Chapter 106

Her slender, graceful figure and refined, icy nobility made even Gervas momentarily stunned.

He had thought Catherine was already beautiful that day.

But now, she was even more stunning.

Today, her makeup was more exquisite, her demeanor more elegant and aloof.

“Lord Gervas, I apologize for this unexpected visit—I hope I haven’t caused you any inconvenience!”

Catherine offered a polite, faint smile and performed the standard noble bow toward Gervas.

Ernst and Lanier nearby were both spellbound.

The Lady Baroness was already beautiful!

And now, with that smile, she was utterly exquisite!

Gervas had recovered his composure. “Lady Catherine, you flatter me—your arrival has brought honor to my castle! I am delighted by your visit!”

“Greetings, Lord Gervas!”

“Greetings, Lord Gervas!”

At that moment, Mein and the two knight vassals also bowed and greeted Gervas.

For safety, Catherine had brought all three of her vassals on this journey, to avoid another incident like the last one.

Gervas responded to each in turn, and then Catherine saw Andrew.

She remembered the nobleman she had encountered on the road before.

“Lady Catherine, this is my father, Andrew Gale—he came specifically to deliver supplies to me, having heard of the poverty in Stormhold!”

Andrew was a baron?

Catherine visibly froze.

She knew of Gervas’s Swift Demon Hawks, Flame Horses, and Bai Yin, the Knight Captain.

She had previously assumed Gervas likely came from a great noble family.

But she never imagined he was from a minor noble house.

Still, Catherine naturally did not let this change her thoughts; she bowed deeply and said, “It is an honor to meet you, Lord Andrew, Baron!”

Andrew was taken aback and quickly replied, “Lady Catherine, I am equally honored to meet you!”

Gervas then wasted no time, inviting everyone into the castle to be seated.

Now that she knew Andrew was Gervas’s father, Catherine had no need to hold back.

After seating, she immediately spoke of the purpose of her visit.

Ernst, who had been quietly hiding behind Andrew, couldn’t help but cry out in shock, “Gervas, you saved Lady Catherine?!”

“Ernst, show some decorum!” Andrew immediately rebuked him.

Catherine, however, didn’t mind; she was slightly surprised. “Didn’t Lord Gervas tell you?”

“It happened like this—recently, I was attacked by the Scorpion Bandits…”

Catherine then recounted in detail how Gervas had rescued her.

Andrew and Ernst and the others listened, stunned.

A thousand-strong Violet Banner vassal army had failed to defeat the bandits—yet Gervas shattered them in an instant.

Is this really Gervas?

“Lord Gervas, here is the bounty for the Scorpion Boss—fifty gold coins in total!”

As Catherine handed over the fifty gold coins, Andrew, though unfamiliar with the Scorpion Boss’s name due to his inland origins,

still knew the man must be significant.

For every bandit wanted by the Empire was utterly ruthless.

And a fifty-gold bounty? Unless the bandit had raided many noble territories, the kingdom’s stingy Civil Office would never have offered such a price.

“Additionally, to express my gratitude to Lord Gervas, I have prepared a gift of my own!”

After Gervas accepted the bounty, Catherine signaled to her personal maid.

The maid immediately stepped forward with a parchment list.

“To show her gratitude to Lord Gervas, the Lady Baroness has prepared fifty complete sets of soldier equipment, including longswords, leather armor, helmets, and shields.”

“Fifty bolts of medium silk, three hundred bolts of high-quality linen.”

“Three hundred iron farming tools, three thousand kilograms of iron ore.”

“Five thousand kilograms of wheat, one hundred barrels of beer.”

“Three hundred kilograms of various crop seeds!”

“Additionally, twenty pieces of high-grade crystal stone!”

Good heavens! Andrew exclaimed inwardly.

After hearing the Lady Baroness’s gift list, Andrew was utterly stunned.

Fifty complete sets of soldier equipment were worth at least seventy to eighty gold coins.

Fifty bolts of fine silk and three hundred bolts of premium linen were also worth seventy to eighty gold coins.

The iron farming tools and iron ore were less valuable, but still totaled thirty gold coins.

The wheat, beer, and wheat seeds, at current prices, were worth another twenty gold coins.

As for the crystal—unknown in size, but certainly not cheap.

Altogether, the Lady Baroness’s gift was worth at least two hundred gold coins.

And what about him?

The goods he brought were worth only one hundred gold coins total.

Less than half of hers.

Andrew felt ashamed.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Mein and the two knights now stepped forward. “Lord Gervas, your aid in rescuing the Lady Baroness has granted us vassals an immeasurable debt of gratitude!”

“So, we have also brought gifts of thanks—though, of course, we are not as wealthy as the Lady Baroness, so please do not disdain them.”

With that, Mein and the others handed their lists directly to the maid.

“Lord Mein’s gift includes ten bolts of low-grade silk, thirty bolts of high-quality linen.”

“One thousand jin of wheat, two dairy cows, twenty sheep.”

“Sir Carson’s gift includes: one bolt of low-grade silk, five bolts of high-quality linen.”

“Five hundred jin of wheat, six sheep!”

“Sir Powa’s gift…”

Soon, the three vassals’ gifts were all read aloud.

Though their gifts paled beside Catherine’s,

given their status and resources, they were still generous offerings.

For instance, Mein’s gift exceeded twenty gold coins.

The two knights’ gifts each surpassed five gold coins.

John the Elder took all the gift lists, and Gervas thanked Lady Catherine and Mein and the others.

He did not feign modesty or refuse.

This life-saving debt truly warranted such value.

To refuse would only suggest hidden motives.

Afterward, Gervas chatted with Andrew and Catherine and the others.

Until night fell, and John came to announce that dinner was ready.

Gervas then led everyone to the dining hall.

“Father, I’m not hungry. Besides, Stormhold is so poor—there’s probably only smoked meat, which I’m sick of. I won’t eat!”

Lanier was listless.

It wasn’t just because of Carolyne—it was also because of the Lady Baroness’s arrival.

Jealousy had twisted his face, leaving him seething.

In truth, Ernst wasn’t faring much better.

Though he had no obsession with Carolyne, everything he’d seen since arriving in Stormhold made him feel overshadowed by Gervas.

It crushed his former sense of superiority as the family heir.

Yet he was clever enough not to show it like Lanier.

He knew it would not only humiliate him before the Lady Baroness, but also earn him his father’s harsh rebuke.

Indeed, Andrew fell two steps behind, his face icy. “Lanier, stop your childishness—Lady Violet is here.”

“You’ll not only embarrass Gervas—you’ll make me, your father, lose all face!”