When Colin brought his sister and brother-in-law to the dining hall, a feast of turkey had already been prepared.
On the long and narrow oak table, there was a huge roasted turkey, which was overflowing with the aroma of oil. Around it were all kinds of side dishes, such as roasted bacon, mashed potatoes, vegetable soup, fruit salad, and a bottle of white wine from Winst Manor.
Of course, Colin's exclusive deer blood wine was also included.
Colin tied the napkin and said to Eamon, who was pouring wine for the three of them, "Eamon, sit down and eat with us."
Eamon said awkwardly, "Master, this is against the rules …"
Colin waved his hand domineeringly, "In this castle, I am the rules! Sit! "
Eamon was still hesitating, but Caitlin persuaded, "Eamon, sit down. You have served the Angele family for more than forty years. We are already family!"
Eamon thanked her and sat down.
Colin then looked at Cathy who was standing at the side and said with a smile, "Cathy, why don't you join as well?"
Cathy's little face immediately lit up with joy. She quickly thanked him and sat down.
Caitlin looked at the pretty half-elf maid and frowned slightly.
She had obviously misunderstood the relationship between Colin and Cathy, and was planning to remind her brother in private.
Half-elves could only be taken as lovers, and could not be married.
Even if she was said to be a descendant of the half-elf royal family.
This could be considered a form of racial discrimination.
However, the nobles of the Radiant Empire had long since taken it as a matter of course. This was also the arrogance of the Radiant Empire, which occupied the center of the continent and suppressed all the other races.
The nobles of the Radiant Empire also had the tradition of 'eating without talking' when they were enjoying their meals.
As for the dessert after the main meal, it was specially prepared for chatting.
Tonight's dessert was a fresh fruit Cabernet Sauvignon. It was a delicacy made with egg, cream, and champagne poured over various fruits. After a simple roasting, it emitted a rich charred aroma that instantly filled the entire restaurant.
After preparing the desserts, Eamon and Cathy sensibly excused themselves, leaving the rest of the reunion to Colin and Valla.
Caitlin was very excited as she chattered about all the interesting things that happened between the three of them in Graycastle. Valla and Colin added in from time to time, filling the entire dining hall with a cheerful atmosphere.
But as time went by, Caitlin who had just finished a long journey was visibly tired. She began to yawn repeatedly.
Seeing this, Valla said considerately, "Caitlin, why don't you go back and rest first? I'll talk to Colin for a while."
"Alright, I'm too tired today. I'll go back to sleep first. You guys take your time."
Colin also smiled and nodded. "Okay, sister. The maid outside the hall will take you to your room."
When the door to the hall opened and closed again, the dining hall suddenly became quiet.
A hint of awkwardness began to circulate in the air.
The two men picked up the wine glasses in front of them almost at the same time and brought them to their mouths.
Colin finished the deer blood wine in his glass in one gulp and then looked at Valla, as if waiting for her to speak first.
In Colin's opinion, Valla had come to Icestone this time because she had received orders from Count Auldmann to rope in the Angele family.
Caitlin had already helped to set up the atmosphere earlier. Now, it should be time for Valla's performance.
"Colin." Valla spoke as expected. "Actually … ever since I followed the baron to battle, I've been too ashamed to see you."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't fulfill my duty, causing the baron to unfortunately die on the frontlines …" The sorrow and self-blame in Valla's eyes were completely flawless.
At least, Colin couldn't find any flaws.
"What was the situation back then?"
"At the time, the baron was leading the family's army to carry out a rescue mission, but halfway through, he was surrounded by a troll army that was several times larger than ours.
The battle was extremely fierce. The soldiers around him fell one by one, and my ears were filled with screams …
Then, I saw the baron's head … cut off by a troll warrior with my own eyes … "
Valla took a deep breath, as if to calm her agitated emotions. After a while, she continued her narration.
"After that, I was also stabbed in the stomach. Before I lost consciousness, I only remember the savage smile of the troll warrior who defeated me …"
After listening to Valla's narration, Colin nodded expressionlessly. There was no joy or anger in his eyes as he asked calmly, "So you were captured just like that?"
Valla hesitated for a moment, then said in an uncertain tone, "I think so."
"Think so?"
"Mm. Actually, I don't remember what happened after I was injured. I only know that when I woke up again, I was already in Fallen Eagle City."
Colin finally sat up straight.
Because he realized that something was wrong!
That wasn't what Manager Oliver of the Tulip Merchant Guild said back then.
When that fatty gave Colin an expensive enchanted armor as an apology, he clearly said —
Valla became a captive after her defeat, and was brought back to the troll empire by the troll army. However, when she was chased by the Black Cavalry, she was abandoned by the trolls along with fifty thousand other human captives on the icy plains. In the end, she only managed to return to the Northern Frontier after going through untold hardships.
That explanation didn't match Valla's words at all!
What's going on?
Both sides didn't match up?
She wouldn't make such a low-level mistake, right?
Thus, Colin decided to test her again. "Valla, that's not what Manager Oliver of the Tulip Merchant Guild told me back then."
"Oliver?" Valla frowned. "He probably received my mother's instructions to fabricate some things for me in front of you."
Colin blinked, clearly not used to Valla's honesty.
"Your mother? Lady Penny? Why would she help you fabricate a story? "
"Mother, she …" Valla looked conflicted and pained, but she still said softly, "She might want to hide something …"
"Hide what?" Colin continued to ask.
Valla looked up and looked at Colin seriously, complicated emotions flashing in her eyes.
After a long while, she spoke again, "I suspect that mother might have a secret connection with the trolls."
"What?" Colin was shocked.
That shock wasn't an act.
Colin obviously knew that Valla's mother, Penny, had a secret connection with the trolls. It wasn't just her, Count Auldmann was the same.
But what shocked him was that Valla actually admitted it herself!
However, what Valla said next shocked Colin even more. "Colin, I heard that you encountered an assassination in Graycastle?"
"Yes, Knight Carter did it."
"Do you know who ordered Knight Carter to do this?"
"Who?"
"My mother."
Colin stared blankly at Knight Valla, completely dumbfounded.
At that moment, he was cursing wildly in his mind.
Bro, did you get the wrong script?
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