The Red Dragon roared and crispy fried the brat!
– But that storyline didn’t unfold.
Unfortunately, it seems.
“Hey, traveling companion of the Saintess. Do you know where the Saintess and the Hero went?”
“Yup, I do!”
Droplets of cold sweat were falling endlessly as the little brat raised their hand and shouted.
Auntie.
The moment that word left their lips, a murderous aura stirred.
Rue appeared docile like a rabbit overwhelmed by a beast’s roar. It seemed she was heavily intimidated by the murderous aura radiating from Princess Ludmilla.
She instinctively realized she was definitely not dealing with an easy opponent.
Red pupils filled with rage. A momentarily twisted expression.
She must have poked the bear of the princess’s spinster hysteria!
After stepping back in shock, Rue immediately hid behind me after finishing her answer.
“Then, the Saintess Party went to the Gisterd Kingdom….”
“They might have moved even further east by now.”
Ludmilla muttered, biting her nails.
I chimed in.
To the east of Gisterd Kingdom.
Perhaps they went to the Powder Keg Peninsula where war and slaughter endlessly repeat.
I carefully relayed the speculation to the princess.
“The Powder Keg Peninsula… that’s a battlefield so terrible that even the Demon King’s Army has given up on it, right?”
“Of course, it’s just a guess.”
The Powder Keg Peninsula.
Countless small and medium kingdoms have been waging all-out war for over a century.
Therefore, the hatred manifested in the hell on earth.
With that much war, one kingdom should have taken control of the peninsula, right?
However, because all the warring small kingdoms had similar strengths, no victor ever emerged.
Moreover, as years of war piled up, hatred grew, and enmity and division endured forever.
“You couldn’t bring a child to such a dangerous battlefield.”
Ludmilla murmured while glancing at the trembling Rue.
“Your Grace.”
“Speak.”
After pondering for a while, Ludmilla spoke in a heavy voice.
Did she have something to say?
She stared at me, lips pressed tightly together.
With anxious hesitation, after a long moment of contemplation, Ludmilla finally found the courage to set down her teacup and spoke hesitantly.
“Liza… no, Elizaveta von Valtaria is very heartbroken.”
“Excuse me?”
“She received a harsh notice from the beloved she’s admired for so long. It’s no wonder she’s heartbroken. Although she seems better now, just a few days ago, she locked herself in her bedroom and cried without eating or drinking anything.”
“……”
I felt like I had committed a grave sin.
I must cleanse myself of this sin right here and now.
Ludmilla’s statement sent my heart plunging.
‘Could she be planning to whack the compensation for the annulment high? Or could she once again hold the Hohenberc Family responsible? Is this desperate spinster seeking revenge for her younger sibling?’
Her actions in seeking the Saintess Party might just be a pretext.
She must have something in mind to squeeze the Hohenberc Family dry.
I felt puzzled by Ludmilla’s move to bring up Elizaveta’s annulment again. I waited impatiently for her next words.
“I have a request for you.”
“I’ll take on everything. So please, with a broad mind, spare the Hohenberc Family from annihilation.”
“N-No, that’s not it…! I just hope you’ll persuade your younger sister.”
“Me? Why me?”
It’s a baffling request.
To persuade my younger sister, Princess Elizaveta?
Why ask me?
I was likely to despise him just like I did the brother who announced the annulment.
Though I wouldn’t openly hate him, it was only natural to feel uneasy about the irritating fiancé’s sibling.
“Aren’t you Maximilian’s sister? Surely Liza will listen to you. Plus, you are an excellent orator. I have no doubt you can persuade Liza.”
“……”
Why on earth does she trust me as if I were a close friend?
I never made a positive characterization of her.
If anything, negative characterization toward the Valtarian Imperial Family.
I glared at Ludmilla, showing my distrust.
However, contrasting with my suspicion, looking into her trusting red pupils, I realized she was sincere in what she said.
As a result, the cold sweat trickling down increased.
