In front of the inn where the group stays, a carriage which was here early in the morning came once again, its doors then opened as the butler descended down, he offered a polite bow in front of Lance who's dressed commonly before gesturing him inside the carriage.

He gave the butler a nod before he entered it, only when he was comfortably seated on the soft cushion did the butler followed.

The coachman then whipped the horse, letting it dragged the vessel towards the castle that stood tall in the distance. It was where the host of this lunch, Count Cartel resides, one who lords over this city and the area close to it.

The horse's hooves and carriage' turning wheels echoed inside the quiet room as the butler served Lance a beverage of his choice, a tea made from the high grade leaves, by the time he finished his third cup the sounds stopped.

However it was only for a moment as the carriage went on as it passed the gates, the garden that was filled with mesmerizing flowers, and the towering pieces of sculptured people in different poses before it truly stopped.

The door was opened by the butler who was also the first to walked out the carriage, he then moved forward and stopped just before the first step of a ten-steps stairs that would lead them to the gigantic front door of this castle.

When Lance's alighted too, the butler bowed down to his waist, “Welcome—” he then raised his body straight while his hands gently moved sideways as if to introduce someone to him, “—to the Voltor Castle, Sir Lance Bright.”

His eyes glanced at the building it was majestic yet also practical with little to no things that only served as a decoration.

He nodded to show any kind of gesture that he understood and so the butler bow once more before he turned his back to him as he started climbing the stairs.

“Please follow me.”

Which he did, the butler then opened the door to the castle by pushing it forward with a surprising strength, only when it was enough for the two to enter did he stop and entered it.

Lance followed inside letting him gaze upon a giant carpeted hall with a fine chandelier that had crystals as its light instead of candles, the butler continued towards the stairs which split in the middle. On the wall where it split was a portrait of gaunt-looking man one with a beautiful brown moustache, he wears a noble elegant suit that covers his bulging stomach, however it was filled with glittering medals proudly sitting on his right chest. The man's right hand reached for his sheathed sword's pommel while the other to a book with a magic circle drawn in the cover.

He briefly glanced at it when the two of them passed before they took the right stairs, they continued their walk with only their footsteps sounded in the hallway which was filled with a candleholder, that are seperated by pairs in equal distances, by the time Lance's counted the sixth pair the butler stopped in front of a room with a dark wooden door.

He gave it a three knocks before he stopped and spoke towards the door—rather the ones inside, “Sir Lance have arrived, my lord.”

“Let him in.”

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It was a deep and heavy voice filled with charisma and authority which those with power usually have.

“Yes, my lord.”

The butler nodded before he pushed open the door, he then turned towards Lance and gestured him to enter.

“Please.”

He first gave him a nod which entails his appreciation before he walked through inside.

Alone, sitting on the seat at the head of the long table which was covered with white cloth was a man who looked like the owner of the portrait, it was the count himself.

“Pardon me for not waiting for you, Sir Bright.” Cartel said as he handed a white cloth with some stain of his food to one of the two maids standing on his back.

Lance moved forward and took his seat on the chair placed at the other end of the table, he was facing the noble.

“There's no need to address me formally like that, Count.”

“Please don't jest Sir Bright, I am still in debt to you.”

The count gave a gesture to one of the maid, who politely bowed before entering different door from which he entered.

“That debt was already paid.”

“How noble of you Sir Bright, right are you alone? What about the rest of your group?”

Lance shifted his eyes away from him towards the side, as he looked passed one of the many windows in the dining room.

“They are enjoying the city too much that they forgot about the time.”

Count Cartel put a vague smile on his lips when he heard that.

“I see, its my pleasure then if they do have fun in my lands.”

He put his hand on the goblet by his side and he asked before taking a sip in it, “How about you? Did you enjoy it yourself?”

Lance shifted his gaze away from the scenery outside towards the man before he shook his head.

“I did not have chance to explore the city, however I do find its bustling street nostalgic.”

“Well I do hope you find time to have a leisure in this city.” the count said after his lips move out the cup.

The other door then opened and the maid came back with a trolley with her, she pushed it next to Lance before she bowed and put the dishes on top of it towards the table in front of him.

“Let's eat while we talk, I boast how great the food my cook made, enjoy it.”

He gestured him the delicacies laid in front, Lance nodded before he took the silverwares.

“Its a pleasure.”

They then talked about the capital, the empires' current trends, and many noble like thing to talk about, while avoiding some subjects pertaining the ones that are rather offensive for the other party. The dining table seemed to had a good mood in it with both men showing their rare smiles from each other.

Just as they are at the end of their lunch the count wiped his mouth with a different white cloth and asked, “Sir Bright, are you interested about the hunting expedition that will happen days later?”

Lance graciously put down his cutleries and wiped his mouth like him before he replied, “Yes, however I do not have the knowledge of its details.”

“Hmm.” The count nodded before he explained, “Winter is coming, and with my knights still recuperating in the capital it would be hard for the city if the overflowing monsters in the north launch their attacks, especially when they are hungered.

“That was why together with the newly recruited knights and mercenaries who came here for profit, I gave a quest for an expedition northeast of this city, Mt. Clement which was the closest habitat of the monsters.”

“I see, three—no, two days at the northeast right?”

“Yes, and if you are there this hunting expedition would surely be successful.”

Lance shook his head, “Please do not expect that much from me, for I am now one of those mercenaries you said.”

“Hahaha, you do not need to humble yourself, Sir Bright.”

The count then talked more about the details about it, and only when their plates was cleaned off any food did their lunch ended.

“You do not have to send me out, Count.”

Cartel shook his head as he took his steps down the stairs, “Its only polite to send the guest properly as a host.”

“You are still as formal as I remembered you, Sir Cartel.”

The count almost missed his step when he heard that, he looked towards Lance who continued down towards the waiting carriage.

“Sigh...and you are still as stubborn as what I remembered.”

He looked at Lance's back that was then disappeared as the door closed on him, he watched the carriage go passed the front yard and the gates.