Chapter 24: Lord Armstrong's Invitation
Kevin sat behind the desk in the baron's study.
He hadn't expected that despite pressuring Lexia with his killing intent on a daily basis for weeks, she still couldn't handle it when matters came to encountering the true threat of death.
Her body was far from tolerating severe pain. Furthermore, she seemed to trust that he would never harm her; let alone kill her. Thus, no matter how heavy his killing intent was, she never took it for face value.
Ultimately, Kevin used the <Mind Break> spell and forced her into taking action, even though it might have seemed like Lexia took matters into her own hands after being pushed into making a choice.
Using shadow bullets and a mind spell exhausted Kevin greatly. Two 8-node spells in one day, this was his current limit. Despite using the shadow bullets once, he was able to regulate the overall power into four smaller bullets that easily tore through the soft flesh and joints before exploding. He thought it was only natural as per the laws of preservation and transfer of energy.
After accompanying Lexia back to her bedroom and applying first aid treatment, he entrusted the old steward to keep the matter under a hush and prescribed the old man a few medicines to carry the treatment.
The latter was surprised that his young lord was so accustomed to the human body but knew to keep these questions in his heart. To an old man such as himself, everything was possible with magic.
Kevin spent the following few hours from dawn till midday meditating with the <Concentration> spell in his private study.
With an invisible ripple of mana in the air, Kevin breathed out easily as the faintly throbbing veins on his forehead settled down. With the headache gone, he opened his eyes to hear a faint knocking on his door.
"Come in!" Kevin fixed his tight collar and answered with a light cough and a shout. The door opened, quite respectfully.
From the shadow of the door stepped in the old steward with a young man following on his heels. Kevin raised his eyebrows, hands resting flat on the smooth wooden desk.
"A messenger from Marquis Armstrong," the old steward bowed his head to Kevin while reporting. If anything, he learned that the young lord didn't like to beat around the bush too much— he was concise and efficient.
The messenger was a young man in his early twenties. He was a head taller than Kevin from a cursory glance. Blonde hair and blue eyes, not to mention fair skin.
He was dressed in clothes of fabric and luxury despite his status as a messenger. In a sense, even though he was an errand boy, a master's grace sheds light on their subjects, and thus, this young man felt like an exalted emperor among the common lords of the northern borders.
He knew that two out of the three counts near the border answered directly to his lord. He also knew that House Rogger of the Badger Barony was at the bottom of the chain, even though they also answered to his lord Marquis Armstrong.
"My lord has noticed the contributions of your family and the sacrifices therein for the pride and honor of our kingdom." The young man started by emphasizing the difference in status and that if it wasn't for the onslaught of war on the borders, no one would bother with this family. "Condolences."
Kevin smiled faintly. "Responsibilities and choices come hand in hand to those with power; this is my family's duty. The loss of Baron Issac pains me as much as it pains Lord Armstrong, but I understand that this is how war is played."
The messenger was a bit taken aback by the response from a child.
Eyes narrowed, he decided to reassess the situation as based on the feedback from scouts and investigations, this young man is one of two survivors from a battle involving 10,000 soldiers.
The casualties were mortifying, to say the least.
"My lord invites your lordship Baron Kevin Issac Rogger to account your personal testimony on the night of the clash. Of course, for the efforts of both you and your father; rewards and contributions are to be expected. Like father, like son."
Kevin was a bit surprised as he had no clue what the messenger meant by like father, like son. To his knowledge, his father was assassinated on the return journey from the campaign; nothing else was reported back.
Not like he wholeheartedly believed the reports as information can be easily intercepted and falsified, but he didn't expect the shadow of the late baron to haunt him even now.
Nodding, Kevin asked, "Where should I be and when to be?"
The messenger liked how Kevin didn't ask too many questions and approached the desk where a massive, exclusive map of the northern borders was folded to the side. After asking for permission, he rolled the scroll across the entire table and pointed in the direction of a stretched valley northwest of the Badger Barony.
"Northwest of your territory; there used to be a prosperous county that was engulfed in the flames of war between the Onyx Kingdom and the Solace Kingdom. Today, the northern extremities of that location determine an intersection between the two kingdoms, and the final war should erupt from there; we either fall back or push forward into the opposing kingdom.
"Lord Armstrong's camp will be on the right wing while Lord Louise's camp will be on the left wing. The two armies will be separated by a massive mountain, this will be the only way to block the armies of the Solace Kingdom from flanking the camps in a pincer attack.
"As you have guessed, Lord Armstrong and Lord Louise will gather the vassal lords from the barons to the counts in a last conference before they ride out separately to join their respective armies. Every lord had already started moving out their private troops to join the great armies for the decisive battle— you can set out at first light tomorrow and you'll make it in five days if you're fast enough."
Kevin nodded his head while humming now and then as he listened. As expected, the decisive battle's preparations started long ago, explaining why the experienced and veteran soldiers were pulled back, and replaced by the young and inexperienced. Once the war efforts ended and everyone returned home, the repercussions of losing so much young blood will strike the two kingdoms where it hurts.
"I will set out at first light then, just as you have suggested, Sir."
Kevin didn't lose anything by being polite to the young man. Thus, he gave a few words that would stroke someone's ego. As expected, the young man seemed to have enjoyed the respect provided to him by a young baron who would sooner or later gain the favor of a marquis.
If reports were true and this young tiger was just like the father, investing a bit wouldn't do any harm. After thinking for a bit, the young messenger coughed lightly and whispered in a soft voice.
"The two lords might strike an alliance of their two factions after this campaign; I heard that Lord Kevin and Lady Jean might become the catalyst of the alliance between the two factions…"
The messenger didn't wait for the shock in Kevin's eyes to settle. With a chuckle, he turned his shoulders and left the room with his head held high.
He was very positive that not many people would have as much insider information as he did. Thus, he could always score favorable points with people he felt were worth the investment with his whispers.
As for Kevin, he was shocked because he hadn't expected to become the center of attention and political weapon of the two lords. Did they figure something out?
He was a bit worried. Not about his upcoming political marriage even if it was true, but about his future prospects of close scrutiny by two behemoths in the political struggle.
Just what has his father done in the last war to draw the attention of these two?
"Congratulations, young lord!"
The old steward bowed respectfully. He knew that this was a good omen for a great windfall. The old steward was clever, he understood that the late baron must have accomplished something that earned great merit and this merit was about to land in the lap of the new baron.
As for what happened and what kind of a reward was about to be delivered, this had to wait. At least, the old steward knew his young lord was about to be promoted to a higher rank— perhaps a viscount or a count of some territory inland.
"I need to prepare myself," Kevin muttered, seemingly oblivious to the congratulatory words of his old steward as his brows creased. "I'm taking Lexia with me, too."
Kevin's eyes flashed with resolve. If he were to enter the political scene of this dynasty during its upheaval, he wouldn't be able of maintaining an eye on Lexia at all times. Thus, it was better to introduce her to the scene of conflict and war sooner than later.
There was plenty of time on the road to have her fight bandits and similar people. Since the first kill was always the hardest to stomach, the easiest remedy was a second, third, and more…
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone