LBC Chapter 4: Sir Lionel

“I will go,” I answered Crimson’s question.

“Shion can accompany you as your attendant… Commander Vera will also follow you.”

Commander Vera’s authority in the Valkyrie Regiment was only second to Duchess Sigyn. From what I have heard, she had taken down several high-profile rancor beasts in her duty.

“Crimson… I have one request. Can I take Elysia instead of Vera? I’m more familiar with her…”

Crimson stayed silent for a long moment, as though she was trying to come up with a good excuse.

I anxiously looked over my shoulder, acting my part as a spoiled boy. “We can’t?”

“Commander Vera will bring her pet griffin for the ride,” replied Crimson in her usual blank tone. “Do you still want Elysia?”

Griffins have always been my thing. The badass combination of eagle and lion was too simply hard to resist. Riding on one would be like a dream come true. This cheap woman targeted my weakness. How disgusting.

“Elysia is stronger. A-and she promised to give me a bow!” I cringed from my childish act.

“I’ll get Elysia then,” Crimson agreed. “The Duchess told me to pass this letter if you agreed…”

The wind carried a paper to me. After reading books for hours and a letter from the emperor, I had to read a letter from my mother.

What a day to be alive.

[Wyl, you will be eighteen soon. In the mainland rules, you are qualified to inherit the Duchy and take a woman as your Duchess.

If a woman catches your fancy, we’ll discuss it upon my return.

Another thing, Sir Lionel will prepare you for your first contact with the nobles and royals. Learn well.

I shall return soon.

Sigyn.]

The content left me dumbfounded.

The letter contained some important facts I nearly forgot. Like getting a wife… After Helen left, I remained as the sole contender to the duke’s position. Unless Sigyn remarries and makes a child, which probably won’t ever happen, the responsibility of continuing the Agarvan bloodline fell upon my shoulders.

“Should I call Sir Lionel?” Crimson asked.

Sir Lionel hailed from the family that gave birth to the Dragon Slayer Hero Aegis. He acted as the commander of the Knight Regiment, which was solely made up of chivalrous knights such as himself. Above all of that, Lionel hailed from the noble family of the current emperor—the Blazing Dawn.

He was an intriguing person held back by his inherent flaws.

“Will Sir Lionel be free?” I asked.

“He will be…” she gave a cold, emotionless answer.

“Then please call him.”

A wind blew past me, which most likely was Crimson flying in stealth.

“I’ll also fly one day.”

This palace alone had so many secrets. What about the rest of the world? Wouldn’t it be a waste to not uncover them? Of course, I had to become strong so that no one would bother me. Only then I'd be able to live my life to its fullest.

I sighed and gazed at the duchy. The bedazzling districts became a perfect background for me to relax in the sun.. Other drow despised anything related to the sun. I was an oddball as a hybrid. The sunlight filled me with energy that may be the effect of my angel blood.

***

In the glaring heat of the sun, a man stabbed the thin air with his stone halberd. Sweat had long drenched his long red hair and robust upper body.

Today was Lionel’s two-year streak for early morning practice. People outside of the duchy often called him crazy for swinging his halberd for over six hours every morning. They also honored him for always being at the frontline to fight the rancor beasts.

“It’s time,” a stern voice drifted into his ears.

Lionel didn’t bother looking for the source, for he could never locate the mysterious Imperial Protector.

‘I’ll reveal your face one day, Crimson. I’ll show you the strength of dragon blood.’

His lips curled into a wide grin. He could already imagine the day he took revenge on Crimson for the defeat.

“What are we waiting for then? Call the maids!” exclaimed the champion of the Knight Regiment.

After getting a quick dip into the bath, Lionel wore clothes. On his way to the appointed room, he bumped into a familiar face. Shion, the armored maid, absentmindedly stared out of a window.

“Shion, why aren’t you with your Lord? Where is he?”

Lionel couldn’t believe Enwyld’s strongest knight wasn’t by his side.

Shion pointed at Enwyld sitting at the edge of the tower, basking in the sun. Lionel understood Shion’s unstated words, “Lord is within my sight.”

Lionel smiled. “Bring him to the Shattered Tower when he comes down. Lord Enwyld has chosen his path. His real training needs to begin as soon as possible.”

Shion clenched her fists, and a chill permeated the room. Lionel’s family was filled with men and women decked in full-plated armors. Nobody was better than him at reading a knight’s body language. Shion was angry enough to release a killing intent, which wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular.

Lionel narrowed his eyes, his red reptilian eyes flashing a look of disdain. “Are you forgetting your duties?”

Shion shook her head at Lionel’s reminder and went back to observing Enwyld through the window.

Lionel shrugged his shoulders. If someone else showed such killing intent, Lionel would have dragged them to the arena for a duel. Shion was the Duchess’s favorite maid. An irrefutable fact. Even he would suffer for punishing Shion.

‘Goodness, what does Sigyn see in these suspicious maids?’

Only half the maids came from minor aristocratic families with clean pasts. The rest were in the gray area or had an alarming background. Shion and Elysia topped the list of controversial maids for obvious reasons.

Lionel threw the matter to the back of his head and headed towards the Shattered Tower.