The Hawk Duke saw Ethan's determination and smiled approvingly, nodding slightly in agreement with Ethan's suggestion. "Let's eat first!" he said, then began eating heartily. Ethan followed suit. Despite the Duke's seemingly crude manner of eating with his hands, he didn't actually eat much, barely finishing a piece of lamb. In contrast, although Ethan used a knife and fork, he seemed more gluttonous, almost devouring the entire roast lamb. Besides the lamb, there were numerous slices of pickled cucumbers, a large pot of mushroom soup, and several thick slices of bread.
Ethan split the bread in half, layered it with slices of lamb and pickled cucumbers, drizzled some sauce on top, and repeated the process two or three times, creating a makeshift lamb sandwich. Each bite was an explosion of flavors, with the silky lamb, tangy cucumbers, and soft bread. The Duke found this interesting and tried making one himself. To his surprise, it was quite enjoyable, and he nodded approvingly as he ate. Despite the lack of formal dining etiquette, the two enjoyed their meal.
Afterward, they lounged by the fireplace to digest. The Duke, feeling somewhat uncomfortable from overeating, leaned back in his chair. He was, after all, getting on in years.
"Knight Ethan, you are quite the character. You went out of your way to appear uncouth to make me feel comfortable, and now I've eaten too much because of it," the Duke said, chuckling.
Ethan knew his little act hadn't fooled the Duke but he had to play along. "Honestly, this is how I always eat. I just try to mind my manners when I'm away from home."
The Duke laughed heartily. "Alright, enough about that. I invited you here for a reason. The first matter is regarding the attack on the Lawson territory. Although I just started investigating, it seems things are worse than we thought. It indeed involves internal factions from the North, and quite a few people are involved. I can't divulge the details, but I assure you, no more attacks from our side will happen."
"I understand, Your Grace, and I believe in your promise," Ethan replied.
"Thank you for your understanding," the Duke said, with a bitter smile. "The second matter concerns you. During our investigations, we discovered you have ties with an elf, correct?"
Ethan nodded again. "Yes, her name is Avril. Is there a problem?"
"Her name is not Avril," the Duke said sternly. "Her real name is Aisyame. While she herself is not a major problem, she is a small-time fraudster, a fallen elf. But her teacher is a different matter."
"Her teacher?" Ethan asked, puzzled.
"Yes, her teacher," the Duke continued, taking a sip of wine. "Her teacher was exiled by the elves a thousand years ago. He is known as the Deceiver, Gilpandas. For nearly a millennium, through human dynastic changes, foreign power shifts, and every major war, he has been a shadowy presence. Although we have no concrete evidence of his involvement, his appearances have led us to believe he has been orchestrating or at least participating in these upheavals. The severity of his actions means suspicion is enough; we don't need proof. The Elven Queen has issued a warrant for his capture. If you don't want trouble, stay away from that elf. Also, if you discover any signs of the Deceiver, inform me directly. I will handle it personally."
Ethan was shocked. He never imagined that knowing an elf could lead to such complications involving a notorious figure like the Deceiver. He decided it was better to clarify his relationship with Aisyame, even if it was embarrassing. "No wonder Avril tricked me out of a combat technique and then disappeared. It seems she was taught by a master con artist. Her acting was indeed impressive, truly portraying the role of a cunning hunter."
The Duke laughed, whether he believed Ethan or not was unclear, but since Ethan distanced himself from Aisyame, he didn't pursue the matter further. The Duke only needed Ethan to protect the Lawson territory.
The conversation then shifted to lighter topics, and they chatted late into the night. Noticing the Duke's fatigue, Ethan excused himself, claiming he was also tired and needed rest. The Duke, appreciating Ethan's thoughtfulness, agreed and retired for the night.
Over the next two days, Ethan stayed at the Duke's castle, completing the promised task of carrying Brisson's coffin. Despite some humiliating incidents, including a slap mark on his face left by an angry young magic apprentice, Ethan kept his composure as he had promised the Duke.
When he finally returned to his own territory by ship, two days had passed. The knights left behind to guard the area quickly packed up their tents and prepared to leave. They had learned from previous mistakes and brought their own tents to camp outside.
After a brief farewell, the knights departed, and Angelina and the others came to greet Ethan warmly. After exchanging pleasantries, Ethan and Angelina retired to the captain's quarters. Angelina, noticing the slap mark on Ethan's face, asked with concern what had happened. Not wanting to worry her, Ethan played it down, focusing on his meeting with the Duke rather than the slap. Angelina, sensing his reluctance, didn't press further and instead changed the subject, eyeing the sword at Ethan's waist.
"Is this the compensation from the Duke?" Angelina asked.
Ethan nodded, untying the strap and handing her the sword. "Yes, it looks similar to the Champion's Blade and has some inscriptions, but I can't read them."
Angelina drew the sword from its scabbard with some effort. As Ethan said, it resembled the Champion's Blade but had no grooves and a complete blade with a line of strange characters that looked like tiny blue tadpoles swimming. Angelina's eyes widened as she read the inscription. "This is... Ethan, you can't keep this sword!"
Ethan frowned. "Why not?"
"This is Elvish script," Angelina said, furrowing her brows. "It says, 'Gift from Utheris to the Duke of the North.' So this sword is actually..."