Chapter 1, Visitors from the East

Thank you for your compliment, my friend. Dora felt very pleased; a gentle and courteous gentleman is always welcomed. At that moment, she felt as if she were not in a small residence in the northern mountain city, but rather in a respectable noble mansion in Edo.

She would never mistake it! She is Winnie, the most professional nanny trained in Matt Harbor since childhood! She can identify over 200 types of perfume scents by smell alone, and can determine the fabric of more than 100 types of clothing just by touch; she knows the recipes for over 300 dishes and snacks, and can distinguish 88 types of wines and beverages in the shortest time possible; she knows how to arrange the most exquisite and comfortable living rooms and bedrooms, and how to care for the elderly, pregnant women, and children. She is Winnie! She can distinguish 88 types of wines and beverages in the shortest time possible; she knows how to arrange the most exquisite and comfortable living rooms and bedrooms, and how to care for the elderly, pregnant women, and children. She is Winnie!

"That is because the son-in-law is jealous," Winnie pouted. "Look at the life he has made for the young lady! In this countryside, surrounded by bumpkins, living in a two-story small house with fewer than ten rooms, and the garden is overgrown with weeds! Aside from me and the butler Marshall, there isn't even a maid! To avoid being rude in front of guests, the young lady actually has to find a bumpkin's daughter to act as a temporary maid! If she had married the young master of the Duke of Churov's family back then, she would never have to endure such humiliation! Oh, how elegant and noble the young master of Churov is, and he is so gentle with the young lady."

Goodwin Chulov is an elegant and courteous person, whose every gesture and action conforms to noble standards, even the topics of conversation reflect this. They first discussed the weather, then inquired about each other's health, after which Goodwin began to praise the flowers in the garden, and only then did he ask about the male host

A few years ago, when Goodwin came, they were squeezed into a small building with three other families, only able to receive guests in a cramped room. She was worried that she and her husband had been the subject of ridicule for a long time and truly did not want to lose face in front of her sisters-in-law

Winnie was almost driven to anger: "It is all the son-in-law's fault for spoiling the young lady; how could the daughter of a lady be so mischievous!" As she spoke, she moved her plump body to chase after them.

Anlong hurriedly said to the woman, "Veronica, my daughter is just being a little mischievous; please let her go."

At this moment, she stood under the large tree, proudly gazing at a small leg that peeked out from among the branches and leaves: "Little miss, you cannot deceive me, come down quickly."

Dora smiled contentedly once again, looked around, and asked in confusion: "Where is Bria? Is she in the kitchen?"

Veronica stared at Mina expressionlessly for a while before retracting the dagger, letting out a cold snort: "Little brat, go back to your room; this is not a place for children to play." Then she slammed the door shut with a bang, nearly hitting Mina's nose.

"She will definitely like it, thank you so much," Dora said with a smile, then quietly urged her daughter, "Hurry up and say thank you, don't be rude anymore, you need to be a good child"

It was originally the case, but the person who was supposed to carry out this task suddenly went silent. I was sent to investigate. If necessary, I will also need to personally make a trip to Maicheng to bring back the intelligence. Veronica looked up at him, "Prepare yourself; we will set off tomorrow night."

Bree carefully placed the tea and various pastries in front of the guests and her female employer, just as she had practiced over the past three days. She performed a proper curtsy and stepped aside. Although her movements were still somewhat awkward, she already resembled a proper parlor maid.

Mina angrily said, "That is a lie, Dad said he is a bad guy"

... ...

Goodwin Chulov once again covered the host family's embarrassment: "Long time no see, Xiaomingna, I am truly happy to see you, you are still so spirited"

She knew that the man was her grandfather, the legendary hero, the strongest swordsman on the entire continent, and also the wealthiest Count, Xiao Tianjian. It is said that he had traveled to the Elven Forest, the Demon Realm, and Dragon Island, where he made a deal with a dragon, granting him immortality, and that he is still wandering across the continent. As for the woman, she was her grandmother, Lady Meriv, who had passed away long before her birth

She suddenly recalled her attire: "So, what do you think of my outfit? Is it too outdated?" She was completely unaware of the current fashion trends in Edo, and to avoid being ridiculed, she chose the most traditional floral cotton fabric suitable for a garden tea party, even the style was the simplest one.

