Chapter 98: Lady Alyse’s Caution

Upon hearing the maid’s announcement, Austin exhaled a long, heavy sigh of relief, the residual tension completely evaporating from his frame.

Beside him, Mauri and Jauri traded a swift, playful glance and winked at one another, making zero effort to hide their sudden excitement.

Their brother’s patience had paid off, and the crucial deal that had brought them across the continent was finally back on track.

"Mauri, Jauri, follow me," Austin ordered smoothly, straightening his tailored coat.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the three brothers left the tranquility of the emerald pavilion, their boots clicking in rhythmic unison against the polished gravel path as they made their way toward the grand entrance of the castle.

It didn’t take long for them to reach the front carriage porch.

Parked directly before the main stone steps sat a sleek, extravagant carriage crafted from dark ironwood and accented with burnished gold trim.

Emblazoned prominently upon its reinforced door was the majestic crest of the Veraxes Ducal Family.

A roaring silver manticore surrounded by a crown of thorns.

However, as Austin’s calculating eyes scanned the driveway, his brow furrowed slightly in genuine surprise.

There was not a single royal knight, vanguard unit, or armed escort surrounding the vehicle.

Why would the sole heiress of the legendary House Veraxes travel through the Golden City and arrive at a private estate completely unattended?

Such a breach of standard nobility protocol was practically unheard of for a figure of her immense geopolitical standing.

Suppressing his curiosity, Austin stepped down the front stairs, coming to a halt a respectful distance from the vehicle.

He folded one arm across his chest and bowed his head smoothly, his twin brothers immediately mimicking his posture beside him.

"Greetings, Lady Alyse," Austin spoke, his voice calm, warm, and impeccably polite to the unseen figure sitting within the darkened interior.

"I thank you for honoring my humble invitation. I am truly delighted that we may finally bring our families’ shared vision to fruition and finalize this momentous transaction."

As his words faded into the quiet afternoon air, Austin paused, waiting for a response.

For several agonizing seconds, complete silence hung over the carriage porch.

No rustle of silk, no shift of weight, and no polite greeting came from within the vehicle.

Austin held his bow, his sharp mind already analyzing a dozen different possibilities for the unexpected silence.

Then, breaking the quiet, a soft, velvety voice echoed gently from behind the drawn velvet curtains of the carriage door.

"Vorian."

The moment the single name was uttered, the heavy door of the carriage clicked open and swung outward with frictionless grace.

A tall, imposing bald man stepped out onto the cobblestone driveway.

He was draped in an immaculate, obsidian-black butler suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly, devoid of a single wrinkle.

His posture was unnaturally straight, and his cold, obsidian eyes swept over Austin, Mauri, and Jauri for a brief, heavy moment—evaluating them with the practiced instinct of a apex predator—before he quietly stepped to the side and bowed his head.

Directly behind him, Lady Alyse von Veraxes emerged from the carriage, a light, enchanting smile gracing her lips.

Her long, shimmering golden hair cascaded down past her waist like spun silk, catching the warm rays of the afternoon sun.

She wore an exquisite, dark crimson gown that accentuated her graceful silhouette, embroidered with subtle silver thread along the neckline and cuffs.

Just as the continent’s high-society rumors had proclaimed for years, Lady Alyse was the epitome of a beauty goddess—a figure so ethereal that her mere presence seemed to draw the breath out of the room.

Yet, despite her staggering, world-class beauty, Austin’s heart remained completely still.

Not a single pulse of attraction or awe fluttered within his chest.

To a born merchant like Austin Paureen, Lady Alyse von Veraxes was not a mythical beauty or a romantic fantasy.

She was merely an ordinary woman who happened to be wrapped in the supreme authority of a noble title.

A valuable asset, a powerful business partner, and, if the situation ever demanded it, someone to be used and discarded once her utility was exhausted.

Austin cared for nothing in this vast, cruel world that could not be calculated, spent, or deposited.

Unless it was gold, trade leverage, or the absolute safety of his family, it held no true meaning to him.

Recovering instantly, Austin and his brothers lowered their heads once more, performing a flawless, formal noble bow.

"We welcome Her Grace to our home."

Lady Alyse let out a soft, sheepish chuckle, placing a delicate, gloved hand over her lips as she stepped down onto the stone path.

"Please, rise. I must sincerely apologize for delaying our meeting for an entire week, Master Austin. Certain... delicate circumstances required my absolute attention before I could make this journey."

Her bright violet eyes then shifted slightly, landing on Mauri and Jauri, whose cheeks had already turned a bright, betraying shade of red under her direct, dazzling gaze.

Alyse couldn’t help but giggle softly at the twins’ youthful reaction before her eyes flicked back toward Butler Vorian.

Vorian gave a single, imperceptible nod, instantly understanding his mistress’s unspoken instruction.

Lady Alyse turned her full attention back to the stoic, unreadable face of Austin Paureen.

Her playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a sharp, highly focused glint. "Master Austin... would you be willing to grant me a strictly private conversation?"

Austin offered a prompt, crisp nod. "It would be my pleasure, Lady Alyse."

Without wasting another second, Austin turned and led the heiress into the grand castle.

Before crossing the threshold, he issued a strict, absolute command to the estate staff: every single servant, guard, and attendant working within the building was ordered to vacate the interior immediately and remain outside on the estate grounds until summoned.

Austin escorted Alyse up the grand marble staircase to a secluded, high-end parlor situated on the castle’s third floor.

The room was luxurious, furnished with velvet armchairs and a heavy mahogany table positioned between them.

Once both figures stepped inside and settled into the facing chairs, the heavy double doors clicked shut, leaving them entirely alone.

Every window in the chamber was already securely latched shut, blocking out the wind.

Yet, for Lady Alyse, simple wood and glass were far from sufficient for what she was about to disclose.

"Before we begin our formal discussion," Lady Alyse said softly, leaning back into her plush chair and slightly tilting her head, "I must apologize in advance for taking such precautions."

She raised one delicate hand, her violet eyes suddenly glowing with an ancient, high-density mana.

"Room of Silence!"

Her voice did not merely ring out through the physical room—it vibrated directly through the air, resonating in harmony with the vast, invisible threads of the Spirit Realm.

In that exact instant, a shimmering, translucent barrier of spiritual magic erupted from her fingertips, rapidly expanding outward and wrapping around the entirety of the third-floor chamber.

The ambient light in the room flickered as the barrier solidified, instantly enacting the absolute Authority of Silence.

The atmospheric pressure inside shifted, effectively severing the room from the outside world.

No sound, no physical vibration, and no mana trace could now leak out—nor could any high-tier spatial or auditory spell eavesdrop on whatever was spoken within.

Austin felt the sudden, crushing weight of the spiritual barrier settle over his skin.

His eyes narrowed as he locked gazes with the golden-haired heiress, realizing that this meeting was about to be far more than a simple trade negotiation.