Chapter 150: This slight will be repaid in full
"Lord Ridgewood, I want to ask this before I’ve tainted your imagination with my words." Cass started, and Lord Ridgewood sat forward, leaning against his knees. Cass realised, belatedly, that Lord Ridgewood had taken off his sword and had leaned it against the couch. Cass hadn’t even considered that a knight like him would have had it on him even in the mansion. He hadn’t even noticed it.
How had he not? He knew that Lord Ridgewood trained everyday with it. He had seen several practises. He even knew that he wore that leather belt thing to hold it in place. Had he just not...paid attention to what side he wore it on? Like, where the sword sat? Granted, he had been walking ahead of Lord Ridgewood, so he hadn’t even seen where it sat. But...swords weren’t quiet, right? He should have heard it, right?
Unless there was magic cast on it? Cass could feel his thoughts spiraling, and he knew that instead of speaking to Lord Ridgewood, he probably should have given his mind a rest, but here he was. In a room alone with a man who he had very little interaction with.
Getting distracted, Cass cleared his throat and turned back to Lord Ridgewood. "As I am not able to attend many of the balls and events hosted by the other nobles since I am always busy at the end of the month, I wanted to get your view on how they treat everyone in the hero party." Cass said, and Lord Ridgewood seemed surprised by the question.
"How do the other nobles treat everyone? Why? Is something wrong? Did they do something?" Lord Ridgewood was immediately on edge, and Cass winced.
"Please, Lord Ridgewood. Answer the question before jumping to any kind of conclusions." Cass asked calmly, while Lord Ridgewood’s gaze flew to the paper on the table behind his pile of books. His expression darkened as he frowned. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before he composed himself. He nodded slowly.
"Right. Forgive me. I just...tend to get a little antsy when other nobles are brought up." Cass could understand that. He did too. Antsy to punch them in the face. As far as he was concerned, he hadn’t met any good nobles yet.
He said what he said. That list also, tragically, included Lord Blackburn, who had been not nice to anyone. Out of self preservation of course, but still! Not good!
Lord Ridgewood fell into his own thoughts for a long moment, letting Cass just sit in silence while he did so. It wasn’t too long, but when he finally sighed, Cass had to try not to jump.