Chapter 234 Tulip Family Dinner

"Young Master Levis and Young Master Lytton are at the Knights Academy, Miss Lvera is accompanying the old lady to watch a comedy performance in Coral City. They didn’t know you would come today and will probably return around noon. * WwW.suimeng.lā *."

Louis led Liszt upstairs towards Tulip Castle.

Since the victory banquet was not scheduled for today, all members of the knightly order had returned to their respective territories to handle their affairs. The banquet was set for the day after tomorrow, February 23rd. Therefore, Tulip Castle was not very lively at the moment, with only a few hundred servants bustling about.

Rondo, Rase, and Parris, who were not nobles, could not go upstairs and had to wait downstairs.

"Young Master Liszt."

"Young Master Liszt."

The servants of Tulip Castle bowed respectfully as they saw him.

They soon passed by the living room, where Lady Mary was drinking tea while listening to the report from the under-butler, Silva. She was likely handling the castle's estates.

"Lady, I greet you." Liszt greeted her politely, revealing a hint of unfamiliarity.

Lady Mary responded warmly, "Liszt, why did you arrive today? Your brother, sister, and younger brother haven’t returned yet. You should have notified me earlier so I could make preparations." She exuded the air of a hostess, and indeed, she was now the lady of Tulip Castle.

"There’s no need for special preparations. I’ll be staying at Tulip Castle for a few days. I just missed Father and my brother, so I came ahead of time."

"Oh, is that so? You must have a lot to talk about with your father. Go on, he’s in the study."

"Yes."

After bidding farewell to Lady Mary, Liszt arrived at the study. The door was already open, and a servant had informed the Earl of his arrival. In the study, not only was the Earl present, but there were also several strangers. Judging by their attire and posture, they were officials from Coral Island, mostly minor nobles.

The Earl looked at Liszt from behind his desk and said to the group of officials, "You may leave now. I won’t be keeping you for lunch; I’m going to hold a family banquet."

"Yes, my lord," the officials replied, bowing as they left.

They also greeted Liszt, "Young Master Liszt, it’s been a long time."

"Hello," Liszt smiled in response, though he didn’t recognize any of them. Most of his time before adulthood was spent at the Knights Academy, and he wasn’t familiar with these officials.

Once the officials left, the servants followed, closing the door behind them.

Seeing the Earl again, Liszt felt differently—father-son affection was hard to truly establish, even with blood ties, but it didn’t prevent him from re-evaluating his relationship with the Earl from both an interest and familial perspective.

In short, Liszt’s sense of belonging to the Tulip family had increased.

His predecessor was timid and liked to avoid confrontation, feeling like a nobody, ignored by everyone. However, through a few interactions, Liszt noticed some overlooked details.

Lady Penelope, who often complained about him, actually cared for this grandson; his rebellious sister bullied him, but never went too far; his greedy brother mostly targeted Lady Mary and Lytton, rarely bothering Liszt.

Lady Mary and Lytton might look down on Liszt, but they maintained a surface-level cordiality.

Just now, the brief conversation with Lady Mary made Liszt feel that she had become more approachable—perhaps realizing that Liszt wouldn’t remain ordinary and needed to reassess how to handle their relationship, even if they couldn’t be close, they had to try to be more friendly.

What surprised Liszt the most was the Earl.

This powerful sky knight, Sea Wave Sword Saint Lee William Tulip, was not as cold to his second son as his predecessor’s “memories” suggested.

He smiled warmly, sizing up the increasingly handsome Liszt.

He gestured for him to sit and talk.

...

His predecessor always felt that the Earl was disappointed in him, especially when he was enfeoffed as a baron in the most remote town, receiving only four spirit insects from the elves.

Compared to Lvera’s enfeoffment ceremony, the difference was vast.

This once influenced the transmigrator Liszt’s perception.

He thought the Earl didn’t value his second son, but after digesting the predecessor’s memories and applying adult rationality, he realized it might not be as simple as that—had the Earl truly not cared, he could have made Liszt a mere noble without a title.

Many second sons of nobles were in such a situation, without land or titles.

But the Earl gave him a baron’s title and a small town, albeit in a poor location with fewer material compensations. It was far from neglect, and he was treated better than many other second sons.

Even more, during the first Sea Festival after his enfeoffment, the Earl brought the family to Flower Town to celebrate.

"Perhaps there was disappointment, given the high expectations... A remote fief and a baron’s title, hoping the predecessor would live a simple life... After all, with a title, one doesn’t have to fight on the battlefield. The small town can provide for basic needs, but it can’t support a Knight Squad, let alone send someone to war."

These thoughts flashed through Liszt’s mind, but he wasn’t sure.

He wasn’t good with family matters.

"Father, upon receiving the news of your safe return, the stone in my heart was lifted. Seeing you well and unharmed, I am deeply relieved."

"I worried you," the Earl smiled. "This expedition ended rather abruptly, and the results were modest. Fortunately, your brother has matured significantly through this war."

"Is my brother also safe?"

"Yes, compared to his former impulsiveness, he is now more seasoned and composed. Most importantly, he has established his own authority." Nothing brings a father more joy than seeing his heir grow.

"When I returned to Coral Island, I immediately heard your news."

Liszt smiled.

The Earl took out a bottle of fine wine from the cabinet and poured a glass for himself and his second son. "There’s something worth celebrating. So, where is your Jie La?"

"My servant is looking after her."

The Earl rang the bell, summoning a servant, and Liszt immediately said, "Please inform my valet to bring Jie La here."

The servant obeyed.

The Earl continued, "Would you like to hear the story of the battlefield first, or discuss the development of Flower Town?"

"I would like to hear the story of the battlefield first," Liszt said without hesitation.

The Earl was taken aback for a moment before he sighed, "Indeed, a warm castle can confine one's aspirations, and fledglings need to keep trying their wings... The story of the battlefield, Levis could talk about it for a whole day and night. I won't do that. Instead, let's play a game of battle simulation."

A battle simulation game is a primitive form of war chess used for military scenario planning.

A thick parchment map of the coastal region of the Eagle Kingdom was spread out, and crystal pieces representing castles, knights, and sky knights were placed on it one by one.

And so, the game began.