Maggie seemed to sense Edward Scott's gaze as well, her face flushing slightly with shyness, yet she proactively straightened her chest, allowing Edward Scott to look her over. On her face, however, she pretended not to notice anything.

　　By contrast, Cyril on the side was much more bashful, and her development was far behind Maggie's. She was more like a timid young fawn, sneaking glances at Andrew, her hands twisting together at her lower abdomen, looking somewhat uneasy. Compared to Maggie, she possessed a different kind of pure beauty.

　　Originally, when Edward Scott returned to the castle, it was natural that more than just these two would come to greet him. It was likely that both of them were a bit calculating, knowing to come out early to wait for him, so as to show in front of others that they had a closer relationship with Edward Scott. Of course, this was probably also at the suggestion of their parents behind the scenes.

　　Edward Scott nodded.

　　“I'm much better now, you two don't need to worry.” He chatted casually with the two young girls for a bit.

　　Howard, who had been standing to the side, quietly left to handle other matters.

　　Led by the two girls, Edward Scott walked into the inner hall. After receiving respectful greetings from most of the people in the castle there, he finally had time to rest completely.

　　He returned to his own private bedroom.

　　Only then did Edward Scott let out a deep sigh of relief.

　　Besides the bed, the bedroom contained a writing desk, on which lay a pale yellow sheepskin scroll. A quill was casually placed beside the inkwell, and a mountain-shaped candlestick flickered with a soft yellow light, giving off a faint scent of wax.

　　Edward Scott pulled out the chair at the writing desk and sat down. He glanced at the sheepskin scroll.

Chapter 003: The Beginning

　　Half of the pale yellow sheepskin scroll had already been used. On it were densely packed, neat black letters.

　　Edward Scott touched the scroll; it was soft and somewhat thin.

　　“Hmm…”

　　Suddenly, a stammering sound came from a corner of the bedroom.

　　Only then did Edward Scott remember what his father had mentioned earlier.

　　He looked toward the dark corner from which the sound came.

　　A delicate long-haired girl was hugging her knees, sitting in the shadow by the wall. Although it was a bit dim, Edward Scott still recalled her identity.

　　“Your name is Cecilia, right?” Edward Scott stood up and walked over to the little girl. He also remembered her name.

　　“Y-yes.” The little girl shrank further into the corner, seemingly a bit afraid. Her eyes were somewhat swollen, probably from crying for a long time. There were also some dried tear stains on her face. “Young master Andrew, do you have any instructions?” she asked softly.

　　Edward Scott glanced at her already somewhat developed figure and shook his head slightly. Although, from his memories, he understood that this world was much like medieval Europe, where attitudes toward sex were quite casual and open, in reality, as a soul in his twenties, he couldn't bear, nor did he have the desire, to harm a girl who looked only fifteen or sixteen.

　　He had many things to do now and no time to bother with such matters.

　　“All right, I have no instructions.” Edward Scott clapped his hands forcefully. “Maggie!! Maggie!!”

　　With a click, the bedroom door opened, and a woman in a gray maid outfit walked in respectfully. “Do you have any instructions?”

　　“Take this little girl out and find her a room to settle in. I haven't…” Edward Scott paused, suddenly recalling his father's character. If he just sent the little girl away like this, people might think that Cecilia had angered him, and the consequences… Moreover, with Baron Kyle's methods, Cecilia was probably sent by her family to take the blame. If she were sent back untouched, death would be inevitable; at best, the girl would be sent to the guards to serve as…

　　Edward Scott glanced at the girl cowering in the corner, her face full of fear and anxiety. He simply changed his words: “I'm not in the mood today. Take her out and settle her in. I'll deal with it in a few days.”

　　The maid bowed respectfully and led the timid Cecilia out of the bedroom.

　　Only then did Edward Scott truly breathe a sigh of relief.

　　Ever since his transmigration, he had always been in a state of confusion and helplessness.

　　Sitting upright at the writing desk, he picked up the white quill.

　　The pen felt very smooth, and the tip of the white feather was tinged with a bit of red—he had no idea what kind of bird it came from. Edward Scott actually felt a bit of weight holding it in his hand.

　　Under the candlelight, the white feather reflected a faint yellow glow, looking quite beautiful.

　　“I thought I was dead for sure, but I never expected to actually transmigrate.” Edward Scott played with the quill in his hand, lost in thought.

　　From Angus's memories, this world seemed to be purely in the cold weapons era. The only ranged weapons were bows and javelins; as for gunpowder and such, there was no mention of them at all. So in this era, individual combat strength had a very strong influence.