1
The night had already fallen deep, yet the night sky over Thorsburg was still as bright as day. Just like in Southport, whenever night came, the streets and alleys in Thorsburg were lit up with one bright lamp after another. The squares in front of those magnificent and huge buildings were even more brightly illuminated by the lights, presenting a splendid and brightly lit scene that caught one's eye.
On both sides of the street, an oil lamp stood every five or six meters or so. They were like loyal guards, quietly emitting a soft light. And those lamplighters were pushing small carts filled with lamp oil, shuttling back and forth along the streets to patrol. They were undoubtedly the messengers of light in the dark night. Through their hard work, they lit up every corner of Thorsburg. Meanwhile, they were also the busiest figures in every night, measuring the streets and alleys of the city with their own steps.
The night in Thorsburg, just like that in Southport, was a lively and busy scene. For the residents living in Lyle, Piton and Bart and other places, it had been their long-established habit to go to bed early after nightfall. However, for the numerous residents in Thorsburg and Southport, the night was precisely the moment when the real life of a day began.
At this moment, Ivan was sitting in an extremely luxurious carriage, snuggling tightly in the arms of Miss Betty. Their affectionate behavior didn't affect their concentration on reading the thin document in Miss Betty's hand at all.
"The influence of the Tornum family in Thorsburg should not be underestimated," Miss Betty said softly. Her voice was soft yet clear, as if she was about to tell the long-standing family story in a leisurely manner. "For centuries, this family has always been in charge of numerous affairs, big and small, in the Piton region. In the beginning, it was formed by six originally scattered families through continuous intermarriages. After a long period of time, they finally merged into such a closely-knit whole. During these hundreds of years, these six families always intermarried within a relatively narrow range. As time passed, a solid and inseparable bond was formed. This family owns more than a dozen viscount titles. In the southern part of France, their influence is deeply rooted and intertwined."
Miss Betty patiently and meticulously imparted everything she knew about the Tornum family to Ivan. She looked so serious, just like a conscientious teacher teaching her student.
"Compared with the three major families in Thorsburg, what advantages does the Tornum family have?" Ivan raised his head slightly, his eyes full of curiosity and the eagerness to learn. He asked Miss Betty softly.
"They are completely different situations. Even among the three major families in Thorsburg, there are also huge differences among them," Miss Betty paused for a moment, sorted out her thoughts, and then began to introduce them in detail.
"The Fesinan family is the family with the longest history among the three major families. Looking back in time, the ancestors of the Fesinan family were the most capable deputies of the ancestors of the Medin family. Since then, the descendants of the Fesinan family have been loyally assisting the lords of the Medin family from generation to generation. Therefore, nominally, apart from the Medin family, the Fesinan family can be regarded as the most noble aristocratic family, and its status and reputation are among the top among many aristocrats."
"As for the Lewy family, its origin is different. During the reign of King Francis VII, it was His Majesty who issued a decree in person and dispatched the Lewy family to Thorsburg to take charge of military affairs. It was precisely because of this appointment by His Majesty that this family has always had an unshakable position in the past few hundred years. However, Thorsburg has always been relatively peaceful and hardly any wars have broken out. Therefore, the military affairs here mainly play the roles of maintaining order and executing judgments. As a result, although the Lewy family seems to have extremely powerful power on the surface, in fact, the influence it exerts is not as great as people think."
"When it comes to the family with truly powerful influence in Thorsburg, it must be the Martill family. This Martill family was originally a local noble family in Thorsburg. Long before His Majesty King Francis V started to reclaim the vast land in the southern part of France, they had already settled down here. It can be said that Thorsburg was able to develop from a desolate place into what it is like today with a certain scale. The Martill family has made great contributions. It was precisely by virtue of this merit that this family almost controlled all the powers at the top of Thorsburg. For a long period of time, they could be regarded as the de facto lords. Before Southport and Lyle flourished, all the administrative affairs in Thorsburg were firmly in the hands of this family. After all, at that time, they held the power of taxation in the southern part of France, which was the key to controlling a region." Miss Betty introduced the past and present situations of each family as if she were enumerating her family treasures.
