My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 62

§ 62. The Elanndur Marquisate (2)

How long had passed?

The soldier who had entered the mansion reappeared with someone.

It was an elderly man in a neatly tailored suit.

None other than Lerit, the general manager of the Elanndur family.

Of course, Sian knew him from his time in the family.

Sian gave a slight bow and said,

“It’s been a while.”

“It has been a while. How have you been?”

“Well, as you can see.”

Sian shrugged and replied.

Then, he didn’t continue the conversation.

He didn’t feel it was necessary.

Despite his unassuming appearance, Lerit was Isabel’s closest aide.

It was simply that they hadn’t seen each other in a long time.

They weren’t exactly close enough to be particularly friendly.

Lerit knew this as well, so he didn’t say anything further.

“You must be tired from your long journey. Please, come this way. I will show you in.”

Sian followed Lerit into the Elanndur mansion.

#

As he had sensed from outside, the interior of the mansion wasn’t much different from what Sian remembered.

Perhaps only the arrangement of the decorations had changed?

Honestly, even that wasn’t certain.

Would he really pay attention to the arrangement of decorations?

Of course, the staff who managed the mansion would know, but Sian didn’t.

Inside the mansion, which was so familiar, Sian walked along the corridor, following Lerit.

Each time he walked down the corridor, he encountered maids and servants working in the mansion.

Most of them bowed their heads to Lerit,

but some who recognized Sian’s face wore surprised expressions.

Sian nonchalantly walked past them.

And then.

“Isn’t that… Young Master Sian?”

A whispering voice came from behind.

“Right? I’m not mistaken, am I?”

“Didn’t he leave for Ruben…?”

They were whispering quietly, thinking they couldn’t be heard,

but one’s own name has a way of standing out, even in a crowded space.

“Why did he come back?”

Sian could hear their conversation.

But Sian didn’t particularly care.

It was understandable that they were curious.

From the start, Sian himself was curious.

Why had Durak summoned him?

Of course, they didn’t seem to know that Durak had called for him.

That’s why Sian was moving on, thinking it was natural, but Lerit didn’t seem to agree.

“Who told you to mention the name of Elanndur in the mansion?”

Lerit, who was walking ahead, stopped.

“We, we apologize!”

“We, we didn’t mean to…!”

The whispering maids seemed terrified and surprised.

Although Sian was a bastard, he still bore the name of Elanndur.

An existence that servants shouldn’t mention carelessly.

That’s why Lerit spoke up…

“I told you to close your eyes and block your ears in the mansion. Do I really have to pluck out your eyes and cut off your ears for you to come to your senses?”

That seemed a bit excessive.

“P, please spare us.”

“We were wrong!”

The maids prostrated themselves on the floor.

Of course, he wouldn’t actually pluck out their eyes or cut off their ears.

That wasn’t just excessive, it was barbaric.

But it seemed like they would receive a harsh punishment.

Such things often happened even when Sian was still living in the family.

Anyway, if he left it like this, he would definitely do something.

“Please don’t do that.”

Sian stepped forward and stopped Lerit.

“I’m not particularly concerned. If you’re doing this because of me, General Manager, you don’t have to.”

Honestly, now that it had come up,

Sian wondered if he really had to say anything at all.

Because it wasn’t like they were insulting him or saying anything bad about him.

It was just that Sian, who had left, suddenly returned, so they were curious and whispering among themselves, ‘What’s going on…? ‘

But to threaten to pluck out their eyes and cut off their ears for that?

Of course, he wouldn’t really do that, but it was still a bit much, wasn’t it?

In the Empire, insulting a noble was a serious crime,

but as he said, they hadn’t insulted him.

Above all, Sian really didn’t care.

The residents of Ruben whispered about Sian all the time.

Of course, they weren’t whispering in a negative way.

Wasn’t it the same for these people now?

And was it just the residents of Ruben who whispered?

During the festival, Duras, a soldier from the territory, even imitated Sian in a teasing way.

If you followed this logic, Duras would have to have his limbs amputated.

“They carelessly brought up the name of Elanndur. They need to be punished.”

However, Lerit didn’t seem to agree.

Anyway, now and then.

This aspect of Elanndur hadn’t changed.

“It’s okay, just let it go.”

Sian kept saying it was okay and tried to stop him,

but Lerit still didn’t change his mind.

And his attitude seemed to contain a hint of… ignoring Sian.

Only then did Sian understand Lerit’s hidden intention.

No wonder he was being so assertive.

Sian spoke quietly.

“I clearly said I was okay. Are you ignoring my words, General Manager?”

