Volume 3 Chapter 13 The Message
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”From Lord Friedrich? …Is something the matter?”
”We can’t talk loudly here. Will you let us through the checkpoint? I need to deliver a letter to the Palace quickly.”
”Of course. But I need to check your pass first. ──Indeed. Your travel tax is waived. I’ll guide you to the Palace, Lord Kian of Izerland.”
”I’m not used to that title, so it would be easier if you just called me Kian.”
”Hahaha, there are many who would like to be addressed as ‘Lord.’ It’s a luxurious thing to desire. ──Hey, I’m will guide His Excellency to the Palace. I’ll leave this place to you for a while!”
Liam called out loudly to the guard standing at the stone wall across from him.
He straightened his posture and bowed. His training level is still the same, but he is a soldier with ten times the discipline of the guards in the East End.
”Here we are. Well, if you had let us know beforehand, we would have prepared a carriage for you.”
”I don’t need that kind of treatment.”
”No, you are a hero to all of us.”
Liam said so seriously, pulling 2 horses from behind the checkpoint.
As he handed over the reins of one, he looked directly at me.
”If you hadn’t come, we would have faced a future of ruin. …It’s thanks to you that Her Excellency Maribel and I are well today. I will never forget my gratitude, and I intend to tell my descendants about your heroic deed. ──Glory to Lord Kian!”
”To be praised so seriously… It makes me uncomfortable…. I’m basically treated poorly in the East End.”
”I want to arrest all of them and lecture them for a good hour. If you feel that the East End is a bad place to live, feel free to come to the fortress. We welcome you.”
”Thank you”
He smiles and straddles the horse.
Liam quickly mounted his horse and led the way through the streets of Izerland.
He was used to it, so he sped through the roads with ease.
Kian only had to follow behind.
By the way, Maribel is not at the Main Castle, but at the old Oswald estate.
If it were the Main Castle where they used to work, you could see it from near the outer Wall, but even from a distance, the castle Wall had collapsed.
He remembers hearing that Christy and the other Head magicians were repairing it little by little every day, but the progress didn’t seem very good.
In Maribel’s letter, she said they were thinking of completely renovating the interior this time.
Considering the original castle’s environment was as bare as a public toilet, with a terrible indoor environment that was cold in winter and hot in summer, and a strange Dungeon in the basement, it was a natural decision.
However, the Danofen family is in financial trouble, and they don’t have the funds to renovate the interior of the Oswald estate. They seem to be making do with the Oswald estate because it’s quite comfortable.
(Well, you can’t invite foreign envoys to that dilapidated old castle, can you?)
’I believe Oswald’s mansion had a large training ground, didn’t it? It would be perfect for training the Bodyguards.’
(Yeah, and it has a complete carriageway and a large food storage. Above all, it’s sanitary and looks nice.)
’Perhaps it would be better to remodel the Oswald estate into a castle.’
(While it’s a good place as a temporary government, as the Main Castle of a country, it’s too close to the citizens. Considering defense, perhaps the merchant area needs to be moved to a different district. Somehow, I think the location of that Main Castle was carefully calculated when it was built.)
”──Kian”
”What is it, Liam?”
”We’re entering the merchant district, so slow down. Be careful not to trample anyone.”
”Ah, yes, understood.”
Liam, who had been ahead, slowed his horse.
Kian also reduced his speed and rode beside him.
”Actually, today I’m not just here to deliver a message to Her Excellency, but also to ask Lord Renaud to repair my sword.”
”Is that so? But can’t you get your sword repaired at the East End?”
”No…, the one that broke is a magic sword made by Lord Renaud. I’ve tried several blacksmiths, but they all threw up their hands.”
”Huh, so you’re going straight to the maker, then. ────Well, Kian, you’re in luck. Sir Renaud just returned from the fortress of Châtillon the other day, along with some of his clan.”
”Oh, really? So he’s probably enjoying a family reunion at his home in the fortress, then? If that’s the case, it would be terribly rude to visit and ask for a repair…”
Liam pulled on the reins, steering clear of a peddler, and shook his head, saying, “No.”
