After calming down from the shock of the new information, Elara once again looked at the world map, trying to find the answer to her earlier question about the location of the Thousand Faces group.
[So, the Thousand Faces sect is nearly two major states and many second- and third-tier smaller ones away from me?]
[Yes, Master. With the slow transportation in this world, even in the best-case scenario, it would take at least two to three years to travel from your place to theirs.]
Elara slowly furrowed her eyebrows. That made it very inconvenient to find a way to disguise herself… She had often heard female employees at her company talk about those time-travel webnovels, where the female leads easily gained all sorts of disguise abilities.
[However, Master, if you're just looking for someone with "Thousand Faces" ability, there happens to be one in your princess mansion.]
[Hmm?] Elara came back to her senses and stared at the glowing orb in her mind. [There's someone like that in my princess mansion already? Who is it?]
[Uh, actually, he didn't really sneak in on purpose…] System 92 paused, as if choosing its words carefully. [That person disguised himself as a courtesan at the male performer's building to gather information about his missing older brother. By coincidence, your body's former self ran into him, liked his beauty, and dragged him back to the princess mansion.]
Oh… so it was another unlucky pretty boy.
[People from "Thousand Faces" are great at changing their appearance, but their martial skills are average. So your people easily caught him and brought him back.]
[After returning to the princess mansion, to avoid being abused by you, he removed his disguise and made himself look extremely ugly, hoping to disgust the lustful personality that used to live in your body.]
[In the end, it worked in that he didn't have to sleep with "you," but "you" still didn't let him go. Instead, you locked him in the dungeon and used him for entertainment whenever you felt like it.]
[This man's disguise ability really was amazing. After being locked up, he nearly escaped several times by changing into the appearance of the mansion's guards. But because he was often badly beaten, his disguises weren't perfect, so your people recognized him and locked him up again. Still, he kept waiting for a chance to escape.]
[But then something unexpected happened that made him give up trying to leave the mansion.]
[Hmm?] Elara couldn't help but guess, [Was the brother he was searching for also inside the princess mansion? Also captured by "me"?]
[Yes, yes!] System 92 grew excited. [Master, do you remember the two young men you saw in the backyard on your first day here? The one reading in the pavilion, Scholar Fu! He was the last top scorer of the Plumera Kingdom before the imperial exam system ended, but was kidnapped by "you" because of his handsome face! He's the one that Thousand Faces man is looking for!]
[Hmm?] Elara didn't share System 92's excitement. She lightly tapped her forehead and thought, [So… that means Scholar Fu isn't actually from the Plumera Kingdom?]
Otherwise, why would someone travel across so many states just to find him? How could he be connected to someone from the distant Thousand Faces sect?
[Uh…] System 92's excited voice stopped. [That… I don't know either, Master. I can only access public information and general knowledge near your location. As for private details about individuals, I can't access them until you investigate them yourself.]
[But that doesn't stop you from using Scholar Fu to make the Thousand Faces man help you! If you want to learn how to disguise and change appearances, he can definitely do it!]
Elara recalled the two young men she saw in the backyard the day before yesterday. In a place like the princess mansion—hell for most men—they still acted calmly, reading and chatting leisurely…
She thought about how they greeted her that day with such composure. Unlike the others, there was no fear or hatred on their faces.
Come to think of it, according to the original host's memories, they were the only two in the backyard who dared to approach her on their own.
Heh, how interesting.
Elara lowered her gaze and gently rubbed the rim of her teacup with her fingers, her eyes darkening slightly.
[So after all that, what's the name of that Thousand Faces guy?]
[Oh, oh, oh!] System 92 quickly pulled up the information. [His name is ****. He's from Lingyue, a second-tier state in the northern part of the continent. However…] System 92's voice suddenly became strange. [Master, I just found another piece of news about him...]
"Alright, I understand. You can leave now."
The butler, as if receiving a great pardon, bowed and was about to leave when Elara spoke in a calm voice, "For now, this estate will be under Oswyn's command. Whatever he asks you to do, you must cooperate carefully."
After hearing this, the butler immediately felt glad for his "wise" decision yesterday. In his heart, he also raised his opinion of Young Master Oswyn's position in the princess's residence.
It seemed the princess was planning to favor Oswyn for some time. But unfortunately, being favored by the princess was not really a good thing.
He thought of the past incidents when he had personally helped handle a few male corpses carried out from the backyard of the princess's residence. Those bodies were no longer recognizable.
He couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for that kind and gentle young man with excellent medical skills and a handsome, pale face. At the same time, he made up his mind to be even more careful and obedient to Oswyn's orders in the future.
"Yes, Princess."
