48 – 13. Ettenberg (1)
“Welcome, go to Lichtenau. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for accepting the invitation.”
After a long journey, we finally reached the Ettenberg Street.
The moment he announced his arrival by naming Lichtenauer.
Shien was surprised to see the person who came out to greet him.
‘Senhow Etenberg! The family head came out himself!’
Unless there was a really important guest from the imperial family.
It is very unusual for the owner of the family to step forward and greet them.
Thanks to this, Cien, Brender, and the knights who served her were all taken aback.
“… ?”
Except for Adele, who doesn’t know much about that yet.
“Wow, thank you for the hospitality, Lord Etenberg. I never thought you would come out yourself.”
“ha ha ha. Aren’t you the main character of the imperial banquet that happened a while ago? It’s a bit like inviting someone like that and sitting in a room just saying hello.”
Even though they are the best family in the West, they do not show off or boast.
Even the family head here is much older than Shien.
Watching Zenhow treat someone who is almost his daughter’s age with a respectful tone.
The people of Lichtenauer thought it might be okay to relax.
“It just happened that the banquet had just begun. Like most guests, I was expecting to arrive tomorrow, but I am very glad you are here so early, Mr. Lichtenauer.”
The duration of this banquet is a total of four days.
On the first day, it was just a simple face reflection.
Neighboring nobles living nearby, or families, form the main axis.
After that, those who are a little farther or busy will arrive the next day.
Therefore, it can be said that the banquet begins on the second day.
However, the fact that Lichtenau, which was relatively far away, came on time.
It means that he has no light thoughts for this banquet.
It seems that the head of the Etenberg family really liked that part.
“It’s nothing. I was just in a bit of a hurry, but it turned out like this.”
“Anyway, you are very welcome. Come on, let’s go inside.”
Adele and Shien’s party were guided by Viscount Ettenberg.
I entered his territory called the center of the West.
Unlike the northern land where there is no barren feeling.
Even empty land is fertile enough to grow crops here.
The land is even, the days are not cold, and above all, it is very peaceful.
“They said that there was a strangely low incidence of demonic spectacles in the west, but it seems they weren’t all wrong.”
“You can see that. Compared to other parts of the Empire, it was relatively infrequent. Thanks to that, the empire was able to hold out until the end without being swept away.”
If the west, which could be called the granary of the empire, had been swept away.
Perhaps the Great War would have been much longer and more bloody.
By luck, the West was maintained and continued to supply.
At the same time, it accepted refugees pouring in from all over the country.
The Western aristocrats bore the burden without saying anything.
Frankly, I couldn’t help complaining about them.
While the refugees continue to flock, security is becoming unstable.
Because it had to serve as the empire’s supply depot without any support.
In those turbulent times, Ettenberg took center stage.
He comforted the nobles and persuaded them to be faithful to their duties.
Because the West received relatively less damage from the Devil’s Landing.
Because people from other places took over the role of our shield.
We take responsibility and protect the refugees from there.
And that we should help their fight not lead to defeat.
‘They say that the only thing to offer is money, but if money was really everything, it wouldn’t have been this great.’
Seeing Ettenberg smiling kindly, Shien’s eyes twinkled.
They are not unconditionally loyal to the empire, much less those who only seek gain.
In between, always figure out and calculate the best moments.
He is a clever aristocrat who never loses and only gains.
For family heads, this is the best ideal.
“What are you going to do? Right now, I was just having a brief conversation with some nobles.”
“Won’t the head of the family be in trouble if I don’t attend? I don’t want to be the kind of woman who just came to greet you, but just goes to take a break.”
“ha ha ha. Then we’ll be waiting for you. Hello. You are a valued guest. I will give you the best room and do my best to take care of you.”
“Yes, my lord.”
After a while, with the words to see you at the banquet hall, Viscount Etenberg turns around.
Shien, who was watching the scene, gestured to his party.
Those who need to go and rest, let’s rest, and those who need to work, let’s get ready.
“Shin-nim.”
All knights who had no reason to attend the banquet returned to their assigned quarters.
All that’s left is Captain Brender and his escort, Adele.
One attendant is sufficient, so there is no reason for both to attend.
“The captain is resting. I’m going to take Adele with me.”
“I understand, the head of the household.”
Anyway, Adele is in charge of escorting Shien.
There are no flaws in terms of skills or behavior.
