LUCIA

Chapter 57 To the Capital

"Winning? Who? Me? That's my goal in life. Although I don't know if it can ever be achieved."

"Are you saying you've never won before?"

"Honestly, my Lord doesn't go all out in our duels. Apparently, it's annoying. He says why should he exert himself for something he can't kill."

"..."

"Sometimes, my Lord doesn't even let me draw the sword. I have to be careful before brandishing the sword."

"...Why?"

"Because he might be in a bad mood. In that case, battle or what, I just get beat up."

"...Even with that treatment, you like it there?"

"It means I am one of the few people my lord trusts."

"Getting beat up?"

"That is the evidence of trust. My lord would rather just kill something than go through the hassle of beating it."

Kwiz had nothing more to say. Anyways, this was an unexpected harvest. The Duke of Taran had a remarkably more foul nature than he was known for.

* * *

"Taran Gong!"

Hugo stopped walking and turned around. The owner of the voice calling him quickly approached his side.

"If you have some time, would you like to accompany me for a while?"

The young man with an amiable smile was Count David Ramis. When he came of age as the eldest son of Duke Ramis, he received a part of his father's estate along with the title of Count. He was also the Crown Prince's brother-in-law.

Once Kwiz sat on the throne, David was sure to rise to the center of power in the future.

David was the same age as Hugo. However, an enormous difference existed between them. Hugo was a Duke and head of his family while David was nothing but a successor to a Duke.

So David calling Hugo by 'Taran Gong' was a very rude act. To be able to call Hugo in that manner, you had to at least be a Duke. And argumentatively, even a Duke had to address Hugo with honorifics.

Even formally, the position of the Duke of Taran was recipient to royal treatment. Hugo could see through David.

Outwardly the man smiled amiably but inwardly, he was full of rivalry.

Greenhorn. Hugo sneered inwardly but on the surface, his expression remained taciturn.

"I do not believe I will fit in."

Hugo responded after briefly staring at David and his followers, who were sticking to him like a tail. In any case, Hugo thought of the Duke of Ramis' face and treated them with adequate courtesy.

"Ha-ha. What are you talking about? I'm sure if Gong is with us, the occasion will shine even more."

"I mean I am concerned that only I will shine."

There was no one who couldn't understand the meaning behind this sarcastic remark. David's eyes widened in embarrassment and his ears flushed red.

It was the first time he was turned down so blatantly. The people around David always tried to prove their loyalty to him because he was positioned to become the next Duke.

"Hahaha, just as I have heard, you are an outspoken person. Will you oblige and share your valuable opinions with me?"

"Get that from your father. If your father has nothing to say, come and find me."