Chương 322: Chapter 318 - The S is for Soft and Sappy

Allyssa and Shin's subdued voices murmured from behind Scarlett as their group walked through the mansion's expansive hallways.

"What is he even doing here?" Allyssa whispered sharply.

"Wasn't he supposed to be off on some important mission in the Steppes?"

"I would assume it's because of you," Shin replied in a much more monotonous tone.

"Yeah, but why did he have to come here?" she huffed.

"I swear, if he says anything stupid…" Scarlett cast a glance over her shoulder at the blonde girl, who was gnawing on her fingernail, before turning her attention forward again.

"When did Mister Astrey arrive?" she asked Garside, who walked beside her.

"Roughly an hour ago, My Lady," the old butler responded smoothly.

"His visit appears to have been unplanned, but Lady Withersworth extended an invitation, knowing you would be returning soon."

"Did he say why he came?"

"He expressed a desire to see his daughter and future son-in-law after several months apart."

"WHAT?!" Allyssa's cry resounded from behind. Scarlett turned to find the girl staring at Garside, cheeks flushing with what might have been fury.

"That old—! When I see him, I'm going to—!" Shin sighed quietly, while Rosa watched with a wholly inappropriate grin on her face. Fynn's brows furrowed slightly as he observed the scene. Though Allyssa left her threat unfinished, Scarlett could guess the gist of it. From what Allyssa and Shin had shared before, Arnaud Astrey could be a bit eccentric when it came to his daughter.

It didn't quite match the image Scarlett had of him, nor what one would expect from an S-ranked Shielder and one of the strongest individuals in the empire, but she doubted they'd lied to her. Fuming, Allyssa fell silent as they continued through the mansion. Soon, they reached the parlour, where Garside held the door open. Scarlett entered first, followed by the others. The warm light of the setting sun slanted through the parlour's wide windows, casting long shadows across the snow-covered estate grounds outside.

At the heart of the room, Lady Withersworth sat with practiced poise in an ornately carved armchair, her fingers resting lightly around a porcelain teacup traced with delicate florals. Opposite her, a man commanded quiet attention without demanding it. His deep green coat, trimmed with gold buttons, bore a crimson sash draped over one shoulder — formal, yet appearing almost casual with the way he wore it.

His light brown hair, neatly cut, framed features that seemed honed rather than merely sharp, with an impeccably kept moustache. When his gaze shifted towards the entrance, it was both steady and unreadable, and his relaxed but upright posture seemed to suggest a man used to being listened to. The contrast between Lady Withersworth's genteel demeanour and his decisive aura filled the room with an almost magnetic tension — one that immediately shattered the moment his eyes landed on Allyssa.

A broad grin split his face.

"Allyssa, my little sugarplum! How I have missed that delightful scowl of yours!" A soft snort echoed through the room. Scarlett turned in mild surprise — not to Rosa, as one might expect, but to Lady Withersworth, who hid her amusement behind her hand.

"Dad, please," Allyssa groaned, her earlier anger dissolving into mortified exasperation as her cheeks reddened further. Arnaud paused, as if realising himself. Straightening slightly, he cleared his throat before shifting his attention to Scarlett.

"My apologies," he said with a respectful nod.

"You must be Baroness Hartford. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Arnaud Astrey, a Shielder by trade and a father by fate. I am deeply grateful for all you've done for my daughter." Scarlett regarded him quietly for a moment, then offered a small nod in return.

"I am well aware of who you are, Mister Astrey. The Bladebreaker of Ironmarch is a name that precedes itself."

"Please, that title is far too excessive for me."

"Yes, please don't call him that," Allyssa muttered, grimacing. Scarlett glanced at the girl.

"…Very well." She turned back to Arnaud and Lady Withersworth.

"Welcome back, dear," the older woman said warmly.

"I do hope your stay on the Rising Isle was fruitful. As always, your timing is impeccable. Mister Astrey and I were just having a pleasant conversation about you."

"What about, specifically?" Scarlett asked.

"Oh, all sorts of topics," Lady Withersworth replied with an airy wave.

