Chapter 156 : Chapter 156

Chapter 156. Sebastian’s Secret

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍brief meeting with Lucius seemed to exhaust the little strength Eli had just gathered, and a powerful wave of fatigue surged over him again like a tide.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍could not hold up his heavy eyelids and soon fell asleep once more.

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he woke again, the sunlight outside the window had already become bright and warm. Clearly, it was noon.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been gently woken by Lynn.

“Eli, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wake up. It is time for lunch.” Lynn’s voice was gentle.

Eli ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍opened his eyes and saw Lynn sitting beside the bed, holding an exquisite silver bowl.

She carefully scooped up a spoonful of steaming meat soup, blew on it gently by her lips, then brought it to Eli’s mouth.

“Ah—”

Eli looked at her gesture, which was as though she were taking care of a child, and the corner of his mouth could not help twitching. He said somewhat helplessly,

“Lynn, actually, I feel much better now. I have more or less recovered. You do not need to feed me like this…”

His words abruptly stopped under Lynn’s gradually calm stare.

Eli tactfully closed his mouth and obediently opened it.

The warm soup flowed into his mouth. The greasy feeling he had expected from meat soup did not appear.

Instead, an unexpectedly refreshing taste spread across his tongue.

There was even a faint trace of fresh fruit fragrance, cleverly balancing the richness of the meat and greatly increasing his appetite.

“It is delicious.” Eli’s eyes lit slightly, and he praised her sincerely.

He was somewhat shocked by Lynn’s cooking.

A proud and satisfied smile immediately appeared on Lynn’s face, as though she had received the highest compliment.

“Hehe, you like it, right? I specially used spirit lamb meat brought from the Southern Frontier, along with some sweet wild fruit and spices.

Then I simmered it over low heat for a full two hours. It is the most nourishing and is good for restoring vitality.

Have another bite!”

As she spoke, she scooped up another spoonful and carefully blew it cool.

After feeding Eli the second mouthful, Lynn seemed to remember something and said,

“By the way, while you were asleep this morning, Count Quintus, Count Habe, and Baron Ron all came to see you.

But when they saw that you were sleeping deeply, they did not disturb you. They left some gifts of sympathy and then went away.”

She brought another spoonful of soup to Eli’s mouth. “Another bite.”

Eli obediently drank it, nodded, and only responded after swallowing. “Mm, I understand. I will go thank them later.”

He paused, then asked, “Right, while I was unconscious these past few days, what happened outside? How is the postwar situation?”

“What happened?” Lynn tilted her head and thought for a moment.

“I only know that everyone outside is now saying that you are the hero who defended Thorne.”

Her tone carried pride, but then she glared at him and added, “A hero who forced himself too much. Another bite!”

Eli could only open his mouth again and accept being fed.

“What else?” he asked indistinctly.

“What else?” Lynn continued recalling as she fed him.

“Also… our engagement ceremony has been set for two days from now, and the news has already spread.

I heard that the three marquesses from the eastern region of the Western Frontier have also come to Thorne. Marquess Claire… Marquess Kola… and Marquess Winterbourne.

Oh, right, Marquess Marcus has also returned, and he asked me about your condition.

Mm… and many people who participated in the defense received rewards from my maternal uncle Lucius. Those who were promoted in rank were promoted, and those who received rewards received rewards…

After that… I do not think there was anything especially notable.” She scooped up another spoonful of soup. “Another bite.”

Eli indicated that he understood, then helplessly opened his mouth and swallowed again.

“What about Butler? It looks as though I will not be able to leave for the next few days. I want him to return first and preside over the territory’s overall situation.”

“Lord Sebastian? I often cannot find him either, but he frequently goes to the library. I will go look for him in a bit.

Now, another bite—another hundred million bites, even!”

Eli looked at her persistent feeding and felt both warmth and amusement in his heart.

This time, he did not directly drink from the spoon. Instead, he reached out and took the silver bowl from Lynn’s hand.

“I will do it myself.” Then he tilted his head back and drank all the remaining warm soup in the bowl.

A warm current slid down his throat into his stomach, then spread to his limbs and bones, making his body feel warm.

“Delicious.” Eli handed the empty bowl back to Lynn and smiled. “Another bowl tonight.”

Lynn took the bowl, and a satisfied expression appeared on her face, as though she had completed an important task.

“That will be a different one…”

Eli looked at her lovely face so close before him, and his heart stirred. He suddenly reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist.

His other hand familiarly wandered lightly over her body.

“Butler’s matter is not urgent for now. Your Highness has served me for so long. You must have worked hard.

Why do I not… serve you for a while now?”

Lynn froze because of his sudden movement, and two red clouds instantly rose on her face as she revealed a shy and annoyed expression.

But mindful of his injuries, she did not struggle too much. She only gently pushed against his chest with her hands.

