Chapter 155

Athy and mother started preparing the things we needed for the winter hunt while I prepared for our security. I also personally trained with the knights Haktor and Marionne selected to be accompanying father on the hunt itself. Father is training separately with Athy's summoned orcs since they are inborn hunters, they have all the knowledge father needs to survive a hunt.

The winter hunt will be held in the northern mountain of Elleveire, Guvino, inside the territory of Duke Salvatore. The Salvatore Dukedom is located in the north and they protect the boundary of Elleveire from the kingdom of Frista. There are numerous strong wild beasts in the north but there are also a number of demon beasts that live in the mountains too.

"My lady, would you like me to accompany his grace in the hunt?" Sebastiene asked me as he served tea.

We are currently in my study, where I am reading reports from Miss Bloom. In the months that passed, the number of knights that joined House Castellan has already numbered to five hundred. With so many men, we are now lacking for a place for them to stay.

"No need." I answered him. "Haktor and Marionne will be more than enough to take on ten demon beasts by themselves, add the knights that were carefully chosen to accompany them. Father is strong enough to protect himself plus he Athy's protection as well as mine. If you go, it would only render them useless."

Sebastiene's smile froze and the side of his mouth twitched a little.

"Just tell her you want to play with some beasts that's why you wanted to go with his grace." A languid voice spoke from the side. Klaus was sitting in the couch sipping tea. Klaus would come to my study in the afternoons and he would report to me, but today, he came to discuss the new training grounds for our knights.

"Ehem." Sebastiene straightened and cleared his throat. "Of course not. I just don't want the lady to worry too much and enjoy her time with the other ladies who will, without a doubt, pester her at the camp."

So that's what it was!

"So you are telling me that you do not want to stay with me while I am being pestered by the ladies?" I asked him with a lazy smile.

"No!" Sebastiene shook his head, a look of panic flashed in his eyes. "I will always stay by my lady's side."

"You don't sound like you want to." I stated as I raised a brow at him.

"Maybe you should just leave him here, my lady." Klaus suggested calmly. "He might not enjoy being surrounded by spoiled young ladies."

"Ah! You must be joking, Sir Klaus." This time, Sebastiene's brow twitched. "I would love to spend time looking at beautiful young ladies."

Klaus and I both looked at him weirdly.

"No, no!" Sebastiene waved his hands frantically. "I meant that the ladies are.. No.. I.."

Klaus and I both started laughing. Sebastiene was not one to get flustered so it's really something to see him get worked up.

Seeing as we were only teasing him, Sebastiene let out a sigh of relief.

"Please don't tease me like that, my lady." He smiled at me with pleading eyes. "I could still remember when you asked me if I was Dee's father. You almost gave me a heart attack!"

"Please.." I rolled my eyes at him and Klaus chuckled.

"Anyway, my lady." Klaus changed the topic. "Did you hear about the issue of the eldest son of House McClare?"

The eldest son of House McClare, Dominic. I frowned and tried to remember if I read any reports about him.

"No." I shook my head lightly. "Did anything happen to him?"

Klaus placed his teacup on the table and nodded.

"He was accused of rape by another noble lady." Klaus stated. The funny thing is that after two weeks, the girl was pronounced as insane and was sent to the monastery of Manea."

The monastery of Mania is like an asylum for the mentally disabled. They believed that the goddess Mane, goddess of insanity and madness, watches over the ones whose minds are in chaos.

"Who is the saintess there?" I asked.

"At the moment, there is no saintess for goddess Manea." Sebastiene replied. "The monastery is currently headed by the high priest, David Latts."

"Is there any connections between the monastery and the McClares?" I asked again.

"None, my lady." Klaus answered this time. "But it is true that the lady became insane."

"She is?" I asked in surprise. "So the accusations were false?"

"That is what's going around now, my lady." Klaus nodded. "But the lady's personal maid was soon found dead in a small alley in the capital."

"Huh?" I frowned.

"Before she died, she told all her friends that she was going to the capital to meet up with her noble lover and talk about marriage but ended up dead." Klaus added.

"Who killed her?" I asked.

"Based on the rumors, it was Dominic McClare." He answered with a smirk.

A rape and now a murder, interesting.

"Find out everything you can about that issue." I ordered him. "Also, check everything about this Dominic and what he has been doing his whole life. His friends, his hunting trips, the women he has been with, everything."

"As you wish my lady." Sebastiene bowed.

"Also, my lady." Klaus smiled. "He will be joining his father for the winter hunt."

I looked at my advisor who was smiling coldly.

Ahhh.. I see why he told all these to me.

"Isn't that such a good time to get acquainted with him?" I also smiled wickedly.