After being kicked out by Priscilla, Graham didn't mind. Instead, he relaxed and began to wander around the mansion.
This would be his home from now on, so he needed to familiarize himself with the environment.
Strictly speaking, this wasn't Priscilla's mansion, but the mansion of Baron Leip Barielle, and Priscilla was the nominal Baroness.
Leip Barielle was the lord of this land, already over 70 years old.
Due to the death of the king of the Kingdom of Lugunica and the queen dying without an heir, a royal selection had to be held!
The royal selection was a major event that shook the entire Kingdom of Lugunica.
A king had to be chosen to replace the royal family that had died out due to illness, and he had to lead the dragon into the future. {T/N: it would've been nice to know for how long Graham stayed at the Gladiator Island😔}
Leip was entrusted by the Lugunican Royal Family to have the responsibility of administrating the Dragon History Stone, so he had already grasped the information about the royal selection before the royal family died.
Using the information about the prophecy to his advantage, he searched for a candidate and found Priscilla, who had lived in Lugunica for several years. {T/N: I could've sworn it was said the MC was in the Vollachia Empire in the Earlier chapters... Someone refresh my memory please}
He planned to take the initiative by marrying Priscilla, who had the qualifications to be a candidate, and then use her to gain control of the entire kingdom!
However, this old man wouldn't live much longer. Could just anyone marry Priscilla?
Before Leip, Priscilla had already had seven husbands, but none of the marriages lasted more than a year before they died due to various accidents. People speculated that this had something to do with Priscilla, hence she was also called the "Bloody Bride."
Even so, due to her extraordinary beauty, men who saw her forgot about this ominous title and vied to marry her.
Priscilla indeed possessed such charm. Her strong self-confidence and graceful demeanor at all times were not something an ordinary person could have, but Leip certainly couldn't enjoy it.
In Graham's view, Leip was just a short-lived ghost.
*Thud*
As he walked, a figure suddenly bumped into him, but it was the other person who fell.
Graham raised an eyebrow and looked at the person who bumped into him and said, "Are you okay? Remember to watch where you're going,"
It was the pink-haired servant in a butler's uniform, about eleven or twelve years old, named Schult.
Hearing this, Schult weakly glanced at him, shook his head, and hesitated to speak.
"Um... can you come with me? Someone wants to see you."
"Lead the way," Graham glanced at him casually, scaring the pink-haired boy into bowing repeatedly. It seems Graham's bloody duels had left a deep impression on Schult.
Following the timid pink-haired boy, Graham walked through a long corridor, turning left and right, until they arrived at the door of a luxurious study that looked high-end and grand.
Schult cautiously looked around, and seeing no one, he said, "The lord is inside. Sir Knight, please go in yourself. I have to go back and wait upon Mistress Barielle."
Earlier, Priscilla had asked Schult to deliver food, so Schult had to go back and wait. This mistress was too difficult to serve.
"Okay," Graham nodded noncommittally.
*Click~*
Opening the door, a delicate study appeared before him. Inside, a white-haired but strong old man, who was clearly over 70 but looked only 50, was sitting in a chair, quietly observing him.
"You've arrived, Graham." he spoke.
"Yes. May I ask why you wanted to see me, Lord Barielle?" Graham asked expressionlessly.
Leip's fox-like eyes glanced at him, showing a satisfied look. He then turned a book, and a hidden door appeared.
"Hehe, of course, it's something very important. Come, let's talk inside."
Graham followed him inside, and Leip finally got to the point.
Looking at the handsome knight in front of him, Leip said, "I wonder, Ser Graham, why exactly are you here?"
"Isn't it obvious, Lord Barielle? Naturally, to become the princess's knight."
Graham had a look of 'are you kidding me'.
"Hmph! That woman just happened to be inspecting the fields when the harvest happened to increased, yet the shameless fools called her the 'Sun Princess'! It's utterly ridiculous!"
Leip looked displeased because the rumors about him among the people were very negative, while those about Priscilla were so positive. How could he not be jealous?
Hearing this, Graham shrugged, indicating for him to continue.
'If it was just a coincidence, then why don't you go to the fields yourself and see if you can coincidentally increase the yield?'
Priscilla was a very capable woman, unlike Leip, who was just an outdated, exploitative and parasitic noble!
With the 'Divine Protection of the Sun', maybe the world really did revolve around her.
"Hmph, let me be direct with you Graham, you're infatuated with that woman, aren't you? Let's not even talk about her 'Bloody Bride' rumors, I don't even know what you all see in her."
Leip despised men's interest in her, which Graham found laughable.
"If you don't like her, Lord Barielle, then why marry her?" Graham asked in response.
"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about," Leip glanced at him and continued, "If it weren't for the upcoming royal selection, and her being a royal candidate, I wouldn't want to marry such a woman..."
Then, Leip confidently revealed his purpose for summoning Graham, "So, Graham, what is it that you truly seek? Is it that woman, wealth, or the power of nobility?"
Hearing this, Graham stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and replied, "Alright, I'll be honest, I'm attracted to the princess's beauty. So, since I'm a knight who has interest in your wife... Lord Barielle, are you perhaps planning to silence me?"
Hearing this, Leip didn't get angry; instead, he laughed heartily, "Of course not, this just means our goals are aligned! After the royal selection has concluded, I'll give you that woman to do with as you please, how about that?"
"Can you make that decision? The princess is quite self-willed." Graham looked at the old man with suspicion.
"Hmph! Her self-will is indeed troublesome, but no worries! I have a way to make her obedient, as long as... hehe~"
"Um, I'm quite interested, what is the method? Can you tell me?" Graham asked.
"Of course." Leip nodded, "The plan is to hire a witch to use magic to turn her into a puppet. Then, you can do whatever you want with her."
"A witch? Is there such a person?"
"Of course. Don't worry, Graham, you just need to be like Schult and follow my guidance and you'll be sure to achieve your goal."
"So Schult is also your planted agent? Forgive me for saying this, but old man, you're quite despicable."
Schult was personally brought back by Priscilla from a village in the territory. However, Graham had suspected him earlier when Schult brought him here, and it turned out to be true.
"Hmph, you're no better for agreeing to join forces with me! Besides, it's that woman's poor judgment of people that made things easier. I just promised Schult more power and a better life, and he eagerly agreed to be my agent!"
Leip glanced at Graham and said, "It's the same with you."
"Yes, yes~ you're right. So, what do you want me to do?" Graham shrugged, acknowledging their alliance.
"Don't worry. You just need to monitor that woman and report her movements to me. If necessary, check if she has any other tricks up her sleeve. For example, any methods to increase the yield of the fields~"
"...I understand, a pleasure working with you then."
"The pleasure is all mine. I look forward to your performance, Ser Graham."
Having reached a friendly understanding, Graham left the study and resumed his leisurely demeanor, wandering around the mansion.
As for the benefits Leip promised, he just listened without taking them seriously. How could Leip's tricks possibly outmatch Priscilla?
...
{T/N: Making sense of this chapter has been a nightmare... I suggest checking out the original site to see if I messed anything up.}