Peaceful Days

Huvel could finally put his mind to the affairs of his territory after the nymph calmed down. He heard no news of anyone on the wall has noticing his infiltration so he was at ease. Not only the soldiers on the wall, the servants in the castle also did not know he was away for three days. Most of his works were handled perfectly done by his butler so there was no problem both in the castle and the town.

"You've done well," Huvel praised Meodinand. He did not put him under a spell so if he acted sloppily, other servants must have known of his absence. But since there was nothing abnormal in the town, Huvel believed Meodinand did as he ordered.

"It is nothing difficult," Meodinand replied in voice without any emotions. "I thought you were dying when you came back since you have been staying in your room all days. It seems you have recovered."

"Ah, were you worried?"

"No. I just though I would be free if you died."

"Haha! Don't worry. I've no plan to die early. You will have plenty of time to serve me well."

"I don't want to."

"How about having a 'fun time' now?"

Huvel slapped Meodinand's buttocks as he teased him. To his surprise, Meodinand did not avoid him as he usually did.

"If you want to do it, just do. When have you asked for my opinion before?"

"Aww, is my kitty sulking because I left the home for a few days. Come here. I'll give you a kiss."

"I don't need…"

"Mwah!"

"Tch!"

-----

"How is the meat?" Huvel asked Karl at the dinning table.

The meat he mentioned was the meat of monsters he brought back. He found it wasteful to throw away the meat so he made Meodinand take the meat to the kitchen. He made it to look like Meodinand bought the meat from hunters to conceal the origin of the meat. But there was no need to hide it from Karl.

"It is good," Karl replied flatly; his brows were slightly knitted. "But I would like it more if you would take me with you if you are going to do something like that again!"

"Haha! Why are you being overprotective like that? I'm already at the age where I can go around alone."

"I know I am weaker than you. Still, I cannot be at ease if you go alone like that."

"Sigh!"

Two people who were having lunch together with them were surprised by the conversation. They wanted to know the details but both did not say anything since their relationship with Huvel was not that good so they dared not ask.

"Master," Karl spoke up, "I want to ask you for something."

"What is it?"

"I hope master recruit another knight. I am busy training the soldiers these days and do not have enough time to train myself. I want to share the work with someone."

"Hmm… do you have someone in mind?"

"Among the squires under Captain Mylan, there was someone willing to swear his loyalty to you."

"That is good. What about his weapon mastery?"

"It is… only at the first rank for now but I expect him to reach the second rank soon."

"It is not good to knight someone only at the first rank. Bring him under you as of now and guide him well. I'll knight him when he attains the second rank. But don't worry about the training instructor. I have someone in mind."

"Master, it would be hard to ask knights of other lords to teach our soldiers. Wait, don't tell me…"

"Exactly!"

Huvel ordered Karl to convince Luc for the job. However, Luc was more stubborn than Huvel thought. He refused to work for Huvel no matter how hard Karl convinced him. So, Huvel visited the jail personally and Luc gave in immediately. Karl did not know how his master convinced Luc but he had a bad feeling so he asked neither his master nor Luc about it.

-----

Huvel left all the blood of monsters in the potion lab and the nymph used up most of it while he could not pay attention to it. Although Huvel also wanted to do experiments using the blood, the amount was simply too low for the both of them to use as they liked. And since he did not want to go back to the jungle again, he decided to wait for results of the nymph's experiments.

The nymph avoided him for three whole days. However, being a simple-minded person, the nymph forgot everything and came to Huvel once the blood needed in his experiments ran out. He asked Huvel to go into the jungle again to collect blood from monsters.

Huvel did not answer him but asked questions about his experiments instead. The nymph was very excited to talk about his experiments. He talked as if he is going to succeed in inventing a never-heard-of, super powerful potion in the next minute.

But no matter how eager the nymph, Huvel did not have any intention to go back to the jungle alone with the nymph again. Not only did he not like the night there, he also did not want the nymph to remember their hot and passionate night there.

He made up several reasons he could not go into the jungle again and rejected the nymph's request. The nymph did not give up and tried to convince Huvel again and again. He did it so hard that Huvel even thought of going to the jungle again and taking Karl with them. After being nagged by the nymph for several days, Huvel got an idea.