Torvald chimed in from the side,
"I’ve heard of Second Prince Dominoz. He’s reputed to be a genius of the Verdia Kingdom. There are rumors of him fighting alone in the forest, those stories are everywhere. I just don’t know if they’re true."
Edrin responded immediately,
"Well, to some extent, the rumors are true. But not entirely. The second prince is still alive, isn’t he? Don’t you think countless people might be after his life? There must be someone strong protecting him, someone who keeps his presence hidden, even from the prince himself."
Aaron nodded thoughtfully. Edrin’s words made sense.
But he shook his head and asked,
"Edrin, what about Duke Theodore’s son?"
Edrin’s expression turned contemplative.
"Duke Theodore’s eldest son died at Green Fort, leaving Gloden as his only heir. Unlike the second prince, Master Gloden is constantly guarded. From what I’ve heard, he has a harem of more than ten beauties."
He paused, then added in a serious tone,
"But Aaron, if you’re attending the marriage ceremony, you should remember, people say Gloden is of ordinary strength. Unlike Dominoz, who’s praised for his intelligence by nearly every teacher."
Aaron’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"What about Gloden’s strength?"
Edrin’s face grew serious.
"Everyone knows Master Gloden isn’t interested in training. No one’s ever seen him at the training grounds. Aside from his studies, he spends most of his time in the harem house."
Aaron remained silent, deep in thought.
He couldn’t help but draw a conclusion.
"Maybe Gloden isn’t as simple as he seems. Any intelligent person knows that in this world, strength is everything. Especially in a Duke’s household. He might be putting on an act... or maybe the knight technique he’s training in is somehow connected to women."
While talking, they had already reached the city gate.
Seeing this, Aaron said,
"Well, it’s time for me to head back."
Edrin and Torvald nodded and parted ways.
Aaron walked along the road, observing the city around him.
He noticed people buying food in unusually large quantities, their expressions tense and hurried.
Along the way, he also saw that the number of soldiers patrolling the area had increased.
He returned to the castle and ate his meal. Afterward, he walked toward his room.
Sitting on the bed, Aaron began to reflect on everything he had learned about becoming a knight.
In truth, his knowledge was half-baked, there had been no one to guide him, no mentor to show the way.
He glanced at his status. His level had already reached Level 10, yet he still hadn’t awakened as a knight.
After a moment of thought, he made a decision.
Level 11 required 1,000 experience points.
If leveling up helped, great. If not, he’d seek out Alice, perhaps she could help.
Spending the points, he initiated the level-up.
Instantly, a new sensation washed over him.
His entire body was immersed in warm energy, soothing and powerful.
It was so comfortable, so profound, that words failed to describe it.
The transformation lasted only a few seconds.
Knight (Level 11) (0/1000)
- Lion Breathing Mastery (Lv.5) (0/500)
- Basic Sword Mastery (lv.2) (3/200)
- Basic Archer Mastery (lv.5) (0/500)
Experience Points: 4000
After successfully increasing his level, Aaron checked his stats and noticed several changes.
First of all, beneath his name, the title "Knight" was now clearly displayed.
Next to it were his level and experience bar, both updated.
His attribute points had also shifted:
- Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution had each increased by 2 points.
- Intelligence had risen by 3 points.
Aside from these changes, everything else remained the same.
Aaron simply nodded, accepting the transformation without much thought.
It was progress, and for now, that was enough.
Duke Alaric sat comfortably in his chair, a polite smile on his face as he looked at Gloden.
"Gloden, how is your father? I haven’t seen him in the last three years."
Gloden returned the smile.
"Father is in good health."
Then, with a subtle flourish, he opened a box to reveal a fist-sized, shiny crystal radiating intense life energy.
Alaric’s expression turned solemn.
"What do you mean by showing me a Tier 4 monster core?"
"Lord Alaric, it’s nothing but a gift from my father."
Alaric didn’t even glance at the core. His tone cooled.
"The gift is too expensive. You can take it back."
Gloden’s smile remained, but inside he was already cursing,
“Damn you, old bastard. Why won’t you accept the gift and give me your daughter already? Isn’t a Tier 4 monster core valuable enough for you?”
Before Gloden could finish, Alaric stood and interrupted,
"Let’s go eat lunch. It’s already time."
As he left the room, Mario appeared and said politely,
"Master Gloden, please follow me."
Alaric, meanwhile, cursed silently,
“Damn Theodore. As expected, you’re still not content with your own territory, you’re even eyeing mine.”
Then, his gaze fell on Alice, who was pulling Aaron along with a cheerful smile.
Alaric’s expression softened.
Unlike Gloden, Aaron had no impure intentions.
And during his seven-day stay, Alaric had noticed a change in his daughter, she had become more cheerful, more grounded.
She no longer jumped from the castle walls, and that alone had put his heart at ease.
Gloden, who was following behind Lord Alaric, froze when he saw the scene ahead. Dıscover more novels at Nove1Fire.net
He couldn’t help but ask,
"Who is the person next to Miss Alice?"
He paused, then added with a sneer,
"Judging by his clothes, he looks like a country bumpkin."
Mario, walking calmly beside him, replied,
"Ah, you must be referring to Lord Aaron. He’s the newly appointed Lord of Green Fort."
Gloden’s expression turned confused for a moment, then he burst into laughter.
"Haha... I didn’t expect there’d be an idiot willing to go to Green Fort."
Mario, unfazed, said politely,
"Master Gloden, please don’t speak like that. Let’s head to the dining room, otherwise, the food will get cold."