Arnell Blood only felt as if there was a dazzling light jumping back and forth in front of his eyes.
He tried hard to open his heavy eyelids, but he couldn't.
Arnel felt dizzy, as if a thousand-pound lead block was pressing on his head, pressing his head tightly against the pillow.
Where is this?
What time is it?
He only vaguely remembered that he seemed to be punched in the face by a vicious guy, and then he lost consciousness...
I finally opened my eyes despite the dazzling light. It turned out to be the midday sun slanting in from the open window, bringing a rare warmth in winter.
At this moment, Anel felt that he was in a daze and his thoughts were a mess. His nose was still painful from being hit, and it hurt when he moved a little, probably because the wound was torn.
How abominable!
Arnel cursed inwardly.
As a noble mage apprentice, apart from the reprimand from his mentor, when else had he been treated like this?
What's more, he is the son of Duke Rune who guards the western part of the empire. Although he is only the third son, he is not someone that ordinary nobles can treat casually!
Arnel tentatively sat up from the bed, his limbs still numb. Those damned soldiers didn't know how to be gentle! It was just a piece of white bread, it wasn't a big deal!
Gurgle~
His stomach growled. Only then did he feel hungry. After all, he hadn't had a full meal for several days...
The door opened as soon as he pushed it. There were no soldiers guarding outside. Arnel held on to the cold wall of the castle and slowly walked towards the stairs.
After all, the other party should also be a noble, and it should be relatively easy for nobles to communicate with each other... Just as he was thinking, Anel suddenly shivered and stopped.
Because he suddenly realized that the one he was facing... seemed to be a noble who did not play by the rules.
Normally, every noble he met was elegant and radiant. Who would knock someone down with just one punch?
However, Arnel, who was about to take back his steps, stopped when he smelled the fragrance of food.
I'm so hungry…
His stomach growled again, and the hunger made him overcome his fear of the unknown nobleman. So, like a soldier about to be executed, he walked resolutely towards the direction where the fragrance came from.
Then...
He saw the noble who had punched him...
Sitting at the huge dining table, enjoying delicious food...
This is the guy!
This damn guy has brought shame upon himself!
The dignity and respect of the nobility must not be tarnished!
For a moment, Arnel couldn't help but feel angry. He walked straight towards Bruno with his eyes wide open. Even his painful legs seemed to have improved a lot in an instant.
"Excuse me...can I have something to eat..."
But when he walked to the table, he had no choice but to succumb to his hunger...
Screw the aristocratic dignity, I have to eat!
Hearing this, Bruno raised his head, glanced at him, and then asked Leon to bring a bowl of steaming noodles.
Arnel sat at the table, staring blankly at the bowl of clear soup noodles with a faint aroma. This was a kind of food... he had never seen before.
"What is this...?"
"Noodles." Bruno agreed casually, picked up a few noodles with the newly polished chopsticks he had asked the carpenter to make, and put them into his mouth.
Arnel, who was always well-informed, saw how Bruno ate and began to imitate him. He tried hard to use the two wooden chopsticks to pick up food, but this was his first time and he was particularly clumsy.
Seeing this, he simply put down his chopsticks, picked up the bowl, and gulped down the large bowl of clear soup noodles...
"Delicious... burp... more..."
Bruno on the side was dumbfounded. This guy... is a good-for-nothing...
While Anel was gulping down his noodles, Bruno quietly looked at the young wizard who was captured by the guards.
In fact, before this, Bruno had always been in awe of the mages in this world. After all, in his inherent impression, mages should be those who are elegant, handsome, and can cast spells with just a wave of their hands and feet. However, the guy in front of him was at most a good-for-nothing... This completely overturned Bruno's impression of mages...
Arnel had a hard time eating because his face was covered in bruises and looked very pitiful...
Seeing that Arnel had almost finished eating, Bruno asked, "Are you really a wizard?"
Indeed, as a count from the border of the empire, although also a noble, Bruno's understanding of mages was extremely limited, because most of the mages were concentrated in the most prosperous central area of the empire, and the good-for-nothing in front of him could be said to be the only guy he had ever seen who might have something to do with mages.
"Of course. My full name is Arnel Blood, and I am a disciple of the great wizard Glenn Galvin!"
After eating and drinking his fill, Arnel burped, raised his head, and said with some complacency.
"oh."
oh...
It's just…
His teacher was one of the most famous wizards in the western part of the empire, and the lord in front of him just said "oh"... Shouldn't he be surprised? Shouldn't he be in awe?
"My father is Duke Rune, who guards the western border of the empire!"
"oh."
"…"
Arnel gave up. He felt that he could not continue to communicate with this lord who did not play by the rules. Could he have a little respect? My father is the Duke!
Just as Arnel was secretly complaining in his heart, Bruno finally spoke up: "Since you have such a distinguished background... why do you come to steal bread from me? Have you stolen all the bread in the West?"
Arnel almost vomited blood. Does this guy know how to speak?
"I haven't eaten for several days..."
"You stole my bread."
"I can give you gold coins, double your amount."
"You stole my bread."
"Then I think it's okay for you to apologize."
"You stole my bread."
"…"
"How about... you come and work for me to pay off your debts!" Bruno finally spoke.
"You actually let the son of the noble Duke of Rune, a distinguished mage apprentice, work for you! You are simply dreaming!"
"Three meals a day, food and accommodation included."
"This is absolutely impossible!"
"You can also eat the best food in the territory."
"I am a noble wizard!" Anel insisted through gritted teeth.
"Would a wizard steal bread?"
"I need a decent salary, at least fifteen gold coins a month." Arnel slumped in his chair weakly.
"Deal." Bruno nodded with a smile.