Upon Ansel's descent from the carriage, a middle-aged nobleman, who had been awaiting his arrival at the opulent manor's entrance, immediately approached him, bowing in utmost deference.
"Forgive me for consuming your precious moments, Lord Hydral," he apologized.
The man, known as Daram Stoneheart, held significant power in Red Frost and its surrounding areas, second only to the Count of Red Frost. Although a mere count himself, his backing was formidable enough to rival the Count's, allowing him to maintain his position in this territory with ease. Ansel paid little heed to these tedious aristocratic power struggles, although he saw many opportunities for manipulation.
Waving his hand, Ansel said, "Spare me the pleasantries, Lord Stoneheart. We both understand the importance of our forthcoming discussion for the future of Red Frost. Furthermore…"
His amiable demeanor and courteous manners, which had won the praise of the imperial nobility and captivated countless noblewomen, shone through as his signature, warm smile lit his face.
"Am I such an impossible person to converse with?"
"No - Not at all," Lord Stoneheart responded, reverence and fervor etched on his face, as though oblivious to the man who had decimated the Count of Red Frost and made a spectacle of his demise.
"I am confident that tonight's banquet will conclude successfully." The middle-aged man bowed slightly, making a welcoming gesture. "Allow me to lead the way."
"I see no reason not to, but please wait a moment," Ansel nodded slightly, raising an eyebrow as he turned to look back at the carriage. "Seraphina, why are you still in the carriage?"
"..."
A young girl with flushed cheeks and short, snow-white hair pushed open the carriage door in apparent annoyance and trudged over to Ansel, almost visibly exuding reluctance.
Lord Stoneheart looked surprised. "And who might this be…?"
"My bodyguard, albeit an inexperienced one. I apologize for the inconvenience. It seems she's...overindulged in the heated carriage," Ansel explained, his smile unfaltering in the face of Stoneheart's astonishment.
"I've told you, I don't know how to protect others," Seraphina retorted, arms crossed and brow furrowed. She quickly added, as if to change the subject, "But I can take down the prey inside. Right now, in fact."
"Go to your banquet, and let me beat up the people I have to. Is that a problem?"
Her blunt words left Lord Stoneheart slightly embarrassed. He wanted to assure them of the banquet's safety, but Ansel seemed indifferent, leaving him unable to say much. He simply gestured for them to follow and moved ahead, hiding his bitter smile from Ansel.
Seeing Ansel's non-response, Seraphina continued to pester him, "You're not going to answer? If you don't, I'll take it as a yes, and I'll go right now—"
As she turned around, elated, Ansel held her head in place.
"Seraphina."
Before she could retort, Ansel calmly said, "Don't waste the opportunity Marlina fought for you."
"You're worthless in my eyes, at least for now."
"…"
The delicate frame of the girl quivered slightly, yet it was not out of fear, for Ansel of Hydral recognized that familiar aura - primal, menacing, and brutal, akin to a savage beast untamed.
In roughly two or three seconds, the expressionless girl spun around in her hunting attire, kicked off her shoes, and barefoot, stepped onto the snow.
Ansel, aware of her intentions, feigned curiosity and inquired, "What is the purpose of this?"
"It's a hunting tradition", Seraphina's tone carried an unmistakable harshness, "Since you think I'm bound to embarrass you anyway, this shouldn't matter."
"As long as you fulfill your duties."
"...Hmph, don't get frightened later, young lord."
As Ansel, following the Count of Red Frost, walked into the manor, he paused slightly, then chuckled with interest, "Later? Are you certain something will happen?"
The Count, who was guiding Ansel, felt his heartbeat stop abruptly, he turned around, intending to say something, but was stopped by Ansel's raised hand.
Seraphina crouched down, like a true beast, her hands and feet touching the ground, her buttocks raised high, from Ansel's perspective, he could see the fullness that did not belong to a young girl, the deep hollow of her lower back, and the enticing curves drawn by her tight hunting clothes.
"...Hostility," she murmured with her eyes closed, sniffing, "Six, eight... thirteen in total. Five on the roof, six inside the house, and two... can't find their location, they're somewhat elusive."
Then the young girl stood up, bared her teeth, her sharp canines shining with an incredible cold light under the moonlight.
"You've offended quite a few people," she said, not hiding her schadenfreude.
Ansel shrugged, "But isn't it you who's dealing with them, Seraphina?"
Seraphina's face darkened, and the thought of "why not just let these assholes kill him" flashed through her mind.
But fortunately, she had some basic intelligence, knowing that if she did that, Ansel might not die, but she and her sister would certainly meet a bad end.
"So why won't you let me take care of them directly?" Seraphina's pretty face was full of irritation, "It's a waste of time! Will it be my fault if something happens later?"
The young nobleman, watched by the already stunned Count of Red Frost, sighed, "If I wanted to negate your value, you would have been ruined by me that night, dear Miss Seraphina."
*
Even though he had fully prepared himself, Ansel still felt an unusual sense of powerlessness.
— It was truly a miracle among miracles that Seraphina could grow into the Sky Wolf Emperor, and on the other hand, it also demonstrated how terrifying the power of destiny could be.
"Before this banquet ends, you just need to follow my orders."
Ansel, sensing the dark emotions beginning to surge in his heart, decided to quickly end the conversation with Seraphina, "And my command is, protect me by my side, that's all."
Seraphina clicked her tongue and responded sarcastically, "Understood, understood, Great Lord Hydral."
— She seemed not to realize what Ansel meant by "ruining", otherwise she would have been hysterical.
Meanwhile, Ansel took this opportunity to compose himself and smiled at the Count of Red Frost, "We've wasted a bit of time, but it doesn't matter, Lord Stoneheart."
At the words "it doesn't matter", the Count knew what he had to do. Coming back to his senses, he also nodded and smiled warmly, "Indeed, it doesn't matter, Lord Hydral, please follow me."
However, during the process of guiding Ansel, the Count was unable to contain the emotions surging in his heart.
Who was that girl? Lord Hydral's concubine? Why else would she dare to talk to Lord Hydral like that?
The Count considered himself quite generous and benevolent in character, but if any guard or servant dared to speak to him like that, he would have slapped them, punished them with a cane, and exiled them long ago. If it were a noble with a bad temper, it wouldn't be surprising to turn them into a ▇▇▇ and throw them into the slums.
Was that young viper really that merciful? Bullshit! Any idiot who believes that will soon share a grave with the Count of Red Frost.
Now the Redstone Count could only pray that this seemingly not very smart guard could truly protect Lord Hydral.