Chapter 169: Chapter 85.1

“what about them?”

“it’s all right. they won’t be able to take a step forward without my permission.”

baorn nodded at seira’s words, swung his sword to shake off the blood on its blade and climbed the stairs. the mercenaries who stood afar only looked at each other and showed no signs of following him any further.

it was funny and frustrating at the same time to see them come to askan, which was a barren and blackened land, inhaling its air, where no one would even have bothered to visit.

seira watched them for a while, but soon turned around and followed baron inside.

kugung…

baron’s eyes widened as the huge gate opened without anyone pushing it.

“i heard that the duchy of askan was special, but i didn’t expect this thing to be possible.”

“i’m sure you’re pretty surprised by it.”

as she spoke proudly, seira became a bit nervous. this was because she didn’t know if baron didn’t see nathan’s spirit or how he’d react if he did see him.

‘when aven’s around, he’s more likely not to come out of the office from the third floor.’

thinking as she went, seira guided baron to the central hall and was surprised to see nathan standing there.

“oh, dad….”

“dad?”

baron looked at seira with a puzzled face.

jeff’s kid has grown up a lot.

“that… baron, say hello. my father… have you ever met him before?”

seira stared at baron nervously. after touching his stiff face, he lowered his gaze to her.

“nathan… you say?”

“yes.”

his eyes shook for a moment of bewilderment, but they soon quickly sank into silence.

“…i see.”

facing front again, he put his right fist on his left chest and bowed his head, taking a knight’s bow.

“i am baron jeff. i’m elated to meet the hero of the empire… it’s a great honor.”

is it?

with a smile, nathan accepted baron’s greeting.

by the way, he needs to wash up and get a change of clothes.

“there are no clothes that will fit baron here.”

give him my clothes. it should fit just right.

“daddy’s…”

seira hesitated for a while, then looked back at baron who was still in a bow.

“anyway, after washing, let’s talk or do something.”

baron, who held his head up, said with his eyes closed, “then please take good care of me!”

nathan clicked his tongue at baron’s heavy voice that rang through the hall.

you’re in good spirits. i guess it’s jeff’s effect on you.

seira turned around and watched nathan climb the stairs for a while, then shrugged her shoulders.

“i guess you like it here.”

“well, it’s a good thing. i was worried about how things looked for you here.”

it would’ve been frightening to see nathan’s spirit 15 years ago, but baron only spoke with a relieved look.

‘had he ever experienced anything like this before…?’ seira couldn’t help but wonder.

she moved ahead, thinking that she should take a peek later.

“i’m asking just in case, are you hurt?”

“obviously not,” baron huffed, “i feel like i wouldn’t be qualified to court you if i even cut a finger with those guys…”

seira freaked out and quickly shut him up as she said, “keep your voice down. dad thinks i’m getting engaged to louis.”

“…”

baron became contemplative as he looked at her, pressing his mouth tightly with both her hands. her sharp eyebrows twitched, as if she was disapproving of something.

“that’s right,” he muttered softly, biting the flesh of her palm with his teeth. seira withdrew her hand at the tingling sensation, but this time around she put her finger in her mouth.

“well, what are you doing?”

as she pulled her hand away, she felt a strangely tingly sensation from his teeth and tongue, and seira rubbed the palm of her hand against the hem of her clothes for no reason.

“if you’re going to lie, say you’re doing it with me. better to tell him that we’re planning to get married.”

the tone of his voice was light as if joking, but his eyes weren’t. like that of a beast, his bright yellow eyes were imbued with sincerity. seira couldn’t decline him firmly.

“i’ll think about it.”

baron’s lips relaxed as if satisfied with seira’s answer.

“okay.”

“…”

seira turned around and walked up the stairs.

the place she took baron was none other than her bedroom. she had never checked whether the bathtub in the bathroom of the other rooms, other than the ones she and aven were using.

‘but it’s kind of weird to let baron into aven’s room.’

she intended aven’s room to remain the same. just the way it used to be, without touching anything. therefore, she thought it was better to let baron use her room.

as he saw and observed her bedroom, seira pushed baron’s back.

“hurry along and wash up and come out. i’ll bring a change of clothes in front of the bathroom.”

he went into the bathroom as she said, pretending like he didn’t hit the jackpot at seeing seira’s room.

“seira, you don’t need to give me nathan’s clothes. a robe would be fine. i brought my own things to use.”

“where is it?”

“in the greenhouse you use as a stable. staying with my horse.”

the greenhouse was equipped with several layers of protective magic and owner recognition magic. it seemed like he managed to unlock it.