“……”

At Sian’s sudden change, Lerit was involuntarily speechless.

Sian’s expression was no different from usual.

However, Lerit could feel a sense of intimidation from Sian.

A bastard who only cared about what others thought.

A hopeless fool with no talent.

That’s not how Sian was in Lerit’s memory.

That’s why he didn’t expect Sian to react so strongly.

In the past, Sian would just stammer and become intimidated in such situations.

So he should have done the same now.

Although he had heard news that he had changed,

honestly, he thought it was nothing significant.

But now…

Of course, the maids were at fault,

but it was also true that he had ignored Sian’s words and insisted on his own way.

And ignoring Sian’s words meant defying Elanndur.

Lerit’s fault was greater than the maids’ fault.

Sian stared at Lerit calmly, as if pointing out that fact.

Lerit couldn’t say anything.

Sian turned his head again and said to the maids.

“I’ll let it go this time, but it won’t be the same next time. So always be careful.”

“T, thank you.”

“Thank you, Young Master Sian.”

The maids, afraid of being caught again, quickly disappeared from sight.

“Let’s go.”

“……”

Lerit really had nothing to say.

Different.

Too different from the old Sian.

He couldn’t help but wonder if this was the same person.

Lerit couldn’t help but think.

The old Sian Elanndur is gone.

The incompetent and observant Sian is also gone.

The current Sian is…

“What are you doing?”

Sian’s voice broke his train of thought.

Lerit tried to deny the thought that had come to mind.

#

Sian stood up for the maids.

This incident, like a minor happening, quickly spread throughout the mansion.

Of course, the maids who were involved in the incident kept their mouths shut.

They had almost caused trouble by carelessly talking just a moment ago.

How could they risk talking again so soon?

However, there were quite a few servants in the Elanndur mansion besides those two.

And there were more than a few servants who happened to witness the scene while passing by.

The rumor began to spread rapidly among those people.

“I heard Young Master Sian scolded the general manager severely?”

“Really? Why?”

“Because he was pushing the servants too hard.”

Of course, rumors tend to be slightly distorted as they spread.

However, the overall gist of the story remained the same.

“I happened to see that scene from afar. Young Master Sian was really scolding the general manager… I, honestly, was a little touched.”

“Hey. Why are you touched?”

“No, it’s just that. Honestly, people like us are dispensable to someone like Young Master Sian. To put it bluntly, we’re lowly. Why would he bother to stand up for us like that?”

“That’s true, but…”

“But he still stood up for us like that… I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the hardships I’ve endured, and for a moment, I wanted to be Young Master Sian’s exclusive maid, you know?”

The life of catering to the nobles’ whims was difficult.

No matter how prestigious the noble family was, almost no servant had escaped being insulted and looked down upon by the nobles.

“You crazy girl. He’s rumored to be a troublemaker, what are you going to do if something happens to you?”

“Huh? Ah, you don’t know because you came after Young Master Sian left. Young Master Sian is not actually a troublemaker.”

“What do you mean?”

“The thing is…”

In that way, the rumors about Sian began to spread like wildfire throughout the mansion.

And the person at the center of those rumors…

“What is this, calling me here and then just leaving me?”

Sian was sitting bored in the room, unaware that such rumors were circulating in the mansion.

There was no particular reason.

Durak had left his seat for a while.

Durak, the head of the Elanndur family.

He knew that he was a very busy person,

but what was the point of summoning him only to leave him waiting?

He said he would be back soon, but…

“Sigh.”

What could he do?

He couldn’t just go back like this.

He had to wait until Durak returned.

Of course.

“Now that I’m here, I should look around a bit.”

He had no intention of just sitting and waiting.

Sian slowly got up from his seat.

And as he opened the door, click.

The maids waiting in front of the door seemed startled.

“Is there anything you need?”

And the way they asked was quite proactive.

Their overly sparkling eyes seemed to say, ‘Just say the word, and we’ll do anything.’

Literally, it seemed like they would do anything if he just asked.

‘Why are they acting like this?’

Sian tilted his head and spoke.

“I’m just going to look around the mansion for a while.”

“Ah…”

The maids exclaimed as if they were disappointed and asked again.

“Do you need a guide?”

“No. It’s okay.”

Sian shook his head.

He had lived in this mansion longer than in Ruben, so what need did he have for a guide?

The maids understood, so they didn’t ask any further.

“Where should we say you’ve gone?”

“Tell them I’ve gone to see the White Wolf Knights.”

Sian said that and immediately started walking.

The White Wolf Knights.

