Chapter 65: The Night After Baptism, The First Ball (3)
The nobles who had followed the Duke down from the second floor opened their mouths in shock at the unfolding scene.
The words that Duke Harold uttered signified the downfall of the Harold Dukedom family, a family that had been making history alongside the Kingdom. How could they not understand?
One look at the Dukes expression revealed his determination. He was willing to discard his family name for the sake of his household.
Ray displayed a peculiar expression as if he found the situation unexpected.
Truthfully, he hadnt anticipated that the Duke would utter such a declaration.
At most, he had imagined that the Duke might contemplate returning the wealth to the Kingdom, but he was attempting to protect his son by even surrendering his family name.
What an affectionate person.
He questioned how such a loving individual could have upheld such a family name.
The eyes of the nobles observing Duke Harold were not filled with greed, but worry.
Perhaps that loving personality had earned the trust of many.
Duke Harold gritted his teeth.
I will never allow you to live a life like mine, I promise. I vow to provide you with a good life.
If that would save his child, he would repeat the same response even if asked ten times.
Of course, if that wasnt enough, he would willingly surrender his life with a smile.
His wife, who had died during childbirth, and his daughter, who had passed away young due to frail health.
Now, all he had left was his son.
Ray locked eyes with him, taking in his desperate expression.
Since Duke Harold was kneeling, Ray naturally knelt down to meet his gaze.
Saint!
Stand up!
Despite the discouragement from Zik and Euclid, Ray waved his hand.
Thats enough.
At his command, the two stepped back.
Ray grasped Duke Harolds shoulder and arm, assisting him to his feet.
The Duke, being pulled up, couldnt face Ray due to his guilt.
Ray then addressed the Duke.
Its your son who did wrong. You are not to blame.
How can you claim that the parent is not responsible for the sins committed by their child?
Is that so?
He responded indifferently and turned towards the noble children.
Beris, come here.
There was no fluctuation in his tone. He no longer felt the need to be polite.
At his call, Beris ran to Ray without even considering the need to hold his swollen cheeks.
Did you call me?
Do you know what you did wrong?
He paused for a moment before responding.
I spoke ill of the Saint.
Wrong.
Beris was not the only one who was confused by Rays words.
What other mistake had he made? If that wasnt a sin, then what kind of madness had he committed?
Zik and Euclids eyes became fierce.
If they had looked at Beris before as if they wanted to kill him, now they genuinely appeared as though they were about to draw their swords and kill him.
Ray quietly stared at Beris and spoke.
Your sin is making your father kneel.
Why should your father kneel for the crime you committed?
I, Im sorry.
Beris quickly knelt down. Ray looked down at him.
Originally, he had planned to punish him severely in front of everyone.
When the ruling class, the nobles, became corrupt, the commoners, the ruled class, also became corrupt.
After all, it was the principle that if the upper stream was clean, the lower stream would also be clean. For him, who aimed to place the Holy Kingdom at the highest position as promised, this issue was of great importance.
Therefore, he had planned to thoroughly trample on him, but the Duke had changed his mind.
The upper stream hadnt become corrupt enough yet.
No, rather, it might have maintained its clarity because of him. If he dismissed the Duke now and confiscated his title and property, the nobles might pretend to be upright in front of him, but they would eventually act differently behind his back.
In that case, it was better to let him be. Moreover, there was a humanly appealing side to the Duke.
Ray organized his thoughts and smiled at Beris.
Ill turn a blind eye just this once, for the Dukes sake.
Wha, what do you mean?
It means I forgive you.
Rays words caused the surroundings to buzz once more.
Blasphemy, yet you forgive him?
Hes still just a boy, isnt he? He must have been moved by pity when the fearsome Duke knelt.
The young heirs reasoned thus, but their parents held different views.
To start with, the current Saint was not someone to be dismissed as youthful.
In terms of extraordinary talent, he was the most prominent magician, second to none.
A powerful magician.
He was the one who tread a path that no one else had reached.
Judging him by his age? That was preposterous.
Having experienced various people and situations in politics, their perspectives diverged from those of their heirs.
The Dukes family has accrued a massive debt.
How merciful he is
It seems to me that God has blessed the future of the Holy Kingdom.
Upon hearing this, Duke Harolds eyes widened, and he sprinted like the wind.
