Brandon, along with Mittens, looked up at the towering figure of the female warrior, Danni. She had been assigned to him this morning by his father—a true attendant, who had sworn loyalty in the presence of the Duke. From today on, she would follow Brandon’s commands. This was one of the privileges Brandon had gained from his awakening.

  Danni had recently completed her adulthood ceremony. Even in the North, where both men and women were known for their strength, Danni immediately struck others with her imposing presence. The adulthood ceremony marked a rite of passage for the people of the North. Between the ages of 14 and 18, their faces would develop faint markings, signaling their readiness to embark on a harsh trial in the wild. It was a brutal process of survival—only the strong survived. Danni was one of the most exceptional warriors, chosen to serve as Brandon’s attendant.

  Danni gazed down at Brandon and spoke slowly, “As your attendant, from now on, my weapons and armor will be provided by you.”

  Brandon, stunned, had his mouth half-open in surprise. Danni paused for a moment before continuing, “Before becoming your attendant, Duke gave me the weapons and armor I need, so you needn’t worry for now.”

  Relieved, Brandon was about to rex when Danni’s calm voice continued, “However, maintaining and repairing them will require some expenses. If they are damaged, it will be your responsibility to repce them.”

  Brandon sighed and lowered his head. “I... I don’t have the money.”

  “It’s alright,” Danni said, her lips curling into a faint smile. She crouched down to look Brandon in the eyes and added, “First, we need to find a pce for your attendant to stay.”

  Brandon casually replied, “You can stay in my room...” but then he froze, his eyes locking with Danni’s. He immediately realized her true intentions.

  With a smile still on her face, Danni replied, “Thank you, my lord.”

  Brandon thought to himself, I’m such a fool. He now understood. This was all part of his parents’ pn, but he had been outwitted by a tough, scheming woman.

  Later that evening, Brandon entered the dining hall with Danni by his side. As Brandon sat down, visibly dejected, Danni took her pce at a nearby table set for the knights and attendants.

  The Duchess smiled at Danni and then turned her gaze to Brandon. “How do you like Danni?”

  Brandon lifted his head, fshed a mischievous grin, and said loudly, “She’s great! A real tough girl.”

  After a brief moment of surprise, the Duchess shook her head in exasperation. “Such nonsense.”

  Laughter erupted around the table. Having exacted his little revenge, Brandon felt his mood lift. After all, having someone around wasn’t so bad. It could be useful, he thought. He began to consider how he might make the most of Danni’s presence. Since he couldn’t get rid of her, he might as well use her to his advantage.

  After dinner, Brandon found himself facing Danni in his bedroom, both staring at each other. In the North, sharing a bed with someone like Danni was no big deal. However, another important presence had a problem with it—Mittens. The bck cat, ears ft, hissed repeatedly, trying to keep Danni at bay. The bed was Mittens’ sacred territory, and no one but Brandon was allowed to encroach upon it.

  In the end, this little drama ended with Danni taking the floor and sleeping there for the night.