Chapter Twenty-Nine: You cannot expect her to be your maid, your lover, and your plaything all at once.

The night was as dark as ink, quietly enveloping the sky, with only a scattering of stars and a full moon hanging high above.

At the entrance of Fruit Basket Village.

After bidding farewell to the villagers, Xia Mingyu had arrived here accompanied by Anlia and Berg. Viscount Hughes and his entourage were already waiting.

"Your Highness," Karen said, bowing slightly.

Sir Thorin and the guards bowed deeply in unison. When their master is present, his attendants and servants must never kneel before others, unless... their master has knelt as well.

"Please, board the carriage," Karen said, standing before a luxurious carriage draped in purple velvet curtains. He gestured, and a guard immediately dropped to his hands and knees beside the carriage entrance, acting as a step.

"I can manage on my own."

Xia Mingyu was not accustomed to stepping on a person's back, so he boarded from the other side of the carriage entrance. He then beckoned to Anlia and Berg, who followed his lead and boarded from the opposite side. Since Anlia was only about 1.6 meters tall, Xia Mingyu reached out to pull her up as well.

Once all three were inside, Karen took his seat on the carriage box—the driver’s position—and took up the reins of the two black steeds.

"Your Highness, the night is dark and the road is uneven. I possess night vision; if you do not mind, allow me to drive for you. I guarantee there will not be a single jolt during the journey," Karen said calmly.

At these words, everyone present—except for Xia Mingyu, including Anlia and Berg—looked at Karen with shock and disbelief. For a noble of high status, the Lord of Black Wolf Territory himself, to perform the work of a common coachman was simply unfathomable, even if the passenger was of the highest nobility.

"Lord Viscount, thank you for your kind offer. I do indeed dislike the jolting, so you shall drive," Xia Mingyu replied after a moment of silence.

Without waiting for a response, he continued, "Berg, go down and keep Sir Thorin company. I recall you mentioning that his swordsmanship is excellent."

"Yes, my lord." Berg jumped off the carriage without hesitation. Sir Thorin pulled him up onto his horse, and the two rode together.

Seeing this, Karen’s expression remained unchanged, but he couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. This Prince was truly meticulous in his actions; no wonder he was the heir to a superpower with a population of 1.4 billion. Although he had volunteered, he had harbored some lingering resentment about acting as a coachman in front of so many servants and confidants, especially with the hunter-attendant in linen clothes sharing the carriage.

Xia Mingyu’s move had accepted his kindness while simultaneously preserving his dignity. How clever! Is this what one calls statesmanship? Karen thought he should learn from this in the future. As for the maid... in noble circles, a maid was not considered a person, but merely an object. And was it not reasonable for an object to be kept in a carriage?

"Depart!"

With everything settled, Karen waved his hand and cracked the carriage whip with high spirits. Much like a fisherman who has caught a prize fish and is rushing home, he couldn't wait to bring the "mountain of gold" in his carriage back to his castle to show his wife and daughter.

*Crack! Crack!*

With two dull neighs, the carriage lurched forward, and the procession sped off toward the full moon in the distance.

"What will the future hold?" Xia Mingyu leaned back against the plush sofa inside the carriage, lifting the window curtain to watch the dense forest flashing by and the bright moon hanging in the sky.

In this fantasy world, where eternal gods and creators were said to exist, what kind of end would he meet? Would it be life or death? Mediocrity or glory? A trace of melancholy flickered in his eyes. He felt like a lone boat on a vast ocean, surrounded by storms, unaware of when they would cease, or if the shadows ahead were islands or whirlpools.

Just then, a soft, small hand gently took his. He turned his head in confusion.

"Forgive me, Master. I touched you without permission," Anlia whispered.

Moonlight spilled through the window, casting a thin veil over the girl's pale blue dress. It traced the curve of her slender waist, and her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall over her snow-white shoulders. Her eyes, as clear as a mountain lake, quietly reflected his image.

Inexplicably, Xia Mingyu’s mood improved significantly. He finally understood why so many people on Blue Star openly labeled themselves as "aesthetic-driven." When the world is so cruel, one must look at something beautiful to carry on.

"I permit you to touch me," Xia Mingyu said calmly.

*Tsk, such a submissive girl...* The corners of his mouth curled slightly upward.

"Master, my adoptive father often suffered from headaches. To ease his suffering, I taught myself a few techniques for massaging the head. If you don't mind, may I massage yours for a while?" Anlia said softly, a hint of entreaty on