CHAPTER 59: 59 IS IT OKAY? HA! (THANKS TO POORSEN, THE ALLIANCE LEADER! +3 FOR MORE UPDATES!)

Morning.

As Herbert walked out of the Third Commandment Hall, he happened to meet Cultivator Jeffs waiting at the entrance.

"Lord Herbert, there’s a group of people here looking for you."

Jeffs, who had just been released from interrogation, looked somewhat haggard, as if he had been skinned, yet strangely relaxed.

He looked at the puzzled Herbert, his expression respectful, and said softly, "They claim to be the servants of the Albert Family."

They came quickly!

This was Herbert’s first thought upon hearing the news.

He had written to the Silver Wings Duke three days ago to notify him of the financial request, and today he received a reply and package.

Letters can be delivered directly to the Monastery over long distances via magic, but not living people.

Even if they could use a teleportation array to reach the nearest city, they’d still need at least two and a half days of trekking through the perilous Misty Mountains to reach the Monastery.

This means that the moment Silver Wings Duke received the letter, they must have gathered and set out in less than half a day.

Crossing through the teleportation array and then trudging over mountains and valleys to reach him.

So, rushing over mountains and valleys to come to you.

Touched?

Touched my foot!

Herbert only felt curious about their behavior.

No, why are you in such a hurry?

I didn’t urge you at all... why the rush!

After pondering for a moment, a second thought soon followed—he was in a hurry.

"My dear father, you are indeed in a hurry."

Thinking about the organizer behind this rapid mobilization, Herbert couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh, "What are you doing? So desperately trying to mend the relationship between you and me?"

"But I’m a bit curious, are you worried I’m not doing well at the Monastery?"

"Or are you concerned about my return, trying to use this gesture to pacify and control me?"

For a father who hadn’t cared for a whole month since he arrived at the Monastery, Herbert was inclined to reserve judgment with a question mark on this issue.

"Well, in the interest of fairness, I’ll assume it’s the former for now."

With these thoughts in mind, Herbert followed Jeffs to the guest room and met the visitors waiting there.

It was a towering warrior over two meters tall, with curly brown-yellow hair and a simply trimmed beard on his face.

As soon as he saw Herbert, he stood up straight, then knelt on one knee, bowed his head reverently, and said, "Your Highness."

Herbert thought for half a second while looking at the man’s face, recalled his name from memory, and nodded, "...Blake, it’s been a long time."

Blake Jones, a seasoned warrior trained by the Albert Family, not yet forty years old, and already a High Tier early-stage Axe Warrior.

For a long period, he had been serving as the guardian of the Duke’s heir.

One could say that Herbert grew up under his watch.

Blake lifted his head, his gaze falling on the golden mark on Herbert’s hand, and he spoke with a complex mix of emotions in a low voice, "Your Highness, have you truly become..."

"Yes, as you can see."

Herbert knew what he was concerned about and openly raised his hand to display the Holy Mark, speaking calmly, "I have vowed to become a Paladin."

"If Madam were still alive, upon knowing this, she would probably... no, apologies." Blake quickly bowed his head, fearing he had touched upon Herbert’s wound.

"...It’s nothing."

Regarding his late mother, Herbert’s reaction was somewhat indifferent, as only a few memories briefly flashed through his mind.

The sorrow over his mother’s passing was indeed hurtful to him; even now, he can still feel the pain and loneliness from that time.

But as things stand, after a decade has passed, he has grown accustomed to this pain.

Herbert shook his head, unwilling to dwell on these past events, deliberately changing the subject:

"By the way, what brings you here suddenly? Are you looking to become a Cultivator as well?"

He raised an eyebrow, remembered some old fun stories, chuckling as he teased, "I remember you used to say you wanted to marry three wives?"

"Cough, cough, cough! Your Highness, you must be joking."

Being called out like this made Blake slightly embarrassed. His gaze fell on the expressionless Cultivator Jeffs behind Herbert, and he bravely said,

"All I ever said was just in jest..."

I was just bragging, why did you take it seriously!

"I see."

Herbert chuckled softly and said leisurely, "I was actually thinking of setting something up for you later, but now it seems there’s no need for such trouble."

Blake: ?

"Your Highness! I mean, I! I actually can!"

"Cough, cough!!"

Jeffs, who had been standing behind the pair, could not listen any longer and coughed before excusing himself, "Lord Herbert, now that you’ve met with them, I will take my leave."

"Yes, thank you for your trouble, Cultivator Jeffs, please go ahead."

"Farewell."

Once the outsiders had left, Blake’s expression became slightly more solemn. After carefully sizing up Herbert, he spoke in a low voice, "Your Highness, seeing you are well brings me relief."

He had initially thought Herbert would be struggling at the Monastery, but now it seemed he had smoothly integrated here?

"Well?"

Hearing this word made Herbert want to laugh a bit, shaking his head, he said, "Heh, maybe that’s how it seems to you."

If you knew what I went through?

You wouldn’t think I’m well.

If you knew what I went through?

You wouldn’t have that expression now.

You don’t know.

You know nothing!

Well?

Heh.

How can you use such light words?

Am I really well?

You think, being falsely accused and thrown into a dungeon, forced into a Monastery, isolated and pushed into becoming a Prison Guard...

After going through all that, do you really think I would feel good!!?

Yes.

Definitely!

I indeed can’t call myself ’well’ right now; I’d say—I’m doing exceptionally well~

Spending my days either enlightening Monster Girls under my management with my authority or having two supervisors fighting over me to join their departments for promotion... my days are thriving.

Do you understand my joy?

You wouldn’t understand.

Because my joy is beyond your imagination!

Of course, Blake did not know the true thoughts in Herbert’s mind. Upon hearing his words, he only thought Herbert was trying to be strong, secretly suffering at the Monastery.

He couldn’t help but feel a bit pained.

Especially when recalling the strange attitude of Silver Wings Duke at the time, his heart ached even more.

But as a household servant, there are things he cannot say, lacks the qualification to say, and absolutely must not say.

Ultimately, all Blake could do was say in a low voice,

"Your Highness, you have suffered."

Meanwhile, as Herbert was silently observing Blake’s reactions, some speculations formed in his mind—the attitude of the Duke’s family towards him might not be favorable.

He shook his head, speaking calmly,

"These things don’t need to be discussed further; let’s talk about the main matters."