Chapter 1876

chapter1876

Glen said, "A female spirit? And he has strange and unusual items with him? Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

Kemp bowed his head in guilt. "Mr. Holland Senior, Mr. Atkinson didn't want

anyone to know. I thought it was a private matter, perhaps something given to him by someone special. But after seeing his unusual behavior today, I realized I must inform you. This can't be hidden any longer."

Glen's expression grew grave. "A female spirit... talking to a female spirit? No wonder he's so indifferent to Geneva and the others. He's cold to every young woman in Vlario. It seems he's been ensnared by this spirit."

"What should we do now?" Kemp asked, his concern evident.

Frowning deeply, Glen replied, "I've heard whispers before, tales about the Atkinson residence being haunted, but I never gave it much weight. Now it seems we must address it. Fortunately, I have a friend arriving in Vlario soon.

"Once he's here, I'll have him visit the Atkinson residence. No matter how formidable this female spirit may be, we can't allow her to linger around Manfred. Until then, keep a close eye on him and report everything to me immediately."

"Yes, Mr. Holland Senior," Kemp replied.

...

Vivian followed Manfred to the Atkinson residence. Unlike before, the maids now treated him with the utmost respect. Gone were the days when anyone dared to mistreat him.

Once they arrived, Manfred arranged for Vivian to have a room conveniently located next to his own. When the maids heard Manfred instruct them to prepare the room, bring in fresh bedding, and heat water for a bath, they were utterly stunned.

His directions were shockingly specific-he wanted petals added to the bathwater, the kind with a light, soothing fragrance that was also good for the skin.

On top of that, he ordered the room's decor to be swiftly replaced with items more fitting for a woman's taste.

Though utterly perplexed, the maids didn't dare disobey. Despite their confusion, they carried out the orders with anxious precision, wary of making even the slightest mistake.

When some of the braver maids began whispering among themselves, they speculated that perhaps Manfred had finally come around.

They thought, maybe tonight, he intended to show favor to one of the maids. After all, he was at the right age, and it wouldn't be surprising if he decided to take on a companion or two.

The first woman to serve Manfred would be incredibly fortunate. Surely, she would hold a unique and special place in his heart.

Given today's meticulous instructions, it was clear he intended to treat this person like a princess.

It was hard to imagine this degree of thoughtfulness from Manfred. Over the past two years, he had earned a reputation for being ruthless and unyielding. Those who initially believed he was easy to manipulate had quickly met unfortunate ends.

In the rare moments when the maids overheard the pitiful cries of Zea and Cyril, they were gripped by terror, fearing that they might meet the same fate if they crossed him.

Because of these whispered rumors, some of the more attractive maids started blushing and behaving restlessly, each secretly hoping they might be the one Manfred had chosen.

The maids couldn't help but

speculate about who might have

caught Manfred's attention.

Whispers floated through the halls

as they searched for any hintor clue to confirm their suspicions.

Meanwhile, Vivian and Manfred remained completely unaware of the swirling gossip.

The two of them were enjoying dinner together. Manfred had ordered an extravagant spread, filling the entire table with dishes that rivaled a feast.

To ensure they weren't disturbed, Manfred dismissed the maids, leaving just the two of them alone in the room.

"The chefs here are incredible! There are so many dishes I've never even tried before. Even the ones I have had taste so much better here. The ingredients are so fresh and pure.

"It's nothing like what we have in

modern times, with all the

population and chemicals. Even organic produce from modern times can't ?mpare." Vivian was

thoroughly delighted with the feast Manfred had prepared.

Completely caught up in the meal, she didn't realize she had eaten far more than usual. Her stomach was now round and full.

Watching her, Manfred's expression softened into a warm smile. "If you like it, I'll have them make more tomorrow," he said.

"There's no need to prepare so much! It's such a waste if I can't finish it all," Vivian quickly said.

She had only taken a few bites from each dish and was already feeling full.

However, Manfred didn't seem the least bit concerned about waste. As long as she was happy, that was all that mattered to him.

"Would you like some fruit?" he asked.