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Chapter 28
“Duke, would you like some more black tea?”
At Silvestan’s question, Herald shook his head slightly.
Seeing Herald’s fierce expression, which showed no sign of softening, Silvestan anxiously glanced toward the door.
‘When is Lennon coming…?’
Lennon had gone to check the start time of the meeting.
The meeting was supposed to start yesterday morning, but it had been postponed to today due to one person’s absence.
Herald, already annoyed by this, had been in a bad mood since yesterday.
He felt that wasting time in a place like this was unacceptable.
Just after the apology and a brief reconciliation, another problem appeared immediately.
Because of this meeting, Herald had no time to make excuses and had to leave the mansion.
As a result, when he arrived in the capital, his presence was sharper and more tense than usual.
The people directly affected by this were Silvestan and Lennon, who had come to assist him.
They were extremely careful, not wanting to provoke Herald’s temper.
Feeling the heavy air around him, Silvestan closed his eyes tightly and prayed silently.
Hoping Lennon would enter this room right now with good news.
Perhaps his prayer was answered.
Not long after, the door opened, and Lennon came in.
“Duke, the meeting will start in twenty minutes.”
He brought very good news.
As soon as Lennon finished speaking, Herald stood up abruptly.
“Let’s go.”
Then, with his cloak flowing behind him, he left the room first.
Silvestan and Lennon exchanged glances.
They knew exactly what the other was thinking without saying a word.
Quickly, they followed Herald, who had already disappeared from sight.
“Everyone, please be quiet!”
The voice of Marquis Falcon, who was leading the meeting, gradually quieted the murmuring nobles.
“In this meeting, no one may use their social influence or personal power. You must promise to always respect others and abandon selfish thoughts. Now, everyone, raise your hands and swear before the World Tree.”
As soon as Falcon finished speaking, the nobles attending the meeting stood up and held out their palms toward something.
Inside a glass case, there was a single golden branch.
After a short recital of the oath, everyone sat down, and the meeting began.
“Recently, monsters in the western region have been unusually active. They are invading living areas more frequently, and entirely new species have been discovered.”
“I heard they recently climbed the border wall. If there had been no protective barrier inside, they would have attacked nearby villages.”
The western nobles opened the discussion.
Then the eastern nobles immediately interrupted, pleading their own case.
“But the west has walls. In the east, we have no way to stop the monsters.”
“Exactly! And in the east, the only ability guardian family is the Cliens. If the number of invading monsters increases, the east will be finished.”
But no one seemed to listen to them.
The northern nobles stood up and began to speak loudly.
“The west and east are close to the capital, so they can be dealt with quickly. But the north is different! Mountains, rough roads… It takes a long time for troops to arrive. We must increase the garrison…”
“If we increase it further, the budget will double. The northern region already costs more to maintain than other areas. How do you plan to handle that?”
“So! Are you just going to watch the northern people suffer?”
“Not at all! Increasing the garrison alone isn’t the solution!”
In the meeting hall, where fists were banging and voices were raised, Herald sat calmly and elegantly, expressionless.
Meetings usually started quietly but grew loud halfway through.
Today was no exception.
As the southern representative, Herald rarely spoke unless necessary.
Being from a guardian family and knowing that speaking too much wouldn’t improve the atmosphere, he chose silence.
Also, monsters rarely attacked the southern region, so the southern nobles usually remained quiet.
“Oh, still not finished? I thought it would be done by now.”
A man with long silver hair loosely tied sat next to the empty seat of Herald, muttering.
“Then why did you come in?”
Herald didn’t even look at him, just moved his lips.
“My father insisted I come. If he’s going to order me around from behind, why even bother giving me a title?”
The man, removing rings from his hands one by one, grumbled.
Herald looked at his dazzling rings disdainfully and then turned away.
Benjamin Wibbeset.
About three months ago, he had inherited the marquis title and became head of the Wibbeset family.
He and Herald had known each other since childhood. Herald treated him just as a long-time acquaintance, but Benjamin stubbornly called them friends.
Since the Wibbeset family was in the south with Erayton, they had to maintain close relations.
“By the way… congratulations on becoming a dad, though late?”
“……”
“Huh? Why the bad expression? Your duchess has returned, and you even have an heir… doesn’t look very happy, does it?”
“Is that something to be happy about?”
Herald muttered, a shadow crossing his face.
Benjamin, sensing his friend’s mood, rested his chin on his hand and studied him.
Herald was good at hiding emotions, but Benjamin could easily tell he was deep in worry.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing in particular.”
“Ah… why so lukewarm? Well, better than when the duchess left, I guess.”
Benjamin tried to pry, but Herald frowned.
“Oh, I spoke without thinking. Sorry.”
Benjamin apologized, but his tone and expression showed he wasn’t really sorry.
Herald clicked his tongue in annoyance and closed his eyes.
Seeing that reaction, Benjamin shrugged.
He kept teasing Herald, but Herald stayed completely unresponsive.
Right now was no time for such distractions.
Herald was deeply troubled after hearing Chloe’s words. He hadn’t realized his inconsiderate attitude would anger Adeline so much.
When the child appeared, he went to Adeline’s room to apologize, but the door wouldn’t open.
It was as if she didn’t want to see him; even the maids told him to leave.
He never expected that she would even refuse an apology… And what was this about the Countess Portnum?
A woman he barely knew, whose face he couldn’t even remember.
‘Since Adeline refuses to see me, I’ll have to ask the kid for help… I’ll ask as soon as I see them. She seems to like money, so I can persuade her that way.’
Still, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
His relationship with Adeline was at its worst now. At the start of their marriage, it wasn’t this bad.
‘Of course… back then, Adeline had no feelings for me.’
Even being ignored would have been better, but her cold gaze made his heart sink.
“So, why are you in such a bad mood today? Tell me.”
“You’re part of the reason, so shut up.”
“Ah, come on! Did you act like a child and get scolded by the duchess again?”
If that were the case, he wouldn’t be this worried.
“You need to fix that temper. You throw a fit and say whatever you want if things don’t go your way. You know that’s the part women hate most, right?”
“Just stop at that, and keep your mouth shut. Unless you want me to shove this in your tongue.”
“……”
Uh-oh, went too far?
Seeing the veins on Herald’s hand standing out as he held his pen, Benjamin quickly closed his mouth.
If he kept teasing, he’d see that wasn’t a threat.
As Benjamin calmed his racing heart, the doors of the meeting hall slowly opened.