"It appears that not only the noble circles but also the Shields Guild are abuzz with stories about you lately."

"Is that so?" Scarlett looked to Arnaud, who regarded her in turn.

"Yes, I've heard quite a bit about you and your party these last few days," he said.

"I was away on Guild business until recently, so you can imagine my shock upon returning to find the empire in such a tumultuous state. And to discover that my daughter has apparently been in your company for most of the past half-year." His tone was nothing if not polite—the man seemed experienced in dealing with nobility—but Scarlett couldn't help but sense an underlying edge to his words." Dad." Allyssa stepped up beside her. At once, the man's expression softened.

"Ah, sugarplum. Why don't you introduce me to these other friends of yours? I met Kat when I arrived in Freybrook earlier today, and she spoke quite highly of them." His gaze moved to Shin.

"And as always, Shin, my boy, my thanks for looking after my little seraphim sprout."

"I try my best, though she doesn't make it easy for me," Shin said with a shrug.

"You, be quiet," Allyssa snapped, elbowing him before gesturing towards Scarlett, Rosa, and Fynn.

"You already know Scarlett. That's Rosa, and this is Fynn. Rosa's a bard, and Fynn's a…Fynn." Fynn frowned slightly.

"Fynn is short for Fyntrarth, if that clears anything up," Rosa added with a playful smile. Allyssa nodded.

"Uh, yeah. Like she said." Arnaud raised both eyebrows, studying them briefly before focusing on Fynn.

"Are you one of the Grehaldrael who survived, perhaps?" A flicker of surprise danced across Fynn's face.

"I am, yes."

"I see…" Arnaud was silent for a moment, then offered a warm smile.

"Any friend of my daughter is a friend of mine. Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything." His gaze then shifted to Rosa, lingering a fraction too long on her chest. Rosa blinked, glancing towards Scarlett.

"Excuse me, Dad," Allyssa interjected. Arnaud's eyes moved smoothly to Rosa's face, as if nothing had happened.

"Kat mentioned that you seemed like a 'fun' individual. I hope you can help my daughter enjoy herself when she can." Scarlett could tell that Rosa wanted to crack a joke, but perhaps out of consideration for Allyssa, she simply smiled.

"Well, I certainly do my best."

"There is not much more that can be asked of a person," the man said. Scarlett watched him closely. He was neither a mage, a priest, nor anything like it, so it seemed unlikely that he could sense what even deacons and arch wizards couldn't. Yet, despite that… He had almost definitely been looking at Rosa's Heartstone.

"Why don't all of you take a seat?" Lady Withersworth suggested, motioning to the empty couches.

"I wouldn't mind hearing about your time on the Rising Isle." Scarlett turned to her. Lady Withersworth probably wouldn't have invited Arnaud without reason. Her request to discuss the Isle suggested she believed it might be best for Scarlett to share at least some of what happened, with Arnaud present. Maybe she thought Allyssa's presence would help bridge a connection with her father — and, by extension, the Shields Guild's higher ranks.

While Scarlett couldn't disclose everything that had occurred on the Isle, she supposed some of it would inevitably reach the Guild through other means regardless. They all took their seats, Scarlett claiming her usual spot in the armchair at the head of the room's central table. Garside and another servant arrived with light refreshments and tea. Scarlett picked up a soft biscuit, taking a measured bite and savouring the familiar taste. She had missed the food here.

"So, Dad…" Allyssa was the first to speak, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear where she'd settled beside him.

"What are you doing here?" Arnaud looked at her as if the answer should have been obvious.

"To see you, of course, buttercup."

"Please don't call me that here." The girl grimaced again.

"And you can't be serious, right? How do you even have the time to come all the way to Freybrook just to see me? Isn't the Shields Guild crazy busy right now?"

"Sorry, honey, but as long as I'm your father, I won't stop myself from expressing my love," he said.

"That said, you are right. The Guild is quite occupied. I've barely had a moment's rest since returning. But a pressing request came up in the Freybrook region — one that would have been difficult for B-ranked Shielders like Kat to handle. I pulled a few strings, so to speak, and it was decided I should be the one to take care of it." Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Allyssa's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What kind of request?" Arnaud chuckled.

