“Haa.”
After the Grand Duke stepped out of the council chamber, a long sigh escaped from the people watching him.
“So the rumors were true.”
“Seems like it.”
“What kind of person is he...”
It was hard to describe, but just being near him felt suffocating, as though their energy was being drained away. Several nobles found their hands damp with sweat, only now realizing how tense they had been.
Well, there are still more meetings ahead.
The northern lands, known as the land of gold for their vast resources, were under the control of the Grand Duke of Persia.
With the council set to continue weekly for the next month, they silently resolved to find some way to build a connection with him.
“Please excuse me, I’ll be leaving first.”
At that moment, a gaunt man in his fifties hurriedly excused himself and followed after Kainel.
“Count Ellecia?”
Everyone looked at him in confusion. Why was he suddenly going after the Grand Duke? Was he really planning to make the first move already?
“Ah, I think I heard something about this before.
“Heard what?”
“That the former head of the Ellecia family was once very close with Grand Duke Persia.”
“Ah, I believe I’ve heard that as well.”
“You mean Lady Grace?”
Countess Grace Ellecia, a figure who was also called a saint. It was fairly well known that she was close to Grand Duke Persia.
There were even rumors that he was the one to take her body after her death. Could that really be true?
“Hah... is he trying to make use of that old connection?”
“Tsk.”
Having caught on to Count Ellecia’s intentions, the people shook their heads repeatedly. They all knew what kind of man he was, someone who would do anything if it meant gaining an advantage.
Was he planning to secure the rare medicinal herbs from the North for himself?
Those who realized his intention to exploit a connection from 300 years ago let out a collective sigh.
“Your Excellency.”
Meanwhile, outside the council chamber, the aide Del was the first to greet Kainel and bowed.
“How was the meeting?”
“It was quiet.”
“Pardon?”
“No one really spoke.”
“.....”
Del, who knew well that meetings of the Imperial Council were usually filled with fierce verbal clashes, sighed.
It’s probably because of Lord Kainel.
Having roughly grasped the situation, he smiled awkwardly.
“Your Excellency!”
At that moment, someone hurried toward them. With a bright smile on his face, he bowed politely to Kainel.
“It’s my first time meeting you. I am Creel Ellecia.”
At those words, a hint of emotion appeared in Kainel’s otherwise indifferent eyes.
However, the wistfulness that had surfaced for a brief moment quickly faded. His expression turned cold again like nothing had happened.
“Though I may be lacking, I’m currently the head of House Ellecia. It’s an honor to meet the dear friend of Lady Grace, the pride of our family...”
“So?”
“Pardon?”
“Your business?”
“W-well... if you have the time, would you care to have a cup of tea with me?”
“I’d rather not.”
“...What?”
“I said I’d rather not. Why would I drink tea with a man I’ve just met?”
“Ah...”
“Is that all?”
“Th-that’s...”
Creel forced a smile, trying to keep his expression from stiffening.
Did I get it wrong?
That couldn’t be. It was a fact recorded in the history books that Grace Ellecia was Grand Duke Persia’s closest companion.
However, there wasn’t any warmth in the man’s eyes as he looked at a member of her family. Creel had planned to bring up that old connection to start the conversation, but his lips already went dry.
“I asked if that’s all.”
“Ah, yes! Th-then... I’ll take my leave.”
Seeing Kainel’s brow twitch for a second, Creel quickly stepped back. He might have been too hasty.
I should’ve looked into the Grand Duke more before making a move.
Driven by impatience, he had approached too boldly and ended up confirming only one thing, that Kainel Persia truly had an atrocious personality. For now, it was best to leave before the Grand Duke’s mood worsened any further.
But even as Creel quickened his steps, he couldn’t hide his regret and kept smacking his lips in disappointment.
“He doesn’t seem able to use a sword at all. And yet someone like that is the head of House Ellecia...”
Kainel’s eyes narrowed as he watched the man grow distant until he was nothing more than a small dot.
“House Ellecia is known for healing, not swordsmanship. Isn’t it possible he simply can’t use one?”
Del tilted his head in confusion at Kainel’s quiet remark. It was common knowledge that House Ellecia was renowned for its exceptional healing arts.
“They were originally a sword house.”
“Huh?”
“And not just any. They were called the greatest sword house in the Empire. The origin of the Ellecia family lies in the blade.”
Del couldn’t hide his surprise at hearing this for the first time. He had always believed the foundation of House Ellecia was healing rather than swordsmanship.
“Also...”
Among that family, the one once called the greatest sword prodigy was—
Grace.
***
“Urgh!”
“Are you not going to keep your hands up properly?”
“N-no, ma’am!”
“I am! I’m holding them up!”
Croy’s group, who dealt in private loans (in other words, loan sharks) were fairly well known in these parts. They were infamous for doing whatever it took to collect their money.
If a debt couldn’t be repaid, selling the person into slavery was practically routine for them.
“Ugh...”
“Hands.”
“Y-yes! They’re up!”
However, their current state was so miserable that it was hard to believe they were the same men known for such notoriety.
More than twenty of them knelt on the ground with their hands raised high like students being punished.
Not a single one of them was unharmed. Wounds split open across their bodies and quite a few had lost teeth, making their speech slurred and unclear.
Urgh...
What the hell is that woman?
I thought she was completely insane!
This all happened just a short while ago.
Croy and his gang had been spending a relatively peaceful afternoon when a woman knocked on the door and walked in. As soon as they saw her, they were too dumbfounded to even close their mouths.
The first thing she said upon entering was beyond absurd.
“You lot, right? The ones who messed with my employee.”
Seeing her walk in holding a wooden stick, most of them laughed incredulously, while a few dug at their ears as if they had misheard. They genuinely thought she had lost her mind.
“Aaaagh!”
“Ghk!”
“S-stop! Ugh, stop hitti—”
However, it took less than thirty minutes for them to end up on their knees, begging.
Getting beaten senseless by a wooden stick would’ve been bad enough, but now, they were forced to kneel before her with their hands raised.
Watching their expressions as they struggled to deny reality, Ceres scoffed.
If I got beaten by trash like this, I wouldn’t be able to call myself the head of House Ellecia.
House Ellecia was one of the Empire’s most renowned sword families. If anything, healing was closer to a hobby. They studied the human body to identify vital points, and delved into herbalism to help wounds heal faster.
The so-called healing arts of House Ellecia were simply the result of those two things coming together by chance, like stumbling backward and accidentally catching a mouse.
Somehow, I ended up spending more time handling herbs than a sword.
It was as if the hobby had overtaken the main trade.
However, she had never once let go of the sword. The same went for the disciples she trained, since swordsmanship was the bare minimum for anyone belonging to House Ellecia.
Even that hopelessly dull Enoch could match the Imperial Knight Commander.
Ceres chuckled as she looked at the wooden stick she had taken from Mark’s room. Against opponents like these, a real sword would’ve been excessive.
“Urgh...”
A groan came from one side. It was Croy, the leader who had taken the worst of Ceres’s beating.
“You damn b*tch!”
Thwack!
“Gah! Die, you—!”
Smack!
“Ugh! Y-You piece of—!”
Thwack!
Completely oblivious to the situation, he kept charging in while hurling curses. Ceres responded by beating him down thoroughly.
“Hey, you.”
“Yes!”
As if never groaned at all, Croy answered more sharply than anyone else. Still holding the stick in one hand, Ceres asked in a calm, almost genuinely curious tone.
“Didn’t I pay this month’s interest?”