A knight order belonging to the Elanndur Marquisate.

It was the best knight order in the Empire, rivaling the Imperial Royal Knights.

And the reason Sian was heading there was simple.

‘Ruben should start creating a knight order soon, too.’

Currently, several people had reached the level of knights due to Sian’s numerous investments.

He had also created Knight Academy Lv.1.

He could also invest in A-grade Aura cultivation techniques by achieving achievements.

It was time for Ruben to create a proper knight order.

So, he wanted to observe the White Wolf Knights of Elanndur, known as the best knight order on the continent.

How these White Wolf Knights operated, and how they were managed.

Since he had come to Elanndur anyway, if he could learn from them, it would be a sufficient guide when he invested later.

Sian crossed the hallway with light steps and arrived at the training ground of the White Wolf Knights.

Clang! Clang!

“The tip of your sword is not steady! Again!”

Clang!

There, many knights were wielding their swords.

Some were training alone.

Some were sparring with each other.

And from the looks of it…

Most of those training seemed to be apprentice knights.

But even the apprentice knights were skilled individuals above the User intermediate level [a ranking in swordsmanship].

They were people who could be treated as skilled knights if they weren’t in Elanndur.

However, only those with Expert or higher skills could join the White Wolf Knights.

Here, they were at the level of apprentice knights.

So, they were essentially knights, even though they were called apprentice knights.

“It’s intense.”

That’s why they were exuding energies that made it seem like a real training session.

And then the knights noticed Sian’s presence.

In an instant, the knights’ gazes were focused on Sian.

“Young Master Sian…?”

“Why is he here?”

The knights each had expressions of doubt.

And as if to voice the knights’ doubts.

“Well, who is this?”

A familiar voice was heard from behind Sian.

And Sian involuntarily sighed.

It was a voice he couldn’t possibly not recognize.

Slowly turning around to look.

As expected.

“Isn’t that our younger brother?”

Nathan Elanndur, the third child and second son of the Elanndur family, was slowly walking towards Sian.

His hair was soaked, so it seemed like Nathan had also been training.

No, to be exact, he didn’t know if he had been training, or if he had been teaching the apprentice knights.

Anyway, Nathan stood in front of Sian.

Hiding his annoyance, Sian slowly spoke.

“It’s nice to see you again.”

“Yes, it’s nice to see you again.”

Nathan soon stood directly in front of Sian.

The knights had already stopped wielding their swords and were watching Sian and Nathan with interest.

“I didn’t hear that you were coming to the mansion.”

“I stopped by the mansion for a while because I had some business. Then I had some time left, so I came to see the knight order.”

“See? You mean the White Wolf Knights?”

Then, Nathan chuckled.

Sian nodded and said,

“I’ll look around on my own so as not to interfere with your training. You don’t have to worry about me. Then, goodbye.”

Sian turned around and started to walk away.

But as expected.

Nathan blocked Sian’s path.

“How can you leave so hastily when you’ve just met your older brother?”

“Weren’t you in the middle of training?”

“What training? I was giving the apprentice knights a lesson.”

Nathan was a skilled individual at the Expert intermediate level.

He was more than qualified to teach the apprentice knights.

Soon, Nathan said with a bitter smile,

“How about it? Since you’ve come to see the knight order, how about loosening up with your older brother? I’ll personally give you a lesson.”

It was obvious, anyone could see that he was holding a grudge about what happened at the banquet hall during the founding day event.

Honestly, Sian had guessed that he would act like this from the moment they met.

And he knew that Nathan would try to provoke him again.

However, the question was what excuse he would use to do so.

What excuse?

He was just openly saying that he wanted revenge.

“I don’t want to.”

That’s why Sian refused without hesitation.

Of course, Sian had no intention of playing along.

Could it be that Nathan didn’t expect Sian to refuse so firmly?

“I couldn’t settle the score because Kai [another member of the Elanndur family] got involved back then… What?”

Rather, Nathan seemed greatly embarrassed.

Perhaps Nathan also thought that Sian would make some kind of excuse.

But what excuse would he make?

If he didn’t want to do it, he just wouldn’t do it.

“I’m not doing it. Why would I spar with my older brother? I’m busy right now because I have something to do.”

Because he had to look around the White Wolf Knights before Durak returned.

He didn’t have time for sparring when he wanted to see all the various facilities, including the training ground.

It was just a waste of time.

“……”

Nathan was momentarily speechless.

“Are you running away now?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re a knight, you can’t avoid a match… What did you say?”

Nathan’s expression was stunned once again.

But since when was it impossible to avoid a match?

