The Villain's Retirement-Chapter 47: Don’t leave (2)

"I suppose this is the first time we are meeting. I have heard a lot of praises about you from my wife." The duke said. "She had said you were quiet, hard-working and an exemplary noble and was one of her best students in the academy."

Elara remained silent, her head down. Then opened her mouth, her eyes dead.

"That me is gone." Elara said. "Now, I am no more than the daughter of a traitor and now a fugitive as well."

"Where is your father?" the Duke then asked, his voice even but commanding.

When no answer came, he continued, sharper this time. "What were your intentions in ambushing this carriage?"

Still, Elara remained silent. With a subtle gesture, the Duke finally called his knights forward. They moved swiftly, surrounding her, lifting her to her feet, and securing her in chains.

"We have many questions for you, Elara Mur," the Duke said, his eyes fixed on her, before moving onto the injured assassins who were now also chained and taken by the soldiers.

At that moment, Gary had already sheathed his rapier with a practiced flourish and strolled over to Ard. And for some reason, there was a mischievous grin playing across his face.

"Wow, brother!" he said, hands on his hips, exhaling, before shaking his head exaggeratedly. "You almost killed me back there! I mean, seriously, how strong are you? I’ve faced some crazy people before, but that? That was... insane!"

Gary smiled as he could still feel the strain on his left arm. ’I could tell that wasn’t even close to his full strength...Ridiculous.’ Gary shook his head.

"Why... are you smiling?"

In truth, Ard had really intended to kill him just then, or take his arm.

Gary laughed at his question.

He had considered himself strong for a long time and believed he would only grow stronger with time. Even the Duke of Jian, hailed as currently the most formidable knight in the Duchy and one of the kingdom’s most powerful warriors, had started as a mediocre student of sword and magic. Yet through years of relentless training, Reynard had climbed to the top by his thirties.

And now, standing before him, Gary could sense that Ard—this young man, barely his age—might surpass or might have already surpassed even the Duke himself.

Before Gary could respond, the Duke of Jian approached. He stopped before Ard with a warm, almost approving smile touched his lips.

"Can you still move?" he asked evenly, his voice calm, but carrying that unmistakable weight of command.

Looking at the Duke, Faller, and the other knights, Gary let out a dramatic groan, rubbing his left arm exaggeratedly. "Move? Hah, I guess I could... if I felt like it," he said with a crooked grin. "But you guys sure took your time, I almost died."

"Well, we also had to take care of others on the way." The Duke said.

"There are more of them. Phew." Gary exhaled, "I wonder what nation it was this time."

The Duke commented. "Well, we can’t tell yet. But we are fairly certain it isn’t a nation. This is a force within the Kingdom and is far more serious than you think."

Gary heard and went silent.

Then he looked at Ard who appeared clueless, causing him to grin.

Seeing that Gary was acting surprisingly friendly towards the man who had literally tried killing him, Reynard raised an eyebrow, amused, though his warm smile never wavered.

Then—

"You must be very confused." Reynard said, "For now, why don’t we move somewhere more private?"

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The mansion was unusually lively despite the late hour. Near the servants’ quarters, maids lingered by the lantern-lit path, whispering excitedly as they folded freshly laundered garments.

"I’m telling you, Miss Clara," Abby whispered fervently, hands clasped, "Lord Ard is unfairly handsome."

Claire nodded far too quickly. "His eyes alone should be illegal. My brain even stops thinking once he looks at me—"

"Like he doesn’t even know what he’s doing to people," one sighed dreamily. "Do you think he’ll need help changing again tonight?"

Abby blushed. "I—I hope so... but also, I hope he didn’t bring a lady back from the banquet."

The two maids, an older woman, and a girl in her teens, who was also preparing the food with them exchanged glances and laughed. Then, Abby and Claire’s eyes flicked toward the young boy seated nearby, legs swinging as he munched on a pastry.

"Zayn," Abby asked sweetly, crouching down, "did Lord Ard go out with anyone tonight?"

Zayn blinked. Then grinned. He already knew their hearts will get broken.

"Oh! Yeah. He left with a really beautiful lady after the dance."

The color drained from both maids’ faces.

"...B-beautiful?" The teenager maid, Lina, who was busy helping their chief maid then echoed faintly. Looking at her two older sisters, their expressions were nearly as pale—as if their souls had temporarily fled.

Hearing Lina, Zayn then confirmed.

"Yes, that older sister is probably one of the most beautiful ladies at the dance, but...for some reason, everyone was looking at her weirdly."

"Oh," Lina said, curiosity overtaking her shock. "She must have been really pretty, then! What else happened?"

"Well," Zayn continued, "I got to meet some of the other kids there. Lucky for me, they were friendly enough. There were the daughter of a knight and the son of a really gentle noble. There were also some people who were just angry for some reason."

The two maids had then recovered. They were both fully aware of the customs during dances, so they were quite curious. The thought of what had transpired clearly intrigued them.

"...Why Zayn?" Claire asked sharply. "Why did Lord Ard pick her? Was it... just because she was pretty?"

Zayn answered immediately.

"Oh, that was actually an issue. Because unlike the other girls, that older sister was the one who asked Ard herself to dance. Almost all of the girls were so pissed."

The revelation left everyone present gaping. Abby and Claire exchanged a look, irritation flashing across their faces—they already disliked this woman.

"So... what happened then?" Lina pressed, eyes wide with anticipation, leaving the older maid, to work alone. But Clara, the older maid, just sighed.

"They danced," Zayn replied casually. "For three whole pieces, they didn’t switch partners once."

The maid duo fumed with jealously. They were currently imagining dancing themselves, and of court, it was in their Lord Ard’s embrace. How unfair!

Abby then screamed, realizing something.

Then Abby’s expression froze as realization struck. Her voice cracked as she exclaimed, "Wait... you said they left after the dance. Does that mean... Lord Ard likes her too?"

While they were speaking, the gate was opened by the guards and the sound of wheels rolling over stone echoed through the gates. The place that the Duke had chosen to speak was Ard’s mansion.

"Lord Ard must have returned." Lina said, then teased her older sisters as they now went towards the door to greet him, "He must be with her."

However, to their surprise, the identities of the people who came out of the carriage was unexpected.