very honest person. He's also skilled at his work. Leo respects me deeply, too. And that's not all—he even goes out of his way to protect my reputation," Alisia replied. "So don't you dare bother him, Father. Leo is my servant, which means he's mine. You understand, don't you?"
Instead of answering, Julian took another sip of tea, his dark eyes fixed straight on Alisia.
His gaze made it clear that he had no intention of simply doing as Alisia wished.
A new servant was still a new servant, no matter how good his behavior appeared. There was no guarantee that his heart matched what he showed on the outside.
Meanwhile, after confirming that he had truly been accepted as Miss Thorne's servant, Alessandro was being escorted by one of the servants to a room that was none other than his bedroom.
"This is your room," the servant said with a hint of disdain. "And listen, you're the new servant. So watch yourself."
"I understand." Alessandro nodded humbly, something he was really doing only for his father.
But here, he truly had to accept being treated like a lowly servant—even bowing before another servant.
The male servant stared at Alessandro sharply. It was obvious that he disliked him intensely, though the reason was unclear.
He then turned and walked away, muttering, "Tch. He must've been hired just because of his looks. I doubt he has any skills as a servant. If I had a face like that, I wouldn't apply to be a servant. I'd apply to be an actor."
It wasn't that Alessandro hadn't heard what the servant said. He simply didn't care. He wasn't here to make friends or enemies among the other servants. He was here to destroy his greatest enemy—the king. Julian Thorne.
Just as the Third rule engraved in his mind stated: The dirtiest floor is beneath the king's feet. Clean it!
Julian Thorne was the king, and he was the king's mop.
Alessandro looked around. "The east corridor, just as Father said. I've really been placed here. That will make everything much easier," he murmured.