Just then, Ivan suddenly seemed to think of some important question and couldn't help but interrupt and ask, "Isn't the taxation no longer in the hands of the Martill family now?"
"Well, it's both yes and no in this matter, Ivan. You should know that Southport and Lyle are the private domains of the Medin family. In our country of France, the property within a private domain belongs to the lord who owns the domain. The lord only needs to pay a certain proportion of tax according to the size of the land. However, there is only one exception. That is, if a gold mine is discovered within the domain, the gold mine must belong to His Majesty the King. Of course, His Majesty the King will not let the lord suffer in vain. A certain proportion of the money will be set aside from the income obtained from the gold mine exploitation as compensation and given to the lord." Miss Betty explained patiently, hoping that Ivan could have a clearer understanding of these complicated situations.
"Although Southport is not a gold mine, it can be regarded as a cash cow more valuable than any gold mine. However, there has never been a precedent requiring the Medin family to turn over the tax in full to His Majesty the King. However, the old Earl of Medin is not a greedy and stingy person. He still followed the practice when a gold mine was discovered and handed over most of the tax to His Majesty the King. Moreover, the responsibility of tax collection has always been firmly in the hands of the old earl. Because of this, the financial power that was originally in the hands of the Martill family has returned to the Medin family in the past few decades, and then the old earl has re - distributed these powers. As far as I know, the Martill family is extremely dissatisfied with this. So, according to my aunt's speculation, the most likely mastermind behind the scenes who may play tricks is probably the Martill family." Miss Betty said slowly.
"Then, does my aunt have any way to deal with the Martill family?" Ivan asked with curiosity.
"It's very difficult. The Martill family not only has great power in Thorsburg, but also its influence at the court should not be underestimated. You may not know that the original noble rank of the Martill family was only viscount. However, because they have always controlled the financial power in Thorsburg, they have gradually become the richest family in Thorsburg during these hundreds of years. With strong financial resources as support, they naturally have enough money to manage affairs up and down at the court. In this way, the identity of viscount has slowly changed to count. In fact, the Martill family has close marriage relations with many families in the capital, which further stabilizes their position in Thorsburg." Miss Betty explained helplessly.
"Then what is my aunt's plan?" Ivan continued to ask.
"Well, I'm not quite sure either. She just told me to try my best to help you get familiar with these nobles in Thorsburg. Because although the Martill family is powerful, they are not omnipotent and can't control everything completely. Especially in the recent decades, their strength has been weakened quite a lot. As long as we handle it properly, it is entirely possible to make the Martill family powerless." Miss Betty said.
"So, it's for this reason that we must win over the Tornum family, as well as the Reltar family and the Pifle family that we visited before, right?" Ivan asked.
"Yes. The Reltar family is in charge of the knight regiment in Thorsburg. This is a very powerful weapon in the hands of the Medin family. Moreover, the Reltar family and the Lewy family can also restrain each other. The Pifle family is in charge of agricultural and transportation affairs. Although its status and authority don't seem particularly high, they are extremely important. This family is quite large in scale and has unimaginable potential strength. And as far as I know, in Thorsburg, apart from the Medin family and the Martill family, the Pifle family is the richest. As for the Tornum family, they are in charge of the Piton County and have extensive connections. What's more, these three families have inseparable connections with the Medin family from generation to generation and have always been the most loyal supporters of the Medin family." Miss Betty introduced patiently.
"It's easy to see that. When the old Viscount Reltar saw me, he was particularly excited, and so was his son. The Viscount Pifle's family was too warm and polite, and I could hardly bear it. I don't know what attitude the Tornum family will have when they see me." Ivan said with a smile, with an expectant and slightly nervous look on his face.
"Of course. Viscount Reltar watched your mother grow up. He loves your mother, Miss Lisa, like a father. You don't know that your mother was a very naughty girl when she was a child. One time, she accidentally fell into the river. The river was flowing very fast. Coincidentally, it was the son of Viscount Reltar who jumped into the surging river without hesitation and saved your mother. However, his left arm was broken by a big tree flowing downstream. So you can also see that his hand has never been very dexterous." Miss Betty explained with a smile, with a trace of warm memory in her eyes.
Ivan felt more or less uncomfortable with Miss Betty's intentional or unintentional reminder that Miss Lisa was his mother, but he was too embarrassed to say it.
