The guard responded with a disinterested expression, following protocol.
"His Lordship the Marquis is currently at the palace..."
"I know he's here at home, so go ahead and inform him."
"Well, it's just that…"
The guard hesitated, clearly unsettled.
Marquis Branford wasn't someone you could simply show up and request to meet. Normally, people had to schedule appointments and wait months for an audience. Even now, dozens of nobles were waiting their turn to see him.
"If you leave your name and purpose in the register, someone will contact you to arrange a future meeting…"
"I'm here on an urgent matter, so just let someone inside know I'm here. If they still want me to leave, I'll go."
"Well, alright… fine."
The guard took a deep breath, holding back his frustration, and asked for the reason for the visit.
"Tell him I'm here about Miss Rozalin. They bought my cosmetic product a few days ago, and I came to check on her progress and see if I can be of further help."
At the mention of Rozalin's name, the guard's expression instantly hardened.
The Marquis's household had once searched far and wide for beauty products or medications that might improve Rozalin's skin condition.
Opportunistic charlatans had exploited her desperation, bringing her untested remedies and outright scams. Rozalin, hopeful each time, had accepted every one of them. But none had worked, and some had even worsened her condition, leaving her in agony.
The Marquis had shown no mercy to those who had exploited his daughter's vulnerability.
Knowing this, the guard saw Ghislain as just another fool walking into his own death.
The guard spoke cautiously.
"I understand your intention, but… I advise you to give it up. Your life could be at stake."
"I'll be fine. Just pass along the message."
"Sir, I won't be fine! If I let someone in too easily, I'll be punished as well. Even just passing on the message could cost me my life."
The guard pleaded with an anxious expression, practically begging for mercy. Ghislain scratched his head, annoyed.
"Fine, then call for the butler. Tell him the person who sold the cosmetics is here to check in. If not the Marquis, I should at least be able to speak with the butler, right?"
"Uh… I suppose…"
"Go on, hurry!"
Under Ghislain's persistence, the guard finally relented and went to fetch the butler.
The butler approached Ghislain with the same neutral expression as before.
"What brings you here?"
"So, has she tried the product? How did it go?"
"It was ineffective."
Unfazed, Ghislain simply nodded.
"I see. Well, I did some further research, and it turns out Miss Rozalin's condition might require a different approach."
"A different approach?"
"One that I'd rather discuss directly with the Marquis."
Ghislain folded his arms, leaning back with a sly grin.
"Go and tell the Marquis. Tell him I'm here, and that this is the last chance to resolve his daughter's condition. If he still turns me away, well, that's his decision—but let's see who stands to lose more."
The butler hesitated for a moment before warning him.
"If you're lying, you're taking a great risk. His Lordship doesn't show leniency to nobles or commoners alike."
Ghislain, visibly frustrated, frowned.
"You have nothing to lose, do you? Just deliver the message, and don't regret it later."
Ghislain's demeanor was uncharacteristically bold for a noble, but he exuded an odd confidence that unsettled the butler.
The man may have failed with Rozalin, but he was still the creator of a product that was winning the highest praise from nobles. Given his confidence, it might be worth giving him one last chance.
"Perhaps we have little to lose, but that may not be true for you, Baron. Still, if you insist, I will inform His Lordship."
"Finally, some sense!"
The butler went to the Marquis's office, where he was reviewing a mountain of documents. Hearing the report, the Marquis frowned.
"Baron Fenris? And who is that?"
"The man who created the cosmetic you purchased. He's a young noble whom Countess Ailesbur has taken an interest in."
"Ah, yes. I remember now. And he's here to meet me?"
"Yes, sir. He claims he can cure Young Lady Rozalin's condition."
The Marquis narrowed his eyes.
"A bold fellow, isn't he? Who does he think he is, showing up here unannounced, demanding an audience?"
The Marquis was more offended by the impertinent visit than he was interested in the offer to help his daughter. Did this upstart noble think he could just storm in and demand to meet him?
This felt like a direct affront to his authority.
"Send him away. Make sure he knows he's not to return."
Undeterred, the butler gently tried to persuade him.
"He's a new noble from the countryside, my lord, and may not fully understand your position. But given his confidence, perhaps we could allow him to try?"
The Marquis raised an eyebrow but didn't immediately object. If his long-serving butler was advocating this, there must be some merit to it.
Sensing the Marquis's slight hesitation, the butler pressed on.
"Young Lady Rozalin's condition has worsened recently. This Baron Fenris is the creator of a highly esteemed product, after all. Perhaps he possesses an unconventional solution."
The Marquis's face remained unreadable as he asked.
"Is this really worth considering?"
He had hardly ignored his daughter's condition, but even with all the resources of his house, they had made no progress.
Though he pitied her as a father, the Marquis wasn't overly concerned. She would live her life as a noblewoman, and avoiding sunlight wasn't something that would impact her day-to-day existence.