So Brenda calmly walked to her room.
“So, what about Adele?”
“Yes, Shien.”
“Should we prepare to head to a new battlefield?”
“… What should I do to prepare?”
“It’s simple. There are clothes I brought from my family, so please wear them.”
While saying that, Shien handed Adele a bag.
“After you change, wait in front of my room. Because I think it will take a while.”
“All right.”
Adele answered without thinking.
He came right into my room and reached for the button in his uniform.
Took-tuk, tok-.
He takes off his uniform and unties his shirt.
Adele’s bare body was covered with scars that made her look hideous.
He doesn’t even know how many times he fought and how many times he was hurt.
I only know that I have come this far after overcoming a lot of near-death hurdles.
“… .”
Adele, who was looking at herself in the mirror, averted her gaze.
It’s my body that I’ve never given much thought to until now.
Lately, I feel like I don’t really want to show this.
I don’t know why, I just don’t want to get caught.
It was shameful to hide it, and it felt that way to Adele.
I wanted to put something on it, I wanted to hide it.
‘What kind of clothes did you prepare?’
Adele, who opened the bag Cien held out, blinked in a daze.
Naturally similar to the uniform she is wearing now, without any conspicuous decorations.
I thought it might be a simple piece of clothing.
However, Shien seemed to say no to Adele’s thoughts.
The clothes she prepared were completely different from what she had imagined.
“… .”
An extravagant formal attire worn by nobles.
It’s fortunate that the fabric is black, not a bright color that stands out.
Of course, even that was a high-quality fabric with a slight sheen.
‘Now this… Are you asking me to wear it?’
I think about it over and over again, even for a moment.
However, Adele has no right to refuse.
I even received an order to wear it, and I answered.
If you say you can’t wear it now, that’s also strange.
“Whoa… .”
Adele sighed and picked up the clothes Xien prepared.
Escorting was such a hard job, I put that thought behind me.
* * *
“You are truly beautiful, my lord.”
The ladies-in-waiting given by Viscount Etenberg exclaim in admiration.
It’s not just a polite compliment because you’re a guest.
A feeling that comes from the heart and cannot be hidden.
It made me want to applaud right away when I saw Xien’s appearance.
“thank you for your effort. I think this is the best.”
Xian chose a water-colored dress that went well with her silver hair.
Despite the fact that only the skin on the shoulders and wrists was barely visible.
It exudes an alluring atmosphere more than any other woman.
Seeing Shien’s appearance, the ladies-in-waiting were convinced.
As a lady-in-waiting of the Etenberg family, it was quite embarrassing.
At least, at least today’s protagonist will be this woman.
“Let’s go, my lord. I will escort you to the banquet hall.”
After putting on simple accessories, while being guided by the ladies-in-waiting.
It was the moment when Shien slowly opened the door and looked straight ahead.
“Have you come out?”
“ah… .”
At first, a sigh escaped from Shien’s mouth.
Following her, the ladies-in-waiting show the same reaction as Shien.
“Ahhh… .”
“Uh, uh… .”
Of course, their sighs were much longer than Shien’s.
And he had a much redder face.
“Shien-nim?”
Whether the women in front of me blushed or not.
Adele, who doesn’t care at all, or doesn’t even notice, opens her mouth.
Shien, who barely came to his senses, managed to part his lips.
“Oh, Adele.”
“Yes, Shien.”
“… very… It suits you very well… .”
Adele was already far from being an ordinary servant.
Even Shien, who had seen several aristocratic children in the center.
When I first saw Adele, I suddenly thought that she was handsome.
Adding to that a nice formal dress, it was truly at the level of sprouting wings.
I assure you, everyone will misunderstand if you go to the banquet hall right away.
You seem like a noble person, but where did you come from and what family did you come from?
And maybe the young ladies would rush in and make their eyes sparkle.
‘I don’t like that… .’
I had such a thought without even realizing it.
It was Shien who quickly shook his head.
I must be crazy! What the hell are you thinking!? Called.
“thank you.”
Saying hello, Adele smiles slightly.
Then the ladies-in-waiting who were standing behind me groaned.
One of them grabbed his chest and staggered.
“Let’s go. To the banquet hall.”
However, she didn’t care about the ladies-in-waiting at all.
It was Adele who only focused on Shien.
Feeling a strange sense of satisfaction and superiority in that appearance.
Shien nodded and smiled bashfully.