44.

Convenience tames people. That also applied to vassals. It didn’t matter how great they were. If the standard is higher, you just have to put in that much effort. In this way, over a long period of time, Ain persistently changed their thoughts.

I didn’t explicitly ask him to take Licht’s side. It just lowered the resistance, but that was enough. The vassals began to change their minds, and eventually recognized Richt as the head of the family.

They will start moving soon.

“I knew there would be an accident someday.”

The old man sitting at the head of the table sighed deeply.

“It’s a shame. I guess you could say that even the Devine family is not like Sentai. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to place a bounty on the head of the family for something like this.”

“Yes, the imperial family is looking down on us.”

Then the middle-aged man who had been silent the whole time opened his mouth.

“We can’t just let things go like this.”

“Yes, one way or another, he is the head of the Devine family. It can’t go on like this. “You look down on the Devine family.”

“Shall we send a formal protest letter?”

“Yes, I should send that too. “It seems like the youngest has some time to spare.”

The man sitting at the bottom shook his head, but the old man ignored him and continued talking as if he was invisible.

“I guess I can take on this job.”

“I’m busy.”

“you?”

“yes.”

“Why are you busy?”

“I haven’t reached the level I want with my swordsmanship yet.”

“What is more important than this situation right now?”

Others agreed with the old man’s words.

“Look at the former Duke. While he was handling the sword, he did not neglect other things either. “He got married in his 30s and had two children.”

On the other hand, the man who was called the youngest was so focused on swordsmanship that he could not even date. The person concerned was not dissatisfied with it, but others felt differently. The old man and the middle-aged man turned the topic to him and started talking.

“I should meet other ladies soon.”

“I need to get married and have children.”

“Isn’t it impossible to marry a sword? Ferdi.”

The man, Ferdi, sighed deeply. I felt like I wanted to get out of this place right away. However, it is an important meeting held at a time when a bounty is on the head of the family. I couldn’t move until the conclusion was reached. Besides, the people here are doing this because they are worried.

A child from a fallen noble family was taken into the hands of the duke. From then on, it was the duke and his vassals who raised him. To Ferdi, they were family. I couldn’t get along with Maia and Richt, who had unique personalities.

“I take care of my marriage.”

“You’re nagging me because I can’t do that.”

“… … “I will take charge of this matter.”

Only then did the subject return to the imperial court. At least this time I got out of the marriage story. Ferdi clenched her fists under her desk.

‘I survived!’

Afterwards, there was a lot of talk about how to deal with the imperial family. And after the meeting was over. Ferdi started moving right away with the intention of finishing quickly.

The nobles did not move even though orders came from the imperial family. Ferdi intervened and diverted their thoughts. This incident is nothing more than a delusion on the part of the imperial family, and as a result, they are being treated unfairly.

‘I heard Ain is capable.’

As for how it was usually oiled, most of the nobles were favorably disposed to this area. He is too much for Richt.

‘Anyway, we need to look into the fundamentals as well.’

Why did the imperial family place a bounty on the head of the Devine family? I knew what Richt had done, but that was it. He held and swung the Prince for a while, but he did no more than that. As a result of investigation, it was said that the crown prince had a crush on Richt.

‘But suddenly something like this?’

Ferdi stroked his chin with his hand. It seemed unlikely that the young crown prince would have thought this alone. If so, he naturally becomes suspicious of other people.

‘Archduke Graham.’

I couldn’t help but think that he was moving the crown prince.

“It’s become a nuisance.”

I was interested in Archduke Graham as someone who wielded the same sword, but I didn’t want to meet him like this. Still, I can’t just sit still, so I have to meet him sometime. Ferdi contacted Archduke Graham.

“Perdi?”

He was a person who was not widely known because he was overshadowed by his outstanding skills, but he was brought in and raised by the former Duke. That also meant that he had greater abilities than ordinary people.

“He said he wanted to meet me, how should I respond?”

“Say you’ll meet.”

Ferdi would have seen Richt since he was young. I wanted to know what Richt was like when he was younger. Lauren looked at Abel with a questioning look on her face, but she didn’t pout. She just stepped back a little further.

