114 – Correspondence arrived
If it’s small, if it’s small, if it’s big, it’s about three more days after the big happening has come to an end.
Ariel made a seat to listen to the stories of her vassals from an early hour today and participated.
Currently, most of the cases go through Edgar, and the harsh contents come to Ariel’s ears, but there are many cases that are not.
There are only a few vassals who are doing their duty in the castle, but it is obviously not efficient to pass all the news they have to convey through one person.
Sometimes they personally find Ariel and tell the story, but most of the big and small things are known through this place, and the conclusions about them are often decided on the spot.
“A letter from Whitewood has arrived. Fortunately, it is believed that this suppression will end smoothly, and His Highness is said to return as soon as post-processing is completed.”
In the middle of a rather small story and recent situation, it was a man named Gail Phellips who opened his mouth in earnest.
He was a person who was on the line of suspect along with Julius when Vincent was purged the other day, but in reality he was also the owner of a very upright personality.
“Good news. Anything else special?”
“It doesn’t seem like anything. Contrary to what the lady was worried about, it seems we were able to handle it without any major problems.”
“… yes?”
It’s really good news, but Ariel wiggled the corner of her mouth in discomfort for some reason.
Did it take a long time to suppress the immigrants, or did they not have time to contact them until then?
It’s been quite a while since I thought it should have been heard immediately, no matter what news I heard, but at this point, positive news was delivered, so I felt really strange.
‘Anyway, I’m glad.’
Anyway, the good news is that things worked out.
It was around the time that Helene’s worries were growing little by little, so Ariel wanted to contact her directly.
However, there was no need for that, and today, just being able to tell this story to her mother was a great harvest for her.
Thanks to this, it was expected that both Helen and her mood would be clear today.
“Ariel.”
“Why?”
Still, with a much lighter heart, Ariel was about to listen to the next story, but Edgar asked for the understanding of his retainers and secretly called her.
Since she was not in the position to officially take over Yulken’s position now, her rank was allowed even in this situation.
If she soon became the owner of the grand duke’s family, she would use honorifics in such a situation.
Anyway, the important thing for Ariel was that he, who seldom stopped talking to his vassals, came forward for some reason.
I listened closely to see if there was something important going on, and an unexpected answer came back.
“Doesn’t it make sense to send a separate call to Whitewood?”
“… What contact?”
“I think you know why.”
Ariel twitched her eyebrows for a moment, but then nodded with an understanding look in her eyes.
Certainly, as he said, the timing was a little subtle. It’s something she’s been thinking about for a while.
However, Gail added that even the certificate that Yulken used when sending letters himself was directly attached, so he turned his gaze away, wanting to be halfway even suspicious.
‘But it’s definitely an exhibition right now.’
Although Hespania may be peaceful, Whitewood is a place at war.
If so, always assuming the worst and going would be the right choice for a person standing on top.
As long as there is only one thing left, it is not easy to let go of the mind.
“game.”
“Yes, lady.”
“Send a letter in my name to Whitewood. Will it arrive in a few days?”
“If you send it as quickly as possible, you should be able to get it by this time tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
Ariel pondered the word, nodded, and added one more thing.
“Then take three days to spare, including the reply, and send reinforcements if no answer comes back within that time.”
“… If it’s reinforcements, do you consider the possibility of forging the letter?”
“any. Just think of it as a giwoo.”
The contents of the letter Gale personally handed over were clearly written in Yulken’s handwriting, and all the marks were inscribed, so Ariel felt that there was nothing particularly suspicious in the eyes of Ariel.
Just a strange feeling of incongruity.
In fact, this was not an option that appealed to her, who was influenced by Edgar and valued rationality rather than emotion whenever possible.
However, sometimes people come to prioritize their senses rather than clear physical evidence or clear circumstances.
Ariel thought this was such a moment.
It can be said that it is a similar example to when I looked at Vincent the other day, but unlike that time, there is no physical evidence at all.
“I will. And I will extract and send some people in advance along with a letter.”
“Okay. If you notice anything unusual through the senders, report it to me immediately. Anytime is fine.”
“Yes.”
Gail nodded firmly and left the room at Ariel’s command.
After all, that was all he had to report on, and now his priority was to do her bidding.
“Is this the end of the report?”
“That’s right.”
Today, except for the Whitewood case, there were few subjects that could be said to be very big.
Most of them were things that the vassals could resolve at their own discretion, and they were just the stories I had told Ariel before that to confirm.
Thanks to that, the conversation ended a little early.
It was the perfect time to take a breather after lunch.
“Then, since everyone will have to work, let’s get rid of the seats and make another one during the week to gather. As for the date, Ed, you decide and let your vassals know.”
“yes.”
