Michael stared at the old man in front of him.
This time, he was seated.
The guard from the gate had brought him to some kind of study to meet who Michael assumed was the steward of the noble house he had entered.
At first, the steward had looked at him with puzzlement, addressing the guard beside him rather than Michael himself.
The man wasn’t disrespectful, but his gaze was dismissive.
However, the moment he learned that Michael carried a royal court token—the first time Michael realized what the item Mage Lian had given him truly was—the steward’s attitude shifted drastically.
His dismissiveness vanished, replaced by immediate and sincere respect.
When he confirmed that Michael had come specifically for Mage Lian, his deference only deepened.
Fortunately, there was no unnecessary small talk.
The steward promptly assured him that he would send someone to the core area of the capital to inform Mage Lian of his presence.
With how smoothly everything went, Michael was certain this was Mage Lian’s handiwork.
There was no way the old mage could have known which noble house he would choose, so the only logical explanation was that his presence had already been broadcasted to several noble houses to ensure his passage was unhindered.
Michael’s feelings on the matter were complicated.
On one hand, he was glad everything had gone smoothly. But on the other, wasn’t this attracting more attention than he wanted?
A bit of recognition was fine, but he couldn’t forget—he was an outsider here.
And his fake identity was particularly sensitive.
A noble.
His real bloodline had no connection to nobility, yet somehow, in this world, he had been labeled as one.
Michael was concerned that if too many powerful figures started paying attention to him, the very identity that was granting him so many benefits now could end up being a liability in the future.
That said, he wasn’t too worried.
At the very least, he had never actually claimed to be a noble himself.
Besides, a part of him believed that if he demonstrated impressive enough prowess, those who questioned his identity might instead offer him an even better one.
Right now, Michael’s focus was on the steward who had just returned to the study where he had left Michael to wait.
However, he didn’t come alone.
He was accompanied by a young girl—Michael guessed she was about the same age as his cousin.
No.
She should be slightly older.
She wore an expensive-looking gown that, while elegant, seemed uncomfortable to wear—or so Michael thought.
Still, his attention remained on why she had been brought into the study.
Was she the one who would lead him to Mage Lian?
“Sir Michael,” then steward addressed, his voice carrying the practiced ease of someone used to formalities. “Allow me to introduce Lady Seria Golden, the youngest daughter of the Golden family.”
Michael’s gaze flickered to the girl. Lady Seria. Golden family. He didn’t recognize the name, but from the steward’s tone, it was clearly an influential house.
The girl—Seria—gave him a polite nod, her expression neutral but her sharp blue eyes studying him with open curiosity. She was young, maybe seventeen or eighteen, with delicate features and long silver hair that was neatly tied back.
Despite her youthful appearance, there was a confidence in the way she carried herself.
Before Michael could question her presence, the steward continued.
“In the time it takes for a response to arrive from the royal court, Lady Seria will keep you company.”
Michael’s expression remained unreadable, but inwardly, he frowned.
That wasn’t necessary. He preferred to be left alone.
He opened his mouth to decline, but before he could say a word, the steward had already stepped back and gave him a respectful nod. “Please excuse me, Sir Michael. If you need anything, the attendants outside will be at your disposal.”
Without waiting for a response, the old man turned on his heel and left the study, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.
Michael stared at the door for a brief moment before sighing lightly.
The steward hadn’t even given him a chance to refuse.
Shifting his gaze back to the girl, he found Seria still watching him, her expression unreadable. A moment of silence stretched between them before she tilted her head slightly.
“You don’t seem particularly pleased,” she noted.
Michael met her gaze, his tone flat. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
Seria gave a small, amused smile. “Neither was I.”
Michael raised a brow at that.
“So you weren’t told beforehand?”
She shook her head. “Only that I was to keep you company. Nothing else.”
That confirmed it. She was just as much in the dark as he was about the reason behind this arrangement.
Michael exhaled quietly, leaning back slightly in his chair. “Then I suppose we’re both stuck here.”
Seria’s lips twitched. “It would seem so.”
Another brief silence.
Michael wasn’t interested in unnecessary conversation, but at the same time, he knew it would be rude to completely ignore her. He wasn’t looking for trouble with a noble family, especially one he knew nothing about.
So after a moment, he simply asked, “Are you used to this?”
Seria arched a brow. “Being assigned to entertain unexpected guests?”
Michael gave a slight nod.
She chuckled. “Not particularly. But it’s not the worst thing.”
Michael hummed in acknowledgment, but beyond that, he didn’t say much.
Seria, however, didn’t seem bothered by his lack of enthusiasm. If anything, she appeared somewhat intrigued by his presence.
The steward’s decision hadn’t been an attempt to make the noble daughter entertain a guest—it had been a calculated move by the head of the Golden sword family.
Seria’s presence wasn’t about simple courtesy; it was about making an impression.
A stranger who carried a royal court token. Someone who personally knew a grand mage. And not just any grand mage, but one who openly displayed his importance to this person.
That kind of individual wasn’t ordinary.
The head of the Golden family had clearly decided it was better to test the waters—to see if forging a connection was possible.
Michael, however, didn’t know of this.
Seria herself was in the dark but she was already used to receiving guests.
All she had to do was at least leave an impression.
Though her attitude seemed casual, she actually took this task seriously.