Chapter 35

# Chapter 35: <Silent>

A bright smile spread across Rosalyn's lips.

"I heard the merchant was known as a rascal, but that doesn't seem to be the case."

Kael thought it was as expected when he saw her speak so casually. It was difficult for the average people in the mansion to know the appearance of the princess from the neighboring Breck Kingdom. But it was different for the nobles.

It was hard to gather information on a fallen noble, but for a viscount, it was basic to have information on the royal family and major nobles of neighboring countries. Being a noble wasn't an easy position.

Kael replied to Rosalyn's words.

"It's true that I'm known as a rascal. But don't magicians judge by their senses?"

"You're right, Lord Kael. We only believe what we have gathered."

Kael thought her way of speaking was subtle. As a princess, she spoke casually, but when she referred to 'us,' it was respectful, indicating her strong sense of identity as a magician.

"Then, Your Highness."

"Rosalyn."

She seemed to dislike being treated as a princess.

"Alright. Miss Rosalyn. Are you done with your questions?"

"Yes, I'm done."

She smiled and said.

"Lord Kael, you don't seem to want to get involved with me, do you?"

Even knowing she was a princess, he had simply told her to stay and leave as she pleased. Of course, he wasn't annoyed or unhappy. If she had wanted special treatment, she would have revealed her full name and identity. She didn't want that. Besides, Kael was grateful to her. She was the one who told him about Lac.

"Perhaps. I just thought you didn't want it."

A lie. Rosalyn thought Kael's words were just a good excuse.

A human who lived with a dragon, known as a rascal, but in reality, not so much. If he had wanted, he could have taken action regarding the appearance of the Breck Kingdom princess in this country.

She thanked Kael, who seemed to know nothing.

"It seems you didn't contact the Lowen royal family. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Shouldn't such things be done according to one's own will?"

Kael thought that if he contacted them, the crown prince would likely storm into the mansion, thinking he had found a good prey.

"You're right, Lord Kael. I don't want it. If the royal family brings up this matter later, please tell them I said no. I'll send a letter or something."

"Understood."

"Thank you for letting me stay here. I'll handle my own affairs and won't cause any trouble."

Not causing any trouble. Kael lightly nodded at Rosalyn's answer.

"You're welcome."

"You're welcome. It's only natural."

With a light response, Rosalyn continued her meal. Kael and Rosalyn no longer needed further conversation. However, Rosalyn glanced at the dragon.

As a magician, she couldn't help but keep looking at the dragon. The black dragon, who had stopped eating the homemade sausages and turned to look at Rosalyn, said indifferently.

"Eat yours. These are mine."

The black dragon hugged the plate of homemade sausages. Kael was leisurely piling other dishes on his plate. The black dragon was gradually getting hooked on the taste of raw meat and other steaks, as well as the other dishes.

Rosalyn glanced at Kael, who subtly showed four fingers to the black dragon. Four years old. Understanding the meaning, Rosalyn smiled and replied.

"Of course, Lord Dragon."

The black dragon started eating again, and Rosalyn and Kael continued their leisurely meal. It was a peaceful and relaxing time.

After that time, Kael was on a carriage heading to meet the young nobles of the northeastern region. The northeastern noble families were composed of about ten families.

Of course, if you included barons, minor barons, and fallen nobles, there were more people, but the main pillars were these ten families. Among them, the three Kael was meeting today were from families that had long been friendly with his family, the Hennitus Viscountcy.

"I'm worried."

That's why Kael was worried. Chae Han, who had accompanied him as his guard, asked cautiously.

"What is it, my lord? If you're deeply worried, please tell me, and I'll try to help."

"No, it's fine. You don't need to know."

After a vague answer, Kael fell back into his thoughts. Chae Han, seeing this, also fell into thought. It was the first time he had seen Kael so worried.

Kael was worried.

How should he act to appear like a rascal?

Chae Han and the black dragon had made him realize something significant. He pondered about the life of a rascal.

The young nobles of the northeastern region must have seen Kael's rascal-like behavior in the past and received reports of his many rascal-like incidents from the estate. Therefore, he needed to be more careful, or rather, more reckless.

"Hmm."

He looked down at his hands. Act like a dog? Among rascals, isn't a dog rascal a higher level of rascal? Just as Kael was deeply pondering this, the carriage stopped in front of a mansion.

The northeastern noble families were indeed close to each other, even in the capital.

"Welcome, Lord Kael Hennitus."

Kael glanced at the mansion over the old butler's shoulder as he greeted him at the main gate.

This was the mansion of the Whelsman Viscountcy. The Whelsman family owned an estate at the entrance of the northeastern region and could be described as a decent family, neither particularly wealthy nor militarily outstanding.

Therefore, in the northeastern gathering without any dukes, the Hennitus Viscountcy, also a viscount family, could form a close friendship with them. For the Hennitus family, which was secluded, it was beneficial to maintain a friendly relationship with the Whelsman family, the closest to the capital.

Kael thought of the heir of the Whelsman family.

'Eric Whelsman.'

Before coming to this mansion, the under-butler Hans had cautiously told Kael.

"Lord, it's good to be friendly with Lord Eric, but since other nobles are also here, perhaps you should avoid showing too much familiarity."

From this, Kael understood that Eric and he were quite close. However, according to the reports on the young nobles, Eric was described as diligent and somewhat meticulous, rather than a rascal.

