15 – 5. To Hwangseong (1)
Some time had passed since he had served as Lichtenau’s attendant.
There was no big deal, it was an extremely ordinary continuation of daily life.
At least until today.
“My lord. A letter has arrived.”
Adele handed out the letter she had just received to Shien.
The outer packaging gives a very old-fashioned feel.
The elegant handwriting stands out.
“Correspondence? Who are you from?”
I stopped working for a while and received a letter from my attendant.
At that, Adele checked the outside and opened her mouth.
“It was said to be the family head’s best friend.”
“ah. I know who it is. I didn’t expect you to come this soon.”
“colleague… So, are you friends?”
At Adele’s question, Xian smiled softly.
“yes. I’m a friend. A very close friend, who had the same concerns as me. He helped me a lot when I was lonely in the middle. He is a very dear friend to me.”
“You are a good person.”
“yes. A very good friend. Really.”
Saying that, Shien opened the letter.
In case he was in the way, Adele moved a little further away.
“… Mmm.”
After a while, Shien drools after reading the letter.
And then he even bites his lip a little.
It’s natural to think that something bad is going on.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah yes. are you okay. Adele. Just thinking about it for a second.”
Shien, twitching her chin, falls into trouble.
To summarize the contents of the letter in her hand.
– It is possible to lend money. –
– Instead, you should come to the imperial castle once again. –
– Don’t ask why, come quickly. –
It was roughly like this.
‘Anyway, it seems like he’s trying to push something on his back.’
The friend who sent this letter, is really nice.
If there’s just one thing that bothers you.
Because I tried to take care of myself too passionately.
That pure kindness has reached a point where it becomes burdensome.
The same goes for the request to come to the imperial castle right away.
Did you come from the center to the north where Lichtenau is located?
From nob le mt l. co m
My friend also knows that it’s been less than a month.
I have to digest that long and difficult schedule again.
The head of the family, who is in the midst of recovery, must vacate.
But the reason why they came is because there is something great.
You must have a desire to take care of yourself.
Shien’s heart was a little burdened.
“… Adele.”
“Yes, Shien.”
“Please go out and call a meeting. I guess I’d like to hear your opinion.”
“All right.”
Adele faithfully carried out the orders of my lord.
While walking around the castle, he informs his retainers of the will of the head of state.
Afterwards, the Lichtenauer meeting was held at the request of Shien.
Upon hearing the subject she raised, the vassals were divided in opinion.
“I am Lichtenauer, who has just begun to recover. But at this critical time. The head of the household is away. Yellow star too? If you include the travel period and the itinerary after arrival, it is a journey that will take more than a month if not possible. This is a difficult situation for Lichtenau.”
“But you say it’s nothing else, it’s to solve the funding problem, right?”
“I would rather give up the property of our retainers. Please stay.”
“I can make up for it right now, but the money is constantly being consumed. There is a limit to stagnant money for that year. We need new funding channels.”
“It makes sense.”
Although at first there was a clear division of opinions into pros and cons.
Gradually, it was inevitable, and the direction leaned toward the affirmative opinion.
Despite the fact that he had already disposed of quite a lot of personal belongings of the head of state.
Lichtenauer is still struggling with financial difficulties.
Even if the vassals here offer their property.
It is only a temporary solution, but not a fundamental solution.
Sharing a small puddle is not the end.
For now, the most important thing is to create a new waterway.
If not, no matter how huge the old tree is.
Eventually, slowly, very slowly, it just dries up and dies.
“It seems that a conclusion has been reached.”
Shien, who had been listening to the opinions of his vassals, stood up.
Then, the retainers follow her and stand up all at once.
“It won’t be long. A month, maybe a month and a half at the longest.”
“… .”
“Until then, only Liechtenau. I would like to ask you one more moment. I believe in my belief that everyone will do their best. Can I trust you?”
“Is it possible?”
“Until the day the head of the household comes, I will defend this Lichtenau even at the cost of my life.”
“When you say that, it gives me more strength.”
The appearance of the head of the family who works hard for the family.
Adele quietly captured Xian’s appearance in her eyes.
Even if it’s not as splendid as the emperor.
It seemed to light up little by little.
* * *
Once the decision was made, things went smoothly after that.
Shien selected knights who would go to the imperial castle with him.
However, the number of articles is too small.
At least a dozen knights and dozens of escorts were hired.
It was a smaller number than when Shien came to Lichtenau.
“My lord. Are you really going to be okay with this number?”
“I’m worried that it’s too little, Head of Household.”
It was natural for Blender and Rascal to express their concerns.
At the worry of the two vassals, Shien smiled.
“are you okay. Isn’t Adele going instead?”
With Adele’s overwhelming ability, more than ten knights could do it.
There is no way they are unaware of this fact.
Even so, the two of them were still worried about Shien.
“I know. What are you two worried about?”
“know… Are you there?”
“Why would nobles carry more attendants than necessary? Safety is also safety, but I want to show it there again. Even in these difficult times, they are still strong.”
“… .”
“On the other hand, a small attendant is a perfect picture to belittle. Am I wrong?”