“If it is Your Highness’s order, I would, of course, be happy to follow. Yet, I fear those harboring grudge against the Saintess Party may once again target the County. I have a responsibility to protect the County and its people. I sincerely regret that I cannot comply with Your Highness’s orders.”
If I traveled to the Imperial City with Ludmilla, I would face bizarre situations continuously.
I might become a target for Princess Elizaveta’s outbursts, or be rolled out like a mat by the Emperor, who would treat the Hohenberc Family as sworn enemies.
I wish to avoid both scenarios.
I only want to live quietly in the Hohenberc County.
Thus, I had to escape from the dreadful calamity and the wicked princess’s scheme.
‘If nothing had happened, I would have been helpless. But I have the perfect justification.’
I leaned on the defense of the County.
The assault on Hohenberc County.
It gave me excellent justification instead.
Since I more or less predicted Ludmilla’s actions, I pretended to be genuinely concerned for my family and citizens.
This made Ludmilla nod in agreement.
“Of course. How could I overlook that?”
“If so…”
I responded with a hint of expectation.
Then, the princess smiled warmly.
“Do not worry, to ease your concerns, I brought the elite Central Knights renowned for their exceptional skills.”
“……?”
“Immediately after we leave, the Central Knights will be deployed to defend Hohenberc County. With the prestige of the Central Knights guarding the Imperial City, those ruffians wouldn’t dare venture near.”
“Oh, I see.”
I fell straight into it.
I was completely trapped.
Did she bring the Central Knights for this?
What a terrifying spinster.
I clearly saw through her intentions to lure me in under the guise of goodwill.
Truly, she was close to a sociopathic mastermind.
Having been utterly led around by Ludmilla from start to finish, I pretended to show relief while I could only weep bitterly inside.
The humiliation of being duped by the cunning spinster surged in my mind.
*
Ludmilla places great importance on honor and pride above all else.
To her, Edanant von Hohenberc is a ‘figure of respect’ and ‘symbol of excellence.’
Her brother, the Hero, has vanished.
Due to the annulment, she became estranged from the Valtarian Imperial Family.
On top of that, she bore an astronomical compensation that couldn’t be repaid in a single go.
Forces beyond control had struck one after another.
Yet, Edanant did not flee from his post.
He did his utmost to protect the Hohenberc Family.
Even when cries of despair echoed around him, he did his best to safeguard his family and the citizens as a noble from a prestigious family.
‘Edanant von Hohenberc….’
Gray hair.
Sharply honed golden eyes.
With a charming physique and looks that prove he’s from a prestigious family.
Although he might not rival Maximilian, who was revered by nobility as the ‘Peerless Nobleman,’ Edanant was still quite good-looking.
Had it not been for his unique sharp-eyed appearance, he might have received far more positive evaluations.
– If it is Your Highness’s order, I would gladly comply… yet I worry that those harboring a grudge against the Saintess Party might target the County again. I have a responsibility to protect the County and its people. I sincerely regret that I cannot comply with Your Highness’s commands.
His words were full of sincere appeal.
And I could almost feel the resolute pride and dignity in his voice.
Recalling Edanant’s appearance as he spoke without a hint of hesitation, a smile crept onto my lips.
‘What a perfect individual. He possesses outstanding character and ability. Plus, he values pride and honor too much to be confined to Hohenberc County. We need people like Edanant to prepare for the impending crisis.’
It was a hasty thought, but Ludmilla wondered briefly if she should recommend Edanant as her younger sister Elizaveta’s new fiancé.
If Edanant were to be engaged to Elizaveta, the relationship between the estranged Valtarian Imperial Family and Hohenberc Family could be restored.
And surely, with his outstanding character, ability, and striking looks, my younger sister wouldn’t entirely despise him.
If, however, she still showed a strong reaction,
Hrumph.
Then I would have no choice but to step in.
However, Edanant always smells of gunpowder.
I heard he engaged in a gunfight against assailants who attacked Hohenberc Castle.
That scent must have lingered since then.
But it wasn’t just that.
Each time we met, Edanant always reeked of gunpowder.
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