LBC Chapter 7: The turning point (Patreon)

In an odd few minutes, we took twists and turns and arrived at a balcony. A dead-end in other words. Elysia touched the balcony, and it slid down into the ground. A narrow white beam extended from the foot of the balcony, stretching over the deadly fall of fifty-plus feet.

Elysia looked back at me with a smile before she walked on the narrow beam. Halfway through her fearless stroll, she vanished. I blinked my eyes. Did Portals exist in this world? With inconceivable magic and Seelie, creating miraculous teleports wouldn’t be that far-fetched of a fantasy.

The beam was at a height similar to the 4th floor. I dared not look down and walked past the ‘barrier’. Fog obscured my vision.

“Lord!” Elysia’s high-spirited voice cleared the fog. “Welcome.”

Elysia stood in front of an ancient tower which was wrapped in writhing vines. The name of the Shattered Tower most likely came from its broken-down spire. The grim atmosphere around the tower made it a perfect secret hideout for a villain.

Had Elysia lured me into a trap?

“This is the Shattered Tower, Lord. Duke Alf used it for conducting private affairs.”

“Private affairs?”

Duke Alf was a man of straightforward nature. These private affairs probably meant training or researching on the Seelie.

Elysia leaned into me as her breath caressed my ear. “The type of affairs only adults can have.”

Duke fucked his mistresses here?

“A-Adults?” I kept up my naïve boy act. “What do adults do?”

She ruffled my hair with a wide grin. “You’ll know soon.”

This woman was down bad. Either she had a thing for teasing younger boys or she was interested in me. I was profiting in both scenarios for having an easier time in bringing her to my side.

I followed her through a small arch doorway then a set of spiral stairs. We arrived at a wide chamber, which seemed larger than the tower itself. The place was silent even though several maids stood with their backs turned. So many women and zero gossip. As expected of the palace maids, they were a competent bunch.

Elysia cleared her throat to make the maids aware of our presence. “Where is Sir Lionel?”

The maids turned towards us. Some seemed delighted to see me, some remained impassive, then some sent me… flying kisses.

“Lord.” “Master.” “Master Enwyld.”

I didn’t need to act embarrassed now as my cheeks were genuinely red. This might be the closest one could get to paradise in the mortal world.

Fortunately, Lionel arrived to save me from more embarrassment.

“Enwyld.” He approached me with a friendly smile and threw his arm around my shoulder and messed up my hair. “Come, sit. We have something important for you.”

I was led to one of the two chairs, both of which were placed on either side of a desk.

Lionel cleared his throat. “Enwyld, you must be confused by the ‘real training’ mentioned in the letter.”

I nodded cluelessly despite having a rough idea about this so-called real training.

“The Duchess and her love,” Lionel grumbled under his breath and assumed a solemn expression. “My boy, the trip to the Capital you chose will put you in numerous dangers. There are nobles who covet this duchy as a gold mine. Nobles who envy your position and will make sure you don’t walk away in a state to rule. Nobles who want to simply crush you as the last hope of Agarvan Bloodline, then a few odd ones who would sell their family daughters to secure a position within your family.”

I grimaced. “That’s… scary.”

“Scary? I haven’t even scratched the surface of the dangers you will face.” Lionel chuckled. “Do you still want to leave your ‘nest’ and venture into the wild land of the Capital?”

Lionel brought down the room’s atmosphere with one question. All the maids became serious, even those who never showed a hint of seriousness before. Elysia, on the other hand, never took her eye off me as she stood there with her hands on her lap. The former mercenary took an astute interest in my wellbeing.

Well, everyone here realized the implications of Lionel’s question. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this was a turning point in my life.

Declining the trip will lead to a sheltered life under the protection of the Duchess and her vassals.

Accepting the trip will open up a path for me to break out of these shackles.

Enwyld and I, we both desperately wanted to break out of the shackles placed around our necks. Though, his shackles were imposed by his mother while I self-imposed the shackles to avoid suspicion.

I looked Lionel straight into his fiery red eyes. “I can’t cower in this nest all my life. Father was a hero… a champion. Helen is a hero… almost as great as Father… I… I can’t be a disappointment to the Agarvan Bloodline.”

My bold act sent ripples of silence through the crowd. Lionel hung his head, making his expression unreadable. Elysia’s lips twitched as though she was holding back a smile.

Oh boy, these people must be over the roof.

Duke Enwyld Agarvan had declared his will for freedom, which went against his naive and submissive nature! The reason for his emotional growth—inferiority complex.

What a brilliant idea by yours truly.

Lionel’s shoulders shook as he broke into a roar of laughter. “Good one. I knew Alf’s son would inherit his courage. It was only a matter of time when it came to light.”

Lionel and Duke Alf shared a long friendship, which started from their mutual interest in hunting all types of mythical creatures. This friendship had led Lionel to decline the Lord Commander position in the Capital and join our Duchy as a mere knight commander. This friendship kept this powerful man in this Duchy. Of course, he would naturally want his friend’s son to be like him.

“Can we start the training?” I asked, impatiently.

“Yes, of course. But first.” Lionel got up and gestured towards the maids. “Which maid do you like the most?”

This question couldn’t be random. Not when many maids assumed elegant, seductive, and many poses to show off. Elysia had zero interest in competing with the rest. Her calm smile perfectly exuded the confidence of a S-Rank mercenary. Without Shion in the crowd, she was an easy pick.

Just as I opened my mouth, the door creaked open, announcing the arrival of a new contender.