"Oh, nothing for you to worry about. I already dealt with it this morning."

"Wha—" Allyssa stared at him.

"Then why are you still here?!"

"To see you, like I said." She groaned, pressing her hands over her face.

"Dad, you're S-ranked. I don't need you hovering over my shoulder all the time. And you definitely shouldn't be abandoning your duties just to check up on me."

"The empire will hardly crumble because I took an afternoon to visit my daughter," Arnaud said.

"Besides, after what I've heard this past week, I'd be an irresponsible father if I didn't check on the progress of my daughter and her beau—""Quiet!" Allyssa shot upright, pressing a finger to his mouth. He looked at her with a light-hearted smile.

"I heard what you told Garside as well," she gritted out.

"If you say even one more thing like that, I'll brew a potion that turns all your hair grey and your moustache green. I can do it. You have no idea what I've learned these past months."

"She's not lying," Shin remarked from her other side, sounding almost resigned.

"Though the taste of her potions is still terrible." Scarlett eyed him. What exactly had he endured as Allyssa's perpetual test subject? Arnaud regarded them both with amusement, but at the seriousness in his daughter's eyes, he coughed lightly before gently moving her hand away.

"Well, perhaps there's a time and place for everything. Still, it's great to hear that you've come so far with your alchemy, honey. Your mother would have been proud." A faint blush returned to Allyssa's cheeks. She shifted in her seat, turning slightly from him.

"Yeah? Well, of course…" Then she elbowed Shin again.

"And the taste isn't bad because I can't do better. It's because they're faster to make that way. And because you don't deserve any better with how you always act." Shin, perhaps wisely, chose not to respond. A slight furrow formed on Allyssa's brow as she looked back at her father.

"But what have you been doing all this time? You were in the Unresting Steppes, right? You've been gone forever, and you didn't come back even when everything started going crazy in the empire." Arnaud's expression shifted, his casual demeanour giving way to a more focused intensity. He adjusted his posture.

"I'm afraid I can't share the details. It's something only a select few in the Guild are privy to for now." A hint of concern flickered across Allyssa's face.

"It's that serious?" The fact that Arnaud was back likely meant there was nothing more he could do in the Steppes, and the timing fit roughly what she would have expected. In the game, there had been an entire questline related to his work in that region, but it wasn't something Scarlett had planned to involve herself with. The outcome wouldn't change much either way. Regardless, the empire's troubles were far from over.

The Hallowed Cabal and Tribe of Sin had been the primary threats until now, but soon, the Undead Council would make its move. Things might get worse before they got better. Arnaud ruffled Allyssa's hair.

"It's serious, yes, but it's something we'll handle. Now, enough of that. I want to hear about your experience on the Rising Isle. Haven't you always wanted to go? Not many in the empire get the chance." Allyssa continued looking at him before finally pushing his hand away with a slight pout that she tried to hide. She nodded towards Scarlett.

"I don't know. She's probably better at explaining it than me. The Rising Isle was pretty amazing, but some of the stuff we saw there… I don't even know where to start." Arnaud's gaze shifted expectantly to Scarlett, and Lady Withersworth looked equally intrigued. Scarlett tapped her finger softly against her cup, considering her words.

"There is far too much to distill into a single explanation. For specific details, I would, in truth, suggest you ask Mister Thornthon. But I do not mind providing a general account." She took a measured sip of her tea.

"Lady Withersworth is already aware, as should the Guild be to some extent, but I possess specialised knowledge of the Zuver and their civilisation — enough that even the wizards of the Rising Isle often defer to my expertise."

"I've heard something to that effect," Arnaud said, his tone giving little indication of whether he fully believed that claim or not.

"As such," Scarlett continued, "much of our initial visit to the Isle involved collaboration with their wizards on unravelling Zuverian mysteries they themselves had not deciphered. It proved quite fruitful, which is why their council later requested our presence a second time after an unexplained phenomenon arose in a place known as the Hall of Echoes. They had lost control of it, and the entities manifesting within were beyond their ability to contain."

