The Great Novas Estate...
"Did you read the news?"
"The Hawk mercenaries helped the Revolutionary State to stabilize the rebellions."
A brown-haired man screamed.
Following her, a group of maids gathered, starting to gossip.
"The Princess of Revolutionary State is already in the Platinum league at the young age of 20. She was in the midst of an Imperial Academy exam when the Eldest Prince rebelled by colliding with Dark Mages to seize the Throne but his plans were thwarted when the Princess appeared with the Hawk mercenaries."
"Still now, the Hawks have never failed a single mission. They don't take on easy tasks but what they take they always accomplish."
"Last year, when the vassal estate of Ruphiana was plunged into chaos and people were already at a dead end due to an abyssal monster raid, The Hawks appeared and cleared the ground."
"I always wonder what is hidden beyond the mask. A true beauty."
Speaking this, the maid stared at the front page of the newspaper, in which a handsome crimson-haired man with a hawk mask covering his face appeared.
The Flame God Hawk...
The head of Hawk mercenary Crimson Hawk followed by Golden Hawk and Silver Hawk stand alongside one another and look upon the burning mass of destruction from the top of the building.
This was the photo taken secretly by one of the reporters who was sneaking nearby.
The trio looked quite handsome coming out straight, sculpted from fairy tales. There was also another named White Hawk who was a mage.
With their emergence 3 years ago, countless maidens had been in love-struck and crestfallen at their appearances.
As the maid's gossip started running wild, they heard coughing from behind.
"Ahem!"
An old man with a wrinkled face, white hair, and white whiskers, at the side walked around with a cold expression.
"Sir Ramos!"
His grey eyes had a layer of depth, and a freezing chill permeated from around startling everyone.
"Gossiping just puny things in broad daylight taints the honour of the Novas...Behave appropriately."
"Yes!"
The maid lowered their heads in shame with beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Leave!"
The maid turned back and started to flee but they paused when they heard another cold order.
"Leave that newspaper..."
"HUH!"
Confusion etched on their face seeing which the old man coughed. The maid bowed and handed the newspaper to the man.
He pulled it forcefully and then waved his hand to dismiss them. As everyone left, he unfolded the newspaper and sneaked a glance at the headlines, nodded in satisfaction, and shoved it into the pocket of his inner coat.
Then, he made his way to the training ground where he saw several knights circling the stage and cheering loudly.
"Master, you can do it..."
"Kick his ass..."
"Master, show him who is the boss..."
"Lord, it's time to step up."
There was a dull noise. The eyes of everyone's eyes immediately shifted to the source of the sound.
Two people in the courtyard were having sword practice.
What caught their attention was the sight of a 18 years old boy.
He held a sword in his left and a shield in the right and he sweated all over, but he had his teeth clenched tightly, and there was determination on his face. Again and again, he withstood the attacks from the Knight.
The sword fight unfolded with a flurry of movements as the seasoned knight and the young man of seventeen engaged in combat.
The knight, with the posture of years of training, moved professionally, while the youth's movements were marked by youthful energy and determination.
At the outset, they circled each other, eyes locked in fierce concentration. The young man lunged forward with a swift strike, aiming for the knight's chest, but the veteran warrior deftly parried the blow with a well-timed block. Their swords clashed, the sound ringing out across the training grounds as metal met metal.
Undeterred, the young man pressed on, his attacks coming in rapid succession. He unleashed a series of slashes and thrusts, each executed with fluidity and speed. The knight, however, proved to be a formidable adversary, skillfully deflecting each blow with expert precision.
As the duel intensified, the combatants moved with a set of footwork as they dodged and weaved, seeking openings in each other's defences. The clash of their swords echoed through the air, punctuated by the occasional grunt of exertion.
Despite the young man's valiant efforts, the knight's experience began to show. With a swift counterattack, he caught the youth off guard, forcing him to stagger backward. The crowd gasped in anticipation as the knight pressed his advantage, launching a relentless assault.
In a final, decisive moment, the knight's blade found its mark, knocking the young man's sword from his grasp.
Then with a thud, the young man fell to his knees, defeated.
As soon as the boy collapsed on the ground, a sigh of despair trailed off from his lips.
"And here I lost again and will be losing for eternity to come.."
Hearing the knight took off his helmet and chuckled.
"Lord, just for how long are you gonna act pitiful? I am already realms above but you almost kicked my ass with the half baked fighting."
"If we fight one another just with pure strength, locking our mana you might beat me into shit.."
The spectators erupted into cheers, applauding the skill and prowess of the boy.
"Lord, you did great."
"Yes, you fought well my Lord after all you are taking on Jules."
The boy smiled bitterly, shaking his head.
"Don't inflate my ego."
At that time, an old voice echoed, drawing the boy's attention.
"Butler Ramos..."
Ramos walked forward giving a bow.
"Young Master, His Highness is calling you. And it's urgent, Lord.'
Staring at Ramos's dark expression, the boy burst into laughter
"Seeing your look, it seems something troublesome has occurred. Don't fritter, I will calm him down."
.....
A maid combed my hair while another one shaped my eyebrow.
One polished my shoe, and another one attached an additional attachment and noble emblem on my coat.
"Why are you preparing me as if I am going to marry?"I chided in annoyance.
Despite being here for 17 years, I am still not used to the grooming and clothing that takes almost an hour to two.
"We can't do that Young Master? The Lord had asked me to prepare you well."
I stared at my precious blonde-haired maid Eila and said, "I am already handsome. Why do I need to be groomed so much?"
"Because I like to admire your handsomeness.."
"..." I was taken about by her blunt reply even though I already knew that this woman who secretly read romance stories always had a thing for a handsome macho guy.
"Then why don't you marry me?"
"Sorry...Your face reeks of trouble that attracts annoying bitches. I can't spend my life dealing with other bitches.
"...."
Emotional Damage X1
It brought back a very bad memory when I was asked by a booty woman to be her male pet a few years ago.
Eila with a straight face muttered again and looked at the mirror.
"Moreover, I don't know but with your looks, there is a high chance that you are going to be a playboy and have a huge harem..."
"..."
I don't know if she is appreciating or cursing me...
Frowning, I resigned to my fate and walked to my father's office. I walked off the large corridor, the passage was richly decorated with luxurious items. Each item was enough to fetch thousands of gold coins.
As I stood before the huge door inside which my father was present, my heart started beating wildly as a suffocating pressure filled the entire place.
The knights guarding the door had their heads down and seemed to tremble for some reason.
Sighing, heavily I smiled at them to calm them down.
"Don't worry...It's okay..."
Hearing this, the knights looked at him with pitiful eyes.
"Young Master, you are our only hope."
I nodded and grabbed the handle, I pushed in to step inside.
The moment I entered,two purplish devilish eyes locked onto me as if watching a prey walking on.
One of his hands was tapping the armrest of the chair while another one held an envelope.
Staring at me, he opened his lips from which I could already feel cold fumes coming at me.
"Noel....."
"Yes, fath…"
The words got stuck in my lips as a freezing chill permeated the air.
Deadly energy started oozing out from his body. The floor started trembling and dust started furling up in the air.
"Tell me...What is this letter?"