Chapter 372 Chapter 167 The Marquis’s Request
Even though today was the family assessment for Landislofen, Eggesti, the clan leader, was not present in the castle. Instead, he was in the Marquis’s Lord’s Mansion Office in Lorinc.
The Marquis was still dressed in black, but instead of handling official duties or summoning his staff, he stood alone in his study with his hands behind his back.
Before the Marquis, a long table was laid out, falling into the Marquis’s sharp, shimmering grey-brown eyes.
If one looked closely, they would see that the long table held an extremely precise map of the city’s defenses, encompassing the entire city of Lorinc and its surrounding areas for over ten miles. Even every street and building was depicted with great accuracy.
However, the Marquis’s attention was clearly not on the city’s layout, but on the areas on the parchment that were heavily colored with elemental particles. Among them, a dark black color seemed to be hidden in the shadows, but it was highlighted with a conspicuous golden hue.
Marquis Mays tapped his fingers on the table with a slight rhythm, his grey-brown eyes closing as if he were deep in thought.
However, this period of contemplation did not last long. Outside the closed study door, a knock made the Marquis lift his head again.
Immediately after, the respectful voice of an attendant from the mansion echoed, “My Lord Marquis, a young lady is here to see you.”
“A young lady?”
Marquis Mays waved his hand, tidying up the map on the table, and then murmured. Given Marquis Mays’s status, very few people in the entire Lorinc could disturb him at will, yet the attendant still reported it to him.
Marquis Mays already had an idea of the visitor’s identity. However, he still asked, “What is this young lady’s name?”
“She claims her name is Verafia.”
—
In the reception hall, adorned with red silk carpets and luxurious carved wood decorations, a crystal lamp hung high above the white domed ceiling, casting a luxurious glow onto the stained-glass floor.
The wide seats were covered in soft leather. Verafia leaned back slightly, her slender body gently resting against the chair, and contentedly ate the snacks served by a maid. The girl then picked up the fine white porcelain cup with silver trim and took a big sip of the sweet red tea.
“Wow. The snacks here are really good. As expected of a Marquis who is human…”
The girl extended her slender hand to wipe her red lips. Her exquisite face lifted, and her originally round, bright, scorching golden eyes curved into a gentle crescent moon, indicating she was in quite a good mood.
After arriving at the Lord’s Manor, although she had stated her purpose, Verafia was temporarily invited to the reception hall and asked to wait.
Of course, there was nothing to complain about.
After all, Eggesti was no longer the penniless youth of the past. He had already transcended and achieved sainthood and held the high position of Marquis. How could he be easily met with just a word from her?
Verafia even thought that she was being treated so politely perhaps because her appearance did not look like that of an ordinary commoner… Well, perhaps, by staying with Igter, these people had also heard her name?
“If Miss Verafia likes them, you can just instruct the attendants in the castle.”
Marquis Mays’s voice came from a distance, carrying a faint smile. Verafia looked up. The Marquis, dressed in a black robe, had a smile on his face, and his grey-brown eyes were looking at her.
“Ah. Eggesti, you’ve finally arrived… I’ve been waiting for a long time.”
The girl’s crisp voice rang out in the air of the hall. Verafia suddenly jumped off her chair and landed on the red silk carpet. Her light steps carried her onto the golden glass-like floor outside the carpet, making a crisp “tata” sound, like playing piano keys.
“Because I didn’t know Miss Vera would be coming, I didn’t arrange for the attendants to prepare anything. So, please don’t blame them, Miss Verafia.”
A faint smile flowed across the Marquis’s face.
Marquis Mays saw that Verafia had already walked up to him. He then raised her small head, and her hair, like golden silk, slid down slightly. The exquisitely white and delicate face, like fine porcelain, came into his view.
The girl’s gorgeous golden eyes seemed to hold a look of curiosity.
“However, Miss Vera, you wouldn’t have specifically come just for these small snacks, would you? Is there something special you need, Miss Vera?”
Marquis Mays smiled slightly and then asked straightforwardly.
Given her relationship with Igter, Verafia could easily find him in the castle, but she had specifically come to this Lord’s Manor, which clearly indicated something.
“About that. Hmm, I’m just curious about what you’re doing today, Eggesti?”
The girl raised her small face and said very seriously. She looked at the Marquis before her, then counted on her jade-like slender fingers, “You know, today is your family’s assessment day. But you don’t seem to take it very seriously. You don’t seem worried about that guy, Igter, at all?”
“Miss Vera, you jest. With your intelligence, you should know that this so-called assessment is actually insignificant to Igter and me.”
Marquis Mays offered a smile. He stood with his hands behind his back and said,
“No matter what Yagmein and that group from the clan council are plotting, as long as I can stand here, Igter’s position will never be shaken. Even if Igter is still Bronze and can hardly pass the most basic trials, do those people really dare to mention stripping him of his family status in front of me?”
Verafia’s big eyes shifted slightly, blinking under her long eyelashes. She wanted to stick out her delicate tongue slightly in front of the Marquis.
Well, she had to admit that power and influence could easily change a person’s mindset. How could she not know that the Eggesti of the past could exhibit such an imposing presence without anger?
Speaking of which, what would Igter be like if he reached his full potential?
A thought flitted through Verafia’s mind.
However, she still raised her small head and replied, “Is that so?”
“I told Igter something like this half a year ago. It’s just that this kid has his own convictions… It’s the same this time. Igter already talked to me a few days ago. Since he has made his decision, I naturally have nothing to worry about.”
Marquis Mays’s gaze fell on the girl’s cheek beside him, and he suddenly smiled again, “Besides, aren’t you also letting this kid go there by himself, Miss Verafia?”
“Ah, this…”
Seeing the girl’s somewhat hesitant expression, Marquis Mays waved his hand and said with a smile, “Miss Vera, you are Igter’s friend, so don’t be a stranger. If you need anything, just tell me directly.”
Verafia hesitated for a while before raising her head, “Okay, you said it yourself… I won’t be polite then.”
Her soft voice paused, and the girl placed her delicate, jade-like tender little hand in front of the Marquis, raising her big eyes to look at him and speaking directly:
“Eggesti, I want the crimson flame flower you’ve hidden.”
