After getting out of the carriage, Losiya took Julian by the hand. He looked down to see the female knight Eileen kneeling on the ground. Losiya gave a helpless smile and extended her right hand to Eileen.
"Didn't I tell you that there's no need to observe these complicated courtesies once we're back in the territory?"
Eileen took Losiya's fingers and gently kissed her nails. She then respectfully rose and performed a standard knight's salute towards Losiya. Julian observed this, noticing the respectful and loving expressions of the people towards Losiya, a respect that wasn't tinged with obvious fear. Such details undoubtedly spoke volumes, and Julian gradually felt more at ease.
"My Lady, I shall take my leave now." Eileen bowed, ready to depart, having received her reward.
"Go on, you've had a long and tiring journey. Thank you for your hard work," Losiya said, patting Eileen's shoulder.
After Eileen left, Losiya looked towards the group of maids who had, at some point, formed two lines in front of the manor entrance. Seeing Losiya look at them, led by the head maid, they collectively said softly, "Welcome home, My Lady."
Losiya stepped forward, a slight headache forming. She greeted the head maid first. "Alice, it must have been tough for you while I was away. I'll have to trouble you a lot more with this large estate in the future."
"With your kind words, My Lady, no matter how many tasks there are, I do not find them difficult at all."
Alice, the head maid, wore a black and white lace-trimmed maid dress, her beautiful face filled with earnestness. Losiya glanced around. The surrounding girls were secretly peeking at her, their eyes full of concern. At the same time, they curiously observed Julian, who was behind her.
"This is..." Alice suddenly looked at Julian, a curious expression on her face.
Losiya turned around and noticed that Julian had, unknowingly, hidden behind her, not wanting to face the manor maids. Amused, Losiya pulled Julian in front of her. Only then did the maids notice the child, so beautiful that it was hard to look away.
Julian was held in Losiya's arms. Losiya brushed back Julian's long hair, which usually covered his right eye, and, holding him by the shoulder, introduced him to everyone at the estate. "From now on, Julian will be everyone's companion. You must take good care of him."
The maids nodded in agreement, all carefully appraising Julian. While they were amazed by his goddess-like perfect appearance, they couldn't help but feel a touch of envy. Only Alice, hearing the details of Losiya's words, looked incredibly shocked.
Frowning, she looked at Julian. Julian noticed Alice's scrutinizing gaze and met her eyes. His pale right eye made Alice look for a few more seconds. Alice looked Julian up and down several times and couldn't help but nod with satisfaction.
Though the Lady of the territory had always maintained a pure image, Alice knew Losiya's inner struggles. She couldn't always be so willful. In recent years, Grand Duke Kelden had clearly been urging her more intensely, even stating that he had no other explicit demands for Losiya, only that she find a man to procreate and bear an heir.
As Alice was thinking, Losiya began to give further instructions. "Alice, please take Julian to change his clothes."
"Yes, My Lady Losiya." Alice agreed, then suddenly noticed Losiya frowning at her, her right eye subtly winking. As a close confidante, Alice instantly understood what Losiya wanted. She blinked her left eye, indicating her understanding.
Alice stepped forward and smiled warmly and kindly at Julian. "Please follow me."
Following Alice, Julian entered an empty room. Alice walked to the window, drew the curtains, and then opened the wardrobe door. "Would you like to choose an outfit yourself, or shall I help you?" Alice turned and said with a smile. Knowing Julian's background, Alice showed no disregard, still addressing him respectfully.
"You choose for me," Julian said, overwhelmed by the variety of clothes and completely unfamiliar with them.
Alice began to search through the wardrobe without turning around. "Please take off your clothes first."
Julian glanced at the closed door, bit his lip, and reached for the collar of his clothes. Reaching around his neck, he found the tie and gently pulled it. His clothes immediately fell to the floor. He was only wearing one layer of clothing, nothing else. "Okay..." he whispered, his face flushed, shielding himself with both arms.
The corners of Alice's lips curved into a smile. She took a dress from the wardrobe and turned to hand it to Julian.
Five minutes later, standing in front of a full-length mirror in the room, Julian shyly wiggled the skirt of the dress. The sheer fabric of the dress made his snow-white skin appear even more luminous and smooth. His wrists, exposed by the sleeves, shone like frosty snow. The hem of the dress touched his slender legs, making them involuntarily close and rub together.
His lower body felt empty, and with every slight movement, that area of his body would rub against the fabric of the clothes. The cool, silky sensation also made him feel a strong urge from below. Julian could only tightly grip the skirt, pressing it down firmly to prevent it from rising.
Alice stood silently behind Julian, holding a comb and styling his hair. She smoothed down any stray hairs, combing the silky, smooth strands downwards. Feeling the texture of his long, silver hair, like silk, Alice was filled with both admiration and envy. If she hadn't seen Julian's "proof" when she turned around earlier, and observed his Adam's apple from close range, Alice would have found it very hard to believe that Julian was a boy.
Looking at the beautiful person in the mirror, aside from the flatness of his chest, which was a minor drawback, Alice recalled the most beautiful girls in the territory; Julian surpassed them all.
"You can just call me Alice from now on." Julian's hesitant demeanor when facing her was not lost on Alice, so she took the opportunity while combing his hair to try and communicate with him in a friendly way. After all, everyone would be the Lady's people from now on, and internal harmony was essential.
"Hello, Miss Alice," Julian said softly.
Holding Julian's hair in her hand, Alice simultaneously thought about a hairstyle for him and chatted with him. "The Lady will probably host a welcoming dinner for you tonight. You should prepare yourself mentally and try not to be too nervous then."
"Okay, I understand, Sister Alice."
Alice mused, working with the comb in front of the mirror for a while. In the end, she didn't create any particular hairstyle for Julian, primarily ensuring that the hair near his cheeks and forehead wasn't too messy.
"Sister Alice..."
"Yes?"
"Can I ask a question?"
"Please, ask anything."
"Losiya... often brings people back?"
Alice was stunned for a few seconds before bursting into laughter and replying, "My Lady has never been interested in men, and the girls in the manor have no entanglements with her either. The Lady of the territory simply has an extraordinary compassion and protective instinct for precious and beautiful things. Most of the girls in the territory are from unfortunate backgrounds."
"Then I..." Julian became even more bewildered.
"I can only roughly understand the thoughts of adults. If you really want to know, you might as well ask her yourself. Don't be afraid; the Lady of the territory is completely different from other nobles." Alice looked at Julian and couldn't help but shake her head with a smile.