Ron Campbell.

The current head of the Campbell family, one of the four great ducal families of the Empire.

He is also a crowned-level warrior, honored with the title of the "Lion King"!

Who could possibly be a better teacher than a father like this—right by your side, experienced, powerful, and willing to pass on all his wisdom selflessly without expecting anything in return?

No one!

"Moen Campbell, oh Campbell, you deserve such a tragic end for you don't know what you got until it's gone."

Moen glanced gleefully at the name written on the paper and once again felt his future brimming with promise.

With his own father who is a top-tier powerhouse guiding him personally, plus the ability to practice at any time with the Black Book, wouldn't his power soar by leaps and bounds?

"And now onto the second point."

Moen picked up his pen and continued writing on the paper:

1. **Safety.**

Compared to having a great teacher, safety is actually of utmost importance because it directly concerns Moen’s life. However, the reason it's listed as the second priority is because Moen suddenly realized that this issue wasn’t as pressing as he'd thought.

Why?

"Why, of course, because of Father!"

For the longest time, Moen had been stuck in the mindset that security relied on his own strength. That was why he had been so anxious to grow stronger.

But as he recalled the reassuring name of his father earlier, he suddenly realized...

Why should he be in such a rush? With a father as overwhelmingly strong as his, as long as he stayed obediently behind him, who could possibly hurt him?

The recent assassination attempt on Celicia nearly took his life, but just because of that, the Duke’s manor was now so well-guarded that not even a mosquito could sneak in!

Hmph! Want to slice me into pieces? My father would snap all your knives in half first!

"It's decided. From now on, I'll be a homebody!"

The more Moen thought about it, the more excited he became. It was as if he were a broke, desperate loser suddenly discovering that his long-dead father had left him five lavish mansions in the imperial capital's prime district. Life was full of surprises, after all.

"Yes, with these two principles as a foundation, preparing a plan based on them should be foolproof."

Moen looked at the detailed plan he'd just written on the paper and nodded in satisfaction:

→ Become a homebody. (School? What school? Does school have adorable maid ladies?)

→ Learn martial arts from Father.

→ Train and hone himself with the Black Book.

→ Show up only after reaching Tier Five strength, stunning everyone!

"With this plan, no matter how cruel or unpredictable fate is, I will respond with the one word—survive!"

"Bwahahaha! I can’t wait to see the expressions on the protagonists' faces after they come to the Duke’s manor few years later, only to find that I’m no longer the pathetic yellow-hair loser they can bully at will!"

...

Just as Moen was giddy with excitement over his seemingly flawless plan, a voice came from outside the door.

"Young Master, are you awake?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah, I’m awake. What is it?"

"The Master is asking for you."

"Huh? Father’s summoning me at this hour?"

Moen glanced at the time and realized it was still early in the morning—he hadn’t even had breakfast yet.

"This early? Could it be something urgent?"

"Doesn't matter. Even if it is urgent, it won’t be anything too serious—probably still related to Celicia’s assassination."

Without overthinking, Moen responded to the voice outside, quickly freshened up, and went out of his room.

The maid named Ann was already waiting outside.

"Let’s go."

"Yes."

After greeting Ann, Moen made his way toward the study, based on his knowledge of the manor’s layout. According to past habits, his father usually spent his mornings there reviewing the latest empire news.

But this time, Ann suddenly pulled Moen aside. "Young Master, Master isn’t in the study."

"Mm? Then where is he?"

"At the front gate."

"The front gate? This early in the morning? What's he doing there?"

Confused, Moen followed Ann toward the front gate of the manor.

"Good morning, Young Master Moen. Good morning, Madam Head Maid."

Along the way, maids respectfully greeted Moen, and he nodded in acknowledgment. But he immediately noticed something peculiar.

"Head Maid?"

Moen looked at Ann in surprise. "Are they calling you Head Maid?"

"Yes, Young Master," Ann said with a bow. "I was appointed the new Head Maid not long ago by the Master."

"A new Head Maid... What about the previous Head Maid?"

"She has stepped down, taking responsibility for her failures."

"I see."

Enlightened, Moen realized what must have happened.

The arrangements for his coming-of-age ceremony had been handled by the Head Maid. After such a grave incident occurred, the previous Head Maid could hardly avoid taking responsibility.

"I feel so sorry. It was my command that caused this."

"You don't need to blame yourself, Young Master. This isn't your fault."

Ann reassured him in a gentle tone. "Besides, even without this incident, the former Head Maid, being advanced in age, had been planning to retire in a couple of years. This incident merely accelerated it."

"Father must be heartbroken."

Moen sighed softly.

Just as Ann was to him now, the previous Head Maid had been his father’s personal attendant. But unlike Ann, who was nearly the same age as Moen, the former Head Maid was over a decade older than Moen’s father. To a man who lost his parents early in life, she had been like a another mother.

Father must have been reluctant to see her go.

"But congratulations, Ann," Moen said with a smile.

"There’s nothing to congratulate." Ann appeared quite reserved, showing none of the delight Moen expected. "Becoming the Head Maid has made me much busier, leaving me far less time to attend to you, Young Master."

"That’s a good thing. We’re not children anymore; we must learn to grow on our own sometimes, wouldn’t you agree?"

"Grow... on our own?"

For some reason, Ann lowered her head, making her expression unreadable.

Moen suddenly felt as though something in her tone had grown... icy.

But he didn’t give it much thought.

"Do you mean, Young Master, that one day we will be apart?"

"Of course."

Moen turned to face forward, clasping his hands behind his head while gazing at the clear blue sky outside the window.

The weather was lovely today.

"We must all forge our own paths in life, Ann. You should not let yourself be restricted by the title of this maid job."

As a great young man raised in a modern, egalitarian society, Moen firmly believed that being a maid was merely a profession. Ann should not bind her fate to his, a villain who didn’t even know when he might meet his doomed end.

Like in the original story, where he wound up hanged.

"So, Ann."

He turned back around, flashing a perfect smile. Coupled with his handsome features inherited from his mother, it was as dazzling as the morning sun shining through the window.

"If you ever find someone you love, just tell me. I’ll let you go."

"Be brave and pursue your own happiness. That’s the way I wish for you to be—and the only way I can express my gratitude for everything you’ve done for me."

...

"Be apart?"

Staring at Moen’s back, an overwhelming and terrifying darkness began surging forth in Ann’s eyes.

"How could you say such a thing, Young Master Moen?"

"We cannot be apart."

"Just can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't..."

"Never."

Biting her fingernail, Ann’s lips slowly curled into a chillingly sinister smile.

"We will... always be together, Young Master Moen."