"Marshal, he's here," the knight said respectfully, bowing.
Mikhail looked into the distance and saw a carriage heading toward the entrance of the estate.
About ten minutes later, the carriage arrived at the estate entrance. A somewhat portly middle-aged man stepped down from it. Upon seeing Mikhail, he hurried over and bowed. "Greetings, Grand Marshal."
Seeing this, Mikhail personally stepped forward to help him up, speaking warmly. "Lord Berichi, there's no need for such formality."
Hearing the other man call his name without hesitation, the last trace of luck in Berichi's heart vanished.
If Mikhail had merely been passing through while hunting and wished to rest at the estate, he would never have said such words.
"Lord Berichi, could you show me around this beautiful estate?" Mikhail asked with a smile, reminding the dazed Berichi.
Hearing this, Berichi immediately came to his senses and hastily made a welcoming gesture. "Please come in, sir."
The two entered the estate one after the other, while the others remained outside to stand guard.
As they followed the bluestone path toward the manor house, Mikhail did not mention anything related to negotiations.
As for Berichi, he played dumb. Whatever the other man wished to know, he answered, as though he had no interest whatsoever in Mikhail's purpose for coming.
Before they realized it, the two arrived at the garden square before the manor house.
Mikhail watched the little boy running around the fountain, waved, and said with a smile, "Child, come here."
The somewhat bewildered little boy looked at the white-bearded old man standing beside his grandfather and walked straight over.
Mikhail bent down, picked up the boy, pointed at Berichi, and asked the child in his arms with a smile, "Who is this?"
"Grandfather."
The little boy answered crisply without the slightest hesitation.