An attendant served warm mead and exquisite pastries.

Alina personally poured tea for her guests, her movements gentle and elegant, a perfect display of a hostess’s attentiveness.

After the initial pleasantries, the discussion moved on to the main agenda.

Kaiden clearly had a thorough grasp of his territory’s affairs. He could speak with clarity and fluency on everything from the quality control of iron ore and improvements in smelting technology to textile pattern design and the stability of the dyeing process.

Alina, for her part, would chime in at the right moments, adding details about fashion trends for textile patterns and the preferences of customers in different regions.

The husband and wife worked together in perfect sync. Faced with the various terms of cooperation proposed by the Imperial side—such as purchase quantities, price ranges, shipping guarantees, and payment methods—their responses were both flexible and principled, displaying a maturity and competence that belied their age.

Carl had been somewhat inattentive at first, even slightly disdainful of Alina’s participation, but as the discussion deepened, he was forced to shed his casual attitude.

The young couple before him were not the scions of nobility he had imagined, simply coasting on their parents’ reputation. Their pragmatism, professionalism, and shared grasp of the details forced him to re-evaluate the importance of both the Monte Territory and its heir.

Adela, meanwhile, remained focused throughout, periodically raising key questions and engaging in a highly efficient exchange with Kaiden and Alina.

The negotiations lasted for nearly four hours. The two sides reached a preliminary consensus on several points and scheduled a time to negotiate further details and sign the contract.

Once the main agenda was settled and the atmosphere had relaxed, Adela suddenly took a letter from the leather portfolio she carried. It was bound with a dark blue silk ribbon and stamped with the wax seal of the Imperial military.

Holding the letter in both hands, her expression more solemn than before, she rose and walked over to Kaiden.

"Lord Kaiden, Madam Monte," Adela’s voice was clear. "Beyond our intention to form a commercial partnership with your territory, I have a private matter to attend to—both personally, and at the behest of another."

She paused, her gaze lingering for a moment on Kaiden’s and Alina’s faces. "This letter is from Lord Colvin, the current Commander of the Imperial Iron Wall Guard. He entrusted me to ensure it is delivered to Lord Thunder Sword."

She presented the letter. The silk ribbon shimmered in the sunlight, and the wax seal, bearing the Imperial eagle crest over a crossed sword and shield, was especially prominent.

Adela added, "Commander Colvin specifically mentioned that this letter pertains to certain matters from the past. He trusts that Lord Thunder Sword will understand once he reads it."

Carl watched this unfold from the side, another flash of surprise and confusion in his eyes. This time, however, he had learned his lesson and kept his mouth tightly shut, his gaze merely shifting back and forth between the letter and the young couple.

The smile on Kaiden’s face faded slightly, his gaze growing focused and sharp.

He rose as well, solemnly accepting the seemingly unremarkable but potentially momentous letter with both hands.

Alina’s gentle smile also vanished, her expression turning solemn.

"I understand, Miss Adela." Kaiden gave a slight nod, holding the letter carefully. "Thank you for conveying it. I will ensure this letter reaches my father at the earliest opportunity."

"In that case, let us conclude our meeting for today." Kaiden stowed the letter safely away, a polite smile returning to his face. "I have already had rooms prepared for you both. My mother will also be joining us for dinner to extend our hospitality."

Alina picked up where her husband left off, adding gently, "His Lordship is at a critical juncture in his Cultivation and requires absolute tranquility, so he is unable to attend dinner this evening. He specifically asked us to convey his apologies. We hope that the hospitality from Mother and us will convey the sincerity of the Monte Territory."

"We are most grateful," Adela said with a graceful curtsy.

Carl bowed as well, though his gaze couldn’t help but dart to where Kaiden had put the letter, his mind racing with questions.

’What in the world is in that letter from the Commander of the Imperial Guard, addressed directly to a Legendary Knight?’ 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’And is the reclusive Thunder Sword truly in the middle of his Cultivation, or is it...’