Usually for each affection level up, it will happen right before an special event or scene through some interactions. It marks the scene as a recallable event in the gallery.
But this maid had her affection raised without his knowledge.
In this part, the system was lacking. If this were a game, there would be a notification to interaction with this maid and fulfill the conditions of affection level up.
Looks like, from now on, the affection can change while he's unaware. He could very well find a green level character develop a black heart due to some misunderstanding.
Of course, if a misunderstanding can be reversed, it returns more affection. An abused mechanic of the game, that made it very twisted.
Players would manipulate scenarios and misunderstanding just for a quick and easy earnings of affection points.
In the game that might work, but now he had to be careful utilizing it in the future.
'Speaking of, I forgot to check Serika's affection level…' Xian clicked his tongue in irritation. Last he remembered was a gray heart at 50.
"Is something wrong, Sir Xian?"
"No. Lets go." He dismissed the maid. He wanted nothing more than to lie down in his bed right now. Maybe he can get her to pick some books, since he wouldn't be moving around anytime soon.
However, just when they were about to leave, the door swung open.
Serika had come back. Xian instantly inspected her affection level.
'This…'
Green Heart: 9
If gray heart signified indifference. Green meant recognition. Not to the point that they will purposely approach and greet you, but you certainly exist to them.
He would've thought that her affection had gone down based on the way she beat him up. Or maybe, it was high before but went down after their spar?
'No, what is she doing here?'
Serika brought two more maid's in tow, with confused and hesitant expression. They carried things he recognized, emergency boxes that contained a lot of vials. The content can be for healing or for mana.
With one glance, Serika glared at the maid beside him, making her step back. Xian was about to do the same only to get a kick and flew back in the training ground again.
But this time, he landed standing. His heart surged with anger.
"What's the meaning of this, Serika?"
"Hah, don't act so familiar." If earlier, she looked impatient, for some reason that had turned to being pissed. "This means, I'm, beating you down till you're half dead."
She instantly disappeared and came at Xian with a slash. Xian blocked with his arms without even a weapon. A deep gash of blood red skin was left in his arms.
Serika didn't stop. Without hesitation she made Xian bleed from his wounds. The wooden sword didn't cut, but ruptured his skin open anyways.
Xian silently endured. He didn't even scream.
"Is this another of that bitch's order?" Finally unable to take it, he decided to let loose.
Serika flinched, wide eyed upon hearing that.
"… What did you call her?"
"Fuckass, I called her bitch." Xian snarled and took the nearest two daggers available.
Right now he didn't want to understand why. He wanted a clean hit at her no matter what it takes.
A sword aimed right at his eyes flashed and he tilted his body just in time to see it pass in close proximity.
Then another kick at the abdomen hit him, and unlike before he endured and slashed with his two blades, grunting.
"Hahh.." He felt pain over all his body. But there was enough anger to numb it.
"I'll take your eyes, if I hear one more insult." Serika warned chilly. But Xian was unperturbed. Her Affection level hadn't gone down much. Only four points lower.
'I think I get the situation.' So he was going to relish in it.
"Shut up." He snarled. "Come, so I can beat you, you damned brat." And taunted her further.
"Hah! Interesting. That'll make me feel less guilty."
They fought a bloodied battle, as red stained the training ground. Although it was all Xian's blood. He disregarded the strikes and went for the kill, even if he knew he'll miss.
The whole time, he can hear his own beastly grunt while trying to catch Serika.
Eventually he stood battered, the butler uniform Moris had given torn on its shins and torso. It was even stained due to his bleeding. He can feel a few ribs on him barely holding on.
"At least you've got guts." Taking a familiar stance, Serika was about to end the battle.
Xian with vision already blurring entered a state in between consciousness and passing out.
'Where's the enemy… ah it's her. That rude girl. I'm gonna teach her a lesson.'
Even his thoughts were random and he felt like lucid dreaming.
Serika moved to strike.
She brought her sword down, intending to hit Xian in his temples.
"!!"
But it got caught in his hand instead. She pulled back with careful force but the grip was too tight.
Until it got crushed in his hands. Serika widened her eyes in shock.
"Raah!" Xian lunged at her, with both his hands ready to smash her.
