The city lord's castle stood in the center of Chier County City.
Its walls were tall, with guards patrolling on every side.
When Lady Weide led Linley and the others into the castle, people already lined their route. Servants, guards, and nobles in the castle stopped in their tracks, stealing glances at Jenny and Keane.
Eight years had passed, and few people in the city lord's residence still remembered what the siblings looked like.
But everyone remembered who they were.
Earl Weide's children.
Especially Keane.
Now, he was Earl Weide's only surviving son.
"Miss Jenny, Young Master Keane, thank you for making the long journey," Lady Weide said with a smile. "Your guest rooms are ready, and I'll hold a welcoming banquet for you tonight."
"Thank you, Aunt," Keane said.
His tone was not particularly warm, but neither was it discourteous.
Jenny gave a slight curtsy without speaking.
Linley rode Haeru at the rear.
After entering the castle, Haeru went no farther. He was too large. If he followed everyone into the hall, he would probably frighten quite a few servants out of their wits.
Linley had him stay in the courtyard.
Bebe jumped onto Haeru's back and sprawled there lazily.
"Don't worry," Linley said. "There's nothing here that can hurt you."
Haeru let out a low growl, his golden eyes sweeping over the castle.
He seemed very dissatisfied with this castle.
Doehring stood beside Linley and glanced around.
"Quite a few guards."
"Probably even more people who truly take their orders from Lady Weide."
Lambert walked behind Jenny and Keane.
The servants were outwardly respectful, but their eyes held none of the joy of welcoming their masters. Instead, there was hesitation, scrutiny, and fear that was not particularly well concealed.
This castle had already changed masters.
At least in everyone's minds, it had already changed masters.
Night fell.
The city lord's hall blazed with light.
Food covered the long table, and nobles and officials from Chier County City gathered in the hall. Lady Weide sat at the head, a gentle smile constantly on her face.
Jenny and Keane had been seated below her.
Linley sat beside the siblings.
Lambert stood behind Keane, the longsword still fastened at his waist.
Quite a few people noticed this.
Several nobles spoke in low voices.
"Those are the second wife's two children?"
"That's right. To think they really came back."
"I heard they came back to inherit the position of city lord."
"Will Lady Weide hand it over?"
"That depends on tonight."
Their voices were quiet, but they could not escape Linley's ears.
Lady Weide raised her wineglass.
"Today marks Jenny and Keane's return to Chier County City. The past is behind us. After all, they are Earl Weide's children, and members of the city lord's household. From now on, this will be their home."
A chorus of agreement rose in the hall.
"Welcome back, both of you."
"Chier County City will always be your home."
"May you both enjoy peace and good fortune."
Keane raised his wineglass, a smile appearing on his face.
Jenny merely took a sip.
Both knew these words were nothing to take seriously.
Lady Weide set down her wineglass and turned to Linley.
"Mr. Lei, we have you to thank for protecting them along the way. Without you, who knows when the children would have made it back?"
"It was no trouble," Linley said.
"You're too modest, Mr. Lei," Lady Weide said with a smile. "Once Keane formally succeeds as city lord, I'll certainly arrange for someone to deliver a gift of thanks."
She spoke the words "formally succeeds" very slowly.
Linley raised his eyes.
"When will he formally succeed?"
The conversations in the hall gradually fell silent.
Lady Weide's fingers paused at the rim of her wineglass.
She had not expected Linley to ask so directly just as the banquet began.
"Mr. Lei, this is a private matter of our Jax Family."
"Keane is Earl Weide's son," Linley said. "Now that he's returned, isn't it only natural for him to succeed as city lord?"
The smile on Lady Weide's face did not change.
"Of course it is."
She looked at Keane, her gaze as gentle as though she were looking at her own child.
"It's just that Keane is still too young."
"I'm already fourteen," Keane said at once.
"Chier County City has several million subjects, and a city lord has many matters to handle," Lady Weide said gently. "You haven't come of age yet. If you rashly take over as city lord, I'm afraid you won't be able to shoulder that responsibility."
