Elliot fell silent.
The old butler was right. This Difference Engine Core did not belong to the Sterling Family; it had been acquired from some fallen minor noble.
The family had never paid much attention to any of this. They had sent Elliot there purely because it was far enough from the Imperial Capital.
Thinking back on it now, it seemed somewhat suspicious. Perhaps he could investigate along those lines.
But none of that mattered. What mattered was that he was required to hand over this Difference Engine Core.
After all, its Identification Code had been registered back then, so there was no way to bluff his way out. It seemed he had no choice but to... hand it over?
Elliot sneered.
How could he possibly hand it over?
This Difference Engine Core mattered more to him than anything else. There was no way he would surrender it.
If he could find a respectable reason to refuse, he would keep things respectable. If he could not, there was no need to insist on keeping up appearances.
What, would the Royal Family really fall out with one of the only two of the Seven Holy Bloodlines supporting them over this?
Elliot understood perfectly well: the Royal Family needed Sterling, not the other way around.
Though his relations with the Blood Feast Nobility were strained, if Elliot approached them on behalf of his family, they certainly would not care about such trifles.
Even in the worst case, Elliot had directly instigated the Frostmoon Uprising back then, and all he had received was confinement. If he simply said the Difference Engine Core was lost now, what could the Royal Family do?
Confine him again?
The Royal Family would not even need to act.
After a moment's consideration, Elliot made up his mind.
He