"Uncle Steward, you're so kind to take the time. I know nothing—please keep guiding me," Houshao'nao said, bowing respectfully.
The steward nodded, satisfied, and continued his "lecture": "A servant, by definition, is beneath others. First, loyalty—no one wants a disloyal lackey. Second, silence—never speak unless ordered, and even then, hold your tongue. Third—" He paused. "You understand?"
Houshao'nao, who'd been nodding earnestly, seized the cue: "Uncle, you're brilliant! Such profound wisdom, grasped so deeply. I'm in awe—truly!"
"Ah, you're a quick learner. Third rule: never pry. Even if you see something, act blind." The steward, carried away, spilled decades of servitude wisdom, oblivious to Houshao'nao's strategic flattery.
After the steward left, Houshao'nao reflected on the advice, nodding silently. *Humility, secrecy, obedience*—he tucked the lessons away, then realized: *I forgot to ask where to eat!*
Rummaging through his bag, he found two (withered) sweet potatoes. "Lucky they're not rotten," he sighed, digging a pit in the stable yard. He piled straw over it, then hesitated: *How to light it?*
"Boss, what're you doing? Going vegetarian?" the donkey jeered.
"Shut up. Trying to start a fire," Houshao'nao muttered, staring at his palm. Summoning his feeble, sealed magic, he willed a tiny flame to life—a skill he hadn't used in years.
The donkey watched, chewing grass sadly. *Gris, the once-proud magician, reduced to this…*
The fire caught, and soon the air smelled of roasting sweet potatoes. Houshao'nao dug them out eagerly—until a voice shattered the silence:
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
*Anna's voice.* Houshao'nao froze, clutching the hot potatoes.
"…No one? Odd. Did you see someone, Little Darling?" Anna appeared, approaching the horse, which neighed and nodded toward the haystack.
"Found you! Come out or I'll burn you," Anna warned, conjuring fireballs.
"Miss Anna! It's me—Houshao'nao. I'm tending the stables for Master Sheffield," he said, emerging sheepishly.
"*You*? Ugh, you look shifty. Didn't you hurt Little Darling?" She dismissed the flames, inspecting the horse.
"Little Darling?"
"My horse! Father promised him to me. I'll ride him to Aifar Magic Academy—imagine the sensation: beauty and steed!"
*Beauty? More like terror.* Aloud: "Miss, such a pairing will *definitely* cause a stir. Crowds will flock to see you."
Anna preened, then scowled, reigniting a fireball: "What do you mean by 'stir'?"
"Only that two unmatched treasures together will leave people breathless, Miss," he backtracked quickly.
She giggled, mollified. "You're clever. I'll ask Father to make you *my* attendant tomorrow. Excited to serve a genius like me?"
Houshao'nao inwardly groaned, repeating: *I brought this on myself.*
Two thumps—his sweet potatoes rolled from his arms.
"Ugly things. Peel one," Anna ordered.
He obeyed, and the aroma hit her. She snatched the potato, devouring it ravenously, then grabbed the second.
"Miss, that's my dinner!" he protested, voice trembling.
"Liar! You must've misbehaved. Father probably starved you." She paused, seeing his tearful gaze on the half-eaten scrap. "Fine—follow me."
Before he could object, she dragged him to the kitchen, shoving him into a flower bed as a servant passed.
"Now—take whatever you want. Consider it compensation," Anna declared, waving at the feast: ham, roasted meat, smoked fish…
"R-really?"
"Mm."
With her permission, Houshao'nao rushed not to the gourmet dishes, but to a corner basket of old vegetables—turnips, sweet potatoes, potatoes. Anna watched, puzzled, as he stuffed his pockets with the cheapest fare, ignoring the delicacies.
"Idiot," she muttered, though a faint smile played on her lips. *Strange boy—prefers scraps over feasts. Father's new pet, indeed.*
As they parted, Anna tossed him a silver coin—a rare show of mercy. Houshao'nao clutched it, torn between gratitude and dread of her capricious temper. The donkey brayed from the stables, a hollow, ironic laugh at their shared plight: one a servant to a tyrant, the other a beast to a magician, both prisoners of a curse that bound them tighter than chains.