After a heavy, suffocating silence, Earl Hall finally spoke: "Do you know why I invited you to my home tonight?"
'Huh. So that was the question?'
Hastur was slightly surprised. He originally thought Earl Hall was about to turn into the stereotypical overprotective father who cherishes his daughter.
It seemed Earl Hall truly was a refined noble, even his questioning was subtle and indirect.
After thinking for a moment, Hastur said, "Because I've been getting too close to Lady Audrey, so you deliberately invited me here. One, to see what kind of person I am. Two, to make me recognize reality and reduce my interactions with Lady Audrey."
Before Earl Hall could reply, Hastur smiled, then shifted the tone: "If it were an ordinary noble, that would indeed be his thoughts."
"But the man standing before me is Earl Hall, a powerful noble trusted by the King. His breadth of mind and demeanor are not something ordinary nobles can compare to."
"Just as I trust Lady Audrey… Earl Hall also trusts his daughter."
Earl Hall's expression remained the same as he said calmly, "And what do you mean by that?"
"You would never interfere with Lady Audrey's choice of friends, nor would you waste time inviting me here for such petty reasons."
"Lady Audrey, under your guidance, is elegant, confident, and intelligent. You trust her judgment. You respect the friends she chooses and would not do anything unnecessary that might influence or interfere with her."
"You are a man seasoned by the world. You also trust Lady Audrey's wisdom in handling matters. She is already growing up, you simply give her freedom to choose, rather than restraining her growth."
Hastur's sincere and slightly flattering words caused a rare glimmer to appear in Earl Hall's eyes, normally unreadable in emotion.
These words weren't spoken just to curry favor. They came from Hastur's understanding of Earl Hall, combined with his attitude tonight, a conclusion he had drawn.
He believed Earl Hall was different from Greg and Hibbert. Earl Hall was not simple-minded or shallow, such a person would never earn the king's deep trust.
Reality wasn't a drama, and Earl Hall wasn't someone who could be summed up with a single adjective.
He was a wise elder… despite his slightly expanding belly.
Earl Hall looked at Hastur before slowly speaking: "Your answer satisfies me."
"Only because I understand you, could I make such a judgement."
"Oh? You understand me well?"
"I only know that anyone standing in your position is no fool. Your thoughts differ from those of Greg or Hibbert. They only saw me being close to Lady Audrey and then formed their own assumptions."
After speaking, Hastur gave Hibbert, who stood behind the Earl, an apologetic glance.
He had no choice, this was truly what he thought, and if he wanted to flatter Earl Hall, he could only wrong Hibbert for now. Hopefully, the man would understand his predicament.
A faint smile appeared on Earl Hall's face. "Hibbert does love to assume things on his own. He really thought I invited you tonight because of something between you and Audrey."
"As a father, of course I dislike my daughter befriending people with ulterior motives. But I trust Audrey's judgment. She's grown up, she can make her own choices. And that is something any father can take pride in."
"I invited you tonight for two reasons: to meet the younger generation of noblemen in the Loen Kingdom, and to see how outstanding Voltaire's son truly is."
'…Huh?'
Hastur was truly stunned.
Was Earl Hall actually on good terms with Voltaire Campbell?
In his memory, there had never been a harmonious scene between the two.
Seeing Hastur's doubt, Earl Hall sighed emotionally: "When Voltaire was young, he was an excellent man, outstanding in many ways."
"Unfortunately, after he married and had a child, he changed."
"He was different from me. After I had my child, I worked even harder, all to give my child a better future."
From Earl Hall's tone, Hastur could almost picture the stories of their youth.
Before Voltaire married, he must have shone brilliantly, while Earl Hall appeared much more ordinary.
Then Voltaire changed because of his child, while Earl Hall changed for the sake of his child.
One died by the Tussock River.
The other became a powerful noble of the Loen Kingdom.
If Hastur had such a friend in his youth, he too would speak of it in his old age with deep emotion, just like Earl Hall.
Behind the Earl, Hibbert also showed surprise.
He never knew his father had such a past with Voltaire.
But thinking it over, it made sense, Voltaire was also a hereditary Earl back then, with a status equal to the Hall family.
People of the same class naturally mingled together.
Just like himself now with Hastur and Greg.
History had formed a circle.
"I hope you can maintain your original intentions and not disappoint others in the future." Earl Hall offered a kind reminder.
"I will take it to heart. No member of the Campbell family makes the same mistake twice." Hastur gave his assurance.
Then Earl Hall suddenly said something shocking, even Hibbert behind him was stunned: "After the new year, the Upper House will hold another round of elections. I will strongly recommend you as a member of the Upper House."
'What?' Hastur was dumbfounded.
He hadn't even managed to bribe Earl Hall yet, how did Earl Hall suddenly make such a promise?
Earl Hall glanced at him and continued: "You studied under Professor Wayne, who has profound legal expertise. After two years of refinement in the Upper House, you will be qualified to serve as a High Judge with your legal background."
"As for your title, baron is too low. You can purchase more land. When the new wave of noble restructuring comes, with Duke Negan's and my support, you can easily be promoted."
"If you leave a strong impression on the King, restoring your Campbell family's hereditary earldom won't be difficult either."
With just a few sentences, Earl Hall had seemingly laid out Hastur's entire noble career path.
"..." Hastur didn't know what to say.
Logically speaking, even if Earl Hall didn't oppose him, he shouldn't be helping him this much.Was it really because of Voltaire?
But it didn't quite make sense…
After thinking, Hastur finally asked: "Why would you be willing to help me like this?"
"You said earlier, I trust my daughter's judgment. Since she thinks highly of you and asked me to help you, naturally I would fulfill her small request."
Earl Hall's tone was extremely casual, as though becoming a member of the Upper House, a High Judge, and obtaining higher titles were all trivial matters.
So it was Audrey who spoke on his behalf.
Hastur's doubts subsided slightly, only for another strange feeling to arise.
Was Earl Hall saying this… so he'd owe Audrey a huge favour?
"Emperor Roselle once said: politics is not about fighting and killing, but about human relationships."
"..." Hastur's mouth twitched.
Another Roselle quote.
Why was that man everywhere?
"Thank you for your kindness. May I go back and think this over?"
Hastur decided to stall, he needed time to process this and figure out Earl Hall's true intentions.
Otherwise, such generosity was hard to accept.
"Go back and think?"
Earl Hall's gentle tone suddenly grew cold: "Baron Hastur Campbell, are you rejecting my goodwill?"
"Emperor Roselle also said: there is no free bread in this world."
Hastur decided to use magic to defeat magic, replying calmly: "I don't believe I am capable of bearing such heavy goodwill right now."
"Did you not come here tonight precisely to seek my help?"
"Yes… but your help is too direct. I dare not accept it so easily."
He was being honest. He did want Earl Hall's support, but not to owe a massive personal favour.
And being placed on a pre-determined path left a bitter feeling in one's heart.
What he wanted was a mutual-benefit relationship with Earl Hall, not a personal-debt relationship.
Earl Hall saw through his thoughts and let out a cold smile.
"Naive. Do you think everything in this world will go as you wish?"
"Before noble interests, personal sentiment is just another tool for use."
"It seems you haven't learned the essence of being a qualified noble."
"An unqualified, naive noble… Hmph. Leave."
Earl Hall didn't give Hastur another chance to speak and directly issued an unceremonious order to leave.