The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

"Hahaha, what an intriguing choice!" Vesta burst into laughter upon hearing Bastian's refusal, his hands clapping together. Surprisingly, he didn't show any signs of anger but rather amusement.

"Such a shame that I can't recruit a formidable soldier like you into my squad," Vesta remarked, his face betraying a hint of disappointment as he shifted his gaze towards Desmond.

Sensing the tension in the air, Desmond grew alert, prepared for any unexpected moves. Unlike before, when Vesta had suddenly challenged him head-on, he had regained some of his energy and was ready to satisfy the Guardian's curiosity.

Simultaneously, he gritted his teeth, finding Vesta's behavior immensely frustrating. At the very least, listen to someone's explanation first, Desmond snapped inwardly.

However, contrary to his expectations, Vesta suddenly shifted his attention, redirecting his gaze towards his daughter. He approached her with a stern expression. "My princess, you should not engage in such rude behavior. I have taught you how to conduct yourself properly," Vesta's tone turned strict, leaving everyone speechless.

Diana felt a mix of confusion, unsure whether to be angry or relieved. Her father scolded her, but there was a gentle undertone to his words and expression.

"Yes, father," Diana reluctantly acquiesced, admitting her mistake, even though her memory of the incident remained hazy at best.

"Very well. Now, apologize to that boy... um... Desmond over there," Vesta nodded in satisfaction, stroking his daughter's long hair as he observed her obedient demeanor.

"No!" Diana immediately refused her father's request upon hearing his words. Though her memory was unclear, she was unwilling to apologize for an incident she couldn't recall accurately.

Clementine frowned, eager to step in and lecture her daughter. However, her husband intercepted her, blocking her path.

"My princess, do this for your father's sake, please?" Vesta pleaded, his gaze fixed on his daughter's face while tenderly holding her cheek.

Diana struggled to maintain eye contact, her face twitching as she averted her gaze. "Please, father, I don't want to do this. I can't even remember the incident clearly," she persisted, standing firm in her refusal to apologize.

Hearing his daughter's plea, Vesta let out a sigh. "Very well, then let me offer my apology on behalf of my daughter," he declared, rising from his seat and approaching Desmond.

On the other hand, when Leona caught wind of Vesta's intention, she felt the urge to intervene and spare him further embarrassment. However, her husband halted her actions.

"Just let it be. A man's decision cannot be swayed. Interfering would only deepen his embarrassment," Bastian stated, a sly smile playing on his lips as he watched Vesta's back.

Clementine was initially inclined to stop her husband, but she halted her steps upon seeing the determined look in his eyes. With a sigh, she decided to let him handle the situation as he saw fit. She understood that his humble attitude and approach had led to this chain of events, despite his high status and loyal subordinates.

Meanwhile, Annie and Laura, Desmond's loyal maids, approached him from behind upon noticing Vesta approaching. Annie discreetly gripped her concealed weapon, while Laura began chanting a spell under her breath.

Desmond maintained a calm expression, unmoved by Vesta's intentions to apologize directly to him. Despite hearing the apology, his demeanor remained unchanged.

The royal army on the sidelines yearned to shout at Desmond, urging him not to escalate this minor issue. However, they realized that doing so would offend the formidable figure of Witch Master Leona, who stood beside them. Thus, they remained silent, perceiving their leader's actions as overly humble.

When Vesta stood before Desmond, he scrutinized the young man from head to toe. "Good seed, you are just like your father," Vesta remarked, his gaze lingering on Desmond's athletic physique, which was difficult to conceal even under his clothes. "You might have heard earlier, so I wanted to apologize for my daughter's behavior," Vesta said, extending his hand for a handshake.

Annie and Laura, standing behind Desmond, breathed a sigh of relief at this gesture. However, they remained vigilant, observing Vesta's every move.

Desmond noticed his mother nodding emphatically, signaling for him to shake Vesta's hand, while his father sported an evil smile, mimicking a hand-slapping motion. It was a challenging decision to make. It wasn't that he didn't want to forgive Vesta's daughter, but the situation changed when "the father stepped in and apologized on behalf of his daughter," Desmond contemplated.

