Chapter 2 (Part 2)

“What? Yan is here?”

“Yes. He said it was urgent and requested a quick talk with you, asking everyone else to leave.”

“Is it about the investigation report on the monsters… If not…”

For Anthus, urgent matters were always related to Yuliana.

<I haven’t seen her in over a month. Please give me orders to go on an expedition to the Anamaroons Forest with her. In return, I’ll clean up the bandits in the Anamaroons Forest.>

Cloud, who was well aware of Anthus’s desperate love, shrugged.

“Tell everyone else to wait and let Duke Rockbellion in.”

The audience room door opened, and Anthus walked in, bowing to Cloud.

“Duke Rockbellion, you’ve worked hard on the investigation.”

Cloud smiled brightly at Anthus.

“I urgently requested an audience to report on the investigation of Luteons Village.”

“Is it important?”

“I’ll discuss it in the private reception room.”

Seeing Anthus with a rather serious expression, unlike his usual playful demeanor, Cloud also wiped the smile off his face. He thought it was an urgent matter related to Yuliana, but it wasn’t. Cloud also stood up from his chair with a solemn expression.

“Let’s move.”

Anthus and Cloud moved to a private reception room with soundproof magic and sat facing each other. Anthus began to tell the story of the survivor Lian from Haeil Village and the walking corpse-like monsters in Luteons Village. He explained that the villagers hadn’t disappeared but were all killed and buried.

“Regenerative abilities like slime?”

“Whether it has poison or regenerative abilities, there’s no problem in defeating the monster.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The attack with the artifact imbued with holy power was ineffective.”

Cloud couldn’t help but be surprised by Anthus’s explanation.

“A monster immune to holy power… I can’t believe it.”

Holy power is something monsters detest. The idea of a monster immune to it was unbelievable to Cloud.

“And the altar underground was a problem. There was an unknown magic circle drawn on it. The wizard from the Mage Tower who checked it said he didn’t know much about the magic circle and needed to investigate further.”

“Could it be the work of a dark sorcerer… Are they researching to create new monsters by killing people? If it’s a dark sorcerer, it’s possible.”

“It could be, but creating monsters doesn’t benefit dark sorcerers much.”

Wizards draw mana from the four natural elements: wind, fire, earth, and water. People often think dark sorcerers use the power of darkness, but the power of darkness can only be used by the Shadow Clan. Dark sorcerers use the negative energy of darkness and dampness as their source of power.

“So it could be the work of a dark sorcerer, but it might not be?”

“We can’t hastily conclude it’s the work of a dark sorcerer.”

“Right, that makes sense. A new type of monster immune to holy power… Haha.”

“So, Your Majesty, I have a request.”

Cloud nodded, signaling Anthus to continue.

“I would like to form an investigation team for the new type of monster involved in this incident.”

“An investigation team?”

“I plan to include Alchemist Anton and Mercenary King Erzen. The wizards from the Mage Tower also agreed to help.”

“That sounds good. Then I’ll leave the investigation of this case to you, Yan.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“Now, shall we talk as friends? Have there been any developments with Lady Loengrin in the investigation team?”

“I’ve started calling her by her nickname, Yuliana, recently.”

“A nickname… That’s quite a development.”

Yuliana had repeatedly asked Anthus not to call her by her nickname. But he persistently used the excuse of “accidentally” calling her “Lia.” Unaware of this, Cloud looked at Anthus with admiration.

“The step-by-step strategy to woo her is working well.”

“Indeed… You’re showing what it means to move forward without retreat.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. And I have another request.”

“What is it?”

Anthus smiled more brightly than ever as he continued.

* * *

After a long time, Yuliana returned to the Earl’s residence and stretched as she entered her room.

“My lady, you’ve worked so hard.”

“I think I’ll soak in the bathtub for a while.”

Luda did her best to wash and massage Yuliana, who had been through a lot outside. After a long bath and massage, Yuliana felt satisfied.

