"Dick..." Mia called out to the man who never stopped talking once he started.
"What?"
"Can you stop smiling when you say these things?"
"Smiling? Am I? Was I smiling?" Dick rubbed his grinning face.
"Dick!" Mia warned him.
"Alright, alright." Dick waved his hand dismissively. "I'm just speaking up for the young lady, you know!"
Mia squinted at him, clearly unconvinced. Who would be grinning like that while standing up for someone?
"Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!" Dick's exclamations hadn't stopped since they caught sight of the Moore family's gate.
Though Mia didn't let out the same wild cries as Dick, her astonishment was no less intense—she was so shocked she couldn't even muster the courage to scream.
Moore Manor was vast and grand, comparable to a metropolis housing hundreds of thousands, a city within a city.
Passing through the magnificent gates of Moore Manor, they walked through countless gardens and pavilions before reaching the main house. For first-time visitors, the breathtaking scenery along the way was enough to leave them in awe. Upon stepping into the grand hall of the Moore family's estate, they were struck again by its splendor. The elegance of the south, the boldness of the north, the purity of snowy landscapes, and the vibrant green of spring—the architects had masterfully woven these elements into the house's design, creating a stunning display that left people speechless.
They had initially thought northern houses were just sturdy, thick-walled structures built to withstand wind and snow. Yet, this was far more majestic, rivaling even the grandeur of the Ivan family's estate. If the Ivan household could be described as "refined, beautiful, peerless, and exquisite," then the Moore household was "natural, serene, elegant, and refined"—a rare and precious quality.
"Maybe the Moore family is even richer than the Ivan family!" Dick whispered into Mia's ear.
"Mm!" Mia nodded in agreement.
Their young lady had already been whisked away to another part of the estate, likely to the bridal chambers. Her figure had seemed almost buoyant as she left, clearly delighted with the surroundings.
Mia herself was quite fond of the place. She felt that if she were to live and work here, she'd throw herself into it with enthusiasm.
Dick glanced at the Moore family's butler, who was busy organizing tasks for the accompanying servants, and whispered to Mia, "I really hope I get to work with you here, or I'm in for a rough time."
Mia glanced at the Ivan family servants and the Moore family butler standing two rows ahead, ensuring they hadn't noticed the two of them before asking, "Why?"
"Why? What else could it be? Moore Manor is so huge—if we're not assigned together, it'll be hard to even see each other." If they were split up to work at opposite ends of the estate, meeting up would be even tougher!
"You're right," Mia said, suddenly realizing.
"Oh, well." Dick, ever the optimist, shifted his tone. "We don't get a say in how they assign us. But if we work hard, we'll get chances to see each other eventually."
"Yeah," Mia agreed. "If we do well, we can ask the butler to put us together later. Besides, we don't even know if they'll split us up yet."
Whether by design or chance, everyone else had been assigned their roles, leaving Mia as the last one unplaced.
Mia lowered her head, recalling the "good luck" look Dick had given her before he left. A growing sense of unease settled in her heart. Eventually, she didn't even notice her hands fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, anxiously awaiting her fate.
Until a voice called out, "Miss Mia…"
"Yes!" Mia, overly nervous, responded loudly and respectfully, not registering that the voice was even more deferential than hers.
Looking up, she saw the Moore butler beaming at her. Hesitantly, Mia asked, "What instructions do you have, sir?"
Hearing this, the butler's smile widened. "Miss Mia, that's my line."
"Huh?" Mia thought she must have misheard.
"Miss Mia!?" Surely they weren't addressing her like that? She was in no way qualified for such a title.
Mia was a straightforward person, her emotions plain on her face. Her current expression betrayed her confusion, which the butler naturally noticed. Smiling, he clarified, "Miss Mia, I'm indeed calling you."
"Me?" Mia, confirming she hadn't misheard, grew even more astonished.
"Yes, you!" The butler nodded affirmatively.
"Sir, have you made a mistake?" Perhaps he had confused her with someone else.
"No mistake, Miss Mia. I'm calling you," the butler said, shaking his head and dispelling her doubts.
"But… why call me that?" Mia genuinely couldn't understand.
"Miss Mia, you'll understand when you meet the master. For now, allow me to escort you. Please, follow me," the butler said, stepping aside to gesture for her to proceed without further explanation.
"The master?" Do I know them? Mia couldn't help but wonder.
"Yes, our master—the true head of the Moore family," the butler said, his eyes gleaming with unmistakable pride.
"The true master of the Moore family?!" Mia couldn't help but repeat the butler's words. His response only deepened her confusion, leaving her at a loss for what to say.
The butler merely smiled. "Miss Mia, all you need to do now is follow me. When you meet the master, he will explain everything."
"Yes, sir." Despite the butler addressing her as "Miss," Mia, still uncertain of the situation, maintained her usual respectful tone.
The seemingly kind butler appeared to understand Mia's current state of mind and didn't press her. He simply gestured for her to follow him as he personally led the way toward the "Snow Dwelling," a place within Moore Manor that few were ever permitted to enter.
Mia, trailing behind the butler, no longer had the heart to admire the beautiful surroundings. Her mind raced with questions: Who is the master of the Moore family? The butler had said he was the true head of the family, so his status must be incredibly high. When had he met her? As the head of such an immense household, he must be quite old, right? Was he a stern figure, or did he have a kind face like the butler's? …
Lost in her chaotic thoughts, Mia's mind drifted to the beautiful dream she'd had the previous night. In it, a white-haired deity sat on a rock in a snowy landscape, playing a captivating melody on a flute. Far from being upset by her intrusion, the deity had treated her like a precious treasure, gently pulling her into an embrace that made her feel true warmth. If she hadn't woken up to find herself in bed, she would have been convinced by the dream's vivid, almost tangible warmth, longing to remain forever in the arms of that handsome flutist…
Deep in thought, Mia didn't notice where the butler was leading her or how long they had been walking. Her mind wandered freely until a clear, crisp flute melody jolted her awake like a thunderclap. How could this be?! Hearing the flute, Mia turned to the butler in disbelief.
The kind butler smiled and nodded, encouraging her to go alone toward the source of the enchanting music.
Perhaps out of excitement, or perhaps out of fear that this was all a dream, Mia stood frozen for a long moment. It wasn't until her curiosity urged her forward that she slowly began to move toward the sound…
The flute's melody grew more enchanting, and whether it was her imagination or not, it seemed to carry an undercurrent of irrepressible excitement. Or perhaps it was her own excitement creating the illusion?
Almost there, almost there. If she could see him again, everything would become clear…
Mia quickened her pace, hurrying along the winding corridor. Finally, she saw the figure playing the melodious flute…
A white robe, white hair, and eyes as clear and deep as the blue sky—everything about him captivated her, no, enthralled her, making her lose herself. Guided by his gaze, she slowly walked toward him…