Although everyone verbally insists on following proper protocol when addressing Henwell, deep down they all appreciate his easygoing leadership style. It’s a relief to have a leader like him.
McComb and Sosie start calling Henwell by his first na right away, while the others stick to formal titles out of respect.
After hosting the Paladin squad for a while, Henwell rises and mingles with other scattered guests. These aren’t major power players, but Henwell still maintains proper courtesy.
The banquet stretches on until midnight before Henwell finally returns to his bedroom.
lissa is already there, curiously exploring every corner of the room and its furnishings.
Henwell enters, takes lissa’s hand, and kisses it gently. “Mistress, is there anything about the room’s facilities that you find unsatisfactory?”
lissa pulls him over, lifting her skirt slightly as she runs toward the bookshelf. “What kind of books are these? Why don’t I recognize any of the writing?”
Henwell pulls out a volu, tracing the English characters on its cover. “The Pros and Cons of the Feudal Empire’s Military and Political System.”
Then he points to another. “This one’s called A Brief History of chanical Developnt.”
“This one covers energy and its role in the progress of civilization.”
“And here’s a detailed study on cavalry tactics in the art of war.”
lissa asks, “Why haven’t I ever heard of these books? Did you write them all?”
Henwell chuckles. “Haha, of course not. I have so skills, but I’m not at the level of writing such works. I just copied and compiled them. They’re docunts I’ve collected and organized.”
“What language is this?”
Henwell catches the curious sparkle in lissa’s big eyes. For a mont, he almost wants to reveal his secret.
But he holds back. “No, this is a coded script, a cipher created to record extrely important or sensitive knowledge. Of all the books here, I’m probably the only one who can read them. Each one is incredibly valuable. Any single volu could shape a formidable leader or a wealthy magnate.”
lissa wisely chooses not to press further. She’s a smart woman who understands Henwell keeps many secrets. As his wife, she knows she shouldn’t pry too much.
Still, now that she’s married to Henwell, she feels a twinge of disappointnt that she’s not yet allowed to uncover his mysteries.
Sensing lissa’s shift in mood, Henwell gently pulls her down to sit beside him on the bed.
“We’re married now, but I have many secrets, so I can’t share, and others I’m not sure if I should.”
lissa shakes her head. “You don’t have to explain. I understand. When you feel it’s ti to tell , you will.”
Henwell hesitates briefly, then grits his teeth and says, “You can ask three questions. I promise to answer them truthfully.”
Seeing Henwell’s sincerity, lissa hesitates for a mont before finally asking the question she’s longed to know.
“Henwell, where do you co from? If you can’t say, it’s okay.”
Henwell dodges the question. “Do you rember the guests from the Ika Kingdom at the wedding today?”
lissa nods. Henwell continues, “Do you recall the captain of the guards beside the Ika crown princess?”
lissa thinks for a mont. “Yes. Viscount Obian, a senior commander of the Golden Guard Knights! His wife was very kind and gave a small gift, a beautiful crystal bracelet.”
Then lissa digs through a pile of presents and finds the relatively simple jewelry box.
Henwell takes out the necklace and studies it for a mont, then smiles at lissa. “Keep this safe. It’s a gift from my mother.”
lissa freezes, stunned. She stamrs, “You… you an Lady Vanessa is your mother, and Viscount Obian is your biological father?”
Henwell sighs. “Ah, surprised? Now you understand why I can’t reveal my origins.”
Seeing lissa still dazed, Henwell jokes, “Are you thinking I’m a spy sent by the Ika Kingdom?”
lissa snaps back to herself and lifts her chin proudly. “What could the Ika Kingdom possibly do to produce a hero like my husband?”
Henwell bursts into a triumphant laugh, then suddenly grabs a piece of fruit from the table and hurls it toward the window.
He’s spotted Newwood lurking there!
Just monts ago, Newwood had been force-fed a mouthful of “couple’s affection”, a mood fluctuation that Henwell imdiately sensed.
lissa looks at Henwell in surprise. Only monts ago, her husband was laughing wildly, full of pride and swagger. Now he suddenly throws a fruit?
Henwell shrugs and explains, “I just saw a silly bird fly by.”
Then Henwell begins to recount his story, from being captured during the chaos of war to the various events that followed.
lissa occasionally interrupts with questions, and after more than half an hour, Henwell roughly finishes his tale.
By this point, tears stream down lissa’s face. She can hardly imagine the bloody path Henwell has walked to reach where he is now.
Gently wiping her tears away, Henwell says, “Those hardships are behind now. They were like a forge, shaping into the Lord of Blood Hill! Don’t be sad for . The toughest tis are over. From here on, my path will only shine brighter.”
lissa stops sobbing under his comforting words.
Henwell encourages her, “Keep asking.”
After a mont’s thought, lissa asks, “Do you want to be a king soday?”
Henwell nods softly. “I want to beco an emperor and build a vast empire.”
lissa falls silent, then smiles brightly. “I understand now. From this mont on, you’ll strive to be emperor, and I’ll work hard to be your queen.”
anwhile, Newwood, having climbed to another window, gets fed another dose of “couple’s affection.”
This ti, he’s prepared, he conceals his spirit and presence to avoid Henwell’s detection.
But the good tis don’t last.
Henwell turns to lissa. “One more question. Ask away.”
lissa thinks long and hard, clearly about to ask sothing important.
Henwell’s heart races nervously, afraid she might ask a forbidden question he can’t answer.
Finally, lissa speaks, her face serious as she stares at the tense Henwell. “Am I the woman you love most?”
Henwell freezes for a mont, then smiles and lowers his head to kiss her gently. “Of course.”
After the kiss, lissa laughs. “Henwell, that question was the most important one to , the one I most wanted to know.”
Newwood can’t take any more of this “couple’s affection” and accidentally reveals his presence again.
Henwell’s expression darkens as he stands. “You damn fool!”
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