PS: Thank you to my book friends "Romania Feti", "Steiner Loves Goldie", "Veteran Brigade * 2", "Reed Wang", and "My Wife Congratulates" for their generous rewards. Many thanks!
PS2: Thank you to Fish That Didn't Rise! Thank you very much! I'll add another chapter today!
After waiting for about twenty minutes, the head maid came out again. She still didn't look happy, but her expression was much better than before. Her blonde hair was tied up high behind her head, and she was wearing a dark red uniform with some cream embellishments and a classic pleated skirt with golden threads. Her beautiful long legs were wrapped in coffee-colored stockings, but she didn't change her shoes. Sylvia saw that Laing was still standing there, and a strange look flashed in her eyes. She walked up to Laing and said, "I'm here, Duke."
"Just call me Laing in private." The duke shook his head.
"Is this an order?" Sylvia asked.
"Yes, it's an order," Laing said seriously.
"… Laing, we can't go back too late. Madam needs my help tonight." Sylvia stood still. It had to be said that this maid of Suria was also a great beauty, but Laing intentionally ignored her beauty because of her strict and stubborn personality.
"Suria? She has so many people to take care of her. She'll be fine without you for now. " Laing didn't think much of it. He had already done his best to take care of the female knight. Suria's nursing team consisted of four old maids, several Lake Prophets, and the Lake Fairy herself. It would be fine without Sylvia.
But as soon as he said that, Ryan immediately felt that his tone was a little irresponsible. He immediately added, "It won't be too long. What I want is to talk to you openly and honestly."
The two of them walked out of the castle together. The maidservant's tone was still very firm. "You have Teresa and Veronica, two female court officials, and that dark elf. If it really doesn't work out, you can still talk to Her Highness Morgiana. Why me?"
"Teresa and Veronica have both entered the Wizard Tower to conduct research. They have gained a lot from the battle of Muxilon and are preparing to shut themselves up for a year or two to improve themselves. Her Highness Morgiana is still on her way back. As for Olica, should I call her over?" Laing joked with a smile, but when he saw the ugly expression on the head maid's face, he immediately said seriously, "But the main reason is that we need to communicate with each other. This matter has to be done by you."
"… So what else do you want to ask?" Sylvia felt weak all over at the thought of the dark elves' terrifying smiles. She followed Laing and whispered with a red face, "I'm just a maid anyway. I'll answer whatever you ask."
"You … Why do you always carry a sword with you?" Laing asked curiously. He noticed that no matter whether the head maid was wearing a knight's outfit, a maid's outfit, a student's outfit, or a more casual outfit, she always carried a long knight's sword.
"The sword given by His Majesty is the symbol of the family's glory! I can never take it off in public! " Sylvia raised her knight's sword. "This sword represents the history of the family. I will never put it down!"
"I remember that you're a noble daughter of the Van Housen family. You're Suria's maid." Laing led Sylvia out of the castle quickly and slowly. "This is a rare family name."
"Because I'm the descendant of a noble from the Duchy of Cuyleu." Sylvia nodded slightly. "My father, Vincent Van Housen, once served as a noble knight under Count Anthelme of Cuyleu. As his daughter, I was sent to Winford College and grew up with Lady Suria."
"So you're childhood playmates. But why did you become Suria's maid?" Laing asked curiously.
"Because my father didn't complete his mission in the first Battle of La Messenelle Abbey. He didn't manage to fend off the Necromancer Heinrich Kemmler's flank attack as Duke Francois expected. In the end, he didn't manage to delay enough time for Duke Francois to complete the encirclement, resulting in Kemmler's eventual escape. Francois didn't complete his mission in this battle, and in a fit of rage, he wanted to execute my father. It was Sulia who came out to plead for mercy. In the end, Francois let my father go, confiscated his lands, and exiled him to Auster to become an ordinary diplomat in the Empire." Sylvia said in a low voice. "In order to not leave me helpless, and as a form of compensation and protection, I was taken in as a maid by Lady Suria until today."
