"Erza!" Vlad called out, knocking on her door numerous times, "Sweetie, are you in there?" He asked.
Vlad didn't get any response, a sigh escaped his mouth as he sought to open the door and see for himself, but that was when Sebastian showed up.
"Duke Vlad." Sebestain called out with a tray of wine in his hands as he bowed his head.
"Ahh, Sebastian, is my daughter in there?" Vlad raised a question.
"She is… but ever since yesterday, she refused to leave her room, and she has been drinking non stop." Sebastian exposed, slightly raising his head to look at Vlad.
Vlad scratched the back of head before he walked over to Sebastian and took the tray of wine from him.
"Don't worry, I'll give this to her… instead, I want to send a message to the Lord of elves." Vlad ordered.
Erza was folded on her bed with her blanket covering her whole body while multiple empty bottles of wine were scattered on the ground.
The door opened and Vlad walked in with the tray still in his hands. He was immediately stunned when he saw the state or the room.
The curtains were closed, Erza's dresses were on the floor and even bowls of soap on every furniture.
Vlad walked past the dirt and strolled over to Erza before placing the tray on the shelf beside the bed.
"Sebastian… what took you so long." Erza mumbled under the bed sheet before she stretched out her hand, "Here, hand me another wine".
"Okay, that's enough wine." Vlad reached for Erza's hand and pulled her up from the blanket.
She had only her underwear on, her hair was a mess and her eyes were swollen which hinted she had been crying.
"Sweetie, what have you done to yourself?" Vlad said with a worried expression before gently placing her on the bed.
Erza sniffed her nose as her eyes caught a glimpse of the wine. She leaned forward to grab it but Vlad held her hand, stopping her advance.
"Erza." Vlad called out again this time with a very serious tone.
Erza sat back down on the bed, her face swollen from sleep, "Have you heard from Sato?" She asked.
"The Lord of elves?" Vlad sat down on the bed near his daughter, "I came here to ask you about that… he just vanished after the second stage".
"Well that's because he left…back to his small tiny village and abandoned his beautiful fiancee here." Erza sobbed, grabbing the bed sheets tighter with every word she said.
Vlad couldn't help but smile, ever since Erza met Sato, Vlad had noticed she had been developing new emotions that she'd normally not feel.
He placed his hand on her hand and uttered with a warm smile, "If you want him to stay, why not bring him back?" Vlad hinted.
Erza's facial expression suddenly changed to a serious one when she heard her father's suggestion.
"Are you telling me to bring him back against his will? Like kidnap him?" Erza questioned with her eyes sparkling in anticipation.
Vlad suddenly burst into laughter, "Of course not, Listen sweetie," He quoted, "A wife who truly knows her husband is a priceless treasure. She holds the key to his heart and can bring out the best in him. But it takes patience, understanding, and genuine love to unlock the depths of his soul and truly know him".
Vlad continued, "If he's feeling down then you have to light him up… he will one day carry all of Nervek on his back, and when that day comes you have to be there to be his support".
"Like mom?" Erza asked.
"Like mom".
Back at the village, Sebastian rode in a carrier to deliver the message that Vlad gave to him.
While he was getting close, he noticed two beast men standing at the entrance with a spear in their hands.
"Stop!" One of the beastman yelled, before aiming their spear at the carriage. The wagon suddenly stopped and Sebastian stepped out of it.
"I have come with message from the Duke of Nervek." Sebastian announced as he strolled toward them.
"We have been given orders not to let anyone into the village, tell us whatever the message is about and I'll deliver it to Lord Sato myself." The other beastmen spoke.
Sebastian had a puzzled expression on his face when he saw the amount of guards aiming their arrow at him.
'What the hell is going on here? Have they forgotten who I am?' Sebastian thought to himself.
"What's going on here?" Divanchi asked, walking out of the village, she was immediately surprised when he saw Sebastian, "Sebastian." She called out.
Divanchi let him into the village after Sebastian explained why he needed to speak with Sato.
As they strided towards Sato's office, Sebastian raised a question, "Why did he increase the amount of guards guarding the border?".
Divanchi replied, "Something happened recently, an intruder killed one of the elves here".
"An assassin?" Sebastian asked.
"We don't know, although I won't be surprised if master had already taken care of it, he came home covered in blood yesterday." Divanchi replied, standing in front of Sato's office.
"You're joking right? You expect me to believe the Lord of elves took a life?" Sebastian was left in disbelief.
Divanchi reached for the door knob but she paused and looked to Sebastian before advising him, "If you value your life, you watch what comes out of your mouth as you enter through this door."
Divanchi switched her attention back to the door before she opened it.
"Master, you have a guest." Divanchi informed as she walked inside with her legs crossed on the couch.
Sebastian stepped in and was immediately filled with fear when he looked at both Yuri and Sato.
While Sato was seated on his office chair, petting the Celi slime on the table, Yuri was standing behind him.
"Master, I didn't know you planned on having guests over." Yuri voiced out.
"I didn't." Sato replied with a cold tone, "Sebastian, sir… what brings you here?"
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