Chapter 22
“Sigh.”
As he exited the conference hall, a long sigh escaped from the lips of those watching him, almost as if on cue.
“So, the rumors were true.”
“Indeed.”
“How can a person be like that…?”
Should I say it felt like their energy was being drained just by being near him?
Some nobles had sweat-drenched hands, a clear sign of how tense they had been.
A land of abundant resources, the golden land of the North.
And the one who held the dominion over that region was none other than the Duke of Persia.
‘Well, the meetings will continue.’
The nobles, determined to build a connection with him, resolved to try their best during the weekly meetings held over the next month.
“Excuse me for leaving first.”
At that moment, someone quickly bowed and hurriedly followed Kainel out of the conference hall. It was a gaunt man in his fifties.
“The Count of Ellsia?”
Everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions.
Why was that man suddenly chasing after the Duke?
Could he be trying to act first?
“Ah, I did hear something about this before.”
“Hear what?”
“That the head of the Ellsia family long ago was very close to the Duke of Persia.”
“Ah, now that you mention it, I think I’ve heard of it too.”
“Are you talking about Lady Grace?”
The person once known as the Saint, Countess Grace Ellsia.
It was relatively well-known that she was very close to the Duke of Persia.
There were even rumors that it was the Duke who had taken Grace’s body, but could that really be true?
“Ha… is he trying to use that old connection?”
“Tsk.”
Realizing what the Count of Ellsia might be planning, people shook their heads in disapproval.
Everyone knew his character—he would do anything to gain an advantage.
Could he be thinking of monopolizing the rare herbs produced in the North?
Those who saw through the Count’s intentions sighed in frustration, knowing he was attempting to exploit a 300-year-old relationship.
“Kainel.”
Meanwhile, outside the conference hall, Kainel’s aide, Del, was waiting for him and greeted him with a polite bow as he was the first to exit.
“How was the meeting?”
“Quiet.”
“Pardon?”
“Not many people spoke.”
“…….”
Del, well aware of the reputation of the Imperial Conference as a battleground for fierce verbal disputes, let out a silent sigh.
‘It’s probably because of Lord Kainel, isn’t it?’
Guessing the situation, he offered an awkward smile.
“Lord Persia!”
At that moment, someone approached them in a hurry. The man wore a wide smile as he bowed deeply toward Kainel.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Creel Ellsia.”
Those words caused a flicker of emotion to appear in Kainel’s otherwise indifferent eyes.
However, the fleeting look of longing on his face quickly turned cold, as if it had never been there.
“I am currently the head of the Ellsia family, though lacking in many ways. It is an honor to meet the dear friend of our family’s pride, Lady Grace….”
“And?”
“Pardon?”
“What do you want?”
“Well, um… if you have some time, would you like to have tea with me?”
“Not really.”
“Pardon?”
“Not really. Why should I have tea with a man I’ve never met before?”
“Ah….”
“Is that all you wanted?”
“Well, no, I….”
Creel struggled to maintain his smile, trying hard to mask his stiffening expression.
‘Did I miscalculate?’
But that couldn’t be true.
It’s recorded in history books that Grace Ellsia and the Duke of Persia were close confidants.
But the man’s gaze at the descendant of his cherished friend’s family carried not a trace of warmth.
Creel’s lips, which had been about to speak of past ties, dried up.
“Is that all?”
“Ah, yes! Then, I shall take my leave for now.”
Seeing Kainel’s brow twitch for a moment, Creel quickly withdrew.
He felt that perhaps he had been too hasty.
‘I should’ve learned more about the Duke of Persia before taking action.’
His impatience had led him to act rashly, only to confirm that the rumors about Kainel Persia’s foul temper were indeed true.
For now, he needed to leave before the Duke’s mood soured further.
Even as he hurriedly walked away, Creel couldn’t hide his frustration, clicking his tongue repeatedly.
“A man who seems utterly useless with a sword is the head of the Ellsia family….”
Kainel’s narrowed gaze lingered on the man, who was now just a small dot in the distance.
“The Ellsia family is known for their healing arts, not swordsmanship. It’s not surprising, is it?”
Del, Kainel’s aide, tilted his head at his master’s muttered words.
The Ellsia family’s fame for exceptional healing was common knowledge.
“They were originally a swordsmanship family.”
“Pardon?”
“They were once called the Empire’s greatest swordsmen. The origins of the Ellsia family lie in the sword.”
Del couldn’t hide his surprise at this revelation.
The idea that the Ellsia family’s foundation was swordsmanship and not healing arts was news to him.
“And…”
Among the Ellsia family, the one hailed as the greatest swordmaster of all was…
“Grace.”
***
“Ugh!”
“Not holding your hands up properly?”
“No, no! I am! I am holding them properly!”
The group of loan sharks, the notorious Croi gang, was well-known in the underworld.
Their infamy stemmed from their willingness to do whatever it took to collect debts.
It was even routine for them to sell people into slavery if they couldn’t repay their loans.
“Ugh…”
“Hands.”
“Yes, yes! I’ll hold them higher!”
However, the Croi gang’s current state was unrecognizable compared to their fearsome reputation.
More than 20 members were kneeling on the ground like scolded students, their hands raised high.
Not a single one was unharmed. Cuts and bruises were everywhere, and many had lost teeth, making their speech nearly incomprehensible.
‘Sniff…’
‘Who is this woman?’
‘We thought she was just some crazy b****!’
This scene had unfolded just moments ago.
The Croi gang, enjoying a peaceful afternoon, had been stunned when a woman knocked on their door and walked in.
Her first words upon entering were utterly baffling.
“Are you the ones who messed with my employee?”
She was holding nothing more than a wooden stick. Most of them chuckled, and a few even cleaned their ears, thinking she had lost her mind.
They assumed she was some lunatic.
“Argh!”
“Gah!”
“Stop! Ugh! Stop hitting me…!”
But it took less than 30 minutes for them to be kneeling, begging for mercy.
They had been beaten senseless with just a wooden stick and were now kneeling with their hands raised.
Ceres sneered inwardly at their pitiful state.
‘If people like this can push around the head of the Ellsia family, he wouldn’t dare claim the title anywhere.’
The Ellsia family was one of the Empire’s most renowned swordsmanship families. Their healing arts were more of a hobby.
They had studied the human body to understand vital points and delved into herbalism to heal wounds quickly.
The “healing arts of the Ellsia family” were a mere byproduct of these efforts, an accidental discovery born from practicality.
‘Somehow, they ended up spending more time with herbs than swords.’
It was a case of a hobby overtaking the main focus.
But they had never once abandoned the sword.
Even the disciples she taught were the same. Swordsmanship was a basic requirement for belonging to the Ellsia family.
‘Even that blockhead Enoch could rival the Imperial Knight Commander.’
Ceres chuckled as she looked at the wooden stick she had taken from Mark’s room.
Using a sword against scum like this would be overkill.
“Ugh.”
From one corner came a groan. It was from Croi, the gang’s leader, who had suffered the most severe beating from Ceres.
‘This f*ing b**!’
Whack!
‘Ack! Die, you b****!’
Smack!
‘Argh! You crazy… this damned…!’
Thwack!
For failing to read the situation and continuing to hurl curses, Ceres had put in extra effort to “teach him a lesson.”
“Hey, you.”
“Yes!”
Croi, who had just been groaning, responded immediately with remarkable enthusiasm.
Still holding the wooden stick, Ceres asked in genuine curiosity.
“Did I miss this month’s interest payment?”
—
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