Chapter 23
Q0UvThe grand dukeXjpI turned hisT7H1i0 gaze awayeCQIaF from LucianXo13Px and fixedUFlinF it on7axGCV Philip.8gxmx
Hcr3qUnder that icy8uwq stare, Philip’sR2yWq body begangSAaw to tremble.r4mni37z
Cdu1m7“Y-Your Excellency. Please,t8O listen togA3Ln9 me. WhatTtVwH2 really happened8Nva was…”qsdq
dPelL“I don’t need4Ou excuses, so9e4o shut yourZsEReJ mouth. NoBi1O matter whatxeDta you say,HXoKM you won’tyOovM receive theCZwg9 slightest bitNkNL of respect.”5TfcUyQegD
9LNt3“It’s a misunderstanding!Rpn Are youWJDuT2 really notMVRvQ going toxtlOf hear a single explanation!?PF5 Are youM35RCQ determined toexwUdJ make antSEU enemy ofV5O4 the house54Q5s of MarquiscIh Roglan?”RqGBVZ
vji“Make an enemy?”iQXxXh
bbPUEAt Philip’s words,cZA the grandeOy duke letriq out a mocking laugh.YMVU7aDHM
O8J“You still don’tMwrO understand theknvC situation. I’veJheS been enemieselOA with thatMhto1 Bernhardt foruUrh a longuiZm3u time. AllqNQ6 I neededwTfDPt was a pretext toWmpL attack him1vf openly. YouBeX5v0 just gavexJI8 us thatNyA pretext, soxRQjw8 all that’sTFm3 left nowueGe is tot25Q strike thate9kj bastard.”gAPOUT
roT“…!”QmqR7l
S6npe“Pray that BernhardtZY1tr doesn’t abandonqBR you. IftoUy he decidesYI5B to cutP7n you off,Tv9Ni you won’tT2yjN just loseNGp8y your positionaxUFwV in yourMKI family—you’ll have5tQ to worry1r0 about yourPiW own life.”APvhl2QGfK0
1SOU“Y-Your Excellency! YourY3YY1Y Excellency…!”iU5gMM
ovZGWhen the grandF1kDS duke movedPjeJiX his head9ni slightly, theqDXaw knights behindh540Rd him grabbed97Tx Philip bycxo7 both shoulderstfe and dragged7u9mDB him offSzQH0 somewhere.K9hM1
aF5Philip screamed desperately35C3 as heIWyG was hauledmVUTGY away byPsDWur rough hands,qjA but no9tdkjr one heededi8a his pleas.0x4RMRtwi
fl8After that, the3Hh other knightskJ2qgb were takenISCT6 in theXZ4 same direction.lfaoLTgw
5ASPerhaps because theyz4RTul had alreadyT6Cd been utterly1a4su humiliated, unlikeccuh before, theyVVY9 no longeruf9B resisted.W11
OLaV“Good work. Let’sZpCH go inside.”nSfGpG8fk
VYvPOnce everything hadlRx been settled,oiLlO the grandTiJuB8 duke pattedv8xQJ Lucian onWHAPKX the shoulderxkjQ while mountingvM6b his horse.uRBTeqb4p
Ef7vtQJust before heading95C9 back toVm9GpV the territorykXR lord’s mansion,WwG he suddenlyebvw remembered something6FuF and lookedVr12w back athaCGy Lucian.QaSW
nufy“By the way,TMBG why did6we9Ii you separateYOc5L just oneTkjE2p maid? Don’tjRtt9T tell me…”VvMoGJje
rnS2“I’ll explain thatPq0l when we4EQ return.”W8dY8A
ci5bS“Ahem, fine. After2DX all, you2orwUN are a man too.”mlfbRkuvU2X
FWCGAt that attitude,eKxAS as ifb1l5pD he weretEikJk deliberately avoidingdgS digging intoVRFK22 a possiblennWe secret oftSB his son,bCtU8h Lucian letPPfLBE out a bitter smile.0NT5Vbytn
DY8qxIt seemed thatIWSe once they81B returned, he’dU1SiH have toieZ31 clear upNjK a ratherYv4SW strange misunderstandingRYF first.zgYSe
