Why So Many Disguise Masks
Lily Evans nodded, her smile gentle. "I really am lucky, aren't I?"
She meant it. Compared to most apprentices, Lily was incredibly fortunate.
"Teach your apprentice and starve the master"—this saying has been a guiding principle throughout history.
That’s why most masters, especially those with specialized skills, always hold something back when taking on apprentices. They make their students work for years before teaching them a little, and even then, they’re stingy with their knowledge, afraid the apprentice will strike out on their own and leave the master with nothing.
White Pete’s master was no exception. He only revealed his final secret skill on his deathbed.
But Lily really hit the jackpot—White Pete was eager to teach her everything as a way of repaying her kindness, worried she might not learn it all. His instruction was meticulous.
The more masks Lily made, the more fun she found it. At first, just reading about disguise techniques seemed complicated and dull, but once she tried it herself, she realized it was absolutely fascinating.
"Mr. White, since I don’t have to go to the academy every day lately, can I come learn disguise from you whenever I’m free?" Lily played with the rough mask she’d made. Thanks to White Pete’s guidance, it looked pretty decent.
"Of course! I’m in the courtyard with White Lily every day. Princess Consort, come by anytime and I’ll teach you—no problem!" White Pete replied cheerfully, handing Lily a finished mask. "Here you go, a mask for a foreigner—all done."
Lily was thrilled. "Thank you so much, Mr. White!"
White Pete waved his big hand, looking perfectly at ease. "Princess Consort, you’re too polite! Not a bother at all, really! White Lily and I live here at the Prince’s Manor, eat and drink for free, have maids to look after us, and the best doctors to treat us—all thanks to you. Honestly, this is what they mean by ‘good people get good karma.’ You showed kindness to us first, and now you’re reaping the rewards."
Seeing White Pete so open and sincere, Lily felt comfortable and at ease. She carefully put away the mask and let White Pete personally escort her out of the room.
Just as they stepped outside, Simon Yu finished examining White Lily and came out too. The three of them left the courtyard together. Lily eyed Simon Yu’s medicine box and joked, "Simon, why do you have so many masks?"
Simon Yu chuckled, "Heh, not all of them are for me. More than half are for Master."
"Oh? For your father?" Lily was even more puzzled. Dr. Rowan Lin is a renowned medical sage, not a child—what would he want with masks?
But judging by Simon Yu's expression, he clearly wasn't planning to tell Lily the details. Sensing this, Lily didn't press further, just made a mental note to keep an eye out—what was her quirky dad up to this time?
Lily returned to her own room, while Simon Yu went directly to see Dr. Rowan Lin.
Dr. Rowan Lin was currently with Margaret Evans, holding a bowl of some kind of porridge, spoon-feeding her as if she were a child.
Simon Yu burst in enthusiastically, only to be met with a public display of affection: Geez, getting teased by Sean Hayes is bad enough, now even Master and Mistress have to show off—how's anyone supposed to live like this?
"Ahem..." Simon Yu coughed, and only then did Margaret Evans notice someone at the door. Her face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, and she pushed away the spoon Dr. Rowan Lin held to her lips, mumbling, "Look at you, making a fuss in broad daylight... Now the children have seen, how embarrassing."