Chapter 29 Conversation between Liszt and the Earl

"Two months apart, young Master Liszt appears even more spirited than before. How has life in Flower Town been treating you?" Louis inquired with a smile.

"Everything's fine."

"That's good to hear. Lord Earl has mentioned you several times as well. He is quite concerned about your current way of life."

Liszt found it hard to believe that the Earl of Coral Island would genuinely care about his life, considering he had exiled Liszt to the dilapidated Flower Town in the first place.

Upon returning home, Liszt did not feel any trepidation associated with revisiting familiar places.

His soul hailed from a distant world, and the memories of his previous life were mere fragments of a film, unable to affect his present emotions. There was no blood-tie kinship between him and the Tulip family; everything felt more like a "game," with him embodying the role of Liszt.

The busy servants within the castle bowed respectfully upon seeing the three young masters and misses.

Living in the castle were only the Earl, Countess, Levis, Lytton, and Li Weiwei, who frequently returned. However, there were over two hundred servants at their beck and call.

Moreover, the servants barely had any leisure time. They worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk.

Their primary task, in essence, boiled down to one thing—sustaining the luxurious lifestyle of the nobility.

"I'm going to take a bath; I can't stand the smell on me." Li Weiwei entered the castle and promptly left. "If Father asks, tell him I'll be there shortly."

Levis seemed like the master of the castle: "Liszt, do you need to take a bath as well? Your room has been kept for you, and your clothes that you didn't take with you have been tended to by servants."

"I'm not as fastidious as my sister. I'll wait here for Father. You go ahead with your business, brother. No need to entertain me."

"Indeed, this castle is also your home. Alright then, I need to talk to Teacher Frank about the black tulips. He's been managing their cultivation, sales, and pharmaceutical use for me. Also, we need to settle the elves properly. These delicate creatures mustn't be neglected in any way."

Levis left as well.

Marcus followed a male servant to settle the horses, leaving Liszt alone in the parlor with a few butlers who greeted guests. With his hands behind his back, he admired the crystal chandelier hanging from the stone pillar—the abundance of crystal and gemstones in a castle symbolized the wealth of its noble owner, since most gems came from dragons.

In Liszt's hometown, gems were mainly used for their beauty.

Here, gems served as natural conduits for magic, imbued with mystical power. They were indispensable components in crafting magical items. The crystal chandelier before his eyes was a magical item, made from low-quality crystal that could remain illuminated until the magic within it was depleted—after which it would be replenished by a magician or knight.

This cycle would continue until the crystal wore down and became an ordinary stone.

"A crystal chandelier without any engravings—what's so fascinating about it?" A voice spoke up behind Liszt, accompanied by the sound of boots tapping against the floor.

Liszt turned around and, on the staircase leading from the castle's living room to the second floor, he met the master of Tulip Castle – a middle-aged man with light blond hair and unremarkable gray-green eyes. His eyes were vastly different from the sapphire blue ones that Liszt and his siblings inherited from their mother.

With an ordinary face, there was nothing unique about him.

In a crowd, Lee William Tulip would likely go unnoticed. Yet, he was the ruler of Coral Island and a Sky Knight who had earned his title through his own efforts.

Both Levi and Li Weiwei resembled their father more than their mother, thus not being particularly good-looking. The only thing they inherited from their mother was their sapphire blue eyes.

On the other hand, Liszt inherited his mother's appearance, making him excessively handsome.

"Probably because I'm accustomed to candlelight, the glow of the crystal chandelier is a bit overwhelming for now."

"Why, are you complaining about life in Flower Town?" Lee William stood on the stairs, not descending any further.

"Life in Flower Town is exceptionally free. I am quite content, Father," Liszt bowed respectfully. "You're still as robust as ever, with your surging Aura almost overflowing."

"Your Aura has also increased, which is excellent. Being content with a simple life and not complaining is also commendable," Lee William nodded. "Where are your brother and sister?"

"They are occupied at the moment but will be here shortly."

"Follow me to the study," Lee William said, turning around and heading upstairs.

Liszt closely followed, entering the earl's study. It was spacious, with an entire wall lined with bookshelves filled with thick parchment books, all treated with deodorizers and fragrances to eliminate the distinctive musty smell of the parchment. Opposite the shelves, by the window, there was a rosewood desk piled high with more books.

Click!

The earl uncorked a vintage Crescent Moon Wine and poured it into two crystal stemware glasses. The reddish-brown wine swirled inside like blood, shimmering translucently.

He raised a glass and passed one to his third son. He seemed somewhat surprised. "Two months of independence seems to have tempered your character." In the past, Liszt had been restrained in front of him, their relationship strained. But now, Liszt appeared calm.

"Thank you." Liszt took the wine. "Understanding the responsibilities of a lord, I knew I needed to change."

"A positive change."

"I believe so too."

After a few exchanges, both father and son realized they didn't have much to discuss regarding familial matters. So the earl lifted his glass, sipped the red wine, and forcefully changed the subject. "Have you settled the matter with the black tulips? How much did Levi pay you?"

"Tulip Castle will handle cultivation and sales, and I'll receive a thirty percent share of the profits for the next ten years. This agreement is solely between me, Levi, and Li Weiwei."

The Earl pondered for a moment. "Is it just the three of you working together?"

"Yes."

"You shouldn't leave Lytton out. He's also your younger brother."

"He's still young. Isn't it good for him to be under Father's protection? My sister, my brother, and I are all adults. It's natural for us to cooperate." Liszt smiled slightly without explaining or clarifying his thoughts—Lytton looked down on him, and he did the same to Lytton.

Seemingly having just remembered something, Liszt asked, "What about Madam and Lytton? I didn't see them."

"Madam took Lytton to Spearhead City. Today is your uncle's birthday." The Countess came from a baronial family on Coral Island, and that family was located in a small town near Spearhead City.

After that, there was another bout of silence.

Liszt didn't inherit any affectionate relationship with the Earl as a father and son, and he couldn't chat like strangers. It was hard for him to strike a balance, so he decided to keep quiet.

The Earl wasn't used to Liszt's current demeanor. Compared to his previous submissive attitude, he now seemed to be speaking on an equal footing, making it impossible for the Earl to find a chance to scold him.

After a long while, he said, "It's still early for dinner. You can walk around or go to Coral City to meet your friends."

"No, I'd rather stay in the study and read for a while," I replied.

The count finished his glass of red wine and stood up to depart. "If you've taken a liking to reading, I'll have a cartful of books prepared for you. You can bring them back to Flower Town when you return."