Chapter 380: Facing Her Father

Finally, the carriage slowed to a halt after passing through the inner grounds of the estate.

The faint rattle of the wheels disappeared beneath them, replaced by the soft snort of the horses and the muted clink of their harnesses outside.

"We’ve arrived, young sir, my lady."

The coachman’s voice came from the front, measured and deferential now that they had entered the heart of the Arcanis estate.

Ruvian glanced toward Calyra and gave her a small nod.

Then, without saying anything, he rose from his seat, pushed open the carriage door, and stepped outside.

The cold northern air touched his face.

Ruvian only spared his surroundings a brief glance before turning back toward the carriage.

’Now, for the first rule of thumb when visiting someone else’s parents... show the utmost decorum.’

Stepping aside, Ruvian offered Calyra his hand with his palm turned upward, while his other hand lightly held the carriage door open for her.

Calyra looked at his offered hand with a hint of tacit understanding before placing her own into it. Ruvian gently steadied her as she stepped down from the carriage.

As soon as her boots settled against the stone pavement, Ruvian let go of her hand and straightened his posture, his attention naturally shifting toward the people waiting a short distance away.

Only a handful of people were waiting nearby.

Two men stood slightly apart from the rest, both clad in blue — the colors and insignia of House Arcanis. Their polished breastplates, sheathed swords, and disciplined bearing marked them as household knights rather than ordinary guards.

Beside them stood an older woman dressed in the neat, restrained uniform of a senior servant. From the way the others subtly deferred to her position, she was most likely the estate’s head servant.

And last but certainly not least was the patriarch himself.

Lord Evrard Arcanis.

Calyra’s father stood at the center of the small welcoming party, waiting for them with his hands clasped behind his back.

Seeing him in person, Ruvian immediately understood where much of Calyra’s composed bearing had come from.

Suddenly and without warning, Ruvian felt an oppressive pressure descend upon the space around him.

Calyra had also stiffened, her shoulders locked.

The force was heavy enough to make an ordinary person instinctively plummet to the ground. It was only after that suffocating presence had fully taken hold that Lord Evrard’s cold and austere voice finally broke the silence.

"Look who has finally decided to grace her family with her belated return," his dark gaze rested squarely on Calyra. "Do you have any idea how worried your mother and I have been, Dear Daughter?"

After a brief pause, Lord Evrard turned his attention toward Ruvian standing beside her.

"And apparently, disappearing for several days was not enough. You also thought it appropriate to return with an unfamiliar young man at your side without so much as a word beforehand."

A hard smile pulled at the corner of Evrard’s mouth, devoid of warmth.

"You had better explain yourself."

Ruvian held back the urge to sigh.

’Haa... he’s even angrier than I thought. How troublesome. I’ll have to choose my words carefully. One misstep here, and there’s no coming back from it.’

Once the patriarch finished his fatherly reprimand, Ruvian swiftly composed himself; he calmly stepped forward.

His abrupt advance elicited a ripple of reactions from those around him. (+250PP)

Lord Evrard narrowed his eyes, visibly taken aback. ’What? Why is he unaffected by my mana pressure?’

Granted, he had not exerted its full extent, but even that should have been enough to make any youth in his eyes buckle.

Calyra was an exception, of course.

Still, she had been affected more than the young man beside her. Because of that, it made Lord Evrard regard Ruvian more carefully.

Ruvian lowered his head in a respectful bow before speaking.

"My lord, I apologize for appearing before you under such circumstances. If you would permit me, I would like to explain why Lady Calyra left so suddenly, and how I came to accompany her here."

Lord Evrard studied him for a moment before giving a faint scoff.

"So you intend to explain my daughter’s disappearance on her behalf?"

His gaze hardened slightly.

"Ha! Very well. Let us hear what explanation you believe can justify the worry she caused."

The moment Evrard said that, the pressure in Ruvian’s head receded. He took it as the patriarch’s tacit leave to proceed.

A good sign.

’Alright. First hurdle cleared.’

Ruvian inwardly exhaled, relieved.

The foremost obstacle in this audience had simply been earning the latitude to explain himself and Calyra’s circumstances. With that condition satisfied, all that remained was to begin the performance he had rehearsed countless times in his head.

And so, Ruvian began, almost performatively.

"Before the Vazrun Island examination, Calyra and I made a wager over who would place first. One of the terms was whoever lost would owe the winner a request, provided it remained within reason and did not violate academy regulations or personal boundaries."

He had barely explained the condition when Lord Evrard gave a quiet, self-satisfied huff, pride already surfacing on his face.

’Hmm? Was I imagining it? Or did I just see him smile?’

Ruvian suppressed the urge to grin.

’Ah. Why, of course. He must think Calyra had won the bet.’

Honestly, he couldn’t blame him for thinking that.

Calyra was easily one of the greatest prodigies of her generation. Only a fool would bet against her and expect to win. And as her father, someone who knew exactly how exceptional she was, hearing that another scholar had challenged her to such a wager probably sounded almost hilarious.

As though that person had volunteered to lose.

Ironically, Lord Evrard was not entirely wrong, even if the wager itself had never existed.

Had Calyra fought seriously from the outset with first place as her sole objective...

...she very likely could have taken it.

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for him during the Vazrun Island Test, this was not yet the fully driven and fiercely competitive Calyra she might someday return to.

Keeping his amusement carefully hidden, Ruvian continued with the same measured composure, "And, by a rather fortunate turn of events, I happened to emerge as the victor." (+250PP)

"What!?"

Evrard thundered, his dignified composure shattering outright. His blue eyes shifted to Calyra, seeking confirmation, but she merely nodded once.

It was true.

Only then did Evrard finally uncross his arms, though the suspicion on his face only deepened.

After a brief pause, he sighed. "I see. I find that rather difficult to believe."

"You may verify it with the academy itself if you wish, My Lord. I would not dare deceive you."

Evrard’s expression dimmed, but after a moment, he relented. "No need. Calyra has been rather withdrawn for some time. If she deemed the examination unworthy of her full effort, I can believe it."

His gaze sharpened again. "So, what exactly did you ask my daughter to do?"

Ruvian did not need the [Bookmarks] skill to understand that look.

If his answer sounded even slightly untoward, there was a very real chance this conversation would become physical. And judging by the pressure suddenly bearing down on him, Evrard seemed more than ready for that outcome.

Ruvian smiled.

It was perhaps the most disarming smile he had ever mustered, warm enough to seem sincere and just sly enough to conceal his intent.

"Please, be at ease, My Lord. My request was neither indecorous nor unreasonable. I merely asked for Calyra’s assistance during the academy recess in the coming days."

His smile softened slightly.

"Even so, I thought it improper to involve your daughter in such a matter without first seeking your consent. That, more than anything, is why I came here personally."

Evrard remained silent; taking that as leave to continue, Ruvian finally approached the crux of the matter.

"My request is rather specific," he paused, allowing the words to settle. "I would like your daughter, Lady Calyra, to accompany me on a dungeon expedition." (+1,000PP)

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[Chapter 380: Facing Her Father]

Plot Points = 298,000