"Honestly, I couldn't believe it when I saw your name."
Viscount Zack's smile was gentle with a degree of sincerity, while Jared had some mixed feelings. In fact, although they are only one side of the relationship, but due to help them match Florence is no longer alive, a time actually let Jared can not help but born some things like people are not the same feeling. Of course, at that time, he did not have much in-depth understanding of Viscount Zack's family history, but now it seems that he can actually appear in this place, so it must be one of the representatives of the three great families.
"I'm here in place of my father, the Earl of Dettley, Mr. Jared. I have to say ... it looks like you're in a pretty bad place right now."
"There's not much to say about this, it's just the way it is."
Jared shook his head slightly, as if he didn't want to talk about it.
"Aren't you going to meet Ms. Serenity? It doesn't seem to do any good to look for me here."
"Mr. Jared really knows how to joke."
Even after Jared said that, Viscount Zack's expression didn't change a bit.
"In any case, you are the master here now, as a guest, of course you can't lack of etiquette, isn't it? Moreover, I don't think Her Highness Princess Serenity would like us to come near, it's better to stand a little farther away and watch quietly."
Just as Zack had said, Jared knew that Serenity was a serious person and didn't like crowds. Being surrounded by so many dignitaries like that was not her favorite thing, and even if those people were more enthusiastic and courteous, it would probably only make Serenity resentful. Fortunately the castle was no longer as cold as it had been, and the increased number of servants and guards made its operations seem more organized rather than as freewheeling as they had been.
Jared gazed at the bright red carpet and crystal chandelier in the center of the hall, and couldn't help but remember that when they first spent the night in the castle, it was in this very place that the fire was built. That shabby and dirty place, now has become clean and tidy, even looks a little luxurious ... Time really can change everything. Thinking of this, Jared shook his head, and at this moment Viscount Zach once again leaned over, he reached out to poke Jared, whispered inquiringly.
"What did Lord Vito say to you?"
"It's not those ... I'm about to have bad luck anyway, you don't have to be so dead set on chasing me, Lord Viscount Zach."
"Fair enough."
Viscount Zack did not look embarrassed by Jared's cotton wool excommunication.
"I have other things to do, but I would like to have a drink with you Mr. Jared, I would really like to know what happened to you after that. I'd really like to know what happened to you after that, and how you came to be recognized by the Council and the Lord of the Heavens, I wonder if you could satisfy that little curiosity of mine, Mr. Jared? Well, I'll leave you to it." With that, Viscount Zack elegantly bowed to Jared, then quickly turned around and left.
"In addition to the thousand or so close guard soldiers, there are several hundred private soldiers brought in by the three great families, and I don't think that's the number that would be used simply for patrol escorts."
Not long after Jared had returned to his room, Serenity, free of the men's solicitous invitations, returned to report to Jared.
Jared had already asked Kylie about these three families. They were the noble families that held the second most power in San Marino Empire after the Academy Council. Although their political views, opinions, and even the beliefs they support are very different, the three families are firmly but loosely united between the Academy Council and the royal family. None of them have taken a stand in favor of the Council, nor do they follow the orders of the Crown. It's more like a neutral organization. In the current situation where the royal family and the senate are in violent conflict, it's not surprising that the three families want to keep a close eye on the transition of power in this new territory and city.
"There's going to be a welcome party in the evening, Mr. Jared, you see ...."
"I'll leave it to you, Caroline and I have already been abandoned, it's not bad to let those guys think of you as the future ruler of this place, it'll save us a lot of trouble. Just try to act as if you've become the actual ruler of this place, since Vito wants something to happen between the royal family and the council, he's not going to let you become the actual ruler of this city. Don't worry and do it boldly, the more smoothly you act, the easier it will be for this old fox to reveal his flaws."
Serenity after learning the specifics of the plan and did not have doubts and agreed to help, which really let Jared a little surprised, he originally thought, Serenity will at least in this case to give the Convocation a little shoes to wear, make them uncomfortable a bit, in order to vent their heart's grievances. After all, Serenity had once said that princesses like her were nothing more than puppets and pawns of the Convocation, so Jared had rightly assumed that she and the Academy Convocation wouldn't get along very well. But now it seems that this young knight is more stable than he thought.
"Yes, I understand. I hope that you, Mr. Jared, will also be able to complete the Convocation successfully."
Serenity nodded in understanding, and then, after a rare moment of silence, she hesitantly asked.
"So, how should we explain ... about Ms. Kelly?"
"Don't bring up the issue that gives me the most headaches ..."
Jared helplessly smiled bitterly, did not positively answer Serenity's question, in fact, even he himself did not know, exactly what to do. In fact, even he himself did not know what to do. So Jared's approach to this is - since it is difficult to explain, then simply do not explain.
After all, this is a very special time, once that Missy is stubborn and loses her temper, the damage caused is definitely not something that Jared can afford. Of course, for the Academy Council this is nothing, but if the plan goes wrong, then Jared and the others will really be treated as "castaways" to be thrown into any dumpster.
Any failure could be fatal.
So Jared had to minimize the unsettling elements of the plan.
"Guardian, please don't forget the commission of the Lord of the Heavens."
"Oooh? Well ... I know, can't forget."
Wendy was her usual self, as long as she didn't speak up, no one would even notice her presence. Jared nodded, of course he hadn't forgotten about the Lord of the Heavens' commission, but under the circumstances, it was a very difficult thing to accomplish. Jared would never force himself to do something perfectly, in the case of being unable to do so, it would be a nightmare to try to achieve a higher level of goal. So Jared responded casually, and fortunately for him, Wendy wasn't like Carrie, who was going to keep giving Jared the facts until he surrendered, but she seemed to do it just for the sake of reminding him, and then she was silent again.
"Speaking of which ... what do you know about Kelly's mom?"
Since there was no solution in sight, Jared might as well satisfy his curiosity. Since his father's path was a dead end, he might be able to curb his mother's reaction from her side. Any unintended answer to a question could be a powerful aid.
"You mean Mrs. Midhaval?"
Serenity replied, confused as she remembered.
"I don't know her very well, I was just born when she died ... but I heard that Mrs. Midavar was quite a famous beauty in the city of lilies at that time, rumor has it that she was a young girl with long soft chestnut hair and dark, beautiful eyes like starry night jewels. ..."
"Huh? Wait."
Jared flinched slightly .
He remembered seeing the same blonde hair and blue eyes as Kylie in the portrait he'd seen at Vito's house, so what was going on?
"How many times has Vito been married?"
"Once, and unlike ordinary nobles, he has no concubines or lovers. This makes him very popular and loved, and Mr. Vito is a clean task, although there are always some dirty rumors or gossip within the Empire's nobility from time to time, but among these rumors, Mr. Vito has never appeared."
That's weird. So who's the girl?
Jared frowned, thinking for a moment, and ultimately could only helplessly shrug his shoulders. He was able to get the news from Serenity here is only so much, but the mysterious portrait protagonist ... Jared thought that this is not something that should be asked to Serenity.
"Thanks for your hard work, Serenity, you go and prepare for the banquet. I'll leave everything to you. ... Watch out for those nobles."
"What about the soldiers? If they suddenly attack us, with our current numbers, we won't be able to resist each other."
"Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it."
Jared didn't hesitate on the issue; after all, for him, numbers weren't the most important reason for the threat.
"If they really dare to attack, then in accordance with the principle of self-defense, I guarantee that they will not be able to come back."