From what he had seen of the Elo senior, he acted like he didn’t have an heir. The Mille senior was the same. Or else, who could they ally with the monsters? Did they think it was possible for humans, who can’t face monsters alone, to coexist?
“Let him know that we’ll meet when the time is nice,” Aden said, waving his hand.
“Yes. And we did push it back because it wasn’t urgent, but,” Idith said, pausing as he had more reports to give. But something was bothering him.
This kind of instinct was the reason why he was a trusted aide for Aden. “There was a message from the warm region,” Idith said.
“From who?” Aden asked, stopping his thoughts.
“Milo from Acid. Someone is here,” Idith said. It was a message that usually came when the weather got warmer. It was like a winter’s tradition—whether they’ve survived another cold winter. Many had died in April in the winter region, but it had nothing to do with the Duke of Winter, who was the center of Biflten. But Milo still kept the tradition stubbornly, perhaps because he was outside as well.
But Aden smiled. It seemed that there was more to this message than just a tradition. “It’s finally here,” he said, knowing that it wasn’t just a greeting from Milo. He waved to Idith, “Bring him in.”
***
Viscount Arlen stood rigidly in the grand reception hall of his estate, the weight of tradition and expectation bearing down on him. As the head of the prestigious Arlen family, it was his duty to entertain guests and host lavish gatherings. But in the absence of his daughter, Ilyn, who had run off with a merchant, the task fell to him, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of discomfort.
As he greeted his guests, the same condolences were offered to him time and time again. “It must be hard about your daughter,” they would say, or “I’m sure your wife went to a better place.” He tried his best to appear stoic and unaffected, but deep down, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of resentment towards Ilyn for leaving him to bear the burden of their family’s reputation alone.
As the guests mingled and the banquet began, Viscount Arlen couldn’t help but let out a sigh whenever the topic of Ilyn came up. “She wasn’t like that before… it’s all my fault,” he would say, but most of his guests saw through his facade and knew the truth of the matter.
But despite his inner turmoil, the Viscount knew that Ilyn’s actions would not bring dishonor to the Arlen family. He was a proud and stubborn man, more concerned with maintaining his own sense of self-importance than the well-being of those around him.
“Welcome,” Viscount Arlen greeted Duke Leon and his son with a grand smile, excitement coursing through his veins. This was the moment he had been waiting for – an opportunity to ingratiate himself with one of the most powerful dukes in the kingdom.
He had spared no expense in preparing for this visit, ensuring that every detail was perfect, from the new clothes worn by the servants to the opulent suit he himself donned. And when he saw the second son of Duke Leon, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of envy at the extravagant garments adorning the young noble.
“I heard the Viscountess passed away,” the Duke said with a stern expression. Viscount Arlen bowed his head, a hint of grief in his voice as he replied, “It hasn’t been long.”
“My father sends his condolences as well,” the Duke’s son added, and Viscount Arlen could only offer a heartfelt “Thank you so much.” He had grown adept at handling such condolences in the wake of his wife’s departure.
“I also heard that your daughter married someone from a merchant,” the Duke’s son added.
Viscount Arlen was taken aback as Duke Leon brought up the topic of his daughter’s marriage to a merchant. He had thought that the matter would be kept quiet, but it seemed that news of it had already spread.
“Yes, that is true,” he admitted, a hint of sadness in his voice. “I can’t believe she did… ” He couldn’t help but think of the potential scandal that could result from a noble daughter marrying outside of an arranged marriage, and the dishonor it could bring to his family.
But the Duke’s son, Amid, seemed unperturbed by the news. “About that,” he said, leaning back in his seat and fixing the Viscount with a curious gaze. “I heard that your daughter can see the future.”
Viscount Arlen’s heart skipped a beat. How did Duke Leon know about Ilyin’s ability? He had always kept it a closely guarded secret, only confiding in a select few trusted individuals. Did Ilyin say something? Did her merchant husband talk about it? Or was this some sort of test?
“You don’t have to be flustered.”