You’re not wrong, that’s correct.
As Shien said, the reason for worrying about the small number of attendants.
Rather than simply a safety factor in preparation for an emergency.
It is because of the eyes of others looking at the family head of Lichtenauer.
Although some may say that it is unusual to have only a little gaze.
In the political world, even showing it is a force and a strategy.
There is nothing good about looking weak, only the imperial family is the only one who is not ignored even if they look weak
Other than that, it’s just a gossip thing to chew on in the social world.
“Do not worry. As there are fewer attendants, I will do better.”
“My lord.”
“It’s hard to say this, but I know the central situation better. Been there for a long time too. So trust me, you two, keep Lichtenauer strong. I heard that a few days ago, the Devil came out and there was another battle. This great family, while its owner is absent for a while. I hope you loyal ones take good care of it.”
In the end, the two vassals had no choice but to follow Shien’s will.
While Shien climbed into the carriage and prepared for departure.
Brenda and Rascal approached Adele, who was waiting next to them.
“Adele.”
“Captain. Captain of the Guard.”
As Adele bows her head, the two retainers also bow their heads.
Then he smiled and parted his lips.
“Please take good care of the head of the household.”
“Do not worry. No demons will be able to block the way.”
Rascal then slowly shook his head.
Because the demons weren’t the only concern.
Because there may be enemies that are more troublesome than the Witchbeast.
“Of course I believe in your skills, Adele. but… Those who want to tarnish Liechtenauer’s reputation may raise a fuss. be careful with that You don’t have to go over there.”
“… Isn’t Lichtenauer a renowned swordsman in the Empire?”
“Right. It’s true that you want to bite it even more. Originally, this world is like that. What is politics, what is power. Unmanned people like us are full of things that can’t be understood.”
Adele thought for a moment at Rascal’s words, then nodded.
I don’t know the details, but I definitely understood this one thing.
If someone gets into a fight, let’s never do that again.
“Anyway, you have a good trip. Isn’t this the first time in the imperial castle?”
“ah. yes. first… That’s it. Yes, this is the first time.”
“It will be a good experience.”
“You can’t be distracted by the sight of the imperial castle and neglect the family lord.”
Rascal jokingly said that he would take good care of Shien.
But he didn’t expect it at all.
That Adele knew very well not only the imperial castle, but even the imperial palace.
* * *
Various -.
There was no problem with the schedule while heading to the imperial castle.
On the way, the Demon Lord appeared once nearby.
Just before the people of Liechtenau even stepped forward.
The imperial army waiting nearby wiped out the Demonic Beasts.
It was natural since it was the lowest grade, the 5th grade Demonic World.
“… .”
The way back to the center where I left a while ago.
Shien looked at the scenery outside the carriage and was silently lost in thought.
‘What the hell are you thinking, Karina.’
The friend he met in the center, Carina Regram.
Her true identity is not a human of the Empire.
Shien is a demon like her own mother.
I wonder if it was a pity for Shien, who is of mixed blood between humans and demons.
From before, Karina cared for and cherished Shien like a younger sister.
I wonder if he approached me aiming for something, but I’m worried.
That being said, Karina’s back was no joke either.
‘If I get help from the top, I’ll still be able to breathe.’
After I fled with my people.
Clever Karina formed a guild with the demons around her.
And in less than 20 years, the tax was rapidly called.
The result of thorough trust and perseverance unique to the demons.
Regram, one of the largest guilds in the Empire.
He was on his way to meet the owner of the place.
smart-.
Shien knocks on the carriage window.
Then the window opens and Adele’s voice is heard.
“Yes, Shien.”
“How much is left?”
“I heard that it will arrive between tomorrow morning and noon.”
“… Then let’s stop by the nearby town and rest.”
“I will follow your orders.”
According to the will of the head of state, Lichtenauer’s procession moved to a nearby city.
Time to wait in front of the castle gate for a brief inspection.
Shien, who had been quietly sitting in the carriage, suddenly said.
I noticed that it was strangely noisy outside.
“Adele. What’s going on?”
“… I think you should come and see me.”
It’s a difficult situation for me to understand.
At Adele’s last words, Shien tilted her head.
It’s hard to understand, what do you mean by that?
Did something go wrong during the inspection?
Shien got up and stepped out of the carriage.
If there is a problem, it is something that the family head should solve.
Lichtenauer is not a good place, so there is no problem.
“… ha.”
However, the moment I witnessed the following situation.
Shien let out a sigh of irritation.
‘I never thought I’d meet the Fiore family here.’
There are several famous swordsman families in the Empire.
We interact with each other and build friendships.
Some families even have antagonistic relationships.
The most representative examples are Lichtenau and Fiore.
The areas held by each other are not far apart.
Swordsmanship is also slightly different, but the root is the same.
Thanks to that, we had been roaring for a long time.
In particular, I heard the news that the head of the previous generation of Lichtenauer had married a demon.
They provoked the conflict by provoking that they had stained their lineage.
‘… It’s a big deal.’
I think something pretty embarrassing is going to happen.
By all means, it was Shien who wanted him to be Kiwoo.