“I’ll bring you some refreshing lemon tea, my lady.”

“Okay.”

Yuliana collapsed onto her bed.

“You must be very tired, my lady.”

“It’s not just tired…”

Yuliana kept thinking about the things Anthus had said. She had never considered that he might like her, so his confession, though she didn’t show it, had surprised her greatly.

“Luda, make the lemon tea very sour.”

“Yes. Just lie down for a bit.”

Knock, knock.

At the sound of the knock, both Luda and Yuliana turned their attention to the door.

“My lady!”

The person outside the door was Butler Leijin.

“It’s Leijin.”

“Come in.”

Leijin entered, holding an envelope on a silver tray, and handed it to Yuliana.

“You could have given me the letter later. I wanted to rest today…”

“I knew you were resting, so I planned to give it to you tomorrow, but… this letter is from a servant of the Rockbellion family.”

“What? A letter from Rockbellion?”

“The Duke asked that you write a reply and give it to the messenger.”

“He said he was going to meet His Majesty… Has he already met him and returned?”

Yuliana cut the end of the envelope with a knife and began to read the letter.

[To the dear Lady Yuliana Loengrin…

I urgently wish to discuss matters regarding the investigation team over dinner tonight. If you permit, I will come to the Earl Loengrin residence to escort you.]

“An urgent discussion about the investigation team…”

Yuliana was too tired and wanted to rest today, but the phrase “urgently wish to discuss” in the letter caught her attention. Her curiosity about the monster investigation team outweighed her desire to rest, so she wrote a reply agreeing to meet and handed it to Leijin.

“Give this to the servant from the Rockbellion family.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Listening to the conversation between Leijin and Yuliana, Luda smiled and spoke.

“My lady, isn’t Duke Rockbellion that handsome, single Sword Master?”

“Yes, Luda. The one who always accompanies the expeditions.”

“Why would he send you a letter, my lady?”

“We’re going to have dinner and discuss the investigation team.”

“Dinner? Dinner… You’re having dinner with the Duke?”

Luda’s eyes widened with excitement.

“You don’t have to drag out your words, Luda. I understand.”

“This is no time to be idle! As a servant of the Loengrin family, we can’t let this pass.”

Luda ran outside to report this to Head Maid Yoanna. Under Yoanna’s direction, the maids of the Earl Loengrin residence gathered in front of Yuliana’s room with determined expressions.

“My lady, we heard everything.”

“Yoanna? What did you hear that brought everyone here…”

Behind Yoanna, Luda was looking at her with sparkling eyes. Yuliana sighed, rubbing her forehead.

“We heard you’re having dinner with Duke Rockbellion.”

“Yes… that’s right.”

“My lady, just leave everything to us.”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something…”

“Misunderstanding? As members of the Loengrin family, we can’t just let you go out like this.”

Yoanna and the maids approached Yuliana with mischievous smiles.

“We’re only having dinner to discuss the investigation team… Please don’t misunderstand.”

“My lady, the investigation team matters could be discussed through letters, but the Duke invited you to dinner… It’s obvious!”

“A man wants to buy dinner for a woman he’s interested in, my lady.”

Yoanna continued after Luda.

“My lady, Duke Rockbellion is known to be a cold person who doesn’t let anyone get close. For him to invite you to dinner…”

“It’s because of work. And he’s not that cold…”

Thinking of Anthus worrying and feeling sad for Lian, Yuliana’s voice grew smaller.

“Anyway, my lady, since you’re going out for dinner, we’ll make you look beautiful. Please follow us quietly.”

“No, you don’t have to do that.”

Yoanna smiled knowingly. Led by the maids, Yuliana wore a dark navy dress with a hint of purple selected from many dresses. She was then seated in front of a mirror for a full makeover.

“This looks more elaborate than preparing for a ball.”

Seeing her reflection in the mirror, Yuliana sighed deeply.

“My lady, just bear with it a little longer. We’re almost done. Open your eyes wide and look up.”