From what he had seen of the Elo senior, he acted like he didn’t have an heir. The Mille senior was the same. Or else, who could they ally with the monsters? Did they think it was possible for humans, who can’t face monsters alone, to coexist?
“Let him know that we’ll meet when the time is nice,” Aden said, waving his hand.
“Yes. And we did push it back because it wasn’t urgent, but,” Idith said, pausing as he had more reports to give. But something was bothering him.
This kind of instinct was the reason why he was a trusted aide for Aden. “There was a message from the warm region,” Idith said.
“From who?” Aden asked, stopping his thoughts.
“Milo from Acid. Someone is here,” Idith said. It was a message that usually came when the weather got warmer. It was like a winter’s tradition—whether they’ve survived another cold winter. Many had died in April in the winter region, but it had nothing to do with the Duke of Winter, who was the center of Biflten. But Milo still kept the tradition stubbornly, perhaps because he was outside as well.
But Aden smiled. It seemed that there was more to this message than just a tradition. “It’s finally here,” he said, knowing that it wasn’t just a greeting from Milo. He waved to Idith, “Bring him in.”
***
Viscount Arlen stood rigidly in the grand reception hall of his estate, the weight of tradition and expectation bearing down on him. As the head of the prestigious Arlen family, it was his duty to entertain guests and host lavish gatherings. But in the absence of his daughter, Ilyn, who had run off with a merchant, the task fell to him, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of discomfort.
As he greeted his guests, the same condolences were offered to him time and time again. “It must be hard about your daughter,” they would say, or “I’m sure your wife went to a better place.” He tried his best to appear stoic and unaffected, but deep down, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of resentment towards Ilyn for leaving him to bear the burden of their family’s reputation alone.
As the guests mingled and the banquet began, Viscount Arlen couldn’t help but let out a sigh whenever the topic of Ilyn came up. “She wasn’t like that before… it’s all my fault,” he would say, but most of his guests saw through his facade and knew the truth of the matter.
But despite his inner turmoil, the Viscount knew that Ilyn’s actions would not bring dishonor to the Arlen family. He was a proud and stubborn man, more concerned with maintaining his own sense of self-importance than the well-being of those around him.
“Welcome,” Viscount Arlen greeted Duke Leon and his son with a grand smile, excitement coursing through his veins. This was the moment he had been waiting for – an opportunity to ingratiate himself with one of the most powerful dukes in the kingdom.
He had spared no expense in preparing for this visit, ensuring that every detail was perfect, from the new clothes worn by the servants to the opulent suit he himself donned. And when he saw the second son of Duke Leon, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of envy at the extravagant garments adorning the young noble.
“I heard the Viscountess passed away,” the Duke said with a stern expression. Viscount Arlen bowed his head, a hint of grief in his voice as he replied, “It hasn’t been long.”
“My father sends his condolences as well,” the Duke’s son added, and Viscount Arlen could only offer a heartfelt “Thank you so much.” He had grown adept at handling such condolences in the wake of his wife’s departure.
“I also heard that your daughter married someone from a merchant,” the Duke’s son added.
Viscount Arlen was taken aback as Duke Leon brought up the topic of his daughter’s marriage to a merchant. He had thought that the matter would be kept quiet, but it seemed that news of it had already spread.
“Yes, that is true,” he admitted, a hint of sadness in his voice. “I can’t believe she did… ” He couldn’t help but think of the potential scandal that could result from a noble daughter marrying outside of an arranged marriage, and the dishonor it could bring to his family.
But the Duke’s son, Amid, seemed unperturbed by the news. “About that,” he said, leaning back in his seat and fixing the Viscount with a curious gaze. “I heard that your daughter can see the future.”
Viscount Arlen’s heart skipped a beat. How did Duke Leon know about Ilyin’s ability? He had always kept it a closely guarded secret, only confiding in a select few trusted individuals. Did Ilyin say something? Did her merchant husband talk about it? Or was this some sort of test?
“You don’t have to be flustered.”
