"Who knows? But if he can kill a knight from the Lionheart Family, he definitely won't be obscure in the future."
"So, are we witnessing the birth of a legend?"
"Dude, you weren't saying that just now. Didn't you say Lane was a nobody, someone Lord Blake could crush with ease?"
"Well, I guess I underestimated him. But what about this corpse? Isn't it a bit inappropriate to just leave it here?"
"We should report it. It involves the Lionheart Family; what else can we do? But if the Lionheart Family gets angry, even the empire would tremble. This knight named Lane might have some trouble ahead."
Everyone was buzzing with discussion, but the center of all topics was that offhand yet deadly strike by Lane.
In the shadows of the crowd, a young woman wearing a hood and hiding her pointed ears under long hair watched the direction Lane had left, muttering to herself.
"Lane? Such a powerful knight... If it's him, then perhaps he can..."
...
On the other side.
Lane naturally didn't know what others were saying about him. At this moment, he had already set off on his return journey, almost back to Berk Manor in Deepwinter City.
Killing Blake wasn't an impulsive act; it was the result of careful thought and consideration.
As the saying goes, it's not theft that worries you, but obsession. He and Blake had been enemies for a long time. Now that Lane was not alone, if Blake took advantage of Lane's absence and targeted his family and children, that would be problematic.
His children were not only bound to Lane by blood but were also the source of his strength. Both emotionally and logically, he needed to protect them. However, Lane couldn't always be by their side, acting as their nanny—that was unrealistic.
Killing Blake solved most of the problems and spared him from constant nagging. It was a two-for-one deal, truly profitable.
As for the Lionheart Family, Lane had considered that too. The Lionheart Family was a massive entity. Someone like Blake, while seen by ordinary people as a descendant of a great family, high and mighty—
To Lane, who knew the ins and outs, Blake was nothing special. The Lionheart Family wouldn't seek revenge on Lane for him. After all, this knight duel was initiated by Blake himself, and he hadn't even fought yet.
The Lionheart Family would be eager to cover this up. Spreading the news would only invite ridicule. Why would they actively choose to seek revenge for such an incompetent person?
This was why Lane made his move. Even as a knight, the principle of "cutting the grass at the root" remained his top priority.
Back home.
Freya crawled over with a babble, hugging Lane tightly, rubbing against him affectionately. She mumbled sounds that Lane couldn't understand, as if expressing her longing.
Kailia smiled as she walked over. " Freya has been missing you a lot. She keeps looking outside every day to see if you've returned."
At this point, she gave Freya a slightly reproachful glance. "Even though I take care of her every day, she's closest to you. I don't know what she's thinking."
Seeing the hint of jealousy in his wife's expression, Lane smiled and pulled her into his arms. "Then, do you miss me?"
Kailia's face instantly turned red. "Lord Lane... I..."
Though she was now a mother, Kailia was still a maiden at heart. Talking about such things was somewhat embarrassing for her. She lowered her head, but the deep affection in her bright blue, watery eyes said it all.
"Now that I'm back, Miss Kailia, a night together is worth a thousand pieces of gold~"
As he spoke, Lane waved to the servants to take Freya away and take care of her. Then he lifted Kailia in his arms and carried her back to their bedroom.
"Oh~ Be gentle, Lord Lane, go slower..."
An intimate atmosphere spread through the air.
Freya naturally didn't understand why her father, whom she had been eagerly waiting for, just glanced at her and left. Her little brain couldn't process so many thoughts.
But instinctively, Freya crossed her arms and turned her head in dissatisfaction.
...
Several more months passed.
Due to the existence of magic, the average physique of humans on the Arya continent was much better than on Earth.
Before she was even one year old, Freya had already learned to walk. Although she was still a bit wobbly and needed support, it was a visible improvement.
Not only that, but her body had begun to gradually accept magic. It was unconsciously absorbing magic, which was an excellent thing for infants. Nourished by magic, their physiques would become stronger than ordinary people, and their intelligence would surpass that of their peers.
Magic was the foundation of the Arya continent.
Any Extraordinary Class besides warriors practiced magic, merely converting it into energy usable by their profession. For example, knights could use Knight of the Heart to convert magic into knightly aura for their use. Fundamentally, this was still a manifestation of magic.
Freya's ability to unconsciously absorb magic, even if it was just a tiny bit, greatly benefited her future. She could gather the Knight of the Heart more quickly and would be more proficient in using knightly aura than Lane.
"This is grade 6 aptitude? Impressive, I can't compete with that."
Lane smiled and shook his head. The better his daughter's talent, the more power he could borrow. This was actually a good thing for Lane.
Another good thing was that after several months of effort, Kailia's belly finally showed signs of movement again. It wasn't for nothing that Lane had been irrigating day and night.
However, this also forced Lane to officially put the matter of taking another wife on the agenda.
Kailia's efficiency alone was still too low.
Although talking about efficiency in having children seemed a bit strange, The Breeder's Gift worked exactly like that. The more children Lane's wives bore, the stronger Lane became.
It wasn't just about quality; it was also about quantity.
With just Kailia, achieving such high fertility was impossible. She wasn't a sow who could give birth to a dozen piglets at once. Carrying twins or triplets was the most she could manage, and that depended on luck.
Finding a new wife was the only way to alleviate the pressure on Kailia. It wasn't fair to let Kailia do all the work alone.
But The Breeder's Gift's strict requirements for physical appearance meant Lane couldn't just go around sowing seeds everywhere. This was a source of worry for him.
It was at this moment that a servant suddenly came to report. A strange guest had arrived outside Berk Manor.
...
On the other side.
Selena·Nightblade, lurking near Berk Manor, removed her hood. She lightly bit her lip and made her decision.
She had observed him for several months and finally concluded: Lane was a knight worth entrusting herself to. If it was him, he could definitely help her... complete that task.
Moreover, considering the time, she couldn't afford to observe any longer. Even if Lane was pretending, this last lifeline on the cliff's edge was something she had to grasp tightly.
Her sisters couldn't hold on much longer.
So, she reined in the Shadow Magic around her and approached the front gate of Berk Manor, knocking on the not overly luxurious but very clean door.
The servant opened the door, learned of her request, and led Selena to the reception hall. It was here that she met the owner of Berk Manor, whom she had been watching for a long time.
Lane·Berk.
However, to her surprise, Lane didn't ask about her purpose. Instead, he opened his mouth with interest and asked, "Madam, are you... an elf?"