The training room in Blake Manor appeared, from the outside, to be nothing more than a small circular building resembling a modest practice ground.

The training room was a space used exclusively by the manor’s master, Sikar Blake, and his subordinates, never disclosed to outsiders. Directly in front of the training room was an attached corridor-style waiting area where one could rest.

Vika Lamberst and Durion used to spend nearly half their day in the training grounds.

However, these days, Vika didn’t visit the training room as often as before, since he was busy caring for the young little lord who had recently appeared in the manor. But on days like today, when guests arrived at the manor, he invariably came here.

Durion was idly wandering around the waiting room, arms folded.

“It seems strange between His Grace and the King. Did the two of them have a fight?”

Vika appeared disinterested, sitting quietly, but his full attention was fixed on the outside.

“Humans are always fighting.”

“But you’re always fighting too, aren’t you?”

“We fight openly. Humans fight in sneaky, underhanded ways.”

Durion absolutely could not agree with the notion that all humans were the same.

“Not all humans are like that. Look at me—I always fight openly. I’m someone who doesn’t even know what scheming means!”

Vika similarly could not agree.

“You’re just stupid, that’s why.”

Durion didn’t bother denying it. He scratched his cheek a few times and nodded in acknowledgment.

“Anyway, the atmosphere is weird. It’s suspicious that the spirit mage who usually follows around like a shadow isn’t visible.”

“Didn’t that spirit mage always come and go unpredictably?”

“Your dull eyes probably didn’t notice, but that spirit mage always silently trailed behind Gillian.”

“Really…?”

Vika stood up, taking in hand one of the daggers sheathed at Durion’s waist.

“I think I should go take a look outside.”

“Why take a knife? Want me to come with you?”

“You stay right here. Someone as slow-witted as you would get caught immediately.”

“But I’m strong, at least.”

“Your strength is useless right now. Wait here.”

Since they were still inside the manor, Durion wasn’t overly worried about Vika’s safety. So, to signal he wouldn’t follow, he leaned back fully into the chair.

“Got it. Be careful out there.”

The moment Vika stepped out of the training room, he sensed the ominous aura enveloping the manor and cautiously followed the scent of darkness. Astonishingly, nightmare spirits were writhing across every surface of the manor’s walls.

‘Look at these things?’

Vika figured he knew where they came from. The spirit mage had vanished—apparently, he’d done this to the manor before leaving.

‘A rare snack, indeed.’

Vika licked his lips like a predator encountering a herd of gazelles and leapt into the midst of the writhing spirits.

The nightmare spirits fled in panic at Vika’s sudden intrusion, but Vika scaled the walls and caught the smoke-like spirits, tearing into them and devouring them.

The darker shadows shrieked as Vika’s hands tore into them, and Vika responded with an increasingly delighted, eerie smile.

Whenever any tried to escape, he seized even the faintest trailing thread and chewed them up completely, leaving not a single strand.

In an instant, all the nightmare spirits clinging to the manor became Vika’s snacks. Vika meticulously wiped his mouth after licking up even the thread-like remnants of spirits stuck to his lips.

‘Is this all? I was almost full—what a pity.’

Though not entirely satisfied, Vika felt unusually good for once.

The time for revenge had come. The time to show Sikar Blake exactly what a villainess is!

From early morning, I wore a dress that screamed vanity to anyone who looked, and draped every piece of jewelry I owned across my body.

It was a bit heavy, but it perfectly matched the concept of a luxurious, wicked villainess.

Kian Blake, preparing for his first outing since arriving here, looked extremely excited.

“Mother, where are we going?”

“We’re going a little farther away.”

“How far?”

“To the downtown area of the capital—the place where the royal palace is.”

“So, is that where His Majesty the King we met before lives?”

“That’s the palace. We’re going to the downtown area of the capital. In the new district, there are many different shops—and even a very large toy store.”

“Wow! A toy store?”

“Didn’t I say I’d soon find you some friends? Let’s go to the toy store and buy gifts for them.”

“Really? Is that okay?”

“Of course—we’re going to indulge ourselves today.”

“What does ‘indulge’ mean, Mother?”

“It means buying everything you want without worrying about money. Today, whatever you say you want, I’ll buy it for you.”

“Everything?”

“Yes. I’ll buy you anything you want—even enough to bankrupt this manor. Just tell me what you desire.”

Kian thought carefully, then pressed his lips together and said,

“Can I think about it after we get there?”

“Of course.”

“Mother… are shrimp very expensive?”

“Shrimp? Why? Don’t tell me you want to eat shrimp?”

“Yes. I’ve never tried it before, but it was really delicious.”

Judging by how he stuck his tongue out slightly while speaking, he truly had enjoyed it.

‘This won’t do. I need to warn him before something happens.’

“Kian, you must never eat shrimp again. Never.”

“Huh? Why, Mother?”

“If you eat shrimp, it’ll make you sick. You have a shellfish allergy. You can’t eat crab or lobster either.”

“But yesterday was fine, Mother…”

“That’s because His Grace gave you medicine beforehand. But from now on, you must be absolutely careful.”

Disappointed, Kian’s eyes trembled as if shaken by an earthquake, and his shoulders slumped as though his energy had drained away.

“Yes… Mother…”

“And don’t tell anyone else you have an allergy.”

“Why…?”

“Because if people know you have an allergy, they’ll think you’re frail. Kian, you don’t want to look weak in front of others, do you?”

The word “frail” seemed to prick his pride—suddenly, Kian’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“Of course not! Mother!”

Phew. Thank goodness he’s a smart child—I managed to persuade him quickly. I squeezed Kian’s hand and said,

“Shall we go out now?”

