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66

With the help of the panel, the bodies of the knight attendants swelled visibly, growing stronger at a rapid pace.

This rapid increase in strength led to a corresponding rise in physical fitness.

Luckily, the meals were plentiful, and while Derek didn’t care much about the taste, the portions were generous.

The contributions from the knight attendants were nowhere near enough to cover the immense energy consumption required by the training.

The positive feedback was so intense that everyone was full of energy.

Especially for knights like Virut, who were fanatically obsessed with knighthood, he wished he could train for twenty-four hours a day.

However, Derek’s training plan wasn’t purely about relentless drills.

After one week, everyone received a warhorse and began wild rides in the fields.

Horseback riding was a must for every noble youth of the North, and the knight attendants were quite skilled at it.

But that wasn’t enough—being skilled on horseback was just the foundation. In battle, better riding skills meant faster movements, which increased the chances of escape if the need arose.

Derek turned into an angry dragon again, beginning his fierce instructions.

"Run, did you not eat enough?"

"My dog runs faster than you do while mounted!"

"Virut, stop smiling and show me some fancy moves!"

Virut, who thought his riding skills were decent, nearly fell off when Derek yelled at him.

"Viscount, didn’t you say fancy moves were something only southern women do?"

"Bullshit! Who the hell cares about southern women’s tricks? If I say do it, you do it!"

"Hahahaha!"

After the riding drills came weighted cross-country training.

Then, there was night-time operations training.

Even during the little free time they had, there were basic military tactics lessons, leaving everyone with no time to rest.

In one month, everyone felt like they had undergone a complete transformation.

As per the rules, Derek granted them a week off.

Virut had just thought his riding skills were decent when Derek’s shout almost caused him to fall off.

"Viscount, didn’t you say fancy moves were for southern women?"

"Bullshit! You still care about southern women’s tricks? You do it if I tell you to!"

"Hahahaha!"

After the riding training came weighted cross-country.

After that, more night operations.

And even between these, they were kept busy with basic military tactics lessons, leaving no time to spare.

After one month, everyone felt reborn.

As per custom, Derek gave them a week off.

Those who lived nearby could visit home, and those who didn’t want to go back could wander around as they pleased.

The best of the attendants were even allowed to temporarily join the Viscount’s guard and experience standing watch.

Of course, that was a playful way of putting it.

In reality, the guard also had much to teach—how to protect, how to guard against assassins.

Since Derek had been targeted in an assassination, he had taken up the study of this art.

The attendants didn’t want to go through that again. The next assassination attempt would certainly not be so simple.

Meanwhile, the Viscount comfortably lay back in his manor, enjoying the service of his servants.

After working so hard, wasn’t it all to enjoy some luxury?

Derek didn’t always push himself to the extreme; he wasn’t going to end up being called a miser in the end.

The soft gray bear fur, the long cashmere rug underfoot, the warmth of the charcoal fire in the fireplace.

A cup of hot milk, lying in a specially designed recliner—it was like heaven compared to life in the barracks.

Several knights and officials were present, including his uncle Andrew.

They gathered to discuss recent events, allowing Derek to learn more about his territory.

Usually, these officials served as his eyes and ears.

Of course, sometimes these "eyes and ears" weren’t very sharp, so Derek needed to make more effort to walk around, see things for himself, and recruit new informants.

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"Miss Tiona has already arrived at Saint Michael’s Province. When will you invite her for a meeting?"

"The weather’s too cold recently. Pick a good day, and I’ll visit the Count."

"I hear the southern legion is about to arrive. They seem to have caught wind of something."

"That’s not surprising. The south has developed well these past few years. Their networks are likely everywhere. Looks like trouble is coming soon."

Derek made quick decisions on small matters.

For other things, he still needed to confirm them.

The knight attendants stood by, able to hear these not-so-secret messages up close.

That was the real benefit—they were not only trained but also exposed to important information. Derek wasn’t afraid and actually welcomed them overhearing such things.

In the first month, Derek had accompanied the attendants throughout their training, but from here on, his presence would become less frequent.

With the southern legion fast approaching, the atmosphere in Saint Michael’s Province was becoming tense.

But finally, before the year ended, a period of good weather arrived.

Derek prepared to leave once again—this time, he had to meet his fiancée.

Though they had met before, back when Derek was just an inconspicuous knight attendant in the Pereira Knight Order, she probably didn’t remember him.

Derek also knew almost nothing about this noble lady.

Of course, a marriage alliance with someone like Derek, a man of real power, was a serious matter.

There shouldn’t be any issues with his reputation or personality, but any surprise could turn into a scandal, which could damage the relationship between the two families.

So Derek wasn’t worried.

But just as he was about to leave, a guest arrived.

"Brother-in-law!"

The young man, Palmer, was obviously not from the Pereira family.

In fact, Derek was stunned for a moment before recognizing who he was.

David Palmer, the eldest son of Baron Palmer.

This newly risen baron family had made the leap from merchant origins to bought court nobility and, finally, a powerful landed noble family.

Though newly ascended nobles were often discriminated against and it took several generations to integrate into the core noble circles, the Palmer family had genuinely crossed the social classes.

The barbarian invasion had changed the fate of the Palmer family forever.

Since receiving their title, Baron Palmer had frequently sent gifts to Derek.

But today, it was the eldest son, David, personally visiting for the first time, and he greeted Derek as "brother-in-law."

Derek was taken aback.

Once David introduced himself, he leaned in mysteriously and whispered, "Brother-in-law, my father is worried you’re getting impatient, so he sent my second and third sisters ahead. The eldest is still on the road."

Derek felt a bit stunned—this was a surprising move.

When Baron Palmer had excitedly mentioned this marriage plan before, Derek had thought it was just a joke.

But it seemed the Baron was serious, and Derek was now considered important enough to make such a move.

Compared to the three daughters, the Baron clearly valued Derek more.

Especially after Derek’s recent performances, the Baron had decided to make a heavy bet.

Becoming the Viscount’s wife was out of the question, but sending a mistress was still acceptable.

In this era, many nobles had mistresses.

However, Derek had yet to indulge in such luxuries during his two years in this world, mainly because of the constant pressure of survival.

But refusing?

He couldn’t bring himself to say no.

This wasn’t something he could be ashamed of—it wasn’t exactly dishonorable. David didn’t care about any awkwardness.

He came from a merchant family, not traditional nobility, and the latter cared about reputation. For David, that wasn’t a concern.

For him, having no shame now was acceptable, and perhaps by his son’s generation, even his grandson’s, reputation would matter.