Chapter 297: Two Brothers

In this world, unless a feud ran blood-deep or a man was pushed to his absolute limit, aristocrats maintained a veneer of civility despite their petty grievances.

This held especially true whenever a chasm in status separated the parties.

Yet nothing was absolute; the tone of noble discourse depended not only on rank, but also on individual temperament and breeding.

Some men were simply born arrogant and haughty; forcing them to suddenly show deference to another was an impossible task.

Moreover, this was a world of the extraordinary, where talent and raw might dictated many outcomes.

Should a man become a Silver Moon Knight, even as a commoner, the King himself would treat him with courtesy, and he would owe no deference to the nobility.

Rhys was precisely that sort of man.

He had displayed exceptional talent for cultivation since childhood, earning him special favor within the Dennis family; to better nurture his son, Victorino had even sent him to the Knight Academy in Golden Feather City for several years.

Nevertheless, though his disposition was flawed, he was not so foolish as to slight another noble without cause—particularly since the man before him belonged to the Mountain Clan, whom the Dennis family served.

Thus, the clash anticipated by the onlookers would not come to pass.

"Lord Earl, I am Rhys Dennis, son of Viscount Victorino."

He offered Ronin a knightly salute as he spoke: "My father has prepared a pleasant feast at Cape Castle, and expressly bade me await your arrival here."

So, it was an invitation to be a guest.

Yet judging by his initial tone, it had sounded like anything but an invitation; Ronin had initially assumed some profligate heir had come looking for trouble.

Ronin glanced around; now that the crowd knew his identity, they pressed closer to steal a glimpse of his peerless countenance.

Under such circumstances, publicly refusing the invitation would undoubtedly slap the face of Cape City’s lord.

As he deliberated, another figure came galloping up on horseback from behind Rhys.

Before the rider even arrived, a hearty laugh rang out:

"Hahaha, Ronin, you've finally arrived!"

A fat man shouted at the top of his lungs, pulling up panting beside Rhys.

Ronin recognized him as Jamie, whom he had met a few times at Mountain Castle; the man was allied by marriage to Marina of the Green family.

Furthermore, when his predecessor studied at the Mountain Extraordinary Academy, he and Jamie had been casual classmates.

"Brother, I asked you to wait for me, why did you ride so fast?" Jamie complained.

Rhys cast a look of utter disdain at his younger brother. "I have told you countless times that you need to lose weight. If you get any fatter, you should swap your mount for a great black plow-ox."

"A black ox is too slow, my dear brother, I want this magical beast of yours!"

"Scram!"

Rhys cursed: "Then you had better stay at home, clutch your rice bowl, and never step out the door!"

Listening to their banter, the corners of Ronin’s mouth twitched upward slightly.

Though it seemed like a squabble and Rhys's tone was cold, their relationship was clearly quite good; otherwise, Jamie would never have asked him for a magical beast mount.

Chastised by Rhys, Jamie ceased his joking.

"My Lord Earl, my father is already arranging the evening banquet. Furthermore, even the ship for your voyage has been prepared; you may depart from Dennis Port at any time."

He extended the invitation: "As an old classmate, you must grant me this face~"

With matters pressed to this point, if Ronin refused again, it would seem overly rude and entirely dismissive of Victorino.

"My thanks for the Dennis family’s hospitality!"

Ronin smiled and urged his horse forward. "It seems I must have a good drink with everyone tonight."

"Haha, let's go, let's go! Cape Castle may lack other things, but there is wine aplenty!"

"Jamie, accompany Earl Ronin. I shall ride ahead to Cape Castle to inform father."

Having spoken, Rhys pulled his reins and swiftly departed.

"Do not mind him, my brother is just built that way. Some call him arrogant and haughty, but to me, it's just that too much cultivation has made him a recluse."

Jamie pointed a finger at his own head: "Sometimes I wonder if his brain has been fried by all that training."

Ronin smiled, wondering how Rhys would react if he knew Jamie was talking about him behind his back like this.

"I heard your brother is quite talented, a High Knight at twenty-two."

"Naturally!"

At the mention of Rhys's knighthood, Jamie’s face flushed with brotherly pride.

He leaned in subtly and whispered: "Actually, he is already a Bronze Knight, though the outside world remains unaware."

Ronin was secretly startled; a High Knight at twenty-two was impressive, but not entirely shocking.

However, a Bronze Knight at that age was extraordinary.

Rhys's talent for cultivation was likely on par with Braden's; the Dennis family had a worthy successor.

Thinking of this, a thought suddenly struck Ronin.

Why would Jamie secretly tell him something the outside world didn't know?

This fat man did not seem like a fool.

"Knight Rhys's talent in cultivation is likely elite even within the entire Kingdom of Auduin."

Ronin praised: "In the future, the Dennis family will surely take a step further!"

Such talent already held the key to the Meteor rank or even greater heights; once Rhys matured, the Dennis family could no longer be measured merely as a viscountcy.

"Far from it compared to you!"

Jamie waved his hand, "An eighteen-year-old Silver Knight—perhaps in the entire Kingdom of Auduin, only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could eclipse your talent."

"You know the Crown Prince well?"

Ronin asked: "I only recall that he seemed to have reached Silver very early on."

"Silver?"

Jamie looked astonished: "Ronin, though you are an Earl now, your news is far too outdated. His Royal Highness was a Gold Knight years ago, and by now, he is likely at the Meteor rank!"

"I recall he is only in his early thirties?"

"Yes, thirty-two to be exact."

Jamie leaned closer again and whispered: "When my brother was studying at the Royal Knight Academy, he saw Crown Prince Gareth fight. It is said a Silver-rank instructor couldn't even withstand three moves before the prince!"

"That scene shook my brother deeply, driving him to invest even more time into his cultivation."

Defeating a Silver Knight in three moves—unless that Silver Knight was exceptionally weak, the current Ronin lacked the confidence to match such a feat.

The Crown Prince's might was unquestionable.

Currently, the Kingdom of Auduin and the Kingdom of Tricia were in a state of truce; he wondered if Gareth, upon reaching a certain height in the future, would ignite a great war?

To establish an empire on the continent of Oerlant, emulating the first Great Emperor, was the dream of every member of both royal houses.

Therefore, Ronin felt the answer to this question was an absolute certainty.

Perhaps at that time, he too could win merit in the kingdom's war and become the second Marquis independent of Mountain Castle?

Beyond such a war, Ronin knew of no other path by which one might earn the grand merit sufficient to be granted the title of marquis.

As Ronin and Jamie walked and talked, they did not reach the foot of Hornspire Castle until night had fallen.

The castle stood atop a hill fifty to sixty meters high; even from its base, its grandeur was visible, like a colossal beast crouched upon the summit.

Along a smooth path paved with greenish stone, they wound upward, surrounded by lush, evergreen trees—so clear was the scenery and the air, it seemed a world apart from the foul-smelling district they had left behind.

The sky was dim, yet the castle’s entrance glowed with magical lanterns, and many stood at the gate, waiting with bated breath.

When Jamie appeared with Ronin, Vittorino’s hearty laughter rang out.

“Welcome, Count Ronin!”

He strode forward with open arms, offering his fervent welcome: “Tonight, Hornspire Castle shall shine all the brighter for your presence!” (End of chapter)