Chapter 68 - 068: Questions and Congratulations

Chapter 68: Chapter 068: Questions and Congratulations

Questions and congratulations came later, at dinner. The Duke had thrown a feast for the entire household, despite the tight finances.

It was a quiet affair, though. Apart from family, only the Head Servant, the faithful commander Valerian and the butler Clinton had been invited.

It was at said dinner that Mikael’s box was finally opened.

Inside it was a letter handwritten by Mikael, a little wrapped package for Isabella’s illness, and something that nearly shocked the whole table out of their wits and appetite.

Seated within the box’s inner chambers were a hundred Rank Breakers!

The atmosphere in the dining room lost nearly all its happiness. Dinner continued in almost pin-drop silence, save for the sound of cutlery touching plates.

At the end, the star of the day and the rest of the children were sent to join the more lively courtyard celebration with the rest of the household. Valerian also opted to leave, too, but the Duke declined, asking him to stay.

"So the lad just up and quit?" The Knight Commander fumed.

"Unfortunately, Sir Valerian," the butler replied.

"Clinton, any noteworthy information as to his true identity?" Selena questioned.

"None, Your Grace. No birth records, no single means of identification that can be tied to him. It’s almost like he just came down a mountain."

Duke Alan cleared his throat. "There are many like him, without means of identification," he stated matter-of-factly. "But his appearance looks like he was of noble birth."

"My Lord," Clinton chirped in. "That would then narrow his possible place of origin to House Terraverde, the Imperial branch family, headed by General Cael Drath. They are the only family with the symbolic white hair. Or was it silver? I’ll be sure to look into it from tomorrow, My Lord."

Duchess Selena picked up the letter and read it through twice before setting it down.

"As gratitude for sheltering a generous god," she read out loud. "Mikael has got some serious delusions, calling himself a god. He should pray that the Church doesn’t hear him. So, dear, what do we do? You are the mastermind of this House. Forgive me, the brain, dear."

Duke Alan smiled, a resigned look in his eyes. "Since the Imperial Merchants have already witnessed and verified the authenticity of the Relic, and since we have been given a gift, we shall send ten of the Relics to the Emperor as gratitude, and as a gesture to the protector of the Realm."

He turned the letter over in his hand. "Once the Seal of Approval arrives from the IMO, we list the Relics up for sale. Thirty pieces we keep for ourselves, ten for emergencies, and the remaining fifty go to market. I am making sense, I believe?"

"Surely they will sell in batches, as of now," Clinton muttered in thought. "What will the starting price be?"

"Thirty million Crowns apiece," Selena said firmly, glancing at her husband.

"And if the unrest with the Khyronians escalates, the second batch will go at forty-five million," Duke Alan added. "Of course, we might draw the ire of the other Great Houses, but we will deal with them somehow."

Selena rose from her seat. "Now, if you will excuse me, I must go and congratulate my daughter on her latest achievement. You know how difficult it is to ascend at her age."

Saying so, she strolled out, followed by her husband and son.

The room finally breathed again.

"Alan sure married himself a tigress," Valerian found himself smiling. "Her Grace is a unique woman. How lucky my Lord is. He is the luckiest man alive."

Clinton smiled. "Aren’t we all?"

---

The feast had continued well into the wee hours of the next day, although at around midnight, the Duke’s family bade their servants good night and retired to their chambers.

As such, the household slept in for the first time in a while, rousing at around the tenth hour.

Duke Alan and the Duchess were already up, as they were at the crack of dawn, reclining on the sofas on the balcony overlooking the courtyard, watching the sunrise.

"Life these days seems a bit fast-paced for old folks like us, dear," Selena sighed.

Alan took her hands in his. "You do not look a day over twenty, my dear. Are you perhaps immortal?"

"Hmph, don’t patronize me, Duke Alan. It will not get you anything."

Alan looked away playfully. "Tch."

The duo laughed.

This was one of the few times they ever got to completely relax, and they cherished it.

---

And the peace continued for a very long while.

The Limnor children went back to school a couple of weeks later. The temperatures were already getting cool, the trees slowly turning golden brown and red, and leaves had begun to fall.

The farmers, now in the harvest season, reaped all their efforts from the grounds in visible joy. The harvest was plentiful.

