Chapter 88 - 86: Threat, Catherine’s Ambition

Chapter 88: Chapter 86: Threat, Catherine’s Ambition

Rock Lion Castle.

The fifth-floor study.

Catherine, dressed in red Hunter’s Clothing, furrowed her brows, looking displeased at the strange man before her.

"Your Excellency the Count, it’s not my intention to make things difficult for you."

"Bringing back the head of the Dark Night Knight is an order from the Ironblood Duke. Your father was the Duke’s Vassal. The Dark Night Knight killed him, and a price must be paid."

The man sitting opposite Catherine was none other than James, the Captain of the Personal Guard for the Ironblood Duke.

Behind James stood four Peak Knights.

A week ago, he had set out from the Royal Capital for Yorkshire with these four Peak Knights.

If he had been alone, he could have reached Yorkshire in two or three days at most.

But bringing the four Peak Knights along meant it took him a full week to arrive.

Hearing James’s words, Catherine’s expression turned frigid. She said coldly:

"And if I say no?"

"If you refuse, Your Excellency, then I’ll have no choice but to take my men to Ice Wolf Castle myself."

"I hear the Dark Night Knight is very protective of his own. Roy Wesley is his student."

"If I kill his student’s family, he’s sure to show himself."

"It’s just that, if it comes to that, your prestige as Count will be damaged."

"Furthermore, the Ironblood Duke recognizes your inheritance of the title. As long as you swear fealty and continue to fulfill your obligations as a Vassal, the Duke will not hold you responsible."

"Not only that, but the Duke will also approve the marriage alliance your father previously proposed, allowing Young Master Vincent to marry you."

James threatened Catherine in a slow, deliberate manner.

He wasn’t surprised by Catherine’s potential refusal.

Or rather, he would have been surprised if Catherine had agreed to his demands without a second thought and lured the Dark Night Knight to Rock Lion Castle.

’A marriage alliance?’

’As if I care about marrying into the Reilly Clan!’

While Catherine complained internally, she was also thinking about how to warn Roy.

James didn’t rush Catherine, waiting patiently for her answer.

In his view, as long as Catherine wasn’t a fool, she would ultimately choose to agree.

Otherwise, Catherine, who had inherited her title less than half a month ago, would immediately lose everything she now possessed—and perhaps even her own precious Life.

Time ticked by.

After thinking for nearly half a minute, Catherine looked at James and said slowly, "I can get the Dark Night Knight to come here, but I need to go to Ice Wolf Castle myself."

"If I just send someone, the Dark Night Knight might not be willing to come."

"No problem. If you’re willing to make the trip yourself, Your Excellency, that’s for the best."

"By noon tomorrow, I want to see the Dark Night Knight."

"Otherwise, don’t blame me for not showing you any courtesy, Your Excellency."

James wasn’t worried Catherine would try any tricks and replied with a confident expression.

After arriving in Redwood City, he had heard the news that the Dark Night Knight had subdued an Earth Dragon and given it to his student, Roy Wesley.

However, he still didn’t think the Dark Night Knight would be a match for him.

In his opinion, the fact that Count Frost Bear and the Saw-toothed Crocodile Count couldn’t even capture the Earth Dragon alive with dozens of their Clan Knights was purely because they were useless; it didn’t mean the Dark Night Knight was a Bronze Great Knight.

Besides, even if the Dark Night Knight really was a Bronze Great Knight, he wouldn’t be concerned.

’Just a Bronze Great Knight. It’s not like I haven’t killed one before!’

"By noon tomorrow, you will definitely see the Dark Night Knight."

After speaking, Catherine picked up the exquisite Summoning Bell made of Gold from the table and quickly shook it.

RING-A-LING!

The crisp chime of the bell had barely sounded for a few seconds when the study door was pushed open, and Knight Wagner, who had been waiting outside, walked in.

"Prepare my horse. I’m going to Ice Wolf Castle."

"Arrange accommodations for Knight James and his men. Treat them well."

Catherine looked at Wagner and spoke quickly.

"Yes, my lady!"

Although he didn’t know what Catherine’s business at Ice Wolf Castle was, Wagner replied immediately without any hesitation.

Then, he made a welcoming gesture towards James and the others.

James said nothing, rising to his feet and leaving the study with the four Peak Knights.

Once she was alone in the study, Catherine sat silently on the high-backed chair.

After a minute or two, she rose, took the Cross Sword—its scabbard and hilt inlaid with Gold and Gemstones—from the weapon rack, and walked straight out of the study toward the plaza in front of the main tower.

Before long, she reached the plaza and saw her white Warhorse, which had already been brought out.

Without any hesitation, she immediately vaulted onto the horse, riding her white Warhorse out of Rock Lion Castle and heading for Ice Wolf Castle.

In a guest room on the second floor of the main tower.

James stood at the window, watching Catherine ride away from Rock Lion Castle.

"Captain, should we follow?"

asked William, a man in his thirties with brown hair, dressed in black armor.

"No need."

"Catherine is a very ambitious woman. She certainly won’t give up the title she just obtained. There’s no need to worry about her trying any tricks."

James replied with a calm expression.

...

「An hour or so later.」

Catherine arrived smoothly at the Ice Wolf Domain.

Upon seeing Ice Wolf Castle, she slowed down slightly, walking her white Warhorse toward it.

Just as she was about to reach Ice Wolf Castle, a huge black figure emerged from behind it.

She had just gotten a clear look at what the black figure was when it began to charge madly toward her.

Xiaobai!

The black figure she saw was none other than Xiaobai.

As Xiaobai charged toward her on its thick, powerful legs, the white Warhorse beneath her immediately grew extremely restless.

If she hadn’t immediately pulled the reins tight to prevent her Warhorse from turning, it would have bolted in terror.

Before long, Xiaobai arrived in front of Catherine and began wagging its tail like a pet dog.

Catherine had only interacted with Xiaobai twice.

Although it wasn’t many times, Xiaobai knew she was Roy’s woman, a target it absolutely must not attack.

Besides that, it also knew Catherine was a nice human.

Because the last two times they met, Catherine had brought it delicious roasted whole lambs.

To be precise, several roasted whole lambs, golden-brown and glistening, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

The moment it saw Catherine, its first reaction was that she had brought it tasty food again.

But as the distance between them shortened, it knew it had gotten its hopes up.

It couldn’t smell any roasted lamb.

Even though it knew it wouldn’t be getting any roasted lamb this time, it still came before Catherine, fawning over her obsequiously.

Watching Xiaobai, who was becoming more and more human-like—or rather, better and better trained by Roy—Catherine extended her right hand.

Xiaobai immediately understood her intention and rested its huge head against her hand.

After patting Xiaobai’s head a few times, Catherine said to it, "Where’s Roy? Is he in the castle right now?"

Without any hesitation, Xiaobai responded immediately, letting out a short, low growl.

"I’ll bring you a treat next time."

Catherine said quickly after hearing Xiaobai’s response.

Although they hadn’t met many times, she could understand most of Xiaobai’s answers.

This was because she had been present when Roy was training Xiaobai.

With that said, she squeezed the horse’s belly with her legs, urging the Warhorse, which was nearly frightened stupid by Xiaobai, to continue toward Ice Wolf Castle.

...