And a few days later, Ferdi came to the imperial palace. The man with his dark blue, curly hair tied up and hanging down looked cold.

“Meet Archduke Graham.”

Ferdi was a stiff man. He maintained the bare minimum of courtesy, but he had no respect in it. He seemed somewhat irreverent.

“This is my first time meeting you. “Sir Ferdi.”

In the past, Abel would have flipped, but he didn’t this time. The desire to know overcame my seething temper.

Ferdi sat down in the chair he was guided to. Soon her maid put down her tea in front of her district, but she didn’t even look up. She didn’t seem easy to deal with.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I have something I want to ask.”

“What is that?”

“Why did Grand Duke Graham place a bounty on the head of the family?”

“Isn’t there something written about him on the bounty paper?”

“You mean treason?”

“yes.”

Ferdi’s smooth eyebrows wrinkled.

“Does it mean that my uncle was worried about my nephew and took care of him for a few days, which is treason?”

“Isn’t Richt just the type of person to do favors?”

Abel calmly called Richt’s name in front of Ferdi. Ferdi noticed him and protested against him.

“No matter how much you call me Grand Duke Graham, I don’t think you would call another family head’s name carelessly.”

“You’re being reckless. Still, I think we can at least call each other by our first names.”

Abel spoke leisurely.

“Because we have touched bare skin before.”

When Ferdi heard those words, his complexion turned pale.

“Are you saying you touched that child?”

“What a child. “Richt is an adult, and as long as he is an adult, isn’t he allowed to touch other people?”

Yes, that would be true for a normal adult. But Ferdi knew Richt’s damn personality. She is sensitive and stubborn and does not like to be touched by others. When he didn’t really know her personality yet, he tried to pet her because he thought she was cute and then got kicked in the shins.

It seemed unlikely that Richt would allow his body to others. Especially for a man like that. So, the conclusion is that it was done by force.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

There were too many points to point out.

“First of all, the matriarch doesn’t like to come in contact with other people.”

“Couldn’t it be because I love you? Because love is great.”

“It’s absolutely impossible.”

“I’m sure.”

“yes. Besides, if we love each other so much, why isn’t the head of the family here right now? “Why are you putting a bounty on it?”

Richt must have run away. Archduke Graham, who put a bounty on it, is also a crazy person. What kind of obsession is this! Ferdi gritted his teeth. Even though they had an estranged relationship, Richt was his benefactor’s child. I couldn’t let myself fall into the hands of a guy like that.

Abel tapped the handle of the chair with his finger without any response.

‘Maybe I thought too simply.’

I just wanted to know what Richt was like when he was young. It seemed that the vassal’s affection was deeper than expected. Look at that. It’s a face that looks like it could cut him down at any moment.

“Well, there was a little misunderstanding.”

“I don’t care what kind of misunderstanding it is. Just don’t look down on the Devine family. “We will do our best to protect our matriarch.”

Ferdi left those words and stood up. My back feels cold when I turn around. When he left, only the cold teacup remained on the table.

“Are you hated?”

When I tilted my head and asked, the answer came back.

“Yes, I was hated.”

Lauren answered calmly. Although Richt was not on good terms with her vassals, they were tied together due to her previous succession. Unless his presence disappears, the vassals cannot completely abandon Licht.

“Wasn’t this something you did with full preparation?”

“Yes, but. “By the way, is there any other news from the side that issued the bounty?”

“doesn’t exist.”

“Shall we raise the amount?”

“It’s still a huge amount, isn’t it?”

“Then why is there no news?”

“It seems like he’s hiding well.”

Lauren answered that question and turned her attention back to work. Abel tormented Lauren some more and then went out with her sword. Her chest was so tight that she thought about trying to move her body.

‘I want to see you.’

I missed Licht, who was cooing so cutely.

‘I want to touch it too.’

The feel of the skin sticking to my hands was very good. All the time Abel was swinging his sword, he could not erase his thoughts about Richt.