”Regarding Sir Guy and the others, they simply make regular reports to Her Excellency. Once that’s done, they should return to Châtillon, leaving Sir Renaud behind. I assume Sir Renaud isn’t too busy, now that Lady Eleonora has returned and her stewards are handling the administrative work,”
”…I see, so the whole family is here? Does that mean Sir Guy is here as well?”
”Yeah, as Sir Renaud’s direct descendants, Sir Guy and Lady Priscilla should be here.”
”Priscilla?”
”Sir Renaud’s youngest daughter. A genius who graduated at the top of her class from the capital’s academy. Normally, she keeps to herself in the Châtillon fortress, but it seems there was no other witch capable of teleportation available. Sir Renaud and the others arrived at the castle using the gate she opened at dusk yesterday.”
”The top graduate of the capital’s academy──whenever I hear that, I can’t help but picture someone rather pitiful.”
”Hahaha, it’s true that Lady Christy has her shortcomings, but she’s been working incredibly hard lately. Who she’s doing it for is not something I should mention here.”
Liam said this with a sly grin, glancing over at Kian.
Meanwhile, Kian’s thoughts were consumed by the person known as Priscilla, Sir Renaud’s youngest daughter.
First and foremost, he was curious about her appearance──but no matter how much he imagined, the faces of Renaud and Guy with their short, black hair and beards kept popping into his mind.
He seemed more like a “reckless sea dog” who, instead of ruling a vast merchant circle as a noble lord, might be better described as a pirate ravaging nearby ports.
If she shared their blood, he couldn’t help but picture a robust woman with twin ponytails, much like them.
(Of course, the name does sound rather cute…)
”Though, did that dragon of a man name her Priscilla? The sense in the name feels like it’s on the same level as Natra.’
(If the eldest son is Guy and the youngest daughter is Priscilla, if Renaud was the one who named them, there’s something distinctly doting-fatherly about it.)
Liam suddenly dismounted from his horse while he was chatting with the ‘glasses.’
Before he knew it, we had arrived at the eastern edge of the merchant area──near the side road that branched off toward the Oswald estate.
”I’m sorry, but you’ll have to get off the horse from here.”
”Understood.”
”Take this side road. I’ll hold the reins.”
”Thanks.”
”Also, hand over the letter. I apologize, but I can’t let you through right away. First, I’ll act as an intermediary. Well, Her Excellency needs some preparation, so it would be helpful if you could wait a bit.”
”──────? I don’t mind, but what kind of preparation? The office and the salon are right next to each other, aren’t they?”
”No, it’s more like… due to Her Excellency’s health issues.”
”Health issues?”
”Yeah. It seems Her Excellency hasn’t been feeling well lately.”
”──────. I see.”
He wasn’t sure if Liam knew, but during the earlier battle with Oswald, Maribel had fought using her own soul to summon Owl.
He hadn’t investigated the effects thoroughly, but it seemed likely that the curse was causing her to struggle with her health.
Liam lowered his gaze.
”I’m sorry, but please keep this to yourself.”
”I understand. As long as I can deliver the letter, I don’t mind going back right now.”
”No, it would be helpful if you could meet with Your Excellency. That person is looking forward to seeing you. Just seeing your face might lift their spirits.”
”I see.”
Liam nodded with an “ah” and looked worriedly toward the windbreak forest visible down the side road.
A heavy silence fell between us, but he quickly put on a bright expression.
”Since it might take some time to prepare, why don’t you take a peek at the training grounds in the back? I think the bodyguards training there would be happy to see your face.”
”Got it.”
”If possible, sparring with a few of them would boost their morale. I’m counting on you.”
With that, Liam patted Kian on the shoulder and went ahead to speak to the guard standing in front of the old Oswald estate’s gate.
Kian followed slowly behind, watching as the gate opened.
From behind the building, the intermittent shouts and cheers of soldiers in training echoed through the air.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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