NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1763
Lady Seeired dropped the spell that was keeping our conversation secret. She gave a polite farewell before encouraging me to speak with the other lords. As I walked away from her and past the invisible barrier created by her fellow constituents, I could see the fluttering of the ladies who sought to give it a second chance. I braced myself for the incoming onslaught, but at that moment a man in a butler's attire appeared next to me.
"Sir, would you have a moment? My lord would like an audience with you."
"He belongs to Lord Vandeer," Alysia told me.
I had known that already. I had recognized the colors from Cici's thorough notes, but I still appreciate the reminder. Lord Vandeer wasn't just another lord. He was the lord of the largest territory and the so-called leader of the refluent faction. My not-too-secret meeting with Lady Seeired must have stressed him out, and he was no longer content allowing his daughters to fight over my attention. A single look from the butler, and the women who had been heading our way immediately scattered.
I knew that this invite wasn't so much a choice and a necessity, so I nodded my head and followed him. I already knew where Lord Vandeer was sitting. I was brought up to the spot, but the butler came to a stop a fair distance away. Two men stood there seemingly blocking our way. They appeared to be servants, but it was pretty obvious by their physical appearance that they were guards in disguise. There were various servants like them loitering around, effectively creating a small VIP section at the head of the banquet hall. Should anyone not invited try to approach lord Vandeer, they would quickly be redirected away.
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There was a large chair at the head and various smaller couches directed toward it. The comfy chair at the head appeared to be where Lord Vandeer sat. Lord Vandeer had slicked-back black hair and a thick mustache. He wore an outfit with large shoulder pads, and he had a sort of commanding presence to him. That was mostly because the other men on the couches were all looking his way, while he leaned back in his chair, listening intently. One of the other men seemed to be speaking in a monotone voice like he was reading off a list.
"The yields from the Hive 2 has been a bit low this quarter, but I believe with some encouragement, the queen will be able to increase production."
I shouldn't have been able to hear his words at this distance away, but my ears were far more sensitive than a normal person's these days, and I was just able to make it out. Lord Vandeer's eyes snapped to me suddenly almost like he knew I was listening in. He snapped his fingers, and not only did the man stop his report, but the guards moved aside, allowing me in.
I walked past the guards, feeling much like a lord visiting a rival lord's castle. Well, this was the house of the lords, which was the seat of power for this country, and this was the most powerful lord in the country, so wasn't this just like meeting a king?
"Good evening, Lord Deekson." He said with a smile, but he didn't stand up to greet me or even bow his head.
I wasn't someone who cared about such little etiquettes, especially when dealing with a completely different country, so I merely nodded. "Lord Vandeer. It's a pleasure."
He nodded, taking me knowing his name as expected. "I have a question for you, Deek Deekson. How do you feel about dungeons?"