"However, the Tornum family may not be so polite to you." Miss Betty pursed her lips and said with a sly smile.
"Why?" Ivan asked hurriedly, with a puzzled look on his face.
"That's because the Tornum family has always had a deep - seated prejudice against Mr. Bayndit. The reputation of the Bayndit family is not very good. Moreover, the Tornum family is large in population, and there are quite a lot of people in the family who had a secret crush on your mother. Now, several important figures in the Tornum family had a secret crush on your mother in the past." Miss Betty patiently explained the reason.
"Hopefully they don't know what Lisa... my mommy, has become." Ivan summoned up his courage to say "mommy". After saying it, he found that it wasn't as difficult as he had imagined.
"Unfortunately, they do," Miss Betty said with a look of regret. "Moreover, you don't have a very good reputation either. But I don't mean that the little secrets between Miss Lisa and her child are known to everyone. It's because Baron Lonna is very close to the Tornum family, and Viscount Terbor is a member of the Tornum family. You should know what his impression of you is."
"Viscount Terbor?" Ivan was truly shocked, and his face was full of astonishment.
"Yes. When you go to the Tornum family today, you will definitely meet quite a few people you already know," Miss Betty said with a smile.
At this point, Ivan immediately felt a headache. His relationship with Miss Fanny had always been something that weighed on his heart and made him feel deeply guilty. He had always deliberately avoided thinking about it before. But now, it was clearly unavoidable.
During the rest of the journey, Ivan remained gloomy, racking his brains to find a way to untie this knot, but after thinking about it for a long time, he had no clue.
Miss Betty, on the other hand, smiled and quietly watched the young husband arranged for her by the old Miss Medin beside her, this young man with high hopes. She thought to herself that she didn't know how he would face this emotional entanglement. After all, in this kind of matter, except for himself, no one else could give guidance. All the choices had to be made by him.
The carriage sped through the streets and alleys like the wind, and the street lamps on the roadside were left behind one by one. Before long, the residence of the current head of the Tornum family in Thorsburg came into view.
Looking from the carriage, an ancient residence with a rather large area came into sight. The dark - red brick walls were covered with green vines, mottled, showing the marks of the passage of time. And the slightly rusted iron fence painted with black paint outside was all telling the long history of this family.
An iron - barred gate separated the inside and outside of the residence. Two family crests were inlaid on the gate, one on the left and one on the right, exuding a simple and solemn atmosphere. Through the iron - barred gate, the lush trees planted in the courtyard could be clearly seen. These trees were obviously not as old as this residence. Otherwise, they would have grown into giant trees long ago. Among the forest of trees, a corner of the blue - brick and red - walled building could be vaguely seen, giving a mysterious and deep feeling.
At the main entrance, the servants had already been waiting there respectfully. They all had focused expressions, quietly waiting for the arrival of the distinguished guests.
As soon as the carriage that Ivan was in appeared, the servants immediately perked up. After all, this carriage was the special carriage of the old Miss Medin, and it was known to everyone in the whole Thorsburg. Obviously, the noble heir of the lord had arrived.
The servants hurriedly and attentively came forward and carefully helped Ivan get off the carriage. And the person in charge of delivering the message had already run towards the hall where the masters of the residence were waiting.
Before long, a large group of people poured out of the residence.
Leading the group was an old man with an unusually broad body, yet his short stature was so disproportionate that he looked rather peculiar. The old man was dressed in a blue - gray woolen formal suit, and a red sash slanted from his left shoulder to his right waist, looking very formal. Time, like a ruthless carving knife, had not only taken away his youth but also his hair. Under the illumination of the lights, his bald head was particularly conspicuous. In contrast to his rather large build, he had a pair of tiny eyes and eyebrows that were so faint as to be almost invisible. Instead, his large nose became the most prominent feature on his face. Above his thick lips were two small mustaches that trembled with his movements.
The old man walked with a slightly staggering gait, swaying his body as he came towards Ivan and the others. Behind him was a long line of people, men and women, old and young, making quite a lively scene.
Just as Miss Betty had said, Viscount Terbor was among the crowd. He was in a relatively rear position, and from the look on his face, it was obvious that meeting Ivan was not something he was willing to do.
