Sarah gave Renald a condescending look while saying, "You might be able to fool our son with such a flimsy excuse but I can see right through that. You could have just assigned her a guards training and she would still turn out to be useful." She put her head on her hand in a very un-ladylike posture before asking, "I wonder just what you're hiding about her that makes you think she's really worthy of joining MY family."

Renald flinched at her emphasis of the word "My" while trying to keep a straight face. He cleared his throat before he gave out his prepared excuse to her, "Of course I'm hiding something. You know how pigheaded Joshua has gotten lately. I intend to use Aria to subtly threaten his position as heir so that he will finally start studying properly."

Sarah looked unconvinced as she went along with his excuse, "He has gotten really bad at staying focused."

Renald quickly nodded in agreement, "That girl, Aria, learned our language in a little under a year. She also knocked him down with one blow earlier today despite being on the receiving end of a thrashing by him a year ago. It's obvious she will be an extreme genius in the future. So, why not use her strengths and prop her up as a threat to him so he will finally devote himself and stop being such a moron who follows the Danil boy around like a puppy. It's sickening that he listens to everything that kid says while not taking any of our advice to heart."

Sarah scoffed loudly, which caused Renald's brow to twitch, before she said, "You keep telling yourself that. We both know that isn't the reason." She looked at him with a piercing stare that seemed to see through all of the excuses and lies he had prepared, "This has something to do with you bringing in that Thradii into our house, doesn't it?"

Renald resisted the urge to turn away as it would expose him immediately. He quickly replied, "Don't be foolish. I'm going through some very lucrative deals with that Thradii's family and need his support to see them through to the end."

Sarah sighed lightly before saying, "Whatever. Keep it to yourself if you want. I'll find out on my own eventually anyway." She straightened back up in her chair before continuing, "So, you added an amnesiac orphan girl to my family without asking me for my opinion, correct?"

Renald hesitated for a long moment before he nodded. He just realized that Sarah had already known that the deal was done. Since she couldn't do anything to fix it, Renald relaxed slightly as everything seemed to be more favorable than he though. He couldn't sense the oppressive mood that Sarah had created earlier. It seemed that she had done that because his son was present during the conversation.

However, Sarah's next words stabbed him in the eye. "You really don't see me as someone who's trustworthy for you to lie so blatantly to my face, do you?" She fixed a serious stare at Renald that caused him to break out into another cold sweat. "You really think you can keep the truth from me?"

"This," Renald started to say while throwing a glance at Donel and Mihael. They were both in the room and he didn't want to say anything contradictory to what he had already told Donel. But his back was to a wall, "I don't have to explain my reasons. Since you already know it's done there's no point in discussing it any further."

Donel and Mihael's expressions paled as Renald stepped on a mine.

Sarah's eyes narrowed into a look that could kill. It sent a chill down Renald's spine to be on the receiving end of that look. She coldly said, "Well then, I won't talk about it anymore. Still, I wonder what father-in-law will say about it."

Renald's lips twitched. His father was currently touring the barrier worlds as part of his vacation. He was always someone who valued the military and power more than the trading that Renald focused on. That was why his father had went out of his way to make sure his son would be able to handle the family business as soon as possible, just so he could go and have fun fighting for the rest of his days sooner. He was also very traditional and despised being surprised with new family changes. He always wanted to know about them before they happened.

His father was also in the dark about everything concerning Altair.

Renald hesitantly asked, "Y-You aren't thinking about letting him know about something so minor during his vacation, are you? He's only been touring the barrier worlds for four years and isn't expected to be back for another five. I doubt he would want to have his leisure interrupted so soon into it."

Sarah smirked at him as she raised her communicator up. It displayed a simple sentence: message sent. The receiver was also visible which caused Renald's expression to pale while Sarah replied, "I have already sent word. Having a new member of the main family line isn't something small at all. He should be notified immediately as I am sure he will want to see his new daughter in person."

Renald clenched his hands into fists as he thought as fast as he could about how to divert his father's attention before he got the message. It would be at least a month before it reached him so if he sent a warp message then it would be able to get to him first.

However, Sarah's words dashed his hopes, "Don't worry Dear, I sent it through the warp. It will get to him in a few hours and he will surely rush home to see his precious new daughter. He should be here in a little over half a year."

Renald put his head in his hands as Sarah stood from the table, "It was a nice meal, Dear." She turned and started to walk out of the room while adding, "Until father-in-law decides how this will be handled, you'll be sleeping a couch in the Servants Quarters."

At the same time as the Marnithok family was having their dinner, Altair was dealing with Stacey in her room. She was still in the heavy dress she was dressed in earlier and she was glaring daggers at Stacey. Stacey only gave her a warm smile while Noel watched with interested eyes.

Altair's frown deepened as she forcefully stated, "I will not allow you to help me in the bathroom! I can bath myself and I won't refuse to let you wash me!" She didn't want to be treated like a doll again. She absolutely refused to allow that to happen.

Stacey's smile didn't let up at all, "Please, Young Miss. It is improper for a noble girl to bath themselves. That is why you have us personal maids. It's our job to take care of you."

Altair was unmoved by her words, "No! I will bath by myself and I won't let you in the bathroom!"

"There's no need to be embarrassed," Stacey said in a tone that hinted at a deeper meaning, "Young Miss just let us take care of your body for you."

Altair didn't like the sound of it. She had a chill run down her spine that reminded her about how dangerous Stacey was. She couldn't let that woman into the bathroom with her. There was no telling what kind of shameful things would be forced upon her. She had already had enough when she was manhandled into the dress she was currently wearing.

"I just told you no!" There was also only one place of total privacy left to Altair and it was the bathroom. Ever since Donel started to follow her around all day the only place she could be alone and relax fully was in the bath. She suspected that the two personal maids that were assigned to her would follow her much like Donel had been doing. Since that was the case she had to defend her last peaceful sanctuary to the death. Especially since one of the maids she was given was a dangerous person.

"Isn't it just fine to let us clean your body, Young Miss?" Stacey adopted a wounded look and tried to look pathetic and on the verge of tears for Altair. She was hoping that Altair would relent.

Still unmoved by Stacey's efforts, Altair angrily replied, "No matter how many times you ask and no matter what way you ask it the answer is still going to be no! Stop wasting my time and get away from the bathroom!" The dress that Altair was wearing was hot and stuffy. She had already been sweating just by sitting in it and now that she was standing it was even worse. She wanted to wash the sweat off as soon as possible as it made her feel gross and sticky.

Altair had yet to realize that she had grown to hate being covered in sweat. She used to not mind at all as it wouldn't have been uncommon for her to go days without bathing. But, ever since she started taking multiple baths a day out of boredom she had gotten used to feeling clean. Now she couldn't take being covered in her own sweat for very long.

Stacey was stubborn for a maid though. She wanted to get the exact measurements of Altair's body so that she could get the costumes she wanted made to fit Altair's size perfectly. She couldn't wait to take pictures. "Young Miss please think of our positions as your personal maids. If the rest of the house finds out that you are bathing without our assistance then we will be ridiculed and possibly fired for being useless."