"Lord, shall we go inside?"

"Sure."

Kael entered the Whelsman mansion, guided by the old butler.

Eric Whelsman. Besides him, there were two other young nobles, Gilbert Chet and Amir Ubar. Indeed, how should he act when he met them? Kael pondered this as he walked.

But ultimately, he didn't need to worry about it.

"Kael, you did listen to your brother, right?"

Kael had a strange expression. Eric Whelsman adjusted his glasses, which he had been wearing.

Kael was clearly seated at the formal dining table, but he was surrounded by the three nobles as if being interrogated.

'Strange.'

However, the atmosphere was more about soothing than interrogating. Eric Whelsman said.

"You must find it annoying, right?"

And the viscount's son Amir and the baron's son Gilbert agreed.

"That's right. Lord Kael, I heard you dislike formalities."

"Lord Kael, it's not wrong to find things annoying."

They treated him like a child being comforted. Kael responded.

"I do find it annoying."

"Exactly! So!"

Bang. Eric lightly tapped the table. It wasn't out of anger but more of a natural action while speaking.

He had been cute as a child but grew up to be a handsome rascal. Eric whispered to Kael.

"Don't speak, don't smile. Just be silent! If you stay silent, we'll handle everything. You hate formalities and prefer drinking, right?"

Kael responded with a strange expression.

"I'm good at being silent."

"Huh? You? Oh, right. You are. You're good at it."

Eric, who was meticulous and uneventful, had one significant worry. He wasn't timid, but he was a person full of contradictions.

Since yesterday, Eric had been worried about Kael, who had become his greatest concern. The other two nobles looked at Eric with supportive eyes.

"Other northeastern kids might bother you. Those who have aligned with the Sten Marquess or other dukes won't be pleased. But if you stay silent, we'll handle everything. How about it?"

This was Eric's biggest worry. Among the current ten major families, only these four had not aligned with any major noble. Those who had aligned with other major nobles would likely want to offer this northeastern gathering to their superiors.

They had to be careful and careful. And these four families needed to maintain a strong neutral stance. Therefore, the wealthy and influential Hennitus family should not cause any trouble within the northeastern region.

Eric, of course, and the other two carefully observed Kael's reaction.

"That would be good."

A soft smile spread across Kael's lips along with his positive response. Eric thought, as expected, he still showed his good side from childhood when he didn't drink, and continued.

"We'll also greet the crown prince together. You probably find that annoying and want to drink right away. But that might be difficult. After the greeting, we'll handle everything, everything!"

Kael's lips curled up. He found the atmosphere strange. He picked up the wine glass in front of him. He could see Lord Gilbert's shoulders slightly trembling.

Kael found this reaction strange. He was a rascal who caused trouble, but since they were on the same side, the result was ultimately protection. After rinsing his mouth with wine, he said.

"Sounds good?"

"Right?"

Eric smiled brightly, and his glasses glinted in the chandelier's light.

Kael decided to accept protection without doing anything. He found the situation very satisfying.

"Just go and sit silently, and that will be enough."

"Yes, sounds good."

It was a very good request. It was Kael's ideal utopia. He thought he had made the right decision to come to this gathering today. However, Eric, Gilbert, and Amir didn't let their guard down. Kael Hennitus had once thrown a wine bottle at a gathering of northeastern young nobles.

Especially this time, they needed to secure investments for the northeastern coast, which was part of Gilbert and Amir's territories, from the crown prince, so they carefully observed Kael.

"Indeed, the wine from the Hennitus estate is the best."

Kael knew about the investment in the northeastern coast of the two families from the report Hans had given him. It was information shared among the four families. However, he also knew that the investment was impossible.

'A war is about to break out in the southern part of the Western Continent. What investment? Unless it's the navy.'

The four nobles continued their meal, occasionally exchanging conversation. The three nobles were relieved and a bit less worried to see Kael finish the meal without causing any trouble.

It was a somewhat satisfying time for everyone.

* * *

After returning to the mansion, Kael rested for a while and prepared various things. When he heard that Chae Han had returned to the mansion, he called him.

"Lord Kael, did you call me?"

"The inn?"

"I went and came back. The children were fortunately very active."

Kael's expression turned grim as he thought of the ten active werewolf children. In contrast, Chae Han looked much more relaxed and cheerful.

"Then there's nothing else to do, right?"

"Yes, but?"

Kael nodded and stood up. Only then did Chae Han notice that Kael wasn't in his nightwear or his usual clothes, but in ordinary civilian attire.

"I'll be lying on the bed, so tell Hans not to stand by the door and to go to sleep. He'll leave without looking back."

Chae Han glanced outside the open terrace window. It was night. He asked.

"Are you going out?"

"Yeah."

Kael smiled and said.

"Leave the terrace window open like last time, so he can come to my room."

"Understood."

Chae Han's eyes changed. He remembered what Kael had said. Kael had promised to tell him how to find the magician who drank blood.

"Are you going alone with me, Lord Kael?"

Chae Han asked Kael with a serious face. The answer came from elsewhere.

"I'm going too."

The black dragon entered the room from the terrace window, dispelling the transparency spell. Chae Han looked at the black dragon and then back at Kael. Kael answered more leisurely than usual.

"We're all going."