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While talking with Allen about Westirifer's power dynamic, Aria entered the Ducal Court.
Along with her, Delya and Paul also entered the Ducal Court.
After the two of them entered the Ducal Court, the ministers from the Holy Cross Duchy also entered one by one. Among them were Gothras, Oriana, Muirne, and Liora, and Jeff himself was escorting all four of them.
As soon as they entered the court room of the Ducal Palace, all the key figures of Westirifer warmly welcomed the delegation that had come from the Holy Cross Duchy.
The grand reception was just being settled after the formalities of welcome.
The banners of the Holy Cross Duchy and the Westirifer Duchy still hung side by side. Their colors were gently swaying in the faint currents of perfumed air.
Grand-Dutchess Mia was sitting on her throne, which looked more like a daybed.
Along with her, Veronica was sitting just beside her.
Both were looking absolutely beautiful.
Just behind Mia, at the edge of the daybed, Allen was standing like a well-behaved butler. At the other edge of the same daybed where Veronica was sitting, Commander Vance stood beside her.
He was exposing all of his aura, making the high figures of Paladins, Valkyrie Knights, and Holy Mothers tremble in fear.
Actually, he wasn't targeting them or anyone.
He was just casually releasing his aura so that no one would dare to create any kind of commotion.
Then on the right side of the Ducal Court room… Aria, Delya, Paul, Gothras, Liora, Oriana, and Muirne were occupying their seats along with some high-ranking soldiers from units like Paladins, Valkyrie Knights, and Holy Mothers.
The left side of the Ducal Court was occupied by the ministers of Westirifer.
And in this same row, surprisingly, Elder Guntor and Lady Tamlora of Keilname State were also present and were sitting just beside Jeff.
Seeing such a big delegation from the Holy Cross Duchy, Elder Guntor asked Jeff,
"Sir Jeff, why has the Holy Cross Duchy come today? What is the reason for sending such a high-end delegation where the Dutchess herself has come here?"
Listening to Guntor, Jeff said,
"Who knows, Sir Guntor. Just like you, I am also confused.
Just yesterday Allen informed me that they are coming to Westirifer and said that he needs my help as Luci wasn't present in the duchy."
Listening to Jeff's words, Guntor said,
"But Sir Jeff, didn't you see… Along with them, 8,100 soldiers have also come here.
They belong to units like Paladins, Valkyrie Knights, and Holy Mothers.
They are one of the most elite armies of the human kingdom.
Well yes, their numbers are far less compared to the armies of other duchies like Livingstone and Purefield.
But yet the rankings of their soldiers are high.
Look at these Paladins… they are an elite squad consisting of both men and women, and the lowest rank present here among them is S+ rank.
Those from the unit like Valkyrie Knights… They are an all-female squad… But they also rank high and no one below the power ranking of S+ is allowed within their ranks.
And lastly, those 100 from the unit called Holy Mothers… They are absolute monsters… None of them is below SS- rank."
"I really don't think that they have good intentions."
Listening to Elder Guntor, Jeff said,
"Sir Guntor, we can't just judge a book by its cover.
Their intentions will become clear when those people begin to talk with Veronica.
Don't underestimate her… If your memory isn't working fine, I have to remind you that Veronica was previously the Queen of Lustbound Heaven Kingdom before severing her ties with them and joining our Velmora family.
When it comes to political affairs, she was one hell of a monster.
No shady intention can ever escape her grasp, and my nephew knew this.
That's why Lucifer appointed her in charge of dealing with the Holy Cross Duchy before leaving the territory.
And as you talked about the elite soldiers of the Holy Cross Duchy,
Don't worry about them… If you focus on them, you will be able to see their shivering legs, and if you focus even more, you will be able to see sweat running down from their foreheads."
"You may not know the reason for it because you hail as an earth mage… But at least try to read the room.
Sir Vance was releasing all of his aura. Try to feel it… even a little, and after that tell me who is more intimidating here… Sir Vance or these soldiers of the Holy Cross Duchy."
"I have never asked him, as I myself was an A- rank adventurer… But Sir Vance isn't registered in any adventure guild, so that's the reason no one knows his power level… But if I tell you about my gut feeling… then Vance is about the higher end of SSS+ rank… And his wife, Lady Commander Artemis, is on the higher end of SSS- rank… soon reaching her breakthrough."