ZPhg***ujwR
QvVjgyLucian immediately headed5ZumN to thexdi8 grand duke’sqwA office withHDtR him.lg4EmP
MfwOThey were goingF8eK to talk6VFOa about the4goJp “reward” theJIn grand dukeJFiDS1 had mentionednrVJkH earlier.OqxUb
xI6o“I’ve already receivedEJyJ a generalNel report fromrQklL the BlackpPq0 Lions. TheKpA job wasFoE flawless.”EgAKsS
ESgT“It’s only thanksFGz to theEWB support yourefu gave me,tzLcM Father.”AXO3
o1Ps“No need to8tW be soXIhNID modest. IsTfaE5Z there somethingllJsXE you wantLOn as a reward? AsOG6 long asGZ9 it’s not2nVyaa excessive, I’ll2Tg grant it.”DtSxx1YG
4jBq“Hmm.”s6t
MstVfYUpon hearing the2bI word “reward,”F7DFzk Lucian pausedqiE for a moment insO0 thought.TeZ57h
fEsIn truth, thereqbvwux was nothingLD6vm he needednQRs for himselfgFmw at thatA3uM moment, butXzt there wasdzrjW one subordinate5NH6b8 he neededfmz to lookdW2 after.K3SUI
muPsLZ“For Hugo to3v6R be knighted…”9N4Z0G2w
okO“That’s not possible.”g332arf
PnEaThe grand duke9QEcQ cut himmM7sLY off immediately,BfDc2z not lettingMXeg him finish.eTD3sa2HkY
fOMZUnlike before, hisERrD0C tone was7AIqM absolutely firm.9YSzGrU
aj0FuLucian had alreadyo1q expected thatq0Gi response, butyqg he couldn’tQVyAxs just back4nCuYD down.JqHu9
bA6aNow that heoc7 was hisuo1e lord, hefMQ had toxg8IkR try toMyl fulfill hisbTrXU promise toI3o the end.boCdelWbX7
pdYzo“Hugo has merit.”FTc3ZHoOnmK
CV5QjH“But he’s theiMb one whomZfvA initially conspiredShe with the9mECJ0 marquis toaT4 sell the2lRT drug. IfowJ you hadn’t0eir discovered it,OlA5 he would’vej7gLG gone throughMjYuL4 with it.”gTfQMxOE3
hhBk“That’s only a supposition. AndszjqBJ besides, theSasBj one who1TzT lured PhilipPzk this timevwiu and providedjG9c the locationNBgXg was alsoPWtJ0 Hugo.”ghw1
zad“Even so, that’stAHgTp not enoughr5iIu to be4ZW1gL knighted. AtYGy the very4DoB least, heh0BTm should haveAl7xy raised his95N8A own honorfUhU and achievedpCGoFn merits thatfDw74Z no oneqbO could deny.qd9P Do youc1tZJ think youom5 can proudlyirR7 declare theL4k45I merits heCs4Q earned thismL7Bpy time inRgMIK front ofTN0e everyone?”bj6E9
VVVLucian fell silent.QTYfh5BOG
MXzAUiIt was truew37rg that Hugo’snMT2G achievements wereYKrlCs hard toQ7M reveal to2fi others.hrp
bTJtYGAfter all, they7K2H were results4aTc obtained throughuIc power andNimg connections builtvMv in thevfecr underworld.WQm9Tt
IDkEy“If he wantsDRoGF gold, I can give8dC him chestsKUK3Wg full ofRkHEXd it. Ifutd he wants,MHnvNV I canKB1t even prepareP95oFf him a new clean1psG identity. ButyUj5q he cannotdEPg become a knight. NotTeF because ofk5Qlo his origin,FDN0 but becauseuzSA his achievementsCIiue don’t justifyCRTQr9 such a high honor.”jN2ip0t80
0rIxAt those entirelys8al reasonable words,E5p Lucian nodded.zlRgiFEppw9
tnNTvEven so, heT2zLaa had doney74 everything henhWbA2 could asoxfn Hugo’s lord.xVM8xtHr8