She sidestepped, confident in avoiding him easily, but then Xian twisted his direction impossibly.
Xians whole body was coming at her. With his widespread arms and large body she failed to evade him.
They fell to the ground with Xian on top of her. He glared with unfocused eyes as he tilted back his head, then bashed it onto her face. That did it as he fainted leaning to the side.
"Huh?" Serika's expression contorted. She pushed him away and got up in a hurry.
She wanted to wake up Xian and beat him to a pulp again but he was already timed out in the ground.
"Hey! You three saw nothing!" She shouted to the three maids with stunned expression.
She was in trouble. Supposedly, the lady ordered her to chase Xian away because he's too weak and is a liability. She also said that its a way to repay him for saving her life. Many more will come and try to kill her in the future, its better if he cut ties with the family.
Although she doubted the duke wouldn't somehow find a disposable role for him, at least it will prolong his life.
Wiping the drop of blood on her nose, she snarled at the maids frozen in their places. "What are you all standing for? Get to healing!"
Just then she recognized one particularly concerned maid who rushed over before anyone else, the one wrapped in his arms earlier. She was muttering while healing him, but she didn't bother to understand it.
'Is something going on between them?'
'Lucky them. They have time to do useless things.' She mused sitting on the ground, watching the three maids join force tending to Xian.
At first, she didn't know what to do in order to thank that guy. If it weren't for him, she might be a corpse with a broken neck now.
But the lady's orders came first before she could do it. She even warmed up to show off. In the end her mouth ran off spouting arrogance and she ended up beating him severely.
She hated stale fights most of all. Xian was just… really pathetic when they fought. She doesn't even want to do it again. It felt bad roughing up her savior.
'He probably hates me now.' Sighing Serika thought that it's inevitable. He even provoked her by calling the lady derogatory terms and calling her a brat.
But she didn't dwell on it, anyone would be angry if they're suddenly beaten and humiliated. And they were bound to separate ways soon.
There's no way someone improves in battle just because of a one week beating.
'At least, he was a bit chilling…' She felt her hair stand on end slightly as Xian swung blindly like a beast. It was also hard to gauge his strength since it was fluctuating from weak and strong blows.
There was one more thing she realized.
'His body already houses aura. But it felt trapped.' She can tell that its at the level of a trained warrior, but the lady saw something else. Just his weakness in terms of battle and she turned out right.
Xian was a confusing man for her. It was like he was made up from scratch to become that way.
Soon enough, the maids carried him to his room. Probably.
She also left the training ground and changed into her armor.
Once she wears it, she's able to stop mouthing off. She becomes a blade that only responds to threat and orders. As usual she followed the young lady wherever she went, making sure there are no threats.
At night, after their duties.
They slept near the Carmillia's room in order to respond as quick as possible should an intruder pay a visit.
While changing her clothes, someone came in the room.
But she didn't panic. It was Lucinelle, the woman she called sis.
"Did you thank him?" Lucinelle spoke with a soft voice, like gentle song. It fit perfectly to her saint like appearance, long bright yellow hair and eyes.
"N-no… Orders come first sis." Serika hesitatingly answered. "Besides, I'm doing him a favor anyways. I mean, it's lady's orders but still…"
"That won't do. You should thank him. You're here by my side because of him."
"… Okay. I'll find a chance to."
Serika's expression softened. They weren't sisters by blood, but sworn sisters by circumstances. Even so, they forged a bond like real siblings and promised to be family. And to protect Carmillia together.
"That's good. Appreciate goodwill. Just like the mercy madam gave us." She smiled at her now docile sibling.
Serika recalled the days of her tumultuous childhood and how they ended up here in this estate.
Lucinelle came from a destroyed household of a count, and Serika was from a simple baron family that got swept in the same incident. They recognized each other due to their family relations and got stuck together in an orphanage.
But then it was attacked and destroyed by slave poachers. The orphanage burned down and just when she thought they're going to meet their end…
That's where they met Carmillia.
Together with benevolent mistress of the Montagne's and the households signature dark armored guards.
'Do you want to save them, Carmy?' She held a small girls hand, dressed in fancy clothes and staring at the commotion before her. Her hollow eyes turned to the woman as she spoke.
'… Why should I?'