Chapter 11 (2/2)
Of course, this fact was a closely guarded secret of the Esteban House, but Luke was a direct descendant of the Esteban House.
“I will need to considerate this issue carefully.”
“Of course.”
“What relation could you possibly have with the apprentice knight that you are willing to go such lengths for him?”
“There are no special relations between us. I just wish to raise him up properly.”
“Seeing as how you pa.s.sed down only the basic swordsmans.h.i.+p to the apprentice knight, it doesn’t look like he has been officially trained in the sword. The reports also say that he is a middle-aged commoner, which makes harder for me to understand this situation.”
Luke remained silent without answering. Even he knew that Reynold’s questions were not unfounded.
‘I wonder what kind of expression big brother would make if he knew that Kurotan was an Orc in the guise of a human?’
Reynold nodded, oblivious to Luke’s thoughts.
“All right, I will look through the Aura cultivation techniques in the House’s possession. You have made a large sacrifice for the House, and I will try to grant this favor if possible.”
“Thank you. Big brother, also…”
“Also?”
“Let me ask for a mid-level sword technique to pa.s.s on to the apprentice knight.”
Reynold couldn’t hold back the bitter smile and ruffled Luke’s hair with a fist.
“You bold b.a.s.t.a.r.d, is your plan to empty our House’s coffers?”
“I don’t believe the Esteban House will go bankrupt from giving out one mid-level sword technique…”
“Your military service has really changed you! All right, I’ll try to make it happen.”
Having accomplished his goals for the meeting, Luke made an apologetic expression.
“Anyways, my apologies. I would like to lend you my strength besides you…”
Luke was referring to the fact that he would soon leave the House to become a knight of the Lea Marquisate.
Reynold’s face turned serious.
“Ah… That brings up another issue that I wanted to talk to you about.”
Luke realized that the situation seemed to be serious.
“Has something… happened?”
“Do not be surprised. A messenger arrived from Lea Marquisate a couple days ago.”
“A messenger?”
“Yes. The contents of the message…”
Reynold hesitated as though it was difficult to start talking. But it could not be stalled forever.
“It was a request for breaking off your engagement with Isabelle.”
“What?”
Luke’s expression turned astonished. The news. .h.i.t him like a lightning in the middle of the night.
“How-How could that be?”
“It’s true. This is the letter from the Lea Marquisate.”
Luke took the letter from Reynold with trembling hands. The letter’s contents confirmed what Reynold had just told him.
Warak.
The letter crumpled in Luke’s hands.
“Thi-This doesn’t make sense.”
“Be calm, Luke.”
“What reason did they give?”
“The letter says Isabelle has had a change of heart.”
“That can’t possibly be.”
Luke shook his head with disbelief. Isabelle and Luke had continued to exchange love letters until just a month ago.
‘If Fort Potellan allowed visitations, Isabelle would have run to me hundreds of times.”
The last letter Luke had received had contained the heartfelt wishes of Isabelle to see Luke. What could cause her to have had a ‘change of heart’ and break off the engagement?
Luke stood up in hurry, his disbelief of the story evident.
“I will go to Lea Marquisate to meet with her.”
“Calm down, Luke. Nothing will be accomplished in a hurry.”
Reynold gazed into Luke’s eyes.
“Do you truly believe that Isabelle has not had a change of heart?”
“I do. She is not a woman that would change so easily.”
“I will trust in your decision. There must be something else.”
Reynold patted Luke’s shoulders calmly.
“Bide your time in the Earldom for now. I have already planted informants in the Marquisate. It will not be too late to act after receiving their report.”
“You’ve planted informants?”
“They have already proven themselves capable. Their reports will be accurate.”
Luke finally calmed himself after listening to his brother’s words.
“Thank you for taking care of me, big brother.”
“You’ve already served in the military for the House, how could I possibly be lax in taking care of you? Do not fret, and wait calmly.”
Luke looked at Reynold with shaky eyes, and pulled him into a bear hug.
“Thank you, big brother.”
“You little rascal, huhu, it’s been a while since I’ve hugged my little brother.”
Reynold smiled generously and patted Luke’s back.
Luke’s expression, however, turned dark as he walked out of the Lord’s office.
‘Why would Lea Marquisate request breaking off the engagement?’
No matter how he thought, he couldn’t think of a reason.
Isabelle was an illegitimate daughter, born from a mistress of the Marquis, not the first, official wife.
Originally, illegitimate daughters were not targets of political marriages due to their low status. Instead of becoming wives, they tended to be married off as mistresses to already married and old n.o.bles.
Because of this, Lea Marquisate had jumped at the opportunity to take Luke in as a Knight of the Marquisate by allowing him to marry Isabelle. It was not easy to take in well-educated Knights from the bloodline of a prestigious House.
‘Why request breaking off the engagement now?”
When Luke had chosen to represent Esteban Earldom and serve in the military, Lea Marquisate had been even more thrilled. After five years, the Marquisate would have a Knight that was also a veteran officer.
“I just don’t understand.”
Luke went out to the training field with complicated thoughts. It seemed as though only exhausting himself would allow him to suppress the rage and confusion boiling in his head.
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