Chapter 63.2

“Isn’t this the main character of the Gadavira subjugation? It is an honor for a hero who conquered a dragon to come to such a humble place.”

“Please stop the flatter, Duke. I don’t know how to respond.”

“Hahahaha!”

At the Great Hall of the Balazit mansion.

The Duke was bursting into laughter in front of a mountain of loot.

This exaggerated joy was because it was good news that the dragon subjugation was successful.

He tried to ride other’s achievements by boasting about them more than his actual own. It was a typical method.

However, Lee Jiho expressed his gratitude by putting his fist on his chest like he never noticed the ulterior motive.

“We, twenty-seven men, returned from the expedition, greet the Duke.”

“You returned well.”

The Duke of Balazit bursted into laughter like he was in a good mood.

He was actually in a pretty good mood, though he was pretending to be hyperbolically happy.

This was because the success of the knight he sponsored was proof that his judgement wasn’t wrong, and it served as a stepping stone to expand his power.

And what about the gold and silver treasures piled up in the hall.

‘I was so pissed when I heard that a dragon lair was found near Vallon Fortress.’

Compared to Winterfell, who found the lair without shedding blood, he had to make some sacrifice. But now that he had won the honor of being a dragon slayer, he didn’t seem to be lacking behind the Winterfell.

Smiling with satisfaction, he tapped Lee Jiho on the shoulder and said.

“You must have had a hard time.”

“No, I didn’t. I couldn’t have achieved it without your help.”

It wasn’t empty talk. Knights, infantry forces, and it was the Duke family who funded it.

“Let’s see… Is there anything you want? Shall I ask His Majesty to grant you a title? Tell me whatever you want.”

“…….”

‘What I want? You’ve already taken it away.’

But he couldn’t say that.

Lee Jiho hesitated for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Then please allow me to pay consolation money to the families of the fallen as a reward.”

“That’s a matter of course. Not that, tell me what you want? Be honest with me.”

‘I didn’t mean it.’ said the Duke Balazit, as he patted him on the shoulder.

“Opportunities like this don’t come very often. I’ll give you time, so think about it.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, come to think of it, I have someone to introduce you to.”

“……?”

Lee Jiho’s head tilted slightly in wonder.

He thought the Duke would introduce him to a young lady to replace Nadia. If that was the case, he would decline.

But it was a tall man standing in the place pointed out by the Duke, in contrast to his expectation.

Light brown hair and blue eyes.

‘ He is in his mid to late twenties, I guess?’

The man had a feature that resembled the Duke, somehow.

The answer came to the wondering Lee Jiho.

“It’s my nephew, Aiden. He graduated from the academy this year and returned to the capital.”

‘Oh, I knew it.’

He was a relative. Lee Jiho’s gaze was on him.

The man turned out to be his nephew, whom the Duke of Balazit, who had only a daughter, seemed to intend to adopt and pass on the title.

The brunette man, Aiden, held out his hand and said.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Aiden of Ernst. Sir Jiho’s reputation has also been a huge talk in a distant academy.”

“I’m Lee Jiho. I would have a lot of lacking, if it wasn’t because of the Duke’s support.”

Lee Jiho greeted Aiden by shaking his hand, the possible successor of the Duchy.

If he made a good first impression, he would secure another supporter. As he thought about it, Lee Jiho tried to smile wider.

“As I heard, you have a great spirit. No surprise that the Duke may have considered you to marry my cousin.”

“…….”

It was obvious that Lee Jiho didn’t have to ask who his cousin was.

Nadia Balazit.

As soon as he remembered the woman who had once been engaged to him, he felt something sharp was scratching my mind.

His expression was about to crumble. He had to exert himself to prevent the force of wanting to shake off the hand he held.

‘Smile. Smile.’

Wasn’t it the first thing he learned when he came to this world to hide his displeasure?

Lee Jiho forced the corners of his mouth and smiled.

“You are flattering me… I’m just grateful that he thinks highly of me.”

Who would  have guessed how badly he wanted to crush the other person’s hand with such a kind expression?

On the shoulders of the two young men who greeted each other for the first time with a smiling face, the Duke tapped with a big smile.

They were the chess pieces that he would use that would lead the Balazit family to success in the distant future. There was no way not to be happy.

He patted them on the shoulder encouragingly and said.

“I have prepared for you a product from Vornea 814. Come with me, Aiden.”

“You must really care about Lord Jiho, who was born in 814 in Vornea.”

Lee Jiho spat out curses in his mind.

He didn’t care about Vornea 814 or what, and all he needed now was time to cool his anger alone.

“Sir Jiho, this is really not an ordinary good. If you don’t taste it today, you’ll regret it until you die.”

“…How could you give me such a precious item?”

“Aren’t we one of the most cherished Duke families of the south? Come on, come on. Don’t be shy.”

Did he even have a choice?

Lee Jiho followed the Duke with a natural face that no one would think of as a forced smile.

It happened a few days before the Marquis of Winterfell woke up.

Want to read more chapters and support us? Please consider becoming a patron to read up to 4 chapters in advance!