However, as the wife of Anlong, she did not forget her responsibilities. As an illegitimate child, Anlong had always been in an awkward position; had it not been for his father's legitimate wife, Lady Mirabel, adopting him, he might not even have had a surname. His gratitude towards Lady Mirabel, however, does not mean he is willing to endure the disdain and ridicule from the Cardo family. In order to rise through his own efforts, Anlong would rather serve as a minor border knight in a small frontier town like Qidun than remain under the control of the Cardo family. Goodwin, being Lilith's younger brother, would certainly mention his experiences in Qidun upon returning to Yidong City, and if there were any shortcomings, Anlong and she would immediately become the laughingstock of the noble circle in Yidong City. In order to rise through his own efforts, Anlong would rather serve as a minor border knight in a small frontier town like Qidun than remain under the control of the Cardo family. Goodwin, being Lilith's younger brother, would certainly mention his experiences in Qidun upon returning to Yidong City, and if there were any shortcomings, Anlong and she would immediately become the laughingstock of the noble circle in Yidong City.

However, today she miscalculated. As she walked nearby, Winnie quickly detected a hint of fragrance in the air. She immediately recognized it as the scent of the beautiful dress worn by Miss Mina today, which was sprayed with a new perfume that had only been launched three years ago, specifically designed for children. In this impoverished and remote place of Qidun, there would certainly not be a second bottle!

Dora once again inspected the small table, wicker chairs, and baskets arranged in the garden, striving for perfection. She always felt that something was still not quite right, yet she could not remember what it was, leaving her feeling anxious and unsettled

Winnie glared at her sternly: "You must not say that, young lady! Master Chulov is your aunt's brother, he is your elder! Goodness, how could the daughter of a lady say such disrespectful words? She must have been led astray by her father." She muttered a few words, then looked up with a fierce expression and said: "Come back with me at once! The guests are about to arrive, and it is truly impolite for you to be wearing such dirty clothes. Hurry up and change!"

Ah... it is, it is a picture book.

Mina slid down the tree in frustration, looking at Winnie’s chubby face, pouting.

Mina expressed deep skepticism and let out a scoff. Winnie shot her a stern glance, inadvertently sweeping over her front, and let out a terrifying scream: "Oh my! Young lady, you have actually gotten your clothes dirty! This is precious silk! It was specifically chosen for you to wear for today's esteemed guest. I have already told you not to climb trees anymore"

Dora was about to continue her conversation with the guest when she was interrupted by a series of thudding footsteps. Turning around, she froze in place.

"Winnie, you need not be so polite. Seeing you in such good spirits makes me very happy. Mina is still a child, so please do not be too harsh on her." Goodwin remained unperturbed, smiling gently, and turned to Dora, saying, "You need not take it too seriously. In fact, my sister's two daughters, Belial and Amanda, although they appear very well-behaved in front of others, often act spoiled with me in private."

The guest today is Goodwin Chulov, the wife of Anlong's half-brother Yilong, and the youngest son of the Chulov Duke family, who was also one of her past suitors. This man seems to always be so calm, gentle, elegant, and courteous, never displaying any emotional fluctuations. It was precisely because she could not discern his thoughts that she chose Anlong back then. In retrospect, this decision appears to be correct, as Goodwin clearly does not seem to be upset about her marrying someone else; he remains gentle and courteous, always bringing thoughtful little gifts during his visits from afar.

She only heard a sentence, "Regarding this mission, the deputy director means for you to follow me..." At that moment, the voice stopped, the door suddenly opened, and a dagger appeared at her throat in a flash, emitting a chilling gleam. She was so frightened that she dared not move.

A gentle male voice came from the front door: "Good morning, is anyone there?" Dora took a deep breath and smiled as she went out to greet him

Veronica looked at him with a cold smile: "Your confidentiality measures here are quite lacking, allowing your daughter to almost overhear our conversation"

She reminisced about her grandfather's legendary deeds, feeling a deep sense of envy. Unfortunately, she had never met him. Why had her grandfather never come to visit her family? Her maternal grandfather, on the other hand, came every year.

Just as I was thinking, a sound of footsteps came from the corridor not far away. I looked up and saw my father, Anlong, slipping into the study through the back door, followed by a woman. She had a tall and athletic figure, with golden-brown hair tied up at the back, wearing a reddish-brown blouse with long sleeves and a long skirt, a black fitted leather vest, and matching knee-high leather boots. Her equestrian attire was strikingly sharp and neat

A handsome, mature, healthy, and charming man stood at the door, with brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a pleasant smile on his face. He gently held three fingers of Dora's right hand and gracefully bowed, saying, "It has been a long time, Dora; you are as beautiful as ever."