Keane's expression changed.
"In two years, after your coming-of-age ceremony, you can take over as city lord," Lady Weide continued. "During these two years, your aunt will manage Chier County City properly for you."
The hall immediately fell silent.
Quite a few nobles lowered their heads to drink, as though they had not heard those words.
They had already guessed this would be the outcome.
Lady Weide had controlled the county city for years. How could she possibly hand power over to a boy who had only just returned?
"Imperial law does not stipulate that a minor cannot inherit the position of city lord," Jenny suddenly said.
Her voice was quiet, but it carried clearly throughout the hall.
Lady Weide turned to look at her.
"Jenny, you've only just returned. You may not understand the situation in the county city yet."
"I don't understand the county city, but I do know imperial law," Jenny said. "As long as the heir's identity is confirmed, he can take over as city lord."
Her hand tightened slightly around her wineglass.
But her voice remained steady as she spoke.
"Keane is Father's only son, and first in line to inherit. Why must you wait two years, Aunt?"
Several nobles raised their heads.
At last, Lady Weide's expression changed a little.
Rather than answer immediately, she sighed softly.
"I was very saddened by your father's death as well. But this county city is too important. We cannot entrust the safety of millions to a child simply because of a legal status."
"I'm not a child." Keane stood up.
Jenny pressed a hand against his arm.
"Keane, sit down."
Keane gritted his teeth and sat back down.
As Lady Weide watched this, a trace of coldness flashed in her eyes.
"I'm not trying to seize the position of city lord," she said. "This is the clan's decision."
"The clan?" Jenny asked.
"After your father died, word reached the Jax Clan. The clan elders felt that Keane was too young to take charge of Chier County City immediately, so they ordered me to serve as acting city lord."
At this point, Lady Weide's expression grew composed.
"Once Keane comes of age, I will return the position of city lord to him."
"Did the clan really issue such an order?" Jenny stared intently at her.
"Of course."
"Is there a written order?"
Lady Weide's smile faded a little.
"Jenny, are you doubting me?"
"I only want to know the clan's decision."
"You've only just returned, and already you're questioning your elder at a banquet?" Lady Weide's tone remained gentle, but that gentleness now carried pressure. "All these years, I've managed the county city for your father. If not for me, Chier County City would have fallen into chaos long ago."
Linley had remained silent throughout.
Only now did he lift his wineglass and take a small sip.
"Lady Weide."
Lady Weide looked at him.
"If the clan only ordered that Keane take over as city lord after coming of age, then who is to act in his place until then?" Linley asked.
"Me, naturally."
"Did the clan also order you to act in his place?"
Lady Weide's expression stiffened.
"I've managed the city lord's residence for years. Everyone acknowledges me."
"That isn't what I asked," Linley said calmly. "I only asked whether the clan ordered you to serve as acting city lord."
The atmosphere in the hall abruptly grew tense.
Lady Weide looked at Linley.
From the moment Linley entered the city, she had known this young man would be difficult to deal with. But she had not expected him to disregard the banquet and the nobles' dignity entirely and lay everything out in the open.
"The clan has naturally considered these matters," she said. "The specific arrangements will be announced once the clan has formally confirmed them."
Linley nodded.
"Then we'll wait for the clan's confirmation."
Lady Weide breathed a sigh of relief.
But Linley's next words immediately darkened her expression again.
"Until the clan confirms them, it would seem more appropriate for Jenny to serve as acting city lord."
A stir immediately ran through the nobles in the hall.
Jenny was stunned as well.
"Me?"
"You've already come of age," Linley said. "Before Keane succeeds as city lord, you can manage the county city for him."
Keane's eyes immediately lit up.
"Right!"
He looked at Lady Weide.
"My sister has already come of age. Even if I can't inherit right now, she should be the one to act in my place!"
"That would be inappropriate," Lady Weide said immediately.
"In what way?" Linley asked.