Over the weeks, no one had seen nor heard from the wonder lad who had graced the Limnor household. Rumors had already spread that he might have been a high-ranking elf noble, with such pure white hair and pale skin that glowed under the sun. Others whispered that he may have been an angel from the legendary Celestial Domain, Heaven.

Alas, all were but rumors. Nobody could confirm.

The Rank Breakers were selling massively, and House Limnor could finally breathe.

At the borders, though, the skirmishes with the Khyronians were getting fewer, contrary to expectations, which led to uneasiness.

The Romanian Empire consequently summoned the Dukes of the Saint Families, other high-ranking nobles, knights, and mages to the Imperial Palace.

Half a month later, the Limnor Family Head and his wife departed for the Imperial Capital in answer to the summons.

---

Duke Alan stood at the Round Table of the Saints, a massive table made from the finest oak and mahogany.

"Duke Alan of House Limnor greets His Imperial Majesty!"

On the throne at the end of the room, a masked figure waved in response to the greetings of the Dukes of the Six Saint Families, without a sound. Behind it, a massive painting of the Golden Rising Sun towered above the hall.

Beside the Emperor stood the Chancellor. It was he who was the voice of the throne.

"It is good to see you all honor the summons of the Emperor. I thank you."

He came forward, towards the Round Table.

"We have a few agendas that shall be discussed, which require the presence of the Six Houses’ Patriarchs and Matriarchs."

He glanced at the only woman at the table, whose most distinctive features were her blue hair and her stern, cold gaze. Noticing his stare, she glared back at him.

After a brief moment of staring each other down, a golden-haired figure coughed. He was the Duke and Patriarch of the strongest, most influential House, Salem, second only to the Imperial family.

"Chancellor, if I may..."

"Yes, Duke Antony."

"First off, as we all know, the Khyronians have begun yet again another upheaval. Though, judging by the rate of Humanity’s growth over the years, stopping them will not pose much of a problem. Then again, we cannot be too cautious."

"If I may, Chancellor," Duke Alan cut in. "The scale of their previous attack on one of our border towns wiped out nearly the entire population. I am inclined to believe that the strength of these demons has greatly increased. We should crush those damned..."

"Language, Alan," the Duchess spoke. "No need for such foul words before His Imperial Majesty."

Duke Alan paused. "My apologies, Your Imperial Majesty."

The figure on the throne merely raised a hand in reply.

"Thank you, Your—"

Another raised hand silenced him, letting the Chancellor take charge once more.

"True it is, what Duke Alan has said. The strength of the Khyronians has indeed increased. But as I said before, the strength of our forces is more than enough to quell whatever they may cook up.

"Our next agenda, which results from the first, is a diplomatic visit to Elyria, to reinforce our relationship as well as seek possible aid in the case of a mishap with the Khyronians. Our diplomats will be Duke Antony of House Salem, Duke Alan of Limnor, and the Second Prince, Maxwell Kaserlich Siltvelt Romanus. These three are scheduled to have a private audience with the Emperor on a later date. Any objection, Your Graces?"

"None at all, Lord Chancellor!"

"Good. Now, Duke Alan, the Imperial Merchant Office visited your domain a few months ago. Reports speak of a relic... the Rank Breaker. Duke?"

"Yes, Lord Chancellor, Your Imperial Majesty. A few weeks ago, I was fortunate to be visited by a genius lad. We had a good talk, and he promised me a one-time-use relic. It has the ability to help one push past a few ranks, although for some people it only pushes them up by one."

"And where is this... genius lad you speak of, Alan?" Duke Gozaty of House Vermillion questioned with a frown.

Naturally, it was believed the Limnor Household had hosted and sheltered this genius so as to somewhat level the grounds between them and the other Houses. And their recent success in the market of ascension materials was evidence of that.

"As of this moment, we know nothing of his current location. According to the Silver Arcane Management, he left before the final test of the Interviews," Duke Alan said, turning towards the throne.

The Lord Chancellor waved in response.

"General Lithorne, be sure to have this genius lad in mind. Send out scouts. Invite him over."

"Yes, Lord Chancellor."

"This meeting is over. All stand before the Emperor!"

The Table rose. The Emperor waved.

"All hail Romania!"