The Herb King

Inside the dining hall, everyone stared at the red-haired little girl who was sitting on Aethelwolf's lap. She refused to sit on the chair next to him so he just let her be.

"Aethelwolf, your daughter looks like a little angel. What is her name?" Melissa said as she stared gently at Olivia.

Aethelwolf opened his mouth, but...

"My name is Olivia." The little girl eagerly answered.

"What a pretty name!" Melissa smiled as she looked at her.

"It looks like you have already consumed the Awakening Pellet. Did you feel any sense of discomfort after you have become an Esper?" Aethelwolf asked. He was happy that her mother has awakened her Hegel. Espers have longer lifespans than normal humans so they would have a much longer time to spend together.

Melissa smiled lightly. After becoming an Esper, she felt that her body had become lighter. It felt as if she had become much younger. "Everything has been great ever since I have become an Esper. Thank you so much, Sir Aethelwolf." She was grateful to him for the opportunity.

Aethelwolf smiled at her. He then turned his gaze to Janrose. "I made your learning materials earlier. I will give it to you after breakfast." He said.

"Yes, Sir Aethelwolf."

"Papa, food!" Olivia pointed at her empty mouth while looking at him expectantly.

"Aiyoo. Here is your food. Say 'ah'." Aethelwolf could only follow her demands. She might look cute and adorable, but this little thing is a Level 3 magical beast! She could smack the table into smithereens if she wanted to.

"Ah." The little girl obediently opened her mouth.

Nom. Nom. Nom.

Her eyes narrowed into slits as she swayed her head from left to right. She seemed to enjoy the treatment she was given.

Everyone stared at the 'father' and 'daughter' duo with smiles on their faces.

After the meal, Aethelwolf handed all the learning materials to Janrose with the exception of Jade Kristine's learning material. She didn't want to expose herself so he decided to hold onto her learning material for now. "I already put your names on your papers so distribute them to everyone. You guys have to study what I've written since they would be useful for your growth." He said.

Janrose grabbed the stack of papers and kept them inside her storage ring. Her storage ring was a gift from Aethelwolf and she has been using it since then. Although the space inside was not big, it was still very useful to her.

"Don't worry, Sir Aethelwolf. Just leave it to me." Janrose patted her chest confidently.

Aethelwolf nodded his head. "You may leave."

Janrose bowed at him and left.

Aethelwolf then carried Olivia with him to the open field. "I will teach you how to walk here. Grab my hand first and familiarize yourself with your legs." He told her.

Olivia nodded her head and grabbed his hand tightly. She could still remember that she tripped yesterday when she tried to walk. Luckily, Aethelwolf caught him before she fell to the ground. "Okay."

***

In the Urgel Household's mansion, Julie Irish was still reading the book given by Aethelwolf. She had already read it a couple of times, but she was still fascinated by the unique ideas written inside the book. His information was indeed worth more than 30% ownership of their wine shops.

Julie Irish closed the book and sighed with complicated emotions. It was the first time that she had felt genuine admiration for someone other than her late grandfather. "He is truly a man of mystery. Did he really make this book all by himself?" She muttered to herself.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come inside." She said when she heard the knocking on her door.

A servant entered her room and reported to her. "Young Miss, we have already prepared the documents for the transfer of ownership of the wine shops. We have compiled everything inside this folder." The servant handed a folder to her.

Although Julie is their family head, everyone still preferred to call her 'young miss'.

Julie Irish took the folder and scanned the contents. After checking everything, she nodded her head in satisfaction. "Good. I'll go there personally. I have some questions for Aethelwolf so it's best if I go there myself." Her words surprised the servant.

"Do you want me to arrange an entourage for you?" The servant asked.

Julie Irish shook her head. "There is no need to be that formal. I'll just bring some guards with me. Tell Grace that she will be going with me as well. You may leave."

"Yes, Young Miss." The servant left the room.

***

Inside the underground prison of the imperial castle, Hugo Ward's limbs were tied in thick metal chains. His body was covered in whip marks and bloody wounds.

In front of him was Duke Baron. He was holding a whip, glaring at Hugo with unhidden spite. "I will ask you again! Is there anyone else in the Ward Household who has defected to the Northern Viper Group?!"

Hugo slowly raised his head. He smiled at Baron, showing his bloodied teeth.

Baron's eyelid twitched and he struck Hugo with the whip!

Pah!

It was a direct hit on the man's face which left a long bloody wound on his face.

Hugo gritted his teeth as he groaned in pain. The chains made clinking sounds as his body spasmed.

"Don't make this hard for me, Hugo. Just talk and maybe His Majesty will forgive the Ward Household!"

Hugo stared at Baron and muttered in a low voice. "I already told you that it is only me! I am the only person who defected to the Northern Viper Group! No one in our Ward Household knows about this other than me!"

Baron sighed and shook his head. "Then you better hope that His Majesty would be lenient to your family." He said as he left the underground prison, leaving the blood-covered Hugo in his cell.

Hugo blankly stared at the ceiling as he muttered weakly. "If there is a deity, I beseech you. I will shoulder the sin of the entire Ward Household so please give them a chance to redeem themselves..."