Uncle Dave

Russell galloped ahead, with Eric following close behind on another warhorse. Though he had contracted a Phantom Beast, Kevin the Gold-Silver Wolfdog was not a mount.

A Phantom Beast could serve as a mount, but it was not limited to being one.

Kevin was a little small. Though carrying the weight of an adult posed no problem at all, it was difficult for him to coordinate with a knight in battle.

A Phantom Beast's true method of fighting was "transformation."

Of course, Eric and Kevin had not yet cultivated to the point of transformation. For now, they could only fight separately while coordinating as a team.

Behind them followed Charles, Tom, and the other Knight Retainers, along with Ram, Russell's personal valet.

After racing along the road for two hours, they arrived at Fluorite Castle.

"Young Master Russell, welcome home." Old Butler Carter waited outside the gates with a smile. Every time Russell returned, he personally came to wait for him at the entrance.

"Has Grandmother arrived, Mr. Carter?" Russell asked, casually removing his cloak and coat and handing them to Ram.

As for Charles, Eric, and the others, servants were already there to receive them.

"Old Madam plans to come tomorrow. She wishes to soak in the hot springs for a while in the morning and gather her strength before facing the grand occasion of the birthday banquet."

"It really is a grand occasion. Who has confirmed that they're coming this year?"

"Two pieces of good news. Lord Cooper and Miss Rowena and her husband will attend the birthday banquet. They may arrive tonight or tomorrow morning. The other is Young Master Roland. He has completed his service with the Dragon Blood Knights and met up with Lord Cooper on the road to come here together."

"Mm, my elder brother and my sister's family are both coming." Russell smiled. "Grandmother will definitely be overjoyed."

"It is rare for members of the Fluorite Mushroom Family to gather together. We servants are happy as well," Old Butler Carter said warmly. He had never married in his life and had long regarded Russell, Roland, and the others as his own children.

Russell smiled. "You are not a servant. You are family."

Old Butler Carter was deeply moved. "Young Master Russell..."

Without giving Old Butler Carter a chance to become any more sentimental, Russell turned and entered the sitting room. There, he saw a group of people dressed in noble attire gathered around Baron Roman, chatting happily.

"Russell, you came at just the right time." Baron Roman beckoned for Russell to come over. "Let me introduce several lords to you. This is Lord Orte Willow from Gravel Territory... and this is Lord Dave Golden Mushroom from the Golden Plains..."

The two earls and five barons of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy had intermarried with one another, their family ties deeply intertwined.

So, whenever Old Madam Ingrid celebrated her birthday, every household would send a collateral lord to offer congratulations.

In the future, once Russell had grown up, he would also take on this responsibility and represent Guangguang River Valley in social dealings with other territories.

Of course.

Russell was still too young. This task was currently handled by his uncle, Rosen Fluorite Mushroom, who traveled everywhere on behalf of the family.

"Russell, do you still remember your Uncle Dave?" A rough-looking middle-aged man strode forward before Baron Roman could introduce him and gave Russell a fierce bear hug. "You've gotten sturdier too. I told you your training wouldn't fall behind, haha!"

"Uncle Dave, when did you arrive?" Russell asked with a smile.

Having inherited the previous owner's memories, Russell naturally recognized this middle-aged man, Dave Golden Mushroom.

He was a vassal of Golden Baron Davis Kingdingmo and also Davis's cousin, frequently traveling between the two territories.

"I arrived yesterday. Your aunt was pressing me to hurry." Dave laughed heartily. "The Ice Age retreated late this year, and your aunt has been feeling a little unwell. Otherwise, your uncle by marriage would definitely have accompanied her here to visit Old Madam Ingrid."

Russell hurriedly asked, "Is Aunt doing all right?"

He did not merely have a biological uncle. In fact, he also had a biological aunt, who had married Golden Baron Davis Kingdingmo.

She currently had one daughter, named Diana.

"It's about the same as in previous years. Nothing serious. She just can't be exposed to cold winds," Dave replied.

"That's good."

After greeting Dave Golden Mushroom, Russell greeted the other four lords one by one before sitting down to chat with them.

"The Grand Duke has only just ascended the throne. Red Castle's current position is to prioritize stability. Once his wings have fully grown, especially after the Shadowflame Dragon's injuries have healed, they will resume foreign campaigns and continue opening up new territory," Orte Willow said. "But the Grand Duke seems somewhat impatient."

"What is Gravel Earl's position?" Baron Roman asked.

"My lord clearly supports stability. The Shadowflame Dragon has fought year after year. It is time for him to rest for several years and recover his strength."

Baron Roman turned to ask, "Dave, what does Baron Davis think? I remember he is something of a hothead too."

Dave spread his hands. "I don't know. The Baron rarely discusses such matters in his territory."

Russell curiously interjected, "The Grand Duke is the same age as I am and has not yet married. Would the Shadowflame Family agree to let him go to war?"

The previous Grand Duke had died in the snowfields, leaving behind only the current Grand Duke as his sole bloodline.

If anything happened to him as well, the Shadowflame Family's crown would have to pass to a branch family. By then, the Shadowflame Grand Duchy would likely face great upheaval. Especially since the Shadowflame Dragon had already been severely injured once—if anything went wrong again, the entire nation would suffer.

The barons and the others fell silent.

Only Dave Golden Mushroom spread his hands again. "Who knows?"

Baron Roman quickly moved past the topic. After all, everyone present was merely an ordinary lord, with little standing to comment on affairs of state.

He patted Russell on the shoulder. "Go see your mother first. Ask whether she needs any help with tomorrow's banquet."

"All right." Russell rose and took his leave.

In truth, he did not like this sort of socializing among nobles.

If he were merely listening in, it would be fine. He enjoyed hearing all kinds of rumors from the outside world. But having to chat along with them, chime in, or play the straight man was rather tiring.

His mother, Meryl, was in the second-floor banquet hall, preparing for tomorrow's banquet with Laura. Servants, retainers, and hired workers bustled in and out, reporting every detail to the Baroness, who then coordinated and assigned the work.

A banquet was a major undertaking, involving the rituals and grandeur nobles cared most about. There could not be the slightest carelessness.

Laura was only eleven years old, but she had to begin learning now—one day, she too would marry into some barony or perhaps even an earldom, take charge of the household, and arrange such banquets.

"Mother, Laura," Russell greeted them.

"Russell, you're here." Meryl looked up and smiled, then said, "I'm too busy here. Go chat with your father and the others in the hall for a while, then wait to welcome your sister, brother-in-law, and elder brother."

"All right," Russell replied with a smile.

After going downstairs, he returned to the hall and continued listening to the lords enthusiastically recount stories from the snowfields. There were not many good stories, however. Most were lengthy battle scenes. Perhaps Baron Roman and the others found them deeply immersive, but Russell found them dull.

He had not yet experienced the brutal slaughter of the snowfields.

At the edge of the territory, under the watchful presence of a Phantom Beast Knight, he had merely cooperated with a knight squad to kill twelve Snow Ghosts.

So before long, he began thinking about his elder brother Roland and his sister Rowena.