Chapter 243. Childhood Friend – Lucky One
“We haven’t delayed too much because of us, have we?”
Three carriages arrived in a city. Leo Dexter, stepping out from a carriage with a red pine and vermilion exterior, asked.
In early spring, Lev and his party had finally left the Jerome Holy Kingdom.
Had they been riding horses, they would have already arrived at the Marquis of Guidan’s territory by now.
However, because the newlyweds’ journey couldn’t be that fast, Lev decorated the carriage for Leo and Lena (even setting up a bed) and they leisurely traveled south, touring various villages.
Lev shook his head and said, “It’s fine. We still have time. Why hasn’t Lena come out?”
“She’s studying.”
“Studying what?”
“Cooking.”
“…She hasn’t given up yet, has she?”
Lena had never been good at cooking. After getting married and starting to cook in earnest, everyone here had tasted Lena’s food.
It wasn’t inedible.
But the only one who praised it as delicious was Lev. Even Lena herself would trail off saying, “It’s not good enough to be praised…” without threatening the position of Lev’s party’s cook, Ban Bizain.
However, Leo, saying, “What’s wrong with it? It’s delicious,” might have encouraged her, as Lena was now reading cookbooks.
“Since we’ve arrived, tell Lena to come out. We’ll be staying here for about four days.”
“Four days?”
Leo tilted his head.
It was his first time coming this far south, so he looked around the unfamiliar (yet familiar) buildings of the Orun Kingdom and asked.
“This is ‘Brigitte,’ ruled by Marquis Ebeny Drageen. Why are we staying here for four days?”
“Because I need to persuade the marquis.”
“What? Didn’t Marquis Drageen agree to join the war? You said before…”
“That was a lie. Since it will happen eventually, it wasn’t really a lie. Just wait.”
Lev said slyly. Leo looked momentarily stunned and then let out a chuckle.
“You’ve changed a lot.”
Was it a compliment? Lev shrugged lightly and turned around.
[19/23]. He had been through 18 turbulent episodes. No longer an ordinary young man from a remote mountain village, he approached the lord’s castle and announced, “Come here.” The esteemed guest had arrived.
While Leo teased the now-sleeping Lena Einarr, saying, “Oh dear, did my baby fall asleep reading?” Lev had a meeting with the northern border marquis of the Orun Kingdom, Marquis Ebeny Drageen. The marquis greeted Lev reluctantly.
“…Welcome. It’s been a while.”
It wasn’t the first time meeting him in this episode. They had briefly met in Nevis last year, where the marquis had looked down on Lev.
The arrogant commoner who dared to aspire to the throne after becoming a Swordmaster.
Marquis Drageen didn’t even acknowledge Lev’s greeting. He had firmly warned his friend, Marquis Guidan, who was infatuated with a commoner.
“I have no intention of joining this baseless rebellion. It’s not too late. Change your mind now.”
However, perhaps because Lev had stood shoulder to shoulder with the king of the Jerome Holy Kingdom, Marquis Ebeny Drageen greeted him differently this time. Noticing that this was a gesture from the days of the Achean Empire, when nobles respected commoners, Lev smiled broadly.
“It’s been a long time. I thought I’d only meet your son, but I’m surprised to see you here.”
Why are you here when you should be in the capital? Have you come to inspect the army after accepting my proposal for rebellion? ─ the marquis asked, standing.
“I stopped by briefly to fulfill my duties as the border marquis. Although the Jerome Holy Kingdom is indeed a peaceful kingdom, there could still be some unrest.”
So, I see you’re more capable than I thought. So, is the Holy Kingdom going to help you? ─ Marquis Ebeny Drageen asked back.
If that were the case, the conversation would have ended easily, but King Crington de Frederick of the Jerome Holy Kingdom refused military support. Lev glanced at the plush sofa and leaned on one leg.
A silent protest that he wanted to sit down. The marquis gestured that he had been impolite, and Lev gladly sat down. The question the marquis had just asked became a non-issue.
In a way, it’s a petty psychological battle.
However, this is how nobles communicated. They could skip unnecessary conversations, as omitting certain information itself conveyed something. The marquis did not suffer a one-sided loss.
But I have to play a different card.
Lev, sitting comfortably on the sofa, brought up a completely different topic.
“I actually came to ask a favor. Please allow me to use the church’s communication.”
“Of course. But why?”
“I want to contact Prince Leanne de Yeriel.”
Marquis Ebeny Drageen’s eyebrows twitched and raised.
A noble in his forties, short but with masculine eyebrows and a soft, egg-shaped jawline that gave him a strategist’s impression, asked.
“Are you referring to the new heir of the Yeriel royal family?”
“Yes. It’s about time, so I want to make contact. We need to coordinate the timing.”
Recently, there were three events of interest across the continent.
One of them was the war between the Kingdom of Astin and the Kingdom of Belita, which was being replaced by something else as the atmosphere seemed to be moving towards a truce.
The first was the emergence of the fourth Swordmaster in the Jerome Holy Kingdom.
Except for his name, Lev, nothing was known about this mysterious strongman who appeared alongside King Crington de Frederick. It was known that he played a decisive role in helping the Frederick royal family resist the interference of the Crusader Church.
While there were various speculations about whether he was a hidden strength of the Frederick royal family, Prince Cleo de Frederick was pressuring Count Simon’s family, and public attention was focused on whether the esteemed Count Simon’s family would accept the royal family’s demands. If they didn’t, people were curious about how the Swordmaster would be used.
