59 "Fine? Heh!" (Thanks to poorsen for becoming the Alliance Leader! Another extra chapter added!)

Early in the morning.

When Herbert stepped out of the Third Precepts Bureau, he happened to run into Brother Jeffus waiting at the door.

"Lord Herbert, a group of people has come looking for you."

Having just been released from the inquisitorial interrogation, Jeffus looked rather haggard, as if a layer of skin had been peeled off him, yet there was also a strange sense of relief about him.

He looked at the puzzled Herbert with a respectful expression and said softly, "They claim to be retainers of the Albert family."

That was fast!

This was Herbert's first thought upon hearing the news.

He had written the funding notification letter to the Archduke of Silver Wing three days ago, and yet he received a reply and a package today.

Letters could be transmitted across ultra-long distances through magic and delivered directly into the monastery, but living people could certainly not travel that way.

Even if they could reach the nearest large city via a teleportation array, they still needed to hike for at least two and a half days to cross the perilous Misty Mountains and reach the monastery.

This meant that less than half a day after the Archduke of Silver Wing received the letter, they had already assembled and set out.

Relying on teleportation arrays and then trekking across mountains and ridges all the way to his side.

So, they rushed toward you across mountains and valleys.

Are you touched?

Touched my foot!

Regarding their actions, Herbert only felt bewildered.

No, what are you people in such a rush for?

I didn't even urge you... What’s the hurry!

After a momentary thought, the second realization followed—he is in such a rush.

"My dear father, you really are in such a hurry."

Thinking of the person behind the arrangement of this forced march, Herbert could not help but shake his head with emotion: "What are you doing? Trying this desperately to ease the relationship between you and me?"

"However, I'm a bit curious, are you worried that I'm not doing well in the monastery? Or are you worried that I've changed my mind and plan to return, and are attempting to pacify and control me through this thing?"

For a good father who had not asked about him for a whole month ever since he arrived at the monastery, Herbert put a question mark on this matter for the time being.

"Well, for the sake of this thing, I'll temporarily assume it's the former."

Thinking these thoughts in his heart, Herbert followed Jeffus to the guest room and met the visitor waiting there.

That was a tall warrior standing over two meters tall, with brown-yellow curly hair and a simply trimmed beard.

The moment he saw Herbert, he straightened up, then knelt on one knee, lowered his head, and respectfully saluted, "Your Highness."

Herbert looked at the man's face for half a second, found his name from his memories, and nodded: "...Blake, it has been quite a while."

Blake Jones, an elite warrior cultivated by the Albert family. Not yet forty years old, his strength had already reached the early stage of the High Tier as an axe warrior.

For a very long time in the past, he had served as the bodyguard of the ducal heir.

It could be said that Herbert grew up under his watch.

Blake raised his head, his gaze falling upon the back of Herbert's hand, looking at the golden patterns, and said softly with complex emotions: "Your Highness, have you really become..."

"Mm, as you can see."

Herbert knew what he cared about, so he generously raised his hand to display the stigmata, and said calmly: "I have taken the oath and become a paladin."

"If my Lady were still here and learned of this, she would probably... No, I'm apologetic." Having spoken out of turn, Blake lowered his head in a panic, fearing he might touch upon Herbert's wound.

...It doesn't matter.

Mentioning the mother of this lifetime, Herbert's reaction was slightly flat, with only a few memories flashing through his mind.

The sorrow of his mother's passing truly made him sad; even at this moment, he could still feel that pain and loneliness from back then.

However, things had reached this point, and ten years having passed, he had grown accustomed to this pain.

Herbert shook his head, not wanting to recall these past events any longer, and deliberately changed the subject:

"By the way, why did you suddenly come here? Could it be that you also wish to become a monk?"

He raised an eyebrow, recalled some past anecdotes, and teased with a light laugh: "I remember you used to always say you wanted to marry three wives?"

"Cough, cough, cough! Your Highness, you, you must be joking."

Having this matter pointed out, Blake felt a bit awkward. His gaze drifted to Brother Jeffus, who stood expressionless behind Herbert, and he forced himself to say:

"Those words of mine were just talk..."

I was just boasting, why did you take it seriously!

"Is that so."

Herbert chuckled leisurely: "I was actually thinking of helping you arrange something for the future, but now it seems there's no need to go to such trouble."

Blake: ?

"Your Highness! Well, I! I actually can do it!"

"Cough, cough!!!"

Jeffus, standing behind the two of them, simply couldn't listen any longer. After giving a cough, he took the initiative to take his leave: "Lord Herbert, since you have already met, I will withdraw first."

"Mm, thank you for your hard work, Brother Jeffus. Please go about your business."

"Farewell."

After the outsider left, Blake's expression restrained slightly. He carefully looked Herbert up and down before saying in a deep voice: "Your Highness, seeing that you are fine, I can rest easy."

He had originally thought Herbert would have a miserable time in the monastery, but now it seemed he had already successfully integrated here?

Fine?

Hearing this word, Herbert felt somewhat like laughing. He shook his head and said, "Heh, perhaps that's how it seems to you."

If you knew what I've been through?

You wouldn't think I'm fine.

If you knew what I've been through?

You wouldn't have that expression right now.

You don't know.

You people know nothing!

Fine?

Heh.

How dare you use such a breezy word?

Was I fine?

You think that being framed and thrown into a dungeon, being forced to come to the monastery, being marginalized to work as a jailer...

After experiencing all of that, would I really feel great!!?

Mm.

Yes!

I truly cannot be called fine right now; what I am experiencing is—living wonderfully~

All day long, I'm either relying on my authority to reform the monster girls under my jurisdiction, or being fought over by two superiors trying to pull me into their departments for a promotion... My days are going simply splendidly.

Do you understand my joy?

You won't understand.

Because you simply cannot imagine my joy!

Blake certainly did not know Herbert's true inner thoughts. Hearing those words, he only thought Herbert was putting on a brave front and had actually suffered quite a bit of hardship secretly in the monastery.

He could not help feeling a pang of heartache.

Especially when combined with the strange attitude of the Archduke of Silver Wing at the time, his heartache grew even deeper.

Yet as a vassal, some things he had no way of saying, no qualification to say, and absolutely must not say.

In the end, Blake could only say in a low voice:

"You have suffered, Your Highness."

While Blake was struggling internally, Herbert had been silently observing his reactions and now harbored some guesses—the ducal family's attitude toward him was probably not a positive one.

He shook his head and said calmly:

"There is no need to speak of these things anymore. Let's talk about official business."