“My lord.”

“Your Excellency.” Dozens of servants and maids dressed in neat, clean clothes politely bowed following the butler’s greeting.

“Yes,” A pale-faced man wearing a feather-topped hat nodded in response while leaving through the open door. He was holding a staff plated with pure gold.

“The Baron of Balik has sent an invitation. He is asking you to attend his daughter’s engagement. Lord Malta…” the butler said.

“Tell Sir Balik that I will not be able to attend because I’m busy. Take care of the rest as well,” the man answered.

“Yes, my lord,” the butler answered while opening the doors to a carriage waiting in front of a large, elegant fountain. The carriage soon departed.

The two horses pulling the carriage slowly circled the fountain once before heading down a small road and passing through the front gates. A swordsman standing in front of the gate took off his hat and sent off his employer.

The front gates closed with a squeak after the departure of the master. There were stone statues of a dragon lining both sides of the gate.

The Black Dragon Manor—the manor was widely known as the Black Dragon Manor, and the one who had left through the main gate was none other than the manor’s master, Count Delmondo.

***

“Ah! Your Excellency, you’re here!”

“Thank you for inviting...