"Eldric, my dear servant, how have you been?" Nolan Ravencore said, appearing smug and authoritative.
Morvain swiftly bowed, putting on an act of feebleness and weakness, groaning as if under strain. "Can't say well, my lord. It seems people have forgotten the meaning of gratitude nowadays."
"Rise, my servant. What you said is true. People these days don't value loyalty or authority at all," Nolan said, running his fingers through his black hair. "I've heard about what happened with the young lord. I believe you acted in self-defense, am I right?" He raised an eyebrow.
"That's absolutely right, my lord," Morvain nodded with theatrical enthusiasm. "The young lord had..."
He abruptly stopped, casting a furtive glance at the two knights, making sure Nolan caught his sly gesture.
"Walk with me," Lord Nolan commanded, striding forward. Sensing his servant awkwardly lingering, nervously darting glances between him and the knights, he added, "Don't fret about them. They've got as much authority to stop me as a cat does herding sheep, unless they fancy starting an all-out war between the provinces."
"As you wish, my lord," Morvain smiled at the two knights. Sir Steffan had a small, sly grin on his lips, while Sir Kingsley's expression was a frown of clear frustration and a thirst for vengeance.
But Morvain paid him no mind. They strolled down the ship's hall, heading straight for the stairs that would take them outside to the deck.
People bowed to him with reverence, but the foolish lord assumed they were paying homage to him, and Morvain didn't bother correcting his mistake.
"It seems folks have started recognizing me as your lord, um... what was your name again?" He tapped his finger on his head.
"Eldric, my lord. Just Eldric." A mischievous smile cracked across Morvain's lips, cleverly concealed from the lord walking in front of him.
'You know my name, my lord. You know it very well. You just forgot it to make me remember my place, right?'
Morvain kept his retort unspoken.
"Yes, Eldric, Eldric... a pretty familiar name, by the way. Now, what did the young lord say to you? From what I've heard, you two seemed to be at each other's throats, like cats and dogs." Lord Nolan inquired as they continued their stroll.
"After I woke up from my sleep, the young lord was in my room..."
Morvain began recounting the events to his lord, skillfully omitting the part about his confusion with the stone and his outburst against the young lord.
"The breaking point for me was when he insulted you, my lord. He insulted you in front of your most loyal servant. Called you a useless, arrogant, selfish moron who doesn't care about anything. He claimed you'd discard me the moment I become useless and promised to honor me for saving the ship and its people if I pledged my loyalty to him."
He shook his head, as if the notion was utterly ridiculous.
"And how did you reply?" inquired the lord, as though eager to make a decision based on what this lowly servant was about to reveal.
"Oh, I insulted him right back. Told him he was nothing more than a speck of dust compared to my beloved and gracious lord. That he couldn't even stand before you," Morvain responded confidently.
Morvain halted in his tracks when he felt a hand fall on his shoulders.
"My, my, Eldric. Who knew a lowlife servant of mine would have such a fierce tongue, one worthy of a lord."
Morvain discovered a grin on his lord's face, thin lips spreading wide apart to reveal perfect, shiny white teeth.
Pride washed over Morvain's chest as the lord acknowledged his words, even if the reason was slightly twisted.
"The ones who saved me from the arrogant and foolish lord are now behind bars, and I can't do anything about it. One of them even fought by my side against the Kraken, and I believe the young lord is angry because I stole his spotlight. Being your servant only made it worse."
"Do not worry, my servant," said the lord. "I'll make sure they're out before anyone tries anything stupid with them." He reassured Morvain and continued walking forward.
At the far end of the deck, where the Kraken had smashed its head, the once-gaping hole was now sealed with a transparent glass-like structure.
'Ice! So that's why Lumiere looked so weak and frail.'
Without proper wood and iron to support it, the ship would have likely collapsed long ago, but the ice structure formed a robust connection between the parts. It was both amazing and horrifying to behold, a stark reminder of the immense threat they had faced.
The ice wasn't just a patch-up; it made a cool design. It kind of danced together, making fancy shapes. From far away, it looked like a special picture, showing how the ship dealt with the Kraken. The ice pattern, mixing weakness and strength, quietly told the story of nature's anger and people trying hard.
"That's amazing," Morvain said, and he wasn't acting. He genuinely felt impressed.
"Lady Lumiere is indeed remarkable, and it's a shame she'll be betrothed to the Prince." There was a hint of loss in the young lord's words, like he had yearned for something taken by another. "Callisto Von Flamesworth, the Dreadflame. That's a man not to be trifled with unless you've got a death wish."
Morvain felt a chill run through his whole body at the last sentence. Even a lord seemed intimidated by this man. However, Lady Lumiere had assured him that Callisto Von Flamesworth was a kind man, and the rumors echoed the same sentiment—at least, that's what she told him.
"Why the title, my lord? Dreadflame, what does it mean?" What bothered him the most was the ominous title associated with this man.
"Ah, you might not have heard about him, being from the slums," replied the lord. His gaze grew distant, as if delving into a distant memory, before he shook his head. "Perhaps another time. I don't want to turn the atmosphere into a funeral."
'Interesting... that only makes me want to hear about him more. Perhaps I should ask someone.'
As they continued walking, they stumbled upon a gathering of people near the captain's cabin.
"What's happening there?" the lord inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Let's go and see for ourselves."