However, his father - in - law and mother - in - law were extremely enthusiastic. The two old people closely followed the fat old man, their faces full of smiles and their eyes showing eagerness.
Beside the old couple was their granddaughter closely following. The young lady had a sweet smile on her face, but her large, shiny eyes revealed an anxious and longing look. No one knew what she was expecting.
To Ivan's surprise, the beautiful daughter of Baron Lonna was also among the crowd. She looked somewhat hesitant, as if she was eagerly looking forward to this meeting yet deeply worried that they would be in an awkward situation when they met. After all, the Ivan she liked was no longer the Ivan at the ball. The status of the heir of the lord was like a deep chasm between them, and it was almost an insurmountable one.
"Oh, respected Mr. Ivan, welcome to my home as a guest. Consider this place as your own home. Your father and uncles have always been the most 受欢迎的贵客 in my place," the old man said as he walked over enthusiastically and hugged Ivan warmly.
According to the information Miss Betty had told him in advance, Ivan naturally knew that the old man in front of him was the current head of the Tornum family - Viscount Tornum.
Ivan knew that he must not be rude to this old man, so he bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Viscount, you are one of my grandfather's best friends. There's no reason for you to come out to greet me in person. You can call me Ivan just like my aunt."
"Haha, what a polite child. Hendred was absolutely right. Lord Hyde is truly the best guardian in the world," the old man said with a big smile.
The old couple standing behind the old man also looked particularly happy. This was because there were at least three reasons why they had a great affection for Ivan.
First, Ivan was Miss Lisa's child. The couple had always loved Lisa deeply as if she were their own daughter. Loving the house because of the owner, they naturally had a special love for Ivan.
Second, at the banquet held at Baron Lonna's house, Ivan had left a very deep and positive impression on them. Ivan's various behaviors at the banquet, whether in speech, manner, or dealing with people, had won great praise from the old couple.
Thirdly, the old couple was well aware that their granddaughter and the lovely young daughter of Baron Lonna both had a secret crush on Ivan.
Regarding this affection, the old couple's view was completely different from that of their son - in - law, Viscount Terbor. In their opinion, this couldn't be blamed on Ivan. One couldn't attribute all the faults to the blood of a playboy from his father's family. Although the old couple also had some opinions about Mr. Bayrdit, they felt that the noble blood that Ivan inherited from his mother's side obviously played a more significant role in this child. As for their little granddaughter falling into the unrequited love, it could only be blamed on the infinite charm that Ivan inherited from his mother. Back in the day, Lisa also drove countless young people in Thorsburg crazy. It couldn't be blamed on Lisa herself.
In fact, Baron and Baroness Hendred had long attributed their son - in - law Viscount Terbor's view of Ivan to the combined effect of jealousy and prejudice. In their view, their son - in - law was still brooding over his failure to court Miss Lisa back then, so much so that he took his anger out on Lisa's son.
"Ivan, you're finally here. My sister Fanny and I have been looking forward to seeing you again," said the daughter of Viscount Terbor with a bright smile, as beautiful as a blooming flower in spring.
"Indeed. They've been looking forward to your arrival. I told them that you wouldn't arrive until at least after dinner, but they just wouldn't listen and didn't even have a proper dinner. Ivan, now that you're finally here, what are we still standing here for? Let's go inside. Ivan, our Tornum family is an extremely large family in the southern part of France. Later, I'll introduce the members of our family to you. It'll surely surprise you," said Viscount Tornum as he enthusiastically pulled Ivan into the residence.
This time, the daughter of Viscount Terbor no longer followed her grandparents. She quietly walked to Ivan's side and stood side by side with him. This move made Viscount Terbor extremely unhappy. He wished he could rush forward immediately and pull his daughter back. At least, he couldn't let this little girl get too close to that "little rascal".
