Lady Monica had been too angry to see how the woman she had met in the thread shop to suddenly appear to the soiree despite feeling angry, she had calmed down herself and her anger in the corner room which was the opposite of the place. She had stood in the place in purpose so Ian would be able to see her but in the position where she was, covered by the curtain she wasn't able to see the small scene happened between Elise and Ian; And still believed what her brother had said to her mind.

The girl may have taken the Lord's eyes but in the end if the day she was nothing but a maid. Someone who was lowly than the other and she was confident she would be able to discard the woman soon.

She lifted the corner of her lips calming her laugh, "The news comes like a wind and I was fortunate to hear of your excellent feat with the Church."

"Of course the case must be closed faster with the help of the Lord." said the lady beside Lady Monica. Elise noticed how the crowd slowly become wider in the corner of the room and felt a little disappointed that she couldn't talk more with Ian. Whenever she was with him, her head feels as if she had gone to the nine clouds, forgetting the words she kept on thinking to say if she could have another chance to talk with Ian.

"Do you enjoy the evening song, milord? This is a new piece played by the pianist, he is a famous pianist from Hurthened who came after father's request." said Lady Monica, keeping her words to have the conversation to flow.

"It's enjoyable." Ian replied briefly.

"I heard there was a slave brought to your house, Lady Sentencia, what happened with the slave? I see that you are not bringing the slave with you today." said a man to the brünetter woman whose name was Sentencia, a lady who was dressed poshly and jewelry covering her neck. When Elise heard they spoke about slaves, her eyes looked at Lady Sentencia with little nervous in behalf of the slave, she had heard about how slave was bought to rich family and their ending wasn't one would want to hear.

"That one was a disappointment I bought her home thinking she had receive a study on how to behave like a proper slave but in the end she tried to escape from the house but fortunately, the dogs of my house was able to bring her back home." Lady Sentencia covered her laugh. Fortunate? thought Elise, she could tell that it wasn't fortunate in the view of the slave. Everyone seemed to be agreeing with Lady Sentencia's words regarding the slave including Lady Monica who agreed to say,

"That's unfortunate. A slave should know their place and the codes of conduct that come with it. If they couldn't follow that the one who would be troubled by their actions are us, the owners. Particularly we should have the skates and servants to know the line they shouldn't cross, else their head would be on the line."

"You seem to know much about slaves, Lady Monica." it was Ian who had said the words for not only Elise but everyone's eyes to come toward him.

Happy with the attention Ian gave, she quickly reply, "My mother happened to buy one before but the slave died early and since the slaves were not equivalent to the money we have paid for, we don't have one anymore."

"I see." whispered Ian. He didn't need a word for Monica to continue and could guess the reason of the slave's death were none other than the Countess's beating or either of the family member.

"Milady, may I ask what happen to the slave you mentioned earlier now?" Sentencia and Monica shifted her eyes toward Elise who had spoke with a frown. As much as Elise didn't want to attract the people's attention she felt she could sit well with the conversation Sentencia had.

"Servants like this, should be reached not to speak when someone else above her is talking." Lady Sentencia clicked her tongue, and then Lady Monica laughed.

"Lord Ian, you should send the servant behind you to Lady Sentencia. I'm sure in a few days, the maid should learn if her position." said Lady Monica, her eyes looked at Elise as if she was about to dissect her.

"What is mine should be mine to teach. I do not see the need to have someone teach what belongs to me. Unless you are saying my teaching is not enough?" questioned Ian, his smile was dropping that had both Lady Monica and Lady Sentencia understood how they had stepped into a landmile.

"Of course not, milord."

"I dare not, milord." said Lady Monica before her eyes moving to take a glare at Elise again. Elise couldn't help but to feel more pity toward Lady Monica. She looked a few years older than her perhaps in her early twenty like Lady Sentencia but the two had a personality nothing less than a small child.

"Continue and answer her question." nudged Ian, his back leaned to the wall for him to place the empty glass on the servant who passed by the crowd.

"Pardon?" came Lady Sentencia's surprised tone.

"You are not deaf Lady Sentencia, still in your twenties but, tch, your hearing have become clouded." Ian commented. If this was someone else, Lady Sentencia would have thrown a fit in the room but this was the Lord who was in front of her and she couldn't do anything than letting the shame stained to her face.

"Course not, Milord I have heard the servant's words clear." said Lady Sentencia as she clenched her hands.

"My maid." corrected Ian, displeased for the air in the room to turned tight and rigid. "Speak." his red eyes gouging the brunette woman who had broke a nerve with the taunting tone the Lord used.