e61Vj“My father’s wordsLxlh are correct.shi0 I’ve madeAejR an excessiveIMmNWR request.”D5Evn
lcALuO“If you understand,7Hk0d then tellpj3c me whatPZ5w you want3gi instead. This9fw time, somethingcMCIAn less unreasonable.”lNHSLlEmDab
oNywp“Please allow thec5Lj maid I captured toALgdiS receive instructionKSVFt from theukx Swordmaster.”t3k
17umKA“…What?”zj3Ok
a9YlSIAt that completelyDRx unexpected request,lFUnM the grandkviz duke wasb3dr left withUWC4oI a stunnedRBCmr expression.mrzo
4sY***9Aw
Aj7OzYLucian left theNgosH grand duke’sJ44OQ office andZD26t immediately wentdWjVjK to seeO4rM Felicia.m9zh
c6gAlthough she hadwuj been temporarilyUW8di held at6vbCh Hugo’s establishment,Ss0 once Philip’sFlfz group wassOmy captured, sheHYT was movedskN to theWJ9kUV underground prison.VWizTJV4e
5RyHowever, even thoughW5oP it waseRuIc3 underground, itnWCn was a cell preparedYrSlR for noblehIrr prisoners, soAiS the facilitiesKYGzML were surprisinglyZXYjin good.opYfg
i7Vy5Even so, thesF9 moment FeliciaSLN88 saw Lucian,wQdV she held8YHLiK a sharpu9ir metal fragmentqykK to herXuH neck andk50 shouted.xoQoZ
6nddkc“If you layu6OYS a finger3UFEjK on myevs body, I’ll6M9 take myJSaA own lifeAXWI right here!”BGJ54gqpA
TVZw“…”TRNXBP
aHuZpuAt that absurdr0RAK declaration, I looked overQhOnT at Hans,fIHG who wasYPa beside me.VjGtaMp
KYtGVEven though a guard hadU7hz36 been assigned,zVZ I hadi0J ordered himg9sDmq to watchhD0 her inOs3n case anythingPBgX happened.465l
YSN“What exactly isZPTMvm she saying?”PUSzXTe
KdpAdX“What else? SheISRv says you’reOMq planning tose3R6 do somethinggFZ terrible to2lPnc her and9HEGG that shebkWw9 won’t letW4yhFJ herself beUxz caught sovcIzZ easily.”yc65b
M80B“And who saidZB4K such a thing?”QNii
QIY1V“If she thinksOKb it, howvC707m am I supposed toRq9k take itDBt out ofQ69or3 her head?fZv And toPFbS be honest,ac57Th the reasonvsic you gaveaRN22 doesn’t soundtlxiZ very…”3u8QrM
FtbAlthough he trailedCvrX off, it16IR was clearYBv that HansFE0E didn’t believeMIH Lucian’s explanationA92aUp either.PwX08
c8kKgAnd honestly, LucianqV2 wouldn’t believe30vupB it himself720K in herOOvQT place.hzhmgA
6kn3Lucian sighed andGNlxTx looked at2me Felix… no,TcOz18 at Felicia.2jIYJ67L4
uV8D“I don’t know7W2 what misunderstandingaA7O4 you’ve gotR8y7 in yourBz9j head, butqG6 I have3LlzZI no intentiontgC of touchingWykIK your body.”abzeZ4kjwqBk
3vix“…”LBWEi
tSWc“You’ve got a face thatTRukQ says youx64e don’t believeWj6 a wordo9jR I’m saying.”Hx4yE2F5
Y0ZjE3“Of course I don’t. WhyBxGq else wouldwoI4 you separateUfV a worthlessrju maid andzsQBh keep herUVv locked up?5CBcf If you’rel0uz1z not after5vYz my body,jHi then what5q4 else couldgVIu you want?”eyZHRyv
dv7“Your swordsmanship.”4Yx
UMOq“What?”Rqw1v
vsxxvk“Your swordsmanship is9B8lGf what I want. Wouldxmpdh you like5zvBO to stayVkt by mygE6rk5 side andKxXKt fully displayrNAt5 that talent?”CTlcbE0M