With a faint smile, he reached out and shook Vesta's hand. "I apologize for my impudence, Guardian. However, even with your apology, I still cannot forgive your daughter," Desmond stated firmly.

"As part of the younger generation, they should at least know how to apologize if they wish to avoid creating bigger problems in the future." He made sure to glance at Clementine and Diana, who stared at him in awe.

"Those are wise words, kid," Vesta finally spoke after a few seconds of silence. He hadn't expected Desmond to refuse his apology despite their difference in status.

As Vesta whispered in a low voice, seemingly directed solely at Desmond, he emphasized the importance of wise words being based on a strong foundation. He then smiled and withdrew his hand from Desmond's grip. "Hahaha, that's alright. Since it's already noon, let's discuss the itinerary," Vesta suggested. He glanced at Leona and Bastian and continued, "Can I borrow one of the rooms in your house?"

Leona and Bastian felt awkward, realizing that Vesta was referring to the presence of the listening mercenaries. They subtly gestured towards the mercenaries, indicating the potential discomfort of sharing their living space. Vesta understood their intention and responded, "Haha, it doesn't matter.

My troops will stay and rest outside." He also communicated this message through eye signals to his own troops.

"As long as it's an order from our Guardian, we will obey!" the royal soldiers replied in unison, further frustrating the mercenaries. The mercenaries were accustomed to enjoying the comforts of a warm and cozy resting place, but if even the Guardian had instructed his own troops to rest outside, they couldn't shamelessly request otherwise.

...

Upon hearing Vesta's request, Desmond swiftly called out to his maids, Laura and Annie. "Laura, Annie, hide Shelty somewhere and set up a soundproofing spell," he instructed urgently, grasping Laura's shoulder.

"Kya!" Laura was taken aback and blushed as she received the sudden touch from her young master. Her breathing became irregular, and she looked at her young master with a seductive gaze.

Desmond remained silent.

"Stay quiet, Laura. I'll give you a little of my energy to activate the spell," Desmond reassured her, activating the spell.

He understood that if Shelty were discovered, a game of chase and evasion would ensue, reminiscent of the hunt for the most crucial piece of the puzzle regarding the massacre that occurred four years ago.

Basic Spell: Absorption of Blessings !!

[The host is penalized for using spells of the 1st class]

[The effect is reduced, with the host receiving only 0.50 energy instead of the original 1.00, while stamina consumption increases from -0.10 to -0.20]

[The system detects that the host is sharing energy with other entities]

[Trait Effects are now being applied]

[Effect Number [3]: Decreases the effect of shared anything by 10%]

Desmond hastily gathered the natural energy around him and transferred it to Laura. Observing this, Laura smiled joyfully, sensing a part of her young master entering her body and warming her from within.

"Ah!" she unintentionally let out a seductive moan, catching the cold glare of Annie.

As the process of casting the spell was brief, requiring only a small amount of additional energy, Laura's moan caught the attention of Clementine, Diana, and Leona. They observed Desmond, who appeared "weakened" as he knelt before his maids.

Leona approached her son, placing her hand on his forehead while giving Laura a suspicious look, noting her seemingly euphoric expression, as well as Annie's somber demeanor.

"We'll excuse ourselves then," Annie spoke, pulling Laura, who seemed to be in a daze, to carry out Desmond's instructions.

Coincidentally, Clementine bid them farewell as they departed. "Very suspicious," she chuckled, casting a glance at Desmond, who remained kneeling on the ground.

"I'm just a bit tired, mother," Desmond replied, experiencing a sense of déjà vu. How many times had he used the same excuse to answer everyone's inquiries?

Clementine, the sharpest among them, quickly realized the pattern. "Tell us the truth, young Desmond. Your excuse is feeble."

Meanwhile, Diana approached Desmond with a worried expression, concerned about his condition but hesitant to initiate a conversation.

Leona immediately noticed Diana's behavior, her lips curving into a smile as she alternated her gaze between Diana and Desmond.

"You're fortunate, my son, to have so many people concerned about you," Leona remarked, her eyes sparkling as she fixed her gaze on Diana, who felt uneasy under her scrutiny.

While the women assessed Desmond's condition, Bastian and Vesta discussed the room that would be utilized for their upcoming meeting.