Free Web NovelChapter 33: The Invitation from House Duvall
The moment we entered, the messenger rose from his seat, carefully placing his teacup back on the table.
"Greetings, Baron Luke Voidheart, Lord of the Blackstone Highlands, and Princess Aurielle Valmont."
He bowed with proper noble etiquette, placing one hand over his chest as he greeted us, showing neither disdain nor arrogance.
I smiled and returned the greeting.
"Greetings, Mister Reid."
We settled down on the sofa, and I instructed the maids to leave.
All the maids bowed respectfully and withdrew from the room one by one.
"Seems like you’ve already gathered information about what is happening in the territory."
I asked him, subtly probing, since it had only been two days since I became lord, and yet even a distant messenger already knew about it.
"You jest, Baron Luke. The entire territory is already speaking of your good deeds. So the moment I arrived, I knew everything," he replied with a light smile, picking up his tea and sipping it.
I paused and waited for him to continue, while Aurielle sat quietly beside me like a proper wife.
After a moment, he finished his tea and retrieved an envelope bearing the insignia of the Stormbound Crest.
From Aurielle, I had already learned that the broken circular crest with a sharp streak of blue lightning represented House Duvall, the Count’s family.
"Here," he said respectfully, offering the envelope. I nodded and took it from his hands.
I tore open the letter carefully. Aurielle looked at me with expectation, while Mister Reid sat calmly, seemingly already aware of what it contained.
As I took out a silver-patterned letter from the envelope and felt its texture, I was slightly surprised.
It was surprisingly soft and pleasant to touch, and I found myself handling it a little longer than necessary. After a moment, I finally regained my composure, only to notice Aurielle giving me a strange look.
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To the Honorable Lord of the Blackstone Highlands,
By the will of **Count Magnus Duvall**, greetings are extended in peace and respect.
You are hereby formally invited to attend the **Twentieth Birthday Celebration of Lady Nyra Duvall**, the youngest daughter of House Duvall, to be held at Stormveil County within the Duvall estate.
Your presence is requested as a mark of goodwill between territories and noble houses. The gathering shall include a formal banquet and selected noble proceedings under the Count’s hosting.
We kindly await your honored arrival.
By the authority of House Duvall,
**Stormveil County**
Seal of Count Magnus Duvall appended.
---
"Oh..." A surprised exclamation escaped my lips after reading the full content. I then relayed it to Aurielle as well.
Mister Reid observed everything calmly, then reached into his upper pocket and pulled out a pocket watch-like device.
"Baron Luke."
I stopped speaking with Aurielle and turned toward him upon hearing the messenger’s voice. He now held a pocket watch in his hand, seemingly adjusting or checking something on it.
"In seven days, the gathering will take place, and I hope to meet you before then."
He smiled at us, then closed the pocket watch and placed it back into his upper pocket.
"Sure, then we will meet again in seven days," I said with a smile. We all stood up, and I shook his hand while wearing gloves, as nobles typically do not shake bare hands. freewёbnoνel.com
We departed from him as he left the territory on his brown horse.
"Good job, husband," Aurielle suddenly said, patting my shoulder as if I had accomplished something great.
I ignored her playful flattery and headed toward the workers’ location.
"Hey, do it faster."
"Yeah, put it there."
After traveling for ten minutes, I finally reached the wall region, while Aurielle returned to the mansion.
"Osric," I called out to the middle-aged man who was currently ordering workers to move materials.
"My lord." He was startled upon hearing my voice, then quickly hurried over to my side.
I observed him—he was now without armor, wearing only a simple linen cloth for the heat and his body covered in dust.
Then I looked at the ongoing construction, where thousands of people were moving bricks and others were repairing the wall.
"It’s good," I nodded. Osric’s expression finally relaxed, as he had been worried about his lord’s anger.
"But... increase the height of the wall to 20 feet," I ordered him, after noticing the walls were only 10 feet high, which was not enough—an Iron Knight could easily jump over them.
"My lord, but..." his expression faltered, as doubling the height of the wall surrounding the entire territory would be a large and time-consuming task.
I noticed his hesitant expression and shook my head. "Don’t worry about the money, just get the work done."
He nodded, and I asked him the question that had been bothering me lately.
"I have heard that something happened at the border, and that is why Roland got the courage to attack the territory."
Osric’s expression shifted slightly with worry, and he nodded. "Yes, my lord, we have heard that a Silver Realm strength beast was seen at the mountain border. That is why Sir Taron, the only Silver Knight of the territory, hastily left for the border."
I nodded, my expression turning worried as I looked toward the mountains, which is filled with both danger and treasure.
Then Osric spoke. "But, my lord, the situation is under control now. We received word that the beast has returned to the mountain." freewebnovel.cσ๓
Osric said with a relieved expression, then added, "So Sir Taron will return after confirming that the beast will not come back soon."
I nodded at him and told him to increase the repair and construction speed.
While giving a last look at Labour, who is now working with a smile, as many people are getting food and money.
Fortunately they can’t see, otherwise, I would be drawn inside the crowd again.
After returning to the mansion, I also entered the time chamber.
"Time to train," I muttered while sitting around the mana well to get the most mana from it.
Then found out that only a few soldiers and people from the territory are here training.
As I have divided the shift, they have to work outside during the day, but at night, they have to come here for training or rest.
For this many houses are already prepared inside the time chamber.
---
5 days later. (outside time)
"Ahh... that was the best sleep I had in the past few days," I muttered after lifting the bedsheet.
Then look at the bed, where a beautiful woman with raven-black hair sleeps without any clothes.
"Woke up, darling," I whispered to her ear, as we are now inside of the central hut of the time chamber.
"A little...more...sleep," she muttered while still sleepy.
I shook my head while smiling at her behaviour.
After 150 days inside the time chamber, our relationship has increased from a previous newlyweds couple to something more close.
I washed my face, then moved outside and found Aurora in the distance still training.
My eye twitches slightly at her, because in those long days, she often had put me in a problem because of her closeness to me.
But at least her progress is fast, as she seems talented.
After training in a mana-rich region for 150 days, she has now reached the half-stage of the golden knight realm.
"If she gets the same amount of time, maybe she will be able to reach just shy of the Golden Knight."
I muttered after thinking about her insane training speed, because Aurielle has told me that even talented ones with enough rich resources often take one to two years to reach this stage.
Then checked the status of my other knights, but sadly no one has a breakthrough to the major realm.
"Well, I have already used a potion to bring them into a new realm," While entering into healing spring this thought comes into my mind.
"But they did reach one or two minor stages, which is quite good." After a while, I stood up and drank some healing water from the fountain.
"Master, here is your robe."then Elena voice come who is still dressed in her casual loose robes, as she hands me the clothes.
"Thank you," a smiled appeared on my face, at which her face blushed somewhat. "It’s ok..." she mutters slightly, then shyly runs away.
"Sadly, only she has made progress in making her first mana circle, though she also needs time."
I thought about mages while getting dressed, as they needed other spells as well, or else they will just be paper tigers.
After doing all this, I start moving towards the exit and open the status screen after a long time.
[Chapter End]
