Aphrael felt a bit awkward being stared at by both Ethan and Angelina, but she continued, "I overheard their conversation. The knight called the other man Robert, and Robert called the knight Brison. They seemed surprised to see each other here and talked a lot about something called the Pierre family. They talked late into the night and the knight visited Robert a few times afterward, bringing him food and survival gear. So I'm sure his name is Brison Pierre."
Angelina's eyes widened in realization. "So, they're from the Pierre family. No wonder Robert betrayed us!"
"What's the story here?" Ethan asked.
Angelina sighed. "Ethan, you probably haven't heard of the Pierre family in Marrow City, have you?"
"Not really. But there are many noble families in Marrow City, so it's not surprising," Ethan replied.
"Actually, there is no Pierre family in Marrow City anymore," Angelina explained. "The family was executed for treason twenty years ago. That knight must be a survivor from that massacre."
"That's not the key point!" Ethan noted. "The key is why they targeted the Lawson family. What grudge do the families have, and why did the Lawson family take in Robert?"
Angelina shook her head. "I only know that the Lawson family was once allied with the Pierre family through marriage. A magical prodigy from the Pierre family married one of my uncles. Robert probably came over during that time. As for the specific grudge and why the knight attacked the settlement, I don't know."
Knowing Angelina wasn't privy to many family secrets, Ethan didn't press further. Instead, he turned to Aphrael. "Thank you for the information. It has helped us immensely; otherwise, we might have ended up sleeping in the wilderness."
"You're welcome. It's my payment," Aphrael replied with a smile.
Ethan continued, "I assume you haven't eaten yet. If you don't mind, you're welcome to join us for dinner."
Aphrael looked hesitant. "I'm afraid I can't afford the payment."
"The information you provided is far more valuable than the supplies we've given you. Sharing a meal is a fair trade," Ethan reassured her. "Additionally, I suggest you stay here. It's too cold outside, and you shouldn't be uncomfortable. We don't need any more payment; it's part of our fair trade because your information was so crucial to us."
"Really? I can stay here?" Aphrael's face lit up.
"Of course," Ethan confirmed. "But you'll have to stay in the captain's cabin. We don't have other warm rooms ready, nor enough blankets to prepare another room."
"That's perfectly fine! You have no idea how cold it is outside. Without money for clothes, I've been freezing. If not for your help, I wouldn't know what to do. Thank you, Lord Ethan."
Aphrael was genuinely grateful. She had been freezing every night without a fire, fearing discovery that might affect her pet's progress. Trading a piece of information for a warm, comfortable environment was more than she could have hoped for. She had no idea Ethan had ulterior motives for keeping her.
Seeing Aphrael as happy as a child, Ethan was also pleased. With her staying, things would be easier. Relationships could be cultivated over time, and future transactions would be smoother. For now, dinner was the priority.
Ethan stood up and invited Aphrael to the dining room. Unaware of the dangers in the world, Aphrael readily agreed. Tonight, Lili had prepared a meal of roasted fish, black bread, mushroom soup, and stir-fried chicken.
Yes, stir-fried chicken. On his way back that morning, Ethan had spotted two grouses in the forest and brought them back to improve their meal, which turned out to be a delightful surprise for the guests. However, to Ethan's surprise, Aphrael didn't touch the chicken or even the fish, sticking to black bread and mushroom soup.
Ethan, curious, asked, "Miss Aphrael, won't you try the chicken? It's prepared in a special way. I think you'll like it."
"No, thank you. We elves don't eat the flesh of animals," Aphrael politely declined.
Ethan nearly choked but managed to hold back. "You elves have a straightforward way of referring to meat. But I'm curious, what do you usually eat if you don't consume meat?"
"Bread, fruits, vegetables, and my favorite, various nuts," Aphrael explained.
"Oh, I see." Ethan took mental notes, reaching the first step in understanding elves. "Eating vegetarian does seem beneficial. No wonder you elves live so long. I heard you can live up to a thousand years. Is that true?"
"Yes, it's true. My teacher is over two thousand years old, and our queen is nearly five thousand. In a few years, we will celebrate her five thousandth birthday," Aphrael shared.
Angelina, intrigued, asked quietly, "Miss Aphrael, how old are you?"
"Me?" Aphrael pointed at her nose, recalling her age. "I'm still young, about 300 years old."
Ethan and Angelina exchanged glances, their expressions turning peculiar.
They finished dinner in this unusual atmosphere. Afterward, Angelina took Aphrael to the captain's cabin for tea and conversation while Ethan, carrying his Champion Blade, went on his nightly patrol.
As he passed the bow, he heard Robert's continuous cursing, filled with expletives, though it was unclear whom he was cursing. Ethan could sense Robert's anger. He considered talking to him but decided against it. Robert needed to suffer a bit to be willing to talk. Instead of wasting time, Ethan thought about how to deal with the Gold Rank 7 knight, who he was sure would return. The knight's motive remained unclear—whether it was personal revenge against the Lawson family or orders from someone else.
"It's likely both. Only this explains why he and Robert recognized each other at the camp. Their meeting was a coincidence, and he came alone, indicating his confidence in his own strength and a desire to keep the fortress authorities unaware. This rules out involvement from the higher-ups in the duchy, as expected."
"So who orchestrated all this?"
"Forget it! Let Sophia investigate. My job is to handle that knight."
"Gold Rank 7... not easy to deal with. What should I do?"
Ethan fell into deep contemplation...