It was time to leave the Krell's Dukedom. But my plan wasn't going back to the academy, yet. Classes continue after the weekends, so I still have two days left with me.
"These Knights will escort you to the county, Professor," Ailsa said, pointing at the five Knights standing near the carriage.
I looked at her. She was wearing comfortable clothes, a shirt, and pants fit for training, her hair tied up in a ponytail.
She looked like a cute and hardworking child.
"Hmm, I won't be needing escorts, Ailsa. I'd prefer to travel alone," I said.
"Oh…Okay," She mumbled and waved her hand, the knights around the carriage saluted with a strong thumb on the ground with their legs and left in order.
As I was about to enter the carriage, I heard her speak again.
"Uh, if it's alright," She mumbled, and asked hesitantly, "Could you share anything about the meeting with all the counts…"
"You want to know the contents of the meeting?" I tilted my head and nodded at her curiosity.
"If it's not too secretive," she replied, and scratched her palm with her finger; a clear sign of nervousness.
"It sure is secretive, but not so much that even the heir shouldn't be aware of," I thought and smiled.
"In simple words, it's just a secret collaboration for trade. Remember…secret," I placed a finger on my lips, emphasising the word, secret.
"I understand," she nodded, and bowed deeply, "Thank you for sharing it with me, Professor."
"Ay, it's alright. I see you're trying to put in effort, that's already good," I placed my hand on her head to pat, "But…always remember one thing, Ailsa."
"You're meant to lead a house of wolves, and in a room full of wolves, the one who isn't growling is the one you should watch out for."
"Because a wolf would want your throat, but a tick wants your blood while you're still alive,"
"Am I clear?" I asked.
"Understood, Professor." She responded.
'Well, that's it for a lesson, I guess?' I thought and nodded, opening the doors of the carriage.
.-.-.-.-.-.
[The Rile Estate]
Rain lashed against the carriage windows, horses galloping along the roads of the medieval colonies of the Rile Estate.
Rile is situated at the border of the Lunar Kingdom, which is quite far from Krell. Fortunately, there are many teleportation portals constructed by the current handler, and the former butler of Ymir, Elowen Grier.
Rile is among the many estates that have a lot of visitors, and is one of the biggest market estates.
Many people are not able to afford the facility of portals, so even steam engine trains move across estates, except for some that still restrict their entries.
The castle of Riles was slightly unique. It wasn't just a castle, but the backside was a complete dock in itself, where ships that Elowen needed to inspect stopped.
Massive golden gates of the Rile castle opened up, a white marbled castle towering up to eight floors came into my sight.
Everyone here except Elowen and Bart believes that I'm Marcus Rile. But Marcus was assassinated when Ymir slaughtered his family. His whole existence was fabricated.
And the people in this castle love Marcus.
"You're back, My Lord," Bart greeted me, opening the gates of the carriage.
He opened an umbrella and covered me from the rain as I stepped out.
"How's Grier treating you, Bart?" I asked, walking through the gates of the castle.
"He's…cynical as always, My Lord," Bart replied.
"Well, that's a man of his own interests, at least he listens to me," I added.
"Oh, and he has been busy with all the ledgers that arrived from Krell's Dukedom," Bart said, walking alongside as he wrapped the umbrella the moment we stepped in.
'They arrived already?' I thought.
"Ledgers travel faster than people nowadays, my lord," Bart continued, guiding me in the castle.
The maids in the house would stop and bow deeply, greeting me.
Their voices rose in unison, bowing low as I passed, "My lord, you're back."
The words followed me through every corridor till I came across a wooden door of the library.
"What kind of butler always stays holed up in the library?" I muttered.
"Well…Elowen is just like that," Bart smiled and bowed. "I'll be here if you need me."
I nodded and stepped into the library.
A vast chamber with its high vaulted ceiling.
Rows upon rows of towering shelves stretched endlessly.
Chandeliers swayed faintly above, casting golden light across the polished marble floors.
Every step I took echoed through the library.
I could hear pages turning slowly at the last row beside a window.
An old man with dark grey hair, clean-shaven, golden rimmed spectacles, and a classic butler uniform, read through the ledgers of the Krell's estate, leaning on the table.
"Busy as always, Grier," I spoke to get his attention.
"Ah- My lord, you're here," He replied, closing the ledger and fixing his spectacles.
"I'm pretty sure, I must have heard that same line hundreds of times on the way from the main entrance," I said.
"It's courtesy, and love for you…My lord," Grier replied.
"So, what'd you read?" I asked, leaning on the other side of the table with mountains of ledgers.
"A typical military household, my lord. Even their handler seems to have stolen a lot of money, and most of their income comes from the errands of their warriors; calling them knights would be shameful," Grier replied, and tossed the ledger in his hands on the table.
"What do you have in mind…Your Highness," Grier looked at me, emphasising the word 'Highness' instead of lord.
"Do you want to play a game, Grier?" I asked.
"What're the stakes?" He asked.
"I'd say trust," I paused. "But life, too, if you're not careful,"
"My trust and my life…are already yours, Your Highness," He replied.
I smiled, "I knew I could count on you, Grier," and patted his back once.
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[A/N: Got my hand fractured…that's why I'm typing really slow, though I'll still update chapters daily, dw!]