Lord of Caldera

"Any longer, and I would have been forced to leave. So, I had to come up with a plan to get you here," he explained.

Hearing this, Ray frowned. As expected, her family had concealed information about Sylas's party, even from her. If she'd known, she would have disregarded all consequences and come running. Ray lowered her head apologetically.

"Please forgive my family's disrespect."

"Forget it. What your family did and what you did are two separate things. And from what I can tell, you don't seem particularly close to them, either."

It was clear enough: Ray wanted to go to her lord, while her family wanted to keep her for their own advantage. They weren't on the best of terms. Ray's silence confirmed Sylas's impression.

"But what do you intend to do now?" Toby asked as he sipped cold water to shake off his "drunkenness."

"It seems like your mother is being kept almost as a hostage, which means you can't exactly come with us."

"I'm coming," Ray said firmly.

"What? Are you sure?" Toby blinked at her resolute answer. Ray nodded, unfazed.

"I don't know much about politics, but I'm not a fool. If they mistreat my mother now, everyone will know it's because I've chosen to leave the family."

Her mother, whom she had nearly lost, had been saved only with the elixir's help. But if the Winslows showed disrespect to Ray's mother now, Ray would turn her back on the family without hesitation. And if, by any chance, her mother's health declined, she would raise her sword against the family itself.

"The only reason I've stayed with them this long was to avoid giving them any reason to resent me enough to turn against me."

No matter how skilled a knight may be, they're still just one person. She couldn't take on an entire noble family on her own, which is why she had remained. If she didn't make any overt moves, they'd have no reason to harm her mother.

"But now, that's no longer an issue."

"Why's that?" Toby asked.

"Because now they know she serves me," Sylas said, catching on.

"Ah!" Toby nodded, finally understanding. Sylas was a member of the highly respected Corleone family, one of the most well-regarded in the Empire. To insult Sylas's knight was to insult him, and by extension, the entire Corleone family. No sane baron would risk provoking the Corleones.

"If it was only Ray's word, they might doubt it. But with him here in person, there's no room for suspicion," Toby thought.

Thus, if Ray left, the baron would have no choice but to take care of Ray's mother—unless he wanted to become the Corleone family's mortal enemy.

"Perfect. Then we can leave now," Toby said with a smile.

"No, not yet," Sylas countered.

"What? Why not?"

"The situation here is too strange."

Sylas couldn't shake his suspicions: the Western nobility's destruction by elves in his previous life, the elven magical artifacts Beric had, and Leon's vast supply of enchanted items. There were too many troubling factors.

"It would be easy to take Ray and leave now, but if we do, the five families here may vanish like before."

Sylas wanted to prevent that catastrophe. Even to keep that despicable emperor in check, the Western territories needed to remain intact. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

"The baron is bound to call me in tomorrow. I'll gather some information then."

His primary objective was achieved, and with the upper hand, there was no reason to rush.

The next morning, as expected, the baron summoned Sylas. With a deeply displeased expression, he glared at Sylas. The entire scheme to keep Sylas from meeting Ray had fallen apart because of Toby's "antics."

"It's not over yet," the baron thought. "Even if it was drunken foolishness, it's still an offense. I can use this to demand Ray's compensation!"

It was a stretch, an excessive demand, but a noble's prerogative was to defend honor, even with unreasonable claims. He had to try; letting Ray go now would end all his plans.

"Sir Sylas, last night—!"

"Forgive me, my lord! I can't express how regretful I am that my retainer behaved so disgracefully under the influence. I'm at a complete loss for words!" Sylas interrupted before the baron could continue. The baron frowned at the apology, but at least Sylas was taking responsibility.

"Fine! Then, as compensation—"

"It's all due to my own lack of virtue. I'm ashamed to have received such hospitality from you, only to bring such shame upon your household!"

"Enough! As I was saying, for compensation—"

"We shall leave at once! I will take my retainers and depart immediately!" Sylas declared, leaving the baron speechless.

"Toby, Max, and Ray are all present. Why would we stay any longer? We'll depart at once with everyone."

"Wait! Just a moment, please!" the baron called out desperately, trying to stop Sylas, who had risen abruptly to leave. But Sylas continued to make a show of pushing his way out.@@novelbin@@

"No, my lord! After my retainer's blunder yesterday, I have no face to show you!" Sylas insisted.

"Couldn't we settle this with some other compensation?" the baron suggested.

"What other compensation is there but to leave? I will take Ray and depart immediately!"

"...!" The baron's eyebrow twitched in frustration as Sylas's words poured out like a waterfall. He finally understood Sylas's tactic.

"This brat plans to keep insisting on leaving until I'm forced to forgive him!"

If the baron demanded compensation, Sylas would insist on leaving with Ray under the pretense of an apology. But if he forgave Sylas, then Sylas could walk away without offering any compensation. It was a maddening ploy, but there was no way to counter it—especially when Sylas left no room to interject.

"Fine, then. I'll leave at once!" Sylas declared.

"Wait! I forgive you!" the baron shouted, defeated.

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that?" Sylas replied, feigning confusion.

"I forgive you! It's understandable; these things happen with guests. Please, stay," the baron forced out with a strained smile.