“Lord Astrologer, please have some tea! We did have quite a lot of tea leaves at home, and they are stored in a nearby manor. Unfortunately, the manor was destroyed, and these are all we have left. Please kindly make do with them.”
Edward sat on the sofa and pushed a cup of tea toward the astrologer. He swept the dust off his shoulders. Even though Blackmoon Castle did not collapse from the battle, there were numerous cracks in the walls and ceiling. Dust would fall from the cracks even if there were a slight violent fluctuation.
The astrologer did not drink because he was distracted by a few tea leaves floating in the teacup and the rising clouds. Instead, he said in a hushed tone, “I have not seen you in more than ten years. You were a small child when I visited the Saint Laurent family! I recall the Saint Laurent family wanting to train you as their future heir. Why did you leave?”
The Saint Laurent family was, without a doubt, one of the most powerful families in the kingdom.
“Let’s not talk about what happened back then.”
Edward’s face was solemn as if he recalled a painful past.
“Even if you do not mention it, I am guessing it was because the kingdom asked you to capture the Demoness Church’s members. You abandoned your mission, or perhaps because the Saint Laurent family arranged a political marriage for you, and you were not happy! I recall the Phoenix family, also known as the Knight family, as the other party to your marriage. Their family’s young lady is still unmarried and waiting for you…”
At that point, the astrologer sighed. “A lot of things had happened in the kingdom ten years ago.”
There was once a genius in the Saint Laurent family who was already a gold-tier warrior before they reached twenty. The Saint Laurent family regarded that genius as their hope for the future. They believed that he could become a platinum-tier elite or even the next sword saint in his lifetime.
The Saint Laurent family spent a lot of money and hired many teachers to train that genius, and one of them was the astrologer. However, he had already retired at that time. Furthermore, he was a mage, so he could not teach warrior knowledge. Therefore, he went to the Saint Laurent family and rejected that task.
After that, he heard some news about how that genius had betrayed the Saint Laurent family and had his strength abolished.
“Yes, a lot of things had happened, indeed.”
Edward crossed his hands and laughed heartily. “The past is in the past. Compared to the past, I prefer my current life! In the past, I lived with a noble family. I used to look down on commoners, thinking that their lives were hard and meaningless. It was not until I left the Saint Laurent family that I realized even if I did not become a noble, I could still live comfortably. I couldn’t be happy until I was a little bitter. At the very least, commoners wouldn’t be as cunning and dirty as the nobles.”
He was also a participant in the kingdom’s uprising against the Demoness Church ten years ago, so he was familiar with some issues.
For example, the Demoness Church that the kingdom wanted to destroy was not an evil organization, and Queen Avril had been falsely accused. Many nobles used that chance to frame their enemies as the Demoness Church members to destroy them.
The kingdom was once filled with rivers of blood.
He was still a young man full of righteousness at that time. He returned to his family with a burning desire to question the Saint Laurent family’s head at the time. In exchange, he was scolded and beaten, and a marriage contract was signed. The Saint Laurent family needed a strong ally to obtain greater benefits during the turmoil.
Edward was discouraged by that approach. He was not a chess piece; he was a human. He would change himself if he could not change the world. He defected from the Saint Laurent family with that thought in mind.
Edward could still remember those people who had died tragically ten years ago. Many of those people died at his hands. Among them were the falsely accused Demoness Church members; they were innocent. Edward could even remember the pitiful expressions of those who knelt on the ground and begged for mercy before they died.
“Lord Astrologer, are you not disappointed in the kingdom and the nobles?”
“A country’s fortunes will always rise and fall. Throughout history, more than ten million countries have vanished. The Holy Dragon Kingdom cannot continue to exist indefinitely! Likewise, there will be no eternal nobles. There will always be conflicts of interest where there are men. There will be wars where there are conflicts. But, in my opinion, that is the nature of the world. It is impossible to have only the right things in life, just as it is impossible to have only the right people. And those are doomed to be drowned out by the passage of time. What I can do is to keep an eye on everything.”
“I did not expect you to know so much about the world, Lord Astrologer! It would not be difficult for you to become a diamond-tier elite if you did not drink from the Spring of Life.” Edward wore a respectful expression.
That was right; human life was nothing more than a speck of dust in the grand scheme of things. Even if the dragon race lived for over a thousand years, they were only a speck in history. Time would always move forward, and the past would be buried. “I am curious; is there anything in the world you do not know?”
“Of course, there are things that I don’t know.”
