Volume 8 Chapter 1 Interlude： Chancellor Lila’s Struggle
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Lila’s Perspective
”Lady Lila! Oh, it’s terribleeee! A messenger from the Dragonewt has arrived from Mr. Kondrad in Capital City! It’s urgent!”
I was covering for Mr. Kent’s duties in the office when Helga came rushing in, shouting loudly.
”Helga, we’re in the middle of work. It’s not like you to run and shout.”
”Lady Lila! It’s serious! Sir Kent has reportedly fallen into a coma with a serious condition in Capital City!”
THUMP!
The women bureaucrats in the office all stood up at once upon hearing Helga’s words.
They were all equally worried about Mr. Kent’s safety.
I, too, couldn’t hide my agitation from Helga’s words.
Certainly, we sent a military force to defeat Gertroud, but Mr. Kent should have had a thick escort, and with Milly by his side, I was surprised that he was injured in such a fierce battle.
Was the decisive battle in Capital City that intense?
The Gertroud army should have been a force in tatters…
I thought that the Gertroud army would be a weary force, having engaged in 2 major battles before invading Capital City, and should have been scattered by Mr. Kent’s pursuing army, but in reality, they seem to have put up quite a fight.
”Understood. I’ll meet with the messenger. Are they in the reception room?”
”No, they are at the entrance.”
”Got it. I’ll head there immediately. Everyone, make sure to continue with your work, or Mr. Kent will deal with you when he returns.”
Scolding the restless bureaucrats to get back to work, I hurried to the entrance with Helga.
As I stepped into the entrance, a gigantic Dragonewt lay sprawled out on the ground, taking a nap.
Helga said it had flown non-stop from Capital City for a whole day and night, and must have really taxed its physical strength.
”Are you the messenger from Kondrad?”
”Ha, Sir Kondrad sent me with a message for Lady Lila.”
The Dragonewt tilted its head slightly while still lying down.
”Alright. Stay comfortable. Tell me the message.”
”Ha, Our South District army managed to defeat Gertroud’s forces, but we suffered many casualties. Our commander, His Excellency Kent, fell into a coma. Although he’s alive, he remains unconscious. The kingdom is starting to deal with the aftermath of the war, but Lady Miriallia hasn’t left Sir Kent’s side, and no one else is qualified to negotiate with the kingdom, so she wants Lady Lila to come to Capital City.”
With Mr. Kent unconscious, the South District army’s command has been handed to Kondrad, but he’s a soldier, not a politician.
He’s worried about getting caught up in the kingdom’s political intrigue and that’s why he sent a messenger.
Among the bureaucrats who accompanied Mr. Kent, Layla, Est, and Seema are the only ones who could stand toe-to-toe with the kingdom’s nobles, but they still lack experience compared to the kingdom’s old guard.
And as commoners, they’ll likely be underestimated.
Charlotte from the Rosenkreuz family, who recently joined the South District army, is the only other person who could fit the bill, but she’s presumed dead, so she can’t be in the public negotiations.
If I don’t go, Mr. Kent’s accomplishments could be stolen by the other nobles…
”I understand. I’ll head to Capital City immediately. Helga, I’ll leave this to you. Talk to Nannie and Oliv and handle the administration. I’ll take responsibility.”
”Ah, yes. Understood. I’ll handle the urgent matters at my own discretion. No worries. I’ve also been working under Lady Lila, so I can fill in for a short while if needed.”
Helga was rolling up her sleeves and striking a determined pose.
As someone capable of managing the finances for the wealthy Blackdagger family and the South District cities, she was confident in her ability to stand in temporarily.
”Alright, then I’ll head to Capital City on a Dragonewt express. Sorry, but could you call a Dragonewt that can fly me there?”
”Ah, yes. I’ll make the preparations.”
Helga went to summon the Dragonewt that was on standby at the mansion.
It was thanks to Ludmila’s efforts in persuading the Dragonewts to stay on standby in shifts that they were always ready to serve as couriers at any time.
I returned to the living room, put on a thick coat, a face-covering scarf, gloves, and long boots, and then came back to the entrance.
At the entrance, a Dragonewt was waiting to carry me.
It had a small cage attached to its back to accommodate a person.
I climbed onto the Dragonewt, sat in the chair inside the cage, and securely fastened multiple belts around me.
This was a precaution so that I wouldn’t fall off in case of an accident.
A Dragonewt could reach Capital City in a day and a night if it flew with all its might, but at such a terrifying speed, one could easily be shaken off.
Therefore, it was mandatory to have a seat made and to wrap oneself with belts for safety.
”Ready? Okay, let’s get going.”
The Dragonewt flapped its wings and lightly lifted into the air, then began to surge forward with incredible speed a few seconds later.
Flying at high altitudes at high speeds, the temperature dropped drastically, and ice crystals began to form all over my body.
But I endured it, hoping to reach Mr. Kent as soon as possible.
* * *
After enduring the cold and hunger while being shaken on the Dragonewt’s back for a day and a night, I could see the enormous castle with its circular barrier below.
”It really does take just a day and a night to reach Capital City. Truly, it’s the Eternita…”
The Dragonewt that carried me landed in the suburban palace where Mr. Kent was supposed to be stationed.
”Lady Lila!”
Welcoming me were Kondrad and Garvey.
The expedition from the South District army appeared to be stationed at this palace, and everyone was visibly injured.
”This is a terrible situation. What happened?”
