“Master, Marquis Charlotte has arrived.” The servant pushed open the doors to the Duke’s mansion’s reception hall as she spoke.
Seated in the main seat dealing with official matters, Duke Ryan nodded.
“That kid is quite well-behaved. You don’t need to report such things to me. It’s only natural that Lilia invites him over to study magic.”
Ryan had initially thought that Charlotte would be someone eager for quick gains, but after observing him these past few days, he found him rather steady.
At least, so far, Charlotte hadn’t revealed the slightest hint of his true reason for becoming Lilia’s home tutor.
He’s not here to date my daughter, nor is he trying to scam money, so what exactly is he up to?
Could it be that Charlotte truly came to my house just to be a teacher? Does he think my daughter is some rare talent and wants to train her into a great mage?
“Master, Marquis Charlotte is here to see you, not Miss Lilia.” The servant refilled Duke Ryan’s tea.
“Hm? What does Charlotte want with me?”
Ryan, now intrigued, put down his pen.
“Let him in.”
Perhaps he’d finally uncover Charlotte’s true purpose for applying to be the home tutor.
Ryan was naturally eager to learn the truth—after all, he wouldn’t feel at ease otherwise.
After a while, Charlotte was led into the reception hall by the servant, who then bowed and took her leave.
“Marquis Charlotte, how have you been?” Ryan raised an eyebrow, sizing up the young man before him.
“Duke Ryan, I’ve been well. Last time I met Princess Lilia at the dress shop, I even asked the servant to send my regards to you. I wonder if you received them?” Charlotte responded with calm dignity, neither arrogant nor servile.
Looking at the young man before him, Ryan had to admit that, judging solely as a noble and disregarding all the rumors, Charlotte was truly flawless.
He was far too young—just turned eighteen this year—yet already a Marquis, top of the Magic Department at Kalishi Academy, a magic genius, undefeated in duels, and had even once bested Ryan himself.
Only the servants in the Ryan household knew of that incident. If word got out, it would be sensational news.
It was the classic case of a seasoned veteran trying to teach a newcomer a lesson, only to be thoroughly thrashed by said newcomer.
But Charlotte had long since stopped needing to prove himself with such feats. His expression was usually blank; wherever he stood, a palpable aura radiated from him.
This aura left only two types of people still questioning Charlotte: himself, and the soon-to-be-humiliated bystanders.
If poise and bearing counted as power, then this always-cold, expressionless Charlotte was truly invincible in this world.
“I thought you’d come to tutor Lilia again. So, Marquis Charlotte, what brings you to me today?”
“I came to seek your help, Duke,” Charlotte replied directly, his candor piquing Ryan’s curiosity even further.
“Hehehe.” Ryan let out a low chuckle. It was his first time seeing Charlotte lower his head, which made him quite pleased.
“I knew it—a distinguished marriage candidate for the Weiss Family, stooping to be a home tutor for a meager fifty gold coins a month? No matter how tough things get, you’d never sink that low.”
Yet Charlotte’s previous lack of requests always kept Ryan on guard.
Now that the other party was taking the initiative, he actually felt relieved.
Though he had once lost to Charlotte, Ryan didn’t hold a grudge.
On the contrary, he was even more eager for Charlotte to become one of his allies.
He was just wary of Charlotte’s total lack of demands.
Even the strongest bonds of friendship can’t last forever without a mutual benefit; friendship must be tied to interests to endure.
Now that Charlotte was taking the initiative to ask for help, Ryan was happy to comply.
“Go on, then. What could possibly trouble the Kalishi Empire’s magic genius?”
“Duke Ryan, I hope you can become Princess Kresia’s supporter.”
Ryan’s smile vanished in an instant, his pupils contracting slightly. “Why are you suddenly bringing up palace affairs?”
Charlotte paused. “Duke Ryan, I figure you’ve sensed some undercurrents already. You must know that the Holy Maiden from Aetherland Theocracy will be attending the Emperor’s banquet.”
