When Theo heard that from Lysara, he looked at her for a moment.

He didn’t think much but shot out what he had in mind.

"Miss Lysara," Theo spoke, making her look at him with her beady eyes.

"Would you like to be in contract with the Merrick Barony?" Theo asked.

Lucien looked at Theo with surprise before his gaze went to an even more surprised Lysara.

Until a very sad expression crept over her face.

"...I am sorry, young master. But I have already been contracted with a noble family for 10 years..." she said while looking into his eyes.

At that moment, Theo could tell right away that she regretted forming a contract with a family before coming here.

"Unfortunate that is... Well, 10 years aren’t that far," Theo spoke and offered to take her hand in his, which she happily gave.

Theo placed a peck on her hand again before moving up. All of them looked at the interaction with different emotions.

Lucien was smiling, looking at his brother’s first ’love’ in this world, not knowing that before her, Theo had already fallen for his hybrid swordsman teacher in the academy.

Clara didn’t show anything on her face, but she wasn’t happy. Theo was too young to tie down with someone. On the other hand, Elias was smiling with his eyes. He was happy for him.

Garrick, on the other hand, was in his own world, thinking about something.

"Farewell," Lysara spoke and bowed a little toward both the young masters, nodded toward Clara, and smiled as if they had a friendship going on, ignoring Cassian, Elias, and Garrick as if they weren’t there.

Theo saw her leave the inn and get inside a carriage right away. She didn’t look back at all, and soon, even she was gone.

Theo sighed, and his gaze went to Garrick, whose eyes twitched as if it was his turn now.

Everyone else did the same and stared at the man, making his nerves act even more.

"Sir Garrick, are you in contract with a family too?" Theo asked with a smile, making the man try not to flinch from the overstimulation of so many gazes.

"I-I am not affiliated with any house or family, young master... I am the scout of an adventurer team that works from the west," Garrick spoke.

It was at that moment that Theo felt like he had done something wrong. He had asked everyone where they were from, but when it came to Garrick, he didn’t ask anything.

"What adventurer team are you part of? Is there a name?" Theo asked. "Maybe I can take your help through your party one day when I need high-level scouting," Theo spoke.

Garrick looked at Theo and, with a silent and quick deep breath, spoke out, wanting the conversation to be over as soon as possible. "Its name is ’Eye of a Hawk,’ young masters."

Theo nodded, but at that moment, Lucien froze for a moment.

"Wait, Sir Garrick," he spoke out to get full attention on him. "Is it that famous Eye of the Hawk adventurer team?" he asked Garrick, making him awkwardly nod.

Lucien couldn’t help but look at Garrick in a new light. Theo could see the way his expression changed.

Lucien’s gaze went to Theo, who was oblivious, and spoke out, "Eye of the Hawk has gone up enough to get the Silver Crest in the span of some years, which is a very high feat to reach," Lucien spoke like a bard telling a story.

"And the more interesting part is that they only have 3 members. Isn’t that right, Sir Garrick?" Lucien asked, making the man nod again. This time, there was a slight smile on his face.

"Only 3 members... If you are the scout, then what are the other two, if you don’t mind me asking?" Theo asked, making Lucien very curious too.

"Ah... the leader of our party is a beast tamer, while the second member is a supporter that handles the whole hunting trips, from what we eat to where we stay and carrying the equipment," he spoke.

Theo, for the second time, saw pride on his face. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"So there is only one in your party that can fight," Theo muttered, making Garrick nod.

"I see. Well, I will remember your adventurer group name, Sir Garrick," Theo spoke and offered an elbow tap to him too, making Garrick move his elbow right away and tap it with Theo’s, then regretting it.

He bowed his head a little to show his apology for hitting the elbow with so much force, only for Theo to just smile.

He kept a firm hand on Garrick’s shoulder, making the man yelp.

"Don’t be so shy, Sir Garrick. The world is not forgiving to that nature. One day, it can become a downfall for you," Theo said while staring into the man’s eyes.

"You need to be confident enough. You have the skills and abilities to back it up. Do you know how much I am willing to pay you to get you associated with our family?" Theo asked, making the man just stare at him.

"Double of whatever you think about."

Garrick’s eyes widened in shock, and Theo removed his hand before looking at his brother.

"Shall we go and meet the previous Count Vaelmont right away, elder brother?" Theo asked, making Lucien think for a few seconds.

"I don’t see a problem with that, and we will get free soon and can go back home this way."

Theo nodded and looked at Garrick one last time. "We will meet again someday, Sir Garrick. It would be great if I saw a more confident man at that time," Theo spoke while moving out of the inn, leaving only Garrick behind to think about what had happened.

He saw every one of them enter the carriage with the Merrick crest among the crowd and move away.

Theo was excited to talk to someone who was interested in insects. It was the first time something like this had happened, and he was all for it.