"They needed your help, then?" Lady Withersworth showed a knowing smile.

"I must say, dear, you have a talent for making yourself indispensable. My husband always spoke of how notoriously obstinate the wizards of the Isle can be, yet they went to such lengths to bring an imperial noble to their aid." She chuckled softly.

"I spoke with my daughter while you were away. She could hardly believe it when I told her where you were. I wouldn't be surprised if the Ustrum Assembly soon regrets not seizing the opportunity to approach you when they had the chance."

"I don't know," Rosa mused, stroking her chin.

"I think half the Isle's council are already regretting that they did approach her. At the very least, their coffers do." She paused, tilting her head thoughtfully towards Scarlett.

"By the by, do you even have enough space in the mansion for all the gold they promised? You might need to build a new wing. Call it the North Hoard. It even rhymes with your name." Scarlett shot the bard a flat look.

"I do not know what it is with you and your obsession with hoards, but space will hardly be an issue." Although… She turned to Garside.

"Do contact the Brook Tower and request a wizard to reinforce the storage wards in the west wing. Miss Hale is not entirely wrong — we will require additional security for the incoming assets." Gaspar bowed.

"Certainly, My Lady." She turned her attention back to Lady Withersworth and Arnaud.

"Now, as for the phenomenon that required our intervention, it is… difficult to explain to those unfamiliar with Zuverian constructs or the history of these matters. Perhaps the simplest way to describe it is as a convergence of forces akin to a natural disaster. Suffice to say, it was a very challenging endeavour. We had to navigate not only the intricate protections left by the Zuver, but also manifestations of past mages as well as ourselves."

She might honestly just leave it up to Allyssa and Shin to explain the rest. She didn't see the need to filter too much of what they knew other than the stuff related to Rosa and the Heartstone, but that was a topic she doubted they would broach anyway.

"Retold, as always, with the riveting flair of a procedural document doing everything to make you stop reading it," Rosa said with a teasing grin. From within her enchanted cape, the woman pulled out her klert, resting it on her lap.

"I'm crafting a ballad about it all. If you give me a bit more time, I'll provide a version that's far more thrilling and, most importantly, entirely factual." Scarlett glanced at her.

"I have significant doubts about the authenticity of anything you might produce."

"That's because you have no taste for artistry." Rosa plucked a light, cheerful note on her klert.

"But that's fine. We like you anyway, and I'm only partially disgusted. Besides, that's what you pay me for." Scarlett simply shook her head.

"I don't know quite what to make of that explanation, Baroness," Arnaud said.

"But given the involvement of the Isle's council and your description, it seems the event itself carried considerable weight."

"It did," she confirmed.

"Considerable weight…and dangerous as well, I presume." There was a subtle sharpness in his tone now. Scarlett met his eyes.

"Yes." They studied each other in silence for a few measured moments.

"Do you make a habit of involving yourself in these types of deadly endeavours, Baroness?" Arnaud asked eventually.

"Not a habit, no. However, it does occur on occasion," she replied.

"From what I've heard, it seems to happen shockingly often."

"An unfortunate reflection of the times."

"And do you consider the safety of those accompanying you when you step into these dangers?"

"Dad, stop," Allyssa cut in firmly. Arnaud turned to her, meeting her gaze as she straightened in her seat.

"We're not children anymore," she said with earnest determination.

"We know what we're getting into. It's our choice. And Scarlett has our trust." He considered her for a long moment before shifting his attention to Shin, who nodded in agreement.

"She's right."

"If you're concerned that Scarlett would ever put your daughter in danger to save her own hide, you can put that concern to rest," Rosa said, suddenly serious.

"Scarlett would go toe-to-toe with gods to protect her people. I'm speaking from experience." Arnaud raised a brow at the bold claim but said nothing.

"Scarlett protects us, and we protect her," Fynn added simply. Arnaud's eyes swept over the group, his expression unreadable. He didn't seem to have expected such a unified response. Even Scarlett was somewhat taken aback — she hadn't actually thought his concern was particularly unreasonable. Besides, this was a man who had spent at least two decades battling the likes of the Undead Council and the Hallowed Cabal. Earning his trust wouldn't be as simple as offering verbal reassurances.