The moment he used Aura, Nathan would lose.

But there was no point in arguing.

“That’s right, I’m running away.”

“What is that…”

“If it’s because I couldn’t settle the score back then, then I lost. You can spread the rumor that your older brother won all over town.”

Sian turned around without hesitation.

And Nathan stared blankly at Sian.

Because why would he spread the rumor that he had won against Sian!

Sian was a hopeless fool who hadn’t even entered the realm of Beginner [a ranking in swordsmanship].

On the other hand, he was at the Expert intermediate level.

It was meaningless to even compare their levels in the first place.

He had been so resentful of losing to Sian that he wanted to restore his pride.

That’s why this was a way to recover his pride.

But if Sian acted like this…

Sian continued to walk away.

He had no intention of sparring at all.

“Are you even an Elanndur if you do that?”

Then, Nathan’s words were heard again.

Why was he being so persistent?

“Does running away mean I’m not an Elanndur? That’s good. Then I won’t be an Elanndur from today. I don’t know if that will work.”

And since when had he been treated like an Elanndur?

Sian stopped for a moment and then continued walking.

“Y, y, you…!”

Then, he felt Nathan trembling behind him.

Right then.

“I’ll give you 100,000 gold if you beat me.”

Suddenly.

Sian stopped in his tracks.

He turned to see Nathan smiling.

It was an expression that said, ‘I’ve got you now!’

It seemed like he was reminded of the gambling at the banquet hall…

“But this time, I’ll use Aura [a manifestation of inner energy]. Instead, I still won’t use one hand.”

Nathan looked at Sian as if asking what he would do.

No, before he even looked at Sian.

“500,000.”

Sian’s resolute voice was heard first, as if there was no room for negotiation.

“Or I won’t do it.”

#

The sparring was quickly arranged, just like at the last banquet hall.

Only the location was different.

Almost everything was the same.

The only differences were two things.

There was no betting money from the apprentice knights.

And Nathan was using Aura.

Because Nathan had experienced the power of Sian’s sword at the last banquet hall.

A mysterious sword that exerted the power of Aura.

Knowing that, the same trick as last time wouldn’t work.

“I’ll give you the first move… no, since I’m using Aura, I’ll concede two moves. Do as you please.”

“Well, I won’t refuse.”

Sian didn’t bother to refuse.

From the looks of it, Nathan seemed confident in his victory.

Well, he had reason to be.

If he was thinking of Sian as he was at the banquet hall, he would be in for a surprise.

There had been many changes in Ruben due to numerous investments.

And there had also been many changes in Sian.

If he had to pick the most representative ones:

First, Sian was learning the beginner course beyond the introduction to the Demon Blood Asura Sword [a sword technique].

Second, Sian was now able to use Aura by handling the Demonic energy of the Demon God Technique [a cultivation technique].

And finally, the third.

Sian slowly drew his sword.

A sharp sword with a dark energy.

Sian immediately channeled Demonic energy.

Spark!

Then, a dark energy rippled on Sian’s sword.

The knights who saw that all opened their eyes wide.

“A, a, Aura?!”

“Young Master Sian can use Aura?”

“Then does that mean he has entered the realm of Beginner?”

Because that was definitely Aura.

Moreover, it didn’t end there.

Vrrrr…

The Aura contained in the sword began to vibrate greatly.

Soon, it formed a single sword body.

“Aura Sword!!!”

A knight shouted in a horrified tone.

“No way! How on earth!!”

“T, t, this can’t be!!!”

At the same time, the entire training ground was turned upside down.

Because the Aura Sword was the realm right below the Aura Blade [advanced sword techniques].

In other words, it was a power that only those who had reached the Expert realm could use.

But Sian, who was known to have not even entered Beginner, was using it?

“Y, y, you, how can you…!!”

Nathan was almost fainting from surprise.

Of course, Sian wasn’t actually using the Aura Sword.

Sian was still only a Beginner in terms of realm.

This was none other than the power of the SS-grade sword [a high-quality sword] through enhancement.

And to borrow the expression of Semir, the descendant of the Divine Smith Morcru [a legendary blacksmith].

This SS-grade sword was a sword that was comparable to Semir’s masterpiece.

It was truly a ‘crazy sword’.

The materialized Aura of Demonic energy rippled.

A little darker than the Aura Sword.

And more explosive.

“W, wait a minute…!”

Nathan, who was flustered, involuntarily stepped back.

But it was already too late.

Swish!

Sian’s sword was already upon him.

Kwaaaaaang!

A terrible explosion echoed throughout the entire training ground.