“First, we need to restore the family.”
Now that there was no need to pay for Leonel’s treatment, it wouldn’t take long for the family to return to normal.
“There’s no time for that.”
“Pardon?”
“Because I will be backing the Barrett family. We’ll cover all the necessary expenses.”
“P-Pardon?”
At the Grand Duke’s words, the Count’s eyes widened.
The entire Barrett family wore the same astonished expression, except for Evelyn, who had already been informed and remained calm.
“What you showed us earlier is already more than enough!”
“You call that sponsorship?”
Count Barrett recalled the document the Grand Duke had promised in exchange for placing his daughter in the Northern Knight Order.
It promised five hundred gold coins per month, magic stones, weapons, and an enormous amount of support.
And now, more?
“That seems too much,” the Count shook his head.
Barrett must rise again by its own strength.
“Wherever Evelyn goes, the Barrett family will always walk alongside her. But that must be accomplished with our own power.”
What was achieved through someone else’s strength could never truly be yours. In fact, it could turn poisonous if not handled properly.
Especially since his younger brother likely hadn’t given up targeting the Barrett family, he might be lying in wait, ready to snatch any spoils that fell from it.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of waiting for the family’s recovery.”
Even if the Evil God didn’t resurrect immediately, there was still a mountain of work to do. Nobles who could speak in his stead in the capital were needed.
The Barrett family had to become a central pillar and lead others. Only then could they withstand the pressure from the imperial family.
“Within a year. Not only must everything be restored, but the Barretts must establish themselves firmly in the capital.”
“We’ll make it happen, no matter what.”
It was Leonel who responded to the Grand Duke’s declaration. The day he woke up had been chaotic, but now he fully understood.
His life had been given back to him thanks to his younger sister.
“I can’t be a burden to her anymore. First, I’ll have to resolve the rumor that I was injured because of Evelyn’s curse.”
The Countess, after thinking for a moment, also spoke up.
“Now that the rumors of Evelyn becoming a Swordmaster have started to spread, even with the Grand Duke’s sponsorship, few will suspect anything.”
They had thought they had climbed one massive mountain, only to find an even greater one in front of them.
But she wasn’t afraid at all. Her guilt and pride toward her daughter spurred her forward.
“If it’s something helpful, I’ll do anything. So don’t worry.”
Seeing her mother’s determined eyes, Evelyn scratched her cheek. Since God had said she could do it, she truly believed she could.
It may not have been a curse, but her brother had still been caught up in her fate.
Taking the lead was the natural thing to do.
‘She’s so fired up… sorry about that.’
In truth, what Evelyn wanted most was for the Barrett family to leave the capital and settle far away in the northern territories.
With the Grand Duke’s help, they could recover quickly—but someday, like with her father, that help could become poisonous.
Ambition was like poison that seeped into the heart before you knew it.
“Mother, you don’t need to overdo it. Some things will naturally be revealed in time.”
In any case, no noble family would invite the Barretts right now. Evelyn decided to spend some peaceful time with her family before returning to the North.
“Grand Duke. An invitation has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
After finishing the discussion about the Barrett family and their sponsorship, Elliot returned to the house prepared in the capital and checked the letter handed to him by Rain.
It was a long letter, but the point was clear: They wanted him to visit the palace, expressing a desire to support the North.
“Seems they’ve confirmed I’m in the capital.”
“That’s what it looks like, doesn’t it?”
Rain smirked and flipped the envelope. He was dressed not in knight armor but in a tailored suit suitable for a butler to hide his identity.
Being slimmer than other knights, he truly looked like a real butler.
“I can’t believe no one noticed I’m a knight. Do the people in the capital all have bad eyes?”
“Didn’t you say you were proud to be the epitome of a handsome man?”
“That’s because the Northerners don’t appreciate my beauty.”
He glanced at the Grand Duke’s physique. Even as a fellow man, his build was striking.
The Grand Duke always stood a head taller, even among the rugged Northerners.
His perfect muscle distribution and upright frame made him the envy of all knights.
“A man with everything wouldn’t understand.”
“Send a reply saying I’ll visit the palace tomorrow.”
Elliot ignored Rain’s remark and sat down to deal with documents.
“Did you have a good conversation with the young lady?”
nod
“She’s going to be a core member of the knight order. Treat her accordingly.”
“Do you really think sponsorship alone can tie her down?”
“I’ve given the Barretts exactly what they need. They won’t have time to look elsewhere.”
She also seemed to have ambition.
She had a strong desire for the sword, and didn’t seem the type to seek other things before mastering the Hero’s swordsmanship.
“And if she’s greedy?”
“Then I’ve made a bad bet.”
“Isn’t marriage the easiest way?”
“Too much trouble.”
Rain pointed out that marriage was the easiest way to bind two people, and Elliot just shrugged.
He hadn’t dismissed the idea, but he preferred to avoid things that were troublesome.
High-ranking nobles often sponsored promising individuals—either as families or personally.
Sometimes rumors arose from those sponsorships, but if the sponsor’s reputation was high enough, the rumors quickly died.
“Do you think the Imperial Palace will see this as just another sponsorship?”
“If not, what of it?”
Since the palace refused to send a subjugation force to the North, he could just say he was training excellent knights out of desperation.
Besides, the fact that the Hero was a Swordmaster gave the story credibility.
While staying with the Barretts, he had already arranged how to spread the message.
The most cooperative was young master Leonel.
‘He owes his life to his sister—of course he’s motivated.’
Elliot recalled the Hero’s face, who couldn’t take her eyes off her brother.
Even though she knew the Holy Sword revived him, she couldn’t fully believe it and kept tearing up.
Would she really be able to endure what’s ahead with such a fragile heart?
When the Hero once fought the Evil God, humanity was pushed to its limits. Betrayals and murders were common.
It was said some even resorted to cannibalism during food shortages. If they weren’t properly prepared, the same tragedy could happen again.
‘That’s why I’m doing all this.’
How was he supposed to persuade the Emperor?
He didn’t want to reveal all his cards too early but still needed cooperation. Elliot slowly flipped through the documents, deep in thought.
He had to ensure the North secured the greatest interests without harming others.
The fact that the Imperial Palace finally responded meant they were watching his movements.
Since the Emperor was clearly wary of the Grand Duke’s expanding presence in the capital, to avoid suspicion, he had to shift focus from the North to the capital.
He’d need to visit often anyway to support the Hero’s activities.
In noble society, the more capable and renowned the sponsored party was, the greater the prestige of the sponsor.
It demonstrated the sponsor’s exceptional judgment. Elliot planned to use this system to promote Evelyn.
When war broke out, he would use the Barrett lady’s identity—blessed by the Grand Duke’s support—as justification. Then reveal her Hero status and demand full support.
Elliot had no intention of pouring all of the North’s wealth into the Hero.
He expected a return. Preferably more than what he put in. That was only logical to Elliot.
“It’s been a while, Grand Duke.”
The Emperor studied Duke Graham, who had not visited the capital for several years, always using increased monster activity as an excuse.
He clicked his tongue inwardly at how the man’s appearance had only matured with age. No wonder the young noble ladies of the capital were desperate to go to the North.
“I came because you summoned me.”
Elliot replied within the bounds of etiquette, too disinterested to offer anything more.
“I can’t keep someone who’s come from afar standing. Please sit.”
“After ignoring all my previous requests, what do you need now?”
Elliot cut straight to the point, not wanting to waste time on small talk.
“You haven’t shown your face in the capital for so long… This time, I truly felt the urgency.”
“You mean when you rejected my recent request for reinforcements?”
Elliot’s lips curled into a crooked smile.