“Duke, you were once the Grand Duke Protector, and you’ve fought the Holy Church before. You should know how terrifying those lunatics can be.”
“I know. I don’t much care for the Holy Church’s people.”
Ryan’s expression darkened, his disdain for the Holy Church plain to see.
The Holy Church had always viewed other beings as non-human monsters—Elves, Dragons, Merfolk—all seen as nothing but intelligent beasts. Yet his wife and daughter were both of pure Elf blood.
This deeply rooted prejudice, compounded by the blood debts of war, made him scorn the Holy Church even more.
“Now a certain prince has invited the Holy Maiden to the banquet, ostensibly to ease relations, but the real motive is all too obvious—” Charlotte’s voice grew lower.
Duke Ryan finished the sentence Charlotte left hanging, “Contending for the throne.”
As someone who had held the position of Duke of the Northlands Eight Territories for many years, he saw through the palace’s intrigues better than anyone.
“So you want me to back Princess Kresia in this imperial struggle? Charlotte, have you forgotten something? No matter who becomes Emperor, no one can touch the Northlands Eight Territories.”
The other Dukes had long since picked sides—only he remained neutral, holding his forces in check.
Duke Ryan had no need to care about anyone else’s opinion; as long as the military power and territories of the Northlands remained in his hands, no new Emperor would dare make a move against him.
“But I still hope that, when the time comes, you’ll support Princess Kresia as much as you can. I’ll offer you a price you cannot refuse,” Charlotte pressed on.
“What promise did she give you that made you come to win me over?” Ryan truly couldn’t fathom Charlotte’s intentions.
This princess was weak and alone, with seemingly no chance of success—so why would Charlotte bet on her?
“I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing it for Lilia.”
“Hm?” Duke Ryan found this odd. For Lilia’s sake?
There was a sudden stir outside the door, but neither of the two inside seemed disturbed by it.
“To speak frankly, Duke Ryan, at the Emperor’s banquet, a new magic will be announced—Princess Kresia’s newly developed Magic Circle. Teleportation Magic. It can transport materials between two places in a short time. You know what this means, don’t you?”
After hearing this, Ryan’s eyelids twitched. He sat up straighter, staring at Charlotte. “Is this true?”
“It’s absolutely true.” Charlotte nodded. “Princess Kresia is at her weakest now and needs support more than ever. If you choose to help her in this low period, she will, without hesitation, gift a Teleportation Magic Circle to the Northlands.”
Immediately, Duke Ryan’s mind filled with all the possibilities this Magic Circle could bring: transporting army supplies, moving goods—this Teleportation Magic Circle was practically a tailor-made treasure for the Northlands.
Charlotte continued, “Princess Lilia—she is an incredibly pure-hearted child. Duke Ryan, you can protect her for a time, but not for a lifetime. Sooner or later, she’ll inherit your title and become the new Duke of the Northlands. When that time comes, who will protect her? She’ll have to rely on herself. I believe Princess Lilia will become a capable Duchess, but until then, she still needs someone’s protection.”
Charlotte paused, his gaze resolute as he said, “As long as you’re willing to help Princess Kresia, for the next ten years—or even longer—as long as I, Charlotte, am alive, resources from the Weiss Family territory will be delivered continuously to the Northlands Eight Territories. Whatever you need, we will provide it.”
“That is indeed a tempting offer.” He spoke slowly, his tone returning to its usual calm. “Marquis Charlotte, I will seriously consider it.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Charlotte gave a slight nod. “I don’t need your answer right away. I’m just reminding you, as a friend, of an opportunity that brings both risks and rewards.”
No one knew when it had started, but the relationship between Ryan and Charlotte had grown closer.
Perhaps this was just a tacit understanding among men—no true acquaintance without a clash; all admiration was hidden in their hearts.
Now Ryan finally saw the truth, “No wonder you chose to become Lilia’s home tutor. You just wanted to make the Northlands’ future your ally, didn’t you?”
Charlotte shook his head. “No, it’s not because of that….”