"The household's peace would certainly make it easier for you to attend to your duties. If he's lying, you can always punish him then."
At his butler's continued urging, the Marquis allowed a slight smirk.
"Executing him might upset Meriel."
"She would understand, my lord, should he fail to deliver on his promise."
The Marquis had never shown mercy to anyone who lied to him or challenged his authority, and not even Meriel's influence would sway him now.
"Bring him here. I'll meet with him and decide whether to dismiss him or not. Also, gather any available information on Baron Fenris."
"Understood, sir."
A few minutes later, the gates of the Branford estate swung open.
The guard watching Ghislain looked astonished.
It was rare for the Marquis to grant an impromptu audience to someone who simply showed up at his doorstep.
Ghislain nodded with satisfaction, striding confidently into the mansion.
***
Marquis Branford sat in his chair, observing Ghislain with a cold expression.
With a mocking tone, he spoke.
"I'm surprised that the center of all this commotion would come to visit in person. So, you claim you can help my daughter?"
Ghislain, who had no intention of wasting time with formalities, replied straightforwardly.
"Yes. I can help her."
"Confident, aren't you? And how exactly am I supposed to trust you with my daughter?"
"Didn't the butler tell you? I've also cured a case of the 'Eternal Punishment.' I'm not like the others you've seen."
The Marquis slowly picked up a document beside him and began to read.
"Ah, yes. There's a rumor about a priest in Rayfold who claims that someone did just that. But there's no proof it was you."
'Of course the Branford family would know about that,' thought Ghislain.
The Marquis wasn't finished.
"'The Northern Scoundrel,' 'Shut-in Swordmaster,' 'Pathological Liar,' 'Friend of Fools,' 'Inferiority Complex Incarnate,' 'The Madman'… Tell me, how am I supposed to trust someone with such titles?"
Ghislain, biting his tongue to hide his reaction, lowered his head slightly.
'How thoroughly they've documented me.'
As the direct heir of a noble family, Ghislain would naturally have had a record kept on him, even if it wasn't the most flattering.
After quickly composing himself, he looked up again to meet the Marquis's gaze.
"I understand priests were unable to heal Miss Rozalin's condition. Holy power isn't all-encompassing."
"Bold words. The temple would be horrified to hear you say that."
The Marquis reclined slightly, a faint glimmer of interest appearing on his face.
"You haven't even seen my daughter. So how do you know her symptoms, and why are you so confident you can help her?"
"The rumors are out there. Let me try. It won't take long."
The Marquis smirked, resting his chin on his hand.
"Either you're fearless, or you're simply ignorant of how things work in the capital. Fine, I assume you're prepared to risk your life for this?"
"Is risking one's life necessary just to help someone?"
"What, are you hesitating now?"
With a cold smile, the Marquis continued.
"I know Count Perdium has his struggles in the frontier. Out of respect for your father, I'll let this slide once. Don't overstep your bounds. This is not your territory."
Count Perdium, while impoverished, was a loyal noble who valued honor. There had been talk among the royalist nobles about increasing support for him, though that idea had been put on hold due to the factional struggles with Duke Delphine.
'One time should suffice.'
The Marquis figured that letting this pass would serve as repayment for any support the royalists hadn't been able to extend to Count Perdium.
But Ghislain ignored the courtesy, countering with a direct question.
"Do you not intend to heal your daughter?"
The Marquis replied indifferently.
"It would be nice, but it's not necessary. It's not a life-threatening condition, after all."
"The person affected wouldn't agree. I can assure you I can heal her."
Ghislain's stubbornness drained the color from the faces of his subordinates, Belinda and Claude.
The Marquis shot a bemused glance at Ghislain's anxious retinue, his lips curling in a faint smile.
Despite his followers' worries, Ghislain showed no intention of backing down.
Having warned him enough, the Marquis decided that Ghislain's bravery deserved a chance.
"Very well. If you're that determined, then proceed. If you succeed, I'll see to an appropriate reward. Butler."
"Yes, my lord."
"Assist Baron Fenris with whatever he needs. Once the matter is settled, I'll decide his fate myself."
"Understood, sir."
"Now, everyone may leave."
The Marquis waved them off, clearly bored with the whole matter.
His thoughts had already shifted to how to deal with Duke Delphine.
As he rose from his chair, Ghislain spoke up confidently.
"I have no need for an 'appropriate reward.'"
"…What?"
The Marquis paused, turning to face Ghislain.
"You mean to refuse the reward? That's not your decision to make. The success of your endeavor determines the reward, not you."
The Marquis scoffed, signaling the butler to summon guards and escort Ghislain out.
At that moment, Ghislain dropped an unexpected proposition.
"Not an 'appropriate reward'—I want you to grant me one specific favor."
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]