“Indeed,” Lord Joseph affirmed, taking his place in the room designated for Lord Ivan. Lady Eliza and Lady Diana followed, arranging themselves around the sizable table.
Lord Ivan positioned himself opposite the two ladies, with Tyler and Ryan flanking him.
The discussion delved into the unexpected arrival of the mages from the kingdom’s prestigious magic academy. It was highly irregular for such an esteemed institution to show interest in a newly developed village.
Each person present recognized the gravity of the situation and the weightiness of their mission, assigned personally by the king himself. Failure was not an option.
The crux of the issue lay in the mages’ arrival. It was more than likely that they sought to recruit Yuan and his wives into their academy.
The institution held great influence in the kingdom, with noble heirs and the most gifted mages in the land flocking there to study.
Many of the kingdom’s noble houses supported the Magic Academy wholeheartedly, for their children’s education was vested in its hallowed halls.
“The arrival of the Mages from the Magic Academy is a matter of utmost concern. Should they succeed in recruiting Yuan and his wives, I fear the kingdom’s landscape will irrevocably alter,” Lord Ivan expressed, his countenance reflecting a deep contemplation.
As the personal advisor to the king, he understood the profound implications of his decisions, and the weight of responsibility he bore.
“Indeed, Lord Ivan. The kingdom would take a different turn if they manage to get their hands on Yuan and his wives. We cannot let that happen, and we must do whatever it takes to bring Yuan and his wives to our side… We mustn’t disappoint His Majesty the king,” Lord Joseph intoned with determination.
“I share the same sentiment as Lord Ivan. We cannot allow them to succeed, and we must secure the targets for the future of the kingdom,” Lady Diana swiftly added, her loyalty to her homeland evident in her words.
Lady Eliza nodded in agreement with Lady Diana’s sentiments. “Since we are all in accord, let us visit the Monore family tomorrow morning as soon as possible. We must meet this Yuan and his wives before they do. What say you, Lord Ivan?”
“Definitely! Let’s conclude our discussion here and retire for some rest. We have an audience with Madam Layla early tomorrow morning,” Lord Ivan announced, rising from his seat.
The others followed suit.
“Wish you a restful night, Lord Ivan,” Lady Eliza bid him before exiting the room. Lord Joseph and Lady Diana left shortly after.
As they left Lord Ivan’s chambers, an unexpected voice met their ears. It was a playful, feminine voice that belonged to none other than Teacher Rowena from the Magic Academy, accompanied by Teacher Silas.
“Oh my, Lord Joseph. Fancy meeting you here. Is this perhaps a coincidence, or is it fate? Color me surprised!” she exclaimed in a teasing tone.
Upon turning around to acknowledge her, they found Teacher Rowena standing there, flanked by Teacher Silas.
Teacher Rowena then turned her attention to the ladies beside Lord Joseph. “Ah, Lady Eliza and… what was it again?”
“It’s Diana,” Lady Diana corrected gently, shaking her head with a small smile.
“Ah, it’s Lady Diana, I remember now,” Teacher Rowena acknowledged with a warm smile, her gaze fixed intently on Lord Joseph.
She inquired, “So, what brings you all to this quaint little village? It’s rather unusual for kingdom officials to make such a visit unless there’s a significant benefit for the realm.”
Lord Ivan maintained his composure, despite sensing the scrutiny of Teacher Rowena and Silas. He responded, “It’s a routine inspection mandated by the higher-ups. They’ve taken notice of the rapid progress in this village and sent us to provide a report. Lady Eliza and I are accompanying Lady Diana due to some recent rumors circulating.”
While he spoke, Lord Joseph’s inner thoughts were less gracious. ‘Do you think I’ll reveal our true intentions, Teacher Rowena? I’ll ensure we secure the targets before you do…’
Teacher Rowena, however, saw through the ruse. She couldn’t help but smile inwardly. ‘No matter how hard you try, Lord Joseph, your words ring false to those who know.’
“I see… This village’s progress is certainly astonishing, even to my eyes. It’s no surprise that it garnered the attention of the kingdom’s higher-ups,” Teacher Rowena chimed in with an understanding smile, playing along with Lord Joseph’s explanation.
After a brief exchange, Lord Joseph gracefully excused himself along with Lady Eliza and Lady Diana. “Well, Teacher Rowena, Teacher Silas, if you’ll pardon us, we’ll retire to our rooms. The journey has left us quite weary, I’m afraid. I trust you both might be feeling the same.”
“Indeed, Lord Joseph, we too will be heading to our quarters,” Teacher Silas confirmed.
Once they departed, Teacher Rowena and Silas were left to themselves, ready to discuss the intriguing turn of events.
“Miss Rowena, I have a feeling that Lord Joseph was lying to us, he’s definitely hiding something,” Teacher Silas whispered to Teacher Rowena as they watched Lord Joseph and the two ladies enter their rooms.