"So that's how it is." Laing showed that he understood. He thought for a moment and suddenly smiled. "Do you want to reunite with your father?"
"Ah?! Can I? "The head maid was very surprised. She stopped in her tracks." Can you really … "
She couldn't continue because she realized that Ryan might really have the ability to do so!
The man standing in front of her was the most powerful man in the entire kingdom. François was his father-in-law. How could he go against Laing over such a small matter? Moreover, Kemmler was dead. François's knot had been untied. He would not object no matter what!
But only a few people in the entire kingdom could ask for this. Other than that, who would dare to mention something that made a duke and a Knight of the Holy Grail from the Sanctuary unhappy?
"Are you doubting my ability?" Laing asked with a smile. "Or are you doubting my strength?"
"… Please, Laing, please help my father. He's over fifty this year. Auster is a bitter and cold place. He's old and can't take it." Sylvia's expression changed. The head maid's purple eyes surged. She was about to kneel down on the spot. Her voice was filled with urgency and pleading. "Please, Laing. My father is not an excellent general, but he can be your assistant. It won't be a problem for him to handle government affairs. I promise!"
With that, the head maid was about to kneel down on the road.
Sylvia did not manage to kneel down in the end. Just as her knees were about to hit the ground, Laing had already reached out his hands to support her. "Don't, don't do this. Sylvia, you've served Suria for many years. You've always contributed silently without any complaints or regrets. I'm just doing what I can to help."
Seeing that the stubborn and serious head maid had actually surrendered just like that, Laing suddenly had a deeper understanding of the power in his hands.
How charming and scary was power? In his position, many times, with just a word or a gesture, any problem would no longer be a problem because he controlled everything.
In such an environment where he was the only one in the world, people's temperaments and personalities would easily change. They would start to look down on everything, become arrogant and bossy, because everything revolved around him.
After a long time, very few people could completely ignore this influence, just like Sylvia in front of him. The head maid's personality was strong, serious, and stubborn. However, in front of Laing, he could make her bow down with just a word.
Laing thought that it was no wonder that Morgiana's tone and temper were so strong. Because of the environment, Morgiana was actually the spokesperson of the Lake Fairy who held the highest power in the mortal world. Many military and political affairs were decided by her. After a long time, her temper naturally became like that. Morgiana had already controlled her temper very well.
However, at the same time, making Sylvia surrender in such a way was not very honorable. It was just like how people always sympathized with the weak and hated the strong and those in power. Laing repeated to himself that he should not forget his original intention and remember what his mission was in this world and this kingdom. He could not and should not force Sylvia to surrender in such a way.
"Thank you, Mr. Laing." Sylvia's face could not stop blushing. Seeing that she could not kneel down, she immediately bowed. "Thank you very much."
"Then how are you going to repay me?" Laing was suddenly interested. He wanted to tease such a serious head maid who was always at odds with him.
"Well … Repay … Repay?" Sylvia blushed. "Repay what? What can I repay you with? If you like it, you can take it."
"How about this? Let's not be so serious. Let's just be like friends going out for a drink. You're not a maid, and I'm not a duke." Laing thought for a moment and simply made a request that was not too outrageous.
"Then, isn't it just a date?" Sylvia was still conflicted about this.
"Isn't it a date when we come out at night? What else do you think it can be? "Laing complained casually." It can't be a work report, right? "
"… Fine."
Thirty minutes later, in the best tavern in the center of Gene Town, the Salute of the Holy Grail.
The tavern was luxuriously decorated and sold the most precious wine in the old world, Lady's Collection. It was a priceless treasure. Only the Knights of the Holy Grail who were favored by the lady were qualified to come here for a small drink after making contributions.
Laing asked for a private room on the second floor. He extended his hand to Sylvia. "Follow me."