T6KiMFelicia’s expression twisted.bqBIqj
xc1Rather than believingrITN5s him, itobNP3 looked likeFY5c4n she thoughtcoU he wasN6f trying tojQZ1z seduce herXh4jBb to keepubaF her close.10d2umgDQ
iVHaLucian then pullednyMZJ out hiso3v secret weaponLoQzmB the permissionAo3 he hadfJ9Q0A received fromfd6 the grandxC5 duke.J9H
5WgO“I’m going toFgBR recommend youvecYVd as a disciple ofljDMSQ Swordmaster Eisen.”tR2gWMXJMqe
6BnHu“…!?”f1Hp
X1rxO“I already havegcUqB0 my father’sjPYu permission. AndeDv1 I alsojRh sent a messenger tomx7 Sir EiseneZOXK himself. IfF79W you want,TxAo we canmKnE8Q go see94vs8 him rightVbl now. WhatTUo9 do youYFp say?”ssilu4
yuixkShe wouldn’t believeEmSdY1 it.Q2D0P
36z68How could a mere cleaninggmZzX servant be0LdHHU given suchu3UGB an opportunity?OLW6wHQy
P3iZDBut it was6ai too temptingyZvywZ a bait.d20yldTIy
I7rWEven thinking itnHsu2 might be8Om a trap,XdUaX6 no oneXD1x who had9aiK learned swordsmanshipLic on theirkUs own couldYAwDk refuse somethingAtC like that.IwNWlz6lOs
66rZMuch less whenZFuX it wasWLLf0 the Swordmaster,bw84v the absoluteKumbeL peak ofgALt the sword.4JOqqm
fU7After thinking forHx16KE a long4gYaa while, FeliciaAF3Yg looked himsngvx straight incLKC the eyesg5W and said.uZmPyHrWRN
TJWB“Are you reallyyGuZ serious?”0mQU
dxTT“Do I lookEstuaP like I’mvoX joking?”3r5Pc
0Qea“The possibility thatbIp it’s a lie iszoHu much higher4Txz than theMCE6qd chance it’sbGOTT true. It3PQ could justqgZ8u be a way toaMbY stop meWZ7 from hurting6J7jb myself.”Xe0mL
33OgJ“Mentioning Swordmaster Eisenfp6wn just toTGZ stop you?62aK4c What for?HT0 If I wanted to6o5s convince youJeTAx to live,CBG it would6Wq9j be enoughLpEKMR to promiseixWBX you freedom.vgB There’d beTpqv no needYjRWc to makedm8m something like65dKG this up.”fBg8Bxu
GL3C0Unable to refuteKxfCx it, FeliciaqUy6Cb pressed herOO3j lips together.gt0tJjRFie
jYrVShe would rathermwl die thanHdg6 be defiled,nszM but sheHHt6 wasn’t someoneLa6 who despisedLdo1 life either.0M8U3jcxHQ
T4G1And even ifkQRlZ he hadXmU simply saidDEvN he wouldABDRwx let her7czy go safeRMdJ and sound,wvd she would8b6 probably havefsEc doubted him.Mg1lbYIwT
UWMpvpBut mentioning thekzv18m Swordmaster—that provedzowu he was3YfdjF serious.qEKv
o3a“…Wait a second.m657vg When didwbdvo9 I everp9P8 say I wanted tob9FofG learn swordsmanship?”GJq00bpd7Bzl
XPSnFelicia suddenly noticed91Qnyz something odd.2NXBPqzK
FghurShe had never6lvJr7 said it.bXXYV1OVaKa
prsXYet the conversationLlFKP had been2DY2Td revolving aroundWZbi the swordrieCzO for a while.onV
Jv4uNormally, when facedes8hCg with a maid whohA78X could wieldwBKxd a sword,Hse one wouldYwf8 first speakJPNKEg of money.F5I6BNrO6A
XqK“You never saidwuhmL6 it. ButRto it’s notCbMV necessary. Anyone17FQ can seeerD it. You’reSQgf a swordswoman.”E3Rdwr
aNQ“A swordswoman? Me?”fhbmM4PDx
jf9xs2“Aren’t you?”FEV
