This name was rarely heard among the nobility, almost never appearing. But recently, quite a few commoners had been mentioning it... the noble Viger, who had always hidden in the mountains and forests and almost never emerged, was actually standing right here! Although many had heard that morning that he would come, they still couldn't help but steal a few extra glances when they saw him.
"How are things?" Sean ignored the stares of those around him and directly asked Aria. She shook her head in response.
"I don't know yet. When we arrived, the priests wouldn't let us through, so I have no idea what's happening now!" Aria said anxiously. Sean saw the status above her head—emotions like [Anxious!] and [Uneasy!] were genuinely present. No matter how the descendants of the Hamil family fought among themselves, he was still her father... she should be at least somewhat worried.
Glancing at everyone present, few showed similar emotions. Most nobles were just there for the spectacle; the ones truly concerned were likely only the Count's family members.
"Is this the legendary Baron Viger?" Just then, a man in his twenties slowly approached, wearing a humble smile, but the [Contempt!] status above his head gave him away.
"Yes, and you are?" Sean replied with an equally fake smile.
"Rian... Rian Hamil," the man said with a bow.
Hamil? No wonder, so he's from the Count's family. Sean looked at Aria beside him; they seemed about the same age, though he wasn't sure if he was her older or younger brother. This man was likely Aria's sibling, a rival in the inheritance struggle. No wonder he was hostile from the start!
"I heard Baron Viger has always lived in Taylemian without leaving. Did Sister Aria personally go to invite you down?" Rian said with a smile.
"Brother, what do you mean by that?"
"Oh~ sorry. I was just asking, no offense." The two siblings exchanged a glance...
They had both been worried about their father's health moments ago, but now they had become the focus of verbal sparring as soon as they arrived. The situation in the Count's household was truly dire, already showing signs of sibling rivalry!
"Miss Aria has indeed helped my town a lot, but I owe even more gratitude to Count Hamil. Without his material support, my people would have struggled to survive that winter!" Sean shifted the focus to the head of the family. The other had tried to use Sean's status as a remote noble to mock Aria, implying: "Is such a distant place worth your personal visit?"
Though Sean didn't know Aria's exact thoughts back then, the fact that she came personally was undeniable. And Taylemian was indeed remote and isolated compared to other nobles' fiefs, with little contact with the outside world for years. That made it an easy target for mockery. So Sean simply threw the topic back to Count Hamil—surely the man wouldn't dare say his own father had no taste.
"Count Hamil is the benefactor of our town of Taylemian. I came here specifically to thank him." Sean maintained his smile, though the other's expression was less cheerful now.
"Of course! Father has always cared deeply for all the nobles in the southern region." Rian could only reply like this, as mocking Taylemian further in front of so many nobles would be like slapping his own father's face. By now, Rian was probably cursing his father under his breath...
"Haha... Baron Viger is quite an interesting fellow. They say you live a very secluded life, but today's meeting proves rumors aren't always true." Another man, looking about thirty, walked over. With his thick beard, Sean instinctively assumed he was older. Seeing him, Sean felt puzzled...
What's going on today? Am I that unpopular, that they're coming one by one? Was he supposed to have a "verbal duel with the nobles" here?
"Not at all, I'm just speaking the truth. And you are, my lord..." The other had called him "lord," meaning he was a titled noble of higher rank. In this world, "lord" was a general term in face-to-face noble interactions, more appropriate than directly calling someone "baron" or "viscount." A higher-ranked noble calling a lower one by their title would seem impolite and uncultured; using their own title would come off as boastful and immodest. So, to appear more gentlemanly and refined, they used this term in social circles.
"Isaac," the man replied simply.
So this was the so-called Viscount Isaac of Shaw Town!
"Ah, Viscount Isaac! What an honor!" Sean said with a smile. Meeting someone was better than hearing about them—turns out he was a big-bearded man... He remembered that Isaac was also a noble supporting Aria, so they were probably on the same side. Sean noticed that besides looking at him, Isaac's gaze occasionally flickered to Ignia beside him...
Ignia hadn't spoken since entering the courtyard. Even she, usually the most talkative, dared not speak freely in such a setting, especially since everyone was still waiting for news about the Count.
"Lord Isaac!" Suddenly, an elderly man who looked like a steward called out from the edge of the corridor. Everyone in the courtyard turned their heads simultaneously...
"I'm here!" Isaac raised his hand.
"The Count requests your presence."
The Count was awake? That must have been what everyone was thinking. Not understanding what was happening, but since Count Hamil had called for him, Isaac had no choice but to hurry over. For a moment, the courtyard buzzed with murmurs...
The Count was awake, but why had he summoned Viscount Isaac alone? Was there something he needed to entrust to him? Many speculated. Nobles often gained more respect based on the strength of their territories, and Isaac's Shaw Town was a famous valley in the south, essentially another granary besides Koga City, holding significant strategic importance. It had been a key target in the struggles among the Hamil heirs.
Just as everyone was guessing, Viscount Isaac emerged with a grim face.
"Lord Bernstein, could you come over?" This time, he called another noble. The crowd immediately surrounded Isaac, asking questions, but he said nothing...
Sean saw the statuses above his head: [Organizing thoughts!], [Uneasy!], and [Fear!]. Clearly, the Count had said something to him...
While Sean was still puzzling over what Isaac was thinking, Bernstein, who had only just gone in, came out.
"Lord Viger... could you come over?" This time, it was his turn.