“Nanny, I think from now on we’ll be away quite often, and I don’t want to leave you with the Big Lady and company. I know they try to cause trouble for you already and it’ll just get worse once I start coming back even less often.”

She nodded, understanding that he’d have much more responsibility and his reluctance to let her deal with the duchess. Other than a shift of military position though, it sounded as if there more happening.

“How about I give you a little holiday for a while? It might take a few years to get things stable and if you’re still willing, you can always come back. Otherwise, I can just make this part of your retirement settlement.”

Nanny laughed at the thought of being on such a long holiday or going into any type of retirement.

She still had more than enough years left in her being only a few years older than Sorin’s biological mother. Her Lady was gone but Sorin was still well so there no reason for her to leave.

“How does a person retire from a family? Your mother and I left our home together and I’ll still be with you now. Silly child trying to get rid of me.”

Sorin nodded with a smile.

“Thank you, Nanny. Then, I’ll have a list for you to choose any one of my properties outside the city and I’ll send word to have them prepare for your arrival in a few months, at least before winter begins. I just need to move all my important documents.”

What was this big plan of action that Sorin was putting into place? Nanny Mei had known there was something different as soon she saw him that afternoon, but it was a good change. It was nice to see him so positive.

“I’ll be bored if I just do nothing the entire day for a few years,” she insisted.

“In that case, I’ll let Nanny and a new manager run one of the properties. All those renting tenants can report to you, Madame Landowner.”

Nanny Mei pinched his cheek, and he made a look while Altair almost laughed. No one else could dare to do this to the great Demon Lord.

“I’ll get a new manager or two and some accountants to look after a handful of the closer properties and businesses. As for the others, I won’t have time for it for now, so I’ll leave it as is with those managers,” he continued.

“Sorin.” The strange tone in her voice made him look up at her since he had been mumbling to himself. It was rare for her to call him anything other than young master.

“Will they be worth it?”

They looked at each other and without having to say more, he knew what she meant. Ever since Altair had mentioned it, she couldn’t forget. Was Sorin making such big moves all for sake of someone else? She had to know.

“Nanny, when has this problem child ever been so considerate of other people? It’s just improving myself a little so I can retire earlier. A bit of work never killed anyone. Well, in my case…”

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“That’s not even a joke to be said you rotten child,” she scolded while hitting him.

“I’m sorry, sorry,” he said while chuckling clearly still taking it as a joke.

“Anyway, besides anything else I know it’ll be worth stabilising my own future apart from anyone’s title. The fact that I’m alive is probably an eyesore to certain people. Even if I was interested in anyone, I wouldn’t want to bring them into that situation. It just took me a while to realise what I should do.”

Nanny could see he was nostalgic and patted his hand while nodding. It was a great thing to see him so proactive. In the few years after his mother’s death, he was especially unsettled. The young man grew up outside involved with all sorts of questionable people.

By the time he returned home, he was old enough for military recruitment and without warning became a soldier. After losing his brother, he mindlessly threw himself into military duties just to have something else occupying his mind. At least he now had some direction about where he wanted to go.

When Sorin and Altair arrived at the inn, they were greeted by a few women that recognised them and shown the way to the party that had already settled into a room. They were known patrons, so they barely went through the formalities anymore.

The Red Silk Inn was just as it was named, draped in red silk inside and banners outside. Even the hosts, hostesses and performers wore the most interesting outfits in all shades of red. The inn gave the feel of Jaroya’s style much unlike the darker aesthetic of the region.

“This is too unpunctual Boss, we’ve already had a round,” complained Lark as one of the hostesses poured both Altair and Sorin a starter drink while they settled into their seats.

They downed the round and turned their small cups upside down before the others were satisfied.

The inn was never short of rolling live entertainment.

“Allow me young Master,” suddenly said a teasing female voice.

Sorin turned in time to see her sit down next to him. As soon as she saw the group come in, she finished up with her performance as she knew Sorin would come in sooner or later. She neatly poured a drink for him.

Everyone sat at their own floor table with a drink, goblets, and some food in front of them. At each table was a host or hostess serving their patron.

“One more toast and that’s to coming back from future missions!” announced Mahalia and they all raised their goblets to the middle of the room and downed the contents. Afterwards there was lively chatter as they talked to each other and their company.

“Congratulations are in place young Master.”

“This coming from the highly favoured Miss Elmira, the Star Ruby of the Red Silk inn. Should I bow?”

“Silly,” she commented with a smile as she lightly nudged him, making her bangles jingle.

As a higher-class courtesan there were few people that she served personally. Even the officials could only get her dance performances but not her time afterwards not to talk about spending a night with her. No one had that honour.

“I hear the young Master was absolutely smitten with someone in the imperial capital.”

“Such news travels this far?” asked Sorin before taking a drink out of the goblet.

“I get any and all news, you should know this.”

Sorin chuckled as he listened to the music for a while.

“I just met someone who made me realise that some things need me to have a certain status for me to even look their way and then someone else who put me up to the challenge.”

“Sounds like you met a lot of interesting people,” Elmira mused as she placed her arm on his shoulder.

“Interesting is an understatement to describe the place and the people.”

His cup was empty, so she elegantly poured him another drink. Just then, a group of dancers came in to perform for them and things became livelier. Elmira saw Sorin smile just a bit as he looked at his people and wondered what he was thinking about.

The past weeks of travel had given him too much time to reflect about the experience. The imperial capital was interesting indeed.