In Viscount Terbor's view, the Bayndit family was the most dangerous existence for girls. In his mind, just talking to the descendants of the Bayndit family was enough to make a pure virgin lose her chastity. If a girl kissed a descendant of the Bayndit family, she might even get pregnant. He thought that the blood flowing in the veins of the descendants of the Bayndit family was not normal blood at all. Their brains were not filled with brain matter but with another milky - white viscous liquid. In his heart, the descendants of this lewd and shameless family should be used as the main ingredient on a barbecue grill. They should be hanged on a gallows like hanging clothes. Moreover, the punishment of beheading should be carried out when they were underage. Only in this way could greater harm be avoided when they grew up.
Viscount Terbor stood far away, his eyes cold and glaring at Ivan as if they could spit fire. He really wanted to pull his daughter over. However, with his father - in - law and mother - in - law supporting his daughter behind her back, the little girl simply wouldn't listen to him. This really left Viscount Terbor with no choice but to stare helplessly and sulk.
In this way, surrounded by the crowd, Ivan passed through a row of lush trees and arrived in front of the magnificent mansion of the Tornum family.
This was a five - story brick - and - wood structure building. Years had left deep marks on its outer walls, like the weather - beaten wrinkles on an old man's face. Ivan secretly guessed that when the rainy season came, the outside of this house must be covered with moss and lichen. What an ancient and charming scene would that be?
This historic building was not overly decorated with magnificent sculptures. Except for a few stone statues standing along the edge of the roof, everything else seemed so simple and unadorned. Looking at this simple building, Ivan couldn't help but remember what Miss Betty had said before. The Tornum family might be one of the richest families in Thorsburg. He couldn't help but wonder if the descendants of this family had piled up thousands of gold coins in the cellar. Compared with their third - ranked wealth status in Thorsburg, this mansion was like the residence of a miser.
Entering the mansion, the interior still maintained that simple style. There were no luxurious decorative ornaments or precious utensils. The furniture in the house was not much different from that of an ordinary family, except that the space was much larger and the number of chairs was far more than that of an ordinary family.
The important members of the Tornum family entered the hall one after another, while the women and children went to the lounge. Everyone took their seats on the sofas in the middle of the hall.
Viscount Tornum began to introduce the identities of the people present one by one. Just as he had said before, the Tornum family was truly enormous. It took nearly half an hour just to briefly introduce the important members who had status and were in charge of certain family affairs. Although Ivan listened attentively, there were so many people that he couldn't remember a single one. There was no way around it; there were just too many people in this family. Anyway, as the old man kept introducing, Ivan just kept nodding.
After all the introductions were completed, the old man suddenly became serious and asked, "Dear Ivan, for the sake of my friendship with your grandfather, tell me clearly. What are you planning to do? What kind of achievements do you want to make in Thorsburg? I once heard Lonna talk about you. You said at his ball that you didn't want to be involved in political turmoil. That obviously wasn't your true thought, was it?"
"I wasn't lying. In my heart, I truly don't want to be involved in any disputes. You should know that I have a magic teacher. For me, the vast and mysterious magic world is more attractive," Ivan replied.
Hearing Ivan's words, the old man was at a loss for words for a moment. He didn't think Ivan was just pretending to decline. After all, it was hard to say which identity, a lord or a magician, was more noble. Moreover, in most people's eyes, the identity of a magician was more attractive than that of a lord. The number of lords in the Kingdom of France was countless, but the number of magicians could be counted. For Ivan, the path to becoming a lord was full of thorns, danger, and hardship. Many people didn't want him to take that position, and one could imagine the difficulties he would face. But if Ivan decided to become a magician, no one would oppose it. Even His Majesty the King would be willing to provide him with everything he needed. Magicians were favored in any country. From any perspective, if Ivan only considered himself, the choice should be clear.
The old man nodded slightly and said, "It seems this is Lord Hyde's intention."
"Lord Hyde said that I can choose my own path," Ivan replied.
Ivan's answer aroused great curiosity among the people. It seemed somewhat contradictory to the previous answer. Of course, Ivan could guess what was on everyone's mind. Seizing the opportunity was one of the most important skills that Audrey taught him. The key to seizing the opportunity was to be adaptable. To put it bluntly, it was to talk differently according to different people.
Ivan knew in his heart that for the Tornum family, they didn't want the status quo to change. If this family was really the third - richest in Thorsburg as Miss Betty said, then they must have countless connections with Southport and Lyle. Harming the interests of Southport would undoubtedly harm their own interests as well.
