What Happened?

"I thought you would actually keep your word this time. I'm disappointed in you, son."

Four pairs of eyes circled him, looking at him like he had stolen every gold coin from the duchy and run away.

Though he would very much like that, he would rather laze around, eat all he wants, and sleep all he wants without constantly worrying about guarding his stolen gold.

"Please, my lord, don't chastise the young master. He must have withdrawal syndrome. Look at his face... so sad..."

Crazy maid Emilia was the one who said that. She was trying to save him. 

'Though I like the support, I just wanna rest.'

"You're the one who's pampering the young master, Emilia. His actions are a direct reflection of this house."

That was, of course, Oliver, the head butler. He was with them too.

'Knowing him, he must be the one who dragged these people to me.'

'Tsk, tsk.'

Though Kayden knew Oliver would eventually betray the house, he also knew the man acted in its best interest until his wife and kid were kidnapped.

'Can't let that happen.' 

'Without him, the house would be in disarray.'

'Tsk, tsk.'

The only one not chastising him was his younger sister, Lilian, who watched the commotion from behind Alexander.

She looked rather disappointed for some reason.

"I didn't break my promise..."

Kayden said in a monotone. He was too tired to deal with this right now.

'I just woke up, dammit.'

"You were seen entering that tavern of yours. We have witnesses. Don't try to lie, young master."

Oliver adjusted his glasses.

'As a matter of fact, I'm contemplating whether to save him or not.'

"That's true. I did visit the tav--"

"See that?! See that? He really visited the ba--"

"Oliver!"

Oliver, who had cut off Kayden in a hurry like an eager puppy trying to impress his master, shut his mouth instantly when Kayden scolded him.

Kayden raised an eyebrow, looking straight at Oliver.

A tense silence prevailed.

"You're just a butler. Know your place."

Oliver's eyes quivered before he kneeled on the ground.

"Forgive this imbecile for crossing the line, young master."

Not just Oliver, but all the others were also surprised.

It's just that Kayden was never calm. He was always angry or drunk. Normally, he would've thrown a tantrum, but right now, he was composed and collected.

His voice carried authority, as a noble's should.

'Do I really need to call an exorcist?'

'It doesn't seem like his usual self, it's as if someone else has entirely possessed him.'

Alexander thought, observing Kayden's unusual calm demeanor.

Emilia was excited.

'Waaa... my young master... has he finally awoken?'

Lilian had her mouth wide open, as if she had seen a ghost.

She had witnessed his annoyed and angry face whenever he was sober, and his funny and laughing face whenever he was drunk, but she had never seen him so calm before.

Kayden took a deep breath.

"I didn't break my promise. Emilia, come here."

Emilia, who had an excited look on her face, was surprised when Kayden called her.

"Yes, young master."

In a moment, the woman was in front of him. Though he was surprised, he didn't flinch, knowing this woman was a bit crazy.

'Crazy, crazy people they are.'

"Smell me."

"Excuse me?"

"Smell me. Are you deaf or something?"

"Y-yes, young master. Though I can't smell the alcohol, I can smell the fruits on your breath, young master."

"And why is that?"

Emilia put a finger on her chin and thought for a second, as if she were about to invent portal guns or something.

"Ah, you must have eaten fruits to mask your—"

"Shut up! It's because I only drank fruit juice. No alcohol."

"Ah..."

Kayden observed the bewildered expressions around him.

'What's with that tone?'

'Not just her. Why's everyone looking at me like they've seen a ghost?'

'Just what type of man was this Kayden?!'

So, Kael Ryuu had read the first 700 chapters of the 6969 chapters, and this Kayden character had only appeared in the earlier chapters.

Despite that, he still didn't fully understand what kind of person Kayden was.

As a prominent duchy, House Ashbourne had its fair share of powerful personalities, and Kael had read about many of them.

'Except for Kayden, nearly everyone else in the duchy was powerful.'

But Kayden stood out—he was more of a thug than a noble, with stronger ties to criminals than to other nobles.

'Tsk, tsk.'

He felt like an exotic animal in a zoo, with spectators gawking at him from outside the cage.

"Ah, this is annoying. I'm going to my room."

But before he walked away, he squatted down near the kneeling Oliver.

"I couldn't care less about a peasant's wage or a basic sword, for that matter."

He took the butler's hand and pressed the two gold coins he had received earlier into his palm.

"You know why? Because I'm a noble, Oliver."

'Shit, now I sound like a pretentious prick.'

Kael Ryuu could feel Kayden's disgust with himself. 

 "And I don't have to pay the peasants or buy a sword or chain mail myself. I have servants for that. Servants like you, Oliver."

Oliver was shaking his head vigorously. 

'Well, at least this butler is loyal for now.' 

'He has his own pride, and my words just crushed it.' 

At least, that's what he hoped.

But the way Oliver's eyes were trembling was confusing to Kayden. It was like Oliver was looking at a proper noble.

'A noble who has both command and etiqu... equitt... ettipukiti...'

'...'

'Damn, I'm a disappointment.'

Feeling extremely down, Kayden stood and walked away, all the while trying to remember the right word.

He didn't turn to look at the bewildered people who had their mouths wide open.

"When did brother become like that, Father?"

Lilian blinked her eyes, unable to believe that the composed figure who just walked away was her dear brother.

'Can someone change that much in a day?'

She wondered, utterly confused.

'Should I check his head?'

She was thinking her brother had finally gone mad.

'No. I'm not qualified for that. I should contact Selene.'

"Oliver..."

Alexander didn't reply to Lilian but instead addressed Oliver directly.

"Yes, my lord. Please forgive this fool for speaking in such a tone to the young—"

"Call an exorcist..."

"Excuse me?"

"I said call an exorcist. My son has finally gone bad after all these years. Call an exo—"

"Father! Brother is not possessed!"

"He he he, seems like the young master is really drunk, my lord."

Kayden didn't hear his assessment of his new family members.

If he had, he would've probably clicked his tongue in annoyance.

...

A day later, Kayden dismounted from the small black mare.

"Dammit, I feel like throwing up."

It was time to witness the tutorial boss of the Ancient Civilization and acquire his very first Celestial power.