Anlong quickly opened the door again and softly said to his daughter: "He Tu, quickly go back to your room, just pretend that nothing has happened, and don't tell anyone. Be good, listen to me." He wiped away the tears on his daughter's face with his sleeve, gently patted her head with concern, and slightly pushed her away from the door before gently closing it.

Mina made a face: "What distinguished guest? I dislike that man; every time he comes, my parents start arguing."

Mina cautiously moved along the large branch, intending to capture a beautiful blue crested bird perched at the tip. Just a foot away from reaching it, and the oblivious bird had yet to notice her; she felt a surge of joy in her heart. However, at that moment, a distant call of "Miss, Miss" echoed, startling her. In her surprise, she inadvertently shook the branch, causing the crested bird to sense danger and swiftly take flight. Just a foot away from reaching it, and the oblivious bird had yet to notice her; she felt a surge of joy in her heart. However, at that moment, a distant call of "Miss, Miss" echoed, startling her. In her surprise, she inadvertently shook the branch, causing the crested bird to sense danger and swiftly take flight.

"How could it be, madam?" Marshall provided a satisfactory answer, "Holding a garden tea party in weather like today is simply the most suitable choice. Moreover, every plant and tree in the garden has been personally tended to by you. In fact... even in Ito City, the gardens of the most elegant noble ladies are no better than this."

Her daughter Mina came running out of the woods, covered in dirt, rushing towards her while shouting, "Mom, help! Winnie has gone mad!" Behind her was the panting, plump nanny Winnie, who was also running and shouting, "Don't run! I must catch you!"

"How many times have I told you, young lady!" Winnie said with a stern expression, "This is not something a lady should do. Climbing trees! How rude! You are a young lady of high standing!" She couldn't help but recall the glorious past of her mistress, "Back in the day, when Miss Dora was six years old, she was already a little lady praised throughout the city, her intelligence surpassing that of Her Majesty the Queen in her childhood."

Mina had long seen that annoying man, who was speaking to her with an incredibly fake smile. She ignored him and simply burrowed into her mother's embrace: "Mom, Winnie is about to go crazy; she actually said that if I don't behave, she will tie me up."

Goodwin was taught from a young age that he must not let his master feel embarrassed, especially a beautiful mistress. Thus, he smiled discreetly and said: "This is truly excellent tea, it must be the fine black tea produced by the Xiao family tea shop"

After Winnie caught up, she immediately noticed Goodwin present and hurriedly tidied her hair and dress, greeting him: "Good day, Master Chulov, I apologize for my rudeness, please forgive me." She completed this gesture as gracefully as possible, unaware that the jiggling fat on her body and her drenched head were far from elegant. Mina, hiding in her mother's embrace, stifled a laugh but received a glare from her.

"Oh, Uncle Marshall, yes, I apologize for the trouble." Dora said with a somewhat uneasy smile, "What do you think of this place? Is it too simple?"

Dora vaguely mentioned that he was very busy with work. She is a traditionally-minded woman who only needs to know that a man is working outside; she does not care about the specifics of his job. Moreover, she concealed the fact that Goodwin was visiting, as her husband has never been fond of this old classmate, and their meetings always end in discord.

"Alright, children naturally enjoy playing and being lively, so let's not be too harsh on her. I brought some gifts today; how about we open them together? I hope both you and Mina will like them." He called his personal servant to bring over the gifts he had brought, which were two large boxes tied with beautiful ribbons. He smiled as he handed the smaller box to Mina: "I specifically chose this; it is said to be the most popular item among little girls right now. I wonder if little Mina will like it?"

Anlong smiled helplessly and returned to the main topic: "What exactly do they want you to do? I thought you would stay in Ito all along"

The orange cake is also very delicious. I have heard that under the Xiao family, the Happy Forest has the best food and drink in the world, and the Barbecue Garden offers the most delicious barbecue. However, when it comes to snacks, only Lady Mary’s skills can be considered top-notch. Surely the recipe for this pastry must have been personally passed down by Lady Mary

Mina felt very wronged; that man always acted like a good person, causing her to be scolded by her mother every time. What her father said was indeed true; that man is a big villain

Madam, the refreshments are ready. Shall I bring them in now? The butler, Marshall, appeared silently behind her, respectfully inquiring

You are too polite. Dora finally calmed down and quickly gave a glance to Bria, signaling her to leave. The poor girl still did not understand what she had done wrong and could only retreat in confusion.

