5: Ten Years After

Ten years after the event…

"Good morning, lord." One of the maids greeted the young man.

He nodded and waved her away as he walked past his property. There was quite a bit of land, not as much as the bigger nobility families, but definitely too big for a single man. He had rebuilt the place to suit him better, selling some of the antics laying around that had no use, keeping a few for memory.

He stopped, standing at the main hall, a big room with two couches lined up facing each other with a table between them. The room had much decor, plants, paintings, things that made him feel comforted. He stared at the picture that hung on the wall, across the main doors, a large painting of his family. He was a child at the time, his parents were holding him in their arms. His mother looked so joyful, and his stern father seemed so cheery in the painting too.

He turned around and headed towards the dining hall, where he sat alone at a long dining table.

His maid laid a plate in front of him, a simple breakfast. She then poured a cup of steaming coffee and placed it in front of him.

"Lord, would you like a reminder of your schedule, as usual?" The Maid asked, standing by his side.

"Go ahead." He said, picking up his fork and knife.

"Meeting with the the Earl Sichal in the morning regarding the recent boom in aerial monsters sightings. Meeting with the Marchioness Emilia to discuss marriage in the afternoon. Dinner with the Royal Family regarding your promotion to a Duke."

The young man nodded before sipping some of the coffee. He checked the watch he wore and asked, "Any guests today?"

"No, I do not believe so." The Maid replied.

The man finished his breakfast and coffee before standing up, coat over his arm. He put on his hat and said to his maid, "Let us meet with Earl Sichal then."

"Understood, lord."

The young man left his property. For someone of his status, it was considered small, but to him, it still felt far too big. His father had been a Baron, but he worked his way up at a young age, dragging his rank up from a Baron to a Viscount to an Earl to his current rank of a Marquess. He was on the verge of being promoted to a Duke, and should he be promoted, it was likely that he would be the most accomplished nobility in history.

On the carriage pulled by two horses, his maid sat across from him. She remained silent, her eyes closed so as to avoid staring at him. He never understood why she did that, but did not really care. He was a laid back guy, he would not have minded if his maid acted more for herself.

"Do your have any information on the aerial monsters being spotted?" The young man asked, not looking out of the window.

"It appears that Earl Sichal will be taking part in the defence efforts. He requested your audience to discuss matters to involve my lord in the defence efforts as well." The Maid explained. "Earl Sichal is desperately trying to gain support from nobility of higher ranking than him. As my lord is soon to be a Duke, Earl Sichal must be raring to have your support."

"It's not like I have the manpower to help him." The young man said, leaning back.

"My lord, your name in itself carried much importance."

The young man pulled the curtains of the carriage, blocking the outside view.

"Where's Domino?" The young man asked out of nowhere.

"It appears he is still on vacation." The Maid confirmed.

"I see…"

Domino was the young man's contracted mage. He had hired the mage more to keep up appearance than anything else, not that the mage was unskilled, but the mage simply disliked working. It was fine with the man, he did not need some serious mage following him around all the time. Someone like Domino was much more to his style.

The man put on his purple suit and pushed open the door of the carriage before his maid could do it for him. He got off, adjusting his hat as he looked at property twice his own. There was a garden around the already massive house, and who knows how many statues to accompany it.

The young man looked forward, where servants were there to accompany him.

"Marquess Trojan, we have been awaiting your arrival." They greeted him.

Trojan, the family name of the young man. He simply nodded and refused them when they offered to take his coat. Trojan swung the walking stick he carried around constantly wherever he went, sending thuds through the ground. He entered the house, keeping his hat on his head.

"Ah! Marquess Trojan, how delightful to see you!" Someone declared.

Trojan turned to face the person who had spoken. The man was maybe twice his age, with hair that was seemingly fading in colour. The man had blonde hair that was stylishly combed, blue eyes. He may have been a dashing looking fellow when he was younger, but as the man aged, he started getting a bit of a belly. The man wore a red military uniform, a friendly smile on his face.

"Earl Sichal, the pleasure is mine." Trojan said to him.

Earl Sichal slung an arm over Trojan's shoulder, guiding him towards another room, cheerfully asking, "Marquess Trojan, you must have been tired from your journey! How about a breather before we get into business?"

"No," Trojan said to Earl Sichal. "I would rather we get straight into business. I have a rather packed schedule today."

"Of course, of course." Earl Sichal chuckled. "You're a busy man, after all."

Earl Sichal sat across from Marquess Trojan, sitting relaxed, almost as if he was in the presence of a friend. Trojan sat formally, his maid behind him.