The Wave of the Times

When Seth entered the dining room, a servant had already pulled out a chair. He nodded to his parents, looked at his younger siblings, and smiled.

After Byson finished speaking, he turned to his daughter: "Belle, I heard from your mother that you've been learning to dance recently?"

The girl with blond hair and a pretty face nodded slightly: "Yes, I'm learning the most popular 'Ancient Elf Dance' that's all the rage at court nowadays."

Bai Sen laughed heartily: "Wonderful! When you've learned it, I hope to be your first audience."

A smile bloomed on Annabelle's face: "Okay~"

Byson continued with emotion: "Not long ago, a friend in the navy told me that our Royal Navy had acquired an ironclad ship. This steel battleship is capable of revolutionizing the times. With it, pirates will find it much harder to operate, and incidents like the one Seth encountered should become rare at sea."

"I can feel the tide of the times rolling in."

Seth raised his wine glass, the red liquid swirling slightly. He smiled and said, "Father will surely stand at the forefront of these times."

Byson laughed and said, "I hope so."

He raised his glass and clinked it with Seth's in the air.

The blond girl beside him rolled her eyes and murmured, "Sycophant," before gracefully wiping her mouth with a napkin.

She stood up and said, "I'm done eating; you all take your time."

The little boy opposite her, Christian, also jumped up: "Me too."

He quickly climbed from his chair and grabbed his second sister's hand at the door: "Belle, where is my wooden horse?"

"It will be delivered tomorrow, but if you want this gift, you must promise me one thing."

Christian took two steps back and said with a look of fear, "You won't make me try your pastries again, will you?"

Annabelle crossed her arms: "What's with that expression? What's wrong with the pastries I made!"

The little boy rushed out quickly: "Even dogs won't eat your pastries. If you want me to try them, I'd rather not have the present."

"Christian! Stop right there!"

The angry girl chased after him.

There was a burst of easy laughter in the dining room.

Seeing that only his parents were left, Seth cleared his throat and said, "Father, I want to discuss something with you."

Byson cut a small piece of meat from the fried lamb chops on his plate and put it in his mouth: "What is it?"

Seth looked at his mother apologetically before saying, "I went hunting this afternoon with Leon at Mount Abury. We encountered wolves in the mountains."

"Seth."

As expected, when his mother, Anilu, heard about the danger, she looked at him reproachfully, "How could you do something so dangerous?"

"Sorry."

Seth knew her blame came from concern: "However, I also discovered something unusual because of this. First, those wolves were bigger and more ferocious than usual, unlike any hunters have ever seen."

"We were also surrounded by something I can't accurately describe. Although it had some human characteristics, I don't think that face can be called human."

Seth briefly described what he saw, then said: "It's a pity I only repelled it and didn't kill it. I think that dangerous creature is related to the recent murders in town."

"The 'murderer' I encountered near Memorial Square a few days ago seems very similar to the monster I encountered tonight."

Byson and his wife exchanged glances and said, "Very good, Seth. After such an incident, you discussed it with us first instead of dealing with it alone. You did well."

"As for this matter, I hope you'll be able to stop here. This is not something a baron's son should face, at least not now."

"Since you suspect there are monsters in our town, experts should handle this. I will visit Chief Kaosi tomorrow, and they will take care of it."

'Report it to the police? Oh, I remember each country has a special police force, a squad of Extraordinary people. Desi County must have one, too.'

Seth nodded secretly. This was a good plan, in line with how nobles handled such matters.

Anilu suggested: "Seth, go to your sister later and ask her to draw the appearance of the 'murderer' so your father can take it to Chief Kaosi tomorrow."

"Belle?"

Seth frowned slightly. "I'm worried that it will scare her."

Anilu smiled, "Don't worry, she is braver than you imagine, and you'll find this out soon."

"All right."

After dinner, Seth went to his sister's room. He heard a faint sob outside the door as if someone was crying.

Seth knocked on the door. "Belle, are you there?"

The door opened quickly. Standing there was a girl with black hair and blue eyes, about the same age as Seth, with soft features and baby fat on her face. She was Belle's maid, and Seth remembered her name was Arya.

"Mr. Seth," Arya said, taking two steps back. "Miss Belle went to find Master Christian but hasn't returned yet."

Seth nodded slightly. "Then I'll wait for her here."

After entering the room and sitting on the sofa, Seth looked at the maid curiously and noticed that her eyes were red and that tears were in the corners of her eyes. He wondered what was wrong.

Arya asked respectfully, "Mr. Seth, would you like black tea or coffee?"

"Black tea," Seth said casually.

The maid quickly prepared a cup of black tea, but she was so distracted that she tripped over the carpet, and both she and the cup fell.

"Careful!"

Seth jumped up from the sofa and, with the agility of a hunter, caught Arya before she fell.

Of course, Seth couldn't care less about the cup of black tea.

"Are you okay?" Seth helped her up.

Before Arya could respond, someone called, "Seth, what are you doing here?"

Belle had returned. Her eyes darted between Seth and Arya. Determined, she walked over, pulled her maid, half a head taller than herself, behind her, and confronted Seth.

"Seth, what are you doing to Arya!"

"Believe me, sister, I just did a good thing. Why would I have any bad intentions?" Seth saw her expression and knew his sister had misunderstood.

There was no helping it; he had a reputation.

"Miss Belle, I almost fell just now, but Mr. Seth helped me up," Arya quickly explained.

Belle glanced at her and snorted softly. "It had better be like this."

"What are you doing here?" This question was directed at Seth.

Seth smiled. "I need to ask you for a favor."

"No! I'm not free!" The blond girl turned her face away and looked to the side.

The answer was so straightforward that Seth had no choice but to use his Trump card:

"Mother asked me to come. She hoped you could draw a picture for me."

 Annabelle was taken aback. "Mom? Then, okay. But you have to do something for me."

Seth quickly said, "I can promise you anything except trying strange things."

"Seth!"

In the room, the indignant cry of the noble girl sounded.