Once the two Alodans exited the room, the stone door closed behind them just as silently as it had opened. Leopold had also remained silent the entire time, observing Bastion as if searching for some sort of flaw. It seemed like he was being swayed in Bastion’s favor after their earlier conversation.

  “Since we are out here shall we take a walk around the grounds?” Bastion suggested, “I am curious to see how much it has changed since I have been away.”

  "Why not," Ruena agreed easily, "The guards should be training right now, so we can check up on them on the way. I believe my Warriors should be training with them."

  "Are the guards not also Alodan's warriors?" Bastion asked.

  "Perhaps, but they aren't my Warriors," Ruena said, ignoring Leopold's subtle scowl, "They are the talents I personally trained and recruited while I was on my own. They follow Ruena, and the guards follow Alodan."

  "An important distinction," Bastion acknowledged.

  "Yes, and I intend to keep it that way," Ruena continued, "I have no intention of making the knights loyal to me over Alodan, nor do I have any intention to tie my Warriors to the Alodan house."

  None of this was something Ruena would have usually told anyone, but it was so easy to talk to Bastion. Perhaps she was beginning to truly think of him as her grandfather. Regardless of the reason, the way he listened to her without judgement was comforting. Soral was always on her side, but that felt different. She wanted Bastion to acknowledge her efforts, see how hard she had worked to come to this point even if her time away from nobility was a subject of ridicule.

  "Lady Alodan," Justus greeted as they approached the training grounds, "What brings you here?"

  "My grandfather has just arrived, so I am giving him a tour," Ruena replied, gesturing to Bastion.

  "Are you the current knight commander?" Bastion asked, not bothering to introduce himself.

  Justus met his golden eyes and paled. Not only that, he began to tremble. "Your Grace," he whispered, "How... No, I never saw the body so it's possible, but to think you would return like this."

  Bastion frowned. "I have not been a Duke for quite some time," he corrected. He did not press his identity otherwise as Ruena had already introduced him as her grandfather.

  "This man is only the acting commander until his replacement is officially appointed," Leopold butted in, "The structure of the knights has already improved considerably since Lady Alodan returned.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  "If we are replacing people who failed to safeguard Alodan, you would be leaving with me," Justus pointed out, "I will remain here as a knight, even if I am no longer a commander... Master Alodan, why have you returned now?"

  "I have come to visit my granddaughter," Bastion replied, "The politics of House Alodan no longer have anything to do with me."

  "I see," Justus said, "Still, I am relieved you are alive. All this time I thought it was my fault that you died."

  "Sir Justus, have you met my grandfather before?" Ruena asked, unable to ignore the Knight's blatant misunderstanding.

  "Grandfather?" Justus repeated with an odd expression, "Lady Alodan, surely you should come up with a better cover to protect him. He hasn't even changed his appearance."

  "Oh? And who exactly do I look like?" Bastion asked.

  "Duke Byron Alodan."

  "Really? The more I hear the more curious I become," Bastion mused, "It is a shame he died before I could meet him. I've never had a descendant take after my appearance so perfectly before."

  Was that the reason he had agreed to help? Ruena couldn't help but feel a bit bitter. It truly would have been better if her father was alive, but she knew that if he hadn't passed, this never would have happened. She would have never even considered making deals with the Valen King at all.

  “You have always been shallow, Justus,” Leopold scoffed, “Even though his appearance may be similar, to think you would be confused by such an obvious fake. Had he claimed to be the Duke I would have ensured he was thrown out on the spot. Master Byron was the picture of power and elegance.”

  “And you always filter everything you see for your own benefit,” Justus shot back, “After a couple of decades, even the Duke would change. It would be more of a problem if he didn’t. There are plenty who will feel restless if they find out he came back to life.”

  “I never died in the first place,” Bastion reminded, “And while I have changed since I was in the position of Duke, it has been far more than a couple of decades for me. That being said, the House of Alodan truly has fallen into a pathetic state. I thought I had left everything in place for Alodan to fulfill its purpose even without the presence of a Duke should my bloodline fade.”

  “Alodan’s purpose?” Ruena asked, “Are you referring to our title as the Guardians of Altea?”

  “Guardians of Altea? Things are worse than I thought. I suppose even if your father knew the true purpose of Altea, he never had a chance to tell you,” Bastion muttered, “I swore not to get involved, but telling you a few tales from the past shouldn’t be a problem. We will need to speak in private after we finish our walk.”

  Leopold scowled at Bastion with clear distrust. “I am against any private meetings. It is clear you will use this chance to influence the young heiress.”

  “Then I will invite Soral,” Ruena stated before Leopold could try to invite himself, “Right now Soral is the one I trust the most in this estate, and he can tell when people are trying to deceive me.”

  “I still feel uncomfortable about you being so close to that sorcerer with an uncertain identity,” Leopold argued, “While it is true his abilities are useful and convenient, it puts him in the perfect place to take over Alodan. He has already made his intentions to marry you clear.”

  “Soral is your fiance?” Bastion asked, intrigued by the sudden news, “In that case, it is only right for him to hear what I have to say as well.”