Mornings at the Thorne mansion always brought a bustle of their own. However, Alisia's private study was much quieter. Alisia sat behind her wooden desk while Alessandro stood in his usual place, keeping his distance with a stiff, alert posture and wearing the perfect mask of obedience as both her servant and personal bodyguard.
Yet a faint tension had lingered in the room since the nights before. Alisia had not completely forgotten how her personal bodyguard had briefly frozen when he saw the frame containing a childhood photograph of her. She set her pen on the desk, then looked up and studied Alessandro intently.
"Leo," Alisia called softly.
"Yes, Miss?" Alessandro replied at once. His voice was flat and emotionless, displaying the absolute self-control born from years of training.
"You seem very tense lately," Alisia said, her blue eyes studying the bodyguard directly with keen perception. "Is there something in this mansion bothering you? Or is your performance being affected?"
To Alessandro, the question was not an opening for him to let down his guard, but a small test he had to pass coldly. He did not show the slightest hint of nervousness. Behind his blank gaze, his calculating mind immediately went to work, piecing together a safe response.
"Nothing is bothering me, Miss. My sole focus is ensuring your safety," Alessandro replied firmly, leaving no room for further suspicion.
Alisia fell silent for a moment, staring at the man before her as though searching for a crack in that rigid mask. But all she found was the unwavering calm of a professional servant.
Rather than feeling intimidated, Leo's calmness and alertness made Alisia feel completely safe whenever she was near him. A sense of comfort was slowly growing inside her without her realizing it.
Besides, ever since their first meeting, Alessandro had always worn that blank expression. Not like everyone else, who was always enthusiastic whenever they saw her.
Alessandro was different. His indifference toward her made him seem special.
Because usually, the people who approached her only saw her status.
This was the first time she had seen someone react to her differently. That was why she could not tear her gaze away from this man.
Not since the very first time she saw him.
"All right. If something comes up, you can always tell me," Alisia said gently before turning her attention back to the documents on the desk.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, Alessandro drew a deep breath in silence, pushing away the lingering shadow of that object from the past and the attention Miss had begun showing him.
To Alessandro, emotions were a fatal weakness. His main target remained unchanged. Approach Alisia, manipulate her trust until she became completely dependent on him, and make her the key to destroying Julian Thorne from within.
If Alisia began to place her trust in him or develop an attraction to him, that meant the trap he had set was proceeding according to plan.
Fourth rule. Trust is the sharpest weapon. Stab them in the back.
He was the servant weaving a deadly snare, and he would make certain that not a single personal feeling ruined the path of his revenge.
Alessandro had just come out of Alisia's room. He went down to the first floor with the cold, blank expression that was characteristic of him.
But what was going on in his mind was completely different from the expression he showed on the outside.
It did not show, unless someone watched him closely.
Every so often, Alessandro's amber eyes moved, examining every place he passed.
Because in his opinion, every corner of this mansion could hold a clue for him.
Including a flaw he could use to develop his plan even further.
"Leo."
Alessandro's footsteps came to an immediate stop when he heard someone call his name from behind.
Leo stood silent while his heart continued to speak.
'Who called me? Have they realized what I'm doing?'
Even so, Leo's expression and body language remained as calm as ever.
Until he felt someone's hand pat him on the shoulder.
Alessandro still did not react. He merely glanced back from the corner of his eye.
His eyes narrowed when he saw who was standing behind him.