The Duke was taken aback by Julian’s bold words. Where did he get the bone to scold him and tell him to fix the mess he made?

But then, he could not refuse Julian’s words for some reason. His tongue was tied. He began to actually question himself if it was right to leave the child be and be disgraced.

Julian let out a little huff and apologized. He knew he had overstepped, but he did not plan to take back his words.

"I apologize if I was rude, Your Grace, but I am merely thinking of the future of this child." He said. "Today, he is simply a young boy neglected and lost, but in the future, he will be the ruler of this Duchy. Do you wish for him not to know the meaning of being kind, loved, and respected? If so, then this Duchy will be in danger because then, your son will be no different from a tyrant."

The Duke narrowed his eyes and looked back at Lucius.

A tyrant? That little trembling thing?

It was hard to picture, but Julian’s words were not without reason.

The Duke sighed and finally decided to sit.

"I have heard your words, Teacher." He said and then turned to pick up Lucius, surprising the guests even more.

He was so light, lighter than a sword, the Duke thought.

Does he even eat?

He sat on his throne and sat Lucius on his thigh.

"It’s just to sit in peace, is it not?" He asked Julian. "I will do that but I cannot promise you warmth."

Julian bowed his head.

"That is enough, Your Grace."

Then, he looked at the affection level. There was already an addition of 5% after the quest completion but now there was an additional 2%.

>[Target: Duke Alaric — Affection: 9%]

>[Status: Pondering / Reluctantly Compliant]

The previous errors were gone, so this was the real affection level. It was small but something.

Then, he looked at young Lucius sitting stiffly on his father’s thigh. He could see the boy’s eyes swirling in confusion.

His affection was already quite high.

>[Target: Young Lord Lucius — Affection: 50%] 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

>[Status: Disbelief / Budding Hope]

Julian wondered if he didn’t get a special reward for reaching fifty percent affection level.

Well, it didn’t matter. He was just glad things were working out and that Lucius was having a happy birthday.

He closed his eyes, his lips curving into a little smile.

This was the joy of being able to help his student to such a satisfactory level.

Julian decided to lighten the mood a bit more. He already bought the expensive phoenix heart. It would be a waste not to use it.

He moved to step away, reaching for the Phoenix Hearthstone in his pocket. He intended to walk to the fireplace himself, but as he shifted, a heavy hand clamped onto his shoulder.

The grip was a clear message of, ’You aren’t going anywhere.’

He faltered and looked at the guard who had held him. Where did he even come from?

The Duke didn’t look at him, but he was the one who made the order. He opened his mouth and spoke, his voice was a low rumble.

"Stay where I can see you, Teacher. If you think to slip away into the night before the clock strikes twelve, you are mistaken." That was a threat, right?

Julian gulped, realizing he shouldn’t be relaxed yet since he was still inches away from entering the frying pan.

"I have no intention of fleeing, Your Grace," he said, pulling the glowing stone from his pocket. "But I do have one more present I would like to present to the Young Lord."

The Duke tilted his brow and looked at him, wondering what this ’present’ was.

Julian signaled to a nearby servant—the same one who had looked at Lucius with pity and Julian like he was out of his mind.

"Put this in the fireplace."

The servant hesitated, looking at the Duke. Duke Alaric gave a curt nod.

Whatever it was, it shouldn’t be a threat, he thought.

The servant carried the stone that felt no different from a normal stone one would pick up from the ground. He walked towards the massive fireplace and then tossed it in. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, the fire roared as if it were alive. Vibrant violets and deep golds erupted, swirling in a dance that defied the natural laws of fire.

A wave of heat rolled out, thick with the scent of sun-drenched lemons and warm earth—the nostalgia of the South, the scent of a home the Duke had tried to bury.

His eyes were wide in disbelief. What was going on? He thought.

The guests gasped as the warmth hit them, melting the literal frost on the windows and the metaphorical ice in their veins. The ballroom, once a tomb, was now bathed in a glow that made the white mourning lilies look like vibrant garden flowers.

Duke Alaric’s nostrils flared. He breathed in the scent, his eyes closing for a brief second as his grip on Lucius tightened, then finally relaxed.

There was no need for words. Though he did not know what magic Julian had cast, he knew it carried no harm—only the sweet and faint nostalgia of a place he called home.

That’s right... He wasn’t originally from the North. It was his wife... She had been the reason why he became the Duke of the North.

Where he was from... Where his mother was from... Was a distant land in the South where their veins did not carry ice but fire.

To be reminded of a place like that—which he visited only a few times—in the heart of winter... This could be considered a blessing.

"Sit," the Duke suddenly commanded, indicating a chair placed just to the right of the throne.

Julian hesitated as he knew his place.

Though the Duke’s affection level chimed, adding just 1% to his already 9%, he knew he was far from familiar with the Duke for him to dare act chummy with him.

One mistake and his neck would go flying.

"My apologies, your grace, but I wouldn’t dare," Julian said as he bowed his head respectfully.

"Don’t misunderstand." The Duke suddenly said, as if he read his mind and Julian flinched. "I only want you to be at arm’s length, but I do not appreciate people standing by my side or behind me, so sit down."

Julian blinked.

Oh! If it were that logic, then he would completely understand.

"Very well, your grace."

And so, he sat down.