Still, the exact count was impossible to tell from the height, and Jack knew better than to underestimate nobles when it came to participating in events.
A moment later, he pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. From the looks of it, he had plenty of time to spare before he would need to leave and attend to the cooking.
He glanced down from the mansion once more, noting that more vehicles were arriving at a steady pace. Each slowed only long enough to drop off its guests before rolling away to park alongside the earlier vehicles and carriages.
The line below was growing denser by the minute.
Jack continued to watch the flow of arrivals until, at last, he spotted the people he had been waiting for.
They could have been anyone from this height, cause the mansion was high enough that faces blurred into insignificance, but the way the individuals moved set them apart from the rest.
It could have been because they were commoners, since their posture was stiff, alert, and deliberate, and their eyes kept sweeping the surroundings rather than lingering on the spectacle.
Jack was certain they were the detectives, and seeing them there quietly reaffirmed the one reason he had agreed to serve at this event in the first place.
"That was quicker than I expected—it only took seven minutes."
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Jack muttered under his breath as he studied the pocket watch resting in his palm. The steady rhythm of its ticking seemed to please him.
The corners of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly before he snapped the watch shut.
I'm done here... I should leave before anyone notices me.
He turned to go, but not before casting one last glance downward. The moment he did, he froze. Noticing about nine immaculate vehicles, each bearing the same crest,
a silver heron guarding a key.
"...Isn't that—?" He muttered, but cut himself off mid-thought, forcing his eyes to double-check. But that would have been possible, since he could perfectly see anything, even from a distance that would blur most others' vision.
Below, the vehicle came to a stop, and soon two women emerged, one in her forties and the other barely in her twenties. Both had long, flowing black hair that tumbled just past their waists, gleaming like polished obsidian in the sunlight.
Their poise spoke of unspoken authority, a grace reserved for nobility. Each wore gowns of exquisite craftsmanship, fabrics that shimmered like crystal threads woven with jewels. The elder woman's gentle smile belied her age, giving her the appearance of someone in her early thirties, while the younger's expression was grave, almost unreadable.
Of course.
These were no ordinary women—they were members of the Vikii family. And the remaining vehicles brought guards and other distinguished guests, gathered from Fenn and nearby towns.
The women wasted no time lingering outside, moving straight into the mansion as if the place had been theirs all along, where Sil Bernard would meet them and attend to their every whim with practiced deference.
That being said, the Vikii family's ownership of the mansion was undeniable. And from the street below, one could see their family crest mounted atop the highest floor. Jack, perched on that very floor, couldn't see it directly from his angle; it hung overhead, just out of his line of sight.
A second later, a voice broke his focus.
"So, that's the Royal family?"
Jack swiveled sharply, his eyes narrowing at the figure beside him. It was the maid who had been trailing him earlier. Somehow, she had managed to appear next to him without him noticing.
"Hey." She said, a curious expression softening into a peculiar smile.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "...How long have you been there?" His tone carried both caution and disbelief.
The maid stayed silent for a heartbeat, tilting her head and letting her green eyes flicker over him, sharp and observant, as if she were trying to measure him.
"Don't worry," she finally said with a calm voice. "I just got tired of waiting for you on the other floor." She paused, then added lightly. "I'm Melissa, by the way."
Jack's eye twitched. He couldn't believe he'd let his guard down long enough for her to sneak up on him. He scanned her from head to toe, searching for any clue that would explain how she moved so silently, but found nothing.
"Hey," he said back, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, trying to mask his surprise.
Melissa didn't bother with pleasantries. She went straight to the point, her posture and gaze sharp, unwavering. Though she didn't mention why she had been following him, or who had sent her, her intent was clear.
"You're that man from two days ago, aren't you?" Her voice was steady, almost accusing. "What are you doing here, and what do you expect dressing like you're from some noble household?"
Her green eyes flickered with intensity, looking at him as if trying to unravel a puzzle.
Jack remained silent, meeting her gaze but giving nothing away.
Jack let out a quiet sigh, relieved that Melissa's attention was driven more by curiosity than suspicion. Somehow, she had managed to recognize him instantly, even as he appeared to everyone else as an unfamiliar noble.
Melissa had been at the door when Jack arrived earlier. While the other maids bowed automatically, treating him like some highborn guest or dignitary, she alone had the presence of mind to see through the act. That recognition gave her the confidence to confront him directly, speaking her mind without hesitation.
As for Jack, he hardly recognized any of the maids aside from Vanessa, whose warmth and attentiveness stood out immediately.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Melissa asked, her expression turning grave.
Jack let out a soft chuckle, offering a faint, apologetic smile. "Oh, sorry. I… zoned out for a moment. You were saying?" He slid his pocket watch back into his coat, keeping his movements casual.
"Huh?" Melissa exclaimed, blinking in surprise
Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out six gold coins, pressing them into Melissa's hands with a steady motion. Her green eyes widened, surprise flickering across her face as she tried to process what was happening.
"...W-why are you giving me—?" she began, but Jack leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping to a soft murmur near her ear. It wasn't difficult, since they were nearly the same height, though Melissa might have been an inch or two shorter. The proximity added weight to his words, making it clear this was not a gesture to be questioned lightly.
"Take it," Jack murmured, his voice low but firm. "I can't give you much right now, since you know where we are. After the event's over, find me—I'll give you the rest. Enough for you to quit this job, find a better one, or even leave this unfair city behind."
He said it because he saw it in Melissa's eyes, how hard she was trying to hold herself together. Even from just glancing at her hands, he could tell she'd seen harder days before becoming a maid. Scars lined her palms, and her expression carried the weight of someone who had fought long and hard to survive, a resilience that mirrored Jack's own, only shaped by a female's life.
With that, he left her standing there, the coins cupped in her hands, as he turned and made his way toward the kitchen, already focusing on the task ahead.