"Jenny has lived in the countryside for years and knows nothing about Chier County City," Lady Weide said. "She doesn't understand the city's affairs, nor does she have any experience managing a county city."
"You just said you've managed it for years," Linley said. "You can hand the affairs over to her."
Lady Weide had not expected Linley to use her own earlier words against her.
A noble seated nearby lowered his head and chuckled.
Lady Weide swept a cold glance at him, and the noble immediately suppressed his smile.
"This matter cannot be decided tonight," Lady Weide said. "I will report the situation to the clan and ask the elders to make a decision."
"Fine," Linley said. "But until the clan issues a new order, Keane remains first in line to inherit."
"Naturally."
Lady Weide forced a smile as she spoke.
She raised her wineglass.
"Today is the day the children have come home. Let's not discuss these unpleasant matters. Come, everyone, let's keep drinking."
No one immediately raised a glass.
Their exchange had already laid everyone's thoughts bare.
This was hardly a welcoming banquet.
It was clearly the first confrontation between Lady Weide and the siblings.
Linley did not press any further.
Keane had yet to truly take over as city lord, and Jenny had yet to establish herself in the county city. His words today were merely to let everyone know that the siblings had returned, and that the succession would not be easily stalled.
The banquet continued for a while longer.
The nobles came forward one after another to toast Jenny and Keane, offering bland pleasantries. No one openly stepped forward to support them, nor did anyone dare publicly oppose Lady Weide.
Lambert watched, his heart sinking.
Lady Weide had controlled Chier County City for years. The city guards, the castle guards, and all the officials were already accustomed to taking her orders.
Even if Keane inherited the position of city governor tomorrow, he might not be able to command these people immediately.
When the banquet ended, Lady Weide personally led everyone out of the hall.
Her expression remained gentle, as though the earlier dispute had never happened.
"Jenny, Keane, you must be tired from your journey. Rest tonight," she said. "We can discuss inheriting the governorship once the clan replies."
Keane wanted to say more, but Jenny held him back first.
"All right, Aunt."
Lady Weide nodded, then turned and left.
Linley stood in the corridor, watching her figure disappear through the inner courtyard gate.
Doehring came to his side.
"You were certainly direct today."
"I had to be."
"You agreed to escort them, not take over an entire county city for them."
"I know," Linley said. "But if Lady Weide keeps stalling, they won't even be able to stay here safely."
"Then just deal with what's in front of you," Doehring said. "Don't take every consequence onto your shoulders in advance."
Linley did not answer.
He looked toward the guest rooms where Jenny and her brother were staying.
Keane's hushed protests came from that direction. Jenny was urging him not to act rashly, while Lambert kept reminding them of the situation in the castle.
"I'm only responsible for keeping them alive," Linley said.
"It had better stay that way."
Doehring looked up toward the inner courtyard.
The lights were still on in Lady Weide's room.
Several figures could faintly be seen moving behind the lamplight.
Linley's gaze grew slightly colder.
"Tonight won't be peaceful."
"I think so too," Doehring said.
In the inner courtyard.
Lady Weide pushed open the door and entered her room, the smile on her face fading little by little.
Two middle-aged men followed behind her.
"Elder Sister, that young man is far too arrogant," one of them said quietly. "Should we just..."
Lady Weide raised a hand to cut him off.
"Don't act yet."
She walked to the window and looked at Haeru in the distant courtyard.
"To make a Level Nine Magical Beast submit, that man must be at least a warrior of the eighth rank. With that Shadowmouse as well, we have no chance of winning a direct confrontation."
"Then what should we do?"
Lady Weide turned around.
There was no trace of warmth left in her eyes.
"Go send word."
"To whom?"
"Find someone who can kill a warrior of the ninth rank."
The room fell silent.
The lamplight outside the window shone on Lady Weide's face, making it look exceptionally cold and sinister.
She looked in the direction where Jenny and Keane were staying.
"Since they've come back, they must never leave Chier County City alive."