Chapter 9: Too Valuable to Lose

Chapter 9: Too Valuable to Lose

A full day had passed. As I slowly opened my eyes, warm sunlight spilled across my body. One of the maids had just pulled open the heavy curtains of the enormous windows.

I wasn’t sure how I ended up here, but when I recalled my time in the bath last night, the answer became clear.

“So I really did fall asleep. Those two maids must have carried me here,” I whispered softly, piecing it together.

It made sense. Even though my body wasn’t tired, my mind had been completely worn down. Anyone would be exhausted after what I went through.

Even someone mentally prepared might lose their sanity in such a situation.

The pain of being stabbed while fully awake could shatter a normal person's mind.

The fact that I had come through it mostly unaffected was unsettling in its own way.

Still, that was behind me. It was no longer my concern. What mattered now was surviving what lay ahead.

With a silent nod, I glanced down at the bed I was kneeling on. The size and opulence no longer surprised me.

My gaze shifted to the maids still cleaning every corner of the room. I didn’t interrupt them.

I simply watched, quietly admiring their silent and methodical work. Each movement was graceful and precise. They cleaned the furniture and even the artwork with a dedication that bordered on obsession. Not a speck of dust remained anywhere.

This was the true definition of a clean freak.

I found myself genuinely impressed. Their perfectionism, their discipline, and their attention to the tiniest detail were not just habits. They were expressions of control and power.

I even envied their motivation.

If I had the authority, I would have hired them instantly.

But I didn’t.

These maids weren’t ordinary servants. Beneath their calm and quiet demeanor, they were terrifyingly powerful.

Pretending to be maids while hiding such overwhelming strength was insane.

Forcing them to swear loyalty would be pointless. They already had someone they followed. That person was my new grandfather.

Gramps Zach.

Although I wasn't their master, I had a strong feeling they would still obey me if I gave them a command. But it would be presumptuous to act on that. I was here to maintain the image of a quiet, cautious woman.

If I suddenly acted like a tyrant, it would ruin everything I had worked to build.

Not that I would ever abuse them. They were too capable and too valuable. I needed to make a good impression so they would help me willingly when the time came.

That was what truly mattered.

As I drifted into thought, silently planning my next steps, one of the maids spoke. Her voice pulled me back with a start.

“Young Miss, please allow me to help you dress. Lynn will handle your meal and bring it here shortly,” she said with a calm and unreadable expression.

I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but I nodded and let her continue. The maid named Lynn, who had been cleaning alongside her, quietly exited the room. She would likely return soon with food.

Well, I learned the name of one of them. But what about this one? I wondered, a soft curiosity forming in my thoughts as the remaining maid gently removed my nightgown.

I didn’t react to being undressed. I had already experienced this routine several times. What mattered now was finding out her name.

Just as I was about to ask, she unexpectedly spoke while unhooking my bra.

Her words left me frozen.

“You’re incredibly big, Young Miss. We must maintain this shape and preserve your flawless beauty at all costs,” she said seriously.

I didn’t know how to respond.

I wasn’t sure if it was meant as a compliment or just an observation, but either way, it interrupted me before I could ask her name.

I sighed inwardly and let it go.

I would find out eventually.

For now, it was better to stay quiet and avoid drawing attention to myself.

She continued dressing me with professional ease. As she did, my eyes wandered toward the wall-mounted screen across the room. I had mistaken it for a window before, but upon closer inspection, I realized what it truly was.

It was the system.

The display had come to life again, and I immediately focused on the glowing words, feeling that familiar sense of tension rise in my chest.

🖥️【SYSTEM NOTICE】

【THE SYSTEM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED YOUR DECISION TO BECOME THE ADOPTED GRANDDAUGHTER OF A POWERFUL BEING. THIS CHOICE IS DEEMED CORRECT, BOTH AS A FITTING PATH FOR THE HOST’S DISCIPLINE AND DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF YOUR WILL AND REASONING.】

【AS RECOGNITION, THE SYSTEM GRANTS YOU ACCESS TO THREE REWARD OPTIONS:】

🎁 【PLEASE SELECT ONE REWARD BELOW】

1️⃣ 🧬 COMPLETE AND STABILIZED MERIDIANS
2️⃣ 🌬️ RANDOM MID-TIER BREATHING METHOD
3️⃣ 👣MID-TIER MOVEMENT SKILL

⚠️ [SELECT ONE REWARD]

Seeing the options listed out, my curiosity deepened.

I didn’t know exactly what each reward meant, so I asked the system for an explanation.

The moment I saw the details of the first option, I was stunned.

"..."

“This one is incredible,” I muttered, my eyes widening.

The first choice offered complete and stabilized meridians. This meant that every single mana pathway in my body would be fully formed, open, and without flaws.

No blocked or missing channels. No mana leaks.

Mana would circulate smoothly, without turbulence or backlash. The risk of internal injury during absorption would drop dramatically.

It was the kind of perfect internal system most people only dreamed of. Even natural-born geniuses often lacked it.

This would make cultivating mana faster, safer, and more efficient.

“I’ll definitely choose this,” I decided immediately, not even bothering to examine the other options.

The second reward, though powerful, came with risk. A random breathing method might not suit me at all.