Ivan said, "I was born and grew up in Southport. Compared with Thorsburg, Southport is more like my hometown."
Ivan knew that he should know when to stop talking. This was what Audrey taught him. Audrey once said that the most brilliant speaking skill was to stop at the right point. There was no need to be too explicit. Doing so had at least two great advantages. On the one hand, it could make oneself seem mysterious. People who knew this skill were definitely not incompetent. On the other hand, and a greater advantage, it wouldn't make one's performance seem too deliberate. Sure enough, Audrey's teaching was correct. Most of the Tornum family understood the deep meaning in Ivan's words, and this choice was exactly what they expected and welcomed.
"Ivan, you should be very clear about how powerful the forces opposing you are," said Baron Hendred.
"I'm very clear. When my family was ransacked in Southport and attacked in Bart Forest, I already knew," Ivan replied.
"Aren't you afraid?" Baron Hendred asked again.
"A little afraid, but also a little excited. I really want to be a great explorer like my grandfather," Ivan said. There was a special glint in his eyes. It wasn't a deliberate act but came from the bottom of his heart.
"Your grandfather?" Viscount Tornum asked with a puzzled look.
"Oh, it's Mr. Hyde. I'm used to calling him grandfather," Ivan explained with a smile.
"Lord Hyde is truly an extraordinary person," Baron Hendred chimed in.
"Ivan, I went to check the place where you were attacked on the way. It was a tragic battlefield. The fierce battle that took place there was probably the only war since Thorsburg was built. We found at least forty corpses there. Ivan, I also heard that yesterday, on a street near the cathedral, an extremely terrifying tragedy occurred. It is said that a person sitting in a carriage killed the coachman pulling the carriage with a heavy military crossbow and then committed suicide. According to witnesses, when the tragedy happened, there was another carriage in front of this carriage. A boy jumped off that carriage, and then the two carriages fled quickly. I want to know, was that boy you? And what was that tragedy all about?" Viscount Tornum asked with a serious look.
"Yes, it was me. For my own safety, the best way is to make myself capable of protecting myself. So Mr. Hyde has put a lot of effort into teaching me many life - saving skills," Ivan replied.
"Now I'm truly in awe of Lord Hyde," the old man said with emotion. "And you, Ivan, are undoubtedly excellent. However, those people even dared to use such dangerous weapons as heavy military crossbows. It seems that the forces threatening you should not be underestimated. How do you plan to fight against this power?"
Ivan knew very well that after saying so much, this was the question that the old man was most concerned about. These families would never risk their own fates on a gamble. Before deciding to support him, they at least had to know the possibility of success.
Sure enough, as soon as this question was raised, the men around showed great interest. They all pricked up their ears, afraid of missing a single word.
Ivan thought about it for a while and finally decided to reveal a little of Mr. Hyde's plan. Actually, even if he didn't tell the Tornum family, once Mr. Hyde took action, people would still suspect him. At that time, the Tornum family would surely feel that he didn't trust them. However, this matter needed careful consideration. After all, it was a big deal and allowed no sloppiness.
"Neither Mr. Hyde nor I are cowardly. But we are not barbarians who are keen on fighting all day long. Mr. Hyde and I always believe that peace and tranquility are of vital importance to the southern part of France. Those brutal bandits must be completely eradicated. Of course, it would be even better if the masterminds behind the scenes could be dug out. But I'm afraid that if we dig, there will be a chain reaction, and it will be even more difficult to handle. So, for those hiding in the dark, let them stay hidden for the time being. We only need to clean up those that have emerged and are likely to harm others," Ivan said unhurriedly.
He knew very well that at this time, Herbert's unchanging expression was the most convincing. Except for not having Herbert's hoarse voice, Ivan imitated Herbert's demeanor perfectly. After all, he had spent a whole month with Herbert. During this month, they were together day and night, and Ivan could always feel the oppressive feeling emanating from Herbert. So he knew very well how to intimidate these ordinary people.
If Audrey were here, she would be proud of her student, because Ivan successfully intimidated everyone in the Tornum family.
Everyone present, regardless of age or status, couldn't help but gasp. In their eyes, Ivan was completely different from other members of the Medin family and was a unique heir.
