Chapter 24: Noble Meeting

Matthew and the team were now temporarily staying at the mansion belonging to the Noble House of Crystal. Though they wanted to refuse the offer, they finally agreed when they were being pressed by the Noble couple. However, their timing of stay was not so good.

In a meeting room within the mansion of the Southern Region Noble, the House of Stone, a meeting was held between the Nobles of all regions with the exception of the Capital of course. Out of all the Nobles that were invited, only three came to the meeting so far, excluding the owner of the mansion. Gustav was one of the three that were waiting.

The meeting room only had a large round table with ten seats around it. There was nothing else other than the table and chairs aside from the giant portrait of Lord Stone which was placed behind an especially fancier chair than the others. Gustav was sitting on the third chair to the left of the fancy chair. While the other two currently present were on the other side.

Not that they were on bad terms or anything, Gustav just felt more comfortable by himself. Laughter coming from the two came by every now and then which filled the silence Gustav had. It did not bother him though.

Gustav only thought of the matters he had on his hand. 'The number of poor people becoming servants have been increasing lately. I'll have to draw out more from my own to buy them off. Hah… This is proving to be difficult.'

Gustav closed his eyes for a moment and opened them slowly. 'Then comes the matter of those Hunters staying at the mansion. Although I was the one who invited them to stay, I fear that I'm not able to meet their expectations. With what's left of my finances, to manage the House, freeing those servants and meeting the Hunters' expectation may be hard.'

Just when Gustav was deep in thought, a light tap suddenly came to his left shoulder.

"Thinking about something?" A handsome and tall young man in his early twenties clad in a very fancy and tidy uniform. A man which Gustav recognised from the insignia of a crane.

"Lord Phillip."

The man smiled, "just Phillip is fine." He then took a seat beside Gustav. "What were you thinking about?"

Gustav let Phillip settle into his seat first before answering. "Just about the paperwork that's coming after the meeting."

"Ah… The paperwork, my worst enemy. Seriously, I feel like that's all that we do as Nobles. It is kind of an eyesore to see the tower of papers on my desk."

Gustav chuckled. "You are just like your father. Well, it's what we have to do."

"Right? To be honest, I feel like I just want to order the maids and butlers to do it for me, but father scolded me for that idea back then." They shared a chuckle, then Phillip's face turned sour. "Now that he's gone… I'm not really sure if what I'm doing is good or not."

"Sorry about your parents. It's been almost three years since his passing, I'm sure you've learned a thing or two," said Gustav.

"Mother had to take over father's position for a while until I turned eighteen. When I did, only a few months after, she passed away to meet father." Phillip appeared very sad.

Gustav was not able to do anything but have sympathy. "You stayed strong and took care of your region well enough. If the people are happy, I'm sure that your parents are as well."

Phillip had a slight smile on his face. "Thank you." He wiped his tears with a handkerchief he took out from his chest pocket.

Then he folded it back into his pocket. "Well, let's not talk about the past anymore. I actually… Have something else that I want to talk to you about."

"What is it? If it's anything I can help with, I will," said Gustav.

Phillip fiddled with his fingers on the table before taking a deep breath to speak. "You see, I have been feeling lonely without anyone by my side. Yes I have the maids and butlers, but I'm talking about family."

"Family?"

"Yes, I'd like to have someone who would stay in the same room as me. Someone who I have in mind when I come home. Someone who would bear an heir."

"Oh, I see. So you are looking for someone? Well, do you have anyone in mind? Or least their characteristics?" Gustav gestured with his hand at Phillip.

"I do."

"Oho? Who?"

Phillip swallowed his saliva before continuing. "Your daughter."