"You sure you don't want to be a knight?" Count Ervinsyl asked.
"Dad!" Gles exclaimed.
"I'll have to decline that offer, thank you." I knew I wasn't really convincing when I was garbed in full armor, red cape, and mounted on a mechanical horse. Match that with a spear, no one would believe me if I told them I never dreamt of becoming a knight.
Unsummoning all my cards, I landed on my feet. I reached out for the backpack that Uxi was carrying and pulled out an overcoat.
"Sorry for my unsightly manners." Apologizing as I slipped on the overcoat.
"No worries. Your figure wasn't unsightly at all." I heard a female voice coming from behind the count. A graceful noblewoman walks out. Assessing from her looks, she should be the countess.
"You flatter me, madam. I'm Solon Geit. A pleasure to meet you. Now I know here Gles got her cuteness." I smiled and did a slight bow.
"I know. Glessy told me so much about you. I'm Glenesse, but you can call me mom."
"Mom!" Gles' face turned beet red.
"I believe it's too early for me to do that." I politely declined.
"Too early you say. Does that mean you're planning something soon?" The countess made a teasing smile and had an eyebrow raised. Gles reddened even more.
"Am I?" I hid my thoughts behind a smile. I didn't want to answer that question. Both negative and positive answers could lead to a problem. I tried to divert their attention to a different matter. "I'd like to discuss important matters with the count if it doesn't bother him."
"It's alright. I'm currently free for the day. We can talk about it in my study." The count said.
"Does important matters include marriage?" The countess intrudes.
I just smiled at her question. The count spoke again, "Why don't we have some lunch first. Then we can proceed with the discussion."
****
The mansion was quite spacious. It had the fusion of both human and elven architecture. You can see how they incorporated nature into their designs. And by nature, I mean, actual plants. What was cool was that it doesn't look overrun with vines.
Lunch was held in an indoor garden. The garden had unique plants one couldn't find back on Earth. Like that ebony vine with moving red tongues. It looked like a wisteria, only creepier.
"That's not carnivorous, is it?" I spoke out my thoughts.
"No silly." Gles giggled. "Femi doesn't eat people. Her digestive system is too weak for that. It's granny's favorite plant because it gives of sweet scent that attracts small insects on which it feeds on."
"That explains why it smells wonderful in here. Hi Femi, nice to meet you." I wave at the plant. Funny enough, it can understand. It didn't wave back but turned away its "tongues".
"She doesn't seem to like me," I whispered at Gles. She chuckles and began to introduce me to all the sentient plants there was in the garden. They don't easily welcome visitors but I didn't complain. I didn't want to hurt their feelings.
I paused midstep when an idea popped into my head. I asked Gles to take a few steps back. Then, I paced a couple of steps forward and pulled out edelweiss. I began to use my martial art in a way that matched the current season. Summer.
I started the seemingly never-ending dance of Summer Lotus. With each petal bloom of my spear, the sentient plants danced with me. I was attaining to comprehend a few things from my martial arts but stopped when I felt it wasn't the right time. I was here for a different reason. I can ask after I finish my business.
"I'm sorry about that." I apologized for the ruckus. They just smiled and went on with our stroll.
The lunch was surprisingly simple. It was bread, soup, potatoes, and steak, nothing special. It made me wonder where all that fancy food that the stories always told.
"Mev, have the maids prepare tea. Solon and I will be having a chat at my study." The count spoke to his butler then stood up to exit the garden. I followed after him.
"So, what seems to be serious enough for you to meet me?" He raised a question after entering his study room.
"Does it need to be serious?"
"We both know you won't meet up with anyone unless it's important."
"True." I turned to close the door. "Is there any news about the gates?"
I wanted to know about the situation first before I inform him of my findings.
"Gates? No, everything related to the gates is as fine as always. Why'd you ask?"
"So you're current problems aren't related to what I found."
The count offered me a seat across his desk. I sat down and began to narrate what I read on the ruins of Cangmir. I told him of the reasons for their downfall and about the gates. I also told him of the signs that indicate the arrival of the invasion.
"This is a big revelation. It is fortunate that the gates haven't shown any signs of corruption yet." The count stood from his seat and began to ponder. "This is another crisis entirely."
Then the count turned towards me. "But, faint heart never won fair lady." Then he smiled."In our case, it's the other way around. We already know how to get the answer, all we need is someone to find it."
"What?" I became confused. I don't speak riddle-tongue.
He faced the bookshelf again and pulled out a book. In the wall beside it, a compartment pops out. From there, the count pulled out a sealed envelope.
He sat down and opened the seal. He took out a fancy-looking paper from inside and began to write on it. I didn't want to bother him and just waited.
When he finished writing, he melted wax and stamped his seal on the paper. Thereupon, he reviewed it one more time and passed it over to me.
This got me more confused, so I asked, "Can you please clarify what this is for?"
"Solon Geit, you are hereby employed as an official researcher of the kingdom."