When does her brother not get beaten? The guests are arriving soon; what if she can't make it back in time?

She reached out to grab Mina, but Mina nimbly dodged and quickly ran into the woods, even taking a moment to turn back and make a face at her: "I won't go back! Mom just wants me to pretend to be a good child, and I hate that!"

The butcher's child just called her home, saying that her stepmother had beaten her younger brother again. However, she said she would be back soon

"Do not worry, madam, if she cannot return in time, Uncle Marshall will personally take care of it." Marshall smiled and bowed, "Then, I shall go prepare the refreshments." He quietly returned to the house

Dora smiled as she invited Goodwin to taste the pastries, casting an appreciative smile at Bree. However, her expression quickly froze—at the hem of Bree's dress, a pair of old straw sandals with holes that exposed her toes was visible. How could this be?! She had clearly prepared a pair of black leather shoes for this country girl. Stiffly, she turned to look at Goodwin, silently praying that he would not notice. Yet, when she saw the direction of Goodwin's gaze, she realized it was merely her own delusion. Stiffly, she turned to look at Goodwin, silently praying that he would not notice. Yet, when she saw the direction of Goodwin's gaze, she realized it was merely her own delusion

Dora watched him leave with gratitude; Old Marshall was truly an outstanding steward, just like Winnie, both of whom were the most professional.

Dora suddenly felt a darkness before her eyes, as if she could already see Lilith and the other noblewomen whispering and laughing, "The daughter of the Zhu family is nothing special; not only does the parlor maid wear toe-revealing rags and library straw sandals, but the daughter herself is also a dirty little rascal with no semblance of a lady's grace..."

Goodwin seemed quite interested in the work situation of her former rival. Noticing this, Dora quickly changed the subject: "Look at me, I actually forgot to have someone bring tea, how negligent of me." She picked up the small bell on the table and called for the servant to bring the tea and snacks. When she saw the young girl wearing a pristine white headscarf and apron appear, she nodded in satisfaction: at last, Brigitte has caught up.

Marshall always knew how to handle ladies troubled by their clothing: "Not at all outdated, madam, this is the most classic style, and what is classic never goes out of fashion"

She stopped only after running into the hall, and upon raising her head, she could see two portraits hanging on the wall. One depicted a young man with black hair and black eyes, holding a long sword, his face adorned with a faint smile and his gaze deep. The other portrayed a woman in her thirties, her beautiful face tinged with a hint of melancholy, her eyes revealing a gentle and loving expression

"It's Winnie again!" she complained in frustration, seeing a plump woman in a white apron appear at the edge of the woods. She immediately climbed back into the treetops, hiding herself among the branches and leaves of the large tree. The six-year-old girl's body was small and agile, completely concealed by the dense canopy. She held her breath, as she usually did, making sure not to make a sound. Whenever she employed this tactic, even her father, a master swordsman, might not be able to find her.

Mina glared fiercely at Goodwin, disregarding her mother's words, breaking free from her embrace, and running away. Dora anxiously apologized to Goodwin, who continued to offer gentle words of comfort, not taking it to heart in the slightest

"You are truly considerate, Goodwin," Dora said gratefully, while casting a stern glance at her daughter in her arms. Mina pouted.

The one holding the dagger was the woman with golden-brown hair, approximately in her twenties, her beautiful face etched with frost, coldly staring at her. Even knowing who she was, the other party showed no intention of lowering the dagger, the murderous intent still evident in her eyes. Mina trembled slightly, tears beginning to fill her eyes.

She gazed towards the nearby woods, wondering why Winnie had not yet brought her daughter back. May the God of Light protect her; Mina must not be mischievous today. Even if she cannot compare to the two daughters of Elon and Lilith, she should at least behave like a proper young lady

Dora looked at the beautifully tended flowerbed in the small garden, a confident smile appearing on her face: "You are right. Every blade of grass and every tree here was planted by my own hands, and even the fence and the wicker chair were made under my watch. Transforming the overgrown backyard into what it is today was no easy task. No matter how elegant those delicate noblewomen may be, who is more capable than I?"

She remembered that this woman had come to her house several times, and each time she came, her mother would argue with her father. She was somewhat curious about what this woman was doing here again. Why did her father enter the house through the back door? After thinking for a moment, she tiptoed over, held her breath, and pressed against the door of the study to eavesdrop on the sounds inside.