"Excellent, Rose is the winner of today's Bet, everyone handover your gold to Rose." Dave announced before Harry could even open his mouth.
"Hey, I am the one who was betting. Besides she is too young to bet." Harry said in frustration and panic.
"Well, Rose was the one to predict the outcome correctly. Then why should you be the one to get the gold?" Chris chimed in.
Without a word the old duke and Victor agreed to handover the gold in the morning.
"Well, Al, clean up the mess you made." Harry said in a bitter tone scowling after missing his chance to get his hands on the gold.
"Hey you are the one who made my big brother to do it. You help him too." Rose put her hands on her hips and said in a warning tone.
Harry became speachless. But Alan ruffled Rose's head, " It's ok Rose I will do it." Then Alan and the boys, even Lilly and Rose started cleaning up the mess. Within a few minutes all the damaged painting and vases were piled up in a corner for the maid's to displose it.
"Al, Williams, pottery is your department, so plan to fill the space up within the next few days. We shall help you with the materials. After that we can all fill the empty space with the paintings. Ben patted Alan and Williams on their back and everyone agreed."
"You can do pottery and painting also?" Lillian felt amazed by the casual remarks and agreement made from them.
Harry grinned wickedly asking, " Anyone up for another bet?"
"No...!!" almost everyone in the room shouted at once, shutting Harry completly and making him speachless.
Bob laughed and asked, "Master Harry, why do you want gold? You will also donate it to the academy for the kids education?"
This surprised everyone including Harry.
"How do you know about it lad !!!!?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Prior to initiating the funding process, we collected details from all the Masters about the ones supporting the noble cause. The Headmaster informed us that you were the highest contributor, dedicating over 90% of your annual pay."
Harry sighed, "That old ba...." He started to cursing Stan, then reluctantly agreed sighing in defeat, "Ha.... yes that is true."
"It's well past midnight. Wish everyone a restful night's sleep. Let's meet up at the breakfast hall tomorrow." John suggested nodding off for everyone.
"Given the exertion of mana in such a short span, we might all need a bit of extra sleep. Don't wait for us to join everyone for breakfast in the morning, we'll join for lunch," Williams informed everyone waving his hand and started walking yawning.
"A hearty lunch..." Bob glanced at Harry, who nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll go hunting now. Lady Elizabeth, please instruct your cooks to start preparing a meal for 100 people. I'll bring the meat early tomorrow morning."
Harry turned and disappeared from the room, leaving everyone speachless.
"He....., doesn't he need sleep?" Victor was puzzled.
"Nah.... he will be alright. We had gone sleepless for many days in a row while training. A single sleepless night is nothing to him." Ben waved his hand dismissively.
Victor noded in agreement. Being general of the duke's army, he had gone sleepless and even without food for miltiple days on end also.
Next morning when everyone got up, they were greeted with a scene they would never had imagined in their wildest dreams. A mound of beasts bodies were laying on the cooking area and at their back yard.
There were 6 white deers, 4 wild boars and dozens of wild birds.
The chef's were instructing the assistants and maid's on how to skin the animals.
"How did he hunt so many beasts in such a short time?" Everyone were thinking the same thing.
Breakfast was a peaceful affair. After that, they sat in the living room and had a good time with casual talks.
The boys got up around noon, got ready and came to the living room. All of them looked a bit tired and even their stomach were growling.
The ladies of the family took them to the dining hall happily. Food started to arrive one after the other. They ate happily for almost two hours by the time they finished their meal, it was lunch time and the others joined them.
A couple of days went quietly and the soldiers of the duke's retinue also arrived on the third day as per Samuel's earlier order.
They handed over the gold to Rose as per their bet. And left the same day to Winden city.
Irene, Lilly and Rose all stayed back to learn healing arts from Helen. They all were sad to see their family leave, at the same time they had exitement in their heart to start learning.
A new journey of learning awaiting them....