“Do not fool around… It is still daytime. And your injuries have not fully healed yet…”

As she felt Eli’s increasingly audacious movements, her voice grew lower and lower.

“Uu… only… this. Tonight… I will come again tonight…”

Seeing her shy appearance, half-refusing and half-yielding, Eli’s affection grew even stronger.

Then he gently cupped her face and kissed those soft lips tenderly.

Lynn’s body stiffened slightly, then softened. She obediently closed her eyes, stretched out both arms to wrap them around his neck, and passionately responded to the kiss.

Only after a long while, when both of their breathing had become somewhat unsteady, did they slowly separate.

The duel between the righteous knight Eli and the evil slime ended with the righteous knight Eli victorious.

Lynn’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes glistening and full of charm.

She gently pulled Eli’s hands, which had been wandering over her body, away.

She knew that if they continued, the two of them might truly lose control.

She stood up and somewhat flusteredly straightened her wrinkled dress, forcing herself to remain calm as she said,

“Th-that is enough. I… I will go find Lord Sebastian for you.”

After saying this, she did not dare look at Eli’s burning gaze, which carried a smile. She quickly left the room.

Inside the room, only Eli remained, leaning against the headboard.

He let out a long sigh and lowered his head to look at his clearly arrogant good brother below.

He even began to suspect whether that bowl of remarkably effective meat soup Lynn had made contained some special ingredient…

Time slowly passed in waiting and a little torment.

.....

No one knew how long had passed before the door was pushed open soundlessly, and the familiar figure of the old butler Sebastian walked in.

He was still wearing that immaculate dark butler’s uniform, and his face bore the same calm expression that never changed.

“Young Master.” He bowed slightly.

“Butler, you are here. Come over quickly.” Eli restrained his thoughts and beckoned to him. His face became serious. “I have something to ask you.”

Sebastian walked to the bedside as instructed and stood there quietly, as though he had already expected what Eli would ask.

Eli looked straight into his eyes. “Butler, you know what I want to ask.

…What exactly was that power you lent me? What was it?”

Sebastian fell silent for a moment. In those unruffled eyes, there seemed to flash an extremely complicated emotion.

In the end, he sighed softly.

“Since Young Master has asked, then… it is time for me to explain all of myself to you.”

His voice was steady. “This must begin with your ancestor, the origin of House Black, the Founding Marquess—Lord Felwin Black.”

Eli held his breath, sensing that he was about to hear a story far beyond his imagination.

Sebastian’s gaze seemed to pierce through time and return to the distant past.

“Roughly five hundred years ago, when the magic tide receded… I was once a being who traveled the world and existed in the seam between light and shadow—a Shadow Spirit.

In some ancient records or horror stories passed down by word of mouth, we were also called… Shadow Demons.”

“A Shadow Demon?! Five hundred years ago?”

Eli’s eyes abruptly widened as he looked in disbelief at the old butler before him, who had always been steady and reliable.

Sebastian was not surprised by Eli’s shock. He continued narrating in that calm tone.

“Marquess Felwin was once one of the bravest, and also most… conquest-loving generals under Caesar Aurora. He opened up territory for him and fought campaigns in all directions.”

Then his gaze turned toward Eli with an unreadable expression.

“He was also the one who led an army to break through Thorne City, which the La Roche Family had managed for nearly a thousand years,

as well as the La Roche Family’s final fortress—Storm City…”

Eli understood the old butler’s gaze. His ancestor, Felwin Black, had once led troops to capture Thorne City, while his descendant had unexpectedly become the hero who defended Thorne City.

Perhaps this was the wonder of fate?

“I remember… it was probably in the Yabfendo Snow Mountains of the Northern Frontier? We met during an exceptionally brutal war.”

“At that time, although my strength could not be considered powerful, I was young and impetuous, and I upheld a certain… self-righteous principle.”

“I was dissatisfied with some of his… atrocities on the battlefield. In the end, I decided to assassinate him to end that unnecessary slaughter.”

“The result, as you can clearly see, was that I failed.” Sebastian’s tone carried no emotional fluctuation.

“But he did not kill me. Instead… he gave me a choice.

He wanted me to atone for my actions… After that… we went to many places together and experienced many things together.

But those years are far too distant. Many details… I can no longer remember very clearly…”

For the first time, his voice carried a trace of confusion, as though that long passage of years itself was an enormous millstone that had worn away many clear marks.

“In short, at the end of a long journey and long entanglement… we made a wager.”

Sebastian’s gaze refocused and fell on Eli’s face. “The result was… I lost.”

“I fulfilled the wager and promised to protect House Black until… the tenth generation.”

His final words fell heavily upon Eli’s heart like cold stone.

“And your elder brother, Kaelus Black, will be the tenth and final head of House Black whom I must protect…”

Eli sat dazedly on the bed, listening to this distant story that had crossed more than five hundred years and involved the origin of his family and a mysterious contract.

His mind was shaken, and for a long time, he could not come back to himself.