The Artful Gallery (2)

As Mikael continued following Secretary Cade on their exploration, he could not help but be overwhelmed by Nicolaus' riches. In every room they entered, and every corner they walked over, there were precious decorative displays and artifacts from foreign lands. 

It was akin to a slap on his face, and it felt as though every breath he took would not be imbued with fortune.

The library was huge, stationed at the heart of the estate, nestled between the two halls dedicated to the reception and banquets. In there, there was a sanctuary of books, most of which were in different languages.

When they left the confines of the mansion, they ventured to the gorgeous garden, located in the sprawling west wing of the estate. It was sheltered inside a structure with an abundance of windows that allowed the sun to stream down. They called it the greenhouse garden.

His eyes were immediately drawn to the fountain, and the sound of trickling water gave a background melody. Mikael was captivated by the flowers and plants, especially the roses, which he had assumed would be only red, surprised him with their diversity, blooming in shades of yellow and pink.

For Mikael, this was the second greatest discovery he had ever had, other than the fact the Wolfram family had sailed to different lands.

Beth proceeded to break the silence as they walked through the corridor, heading to the dining room.

"Secretary Cade, I have been meaning to ask," Beth began, her tone inquisitive. "Is this a castle?"

Mikael, too, was eager to know. He wanted to ask the question, but Beth had beaten him to it.

Secretary Cade responded with a gentle smile, clearly delighted to start sharing the estate's history. "This place is indeed a castle," he began.

Beth could no longer contain her excitement when she thought it right. Her face beamed, joy dancing in her eyes. The friendly maids who had welcomed her earlier did tell her that the estate was a castle. She just needed the confirmation from Secretary Cade.

"An archduke once abandoned it," Cade continued, his voice carrying a storyteller's tone. "Long ago, before Odelle became a city, this entire land was infested with colossal wolves, making it a most undesirable property to any… sane person. No one in their right mind wanted anything to do with it. But the late Master was no sane individual."

Mikael shuddered at the thought of the wolves that had once roamed these grounds. Now, it left him pondering the familial traits that seemed to run in Nicolaus' lineage. 

'It even came from Secretary Cade himself.' 

"However," Cade continued, "then came the late Master. He had a vision for this land, a dream of transforming it into something far from incredible."

Beth's eyes widened with interest, and Mikael leaned in, captivated by the story.

"With a strong courage and a hoard of high-quality goods as bribes, the late Master approached the former King Aevan," Cade went on his narration as they walked through the corridor, "and expressed his desire to purchase this castle and its surrounding lands. The king of his time, wise and sharp as he was, recognized the golden opportunity."

Mikael nodded, realizing where this was going. "The king made a condition, I assume?"

Cade's lips curved into a smile, acknowledging Mikael's perceptiveness. "Indeed, my lady. The King agreed to give this castle to the late Master for free, but under one condition. He requested that, in addition to restoring this land, the late Master would also be responsible for building an intercontinental trade route that would benefit the kingdom."

Mikael could not help but gasp softly at the request. "That must have been an immense responsibility!"

Beth was lost in the conversation, almost like a befuddled question mark was over her head. She glanced back and forth between the two people, talking in a dialogue only comprehensible to each other.

Secretary Cade nodded, his eyes filled with respect for the late Master. "It was, indeed. But the late Master was never one to back down. He willingly accepted the former King's terms to transform this once-infested land into a city it has become, and this abandoned castle into the magnificent estate you see today."

Listening to his words, Mikael felt a sense of admiration for Nicolaus' father and his dedication. He was an insane, ambitious man who dreamed of making a city out of an infested land, and that insanity bridged him to his success and wealth.

"As a result," Cade concluded, "Odelle not only became the symbol of the Wolfram family's prosperity but also grew to be the trade center in the whole kingdom. It is a living tribute to the late Master."

"That's outstanding," Mikael said, genuinely awestruck. "The late Master… Was he not a commoner?"

"That's right. He was, indeed," Secretary Cade replied. Then, for a moment, he asked, "My lady, have you heard of the story about the raven knight who killed hordes of infesting wolves?"

Mikael shook his head. "I… actually haven't heard of it before."

Cade, seemingly almost surprised, said, "Is that so? I guess the story must not be that popular to the nobility, likely because the knight was a commoner."

However, Beth eagerly raised her hand and chimed in, "Ah! Me, me! I heard about this from my uncle! He works for the Marquess, you see!"

Cade asked, "And what might your uncle's name be?"

"His name is Fallon, and he's a sailor on one of the Marquess' trading ships," she answered enthusiastically.

"Fallon, huh," Secretary Cade mused, repeating the name until he recognized it. "Oh, Fallon the Storm Rider!"

"Wait, what? That old man has such a cool name?"

Cade chuckled, nodding as he explained, "Yeah, and he's earned his title. You don't know how popular he is with other sailors. No treacherous storm got to stop Fallon the Storm Rider."

"Now, where was I? Oh, the story about the commoner knight who single-handedly wiped out the wolves in Odelle." Amidst the lively exchange, Cade resumed his storytelling, "Of course, it was none other than the late Master."

Beth's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way! You must be kidding!"

Mikael gently chided her for her outburst. "Beth."

Apologizing sheepishly, Beth cast her eyes downward. "I'm sorry, Secretary Cade. I was… er, my emotions just… got the best of me."

"No need to apologize. Everyone gets excited when they hear about this story," Cade reassured her, waving off her apology. "You see, our late Master, before his success as a merchant, was a knight who served under the former King Aevan during a time of war against King Hirst."

Cade thoughtfully stroked his chin before continuing, "He was so young back then. I heard he was 15 when he entered his knighthood journey, and just a year later, he already went into battle at war."