Chapter 202: The Most Unusual Noble!

Filled with resentment toward Gervas, Phinil's patience was wearing thin.

He cut straight to the point: "Gervas, I heard you once saved Catherine's life!"

"Now it's been confirmed that Catherine carries the blood of our Hernade family, and the Hernade family never owes anyone a debt—so here are five hundred gold coins, as your reward!"

"Of course, from now on, your relationship with Catherine ends here!"

"Oh." Gervas answered with icy indifference, facing Phinil's haughty demeanor.

Phinil took this as greed, his eyes brimming with contempt.

"What, you want more? Five hundred is already generous—but fine, I'll personally add fifty more!"

Yet Gervas, upon hearing the increase, remained expressionless and said calmly: "Lord Phinil, you need not increase the sum, for Catherine has already given me her thanks."

"So keep these five hundred gold coins for yourselves!"

"You refuse them?" Phinil was stunned and incredulous.

Five hundred and fifty gold coins were a substantial fortune for a minor noble.

Yet this country bumpkin noble dared to refuse.

Could he be plotting something bigger?

It must be!

Phinil could not believe any noble in this world did not crave gold.

He sneered inwardly; the faint pretense of warmth vanished from his face.

He spoke without expression: "Gervas, understand this: whether you accept this token of gratitude or not, the Hernade family's position remains the same—we wish this matter to end here!"

"So I give you one final chance: take the five hundred gold coins. Also, I hear you signed a contract with Catherine for a crystal mine?"

"I now represent the Hernade family in terminating that contract. We won't leave you empty-handed—I'll give you an additional hundred gold coins as compensation."

"How about it? Six hundred and fifty gold coins—enough to match five or six years' output from your border lands!"

Gervas laughed.

He laughed brightly.

Phinil assumed Gervas was delighted by the compensation and motioned for his attendant to hand over the six hundred and fifty gold coins.

Then suddenly, Gervas spoke: "My lord, wait a moment."

"What now?" Phinil frowned.

"My lord, I'd like to ask—is this your Hernade family's decision, or Catherine's own?"

"What difference does it make?"

"There is a difference. If it's Catherine's wish, I have no objection—just follow the contract's breach compensation. But if it's the Hernade family's decision, then I'm sorry, my lord—please leave now."

"This is between Catherine and me. You have no right to interfere."

Phinil's face darkened instantly. "You dare defy the Hernade family?"

As a scion of a great house, Phinil would never lie to a minor noble like Gervas and claim it was Catherine's wish.

Even lying to such nobles would be seen as an insult.

Gervas's words clearly showed contempt for the Hernade family; Phinil's fury had ignited.

"I, a mere viscount, would never dare ignore a great house like the Hernades—but… I, Gervas, am not your vassal!"

"So no one needs to teach me how to act. If you truly believe this is defiance, then I have nothing more to say." Gervas remained calm, showing no fear.

He met Phinil's gaze steadily.

The atmosphere turned heavy. Phinil's two knight guardians slowly reached for their sword hilts, unleashing the unmistakable aura of Silver Knights.

The knights below the slope lowered their lances, turning their horses' heads toward the castle gate.

Gervas's side reacted in kind: Lei Meng, Mi Gen, and others fixed their eyes on Phinil's party, hands resting on their swords.

Archers on the ramparts had drawn their bows fully, crossbows set along the battlements, arrowheads pointed downward.

Wood stood atop the wall; he used his mental force to lock onto the strongest Silver Knight beside Phinil.

The Silver Knight, sensing the lock, glanced at Wood, then whispered something into Phinil's ear.

Phinil's eyes flickered for a moment.

"Fine! Very fine! Hahaha, Viscount Gervas, your courage is truly admirable! But… do you know how foolish a noble is who refuses to know his place?"

"Also, you must know Lord Vilarde of the Eagle City Council? When I arrived in Eagle City, I merely informed him that Catherine carries our Hernade blood."

"He immediately gifted Catherine all properties in Eagle City and Iron Wolf City worth five thousand gold coins—as apology!"

"He also ensured every trading house that conspired with his dead heir to harass Catherine were shut down!" As Phinil spoke, his gaze never left Gervas.

Gervas clearly recognized the threat—but there was no room for compromise.

Others might think bowing to such a duke family was only natural.

But Gervas, reborn into this life—if he lacked even this much pride, he might as well die now and be reborn again.

He said coolly: "Then Catherine should be delighted. As her friend, I'm genuinely happy for her."

Phinil was speechless. "Fine! Viscount Gervas, I hope you never regret this!"

With that, Phinil turned and left without looking back.

Only when he reached the slope's base did he ask: "Are you certain there's a mage inside that castle?"

"Yes, my lord. The sensation of being locked by a mage's mental force is unmistakable—that young man on the wall is a mage."

"Hmph. He got lucky. I'd planned to teach him a lesson… but no one who offends the Hernade family lives in peace."

"When we return to Eagle City, tell Lord Vilarde: this Gervas has no connection to our Hernade family."

"Yes, my lord."

Phinil led his cavalry away.

…

"Gervas, you shouldn't have angered him. The Hernade family is one of the kingdom's most powerful ducal houses!"

"Master Wood, if a man must bow and scrape to every powerful person he meets, wouldn't life be unbearably suffocating? Would it even be worth risking everything to build and strive?"

"Isn't the whole point of striving—to grow stronger, so we can stand tall before them?"

Wood fell silent, his gaze toward Gervas filled with respect.

To be honest, since discovering his strong magical talent, Wood had never looked at anyone with true regard.

After all, mages were noble by nature—and he, more gifted than most, was surely nobler still.

So in his inventions, he ignored all advice—even from his own family.

That was one reason he'd smashed his head against every wall.

Even now, he still held few in true esteem.

Until he met Gervas—the young noble, barely older than himself.

Broad-minded, virtuous, and now possessing a spine so unyielding even a ducal family could not bend it.

This, even he, a mage, could not match.

"Viscount Gervas, you are the most extraordinary noble I have ever met!"