25 – 7. Promise (2)
How many times have I lost?
While welcoming the guests who came to visit us.
It reminded me of a light sparring that had happened a little while ago.
‘one… I think I gave up after counting 20 times.’
From nob le mt l. co m
My time with Adele lasted less than an hour.
In that one hour, he suffered over twenty defeats.
I couldn’t swing the sword properly.
When I come to my senses, my sword is rolling around in the distance.
Adele’s wooden sword was always placed in front of her.
At first I was amazed, then I was ashamed.
And at some point, jealousy rose for no reason.
That jealousy soon turned into admiration.
‘It was strong. To the extent that I can’t even compare to the current me.’
Her own father and brother were all great knights.
In terms of mindset as well as skills, there was no lack of anything.
Everyone in Lichtenau loved these two people.
So they remained loyal even to the moment of their death.
And that loyalty continued even after the two died.
If so, what about his daughter and his younger sister?
How about himself as the owner of Lichtenau, the target of their loyalty?
‘Weak. Right now, I am too weak.’
Why do Fiorega and Etria despise themselves so much?
It’s not just because demon blood flows.
Because I am weak, because I am so weak that I am an insignificant person.
Even though he had nothing, just because he was born with some lineage.
It must have been laughable to sit in that important, heavy seat.
If you can’t protect yourself, how can you protect your family and people?
Quit playing the housekeeper and just like it used to be.
Lock yourself in the safest place in the Empire and stay a coward.
Let the weak just take care of themselves and live with their breath.
They will want to say that to themselves.
“Nice to meet you, gentlemen.”
“Lord Liechtenauer. nice to see you.”
“I heard you won against Fiore this time.”
“Rumors have already spread.”
Also, a number of nobles who came to see him right away.
In the end, I only came to see Lichtenauer, not Shien.
Lichtenauer, who had ‘won’ in a duel.
If it were the opposite, if Lichtenauer had lost.
The ridicule of Fiore coming out of their mouths.
It was clear that it was headed for Lichtenau.
“As expected, he is a renowned master of swordsmanship.”
“Even the previous head of household can rest in peace.”
“Lately, Fiore has been arrogant, but Lichtenauer seems to stop right away.”
I’m sick of it, and I’m scared.
Will he be able to get through this world well?
There are so many things to protect, but no one can lose.
“… thank you everyone. Thank you for coming here.”
Unlike his own inner thoughts.
Shien greeted the nobles who came to him without hesitation.
The weakness you see is Lichtenauer’s weakness.
The strengths he reveals become Lichtenauer’s strengths.
‘You have to get stronger. I want to become stronger.’
To do that, you must first be able to stand on your own.
Although now, it’s embarrassing to say that he is the head of a famous swordsmanship family.
Even though she is just a weak and weak woman.
One day, you should be able to confidently discuss strength as a sword.
Even for that part.
Shien wanted to learn more and more from Adele.
“it’s over?”
The meeting we had since lunchtime ended only in the late afternoon.
Even so, the people of Lichtenau and Karina reduced and shortened it.
That was enough to select only those who could really benefit.
“Yes, everyone is back now.”
“Anyway, everyone is great. I heard that you had a conversation with His Majesty the Emperor once, so you can see that he rushed in like a dam and looked around to see if there was anything he could do to help. I mean, I’m still not interested.”
Although Lichtenauer is a family with a reputation for swordsmanship.
It does not act as a powerful force in the central political world.
To the aristocrats, Lichtenau was a family that was good at swordsmanship.
It was nothing more and nothing less.
That was until Shien met the princess and the emperor at a banquet.
“I am also dumbfounded. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this.”
Shien smiled and held Karina’s hand.
“thank you. Karina.”
“Yes?”
“If you hadn’t cared, none of this would have happened. Thank you very much.”
“Seriously, why are you like this? I was just investing.”
Karina pretends to be calm while shaking off Cien’s hand.
Shien just nodded his head because he was clearly embarrassed.
“And, I am not the one who should be thanked.”
“Why?”
“If it wasn’t for your escort, things would have gone awry. My favor would have become a noose that strangles you. This is not what I did, Shien. It was all the work of that man named Adele.”
All he did was bring Shien to the banquet.
Even that could have been messed up by Fiore.
But the person who turned it upside down was Adele.
Everything that happened to Shien was, in the end, accomplished by that attendant.
Even at the banquet, if he hadn’t won in the present situation.
It was only certain that it would lead to contempt and ridicule.
“I think you are a good person. That Adele.”
“Are you still suspicious?”
