The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 30: Chapter 29 — Back

Zephyrion approached his mansion and found Lumi hunched at the front of the gates, her eyes intense and focused as she silently traced something into the earth with a stick.

’What is she doing?’

Frowning slightly, he walked closer, staring at what she had drawn.

It was a square shaped figure with a long line piercing through it, small curly lines rising from the top. She was just at the point of drawing the fourth curl.

”....”

Zephyrion blinked, realizing what it was. It was the meat skewer they had eaten the night before.

”My lord!”

Tobias’ sudden shout made Lumi look up, meeting Zephyrion’s gaze.

Her eyes lit up instantly, and before he could react, she rose and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

Zephyrion’s expression remained unchanged as he lifted a hand and gently patted her head. Lumi tightened her grip slightly, as though satisfied.

”Why were you outside?”

Lumi reluctantly stepped back. She pointed at him, then at the spot she had been sitting, before looking up at him expectantly.

”...You were waiting for me?”

She nodded quickly.

Zephyrion’s gaze flicked briefly to the ground she had been sitting on, then returned to her.

”You could’ve waited inside.”

At the very least, she could have stayed within the compound instead of sitting out here in the dirt.

Lumi crossed her arms and shook her head firmly.

Zephyrion didn’t press further. He turned his gaze to Tobias, who was bowing with a wide smile, then to Betty and the other maids, who were stealing glances at Lumi, before finally facing the mansion.

Compared to before, it looked noticeably worn. The paint had faded, cracks ran along the walls, and even the iron gates showed signs of rust.

Still, Zephyrion took a slow breath and closed his eyes, memories flashing in his mind. The conversations, the laughter...

His fingers tightened slightly.

’I’m back.’

After seven long years, he had finally returned.

Zephyrion opened his eyes and stepped into the mansion.

The calm in his gaze had vanished.

...

”Lady Lumi! Wait! Your hair—!”

Seated cross-legged on his bed, Zephyrion opened his eyes as Lumi suddenly burst into his room.

With a panicked expression, she hurriedly tried to shut the door behind her, but a couple of maids slipped in before she could.

”My lord.”

They bowed deeply to Zephyrion before turning to Lumi with tired looks.

”Lady Lumi, you shouldn’t leave your hair like this. It’s improper for a lady—”

Lumi shot them a sharp glare, her lips pressing together in annoyance. She ran a hand through her already messy hair as though to make a point, then quickly climbed onto Zephyrion’s bed and pulled the blanket over herself.

The maids’ eyes widened in horror.

”Lady Lumi! You mustn’t disturb—”

”It’s fine.”

”Y-young lord...?”

The maids froze as Zephyrion’s gaze settled on them.

”You can leave.”

”Y-yes, young lord...!”

They turned and hurried out of the room.

A moment later, Lumi peeked out from under the blanket, glancing toward the door before slowly relaxing.

”You ran from the maids again.”

Barely a day had passed since their arrival, yet this scene had already played out several times.

Zephyrion wasn’t sure whether to acknowledge her persistence or simply ignore it. All of this... just because she didn’t want her hair done.

Lumi gripped the blanket lightly and gave a small nod. After a brief pause, she pointed at him, then at herself, before clenching her fist

Zephyrion shook his head.

”No. I’m not mad.”

She studied his face carefully, then pointed at him again.

”I’m not lying.”

She hesitated slightly, then pointed once more.

”I mean it.”

Lumi started to raise her hand again, but Zephyrion’s gaze sharpened slightly.

”I said I’m sure.”

Lumi’s eyes widened. She let out a small, frustrated breath before pointing at him again, clearly unconvinced.

”Of course I look mad. It’s because yo—”

Zephyrion’s fingers twitched slightly before stilling. He shut his eyes and drew in a slow breath, steadying the sudden rise in his pulse.

’She’s a tool.’

End of story.

Exhaling, Zephyrion turned away, shifting his focus back to his training. He felt Lumi’s warm touch as she silently curled closer to him, but he ignored it.

Entering his mental space, his attention settled on the fog surrounding his metal rune.

’It stabilized.’

During the journey, the fog had gradually weakened the farther he moved from that man. Now, after remaining in the same place for a day, it had stopped changing.

’Slightly below three months.’

Even if he continued pressuring it with his mind, it would still take close to three months to reach Mark Three.

’Unless...’

Zephyrion opened his eyes and brought out a vial filled with a colorless liquid. It was the one he had taken from Noss’ corpse in the cave.

After everything that had happened, it was about time he found out what he had gained.

He uncorked it and took a brief whiff before sealing it again immediately.

A small smile formed on his lips.

’A Mind Enhancement Elixir.’