The astrologer sighed and raised a finger to point at the sky. “I know nothing about reincarnation.”
“Alright, let’s not talk about cultivation. I am relieved to see that you are doing well now. Your life is now far more comfortable than it was previously.”
“I can live the life I have now because of Watson.”
“Speaking of Watson, I have something to discuss with you.”
The astrologer’s face was slightly solemn. “After the winter is over, the Royal Academy will begin recruiting new students for the following spring. Watson’s talent is truly wasted here! The border is still too small. Why don’t I bring him to the Royal City? It is teeming with the kingdom’s brightest minds. That is the stage where he would shine brightly. Perhaps there will be an opportunity for him to meet the elders from the Saint Laurent family. He is also a member of that bloodline.”
“Regarding that matter, perhaps you can ask Watson’s opinion on that.”
“What is the problem, Edward? I recall you being a very opinionated person back then. Why have you become so weak? That child is too young to make an informed decision. Therefore, as parents, you will need to make a decision, right?”
“Lord Astrologer, that isn’t weakness, but respect.”
Edward stood up from the sofa. He said, “I would like Watson to stay here because I used to be that kind of person. My children’s happiness is the most important thing to me! If they want to live in that world, then I need them to be strong. I want the kids to grow up strong but not too powerful because that will get them into trouble. I also do not want Watson to become associated with the Saint Laurent family and become a tool for them. I would hate that.”
He had always allowed his children to make their own choices and had never regretted it.
He hoped that every single one of his children would not have any regrets in their lives.
“I understand.”
The astrologer rose to his feet and nodded respectfully to Edward. Some people were willing to give up everything to uphold the justice that they feel in their hearts. Such people were more deserving of respect than those with great strength.
He turned around and walked away. When the astrologer reached the door, he remembered what Watson had said to him. He said, “Oh, right! I forgot to tell you, Edward. I have been Watson’s teacher for a long time. His current accomplishments are entirely the result of my efforts.”
After that, the astrologer left the living room, and Edward sat down weakly. “Is that so? So, Watson’s mysterious teacher is Lord Astrologer. I have always suspected that some powerful person has replaced him. I am a terrible father.”
Catherine’s heart ached as she reached out to stroke Edward’s hair. “This is not your fault, Edward. Watson is too outstanding. Perhaps letting him go to the Royal City is not a bad idea. With Lord Astrologer, nothing will happen.”
“Catherine, don’t try to persuade me. I have already decided on that matter. Watson must decide on his own.”
Catherine still had something to say, but it turned into a sigh that floated down the hall.
..
Outside the door.
The astrologer paused for a moment before he walked outside; he was ready to speak with Watson. He could understand Edward’s feelings as a parent, but he did not want to see Watson’s talent wasted at the border.
“Even though Watson’s actions and words are mature, he is still a child. As long as he is a child, he should be unable to resist the allure of a new world.”
When the astrologer saw Watson, he was thinking about how to persuade him. Two maids from Blackmoon Castle walked past him at that precise moment. They bowed respectfully and left in hushed tones after they saw him.
“This is fantastic. Blackmoon Castle had just won another war. There will be more people in the family. They have even enlisted the help of a well-known figure. I believe Blackmoon Castle will come out on top.”
“Young Master Watson’s efforts are entirely responsible for Blackmoon Castle’s victory. I really envy Master for having such a wonderful child! I will be happy if my future child is even a tenth as good as Young Master Watson.”
“Heh, Young Master Watson being so outstanding has nothing to do with the owner of Blackmoon Castle. I’ve heard that Young Master Watson is the illegitimate child of a border count.”
“Young Master Watson’s brilliance has nothing to do with Blackmoon Castle’s Master. According to what I have heard, Young Master Watson is the border count’s illegitimate child.”
“Who said that?”
“Those from the Demoness Bandit Gang who had just joined us. I heard them discussing it secretly once! Young Master Watson is so exceptional because he’s related to the border count, the strongest mage in the kingdom. Otherwise, how do you think Young Master Watson became a gold-tier mage at such a young age?”
Even though the two maids did not speak loudly, the astrologer used his powerful strength to hear them.
Was Watson the border count’s child? Had Edward been duped?
It was no surprise that when he said he wanted to bring Watson to the Royal City, Edward had flatly refused him. He even refused to allow him to acknowledge the Saint Laurent family. It seemed like Watson was not a member of the Saint Laurent family in any way.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that it was the case. The astrologer turned around and called out to the two maids who had not gone far. “Stop right there, both of you, and repeat what you had just said to me.”