I extended my hand toward Kian as if urging him to hurry. Excited by his first outing, Kian skipped over, grabbed my hand, and climbed into the carriage.

The first place we went to was the most famous dress shop in the capital.

My original plan—to strut in arrogantly and demand they bring me the most expensive dress in the shop—went slightly awry. No one in the shop recognized me, and everyone stared as if wondering, “Who exactly is this noble lady?”

‘I’m going to the same dress shop I visited before.’

So I hastily pulled out the letter I’d brought and held it out toward the staff. Only then did they snap into action, moving in unison and gathering before me with startled expressions.

“Vice Lady! We are honored beyond words that you have graced our shop with your presence.”

I assumed the haughty posture Sikar had instructed me to take.

First, lean back on the sofa, place both arms on the armrests, lift the chin slightly, lower the eyes just a bit—and then speak like this:

“Bring me all the most expensive dresses in the shop… keeek… kek kek…”

‘Forget the cough at the end. I’m choking because I’m forcing a tone I don’t normally use.’

“Vice Lady! A-are you alright?”

Startled by my sudden choking cough, a flustered clerk hurriedly brought me a glass of water.

“Drinking some water should help you feel better.”

Indeed, after drinking a bit, the stinging in my throat eased considerably.

But today, I intended to solidify my villainess image—to clearly demonstrate to Sikar just how villainous the dignity he desires truly is.

Perhaps then, Sikar himself would take time to reflect on his own demonic nature.

I lifted my head proudly once more.

“Bring me all the most expensive dresses.”

“Yes, Vice Lady!”

The staff moved quite swiftly. The moment my command dropped, they immediately brought dresses and lined up neatly before me. But without even glancing at them, I lifted my teacup and said,

“Package them all.”

‘This should radiate some villainess aura, right?’

“And also package all clothes suitable for our little lord and send them directly to the manor. Bill everything to the Duke’s household.”

“Yes! Of course! We’ll do exactly as you say!”

“First, bring the coat and hat our little lord will wear.”

“Yes, Vice Lady!”

I kept my expression stern to leave the impression of being as demanding and strict as possible—my facial muscles felt like they were cramping.

This isn’t something just anyone can pull off.

‘Ah, my cheek muscles…’

Perhaps because my expression was too severe, Kian glanced at me cautiously.

“Mother… are you… angry?”

Oops. I must look angry to Kian too. I whispered softly so Kian could hear:

“That was just a firm way of telling them to bring the ordered items properly. I’m not angry.”

“Really? Then I’ll imitate you too!”

“Huh? You’ll imitate me?”

“Yes!”

Kian truly mimicked me, making a stern face. Perhaps because he was royalty, unlike what Sikar had described, Kian’s expression radiated genuine princely dignity—not arrogant, but truly dignified and noble.

I couldn’t help but gaze at Kian with admiration.

“Kian! That’s it! So cool!”

At my praise, Kian’s neck stiffened further and his chin lifted bit by bit.

But with that slight adjustment in posture, the princely dignity I’d just sensed vanished, replaced by the sight of an adorable little boy.

‘He’s tearfully cute, Kian.’

While we exchanged affectionate mother-son banter, the staff brought over the coat and fur hat and dressed Kian in them.

No matter what he wore, he was so adorably handsome that I nearly covered my mouth and burst into tears—instead, I composed my expression and flicked my finger toward Kian. It was a kind of signal between us—to maintain firm, dignified expressions.

Seeing my expression, Kian—who had been wearing a shy look—immediately straightened his head and put on a serious face too.

‘We really understand each other, don’t we?’

As we exited the shop, I brought up the topic I knew Kian would most eagerly anticipate.

“Then shall we go to the toy store now?”

“Yes, Mother! I’ve been wanting to go so badly!”

‘I wonder what toys are popular here.’

I’d gone to the toy store to raise Kian emotionally stable like any ordinary child, but I had no idea what he liked—after all, the novel never mentioned Kian playing with toys.

So I’d been partly worried he might show no interest—but that worry turned out to be completely unfounded.

The toy store was incomparably more filled with dolls, carriages, candy houses, and such than the playroom Sikar had arranged.

The moment Kian entered the toy store, he burst into energetic excitement like a fish returned to water.

“Wow! I’ve never seen anything like this!”

Kian browsed each toy one by one, then stopped in front of a snowman-shaped toy.

At that moment, I had a sinking feeling. After all, the game Kian—who grew up in snowy mountains—played most often was building snowmen with Valije.

I quickly looked for another toy that might catch Kian’s attention. While searching for white dolls—since Kian, raised seeing white snowy mountains, especially loved white things—I spotted a white White Ginger Man.

I held up the flat White Ginger Man doll and showed it to Kian.

“Kian, how about this? Isn’t it adorable? It’s a White Ginger Man.”

Kian took the White Ginger Man I showed him and smiled brightly.

“He’s white like a snowman too.”

“Right? Kian? You can take anything here that you like. Or—how about we just buy every single toy in this store?”

Since I planned to splurge extravagantly today anyway, emptying the entire toy store wouldn’t be a bad idea.

But Kian’s face didn’t show much enthusiasm.

“If I buy all of these, will they go to my playroom?”

“Of course. You can have everything here if you want.”

Kian turned his gaze sideways as if pondering, then said,

“Then… I want to share them with those children.”

“Children…?”

I turned to look outside—the children were pressed against the glass door, peering in at the toys inside.

‘How could he think of something like this? Is it because he’s the male protagonist?’

I could only marvel at the deep thoughtfulness of this child, now merely seven years old.