“Is this the…” Arthur felt the dense energy inside the beast soul crystal. He didn’t even need confirmation to know that it was the Disaster-grade beast soul crystal.
“Please use it for your advancement.” Alaric tapped his shoulder with a light smile.
“Don’t worry. I won’t take it back this time.” He added in a joking tone.
Arthur chuckled at his words.
“Thank you, my lord!” He bowed gratefully.
Alaric waved his hand. “You don’t need to thank me. I’m just fulfilling my promise.”
He then looked at the frost horses and said.
“I’ll send someone trustworthy to look after the frost horses. In the meantime, you should prepare for your advancement.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Alaric didn’t stay for long and left after giving him a few more reminders and instructions.
Arthur’s foundation is very stable. With the help of the Disaster-grade beast soul crystal, he should be able to advance in less than a week. If he’s lucky, it might only take a few days.
He hoped that Arthur would advance before he would have to face off with Charles, but it was highly unlikely to happen.
…
When evening came, the butler came to deliver a document sent by the baron.
“My lord, the Baron sent me to give this to you.” The butler bowed respectfully while handing him a small pile of documents.
This must be the information on the next batch of applicants.
Alaric took the documents from the butler’s hands. “Thank you. Please inform the patriarch that we will proceed as we had initially planned.”
“I will convey your message to the baron.” The butler nodded.
“You may leave now.” Alaric dismissed him and headed back to his room to check the documents.
In the next half an hour, he went through the documents, but the person he was looking for was still not there.
She’s not here… Will she come tomorrow?
Alaric leaned on his seat and massaged his nose bridge.
He was certain that his uncle would send the same person for the position, but he was starting to get worried. What if his uncle had already sent someone?
I’ll confirm it tomorrow.
Alaric retired to his bed and rested his eyes.
***
The next day, Alaric was awoken by a series of knocks on his door.
He rubbed his eyes as he got up from his bed.
“Come in.” A tired voice leaked out of his mouth.
Creak.
Elena stepped inside his room with a cup of freshly brewed tea in her hand. “Good morning, my lord! Please drink this tea. I used everything I learned in the past few weeks to make this.”
After seeing Hershey’s tea-making skills during their last trip to Ryvaad, she started learning how to make tea herself.
“Oh? Then I must try it.” Alaric took the tea cup from the saucer and inhaled the refreshing aroma of the tea.
It had a calming scent that reminded him of the cool mountain breeze.
It smells good.
After taking in its refreshing aroma, Alaric took a light sip of the tea.
“Huh? This…”
He was surprised when the familiar flavor hit his tongue.
“Do you recognize it, my lord?” Elena giggled when she saw his expression.
“It does seem familiar. What tea leaves did you use to make this tea?” He curiously stared at her.
“Don’t be surprised, my lord. Actually, I used dried aricory petals to make this tea.” Elena replied with a faint smile.
“What?! No wonder the aftertaste has the distinct smell of aricories. They can actually be used to make teas… Where did you learn this from?”
“Hehe. I learned this from…”
Elena eagerly told him how she learned to make the tea, while Alaric repeatedly praised her.
After drinking the tea she made for him, Alaric went to take a bath and changed into a formal outfit before heading to the baron’s study room with Elena.
I should have enough time to complete my daily mission later.
For now, I should check the new applicants.
Just as they were about to take a turn towards the baron’s study room, they suddenly encountered the butler.
“Good morning, my lord. Good morning, Miss Elena.” The butler greeted them.
“Good morning, Sir Bastian.” Elena greeted him nervously, while Alaric nodded his head.
“My lord, the baron, and the madam are waiting for you at the dining hall.” The butler informed him.
“Hm? Isn’t it too early for breakfast?” Alaric was taken aback.
Elena was similarly surprised.
“The baron said that you will be busy later and he is worried that you might not have the time for a meal so he asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast early today.” The butler calmly explained.
“I see. In that case, please lead the way.” Alaric felt his father’s care for him. He might not be so vocal about it, but he would always show it through his actions.
As soon as they arrived at the dining hall, they saw the baron and the madam chatting with serious faces.
“Oh? You two are finally here. Come and sit with us.” Maria beckoned to them with a smile.
The Baron didn’t say anything and just nodded to acknowledge their presence.
“Sir Bastian, please tell the servants to serve the food,” Maria instructed the butler.
“Yes, my lady.”
After the butler left, Lucas sent him a glance. “Have you read the documents I sent over last night?” He asked.
Alaric nodded his head. “Yes, my lord. I went through their information, but I haven’t found anything significant yet. If I’m not wrong, Uncle should be sending his people today.”
Lucas tapped his fingers on the table with a thoughtful look.
He had also investigated the applicants, but their backgrounds were clean.
Meanwhile, Elena couldn’t understand what they were talking about, but she tactfully remained silent.
Seeing that she was bored, Maria initiated a conversation with her.
“When will the applicants arrive, my lord?” Alaric inquired.
Lucas adjusted his posture and replied in a calm voice. “They are already waiting at the guest hall. You can go there after the meal.”
“Alright.”
A few minutes later, the servants finally arrived to serve their food.
While the dishes were being served, Lucas sent Alaric a look and said.
“Let’s eat first. We will discuss everything afterwards.”