Chapter 97: 97:The Arrival Of Grant Veydrin

The next morning, Kael woke up only to find the entire world in complete chaos. The mansion was in an uproar with maids and servants rushed back and forth, some nearly crashing into each other.

Kael washed his face, cleaned himself up, and turned to Lyria, who was calmly brushing his hair. "What the hell is going on?" he asked.

"It seems they are preparing for the welcome

party," Lyria replied, carefully styling his hair. Kael sat stiffly, afraid she’d ruin it, but to his relief, she finished without issue.

He looked out and saw servants cleaning everything.The floors, the pillars, the windows and even grases.

It seemed a bit too much when they already do this everyday and everyone seemed to be quite uneasy.

"Welcome party?" His brows furrowed. "For whom? Adele?"

Lyria shook her head. "No. I heard someone named Grant is returning to the estate."

A flicker of amusement flashed in Kael’s eyes as he remembered about that guy

’Ohhhh? So that bastard is already here...’’

"Finally, I can have a face off.It’s gonna be fun...’’

’Kkeee...’

Lyria suddenly spoke, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Master..."

"Uh... Yes?"

"Can you wipe off that evil smile? It’s giving me déjà vu."

"..."

.....

Meanwhile, at the gates of Veydrin, a grand march had gathered. The guards stood at attention, forming a perfect line as a luxurious coach rolled up. The moment the door swung open, a man stepped out.

"Welcome back, Sir Grant Austin!"

The knights saluted in unison, their voices sharp and disciplined. The maids and servants bowed deeply. A chilling aura spread through the air as Grant Austin’s pale blue eyes swept over them.

His gaze was sharp, dissecting every detail. The knights standing before him felt as if thousands of needles pricked their skin. Instinctively, they lowered their heads.

Grant folded his hands behind his back and strode forward, scrutinizing the formation.

Then, he stopped.

"You," he said coldly, pointing at one knight. "Your stance is too stiff. If an enemy attacked, you’d snap like a twig."

His eyes flickered to another. "And you—what is that pathetic excuse for a posture? Are you standing guard or waiting to collapse?"

The knights clenched their jaws, standing even straighter, but Grant wasn’t done.

"Feet apart, but not too wide. Shoulders squared, not hunched. Are you all trying to embarrass this estate?"

"Also, why is there grass stuck on your uniform.."

"And you...Your boots aren’t polished."

"CHEEE!"

"Useless!"

"Pathetic."

The more he spoke, the more the knights trembled. Sweat dripped down their backs.

Grant had a reputation,he never let a single mistake slide. He pointed out errors at every turn, from posture to discipline, from daily habits to cleanliness and behaviour,making sure every detail was flawless to the last end.

Finally, after thoroughly picking them apart, he continued forward. That’s when a figure appeared.

The Head Butler Rami.

Grant’s cold eyes softened, just a little as he evaluated the guy.

"As perfect as ever, Rami," he said approvingly before glancing back at the trembling knights. "I just hope the people serving under you can learn something from you."

The knights flinched as his icy gaze settled on them.

"Sir, the lunch has been prepared," a servant said, bowing. "The Grand Duke requests your company."

Grant nodded. "Tell him I’m on my way."

.......

The Grand Dining Hall

The dining hall was massive.It was a masterpiece of wealth and status.

Enormous chandeliers bathed the room in golden light. The long dining table was covered in fine silk, embroidered with intricate patterns. Gold-rimmed plates and silver cutlery gleamed under the light, while exotic dishes filled the air with rich aromas.

Carved pillars stood tall, each depicting historical victories of the Veydrin family. The walls were adorned with grand tapestries and priceless paintings.

Grant and the Grand Duke, Ruth Veydrin, sat across from each other at one end each.

Ruth carried himself with an air of supreme authority. His presence alone was heavy—his sharp eyes, his cold, unwavering gaze, and the pride that oozed from him. His every movement was calculated, exuding arrogance and power.

Grant took a sip of wine before beginning his report.

"The mana veins near the southern border have been stable, but the extraction rates are dropping," he stated. "The deeper we go, the harder it is to control the fluctuations. There are also reports of instability in the northern mines.The situation is urgent and it needs monitoring."

"It’s better to send representatives as there had been rumours of awakening of unknown power."

Ruth listened, his expression unreadable, before replying in a low, regal tone. "Increase surveillance and send word to the overseers. If the mines start collapsing, we will suffer huge losses."

Grant nodded. "Already done. However, the western territory is facing new issues. Some merchants are trying to manipulate mana crystal prices due to shortage of ice crystals from north—"

Before he could finish, erratic footsteps echoed in the hall.

"Yoooo!"

A lazy, nonchalant voice broke the tension.

Ruth’s expression immediately darkened. Grant froze, his fingers twitching slightly on the wine glass.

At the entrance, a young man strolled in with a lazy posture, hands in his pockets, a carefree grin on his face.

Kael walked ahead.Following behind him was Ramos, grinning like a mischievous old fox who was prepared to see the show.

In fact, Ramos carved for it badly because he hated that bastard for his show off perfection.

’Heheh!Let’s see how long can you keep your pride after you argue with this bastard..’

"Old coot, it seems we have a new guest today," Kael said, eyes gleaming with amusement.

Grant exhaled slowly, gripping his glass tighter. He knew this was going to be a disaster.

The tension in the grand dining hall thickened as Grant slowly turned his gaze from Ruth to Kael. His piercing blue eyes, filled with disdain, locked onto the young man’s lazy posture.

Then, in a sharp, cold voice, he snapped, "Is this how nobles behave?"

Kael raised a brow, still standing with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"What about dignity? What about rules? What will the servants and people think of us?" Grant’s voice grew harsher with each word, his rigid sense of discipline on full display.