As soon as the Duke started running, he executed the complex maneuver of bowing his knee and head simultaneously.
Thank you for your merciful grace, Saint! What are you doing! Bow your head!
As he said this, he forced Beris head down with his large palm.
He pushed so forcefully that Beris face, already in a kneeling position, almost hit the ground.
Kwoong-
No, it had already hit.
Judging by the sound that reverberated in the hall, it was concerning whether Beris skull had been crushed pitifully.
However, he couldnt cry out and had no choice but to bear the pain.
If he cried out, he felt his father would apologize again, grab his head, and force it to the ground.
Ray shook his head as he observed the scene.
It doesnt seem like a balls atmosphere anymore. Ill be leaving now.
I apologize again!
Kwoong-!
With a louder noise than before, Beris head struck the ground again.
Ugh
Judging by the weak sound that was abruptly cut off, it seemed he had passed out.
Ray chuckled as he observed him and walked towards the lobby door.
Zik and Euclid trailed behind him.
Once their figures had disappeared, Duke Harold lifted his sons head and glared at him.
Dont think this is the end As soon as we return to the mansion, Ill properly fix your rotten mind Be thankful for the Saints mercy.
Ah, father
The Duke looked more vicious than the distorted face of a monster as he gritted his teeth while looking at his son.
As Ray stepped outside, Zik and Euclid followed him and said,
Excuse us, Saint. Are you sure about this?
If you instruct us now, well handle it and come back.
They uttered the menacing words as naturally as Iriel had said.
Ray shook his head, wondering if everyone from the Holy Kingdom was like this.
I owe a debt to the Duke, so this is sufficient.
Understood.
With a single word from the one they served, they did not present any further objections. Ray wondered how many people were capable of that.
Ray, who was curious about them, looked at Zik and asked,
By the way, I didnt catch your name.
At Rays words, Ziks eyes widened.
He promptly bowed his head to the ground.
I deserve to die!
Ray wondered if bowing ones head like this was a form of greeting here.
No need for that, your name.
My name is Zik Si Trey of the Trey Duke family!
Again, there was Si in the middle of the name.
Ray asked,
What does the Si in the middle of the full name mean?
Euclid answered instead,
Si () is a title. Only six families can use the title Si in the middle of their name. Three families serve the Saintess, and three families serve the Saint.
She paused for a moment and then continued,
Si literally means to serve. The families that serve the lord. Thats us, the six families with the title Si.
So, its like a family of attendants?
At his words, Euclid looked slightly taken aback.
She seemed surprised that the title Si could be compared to mere attendants. But since it wasnt completely wrong, she agreed.
Thats correct.
Zik chuckled at her flustered look.
Heh heh.
Euclid glared at him.
Startled, Zik lowered his head and maintained his kneeling posture.
Ray asked again,
Then who is the other family?
Euclid had said there were six families. If three families served the Saintess, then three families should have served him.
The known families were Bellacroix and Trey, two families revealed.
So, who was the other family?
At his question, Zik wiped off his smile and said,
Im sorry, but we cant disclose that.
Euclid remained silent as well, indicating that there was a reason they couldnt tell him.
Why?
This time, Euclid answered,
The other family secretly guarded the Saint in the shadows. Even in the Holy Kingdom, their identity was hardly known, and we also didnt know everything about them. But they were always by the Saints side.
Huh? By my side even now?
Probably.
Ray was slightly startled by his words.
He didnt feel like someone was hiding around him.
That meant he hadnt noticed them himself.
This is unsettling.
The thought of someone unknown monitoring him wasnt pleasant. Ray decided to release his mana.
His discreet mana completely dominated the atmosphere.
The buzzing sound of people at the ball and leaves rustling in the wind, the insects crawling in the grass, and the birds resting on the trees. He started to feel all sorts of presences.
He felt the presence of people attached to the trees.
They were here. About seven people.
It was easy to find them once he released his mana.
But among them, the presence that felt like a faint mist was challenging to find.
He concentrated on that presence that blended so naturally with nature that he could unintentionally pass by it, and soon, he could make out the figure.
Long limbs, a waist with perfect curves, and short hair hidden in the darkness, observing him. He could feel her gaze.
A woman?
Yes?
The two looked at the Saint, who was suddenly spouting unknown sounds, in confusion.
But Rays gaze wasnt on them.
He stared at her, sitting on one side of the tree.
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