XEzAt that question,ZQGcX7 Felicia was4mG left speechless.ZJ7FMVXM1
HRHgAnd at the16EK8 same time,nH1X she feltkExjmx something burningQTX3ZX inside her.bhEWIaaHXHa
Ab3For the firstccDAG time, someone2oeF wasn’t seeingxgt her asJYh a wayward3H6 maid wielding8qx a weapon8yP without permission.SHPRuv
2rbH3But as a true swordswoman.HyP9GxEw
LRC6d“Are you reallygRd going tovT8ku introduce meyjqzI7 to the0S7u Swordmaster…?”dvqrxt
yyAWith a tremblingHE8A1u voice, FeliciaoQm3cZ asked the8vew question.H6lVta
BOeLucian looked atznH her withpxf07l total seriousness.cd60geHXa
HyE“I swear itwLFX5V on thenc7cVy name ofg01g Lucian Valdeck.”L0bFkMYiRRNg
ZqsA noble who0hV2rh swears byFAVvR both hisqMs name andLcgc surname putsNBLp not onlytJgOx his honorZokSiX but that8TbI of hishhvP2 entire familyN7VP on thegbwE7b line.hmlj
oCnFw5Finally, Felicia shutu7Ib8s her eyesMFLT tightly and3Tc stood up.e4cttZYTw
g8DVlEven though theA4T offer wasJxyJv absurd, forGFTrcY some reason,X8Se4 she wanted1ZNZw0 to believeCAq this man’spIGyIh words—just this7Pqc once.El0J
ASG***WZK
PNXz3Lucian immediately sentOsqEBa a messenger3dMaX with a request tosfnA Eisen.sOTI
Hawhe had founddXvtc the promised0gp2gK disciple andfg4W4 wished fore4m him toi2Zi meet her.NXL8Ivgzjw
4IFFortunately, Eisen acceptedMLXJQa without hesitation.xz1RUoV4
IMH— The thirdQA5s5J young masterVhJw is not2VeH someone who0z0 lies. I will seeUvA6f her.m7Qp
dNESQlUpon hearing thato66OJV Eisen wouldGBl come directlyW5LC to theQfM0 training grounds,Llq Lucian gatheredmnV Hugo andWJTEd Hans torfDq go there.9GYUts7U
PZ81Hugo, who hadcklbc been summonedD6IPCM suddenly, wasq6tNJI puzzled.Nu5Sr
0xhHe had beentG9ulb in theMRm middle ofnLTati dismantling thetLqz drug operation,tqmXBV which hadPBs9HC only beeni8TmW bait, sop3C he didn’typmok expect this.mdEtmWKwJX
lA7tX“Do I reallyjAxg8w need tohiQ1a be here?GZ8 Even ifaaK I go,6LzT nothing changes.”wvmX09UD
LJwYi“It doesn’t matter.BSq5Iy Use thisKBj chance toOaHw present yourselfxUG to Eisen.”mBc7bGAPUJ
uaTQ8“That’s exactly whyrFJPqk I don’tWtuh want toTuMpk go. Whatsnkif kind ofFMp impression will22lJ a Swordmasterea5fS have ofQZ9GQ a thug4Udh like me?”Igl1Rfvx
2MU“Don’t worry. He’lliOg3 see youYcwy in a good light.XtBA2 Eisen’s notv4HO the typeGGMS to judgeI9yAx2 by someone’s4yk past. Relax.”0n77bm6
29iTDespite Lucian’s words,jPIJtE Hugo stillcgxp looked uneasy.C69Qpxj
X42It was inevitable.SnWmnGrbo
O8tBIf Lucian recommendedInWges Felicia aspJbHw a disciple,5pKGM it meantn62 that thefsu merit heByse had earnedT6lmWu would bebl4 used toaZT benefit someonek8X completely unrelated.Pj6lzYxV
yLbIf Felicia didn’tOyDeR2 show overwhelmingT7Z talent, evenwPUB if HugoxCQm said nothing,pZAK resentment wouldVH8uEN surely grow6v3n3 sooner orXc6 later.t6Rtc
0VSThat’s why theyaBhf9 had to4oORAX clearly showEgv97e the talentK5irjB that theCoD heavens hadKqVAe8 granted her.MeUy6qDm
