The next day, around noon.
Richard returned to the reception quarters, where Honorary Duke Cyril Sack had long been waiting in the courtyard. He hurried forward and asked the moment they met, "Lord Richard, where did you go?"
Richard glanced at Cyril Sack without answering. Guessing what was going on, he asked, "Has His Majesty the Emperor already set a time to meet with me?" It was the only matter Cyril Sack could be anxious about.
Cyril Sack froze for a moment, then nodded without denying it. "Yes."
"Don't tell me the time His Majesty set is today."
"It isn't. It's not that urgent." Cyril Sack shook his head. "His Majesty set the meeting for the morning after tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure you would attend on time, Lord Richard. Please don't suddenly disappear again. By the way, what exactly did you go to do? I asked nearly everyone in the reception quarters, but no one knew where you had gone."
"I merely took a casual stroll around Xia Ya City." Richard said evenly. "All right, Duke Cyril Sack, I can assure you that now that I'm back, I won't be going out again. I'll wait here until I meet with His Majesty. How about that?"
"Then I must thank you, Lord Richard." Cyril Sack let out a breath of relief. "When the morning comes, shall I pick you up?"
"I'll trouble you, then."
"Not at all, not at all." Cyril Sack left.
Richard watched Cyril Sack's retreating back and blinked.
After that, Richard did as he said. He truly remained in the reception quarters without leaving, waiting until the day after tomorrow arrived.
The day after tomorrow, early in the morning.
Not long after getting up and finishing breakfast, Honorary Duke Cyril Sack arrived in a