CHAPTER 171: SELF-CONFIDENCE OF THE THARVIS FAMILY

"Father, is it really okay?"

A young man stepped into the study, his face tense with anxiety.

He was of average height with an unremarkable appearance. His hair was purple, and his eyes were a deep shade of blue.

His name was Richard Tharvis—the eldest son and sole heir of the Tharvis family.

Richard’s gaze fell on the middle-aged man seated calmly in a work chair. The man’s stern face bore a striking resemblance to Richard’s—about eighty percent alike.

He was Renald Tharvis, the head of the Tharvis family and the mastermind behind the blockade that prevented Nolan, Elina, and their party from entering the city of Ostravia.

Renald glanced at his son with a relaxed expression and asked, "What’s wrong, Richard? Didn’t I say everything was under control?"

Richard stepped forward and stopped in front of the desk. His expression was somber as he said, "I just received a report from the gate guards. They’ve successfully blocked Prince Nolan, Princess Elina, General Luvistar, and their thousand soldiers from entering Ostravia. But... they left without resistance. They simply turned around and left the city gates. I fear this could spell disaster for our family."

As the heir of the Tharvis family, he naturally didn’t want anything to happen to it. Without its protection, he’d lose his standing and become nothing more than a failure in the eyes of the other young nobles.

Upon hearing this, Renald leaned back in his chair and let out a quiet chuckle.

He crossed his legs and said calmly, "I understand your concern, but I can assure you—it’s fine. After all, it wasn’t me, you, or the Tharvis family who did it. It was that man, Gerald. So even if Duke Austin demands an explanation, we can simply pin the blame on him."

A mocking smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head casually.

As the head of a noble house ranked at the Count level, there was no way he’d be foolish enough to endanger his own family.

That was precisely why he had used a minor captain like Gerald to block Nolan and Elina’s entourage.

Of course, it hadn’t come cheap—he had to give up a mansion and pay Gerald one million Sharn.

Still, that price was nothing compared to the rewards the family stood to gain.

Richard remained silent as he listened. Even with lingering unease, he had to admit that his father’s logic was sound.

The blame wouldn’t fall on them—it would fall on Gerald. They were merely shadows pulling strings from behind the curtain.

Feeling reassured, Richard regained his composure and confident smile.

"Alright, I understand," he said enthusiastically. Then, curiosity sparked within him, and he asked, "By the way, Father, I’ve been wondering—does the Red Obsidian Trading House truly have the power to raise our family to Marquis rank?"

The title of Marquis was the highest tier in the noble hierarchy—just below Duke.

There were only twelve Marquis families in the entire kingdom, and each one wielded immense power and influence.

Take the Caltheron family in the southern region, for example. They governed the twin cities of Valmiris and Lunaris.

It was no exaggeration to say that they were the most prosperous cities in the South, with most residents enjoying comfort and stability.

Naturally, rising to the rank of Marquis was the dream of every Count-level noble house—including the Tharvis family.

"Don’t worry, my son," Renald said reassuringly. "The Red Obsidian Trading House is the wealthiest, second only to the Blue Moon Trading House. They certainly have the means to support us—starting with capital."

He paused briefly, taking a deep breath before continuing in a lighter tone, "You already know that what we need most right now is capital. We’ve drawn up many plans to expand the Tharvis family’s influence, but we lack the funds to carry them out. That’s why we’ve been stuck for years. But with the Red Obsidian Trading House backing us, we can finally begin turning those plans into reality."

Not all noble families were wealthy—many, in fact, struggled with money and lacked sufficient capital.

The Tharvis family was one of them. Unlike most noble houses, they didn’t even own their territory.

The city of Ostravia, which they guarded, actually belonged to Duke Austin’s family. The reason the Tharvis family held the title of Count was deeply tied to a long-standing history between the two families.

In the past, the ancestor of the Tharvis family rendered great service to the Austin family.

In gratitude, the head of the Austin family at the time personally petitioned the palace to grant the Tharvis ancestor the title of Count.

Lacking territory of their own, the Tharvis family was then entrusted with the management of Ostravia and tasked with protecting the Austin family’s residence within the city.

Two hundred years had passed since then, and the Tharvis family had firmly rooted itself in the eastern region.

But unfortunately, Renald was no longer content with their current standing. He desired a territory of his own—and dreamed of elevating the Tharvis name to the rank of Marquis.

Only then would they have a true foundation, and only then would the world finally look up to the Tharvis family across the entire Great Velmora Empire.

Those words ignited something in Richard. His eyes lit up, and he said with excitement, "Father, you’re amazing. I can’t wait to see the Tharvis family rise and become a Marquis house."

Renald grinned. "You’re right, my son. It’s only a matter of time before our family makes history—as the first Count family to rise through the ranks without being born into it!"

The two shared a look, laughter echoing throughout the study.

Little did they know, what lay ahead was not glory or elevation, but devastating downfall...

...

The Austin family mansion was vast and breathtaking. Constructed from high-quality marble, the building featured a distinctive medieval architectural style.

The estate sprawled across fifty acres. Even the thousand soldiers who had arrived with Nolan and Elina seemed small and insignificant within its bounds.

It would likely take tens of thousands of people just to fill the entire courtyard.

At the center stood a proud white horse statue, and soldiers moved about the grounds, keeping a vigilant watch.

"This mansion is enormous," Elina whispered in awe.

Although it couldn’t compare to the imperial palace, it was still incredibly spacious and beautiful.

She had always dreamed of owning a mansion of her own—but that was little more than a fantasy. Even an ordinary mansion could cost anywhere from a few million to tens of millions of Sharn.

Nolan chuckled at her words and gently ruffled her hair.

"Would you like a mansion like this? If you do, I’ll get one for you," he said softly.

Elina was startled and turned to study his face, trying to determine whether he was joking.

But his calm expression showed that he meant it.

With an awkward smile, Elina shook her head and replied, "No... I don’t want one. It’s just... too big."