“It has no choice but to be. The head of the family who did not even receive an heir class, a shaky family. There’s nothing strange about sneaking in people from somewhere right now.”
Shien knew that Karina’s and the others’ concerns were reasonable.
Even if he thought about it, it wasn’t that Adele didn’t have a strange part at all.
If he really is deceiving both himself and his family.
If you are crouching in the deepest part of Lichtenau.
Possibly something bad could happen later.
‘but… No matter how I look at it, I’m not that kind of person.’
Neither were the eyes telling lies, nor the eyes of someone hiding something.
He was just a very lonely and very tired person.
“What are you going to do now?”
“We have to leave right away.”
“today? It’s already late afternoon.”
“I want to go back to my family as soon as possible. There is so much to do.”
At Shien’s words, Karina smiled slightly.
Because I remember the timid and crying Sien in the past.
I was worried that he would do well as the head of Lichtenauer.
If you show such enthusiasm, wouldn’t it be a little reassuring?
“okay. Then I’ll tell the upper ranks to help prepare for departure.”
“You don’t have to. You already have enough help.”
“This is all an investment. It’s not a favor without reason, Lord Lichtenauer.”
So just kindly accept it.
Karina’s eyes said so.
* * *
According to Shien’s wish to return to the family as soon as possible.
The people of Liechtenau and the upper ranks quickly completed their preparations.
“I’ll see you later, Lord Lichtenauer.”
Since it was not a private place, Karina also took a bow.
When I greeted him politely, Shien also put his hand on his chest and bowed his head.
“Thanks to Karina Sangsanju, I’m getting along well. I will make sure to repay this debt later.”
“Whoop whoop. I will remember those words well, Lord.”
I’m inclined to write it down in the ledger wherever it is.
He is my precious person who has not changed and will not change.
I sincerely hope that one day, please, I can pay off this debt.
Leaving behind such a short meeting with a friend.
Climbing into the carriage, Shien looked out the window at the scenery of the imperial castle passing by.
‘In those short few days, so many things happened.’
At first, it was just a visit to solve a financial problem.
However, you receive an unexpected investment and pay the price.
That’s how I attended a banquet and unintentionally accepted a duel.
His name was even mentioned by the emperor, and he suddenly set foot in politics.
If you say that a lot of unexpected luck comes to you.
It is said that people are naturally wary.
Is it because the luck is too much and too huge?
Rather than being wary, it was all about being dazed.
Kikik, Kkiik-.
The wagon’s speed gradually decreases.
It seemed that they had reached the gate leading out of the imperial castle.
“Whoa!”
Next to Lichtenauer waiting for his turn.
Another noble carriage and people lined up side by side.
“… .”
“… .”
“Kuhm.”
Why did I meet Fiore here again?
Each of the Lichtenau knights sighed inwardly.
According to the news, a knight on the Fiore side was defeated by this attendant.
He even cut off one of his arms and said that his life as a knight was completely over.
I wondered what would happen if they quarreled about it again.
If you start fighting, it won’t end as well as before.
“… .”
“… .”
However, contrary to the expectations of such articles.
Personnel on the Fiore side showed no action.
Rather, wouldn’t Lichtenauer set the day first?
It was to the point where I could feel the look of being wary of it.
Why are they suddenly doing that?
Why are those who openly provoked them remain silent?
After thinking for a while, the knights soon realized the reason.
“Shin. We will be leaving soon.”
The carriage that their lord, Shien, rides.
Adele, standing beside him announcing the departure.
Although he has a very good-looking face and eyes.
The knights remember the scene of slaughtering the beasts alone.
If that man, just as he was, had subdued the Fiore side knight.
The reaction of the Fiore knights was also understandable.
They are afraid of Adele.
“… .”
That scene, Shien too, had it in his eyes.
They were the ones who, not too long ago, were nervous about not being able to argue.
I could feel that Fiore was careful not to bump into her.
You will realize again why you have to be strong.
‘Even though I borrowed someone else’s power now.’
Someday, someday, I will definitely become that person.
Shien made that decision with both hands tightly clasped.
You mustn’t weaken, you can’t go back now.
The place my father, my brother, and many others tried to protect.
Now, the one who protects that Lichtenau is himself.
‘Let’s see, Etria. I’m below you right now, but I’ll definitely catch up.’
Reminds me of Adele, who subdued the knights of Fiore.
He said he wanted to defeat Etria like that one day.
With strength in her white hands, clenched into fists.
For the first time, Shien was burning with intense fighting spirit.