"So you don't have to worry about these soldiers of the Holy Cross Duchy present here. Our Westirifer has many secrets and I know only a few."
Jeff's words became a shock for Guntor for life. He thought,
'Two individuals have unofficially a power ranking of SSS rank.
One is on the higher end of SSS+ rank and another on SSS- rank.
Is that even possible?
Means… That commander who fought with me at the Count's mansion was SSS- rank power level.
Means she didn't even fight with him… but toyed with him.
I was just an SS- rank power level earth mage… What audacity I had to fight an SSS- rank.
In the history of this human kingdom land… where the largest and most influential kingdom is Lustbound Heaven… only a handful of SSS- rank power level hunters have ever appeared, and for the last several centuries no triple S rank individual has ever been registered in the guild… But now out of nowhere two monsters have appeared and both are serving in Westirifer… Where Lucifer rules.
They are both serving under him… Then what level of power does Lucifer have?
Why did he demonstrate that time control magic to me… What was even that magic… I have never heard about it in my life of three centuries… Someone who can control time.
I don't think even dragons… also known as the favoured children of mana, can stop time.
What kind of hellhole is this duchy… how can someone be this ridiculously powerful?'
Thinking all this, Guntor began to sweat more profusely… even more than those soldiers of the Holy Cross Duchy.
When Jeff saw Guntor again in that state, he asked Tamlora,
"Lady Tamlora, what happened to your father-in-law?
Why is he sweating buckets… Is he well?"
Tamlora replied,
"Maybe age has got the better of my father… He is already 309… old enough… You know what I mean."
Listening to this from her own daughter-in-law and in front of himself, Guntor yelled at her but only in his own mind…
'You silly lass, I'm healthy enough to last another century… But if you happen to hear what I heard and you happen to feel what I went through… you will be pissing in your gown already… Now shut up, you ungrateful daughter.'
While Guntor was in his own world of madness…
All kinds of chit-chat ceased in the Ducal Court, and then Veronica spoke.
"Dutchess Aria, I believe that now you are comfortable here.
If you don't have any problem… Can we proceed now?"
Before Aria could even say anything, Paul, who had been silent all this time, spoke again.
"Heh… Aren't you the former queen of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom?
Why become a no-name of this small and remote duchy?
What are you now?… A nameless concubine of some kid who wasn't even twenty.
And if you are now just a concubine, then who gave you the right to speak with my mother-in-law… like you are in a high position above her?
Some gut you have to behave like this… you are just a traitor of the kingdom… A filthy traitor, Veronica.
You severed your ties with King Ignis, humiliated him… You even dared to humiliate the matriarch of the kingdom… And for whom?… That kid named Lucifer, who was still wet behind his ears… What did you think… Escaping to this remote duchy, you will be safe and sound?"
As Paul spoke all this, Vance, who was standing behind Veronica, was throwing daggers at Paul with his eyes.
He really wanted to kill this man who dared to insult his master and mistress… But he was controlling himself as Veronica gestured him to remain silent.
Then she glanced at Aria and asked,
"So what's it all about? Is this your stance, Dutchess Aria?
Do you and all the people who came from the Holy Cross Duchy as a delegation only intend to mock me, my duchy, and my family?"
"If it's just like that, then you may leave now… We don't welcome you."
Listening to Veronica, Aria said,
"Forgive me, Lady Veronica, for not stopping him.
I didn't intend to say any of this and whatever he said is his own words and doesn't represent our Holy Cross Duchy."
As Aria said all this, Paul spoke,
"What are you saying, mother-in-law… Ain't I the husband of your daughter and I'm married into your family? Then why did you say that my words don't represent the Holy Cross Duchy?"
"Why are you siding with that bitch?"
As Paul broke out these words…
A raging slap struck his cheek.
"Ssssllaaaaappppp"
Now Aria was looking at Paul with extreme anger in her eyes and then she glared at her daughter Delya and asked her,
"You lass, didn't I inform you the reason why we are going to the Westirifer Duchy?
Did you not convey my message to your husband… or does he have bad intentions towards our family's approach?"
As Delya heard all this, she said meekly,
"Mother, I did tell him everything and at that time he behaved normally. I really don't know the reason why he is behaving like a total nutjob."