Rowena smiled and nodded knowingly. “Naturally, that old geezer was spinning a tale. I’d wager they’re here for the same purpose as us… they share our objective.”
“So, they’re after those rumored extraordinary young mages, huh? That explains why something felt off…” Silas remarked, his voice hushed but filled with understanding.
“Now, let’s get some rest. We must be cautious while investigating these exceptional young mages. Losing talents like them to the kingdom would be a shame.”
Silas readily agreed. “Indeed, we need to closely monitor their movements. They might hold clues regarding these talented mages.”
“I’m certain they’re carrying some valuable information with them. Following their lead will significantly reduce our search time… All the hard work, and we’ll reap the rewards,” Rowena muttered under her breath, a cunning grin playing on her lips.
Silas, deeply impressed, couldn’t help but think, ‘This is the woman I’ve fallen for. She’s incredibly sharp. Definitely my kind of partner, hahaha~’
“Getting a free lunch without lifting a finger. I’m all for this plan,” Silas concurred, a pleased smile on his face.
“Now, let’s each head to our rooms. We have a busy day ahead,” Rowena announced, making her way towards her room.
“I’ll head to mine as well,” Silas murmured to himself. He watched Rowena enter her room before slipping into his own, shutting the door behind him.
The next morning, Lord Ivan, along with Lord Joseph, Lady Eliza, and Lady Diana, sat down for breakfast in the inn’s dining hall, ready for the day ahead.
Tyler and Ryan sat at a separate table, fully aware of their roles as subordinates, not privileged to dine with Lord Ivan.
“So, Lady Eliza and Lady Diana, did you sleep well last night?” Lord Ivan inquired.
“We slept like logs, Lord Ivan. You need not worry about us,” Lady Eliza assured with a smile, echoed by Lady Diana’s nod of agreement.
“Indeed, we had a really good rest, Lord Ivan.”
“That’s good to hear,” Lord Ivan responded, visibly relieved. Their well-being was essential for the success of their mission.
After finishing breakfast, they retired to their rooms for baths and freshening up. Presenting themselves in the same attire as the previous day wouldn’t do for an important audience.
When they emerged, each was adorned in fresh, clean attire.
“Lord Ivan, what do you think of our new dresses?” Lady Eliza sought his opinion.
Seeing Lady Eliza solicit Lord Ivan’s approval left Lord Joseph in a bewildered stupor. He couldn’t fathom the sight before him.
‘How is this possible? Is this real? Why would Lady Eliza seek someone else’s opinion when I, her admirer, stand before her? It must be a hallucination… it can’t be real. I must be seeing things!’ His mind raced, grappling with the surreal scene.
“You both look truly beautiful, Lady Eliza and Lady Diana. The dresses suit you splendidly,” Lord Ivan complimented them, his smile genuine.
This snapped Lord Joseph out of his reverie. He shot Lord Ivan a frustrated glare and snapped, “Shall we continue standing here or actually head to Madam Layla’s residence for the audience? We mustn’t forget the importance of this mission, even if we’d like to!”
Lord Ivan and the two ladies exchanged confused glances, puzzled by Lord Joseph’s sudden anger.
“Well, let’s head to Madam Layla’s residence, shall we? We can’t be late since she is quite busy with the village’s development,” Lord Ivan suggested.
Turning to Tyler and Ryan, he instructed, “Since you two know the way to Madam Layla’s residence, lead us the way.”
“Understood, My Lord. Please follow us. We’ll take the shortest route, which will save us some time,” Ryan swiftly responded, nodding.
“Very well,” Lord Ivan agreed, following his two subordinates. Lord Joseph, Lady Eliza, and Lady Diana trailed along, and together they left the Silver Moon Inn, heading toward the Monroe Family’s manor.
Upon arrival, they were taken aback by the manor’s vastness, finding it even grander than expected, considering the village’s current development. ｂｏ𝚟𝚕.
“This manor rivals the villa of a count in the kingdom, perhaps even larger,” Lord Ivan marveled.
“At this point, I’m hardly surprised,” Lady Eliza sighed.
Approaching the guards stationed at the manor’s entrance, the two sentries immediately rose upon seeing Lord Ivan and his entourage.
“Please state your business for coming here,” one of the guards inquired.
“We have an appointment with Madam Layla,” Ryan promptly replied.
The guard inwardly noted, ‘These individuals must be the ones My Lady informed us about…’
“Is that so? My lady has informed us about the arrival of a group for an audience. Please follow me inside; My Lady is waiting for all of you,” the guard politely directed, cautious not to offend them given their evident strength.
“Very well, lead the way,” Ryan acquiesced, following the guard. Lord Ivan and the others followed, taking in the sights within the manor.