Armano knows something happened when he saw a familiar face run toward his study room.
"Kale, why are you here? You are supposed to protect Cecilia!"
Kale Vitklov, one of the strongest knights in Team A, bent his body. "Greeting to you, His Highness. Lady Cecilia asked me to sent you a letter. It is urgent matter and she need your reply as fast as possible."
Armano's brows raised. "Give me the letter now," When he read the letter, his brows narrowed. "Scorpions, huh? Albert, where is Christo?"
The buttler said, "He is downstair, my Lord. Still checking the shipment from Hongport."
He nodded and folded the letter. His hand take a pen before start writing the reply in the back of it paper.
When he finished the letter, he said. "Take this, Kale. You can go now. And Albert, prepare my horse. I've matters to attend."
Albert maintained his calm face. Even though it's means that he and his son will temporary take over the (complicated) administrative affairs of Lancia's. Because Armano surely will go for several days. "As you wish, my Lord."
***
For Armano, Grant is just a troublemaker who stained the dignity of their family.
He likes to play around instead of studying. Dating with several women in the same time, made countless ruckuss on the bar and spent a tremendous money just for fun.
The late Duke Lancia tried his best to diciplined his second son by sent him to be a high comander on the civil war of Mardeen, a small teritory which located in the East Province.
Honestly, Grant barely made it. After several loses, he did win that war and brought a mysterious witch, called Kaleela, home.
This Kaleela is indeed a charming woman. She has fiery red hair, a pair of rubies eyes along with her rebelious character. Of course, Grant was fell his head over heel for her.
Armano really hate that girl because for him, she just a lowly witch and tried his best to separate them.
But people mistakenly thought his action as a jealousy. Tired of the drama, Kaleela choose to ran away leaving Lancia's brothers behind.
Broken hearted, Grant turned became an arch enemy to his own brother.
Not long after that, the late duke was passed away and Armano choosen as his successor. Meanwhile, Grant got a title as Earl of southern teritory called Halgav.
After the coronation ceremony, Grant left and never showed again. He didn't even came to his brother's wedding.
Armano thought that they will never met again. But, now, why did he came back and disturbed his daughter?
The Duke tightly clutched at the bridle of his horse. His brown cloak was blown by the windflew since the horse ran in full speed.
The forest seem dark, scary, and unerving. But this is the fastest shortcut to Hagrav. If he didn't stop, he can arrive at that place before dawn.
Someone is coming and Armano pull the bridle to stop. A man with black robe stand in the middle of the pathway. His face remained calm even after he know who is he.
"Greeting, His Highness. You seem like in hurry. Is something up?"
Armano calmly took off rom the horse and approached to his interlocutors, "Thank you for not wasting my time, Grant."
"You are still the same," he said and light his cigarettes. "I supposed you already heard from your lovely daugher that she met with me, her handsome uncle."
"What do you want?"
A gray smoke which made from Grant's ciggaretes, thicken and rolled up. "What is your relationship with Scorpion?"
"You know that it is not your bussiness."
Grant threw his ciggaretes and glanced his brother coldly. "Why did you secretly buy a remote island and asking the Scorpion to gather the information? Because of that, my plan was ruined!"
"Although I can't see the relevancy, I'll help you. For the sake of our past. "
Grant spit to the ground, "Huh! What a fancy word to heard! Well, I don't have any choices since you are insist. Then hear me out, my dear brother.
You know that I've learned about magic and I sensed something important in the South Island. That's why I asked the Scorpion to find me any information about it.
But, Mister Max refused to provide me any information since you and your daughter's are asking their help. We all know that Scorpion can't accept a same request for the same time. Do you understand now?"
Armano's left brow twitched when knew that Cecilia was asking their help too.
Which is weird since that guild was working underground and they are man of their word.
Now, he have two big questions. How did Cecilia know about that secret yet powerfull guild? And, why did they agree to help her?
That why, he was wondering why do she have a similiar information about the island.
Back then, he was thinking that maybe Cecilia get it from another source since Scorpion refused the same request at the same time.
Turned out, she got a copy from them!
Armano then thought to himself that he will have a long conversation with it leader. "It is basically not my fault. But, since I am a generous man. I'll give you a free pass to access the South Island. You can freely conduct an investigation there. But with one condition, do not touch my daughter. Or her coworker and the local citizen."
Grant's eyes gleamed, "You know that I am a gentleman. Hurting people who weaker than me is a greatest sin. Well, of course, I'm not like you, Older Brother."
Armano crossed his arms, "I heard Hagrav is in the difficult situation. Maybe because their leader is busy wasting money for useless activity."
Grant gritted his sparkling teeth, "Don't you ever think that I already forgave you about what happened in the past. Until now, I'm still in love with Kaleela and I don't care about everything as long as I can find her!"
"What a quite a gentleman! Neglected your responsibility just to find an ordinary woman who might be already married and have a dozen of children. You have no shame, Grant." Armano rolled his eyes.
Suddenly, he look so sad. "You will never understand it. Now, I feel so sorry for my niece to have you, a heartless man, as her father. She must be suffering a lot."
"What do--,"
"Then, I accept your condition. Tell your daughter that I'll came as soon as possible." Grant snapped his finger and dissapeared from his sight.