In their impression, whether it was the old Earl Medin or his two sons, they were all gentle - natured and gave people a refined and gentle feeling.
Ivan, on the other hand, was completely different. Usually, he was as refined and gentle as other members of the Medin family. But sometimes, he was like a long sword suddenly drawn from its sheath. The sharp blade glinted with a cold light, emitting an extremely dangerous aura.
Perhaps the misfortunes of the three Earls of Medin were related to their idea of making peace and not wanting to further expand the conflict. They hoped to avoid the black hands reaching from behind in a peaceful way and by hiding under solid protection.
However, Ivan obviously wouldn't do that. Although he was much younger than his grandfather and two uncles, his way of dealing with the world was much more sophisticated.
Viscount Tornum seemed to have already seen the bloody battles and cruel and rapid killings that were about to take place in Thorsburg, just like the constant flashes of swords and shadows in the political conspiracies in the capital, France, for nearly a thousand years. The victor would step on the red carpet dyed red with blood.
Should he support such a lord heir? The viscount was in a state of hesitation.
In his view, Ivan was far less elegant and noble than his ancestors and fathers. The three lords were undoubtedly kind - hearted good people. Although Mr. Bayndit had a bad reputation and was a well - known libertine and lecher, he also had the title of a philanthropist.
However, Ivan was completely different. He had a natural talent for being a politician. Would such a person make a good lord? The viscount wasn't sure about it. For a moment, the atmosphere became heavy and silent.
Miss Betty knew very well what Viscount Tornum was thinking. Meanwhile, she also understood that there was no room for negotiation in what Ivan had said, because Ivan was just a messenger. The one who was really manipulating everything behind the scenes was Mr. Hyde. In fact, the actions that Mr. Hyde was about to take had been expected by the old Miss Medin all along. Although she didn't know exactly who Mr. Hyde was, since he could plan such a huge scheme, he was definitely not comparable to merchants like Mayer and Dauphin. However, her aunt had already said that no matter what Mr. Hyde was planning, they must support him with all their strength, because this might be the last hope for the Medin family, and this glimmer of hope must not be extinguished.
Thinking of this, Miss Betty broke the silence and said, "Viscount Tornum, you and the old earl were good friends for many years. You must be extremely sad about his passing. Now, Ivan is the only remaining heir of the Medin family. If the other side takes more drastic measures, do you have the ability to protect the last heir of the Medin family from harm? You've also seen that those people are becoming more and more unscrupulous. Aren't you worried that this wanton behavior will spread to other areas? Do you think that after the Medin family is wiped out, those people will stop there or will they continue to stay in Thorsburg to stir up trouble whenever they want?"
Miss Betty's words were like a sharp knife, stabbing straight into the hearts of the members of the Tornum family. They had been worried all along that the power would become more and more out of control. Perhaps, by then, Thorsburg would fall into a bloody and dark rule. Maybe, letting those who were keen on killing counterbalance the killers and using those who were good at violence to fight against violence was the most appropriate choice.
Thinking of this, Viscount Tornum nodded and said, "Our family and the Medin family have been friends for generations. The Tornum family will always stand by the side of the Medin family."
"Thank you very much for your great support, my lord," Ivan said politely according to diplomatic etiquette.
After stating their stance, the members of the Tornum family obviously felt much more relaxed.
Baron Hendred said, "Ivan, it's rare for you to visit our home. There are quite a few people upstairs in the lounge who are about the same age as you. Everything about you is full of novelty and excitement for them. Moreover, they have never really seen a magician before. Miss Fanny is also upstairs. She's looking forward to your visit!"
"Yes, yes. Since Viscount Terbor told everyone what happened at Baron Lonna's banquet, you've already become a prominent figure in Thorsburg. It's just that we didn't know your true identity as the heir of the lord," Viscount Tornum said with a smile.
"Mr. Ivan, your acting skills are really superb. That day at the dinner table, we all felt sorry for Mr. Hyde's misfortune. Haha, two children died one after another in the plague, and the only grandson had to shoulder the burden of the family. The elderly grandfather couldn't bear the blow and grew old day by day. What a touching story," suddenly, Viscount Terbor's cold and sarcastic voice came.
