Black tea, desserts, and gentle maids.
One had to admit, noble life was truly decadent.
Frieren and Fern, who had not eaten sweets in ages, showed not the slightest hesitation before the huge platter of food brought over by the old butler, Gabel.
Their stomachs were like bottomless pits.
Sein and Stark stared at them in utter shock.
Shane leisurely took a sip of tea.
Not bad. Surprisingly, it was not very bitter.
In his previous life, he had never liked drinking tea precisely because no matter how good the leaves were, they always left a bitter taste in his mouth.
But the tea in this world was unexpectedly good.
For the next two or three days, Lord Orden still did not return.
The group had no choice but to stay there for the ti being.
Fern and Sein occasionally went to check on the unconscious young man and helped the priests in the manor treat him, but the boy showed no signs of waking.
Later, many soldiers injured in battle were gradually brought into the manor.
Sein and Fern helped the priests care for the wounded.
Frieren, using boredom as an excuse, got several grimoires from Gabel and spent the entire day curled up on the sofa, reading while enjoying desserts.
Every ti Shane passed by, he could see her eating and eating and eating.
The maid standing beside her had to change her plate every so often and hand her a glass of fruit juice while she was at it.
Such extravagant living left him deeply impressed.
On this day,
Shane and Stark had nothing to do, so they wandered aimlessly around the manor.
The two stood before Wirt's enormous portrait, clicking their tongues in wonder. They really did look far too similar. Calling them twins would not have been an exaggeration.
"Maybe he really is your long-lost brother."
"We're just both from the Warrior Village…"
From Gabel, they had already learned that Lord Orden's ancestors, like Stark, ca from the Warrior Village. Many years ago, they went north to join the war against the demons and eventually settled here.
From Frieren's description, the Orden family had been fighting to hold back demons for generations.
They were a true warrior family through and through.
Just as the two were chatting,
Lord Orden, whom they had not seen for several days, returned.
The man's face was cold and stern. He strode through the doorway, handing the longsword in his hand to a maid as he walked. At the sa ti, he tore off the bloodstained cloak around his shoulders and tossed it to Gabel, who was standing nearby.
Imdiately after, he reached the foot of the stairs in a few quick steps. He raised his head, looked at Shane and Stark, and said, "Thank you for saving Wirt. I hope you will keep this matter confidential and remain here for one month."
Though he was standing below them and speaking while looking up, his words still carried the unmistakable authority of soone used to command.
It allowed no refusal.
"Lord Orden, you're putting us in a difficult position."
"I'll double the reward."
"This isn't about the reward. I'm sorry, but we have important travel plans. We can't stay here." Shane's tone was firm.
Hearing that, Lord Orden studied Shane's face carefully.
Then, he abruptly changed the subject.
"The ruby necklace around your neck bears the emblem of the Granat family, does it not?"
Shane lowered his head and looked.
Yes, he was wearing the necklace gifted to him by Countess Granat. It was an heirloom of their family and a symbol of their house.
He had not expected Lord Orden to recognize the emblem.
"Count Granat, his wife, and I were once traveling companions… You look very much like their son."
As he spoke, Lord Orden glanced at Stark beside Shane.
"Though not to the sa degree as this young man and Wirt, the resemblance is already enough."
Then, he suddenly knelt on one knee and perford a proper knight's salute before Shane.
His attitude was respectful, and his tone solemn.
"The Orden family hereby formally requests your aid. We are willing to offer one year of trade tax revenue from the fortress city of Vorig as compensation. We ask that you remain here for one month as Count Granat's representative, to show the friendship between our two families."
As Lord Orden knelt, every servant standing in the manor hall dropped to their knees with a rustle and bowed their heads respectfully.
Shane froze.
This turn of events had caught him completely off guard.
Just then, Sein and Fern returned. The two ca over from the other end of the staircase, and when they saw the scene, they stopped in place in confusion.
Even Frieren, who had originally been upstairs eating desserts, had sohow appeared at the other end of the staircase.
Everyone saw this strange sight.
Below the stairs, Lord Orden remained on one knee and continued, "Several months ago, the remnants of Rivale, the Bloody God of War, gathered outside Vorig with the intent of destroying this city."
"This fortress city is the defensive center of the entire region. It cannot be allowed to fall. Previously, when Wirt led troops to resist the enemy's vanguard, he was ambushed. Even though he used himself as bait to draw away the enemy's main force, our soldiers still suffered devastating casualties."
"Before our lost forces can recover, I need to show the people the friendship and support of Granat in order to raise morale and give the citizens confidence."
As he spoke, Lord Orden raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and struck it against his heart.
"Please allow to formally request your aid here. I ask that you remain here for one month as Count Granat's representative."
When Lord Orden finished speaking, the entire manor fell silent.
Everyone looked at Shane.
Shane looked down at Lord Orden kneeling below the stairs.
To be honest, he was a little shaken.
This seemingly overbearing and unreasonable lord was actually willing to go this far for the sake of this city…
In a daze, he thought of Count Granat and his wife.
They had been just as unyielding.
So they had once been adventuring companions?
No wonder.
"All right. I accept your request for aid."
Hearing Shane's answer, Lord Orden let out a breath of relief.
Everyone in the manor also let out a breath of relief.
The lord stood up, and his voice no longer carried its previous cold hardness. "One year of trade tax revenue from Vorig amounts to roughly ten gold coins. When you depart, the full amount will be presented to you."
Shane nodded.
But imdiately, he realized sothing was wrong.
Wait.
"One year of trade tax revenue from Vorig is only ten gold coins?"
Gabel explained at just the right mont, "Esteed Mr. Shane, although Vorig is the largest defensive center and trade hub in this region, Lord Orden has always implented the lowest possible tax policy. As a result, our tax revenue often fails to cover our expenses. Ten gold coins is already calculated according to the highest annual inco in previous years. Furthermore, to gather those ten gold coins, we would need to sell at least ten percent of the fortress's reserve supplies."
Shane fell silent.
Then his gaze turned to Fern.
Fern imdiately weighed the backpack behind her and gestured a number to Shane.
Shane nodded.
They still had plenty of funds on hand.
There was no need to make the city's defenders sell their reserve supplies for this small amount of gold.
"In that case, we won't take the ten gold coins. However, please allow us to take all the grimoires Frieren borrowed from the lord's study over the past few days."
At that, Frieren's eyes lit up, and the look she gave Shane beca extrely warm.
Lord Orden asked Gabel, "How many are there?"
Gabel looked helpless.
"All of them."
Shane smiled.
"Deal?"
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