Lord of Caldera

"When they play dirty, we'll just have to play dirty right back."

"What's the plan this time?" Toby asked, curiosity piqued.

"Well…" Sylas leaned in and whispered his scheme into Toby's ear. Toby blinked as he listened.

"You always come up with the wildest ideas."

"So, can you handle it?"

"Of course. I've had enough of their antics, anyway."

Toby smirked, eager to give them a taste of their own medicine, even if it meant drawing a little ire.

"Hey! Is anyone out there?" Toby bellowed as soon as night fell. The servant, who had been instructed to attend to anything they wanted short of arranging a meeting with Ray, came hurrying in.

"Yes, sir! What do you need?"

"Got any wine? Something strong, if possible."

"Strong wine? We have some from the Arse region…"

"Bring it here. I'm in the mood for something strong tonight."

"Understood."

The servant quickly returned with the wine. Toby was known to have a drink before bed now and then, so no one suspected anything unusual. But tonight was different. After finishing the first bottle, Toby requested even stronger spirits.

"One more bottle!"

"Yes, right away."

"And another!"

"Ah… of course, sir…"

"One more!"

"Uh… coming!"

Toby kept drinking, or so it seemed. As soon as he felt a light buzz, he began discreetly pouring the wine out of the window. But he didn't stop ordering more strong wine.

"That should do it," he thought, looking at the empty bottles scattered around. Even for someone with a high tolerance, it was enough to get thoroughly drunk. With a flushed face, Toby staggered out of his room.

"Ugh… I'm so drunk!"

"Sir Toby!?" A servant nearby was startled at the sight of Toby swaying dramatically. A drunk knight could spell trouble, but Toby merely swayed back and forth without picking any fights.

"Ugh… I need to find the restroom… Where is it again?"

"It's that way, sir."

"Got it!"

Toby staggered toward the area he had often been blocked from approaching: the center of the estate. The servants scrambled to intercept him, but Toby brushed them aside.

"Uh… sir, you can't go there!"

"What?! Are you saying I can't go to the restroom?!"

"N-no, it's just that the restroom is not in that direction…"

"Quiet! I said I'm going, and I'm going!"

Toby pushed past the servants, who dared not oppose him too strongly for fear of getting hurt by the drunk knight. As he continued forward, two knights stepped in his path, faces set with irritation.

"Sir Toby! This area is off-limits!"

"A knight should not act so disgracefully!"

Seeing the knights, Toby's eyes gleamed. This must mean I'm close to where Ray is. He staggered, mumbling as if he were too intoxicated to understand.

"Ugh… I can't… hear what you're saying…"

"Get some rest, you drunken fool!"

"Rest? But… oh, no! I'm slipping!"

"Wait! That's a window—!"

The knights lunged to stop him, but Toby was faster, deliberately crashing his shoulder through the window.

Crash!

"Ahh!" Screams rang out as glass shattered. Toby, who had calculated his fall from the second-floor window, landed gracefully below. He hadn't drunk nearly as much as he pretended.

"Ugh! I feel so alive! I must sing a song!" Toby shouted, his voice booming across the estate.

"Sir Toby, what on earth are you doing?!"

"I am Toby! And my lord is Sylas Corleone!"

His powerful voice echoed across the estate, loud enough to wake anyone. It was the same voice that had once rallied dazed soldiers on the battlefield—no one within earshot could ignore it.

"RAY WINSLOW! Where are you?! Your lord, Sylas Corleone, is here for you with an elixir in hand!"

"Someone shut him up!" the knights shouted in desperation. A group of them rushed in to cover his mouth, but he easily pushed them away and continued to bellow.

"Ray! Ray! Where are you? We've come for you! The Corleone family is here!"

"Damn it! Quiet, would you?!" Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

The knights were breaking into a cold sweat as they struggled to contain him. Toby remembered Sylas's advice.

"Do you know the easiest way to be forgiven for even the rudest behavior?"

"There's such an easy way?"

"Yep. Just say, 'I'm terribly sorry. I was far too drunk.' That's all it takes."

Normally, such behavior would be unforgivable. Deliberately disrespecting one's host was a severe offense, but if it could be dismissed as drunken folly? No noble could outright refuse an apology, especially for the sake of appearances.

Toby chuckled to himself. Sylas's cleverness never ceased to amaze him. Using petty tactics to counter their petty schemes was immensely satisfying. Toby took a deep breath and bellowed again.

"Sylas Corleone! I am TOBY! Where is RAY?!"

"We've got him! Muffle his mouth!"

"Good, tie him up!"

"Damn it, what a nasty drinking habit!"

Knights swarmed in, hastily binding Toby with ropes, their movements swift and practiced from frequent encounters with monsters. But it was already too late.

"My lady, you mustn't go there! Lord Caden insisted…""Silence! Sir Toby, I am here!"

The knights' faces turned pale as Ray's voice rang out. Toby's smile widened.

Once Ray had broken through, no one could stop her. She joined Toby and made her way directly to Sylas's room. Upon seeing him, Ray's face lit up, and she knelt on one knee.@@novelbin@@

"Ray Winslow greets her lord."

"It's been a while. Did you use the elixir well?"

"Yes, just as you commanded."

The shadow that had clouded Ray's face for so long had lifted, and Sylas smiled, satisfied with her renewed spirit.

"Good. I'm glad I gave it to you."

"My mother wished to meet you as well, but…"

"She's still not well, right? There's no need for her to push herself."

Now that he had reunited with Ray, time was on their side. It would be better to wait until her mother's health improved before arranging a meeting.

"But how did you end up coming all this way, my lord?" Ray asked.

"It's a bit of a long story."

Sylas explained his journey to the West with Toby and Max as knight-errants, his encounter with Beric, and eventually, the Winslow family's invitation. He told her about the various excuses they'd used to prevent him from seeing her.