yooq7PJust as theDzo group arrivedhbok at theIeS49 entrance of8y7yiq the trainingn0rWBg grounds—zIKB
PlB“…Father?”hEdrj
Zwzz0e“How shameless. You41v arrive exactlyN1wV at thewUlwW agreed timecf5fBY with Eisen.VdLDJd You couldDvJYC show a little courtesyfocE5Q by arrivingBrcT4S earlier.”gXn
OaqLucian blinked, surprised5xD by theATw6 grand duke’sbvm slight reproach.gdnb5XVLs
TR2BWsWhy was hekc1 here?Dr7YcZ
xrI“What are yourDX doing here?”h8vYGZreAgca
TNvuUc“What do youNf1rC think I’mkB5Kdy doing? ThisOpbMC is aboutdFUg recommending a disciple toOnqYKl the Swordmaster.KdQamA Did you3D0FZs think I wouldn’t bexN8A present foraueH something soX0h important?”VaY
yV2KyCAnd he wasz2Mjh right.rqiQT1
B5nhSwordmaster Eisen wasn’tsiY just anOWX9 influential figureaC3jeh in thehGh empire; hisJeXM status withinYSNSji the ValdeckZXwHj family wasm0N0s7 enormous.4u3
8rWhIt was onlyDE0 natural forE7BYaL the headZjq2Q of theZ6a family toN6jri be involvedB5ef in somethingLRSP like this.Tfe4Osx
piv2s7Even if it4mNt1H was onlychD3uw an evaluationLbUEc1 and notJbs an officialmLqniB acceptance.dRKy7
l1LBTWhile Lucian wasAapAEq trying tobga process everything,umjQO5 the grandOPcPm duke lookedzZvgb8 at Hugo.Yd60TlOioJL
Ww10u“You must beMU535 Hugo. I heard youl3Qlw had someHrN6n merit thisAYsT time.”RU1Ain
UwlO“G-Greetings, Your ExcellencyIbjGLT the GrandfeCVcH Duke.”k1tLFf
Cr43k“But from what1VVWNx I alsozcK heard, you61t carry seriousis5P faults fromVSR the past.”h6dUJR4Q3
NslqYF“I know that…0GcACD but now…”qw9QiXx
DVevcc“Lucian, even knowingxua that, asked3Eh me tob2utca knight you.TVPB He saidOOWZVi he didn’t9cQ want anyTEb reward forUg0s himself, butIfr00R asked thatRGcrb I giveaPGqq one torFXc you.”6WdS
yQUVoHugo opened hisUnW1LW eyes wideNHn and lookedOLQ at Lucian.jAXwHOZAutwb
hfWvrLucian gestured for3rW him toUyqs calm down,tkaw but HugodaWe4I stood stiffzr9Iqk as a statue.TI1t
JmsThe grand dukeukrg4 continued.lw1o
BRsJ2“Whether it disappoints2wbAV you or7P7e not, I refused thexmd request. NotUeH because ofE50vC your past,qers but becauseKyU your merits5fkvMQ weren’t enough.LIP2 For a commoner, a knighthood cannotJwtMOo be taken7RL lightly.”aTx
kiLA“Those… those areEXE completely fairYvZlC3 words.”Pau
yC1eaP“Asking for excessivefWv4 rewards cannHAk2 even costdabQ you yourvtWB reputation. ButoTv your lord,vUpp knowing that,itSghB made an6Cy excessive requestSakrl on yourY03yw behalf. I hope youUBd understand whatemhP that means.”pQKIyk
CNDWrvHugo bowed deeply,sMNJF and his8Ak body began3UX to tremble2pHJ slightly, asdwQ5 if holdingDP7g back something0bct about tos8Z spill out.uHCuIpmP1
WJdAfter a few3R5 seconds, heISOFwi lifted hisuvelnJ head andy2CZB spoke firmly.ymJ2mvi
DK1Kt“What could I possibly givecKj2 to someonesvTy7a like him?KBNg For asThB long asL91z I live,czOO I give1BY him allbWlT4 that I am.”wi6fa
TIQ“Hmph.”7j5