When Ariel looked around the crowd, refreshing the atmosphere, everyone in the seat nodded their heads in unison and smiled happily.
It gave off the nuance of ending it early for his vassals, but everyone present knew it.
That she just wants to go back to her office and be alone with her lover.
That’s also true, because there was no one in the castle who didn’t know about the affectionate relationship between the two.
Perhaps even the rats hanging out by the canals knew, they thought.
“I will follow your will.”
However, there was no need to bring this out of their mouths to incur her anger, so the vassals, pretending not to know, rose from their seats and headed to their respective locations.
* * * * * * *
When Ariel and Edgar return to the office, an unexpected guest has visited first.
“Mother.”
“Huh, I don’t know why I feel like seeing my daughter after such a long time.”
“Me too. Oh Shuri. Please start with the car.”
“Yes, lady.”
Shuri, who had been guarding the office all the time without accompanying her to the meeting, bowed her head and walked at the owner’s command.
“Are you used to working now? Ed must be suffering too.”
“What a hardship. Don’t worry, ma’am.”
If there were others, he would have been more polite, but Helene liked this part better, so Edgar opened his mouth as if he were addressing his mother.
“Oh, I don’t know if Eline is doing well. Shappy is not alone in her worries.”
“At first I was a bit lost, but now I’m good at it. He has a bit of a timid side, but he seems like a cute kid.”
“ear… what?”
‘Oops.’
Edgar, belatedly realizing that Ariel was standing next to him with his eyes wide open, creaked and turned his head away.
I never said it in that sense, but it was no different than giving Ariel a reason to be angry, no matter what the intention was.
“Didn’t you say I would watch over you?”
“Sorry. The words were in vain without my knowledge.”
In the first place, Ariel herself said that Eline’s actions reminded her of Shuri from before, and that sometimes she felt cute.
But the fact that it came out of Edgar’s mouth was a somewhat different story.
When Edgar’s excuses showed no sign of softening her eyes, Helen eventually intervened and interceded between the two.
“yes. Besides, what Ed means by cute is different from what he means to you. So please close your eyes just this once, Ariel.”
Helene literally represented Edgar by arranging what he wanted to say.
In response, Edgar clenched his fists and praised Helen inwardly, and met eyes with Ariel, who was sitting next to him, with an expression as nonchalant as possible.
“… Since my mother is there, I just get over it.”
“then. I know.”
As soon as Edgar tried to change his attitude and gave a smirk, a laugh was engraved on Ariel’s lips.
It was only a question for her that when she was beaten up a little while ago, how and why she was so good.
Besides, when I saw him smiling like that, even if I let go of my anger, I would go into it at some point, so I wondered if he was acting that way on purpose.
“Still, I am glad that you are doing well. There is no big problem in terms of ability, but Ira Shappy, who is a bit clumsy, worried a lot.”
“It is like that at first. But are you here for that business today?”
In the midst of talking about Elyne, Edgar insinuated that Helene had come for some other reason.
As if she had been caught by this, Helene, who showed a rather dainty smile inappropriate for her age, brought up the main topic.
The reason was nothing else, it was about Yulken.
“Even if I hide it from my daughter, I can’t hide it from Ed. Actually, I came to ask if he had contacted me.”
Originally, Yulken’s personality was blunt, so even when he went to a distant place, he wasn’t the type to send letters asking about his current situation.
That’s why Helen also didn’t find it strange that there was no contact, but strangely, a part of her heart was uneasy.
So, even if there was no direct contact with her, he came here to ask if there was any news about the current situation after the campaign through the family.
As well as seeing my daughter’s face.
“Actually, the letter just arrived today. I was going to tell my mother about it, but it was just right.”
“so? oh… … !””
Ariel wanted to hide this fact for a while, but thought that it was urgent to relieve Helene’s anxiety, so she took out the letter and showed it.
When I averted my gaze and met Edgar’s eyes, he nodded as if he was good.
Even if the authenticity of this letter could not be known anyway, he thought it would be better to inform Helen first than to immediately remain silent.
“Why don’t you take it and read it now? My mother must have been waiting a long time for my father to contact me.”
“I guess so. Huhu, he is also true. You are always one step behind.”
Helene disappeared with a happy smile, carrying the letter, putting off talking to her daughter.
By the time Shuri got into the car later, she had already disappeared, so in the end, Shuri himself had to take care of the remaining car.
“Now I must hope that the letter is from Your Highness.”
“It should be. I’m sure your father will be fine. Because he always was.”
“but.”
Edgar, who was watching her tremble lightly with anxiety at the same time, gently reached out and wrapped his arms around Ariel’s shoulders, pulling her towards him.
All they can do in Hespania is to hope for Yulken’s safe return.
For now, that’s all there is to it.