Chapter 39 - 2

In the carriage on the way to the royal capital of Neigal, Moissan city. Ziel sat opposite Duke Hazell.

"Ken, earlier you said that you were lost in the forest. May I know where you came from?" Duke Hazell was curious about Ziel's origins.

"I come from a remote village on the outskirts of this forest. I went to the city to seek life experience. Unexpectedly when I passed through this forest I got lost." Ziel looks depressed when he says it.

"Then what are you going to do when you get to town?" Duke Hazell still doesn't know what Ziel's real goal is.

"Hmm....I still don't know what I'm going to do when I get to town. But most importantly I have to find a place to live and a job first." Ziel thought for a moment before answering Duke Hazell.

"Job? Are you going to be an adventurer? Or a guardian knight? Or maybe something else?" Duke Hazell looked like he was thinking about something else while asking Ziel.

"I thought about that too. But you know, my sword skills are mediocre. I was able to beat those guys with the help of magic tools. For now, I'll probably look for a job according to my skills." Necause Ziel doesn't know what he's going to do when he gets to town. He could only think of the work he had previously done.

"What skill do you mean by that?" Duke Hazell kept asking about Ziel. He seemed to have other goals after he found out his background.

"Servants. My parents are former servants who once worked for certain nobles. Since childhood, I was taught a little about how to be a good servant. Although not as good as my parents." Ziel tells the truth except about his parents who are former servants. Because his adoptive parents are still active as servant.

"Servant? If you really can be a servant. How about you work at my house? Let's just say I'm returning the favor for saving my life." Duke Hazell smiled offering Ziel a job.

"Is that okay? Hire someone you haven't known for long?" Ziel was still a little doubtful about Duke Hazell's intentions.

"Actually I need a bodyguard for my daughter." Suddenly Duke Hazell said with a serious face.

"Does this have something to do with the guys in black who attacked you earlier?" Ziel already knew that the people who attacked Duke Hazell before were not bandits, but more like organized soldiers. In other words, it is a matter of politics and power.

"Yeah, you're right. It seems you already know. I have a lot of political enemies who want my death. If they're targeting only me, that's fine. But if they're targeting my family, especially when I'm not around, that's always a burden on my mind." Duke Hazell honestly admitted it.

"So you mean you want me to be your daughter's bodyguard?" Ziel immediately caught the intention of Duke Hazell.

"Yes, but I want you to protect her while being her personal servant. I want you not to tell her." Duke Hazell's face looked complicated.

"So I have to protect her secretly? Don't let her know that she or her family is in danger right? You just don't want your daughter to be worried about you." Ziel nodded slowly understanding what Duke Hazell wanted.

"You're right, this way it will become easier. So, will you be my daughter's servant and protect her secretly?" Duke Hazell said with a serious and hopeful face.

"Would your daughter agree to this? I mean, suddenly you gave her a servant." Ziel doesn't know if the person in question needs or is willing to accept a servant that his father suddenly brought out of nowhere.

"You don't have to worry about that. Because I've talked to her about this before. But I've never found the right person." Duke Hazell was already thinking about hiring Ziel when he allowed Ziel into the carriage.

"What's your basis saying that? Shouldn't you be more suspicious of the person you just met? And what if I was a spy sent by your enemy?" Ziel asked him with a serious face.

"Hahaha... Even if I'm like this, my eyes won't misjudge others. And I believe you're the right person to protect my daughter." Duke Hazell convinced Ziel.

"Hmm.. well then I will accept it. After all, I really need this job." Ziel nodded in agreement with Duke Hazell's request.

"Good, then we will go straight to my residence. I will immediately introduce my daughter to you. So you can start protecting her." Duke Hazell looked happy after Ziel agreed to his request. Perhaps he was relieved that there were now bodyguards to protect his daughter.

Along the way Duke Hazell and Ziel continued to chat until they didn't realize that they had arrived at Moissan city.

***

Moissan city,

The capital of the Neigal kingdom. Although not as big as the capital of the Argaint Kingdom, Silvast city. But the existing buildings and houses look classic and neatly arranged. Moissan city looks as crowded as silvast city. The residence of the Duke of Castilene was in the center of the city and not far from the castle of the Neigal Kingdom.

It wasn't long after they passed through the city gates. They arrived in front of a luxurious Mansion. Ziel didn't know how luxurious a noble house in the argaint kingdom was because he had never seen one. He always practiced at the castle and rarely went out or socialized with the people around him.

At this moment they stopped in front of a large gate. From inside Ziel's carriage, you can see a classic-style luxury mansion with dominant black and gray colors. A vast green garden filled with a variety of flowers. The soldier on guard immediately opened the gate after seeing Duke Hazell come home.

When Ziel and Duke Hazell got off the carriage. They were immediately greeted by a beautiful middle-aged woman with braided blue hair. Looks like the guards have already informed that Duke Hazell is back.

"I'm home, honey." Duke Hazell smiled and hugged the woman.

"Honey, welcome. Are you okay? You're not hurt are you?" The woman examined Duke Hazell's body from top to bottom.

Looking at Duke Hazell and the woman, it was certain that the woman was the wife of Duke Hazell and the mistress of this mansion.

"Ahem... honey, I'm fine. Unsightly to outsiders." Duke Hazell felt awkward with his wife's behavior in front of Ziel. The woman realized that someone else was watching them.

"Oh my...I'm sorry. I didn't realize someone else was watching us because I was too worried. Then, who is he dear?" The woman laughed while covering her mouth.

"He was the one who saved me, honey. If it weren't for him, I might not have come back." Duke Hazell said with gloomy face.

"What!? So they attacked you again on the way!!" She gets angry and screams. And 5 magic circles appeared on her body.

"Honey...calm down, the important thing is that I'm fine now, right?" Duke Hazell tried to calm his wife.

"But, honey...!" The woman still couldn't contain her anger.

"Calm down honey, we'll talk about this later. More importantly, I'll introduce him, he's the one who saved me. His name is Ken." Duke Hazell cut off his wife's words and introduced Ziel.

"Ooh I'm sorry, I got carried away with anger earlier. I am the wife of Hazell Castilene. My name is Eleanor Castilene. Nice to meet you." She introduced herself elegantly while pinching the hem of her dress.

"My name is Ken Nijisaki. And I'm just an adventurer. It's an honor to acquaintanced with you." Ziel put his right hand on his chest and slightly bowed while introducing himself.

"Ara...your manners look very good. Are you from a noble family?" Eleanor was impressed by the way Ziel introduced himself.

"I'm just the son of a former noble servant. I've been taught manners since childhood. So I understand a little about it." Ziel said the thing he had said before to Duke Hazell.

"Okay, let's continue the conversation inside." Duke Hazell cut them both off. Ziel and Eleanor just nodded and followed Duke Hazell towards the mansion. Just as they were about to enter, a girl of Ziel's age appeared from inside the mansion.