As for the movement skill, it was tempting but ultimately impractical. If someone on the level of Gramps Zach was chasing me, no movement technique would save me.

I would only regret wasting the opportunity.

This first reward was exactly what I needed. My mana was still scattered and wild.

I couldn’t absorb mana efficiently. But if I had this foundation, my growth would skyrocket. Even though I still couldn’t safely absorb natural energy just yet, it would be a massive step forward.

And once I obtained a high-tier breathing method, everything would fall into place.

With absolute certainty, I made my choice.

✨📣DING

🖥️【SYSTEM NOTICE】

【YOU HAVE SELECTED THE FIRST CHOICE. INTEGRATION WILL NOW BEGIN. PLEASE ADAPT TO THE CHANGES TO MINIMIZE DISCOMFORT.】

I took a deep breath.

Something inside me began to shift. My body was changing, slowly and silently.

Through my Divine Vision, I sensed my veins aligning with perfect precision. Mana flowed effortlessly through them, as if it had finally found its rightful path.

The sensation was smooth and revitalizing, like a weight had quietly lifted from deep within me.

Everything felt close to perfect.

All I lacked now was a proper breathing method. If the system granted one, I would be able to absorb natural energy directly.

Any toxic elements would be filtered, and the purified energy would convert into mana and nourish my core with every breath.

Unlike Gramps Zach, whose core had already been refined enough to absorb natural energy as it was, I still relied on mana that had been filtered and converted.

I wasn’t yet capable of using pure natural energy.

But with this foundation and my affinity with all elements, that would no longer be a problem. I would be able to use every element freely, and the mana would nurture me constantly.

That is, if I had chosen a high-grade breathing method. For now, all I could do was wait.

This cursed system always demanded conditions before giving rewards.

Still, I felt satisfied.

I nodded quietly.

I was in a good mood.

Moments later, the maid had finished dressing me.

When I looked at my reflection, I was surprised. The outfit was beautiful and elegant.

Pale silk clung lightly to my skin, soft and fluid. Gold trim lined the edges, delicate lace traced the sleeves, and a silver sash was tied neatly at my waist. Beneath it all, ivory linen added a soft layer.

The fabric moved like mist with every step, and a trail of pearl buttons shimmered along my back.

It looked like something a noblewoman might wear on a casual day. Still, I didn’t dwell on that. What caught my attention more was Lynn, the maid who had gone to prepare food.

She had finally returned.

I need to eat first. Skipping meals is not something I do, I reminded myself as she wheeled in a tiered cart filled with healthy dishes. Meat, fresh salads, vibrant fruits. It had everything.

My mouth watered just looking at it.

But I held myself back.

I needed to appear refined.

After carefully adjusting every fold of my clothes, I walked with grace to the seat Lynn had prepared for me. I sat down and began to eat with quiet elegance. Even though I was starving, I restrained myself.

I couldn’t afford to look like a wild animal in front of them.

My appearance spoke of nobility, and I needed to reflect that with proper manners.

My old life had taught me that much.

While I ate, I noticed the two maids watching me. Their expressions remained neutral, but I caught a subtle flicker of surprise in their eyes.

They hadn’t expected me to behave so properly.

That small reaction told me I had made the right decision. I continued eating in silence.

A few minutes later, I was finished.

The maids began collecting the plates, likely to clean them. I paid no attention. I was already thinking about heading back to bed to rest.

Just as I began to rise, Lynn turned to me and spoke.

"Young Miss, the Master requests your presence. He did not say why, only that you may go to his office right away."

I froze in place.

"What...?"

My thoughts scattered. Where had she received the message? Was it telepathy? That seemed unlikely.

But I remembered the moment Gramps Zach had spoken directly into my mind while I pretended to sleep.

Maybe it was something like that.

There was no point in overthinking it. I would go.

Then I could sleep afterward.

I gave a quiet nod and followed Lynn out of the room. As the door shut behind us, we moved in silence through the corridor.

After about a minute of walking, we reached an enormous black door. Two armored knights stood before it, spears in hand.

Their presence radiated strength. Their auras felt nearly identical to Lynn’s, and I could sense they held large natural energy pools as well.

Lynn raised her hand slightly. The guards stepped forward in perfect synchronization and gripped the handles of the door.

A sudden surge of natural energy erupted from their bodies as they pulled.

The door groaned in protest.

Despite their strength, it took several seconds to force it open.

Creak...

The heavy metal door opened with a deep, grating sound.

I was just about to step inside when a woman’s voice echoed through the opening.

"You manipulative bastard. You really went so far as to make that girl your granddaughter just so we couldn’t take her by force. So now you don’t even see me as a threat, is that it, Zach?"

Her voice was filled with venom, sharp and furious.

I froze where I stood.

My breath caught.

Gramps Zach responded, calm and composed.

"You forget about my daughter. The one who died centuries ago. Surely you understand the reason behind my actions."

But the woman remained unmoved.

"That’s not a good enough reason. Hand her over now, and I will compensate you."

My mind spun.

Even I could sense that she didn’t believe him. And to be honest, neither did I.

I had always felt that Gramps Zach had another motive for adopting me. One he hadn’t shared.

Now I found myself caught in the middle of something far bigger than I had ever imagined.

This wasn’t just a coincidence.

What had I been dragged into?

And what was going to happen next?