Upon seeing his fear, no one mentioned the matter further. They could all understand his feelings, for in the world of magic, there was also such a dark sorcerer, a dark lord, feared by all.
As relatives of Zhao Lun, they were naturally familiar with the magical world. They understood well the danger posed by the most perilous figures in that realm, and could easily empathize with Carpenter's mindset as a mere bystander.
"So, do you know what's going on with Cyril and the Earl?" Zhao Lun inquired.
Whether or not they spoke Lilith's name was of no concern to Zhao Lun and the others. After all, they were merely passing through, and after a brief stay, they would leave this place. Even if Lilith were to return, they did not believe she would pose any real danger to them. Should she cross that perilous black hole and come to them, they were confident they could deal with her without issue.
For now, Zhao Lun refrained from calling out Lilith's name, fearing it would instigate unnecessary panic in Carpenter, so he opted to ask about other matters.
"Cyril was a commoner who, due to his beauty, became the Earl's companion when he was young. The Earl took quite a liking to him, rewarding him generously and raising him to nobility. Eventually, he became an influential figure..."
There were no outsiders here, so Carpenter spoke freely of matters well known within the city, and Zhao Lun and the others listened attentively, their minds also quietly speculating.
Though Carpenter's words were somewhat veiled, the origins and developments of the situation were now clear. Once they had finished listening, they could not help but silently think to themselves: "The nobility certainly knows how to entertain themselves."
Among the aristocracy, there was always a prevailing trend of "noble tastes," as if a noble were not truly noble unless they harbored some unusual hobby. Some liked hunting, others admired beauty, some had a penchant for young boys, others for refined arts, and still others favored same-sex relationships. Some even held open-air, unrestricted gatherings for peculiar events.
No matter how bizarre one's tastes, there were no limits to what the nobility could do. They indulged themselves without restraint.
Count Nikola was the ruler of this city. As a high-ranking noble, he too had his peculiar desires, and his favorite happened to be Cyril.
His taste, compared to that of many other nobles, seemed quite "ordinary," almost pedestrian.
It was not uncommon to see Cyril and the Count attending various events together, publicly displaying their affection. Their relationship became the talk of the town, a subject of much admiration among the upper circles. Cyril's charms were unmatched, and he managed to monopolize Count Nikola's affections to the point where the Count no longer showed interest in other men—or women, for that matter.
"Ah? Then wouldn't the Countess be upset?" one of them asked in disbelief, their minds reeling from this revelation, which shattered their previous image of nobility.
The notion of nobility was always associated with grace, dignity, solemnity, and respect, yet they never imagined that today, their idealized vision of it would be so thoroughly shattered.
"The Countess? She's a pitiable woman. How could she ever control the Count? Besides, she probably never even tried."
Carpenter's voice dropped, and a note of sympathy colored his words. He quickly concealed this sentiment and continued the story with a more serious tone.
The Countess, born into nobility, had been rigorously raised in the ways of etiquette. Upon reaching adulthood, her father arranged a marriage between her and Count Nikola.
At that time, Count Nikola was deeply infatuated with Cyril, and his agreement to marry was merely for the sake of a strategic alliance between noble families.
What happened after the wedding was less than pleasant. Carpenter's knowledge was limited, but he had heard that on their wedding night, the Count did not visit the bridal chamber but instead spent the evening with his dear Cyril. The Countess was left alone in her chamber, waiting until dawn, but her husband never appeared.
This, however, was not the worst part. The worst part was that the Count ignored her completely, leaving her to languish in neglect.
Though they were still technically married, their relationship was hollow. They had long since lived apart.
In most noble households, it was common for either spouse to have lovers. Many aristocrats had several lovers, and some, rather open-minded, even turned a blind eye to their spouse's trysts, regarding it as a form of romance.
Of course, there were also those "selfish" individuals who refused to share such "romance" and strictly forbade such affairs. Count Nikola was one of these.
His marriage to his wife was nothing but a formality, and he refused to allow her any romantic liaisons, hence Carpenter's sympathy for her plight.
"Hmm, cough, cough, speaking of others' private affairs is inappropriate, so let's not talk about that anymore. Do you know why the Count didn't come to the aid of his actual 'wife'?" Zhao Lun, noticing that the topic had become uncomfortable, quickly redirected the conversation.
If they continued down this path, they might be influenced by the nobles' way of life. Zhao Lun was a selfish man and did not wish those around him to adopt such attitudes.
Since Count Nikola and Cyril had such a close bond, why had the Count failed to assist Cyril? It didn't make sense.
"That, I don't know."
"The Count hasn't attended any events for a week. Eugene, the butler, has told outsiders that Cyril was attempting to usurp the Count's power, falling into decadence. Furthermore, the Count has severed ties with him."
"As the Bible says, those who fall into decadence are beyond saving, and..."
Carpenter fell silent, knowing that further elaboration could be dangerous. He had already shared what was common knowledge, but there were deeper, more dangerous things he could not bring himself to touch.
He understood the importance of knowing when to speak and when to remain silent. He had risen from the slums and clawed his way up, becoming a clerk in this inn. He had survived by knowing his place.
In the afternoon, they all decided to set their worries aside and continue their exploration of the city. Every city had its own unique character. Putting aside its darker aspects, this city was pleasant and full of charm, and they spent the rest of the day enjoying its offerings. They didn't return to the inn until nearly evening.
When they returned, they were greeted by the innkeeper, and accompanying him were the constables and Eugene, the butler from Count Nikola's household.
Zhao Lun was surprised to see him there. Carpenter, who had been walking with them, immediately bowed respectfully to Eugene and quietly stepped aside, showing his discernment by giving them space.
Eugene gave a slight nod. Despite his high rank, he did not adopt an aloof attitude and treated the lower-ranking Carpenter with kindness. His demeanor was warm and gentle, exuding a sincerity that made people feel as if they were being bathed in spring sunshine. Zhao Lun couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for him.
Carpenter was taken aback by such attention. For a man of his lowly status to receive such a warm response from someone of Eugene's caliber was a tremendous honor. Overcome with surprise, he bowed once more.
Such poise was far removed from the cold, unfeeling figure who had commanded the purification of heretics the day before.
Even though Zhao Lun knew Eugene's true nature, he couldn't help but feel a certain warmth towards him.
"This is an impressive individual," Zhao Lun thought, quietly reassessing Count Nikola's family. Indeed, the Nikola family was a prestigious and old aristocratic house.
At the same time, Zhao Lun pondered Eugene's purpose in visiting. With a few swift calculations, he made a few guesses, ruling out some possibilities, until he arrived at a clear understanding of his intentions. (To be continued...)