XwdtKThe grand dukeXZ3H snorted, buteK62 a barelyvq3d perceptible smileppd appeared onZURKrT his face.LcWKLtuprYr
0PUeniThough he pretendeddhM annoyance, heLyyZli seemed satisfiedIB9D with theIlBq answer.Z3Zi
RrorwmBut that satisfactionNIES vanished the60u moment he8C3ROV looked attn6C Felicia.Facy
A1JU9a“This is theQlBr8 woman? The931 maid youux2Y intend toLKFpt recommend as2q2 Eisen’s disciple?”7ChYknnqR
h6E“That’s right.”Z2zq
hFb“Greet His Exce—”CNMsYWYBu
yZgz“Pathetic.”CBMZS8
1Ya6The abrupt reprimandR81LhP left everyonehuFCap frozen inzOAjPF place.Kr3v
4tzYThen, the grandkV6MW duke lookedMlGmNP back atmTa Lucian.QHV
gfD“Although your firstM6G request washdMi rejected, you9Fign still hadnoUae the rightd3cJVB to receive7tr a reward.KkEB As longY59eA as itywbK wasn’t excessive,C95 you couldwMm ask form4Y anything. AndxFMV you used6j2n it tona9 present thisUmUlj woman toHOVPV Eisen?”OWmVBR
3Ji6F4“…!”MC6X
yMST18“If you think2FyjVw rewards come6Ae whenever youqD8x want, you’reFSf being arrogant.ou7R6 You threwD55aQe away a rare opportunity5TS on somethingQn2jM useless. TheSq4J day willliu come whenGQaKfL you regretoUW it.”14PXAl
SnpFelicia’s eyes trembledDozr violently.KpaZc
VU0muiShe had witnessedgKX5 the successionwpXHt struggles inJaY14A noble houses.0zJRHA1YQ
E5JShe knew betterAhkoh6 than anyoneeNg how desperatelyByV4d sons soughttMAEJw their father’sUcA recognition.co7RE
7OBJTAnd Lucian had8zp thrown allTyp of thatCRsQeL away forn8B9 her.FMr
b23zUHowever, Lucian didn’tlM8k7 flinch atpVV the duke’s8EPU words.2SMpU
ZbJW3k“I’m sorry, butPXuXi I won’t151W regret it.”IPs0wPD3
JW2n9j“What did youmTEVU1 say?”ALR4
UMnath“Even if itaJxm were theZ9yQ last chanceu1wLae to receivegiVY4 a reward,lOKrx I wouldn’tqiZPbm regret it.bxBhEI Because I used it6BJ6jT in the2Aw most rightfulwWuCn way.”g6L
NH73u7“You truly believezvYwx this womanXAG is worthLvw it?”T2B
G3c0“Yes.”CgOTR6
QhJQD2The answer came19Thz without a trace ofRGn doubt.P3L2Cs
bwqIt wasn’t rebellion.FSSIl It was5pPF conviction.amQZ
Xgb“I don’t knowmbLIa what youe9nUfH saw, Father,AHW but I only seeTCiDo a swordswoman0mn blessed by1PW the gods.x3ERk An extraordinaryOzt5y genius, withQWxFkI the power2icE to cut150UPH the skyOMz and divideHn6A4w the sea,q9N bound byBxX the chainsFGqjN of status7fVSbJ and gender,3vvr unable evenCTMf9w to breathekQwbZ freely.”v2Ed29
ZgjX“….”b5Y
IfWP“Many won’t understand7f5Z me now.axj They’ll mockEQeHK1 me forpki doing somethingkHa3L1 so foolish.ImC But thosep9N2V jeers willV0P5 become praise.wncuJC They’ll sayGMxeb Lucian ValdeckJcJP was theyj6F one whoRoSr4 discovered theQK6 next Swordmaster—someone8j3 who wasT0Y about toPb5ek4 be lostRROaR in theYo5w shadows ofH9Atf history.”7W1
IMEnJust as hevkpXgw finished speaking,y3TSA a tearKNJ14 rolled downmUF Felicia’s cheek.YhMhbCUwH
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