Viscountess Lex (Part 1)

"Your Highness," Saleen called out after a while, no longer able to stand the silence in the room.

The lady, who seemed out of sorts, smiled gently when she heard Saleen. "Your Highness? Ah, it’s been a long time since I’ve heard that title. You’re not from the Qin Empire, are you? Come forward."

Saleen did not dare make any sudden movements. He simply turned to face the table and obediently sat down. 

Saleen set his gaze on the table after taking a quick glance at the lady. That was the viscountess, the daughter of the emperor. Even though Saleen had not managed to take a good look at the viscountess, he vaguely felt that the viscountess was even prettier than the Goddess of Nature that Nailisi had transformed into.

The viscountess fiddled with the badge that Saleen brought before her, but did not speak a word, so Saleen could only wait. Nailisi and Sika were also waiting by the door, at a loss for what to do.

From the moment that Saleen entered the residence of the viscountess, he had vaguely felt that there was danger all around them. Even though there were only four people in the room, Saleen felt as though there were many more pairs of eyes scrutinizing him. And yet, he could not sense their positions. He only knew that even if he used instantaneous magic against the viscountess, it would not cause her much harm.

"Loki is dead, isn’t he?" The viscountess finally spoke, her eyes filled with regret. The viscountess’ cheeks were slightly skinny, and she had crystal clear skin.

"Your Highness, if you are talking about the owner of the badge, then yes, he has died. However, I did not know his name," Saleen replied. Just as expected, all these royals do not care that one of their subordinates has died, Saleen thought to himself.

The viscountess was not the least bit sad. When Saleen thought of what the Qin swordsman had told him before dying, he felt slightly depressed.

"What were his last words?" the viscountess asked nonchalantly.

Saleen had possessed the intention of keeping the green dragon’s magic nucleus, but when he realized that the Bitter Water Prefecture could protect him from danger, he said, "The swordsman asked me to pass this to you."

As Saleen spoke, he took out the box containing the green dragon’s magic nucleus from his pouch. He dared not use the Ring of Gifts in front of the viscountess. The Qin Empire had many hidden talents and the Bitter Water Prefecture had many experts, so Saleen felt that keeping a low profile would therefore be best.

"What is this?" the viscountess asked curiously.

Saleen placed the box on the table, faced it towards himself, and opened it. Intense magical waves flooded into the room, and yet none spilt out the window. As the box was opened, Saleen felt minute changes in the surroundings of the room. There was at least one person hiding in every corner of the house, even the roof.

The person on the roof was particularly prominent and was bursting with ferocious vibes. Saleen believed that if he had opened the box towards the viscountess, that man would have killed him immediately. Saleen had never felt such an intense sensation of doom before, and was unable to shake that feeling.

Such a strong sword aura! Could the person on the roof have been a grand swordmaster?

If Saleen were to go up against a swordmaster, he would be able to defeat him with the help of Sika and different variations of magic. However, if he were to fight a grand swordmaster, he would be killed the moment their sword was drawn. Saleen would not be able to retaliate at all.

Sika and Nailisi were very sensitive to danger. Nailisi’s felt goosebumps rise on her skin, and she then took half a step back and leaned against the wall. Sika held on tightly to her boomerang and her muscles were as hard as steel, but she could not draw her weapon.

The murderous vibe was locked onto those three people at once, but it disappeared in an instant. Saleen had an idea, and turned the box towards the viscountess. The brilliance of the green dragon’s magic nucleus shone on the viscountess’ flawless face, making her appear a bit demonic.

The viscountess sighed and said, "A green dragon’s magic nucleus? His death was not worth it at all." Saleen remained silent, as he also felt that Loki’s death had not been worthwhile. A lifetime of loyalty had ultimately yielded only a sigh.

"What is your name?" the viscountess asked Saleen, appearing to have no interest in the magic nucleus.

"Saleen Metatrin."

"Metatrin? That seems like it is an ancient lineage," the viscountess said. She thought about it as though she had remembered reading about it in the imperial library. "Hmm. Do you plan on staying or going back to Sikeqinya?"

"Staying?" Saleen pretended that he did not understand the viscountess’ words.

The viscountess closed the box and said, "Stay here and be my personal mage. You will get to learn many things. Take it as a token of my appreciation to you."

Damn it, she had made the reward sound so touching. Saleen stared at the viscountess’ mellow and shiny crystal nails, feeling an urge to reach out his hand and touch them. However, he knew that if he really did so, the person on the roof would immediately descend and chop off his arm.

Saleen had very strange thoughts. He did not know if it was because he particularly liked the looks of the viscountess or if it was because of their special circumstances that he wanted to commit blasphemy. Fortunately for Saleen, he had undergone the badge’s training. It had given his muscles the ability to not quiver under any sort of provocation, and allowed him to always maintain a poker face.

"Your Highness, I have two companions."

"As a mage, what is your grade?" the viscountess suddenly asked.

"I am in Grade 2." Saleen had begun to learn Grade 2 magic during this period. However, he had been unable to practice throughout their journey. Even though his combat ability was higher than that of a Grade 1 mage, he had not yet reached the pinnacle of Grade 2.

