I'm not a Witcher anymore.

Chapter 183 Infiltration

"God, what a terrible brain of mine! I actually let my distinguished guest stand in the wind!"

Old Semih came to his senses, and a smile, a mixture of apology and warmth, appeared on his weathered old face.

He clutched the deerskin bag tightly, as if it were the lifeblood of his family, then roared at the servants behind him, "What are you all standing there for? Like a bunch of idiots! Quickly! Open the gates wide! Go and light all those thick candles in the main building that we usually can't bear to light! Also, go to the wine cellar and bring out that barrel of Burgundy red wine that's been treasured for twenty years! We must treat Young Master Capon to the finest hospitality!"

Surrounded by torches, the group walked through the somewhat desolate front courtyard toward the main building of the manor.

Throughout this process, old Semih maintained a state of heightened excitement, seemingly trying to use this excessive enthusiasm to mask the family's previous predicament.

But after his eyes swept across the crowd, the excitement that had just begun to ignite suddenly froze.

He slowed his pace, turned his head, and asked in a low voice the captain of the guards beside him who had been holding the torch, "Why are you the only one here? Where is Auda?"

Old Semi frowned, his tone tinged with reproach and doubt. "The young master of Rattay has come to our door in person. As the protagonist of this wedding and the heir of the Semi family, how can he hide in his room like a child who hasn't grown up?"

Go and call him out quickly!

The captain of the guard's hand holding the torch trembled slightly, and a troubled look appeared on his wrinkled face.

He glanced at Hans Capon, who was surrounded by a crowd, hesitated for a moment, and then leaned close to old Semi's ear, answering anxiously in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Master—Young Master Oda—he's not in the room."

"Not here?" Old Sammy paused, then his brow furrowed even deeper. "Went to the stables again, or the blacksmith's shop?"

"None of those," the captain of the guard said in a low voice. "This morning, before dawn, young master Oda rode out on horseback with two servants. We thought he was just going to the hunting grounds to relax, and we even sent people to look for him in the afternoon, but no one has seen him at the hunting grounds, Mill Road, or the Old Oak Grove."

He swallowed hard.

Old Semi's face, as smooth as dried orange peel, was now filled with an indescribable embarrassment and helplessness.

He opened his mouth, as if trying to come up with a respectable reason, but the words got stuck in his throat.

Hans Capon keenly noticed this unnatural pause.

Although the young Lord Ratai could occasionally appear somewhat frivolous in serious matters, he possessed an almost instinctive cunning when it came to such pleasantries and probing among nobles.

He pretended not to see the panic in the old knight's eyes, and instead asked in a light tone full of expectation and curiosity, "What? Does Lord Auda have some special plans for tonight?"

Hans straightened the lace at his collar, his face beaming with the enthusiasm typical of young people: "I was originally thinking if I could have the honor of inviting Lord Auda to take me for a stroll in the nearby woods. As you know, I brought a fine bow with me this time, and I was looking for an expert to test my skills with."

These words were like a soft thorn, making old Sammy even more uneasy.

"Ah—this—Young Master Capone, you flatter me."

Old Semi gave vague answers, his eyes darting around, his fingers unconsciously stroking the deerskin bag full of silver ore, as if it were his only lifeline at that moment.

"That boy, Oda—he is indeed a bit wild. But—it's just that the wedding is coming up, and there are some complicated religious ceremonies that he needs to prepare in advance. You know, young people these days always have a lot of self-righteous ideas. He went to the nearby monastery to pray—he probably won't be back until very late."

That's a lame lie.

In these turbulent times, no groom would go to a monastery late at night.

But Hans did not expose him.

He simply shrugged, a regretful expression on his face: "That's really unfortunate. May God bless his piety."

"Alright, let's not leave our guests standing in the wind. That's not how the Semi family treats its guests."

Old Semi abruptly changed the subject, turning to the side and gesturing for you to enter. “There’s still something hot in the kitchen. I’ve had it set out again. It’s not as lavish as what you’ve had in Rattay, but at least it’ll warm you up.”

Upon entering the main building, the hall of Semi Manor reveals its weathered appearance.

The ceiling was blackened by smoke, and several rusty shields and huge deer head specimens hung on the walls, casting menacing shadows in the flickering candlelight.

The long dining table was covered with a linen tablecloth that wasn't brand new, but it was wiped very clean.

As everyone took their seats, the servants began to scurry about like busy worker ants.

There weren't many elaborate dishes; what was served was a whole roasted wild boar leg sizzling with oil, large chunks of rye bread, and mulled wine in a tin pot, exuding a rich aroma of spices.

This kind of rustic and affordable food is more to everyone's liking.

During the meal, perhaps emboldened by the bag of silver ore, or perhaps soothed by a few cups of warm wine, old Semi's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed a bit.

"Young Master Kapong, since you have come from afar, please consider this place as your villa in Rattay."

Old Semi cut off a piece of pork with crispy skin, placed it on a plate, and said sincerely, "During this time, you and your entourage are free to roam the manor. Whether it's the stables, the gardens, or the nearby hunting grounds, the Semi family's doors are always open to you, as long as you are interested."

"As for accommodation—"

Old Semi turned to the old butler beside him and instructed, "Go and prepare the best-looking master bedroom in the east tower; it's for Young Master Capone. Remember to make the fireplace burn brightly and put on new velvet bedding."

At this point, the old man's gaze swept over Sieg standing behind Hans, and Captain Robard and the others sitting at the end of the long table. After a moment's thought, he made arrangements in accordance with noble etiquette: "As for this seemingly shrewd and capable attendant—" Old Semi was referring to Sieg, "since he serves the young master personally, it's naturally inappropriate for him to be too far away. Let's place a soft couch in the outer room of the young master's room, so that if the young master needs anything at night, you can attend to him at any time."

Zieg bowed slightly, his face displaying just the right amount of politeness and professional indifference: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Lord Semi. It is my duty to protect the young master's rest."

"As for the knight captain and the other warriors," old Semir said, glancing at Robard, who was tearing into pork, and Henry, who was looking somewhat reserved, "I'll have some of the guest rooms on the west side prepared. They may not be as luxurious as the main building, but they are spacious and quiet, and they're close to the guards' barracks. If you'd like a few drinks, there's plenty of ale there."