Old Madam Ingrid

For a full hour, Russell practiced his morning drills, going back and forth over a single move from the Radiant Sword Technique.

By the end, his arms had gone numb.

"Eric, have you noticed? Russell is much more diligent than before," Charles muttered quietly to Eric. "During morning drills before, he always took two or three breaks. Now he doesn't rest even once, and his movements never slacken in the slightest."

"My lord has matured." Eric was concise.

The Battle Qi Seed had blossomed. Coming-of-age ceremony, knighted lord—there was more than one way for a boy to become a man.

At least, in Eric's eyes, Russell had matured because he had taken on the burden of being a lord.

A lord was never merely a ruler or an exploiter. A lord was also the protector of his people, one who had to fight invading snow demons and use sweat and blood to safeguard everything within his territory.

"Whew."

Russell set down his fine steel longsword, took the towel handed over by Male Servant Ram, and quickly wiped away his sweat.

Russell walked over. "Teachers, it's getting late. I need to bathe before setting off for Fluorite Castle. I'll leave the task of inspecting the territory to you two. I hope that by the time I return, you'll have decided which area to use for growing magical herbs."

Eric replied, "Understood!"

Charles said, "Don't worry, Russell. I already spoke with Old Hans and the others yesterday, so I have a good grasp of the manor's farmland. We'll soon determine which fields are best suited for growing magical herbs."

"Good." Russell returned to the manor's side residence.

The Maid had already prepared hot water for him. After bathing, Male Servant Ram helped him change into a tailcoat suitable for riding.

Without a hair dryer, he could only rub his hair repeatedly with a towel to quickly soak up the moisture.

By the time he went downstairs, he had once more assumed the image of a handsome, elegant young nobleman. Every gesture he made exuded an air of refinement and wealth.

"You were born a noble, Master," Morris praised.

"Thank you." Russell smiled.

Then he strode out of the manor's side residence. Male Servant Ram followed behind him, somewhat nervous as he glanced at Morris.

Morris immediately whispered, "Hurry up and follow Master. Once you reach Fluorite Castle, keep your wits about you and serve Master with utmost care. Don't disgrace Master!"

Ram replied, "I'll do my best. No, I guarantee it."

Outside the gates, Russell had already mounted his black steed, while the four Armored Knights behind him stood ready to depart.

When he saw Male Servant Ram, Armored Knight Tom asked with a malicious grin, "Young lad, can you ride?"

"I-I can."

"Boring." Having failed to get the answer he wanted, Tom could not be bothered to say more. "Keep up. Don't fall behind!"

Neigh!

The black horse beneath Russell let out a long whinny and shot forward like an arrow. The four Armored Knights followed in a single-file line, while Male Servant Ram brought up the rear, hunched over his horse and gripping the reins tightly in nervous apprehension, not daring to relax.

Taking Male Servant Ram's poor riding skills into consideration, Russell did not push the pace too fast. Instead, he cultivated his battle qi along the way.

His morning drills had been for breaking through with battle qi and opening up new meridians.

Now, he guided his battle qi again and again, circulating it through the Lesser Heavenly Cycle to refine new battle qi and steadily strengthen himself.

Two hours later, Fluorite Castle came into view.

Passing through the stone archway, they arrived before the castle gates. Russell dismounted and saw Butler Carter already waiting outside.

"Young Master Russell, welcome home. Did you sleep well last night?"

"Very well, though I missed the castle rooms." In truth, Russell did not miss them at all. The manor's side residence was far more comfortable.

"Your room will always be kept for you," Butler Carter said.

"Of course. I won't stand on ceremony."

The four Armored Knights dismounted behind him, and Male Servant Ram followed suit, though his legs trembled slightly when his feet touched the ground.

Riding was an important course in Male Servant training, but he had not ridden in a long time. He had only crammed in a little practice the previous evening.

Seeing Armored Knight Tom about to leave, Ram finally asked the question that had bothered him all the way here. "Sir Tom, if I couldn't ride, would I be unable to serve Master?"

"Hehe." Tom grinned. "If you couldn't ride, I'd give you a lift... but then you'd have to endure Lord Tom's ravaging the whole way."

Ram shuddered and fled into the castle as though running for his life.

Tom was left behind, letting out a contemptuous laugh. "Lord Tom doesn't fence, besides, you little brat have such a pointy face and monkey cheeks..."

"Don't cause trouble, Tom," Armored Knight James said.

"I was just teasing the Male Servant."

"Watch your attitude, Tom. Don't provoke my lord's Male Servant. If my lord holds you accountable, none of us will speak up for you."

Tom gave an embarrassed laugh. "Why would my lord care about a Male Servant?"

Another Armored Knight, John, said, "Whether my lord cares or not, that's no reason for you to bully the Male Servant. My lord is born of noble blood. If you still want to improve yourself, then be loyal to my lord and become a qualified retainer."

Tom raised his hands in surrender. "Don't worry, lads. I understand all that!"

"Father, Mother, Laura—ah, Grandmother, when did you arrive?" Russell soon met his family.

Not only were the Baron and Baroness and his younger sister Laura present, but so was his grandmother, Old Madam Ingrid.

"I counted the days. I knew you, you little Little Ghost Fire, were heading to your fief. Couldn't your grandmother come see you? I didn't expect you to be unwilling to stay even one extra day." Old Madam Ingrid stepped forward and gave her eldest grandson a warm embrace.

"I was just thinking of visiting Uncle's manor to pay my respects to you." Russell smiled.

He also had a paternal uncle, Rosen Fluorite Mushroom. His circumstances had been much like Russell's: he had been the family's second son and was made a knight by their grandfather upon coming of age. His fief was Great Wind Manor, upstream along the Glimmering River. Now, both of them were vassals of Baron Roman.

"Your uncle wanted to come as well, but the situation in the Northlands has been rather unstable. Those damned snow ghosts have been showing themselves again and again, so he couldn't get away," Old Madam Ingrid said.

Old Madam Ingrid did not live in Fluorite Castle with her eldest son. Instead, she lived with her second son in a hot spring residence at Great Wind Manor.

There was a hot spring there that remained warm year-round. Bathing in it regularly could prolong one's life.

Russell sat down with Old Madam Ingrid and casually asked, "Didn't Aunt come with you?"

"If she came, the two children would insist on coming too. Then your father would complain that they were too noisy again."

"How could Father dislike his two nephews for being noisy?"

"Yes, of course your father wouldn't. Others might not feel the same way." As she spoke, Old Madam Ingrid seemed to casually glance at Baroness Meryl, who was instructing the servants to serve the meal. "After all, this is the Baron's castle. The rules are strict."

Baroness Meryl turned around, the smile on her face unchanged, as though she had not caught the implication in Old Madam Ingrid's words.

Baron Roman said, "It's fine that they didn't come. Next time, have Russell visit Rosen and his family."

"It's the thought that counts." Old Madam Ingrid took Russell's hand and patted it. "Now that you're managing your own fief, you must put your heart into it. Don't let the serfs fool you. When it's time to punish or kill, you must have a mind of your own."

Russell replied casually, "Understood."