For now, though, he appeared to let the matter rest, his expression easing. Lady Withersworth was the one to redirect the conversation.

"If I may ask, Mister Astrey, what will you be doing next? The Shields Guild must have plenty of demand for your talents."

"Without question," Arnaud replied.

"For now, Gratianus and Rosanna are working with imperial forces to address the escalating monster incursions across the empire. My immediate duties involve preparing for broader defensive measures, including assisting with this 'Empyreal Barrier' that seems to have gained traction while I was away."

"Ah, yes. My husband has been rather engaged in that effort," Lady Withersworth said.

"There has been quite the stir among nobles over it these past weeks."

"I'm not surprised. A project of this scale and urgency is almost unprecedented."

"Certainly, it will not be an easy task." She took a sip from her tea, her eyes narrowing just slightly.

"Fortunately, I can leave such burdens to fools like my husband, who seems to think it better to work himself to the bone in his final years than attend to his own ailing body. Perhaps it is the fragile ego of men who cannot bear the thought of relinquishing control to the younger generation."

"I imagine he's still affected by what happened in Autumnwell," Arnaud said.

"I heard you both lost your home. You have my condolences." The older woman waved a hand dismissively.

"Oh, I can hardly complain. I consider myself lucky to sit back and enjoy the comforts offered here in Freybrook. I will say, I've found it rather refreshing to assist Baroness Hartford in her ventures. The youth always seem to have such enthusiasm that is hard to mirror at my age." She smiled, as if recalling something.

"I have, in fact, spoken recently with several representatives from various factions, including the Shields Guild, about the relief efforts the Hartford barony is currently supporting. It's crucial that we nobles do our part in these times of need, though, unfortunately, I'm afraid not all of my peers carry the will to do so."

"It's admirable that you're doing as much as you are," Arnaud said, glancing between Lady Withersworth and Scarlett. The old noblewoman's smile widened.

"Perhaps, but there is always more to be done. Especially with capable partners like the Guild. Where there is a will, solutions are seldom far behind." Scarlett met her eyes briefly, possibly catching the unspoken implications. Was she hinting to Arnaud that the Hartford barony was prepared to deepen its support and collaboration with the Guild?

Scarlett wasn't entirely up to date on the barony's latest initiatives, but she imagined there was only so much money they could throw at problems before hitting logistical walls. The barony itself was still pretty limited in its influence, even if they had made more preparations than others. Was Lady Withersworth manoeuvring to use Arnaud's standing within the Guild to establish a closer alliance?

If the barony increased its backing, they could gain access to the Guild's infrastructure, gaining both indirect influence and protection. While the Guild operated independently of the empire and couldn't be easily bought or used for anything outside of their usual jurisdiction, fostering deeper ties with them would grant Scarlett a valuable direct line of contact. That could be a strategic advantage for a noble in times like these.

She didn't know exactly how much an arrangement like that would cost, but Lady Withersworth appeared to be planning well ahead. After hearing Rosa's joke about the Rising Isle's payments, the woman likely assumed Scarlett would soon be far wealthier than before. Or perhaps she had anticipated this from the start. She knew that Scarlett had little interest in simply hoarding wealth.

Scarlett's gaze returned to Arnaud, who, judging by the creases on his forehead, might also have pieced together some of the implications. Would he be open to negotiations if it meant helping the Guild through this crisis? It was something she would need to discuss privately with Lady Withersworth to hash out the specifics. If they wanted a strong incentive to entice the Guild, she could likely leverage some of her newly formed connections from the Rising Isle.

It wasn't an impossible task, even if it would require some careful planning and execution. For now, however, Lady Withersworth seemed satisfied with what she had said, allowing the conversation to flow toward lighter topics. Arnaud turned his attention to Allyssa and Shin, questioning them about their experiences over the past few months. Scarlett listened in silence, her mind considering the next steps.