”That Gertroud guy conjured up a real pain in the neck, the Living Dead… thanks to him, we have a ton of casualties…”
Garvey came forward to report the casualty count of his unit.
The numbers were astonishing.
While there were few fatalities, I was told that most of the soldiers had suffered some kind of injury.
”And His Excellency Kent has lost consciousness after a duel with the enemy commander and sustained injuries… that enemy commander Gertroud showed unnatural strength… we couldn’t even stand as a wall for His Excellency.”
Kondrad, as the one in charge of the army, showed a hint of regret over Captain Kent being drawn into a duel with the enemy commander.
”Word has it that Gertroud seems to be possessed by the first Demon Lord. The soldiers who participated in that battle witnessed the otherworldly strength he possesses, so it’s understandable.”
Garvey began to say something outrageous, but Kondrad beside him nodded in agreement.
”Indeed, His Excellency Kent also referred to Gertroud as Orphée Bleu. If the Demon Lord Orphée Bleu is the one possessing him, then that strength makes perfect sense.”
”Demon Lord Orphée Bleu… I never thought such an ancient Demon Lord would surface in our time… So, where is Mr. Kent now?”
”His Excellency Kent is receiving care from Lady Miriallia and Lady Lana in the palace’s bedroom. Allow me to guide you there now.”
Following Conrad’s lead, I made my way to Mr. Kent’s secluded bedroom in his retreat.
Upon entering the bedroom, I found the women I had brought on this expedition crowded together.
Many of them had injured hands, but they all seemed worried as they stared intently at Mr. Kent.
I approached Milly and slapped her cheek.
A gentle clinking sound echoed through the room.
Milly, who had been slapped, turned to me with a look of surprise.
It seemed she had been crying a lot, as her eyelids were swollen.
”M-mother!? What are you doing?!”
”Why are you sniveling here? You’re Mr. Kent’s lawful wife! Now that Mr. Kent is unconscious, as the highest-ranking person in command, you should be by his side, not just sniveling away. It’s fortunate that Conrad reported to me with his quick thinking, but if you leave things as they are and do nothing, Mr. Kent’s achievements will be rendered null. You know that, don’t you?”
”But, Kent might never regain consciousness! If Kent dies, it will all be meaningless!”
SLAP!
I slapped Milly’s cheek again.
”Lana, Mr. Kent has no other life-threatening conditions, right?”
”Yes, he’s only unconscious. His physical injuries have already healed.”
”You heard that! Mr. Kent is just sleeping! He’s not dead! Don’t you dare kill him off! Everyone knows Mr. Kent dislikes lazy people. What do you think he would say if he saw you all sniveling in here?”
The women who had been pressing me with their words began to stir restlessly.
”Nevertheless, if you want to cry here, then cry. However, when Mr. Kent wakes up, as Chancellor, I will have to report you as lazy. Is that all right with you?”
Upon hearing these words, Feria was the first to move.
”Well, Feria has work to do, so I’ll take my leave. There’s a pile of Mr. Kent’s undergarments to wash, so I’ll work hard.”
Following Feria’s lead, the other women began to return to their duties.
”Dee will also wash Mr. Kent’s undergarments. Feria, you’re sneaky to take the initiative.”
”I still have to prepare lunch. Ms. Annabella, you should get started on lunch too.”
”To think that I’d throw away my job over something like this… We must prepare Sir Kent’s lunch… Ines, hurry up with the preparations.”
The women who had been gathered together left to attend to their duties, leaving only Milly and Lana behind.
”I am his personal physician, so I will observe Mr. Kent’s condition.”
It seems Lana has her role as a personal physician to fulfill.
”What will Milly do?”
Milly, her face swollen, stood up and turned to face this way.
”I’ll do my job. I’ll leave the political talks to my mother, the Chancellor. I need to gather intelligence on the opposing forces. We must ensure Kent isn’t labeled a traitor when he wakes up. After all, Kent, who achieved tremendous success, could be seen as even more of a threat. The situation is becoming fluid, and it smells fishy.”
Milly seemed to be doing the bare minimum of work while crying by Kent’s side.
She was currently grasping the situation Mr. Kent was in.
”Then, as Chancellor, I shall task the head of the intelligence agency with a quest. I want to know about the movements of the Nokin, who are occupying a part of the east. We have a non-aggression pact with them, but I want to know if they intend to stay in the Kingdom. The Black Dragon Dukedom and the True Demon Dukedom seem to have decided to secede from the Kingdom after this conflict, so the stability of the Kingdom could drastically change depending on Nokin’s actions.”
I believe Mr. Kent is content being the ruler of the South District under His Majesty Shifa’s autonomy, so it would be troubling if the Kingdom were to fall.
To maintain the Kingdom, it would be most beneficial if Nokin, who is building an independent force in the east and seceding from the Demon God Emperor country, would come under the Kingdom’s banner.
”Understood. We’ll look into the Nokin’s movements. And about Gwain, he seems to be up to something, so make sure to warn His Majesty Shifa.”
”Yes, I understand. And also, Estelle’s daughters have sworn loyalty to His Majesty Shifa as well.”
”I’ve instilled the Dream Demon Clan’s code into those girls, so they won’t betray His Majesty. Even if it’s their real father, Gwain.”
Gwain is a seasoned power player, so he might be gunning for a Hail Mary, but if it’s the code Milly taught them, they’d choose death over betrayal any day.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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