In the northwestern mountainous area of the Kingdom of Hervor, there was a small town named Bainen.
A tiny little town surrounded by wooden palisades instead of stone walls.
It was so small that there wasn’t even a regular soldier in sight; instead, a group of bored young men gathered as a guild to stand watch over the walls.
Like true northern youths tormented by all kinds of threats, they all looked fierce enough to take down wolves with their bare hands, but in the end, it was just for show.
With their weak presence and laughable equipment, it seemed that if a few bears arrived, they’d be screaming and scattering in all directions, crying about a disaster.
“How do they even manage to live here? Moving from the capital to a place like this would feel like a colossal downgrade!”
A chuckle escaped me.
Everywhere I looked screamed “small town,” making it hard to believe that a knight close to the realm of a high-ranking knight was staying in this city.
“Isn’t it nice to live quietly just the two of us…? We could get a little brick house… and live there, just the two of us… heh.”
On the other hand, Friede seemed to quite like the tranquil atmosphere of Bainen.
It was as if she felt free to lounge around all day without worrying about others’ gazes!
Of course, my idea of lounging and hers were galaxies apart.
To put it specifically, it was like the difference between being unemployed and being in a yuri relationship.
Just from her expression, it was crystal clear.
What she meant was that she wouldn’t let me out of bed for three full days, using me like a bedsheet.
Even if a tragedy of someone turning into a waterlogged mattress were to unfold in the quiet surroundings, no one would care.
…Alright. If one day I finish everything and can live in peace, I’d better choose a loud, bustling city.
People need to sleep, don’t they?
Of course, she wouldn’t really torture me to the point where I couldn’t get a wink of sleep for three days… but…
Rest is important, after all.
I’d much rather enjoy a comfortable sleep not on a sea of lemon-scented fluids, but cocooned in a warm, soft wool mattress.
To ensure my right to sleep, I’d likely have to pick a bustling area where noise pollution, flooding, and heat issues would have neighbors complaining next door.
◆◆
On the outskirts of Bainen, there stood a brick mansion all on its own in a remote corner of the quiet town, where even the flow of people was minimal.
From the outside, it looked like there were roughly seven rooms.
It seemed too small and rough to be a noble’s mansion, yet too lavish for commoners, giving it a vacation home vibe.
This was where Veloren Esther resided.
“Hmm…”
I paused in front of the fence, rubbing my chin as I admired the exterior of the mansion.
It looks a bit big for a single woman. Maybe she used to live with a daughter?
If so, I’d have to be careful to avoid interactions with the townsfolk. If I ran into someone who knew her daughter, they’d find out I wasn’t her.
“This place is bigger than I thought. Is the knight named… Esther living here alone?”
“Well, I suppose she must have at least a servant or two?”
You couldn’t just pull off being a single unemployed person without some means.
It’d be tough for a knight who’s only ever wielded a sword in her life to manage a seven-room mansion alone; surely there’d be at least a servant to help with cooking or cleaning.
…Or maybe the mansion just looks good on the outside but is a garbage heap inside.
“Let’s go inside first.”
You can’t know for sure until you check, right? I walked up to the door and lightly knocked to announce my visit.
“Is anyone there?”
After a few knocks, an old wooden door creaked open, and someone peeked through.
“…Who are you?”
A woman in her mid-twenties appeared, with dull brown hair wrapped in cloth and wearing a sturdy everyday outfit topped off with an apron.
She looked like a typical villager, so she couldn’t be Veloren herself… but probably just hired from the local women to help with chores.
“Excuse me. I’ve come to see Lady Veloren Esther… is she available?”
I pushed back my cloak’s hood and nodded as an introduction. My hair, dyed black by magic, spilled out from under my helmet.
“Oh, are you perhaps the one who was coming this time…?”
The servant, eyeing me with a mix of suspicion and curiosity, nodded in recognition. It seemed that I must’ve been mentioned to her beforehand.
Argantir must have sent a courier or a message, as he’s reliable despite his slightly annoying personality.
“Do you have a letter of introduction?”
“Yes, here.”
I produced the letter Argantir wrote for her. It was for Lady Veloren Esther. I had no idea what it contained, as it was sealed with wax and couldn’t be opened.
Surely it wasn’t saying something like to cut off the messenger’s head and bury him… right?
“Thank you. It’s chilly outside, so please come in. While you wait in the reception room, Lady Esther will come down.”
The servant took the letter from me and swung open the door, allowing us to enter.
◆◆
The interior of the mansion was chilly and stark. It was clear it was maintained, but just barely enough for basic appearance.
The hallway was dark and cold, and there were no decorations like paintings or sculptures on the walls; it looked just bleak.
Is this a home or a rundown relic? I thought anyone in their right mind would run away if asked to live in a place like this.
“Please, have a seat here.”
The reception room, at least, was a bit more presentable.
A wooden table and leather sofa were neatly arranged on the carpeted floor, and there were decorations around the fireplace on the opposite wall.
Typical of a knight, a sword hung on the wall.
There were two cross-shaped broadswords and a long sword lying horizontally across a stand in front of them.
Seeing three swords hanging around made me think she could’ve been a pirate rather than just a knight.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll take the letter to Lady Esther before bringing in some tea.”
“Ah, okay. Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
The servant smiled lightly, as if it were just her job, and took the letter up to the second floor, where Lady Veloren Esther’s personal office was said to be.
I sat down on the couch with Friede, awaiting our first meeting with Lady Veloren Esther, the woman who would become my mother.
“I’m a bit nervous…”
“Yeah.”
Amid rising tension and slight anticipation.
“Have you been waiting long? Lady Esther will be down shortly. I’ve brought your tea, so please enjoy.”
“I’ll drink it well.”
The returning servant served the offered black tea. I took a sip.
It was slightly bitter and astringent. Must’ve been just some cheap tea leaves prepared for appearances. Perhaps the servant couldn’t make a good cup either.
But hey, this is better than nothing. Just like a mayor’s best dish is the market’s finest. Thirst is indeed the best beverage! I blew on the hot tea and quenched my throat with the bitter liquid.
A few minutes later…
– Tap tap.
Finally, did everything get ready? Someone walked down from the second-floor landing.
“Pleasure to meet you, Sir Siegfriede. And your companion too.”
A woman with leather boots and black pants, perhaps a bit wider at the hips due to childbirth or riding, looked down at us.
She wore a beige blouse and tightened her slim waist with a leather corset. Long black hair braided and draped over her shoulder, with simple earrings adorning her ears—a slender woman. A distinctive little tear mark below her left eye caught my attention.
“I am the owner of this mansion, Veloren Esther.”
Her sharp gaze seemed tired, shadowed, and her blue eyes sparkled with a rock-like mineral tone.
“I apologize for the lack of hospitality. It’s been quite a while since someone visited this mansion. I hope my servant, Mari, didn’t offend you.”
“Um… nice to meet you.”
“Ah, hello…!”
Friede and I quickly stood and greeted her awkwardly. We couldn’t hide our astonishment. To be honest, I was a bit—no, extremely perplexed.
Understandably so…
‘…At thirty-eight? With that face?’
The woman who revealed herself as Lady Veloren Esther was shockingly young for her age, looking like she might be in her late twenties.
The only trace of being thirty-eight was a faint line of a wrinkle that barely registered at the corner of her eye.
She seemed less like a mother and more like a sister—no, an older sister. She was quite the beauty too!
“……”
A hint of wariness appeared in Friede’s eyes as she exchanged glances between me and Lady Veloren.
It was the same look a hyena would give while facing a lion.
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