As the most powerful Grand Duke in the Vesi Empire, the residence of Grand Duke Yuwen was surprisingly modest.
A three-story mansion with a garden, alongside a warehouse and an underground wine cellar—this was all that comprised the Grand Duke’s estate.
In terms of scale and luxury, even an ordinary duke’s residence was more magnificent than his.
This Grand Duke controlled one of the empire’s most prosperous commercial districts, receiving vast sums of gold annually.
Yet, his home remained as simple as possible—though to common folk, it was still lavish and splendid.
The butler and maids were already waiting respectfully at the entrance when Via stepped down from the carriage.
Two maids immediately came forward to carry her luggage.
“Greetings, Your Excellency, the Demon Lord,” the butler bowed politely.
“The Grand Duke is already waiting inside. Please, follow me.”
“Thank you,” Via said, stepping toward the garden inside the mansion.
“Oh, by the way, this is Lisa—Lisa Laurenna—my servant. May she accompany me inside?”
“Of course.”
The butler led the way, and Via occasionally asked him trivial questions to break the silence between them.
Clearly, this butler had never hosted a guest of the Demon Lord’s stature before.
He was at a loss on how to handle the situation, offering guarded answers and even evading many questions.
That alone was impressive.
Of course, Via’s conversation served another purpose—to draw the butler’s attention.
During their exchange, she quietly cast a divination spell to inspect the mansion’s interior and exterior arrangements.
As she expected, every relatively concealed spot within the mansion concealed wards poised and ready to activate.
The mansion was layered with automatic defense spells, suppression spells, and autonomous attack spells.
Moreover, the moment she entered, she sensed two powerful magical scans sweep over her body—not subtle probes from two skilled mages, but more like blatant warnings.
Following the garden’s central path, the butler opened the mansion’s grand front door.
In the magnificent hall, a sharply dressed man stepped forward.
“Welcome, Your Excellency, the Demon Lord. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality; after all, I have little experience in hosting guests from the demon realm.”
Meeting Grand Duke Yuwen confirmed Via’s impression that this nobleman’s ability was what allowed him to maintain such a distinguished position in the empire’s political whirlpool.
He struck one as warm, humble, and dependable.
His voice and tone were perfectly measured; his words carefully chosen to avoid creating distance while maintaining proper respect.
More importantly, although he was in his fifties, he still cared deeply about his appearance.
His gray-white mustache was meticulously trimmed, lending him a hint of playful charm.
The black cane he carried was less a mobility aid and more a tasteful accessory—though, in truth, it did help compensate for his somewhat stiff knees.
“Pleased to meet you, Grand Duke. I’ve heard much about you,” Via said, extending her hand.
The Grand Duke immediately grasped her fingertips lightly and then gestured invitingly.
“And this must be… your attendant? Your Excellency, I assume she accompanies you?”
“Yes, Lisa Laurenna is my servant. She will assist in taking notes during our discussion for future reference,” Via said.
“Lisa,” Cecilia respectfully bowed to the Grand Duke.
“Then I must prepare some refreshments for your loyal attendant as well. I assure you, with two such lovely ladies here, you will enjoy our pastries and distinctive fermented drinks.”
The mansion’s sitting room sharply contrasted with the rest of the relatively simple estate—it was the most fitting space for a Grand Duke.
The parlor was spacious, with an elaborate chandelier casting soft light throughout.
By the bright floor-to-ceiling window, a piano waited silently for the master or guest to play.
“Please, sit. Don’t be shy. Let me know what you would like to drink. I have many beverages, but I especially recommend the fermented drinks from my lands—they’re truly unforgettable.”
Grand Duke Yuwen warmly welcomed his rare guest.
Cecilia, as a servant, technically should not have sat down, but the Duke permitted it so she could properly record the meeting for her “mistress.”
Of course, if he knew this demon servant was actually the holy maiden recently expelled by the church, he likely wouldn’t be so calmly seated on the sofa.
“Grand Duke, our previous letters mentioned the need for goods from your territory,” Via began, her characteristic smile appearing after brief formalities.
“To be frank, both sides have suffered heavy losses on the front lines. Resources have been consumed in great quantities, and I won’t hide the truth—the demand behind the lines is growing. His Majesty the Demon King can no longer secure sufficient supplies for all the demon clans.”
“I am roughly aware of this,” the Grand Duke said.
“Ah, please don’t misunderstand—I didn’t obtain this information by any special means. It was simply apparent from the demons’ frontline situation. Your offensive frequency has clearly decreased over the past two years, and the intensity of battles has significantly diminished. I suspected then that your rear lines were facing issues.”
This intelligence was easy enough to gather.
The demon clans were not particularly industrious, and despite the new Demon King’s best efforts to improve their production, short-term gains were limited.
In such circumstances, even with advantages in strength and numbers, slow progress at the front indicated the demons’ resources at the rear could not sustain a high-intensity war.
“That is why I came seeking your help.”
Via took the cup with a hint of honey aroma from the butler and sipped.
Sweetness flooded her mouth.
“You seeking help from a human like me—I must admit, I found it hard to believe when I first heard. But… in the end, I decided to meet you,” the Grand Duke said, resting his hand leisurely on the armrest.
“Because I believe this cooperation may very well be mutually necessary for both of us.”
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