"My Lord, the situation at the Mythforst city is not looking good." Casper, Duke Erwin counsel finally found Duke in the residence and joined him as he marched through the hallways. "The attacks from the water beasts have risen in frequency. The causality rate is high, especially among the rank one mages. There are reports that some beasts have progressed to rank two. But that's not the worst of it... A few nobles brought the issue to the royal family. We are to submit a reply."
"What about Duke Andrew? Didn't the attacks originate from his territory?" A frown line delved between his brows as he asked back.
Of all the matters Duke Erwin heard Casper prattle on endlessly the whole day, only the mention of the royal family was grave enough to make him have a change of expression.
Duke Erwin was a person of firm bulk, hair greying at his temples graced him with an air of maturity. He walked with his arms folded behind his back, chest out, shoulders squared back as he walked at a brisk pace. His presence created such pressure then even if he was dressed in rags and dregs, his personality would be hard to ignore.
"The attacks originated from the uninhabited valley between the two cities. So it is hard to say." Casper shook his head, heaving in and out, struggling somewhat to keep his pace with the Duke. He lowered his head and pushed back his glasses sliding off his nose. "Besides, there is something more. Duke Andrew eldest son just broke off through rank three."
"How old is he, again?"
"Twenty, My Lord."
"How has the royal family decided to award him?"
"There's been a talk of an appointment in the court, there are rumours of the royal family considering marrying off a princess to him."
If a princess married him, needless to say, he would get the title of a grand prince.
When Duke Erwin didn't speak for a long time, Casper who had his pen hovering over the register to write down instructed looked up and asked. "My Lord?"
Duke Erwin waved his hands before coming to an abrupt halt in the hallway. Turning towards the wall, he tapped into a hidden mechanism. After some ripples in the wall, a door frame emerged. Opening it up, narrow stairs led downstairs into the darkness. "A small matter, just deal with it. Send more men if it takes. A few guards are not worth trouble with Duke Andrew or royal family."
"Yes, My Lord."
"How's Luca situation?" Duke Erwin asked all of sudden.
"This, My Lord..." Casper watched as Duke Erwi stepped down the stairs.
"Come follow me, the books are collecting dirt. I would need someone to dust them anyway." Due Erwin joked.
However, this was a gesture of utmost trust.
When it come to the private library of the Spencer family, even the Duke's sons didn't have access to it. It was something passed down for generations within the family. Only a close confidant such as Casper had the privilege to be allowed inside.
Casper took the honour with a stoic face and followed the Duke downstairs. "My Lord, the instructor trains him according to your guidance."
"You didn't tell me how's his progress."
"I witnessed him training privately in the night. From his moves, it can be inferred he learned a lot."
Hearing this, Duke Erwin was suddenly in a good mood. Entering the underground library, Duke Erwin searched a long time before finally finding out an old book with yellowing leaves. As he engrossed himself in the reading, Casper painfully dusted off the Spenser family treasures, one by one.
When he was done with it., he did not leave. He approached the Duke and stood by the table in silence.
It took a few minutes before the Duke finally noticed him. "Still here? Something else you have to say?"
"My Lord, it's about your second son, Dominic."
Duke Erwin expression changed all of sudden as he warned. "For you to bring up his name, this must be important."
"My Lord," Casper lowered his head. "Dominic went missing for a weak. When returned, guards found him covered in blood from head to toe. Surprisingly, he wasn't injured at all."
"Oh?" Duke Erwin uttered, flippant at best in his approach; his hands continued turning the yellowing leaves of the old book without a pause.
"I had the servants ask him but he refused to divulge anything. That could be overlooked, but ever since coming back from that day, he started behaving oddly." Casper cautiously looked up. Finding the Duke going about with the reading, he took the cue to continue. "As Duke knows Dominic had always been somewhat averse to learning. magic and such activities. But this last weak, he hasn't spent a day without visiting the library."
At this, the Duke's hands finally paused and he asked back. "Who taught him to read?"
"No one, My Lord." Replied Casper. "Apparently he taught himself." Now that he had the Duke's attention, he added without hesitation. "Servants have even reported on strange activity within his room. He would keep his doors closed tight."
"What strange activity?"
"There's a weird smell coming off his room. Burning wood. The kid is onto something."
Duke Erwin thought it over for some time. After a little bit of pondering, he invited Casper to opine. "What do you think that is?"
"I have already conducted a search, personally. I did not find anything suspicious." Here suspicious meant an influence by an outside force. If there was no such thing, then Dominic change came from within himself. As such, only as a mortal kid, there was nothing to be concerned about. "I'll keep an eye on him."
"It's good he has the spirit." Duke Erwin said before his eyes lost colour. Even if he had the spirit, it would be useless if he lacked the talent. Shaking his head to himself, he reminded Casper. "Don't forget to figure out who the person he had a fight with. Find them, deal with them." After this, the Duke went back to reading.
No matter what Dominic was someone from the Spencer family bloodline. Even if he was bound to be a failure, he had their blood running through his veins. Whoever attacked him had the guts to hurt him had no respect towards the Duke and needed to be dealt with.
"Understood, My Lord." Casper bowed before whirling around and leaving.