"Two followers is fine for a Grade 2 mage. I have three groups of mages around me. Try not to be too low of a grade, or else you will not be able to enter the group of combat mages. I do not think you want to be a follower either, so you shall be a lifestyle mage."

Saleen did not know what a lifestyle mage did, so he had some doubts.

"Your Highness…"

"You shall call me viscountess from now on. Saleen, despite your young age, you are already a Grade 2 mage. Do you have a teacher?"

"Yes."

"In that case, I will not be able to teach you. You may borrow any of the books belonging to the lower rank of the magic book series."

Saleen was very surprised when he heard what the viscountess said. She had actually wanted to teach him. Could it be that she was a mage master? She was only a little older than Saleen. Perhaps all people from the Qin Empire were gifted in the magical arts?

"My name is Lex, and when you talk about me in public… nevermind, I am the only viscountess in this empire. Liki!"

A Grade 1 mage who had been waiting by the door entered. He lowered his hands and greeted her, "Viscountess."

"Bring the three of them to the backyard, and tell Faerun to give them a position."

"Yes, I will." Liki bowed his head in obedience, afraid that the viscountess would see the jealousy in his eyes. Saleen had only entered the palace recently and already got to work under Faerun, causing Liki to feel dejected.

Viscountess Lex took a sip of soup from her bowl and waited for Liki to bring Saleen and his companions out of the room. She stared at the box containing the green dragon’s magic nucleus, and fell deep into thought while gently rapping the table with her finger.

"Bain," Viscountess Lex called out gently, and a man slowly emerged from the shadows under the window.

He had been hiding in the shadows all along. Even when the green dragon’s magic nucleus had released the waves of magic, he had kept still and had no reaction. Saleen may have discovered the person hiding on the roof, but he had not discerned Bain’s presence at all.

"Tell me, do you think this mage is a spy?"

"No."

"Why?" Lex arched her eyebrows, making her seem more mild-mannered.

"You already know the answer. Why ask me?" Bain had a pale face and was clad in tight fitting black clothes. It was the standard makeup of an assassin. However, he did not have any daggers and was only wearing two rings like any other mage.

"Just tell me, please," Viscountess Lex said cheerily. The whole room seemed to have grown brighter in that instant.

Bain seemed to recall his past and answered, "People from Sikeqinya cannot be spies, as their beliefs are easily swayed by money."

"But my father says that money is a type of belief as well."

"If the viscountess finds them suspicious, I can go and kill them right now," Bain answered in a manner that was both solemn and blunt.

Viscountess Lex laughed and answered, "There’s no need for that. Let’s wait and see. A mere mage would not be able to do much anyway. But… do you recall anything about the surname ‘Metatrin’?"

Bain contemplated the question seriously and answered, "The Metatrin family should have been around during the Fourth Dynasty, but they have since declined."

"Send someone to investigate this matter. Saleen’s teacher must be a very powerful mage."

To have been described as "powerful" by Viscountess Lex, Saleen’s teacher must have been an incredible talent. The viscountess was smarter than Bain. Even if Saleen was truly a spy, a thorough investigation needed to be done before killing him. Being a Grade 2 mage at such a young age, Saleen was certainly not your average person on the street.

"Bain, how old is your daughter?" Viscountess Lex asked, changing the topic of conversation.

"She is eight years old, my viscountess."

"Do you intend for her to be an assassin too?"

"No," Bain replied after a brief period of silence.

"In that case, get her a teacher and let her become a mage. Give this to her." Viscountess Lex pushed the little box across the table, wanting Bain to accept it. She looked tranquil, as if she had just given away a huge rock. Bain put away the box and said hesitantly, "My Viscountess, I heard that the black mages are in Phoenix."

"I know about this. What about it?"

"Why don’t we have the people from the swordsmen’s camp come back?"

"There won’t be a need for that. The black mages are no longer what they used to be, and yet they still want to attack the Bitter Water Prefecture? What a joke." Viscountess Lex said this monotonously, yet there was a certain air of arrogance in her words.

"But if the emperor were to…"

"Atrocious!" the viscountess rebuked. There was a flash of coldness on the viscountess’ face as her demeanor of indifference disappeared. Bain felt that his whole body had been pinned down by the viscountess’ dominance, and he could not release the cold sweat trapped beneath his skin. Bain had become a Grade 7 assassin ten years ago, but whenever Viscountess Lex berated him, his sword aura would instantly dissipate.

This was neither magic nor martial arts. It was a secret technique handed down within the imperial family.

Viscountess Lex grew warm again and said, "I know you are all worried for my safety, but the black mages would have harmed me a long time ago if they had wanted to, and I would not have made it to the Bitter Water Prefecture. With teacher around, there is nothing to worry about. Bain, you have a family now. You should mind your words."

All the cold sweat was finally released from Bain’s body and Bain regained his freedom. Viscountess Lex waved her hand and said, "I’m tired. I won’t be going to the classroom. You may take your leave."