Chapter 4

Soon, several new manservants were sent to Stargazing Tower.

One of them was a proud man who was jealous that I could serve Jaela at her side.

I was serving Jaela tea with one knee on the ground one day when he knocked me from behind on purpose. My arms shook, and the sleeve of my coarse shirt brushed Jaela's snow-white dress by accident, leaving behind a very faint trace of dust.

Jaela smashed her cup on the spot. When the burning tea splashed on the back of my hand, turning my skin red, I did not even flinch.

The servant knelt right away, pointing at me and exclaiming, "Please be appeased, Your Eminence! This lowly servant was trying to seduce you. He has always been known to be shameless in his actions."

I looked up, wanting to explain, "Your Eminence, I…"

Jaela did not even give me a chance to explain. She looked at the trace of dust with clear disgust.

"Take it off and burn it," she ordered the acolyte next to her coldly.

After that, she stood up and walked away without looking back, and her icy tone came down on me hard. "You're just a lowly, unrefined manservant who is nothing but a speck of dirt in my eyes. Kneel outside. You're not allowed to get up without my permission."

I remained on my knees, watching her white robe flutter in the wind as she left. My head was lowered as I clenched my fists. "Yes, Your Eminence."

For six hours, I remained kneeling under the hot sun. My knees were numb, and I did not stop cursing her silently. Who cares if she was a deity born on earth? I no longer wanted to be in her service, and fortunately, my wish came true.

After suffering under three hellish masters, I was finally 25.

According to the rules of the kingdom, servants who reach the age of 25 may accept the grace of the Palace to leave and marry should their masters choose not to keep them.

I hugged my box of gold coins, thinking about my huge mansion in the South, roasted chicken, and freedom.

To ensure that I could leave successfully and not be restrained by the cunning Lord Stewards of the royal household, I got the help of a palace maid from the same village as me. Her name was Celia Truss, and she was a simple, honest woman who needed money for her younger brother's illness.

I struck a deal with her.

"Pretend that we're childhood lovers who have been engaged to marry since we were young. We'll accept the palace's grace to allow us to leave the palace and get married. After we leave, we'll split the settlement and personal allowance given by the royal household in two, then go our separate ways."

Celia's eyes lit up. She nodded and said, "You can count on me, Jasper! I'll make sure my act is so realistic that no one will suspect a thing!"

We hit it off right away, and our plan was flawless.

…

The night before I left the palace, I sat in my small, cramped room, counting my gold coins again under the weak light of the candle flames. I had a silly smile on my face, feeling happy, when someone suddenly pushed my door open.

A cold gust of wind blew into the room, and I caught a whiff of the light scent of sandalwood.

I wiped my smile off my face right away and instinctively hid my bag behind me.

It was someone in a clean, white robe without a speck of dust on it. Jaela was here. Why would she come to the quarters of a lowly servant, where it was considered dirty to her?

Jaela looked uncomfortable in my room, and she kept frowning. She stared at me, and I could tell there was a subtle tense tone in her usually aloof voice. "I heard from the royal household that you will be leaving the palace tomorrow."

I stood up and bowed respectfully. "Yes, Your Eminence. I am already 25 and have accepted the Palace's grace to release me from the Palace tomorrow. I am grateful to you for guiding me over the past years."

Jaela inhaled sharply. She closed the door behind her and made me an offer as if she was giving me a great gift, a tone she often took with me. "I need a study valet, and if you're willing to stay, you will never need to do laborious work anymore. You will only serve me in the study from now on."

I was taken aback, but I quickly lowered my head. "I am a lowly, unrefined man who does not dare contaminate the eyes of the great high priestess. Moreover… I will be leaving tomorrow to marry Celia. Our wedding date has been set, and I implore Your Eminence to grant me this wish."

Jaela turned pale, and my words and her grip on her emerald fan got tighter. There was a crack, and the valuable fan broke in her hands. "Marry? Who gave you permission to get married?"