"Okay." The head maid was not used to the change of role, but her personality determined that since she had agreed, she would definitely do her best. Therefore, she could only pretend that she was indeed Laing's girlfriend and put her little hand in Laing's big hand.
This feeling was very complicated, especially when Sylvia felt vaguely excited and guilty about going on a date with Laing behind her mistress' back. In a daze, she was pulled into the private room on the second floor by Laing, and then they both ordered a cup of coffee.
The two of them sat together under the dim yellow magic lamp. Laing looked at Sylvia's restrained and uneasy appearance and smiled. "Does this feel like a date at all?"
"I … don't know. I've never experienced this. I don't know what a date is." Sylvia's face was very red. After hearing Laing's words, she kept shaking her head, somewhat shy and somewhat curious. "I can only say that this … is a bit strange, but not annoying. Laing, when you go on a date with your mistress … is it also like this?"
Laing almost spat out the coffee in his mouth. Sylvia was already twenty-five years old, and yet she was still so innocent?
However, on second thought, it was true that this head maid's life was very simple. One was personal training, and the other was Suria's matter. Other than that, her life was blank.
"Of course it's not like this." The Duke smirked and said, "We do this and that, but it's not just for coffee. Sometimes, we just need an excuse, an excuse to stay together."
"Excuse? This excuse is wrong, it's not right, it's cheating! " Unexpectedly, Sylvia said seriously, "Mr. Laing, you are the role model of a knight. You can't do such a thing!"
"… I don't know how to talk to you anymore, Sylvia." Laing was completely speechless. He said helplessly, "If that's the case, then ask me a question. What are you interested in?"
"Interested?" Sylvia thought for a while, and suddenly said uneasily, "That … Laing, will you marry me off? I heard some rumors in the territory saying that you will marry me off to someone else. I swore that I would be with Miss Sylvia for the rest of my life … "
"Of course not. Who spread the rumors?" Laing was a little puzzled.
The duke had never planned to marry Sylvia off. This head maid knew many secrets, including those of Laing and Suria. It was reasonable that he would not let Sylvia go. Sylvia was also good at internal affairs. Ever since she became the head maid, she had managed the castle very well.
"No?" The head maid's expression relaxed a little, but she immediately thought of something. She snorted and moved her seat further away from Laing. "Since you don't have such plans, then don't blame me for having a problem with you!"
"???" Why was she unhappy again? Laing's head was full of question marks. What was wrong with this head maid? He had already said that he would not marry her off. Why was she unhappy again?
It was hard to guess a woman's thoughts.
He could only try to change the topic. "Sylvia, do you see the two noble knights sitting in the booth below?"
"They look like nobles from the north." The head maid looked over. Indeed, there were two knights in noble attire sitting below. They were drinking, and their expressions were a little lonely. "That's … a yellow background with a black iris emblem! They are nobles from Mu Xilong?! "
"Yes! They are Earl Durin and Earl Larotte, who were supposed to be meeting tonight! " Laing nodded. The duke said to his head maid, "They came here specially to meet me. The two of them basically represent all the nobles from the old Mu Xilong in the south of Lyonnesse."
"That piece of land?" Sylvia's attention was indeed diverted. The head maid frowned. "They came here to see you either because they want you to guarantee their status and benefits, or to ask for help."
"That's right." Ryan smiled and said, "But I deliberately gave them the cold shoulder to make them feel a little uneasy. This is also necessary. After all, they have never been my people. As latecomers and newcomers who are preparing to join a new force, they will definitely have all sorts of thoughts."
Your people? Sylvia was a little sad and sad. She knew that she had to play the role of a date. The head maid could only follow Laing's words. "Then what do you plan to do? Laing? "
"Do me a favor, Sylvia. Ask them to come up." Laing's fingers were interlocked on the table. His blue eyes were surging with Spiritual Waves.
"I need to change. I need to let them know that now is the best time. Some rules must be set now!
It's time to increase my royal power! "
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