Everyone turned to look at Viscount Terbor. They all understood why he was so dissatisfied with Ivan. Most of the members of the Tornum family had originally been worried that Viscount Terbor would stand up and oppose supporting Ivan. This possibility was not non - existent.
"Terbor, Ivan had no choice but to say that at that time. You should understand," Mr. Hendred said.
"I wasn't lying. That was indeed my true feeling. I do have two uncles who died unexpectedly. That can also be regarded as a special kind of plague. Their deaths forced me to bear the burden of the family alone. I think you can understand that Mr. Hyde lost several important relatives in that plague. And just yesterday, we lost another friend. He was supposed to pick me up, but when he got there, he turned out to be someone who wanted to harm me. You should be able to imagine what happened. I wasn't acting that day, because I didn't need to act. I've lost many relatives, and most of them are gone. But for security reasons, I can't even go to the graves of any of them to pay my respects. This even includes my mother. Perhaps it's not Mr. Hyde who has become old, but me," Ivan said. These words had been thought out long ago and had been carefully considered with Audrey and Mr. Hyde for a long time to ensure there were no loopholes.
Sure enough, Ivan's words had the expected effect. For a moment, Viscount Terbor couldn't find any words to refute. After all, the successive deaths of the three lords of the Medin family were an indisputable fact. For him, this was already a heart - breaking thing, let alone for Ivan who shared the same blood with them.
Even the content of what Ivan said in the end was impeccable. Viscount Terbor had indeed never seen a teenager as mature in thought and capable in action as Ivan. The sophisticated political vision and smooth way of dealing with the world that Ivan showed were what even old politicians who had struggled in the political whirlpool for decades might lack. Perhaps only after experiencing the hardships of life and the twists and turns of fate could such a special Ivan be shaped.
"Alright, let's put these things aside for now. The children are waiting," Viscount Tornum said affectionately, putting his arm around Ivan's shoulder.
Surrounded by the crowd, Ivan came to the lounge at the back. It was like a different world from the hall. The lounge was full of an elegant and refined atmosphere. Ivan couldn't help but be stunned. It wasn't that he hadn't seen luxurious scenes before. Mr. Hyde's treasure pavilion and the Medin family's collection room were all extremely precious places. Compared with them, this lounge might be slightly inferior in value. However, what really surprised Ivan was the huge contrast in style between the lounge and the hall.
This lounge was about two or three hundred square meters in area. By the window, a row of deerskin sofas were neatly placed. The materials of the sofa cushions were different. There were cashmere ones that were relatively affordable and extremely precious camel hair ones. Judging from the arrangement of the cushions, there seemed to be a certain hierarchy. The camel hair cushions seemed to be specially prepared for wives, elders, and important members of the family, highlighting their status and position.
The left side of the lounge had been carefully set aside as a card table area. Six large round tables with exquisite gold - painted enamel inlaid with carved patterns were steadily placed there. Around each round table, a circle of perfectly matching chairs were placed. Above each table, besides the hanging gorgeous lamps, there were also hookah barrels, which provided great convenience for those who had the habit of smoking. They could enjoy the pleasure of smoking while playing cards.
The central area of the lounge was obviously designed for dancing. The space was quite spacious, enough to hold a small ball. Presumably, many happy gatherings had been held here before. In the corner of the west wall, there was a specially cleared space. The corner was filled with all kinds of toys. A group of lively and lovely children were laughing and playing there. Their laughter added a bit of childlike innocence and vitality to the whole lounge. And the ladies were gathered around a large table in another corner. They seemed to have endless topics to talk about, chatting away about daily trifles, interesting stories, and what they had seen and heard.
Seeing Ivan's stunned look, the members of the Tornum family knew very well what he was thinking.
"Ivan, come here. We were just talking about you," the daughter of Viscount Terbor enthusiastically waved her arm at Ivan, looking as lively as a little bird about to take flight.
Baron Hendred and Viscount Tornum led Ivan towards that side. Most of the people following them were elderly people. They walked steadily, and their eyes revealed the vicissitudes of life and wisdom.
And those members of the Tornum family who were about the same age as Viscount Terbor gathered around the card tables one after another, ready to start their card games.