The second was the declaration of war on the Kingdom of Eisel by the Kingdom of Aster.
Last fall, at the ‘Retii Tournament’ held in the Kingdom of Aster, King Petra de Klaus declared war.
Over the winter, the army was assembled, and the knight orders were mobilized. The Kingdom of Eisel also raised its forces in response, and it was widely believed that King Petra de Klaus had started an unreasonable war.
The Kingdom of Aster had no magic tower.
This meant a shortage of wizards, and it was evaluated that the magic kingdom, Aisel, which had a significantly superior magical force, would easily repel the Aster Kingdom’s army.
Thus, public interest was less on the war itself and more on which of the competing princes of the Isadora royal family, vying for the heir’s position, would benefit from the war.
Would it be the first prince, Vivian de Isadora, who was nominated as the supreme commander? Or would it be Oscar de Isadora, who was born with a talent for magic and supported by the Cornel Magic Tower?
The direction was still undecided.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Aster, which had declared war, was being mocked as a barbaric nation for trying to marry Prince Pablo de Klaus to Princess Elika de Isadora, the precious daughter of the Aisel Kingdom.
The third and final event is the dramatic return of Prince Leanne de Yeriel and Princess Leriana de Yeriel.
The prince and princess, who were reported dead over a decade ago, were alive!
This alone is big news, a captivating topic, but they didn’t just barely survive.
Using remarkable ingenuity, they drew nobles dissatisfied with Prince Eric de Yeriel’s legitimacy to their side and succeeded in reclaiming their lineage. They even spread rumors that Prince Eric was a monstrous creature to secure their legitimacy.
It’s an astonishing feat.
Moreover, during the succession ceremony, Princess Leriana’s beauty was revealed to the entire world. Those who saw the princess said,
“I couldn’t breathe.”
“Princess Leriana is unfortunately only beautiful in two instances: when her eyes are closed and when they are open.”
They did not hesitate to attach all kinds of flowery language. They emphasized that no matter how much they exaggerated, it wouldn’t be enough, and Princess Chloe de Tatalia, the flower of the Belita Kingdom, saw her popularity wane.
Where Princess Leriana would marry also became a matter of great interest.
Gossipers fervently debated who would win the hand of the continent’s most beautiful woman.
Apart from Cleo de Frederick and Pablo de Klaus, who recently started a public relationship, Vivian de Isadora and Oscar de Isadora from the Kingdom of Eisel, Aeton and Algeo de Lognum from the Kingdom of Orun, and Clyan de Tatalia from the Belita Kingdom were named as potential suitors. Heirs from prestigious families like Gilbert Forte and Toton Tatian were also mentioned as possible grooms for Leriana.
Of course, Marquis Ebeny Drageen had no interest in such matters. He wondered if this guy had connections with the heir of the much-talked-about Conrad Kingdom and opened his mouth.
“Leanne de Yeriel… Alright. What reason should I give for requesting contact?”
“Tell them that the prince’s ‘childhood friend’ is waiting for his call.”
“Childhood friend?”
Is this a boast, a genuine sentiment, or a code?
Marquis Drageen thought he would soon find out and sent his butler to the church. It was necessary to see if this commoner, who claimed connections with not only the Frederick royal family but also the Yeriel royal family, was telling the truth.
In fact, he intended to help.
Not because of this Swordmaster named Lev, but because of his only true friend, Harvey Guidan.
That friend was already in too deep. It seemed difficult for him to get out, and he couldn’t just leave him like that, so he had come here to inspect the soldiers, ready to raise his own army if his friend did.
Honestly, there was no hope.
Even with this Swordmaster guy, they were severely outmatched in knightly forces, and aligning with the magic tower became difficult with this guy advocating for barbarian liberation. The only advantage was their well-trained soldiers and excellent generals…
‘If the other side is ignorant of tactics, there’s a chance. There’s no way the rotten nobles in the capital have any good generals left. But if, by any chance, a competent general is on the princes’ side, it’s over.’
It was his first time betting his family’s fate on such odds. While he was brooding, the subject of his concerns, Lev, appeared, claiming he was worthy of the throne.
Annoyed but courteous, the marquis gave Lev a good room.
Catering to the diverse requests of the so-called lucky man who had acquired a shiny rod that could cut anything (asking to be shown the tourist spots since there was a newlywed couple in the group, and requesting a guide), he held a lavish banquet for the barbarians who claimed to be his disciples.
They would be the ones fighting, after all. And since the Jerome Holy Kingdom was on Lev’s side, it meant they could mobilize all the border guards, so his contributions couldn’t be entirely ignored.
Whether or not to give the throne to this commoner could be decided after the grand event was successful. ─ As Marquis Drageen thought this, the next morning, the butler came running with shocking news.
“Marquis! You must go to the church immediately. With the guest.”
The marquis frowned.
“What is it? Did we receive a reply from the Yeriel royal family? If so, just tell me.”
“It’s not that…”
The butler hastily said.
“The cardinal of the Conrad Kingdom personally contacted us. Prince Leanne de Yeriel is waiting there right now!”
The prince himself?
Marquis Drageen scratched his head in bewilderment. Is he really a childhood friend? Such an unimaginable thought crossed his mind.
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