The manager left. Elara called for some white cloth soaked in medicine. She took one piece herself and gave two pieces to the two people behind her. Then she covered her mouth and nose, scanning the yard while walking around the edge of the yard toward Oswyn, who was boiling medicine.
The young doctor of the Plumera Kingdom's princess mansion, known for his sharp and proud nature, was rolling up his sleeves, sweating heavily. The white mist rising around him softened his proud and independent aura, making him seem more approachable and down-to-earth.
Elara reached the medicine pot. Oswyn, focused on boiling the medicine, did not notice her. He kept his eyes on the pot while holding a medicine spoon.
"Water!" he said without looking up, reaching out his hand.
A ladle of water was handed to him.
"Cloth!"
A clean white cloth was given to him.
"Medicine spoon!"
The medicine spoon was passed.
"Silver lotus."
This time, the item came a little slower. A silver-colored flower was handed over.
"More water!"
"Spoon!"
"Add fire!"
After giving one command after another, Oswyn worked through nearly all the dozens of medicine pots around. Finally, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and took off the wet cloth from his face. He was about to change to a fresh one and check the patient area.
As he turned, he met a pair of beautiful, bright eyes.
Oswyn froze for two seconds. He instantly recognized the nightmare-like eyes. His voice, rough from the smoke, rose in surprise, "Why are you here?"
Elara lifted the medicine spoon she still held in her hand. "I came to check on you."
Oswyn looked at the spoon she held. His face changed several times as he realized the person behind him handing over all these things was this woman.
But why would she do this?
In his memory, this woman never did anything good. She only did cruel and twisted things like whipping and torture.
Thinking this, Oswyn's expression cooled. He stared into Elara's eyes. "What do you plan to do here?"
"I said, I'm here to check on you."
But in the mind of the young doctor of the princess mansion, who once suffered from her cruelty, Elara had no trust.
Oswyn frowned, looking hard at her face. He did not believe a word she said.
Especially when he saw two handsome men following her, Oswyn's lips curled into a familiar sneer. His red lips parted, ready to spit out some sarcasm.
But halfway through, he seemed to remember something. He stopped himself and stepped closer, staring hard at Elara.
"What are you going to do with the people in the other villa?"
Elara heard the question twice but no one believed her truth. She felt a little helpless.
She glanced sideways at the people lying in the villa and didn't want to argue anymore.
"I will do whatever I want."
Hearing her finally reveal her real intention, Oswyn remembered the careless words she said when she took those refugees from Gilbert.
She was happily working with Gilbert back then. She said she wanted to pick some "fresh ones" from the refugees for her own pleasure.
The sarcasm that Oswyn had just suppressed quickly returned to his eyes. He looked at her and sneered.
"There are so many men in the princess mansion for you to play with. Now you even want these ugly people?"
After he said this, Damon, who had been quietly watching around with her, glanced at Elara. Mathias kept his head down without any reaction as usual.
Elara ignored Oswyn's sarcastic tone. She did not dislike this straightforward young doctor who was easily annoyed by teasing. She actually found him a little cat-like and thought it was fun to tease him sometimes.
But since he insisted on this understanding, she could not blame him.
Elara directly followed his words and looked critically over the scene.
"Yes, you are right. I don't want these ugly people, so there is no need to keep them here."
Before Oswyn, who had just widened his eyes slightly, could react, Elara called the manager waiting nearby and pointed to the backyard crowded with refugees.
"Go and kick all these people out."
"Yes, yes." The manager quickly agreed, feeling this was the right decision for a princess.
After finishing, Elara looked at the sick people in the yard.
"As for these..." She purposely dragged out her voice.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Oswyn, who just had a mocking expression, now change his face. His pale face showed signs of nervousness and regret. His eyes were filled with worry as he stared at her, clearly regretting his quick words that caused those people to be kicked out of the princess mansion.
Especially now, with this group still sick refugees, he was even more afraid that Elara, annoyed by his mockery, would also kick these sick people out.
He only didn't want her to pick more young people from this group to be harmed inside the mansion. That's why he spoke sarcastically but forgot that she handled things she didn't want more ruthlessly.
But if these very sick people left now, they would die quickly and spread the illness faster. Then maybe the whole Plumera City would...
No, she can't kick this group out!
In a few seconds, Oswyn imagined the whole city falling into an epidemic. His nervous and regretful expression slowly changed to a serious and firm one.
As long as he could keep these people here, no matter what unreasonable requests she might make, this time... he must agree!
Oswyn clenched his hand at his side. After making the decision, he breathed out calmly, no longer so nervous.
He straightened his body and looked up as he walked toward her.
Elara, who had been watching Oswyn's changing expressions with her side glance, guessed what he was about to do.