Chapter 111 (2/2)
“The branch family is free of that atmosphere, you see.”
Rivelia nodded as if she understood now. Viscount Dorothy was a va.s.sal family under Duke Pendleton. But usually, n.o.bles under Pendleton line married each other. Well, they didn’t openly oppose anyone who decided to marry an outsider, but everyone tended to shun such a practice.
“Wow! It’s a pretty lady!”
“So pretty.”
Both Laila and Julia looked up to Rivelia with their sparkling eyes, and Rivelia seemed uncomfortable. Count Wolfgang realised this and quickly changed the topic.
“Now, now. The meal is ready. Though this is cuisine from a rural region of the Western Provinces, our chef has taken great care in his work. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.”
The meal finished in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Rivelia seemed awkward with Laila and Julia, who stuck themselves to her calling ‘unni, unni’. But there was a warm smile on Rivelia’s face, showing her liking to the children.
EDN: “Unni” is a very non-formal way to address an older girl in Korean, usually used between people who are familiar with each other. Just imagine two girls enamored by a star-studded older sister around.
This rare sight stole the feast’s spotlight immediately; no combat knight could avert their eyes from such a gentle sight, even when they had spent their entire lives hardening themselves with the sword. Count Wolfgang would cough to bring his knights back to their senses, but that was just a momentary interruption. On the other hand, Count Wolfgang and Elena smiled warmly as they looked at Rivelia and their two children.
“Wow! It’s as if I don’t even exist. This is the first time I’m feeling so sad.”
Isaac muttered, sitting on his chair at the corner of the room. The curious eyes from a nearby servant seemed to ask why this man was even here.
The next day. After Count Wolfgang profusely apologized to them for his act of impropriety, Isaac and Rivelia left the castle and headed straight to the nearest airport.
Isaac looked down on the Wolfgang Castle from the observatory of the airs.h.i.+p heading to New Port City with a cigar in his mouth. He then spoke to Rivelia, who was lost in her thoughts next to him.
“So, how was it?”
“About what?”
“I’m asking what your thoughts were after seeing Count Wolfgang and his knights, who are suspected demonic turncoats, in person.”
“…”
Rivelia was on guard with all her senses on full alert at the thought that this could be her first contact with demons, even if she couldn’t identify them. But Count Wolfgang seemed nothing like a demon.
She met the combat knights who were suspected of turncoats, but all she received were overbearing stares of respect and awe. Not a single flicker of demonic power or hostility could be detected.
And thinking about the two adorable children and his wife, Rivelia began to think if Central’s information was wrong, but she quickly shook her head.
“This could be a scheme to hide their ident.i.ty. The growth of Count Wolfgang has many suspicious points.”
“If that’s what you really think, then you’re not much of a n.o.ble too.”
Rivelia’s heart ached looking at Isaac’s disappointed face. Which brought an even greater urge to retaliate.
“It’s impossible for a mere Baron to expand his territory this large unless they’ve joined hands with turncoats.”
Rivelia made her argument, but Isaac looked back with belittling eyes.
“How arrogant.”
“Are you saying Central’s information was wrong?”
“Use the given information as reference, and only believe in what you’ve seen with your own eyes. Can’t you tell why I decided to move personally? Erase all your preconceptions and think. How would you rate Count Wolfgang from what you’ve seen alone?”
He was worthy to be a great lord. No doubt about it. A man so gifted that he would have founded a kingdom of his own if he was born in the days before the 7 Days of Calamity.
Although their meeting was short, she confirmed the infinite trust and affection he received from his subjects. Even the merchant employees that brought the dresses subtly mocked Marquis Lichten while praising Count Wolfgang, trying to put him in a positive light.
His va.s.sals and subordinates swore respect and loyalty with their lives, while his soldiers were elites who would die with a smile for him.
It was a monument built not by magic that seduced someone, but built purely by his charms and dignity. Which made it all the more powerful and absolute.
But Rivelia shook her head. If she admitted this, that meant she didn’t trust Central’s information. Isaac witnessed Rivelia’s response and grinned.
“Alright. This is homework. Central said he’s a demon. But your answer was different right? Why? What’s the reason? Well, you’ll find out by the end of this mission, but do think about it until then.”
Rivelia frowned in response to Isaac.
“I will request that Central open a second investigation. If we rely on Directorate of a.n.a.lysis’ deep a.n.a.lysis, we will be able to deduce for certain if Count Wolfgang is related to demons.”
“No. Reinvestigating is cheating. You must decide with the information given to you and what you saw with your eyes alone.”
“But if the information is wrong…”
“What does that matter?”
“Sorry?”
“Whether the information is wrong or we’ve been tricked, the outcome has been decided now that I have moved.”
“… What outcome are you talking about?”
“An outcome that will carve a message into your bones – that you have to be prepared if you want to use me.”
“…”
The smile on Isaac’s face seemed sinister, which brought the two children of Wolfgang in Rivelia’s mind.
There was no need to visit Marquis Lichten. The single letter requesting a month’s delay to the war was accepted immediately.
Just like that, the war was delayed for a month, and Isaac being the reason was spread throughout the Empire. There were many rumors because of it, but Isaac’s position was beyond needing to care about the rampant conspiracy theories.
“They seem rather haphazard.”
Isaac muttered as he looked at his soldiers ready for deployment. Isaac ordered Rizzly to give compensation to those that give up, but the rumours quickly spread and every man, woman and child began volunteering.
Infuriated, Cordnell announced only those who survived more than 3 days would be compensated. In truth, Cordnell was the real boss of New Port City, who was overshadowed only by Isaac and Rivelia.
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