"Actually, I really don't know the reason why he is behaving like this since we departed from Lumera."
After hearing Delya's words, Aria once again looked toward Veronica and said,
"Lady Veronica, please forgive us. It's my fault that I really didn't punish him in a long time and now he is behaving like a total jerk."
Listening to Aria, Veronica smiled and said,
"No problem, Dutchess."
Then Veronica glanced at Allen and said,
"Allen… Take Sir Paul with you so that he can breathe in fresh air… Maybe I think he is feeling congested in this hall and behaving like this."
As Allen received his orders, he moved towards Paul, but as he was in the middle of his way… Paul erupted again.
"Mother-in-law, are you defecting from the kingdom by forming friendly relations with this duchy?
And you, Delya… Don't you think that by being allies with Westirifer, our Holy Cross Duchy is going against the kingdom?"
"Do both of you really think siding with this duchy is beneficial for our duchy?"
"Just because of one woman you all agreed to this… She didn't even leave that fucking hall since I joined your ducal family by getting married to Delya."
"I'm telling you all, what you all are trying to do will bring disaster upon our family… The kingdom will never spare us."
As Aria heard Paul insulting Synthia without naming her and in front of others… she erupted again and roared at Paul,
"How dare you, Paul… How dare you sprout words of suspicion and insult towards Lady Synthia?"
But as she said all this… Suddenly a voice came from the entrance of the Ducal Court.
"Quite a lively atmosphere is in here, isn't it?"
After the voice… A boy entered the room wearing a white-colored T-shirt and loose black trousers.
His hair was messy and a bit wet.
Looking just like a village labour boy… age not reaching beyond twenty yet.
The boy ruffled his wet silver hair and walked past all those who were sitting on either side of the courtroom.
He went directly towards the ducal throne where Mia was sitting with a warm smile on her face.
He went near her and sat down just in front of her.
He leaned his head a bit back against Mia's knees.
Seeing all this, the whole courtroom was dead silent… No one spoke anything.
Then everyone looked towards the throne and was shocked to see that the Grand-Dutchess of Westirifer was drying the hair of that boy with the help of her gown while smiling warmly.
Even Veronica was looking at that boy with extreme love and warmth in her eyes.
But seeing this scene, Paul got irritated once again and said,
"See, this is the level of this duchy… Even some rag-tag nobody boy can enter at this important time of the meeting and this so-called Grand-Dutchess is even helping to dry his hair.
No social etiquette, no class, no level… and all… Mother-in-law… Do you still want to be allies with these people?"
As Paul said all this, Aria was now sweating buckets.
Because she could see the love and care in the eyes of both women sitting on the throne as they looked toward that same boy.
She didn't need to think much to get her answer because Mia had already asked that boy,
"Luci… where did you go last night without informing us?"
To this, the boy replied,
"Mommy… I did inform Allen about everything."
After saying all this, the boy with silver hair winked at Allen.
From Mia's words, Aria understood that this Luci was the same Young Master Lucifer.
After winking at Allen, Lucifer glanced toward everyone present and then said,
"Everyone please settle down… and let Dutchess Aria tell us what she wants to… Because that's the reason she came here in the first place."
Listening to Lucifer, Aria smiled and greeted him,
"Sir Lucifer, you are even younger and more handsome than what I imagined you to be… It's very nice to get acquainted with you."
To this, Lucifer replied while smiling,
"Dutchess Aria, you yourself are quite beautiful… But unfortunately… You still can't compare to my mommy.
It's my pleasure that you tried to visit my duchy and I'm very pleased to get acquainted with you too."
"Now, I want to know the real reason for your visit… Um, before that… Would you mind if I throw the trash outside?"
Aria asked, "Trash?"
Lucifer replied,
"Same trash standing beside you, Dutchess… I'm afraid if he speaks much more than needed… unwillingly I have to use my method to keep a rabid and barking dog silent."
By hearing "barking dog," Aria understood that the implication was for Paul and said,
"Don't worry, Sir Lucifer, he will not utter a single word now."
"Gothras and Oriana… Both of you subdue him here and do everything possible so that he can't utter a word."
As Aria said this, before Paul could say another word, Gothras came behind him with lightning-fast speed and gagged his mouth, and Oriana subdued him.
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