Chapter 51

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, allowing my thoughts to take over. When I reopened my eyes, I was grinning from ear to ear.

"Let's go meet Francis Moonlight," I said with a smile.

Andrew nodded seriously and went to prepare the carriage, while I gave the file one more read-through. "Francis Moonlight is a timid thirteen-year-old with two loving parents and two siblings - a three-year-old brother and an eleven-year-old sister. He doesn't have any hatred towards commoners, rarely ventures outside, enjoys reading books, has average talent, and is afraid of insects."

I didn't know how the bishop got this information, but I wasn't complaining. Now that I thought about it, I still had to fulfill my end of the promise. I hadn't made any plans yet, but I should probably think of something so he could be promoted to Cardinal, and then his information network would reach further than the South.

Just as I finished reading, there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find a maid from the estate standing in the doorway. "Master Lucas, your carriage has been prepared," she said, bowing deeply.

I simply nodded in response and went past her, heading towards the carriage. As I walked, I realized that I didn't know anything about the servants both here and back in my father's estate. I had never really paid attention to them, and I didn't even remember their names. Not that it mattered - they weren't really worth remembering.

When I arrived in front of the estate, Andrew was waiting with the driver. I simply entered the carriage with my little journal and relaxed. The journey would take around two days, so I decided to just enjoy the ride.

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I let out a groan as I woke up from my slumber, interrupted by a rough knock on the door. I opened it to see Andrew, who didn't seem tired or worried, so I assumed it wasn't anything serious. He pulled out a letter and handed it to me.

"It's best you read it now before I burn it," he said.

I took the letter and read the update from Malachai. It was good news – he had managed to take over 38% of the drug business in the West, and Lady Lucia hadn't created a new drug yet, although she was continuing her chimera research. I handed the letter back to Andrew, who quickly burned it with his fire magic.

"How long until we get to the town?" I asked, still feeling groggy from just waking up.

"About 10 minutes," Andrew replied, before asking, "Do you think the progress is good, or do you want me to order them to speed up the process?"

"No, they're doing fine," I said, rubbing my forehead. "Oh, we have some visitors."

Andrew had already sensed them, and he went to check who they were. It didn't take long before he came back to the carriage.

"Knights of the family," Andrew said, shrugging. "They want to verify it's really you – they don't seem to trust my words."

"Fine," I groaned, getting out of the carriage. As I stepped outside, the sun shone brightly, bathing me in its warm glow. I saw five knights, all wearing the Silverglade crest, bowing in respect as I approached.

"We greet Master Lucas!" they announced in unison, their voices oozing with respect and a hint of fear. It seemed my reputation had only gotten better.

"Alright, you've seen me, bye," I said, quickly getting back into the carriage. I had no intention of striking up a conversation. As the carriage began to move, I could sense five new people moving with us, probably escorting us.

As we arrived at the town, I was taken aback by its size. It was much larger than I had anticipated, and I would even go as far as to say it was a small city. The streets were bustling with people going about their daily lives, and I could see that this town was a hub of activity in the region. It seemed to be a common thing in Silverglade.

The buildings in the town were an interesting mix of stone and wood. The lower parts of the structures were made of rough-hewn stone, which seemed to give them a sturdy and timeless appearance. Meanwhile, the upper levels were constructed of wood, with intricately carved details on the doors and shutters.

The roofs of the buildings were mostly made of thatched straw or wooden shingles, and they sloped gently downward. Some of the roofs were dotted with dormer windows, which added a charming touch to the overall aesthetic.

As I looked around, I noticed that some of the buildings had colorful flowers and vines growing up their sides, while others had small gardens in front of them. The town seemed to be well-kept, and the locals took pride in their surroundings.

As we passed through the town, my attention was drawn to a particular section of the street. It was the brothel area, and it was packed with people. Women were outside, trying to lure in customers with seductive looks and gestures.

Men rushed in and out of the buildings, showing the brothel's popularity in the town. It was a common stop point for travelers, who were seeking solace after a long day of traveling. After all, a bit of destressing did no harm.

As we continued through the town, I noticed that people were staring at us as we passed by. It was similar to the gazes I had received when I passed the village that had a vampire, filled with curiosity and wonder.

As we approached the mansion, I couldn't help but notice that it wasn't as grand as I had expected. It was decent, to say the least, but it lacked the opulence and extravagance that I had seen in some of the other noble estates in the region. The mansion was made of brick and stone, and it had a few decorative elements, such as ornate iron gates and a small fountain in the courtyard. But overall, it was a relatively simple and unassuming structure.

The mansion was surrounded by a well-maintained garden, but it was not as expansive as I had expected. There were a few trees and some flower beds, but nothing that would rival the sprawling gardens of some of the more prestigious estates. The front door of the mansion was made of heavy wood, and it had a few carvings that hinted at the Moonlight family's wealth and status, but it was not a particularly impressive entrance.

As I stepped out of the carriage, my gaze fell upon the mansion. It was time to finally meet Francis Moonlight