Chapter 198
Chapter: 198
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 198
>Chapter Title: Louise (1)
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Captain of the Guard, Sir Sebastian Bartel, was a striking figure in every way.
Towering nearly as tall as Sir Francis, with a solidly muscled frame honed to perfection.
His face held a gentle warmth that belied a warrior's build, yet the overwhelming presence radiating from him was as unyielding as a fortress wall.
*No way I’d forget a guy this impressive.*
Sungjin tilted his head in puzzlement, but Bruno, the knight commander, leaned in and quietly explained.
“Your Highness, Sir Sebastian is Lady Ilma’s husband.”
What? For real?
Sungjin gave the man a fresh once-over.
Lady Ilma was one thing, but this guard captain possessed strength on par with Lady Masain.
That meant both of them were Decaron Knights—a couple that could truly claim the title of the continent’s strongest!
If those two ever had a lovers’ quarrel, the whole territory would shake.
Lost in such idle thoughts, Sungjin barely noticed the guard captain bowing politely once more.
“I’ve already notified the count’s residence, Your Highness. Right this way, please.”
And so, Sungjin’s group arrived at the Zigsmundt estate under Sir Sebastian’s guidance.
The manor sat atop a gentle hill in the northeast of the territory, a massive structure that had grown haphazardly over centuries of additions, its lines far from tidy.
*…This is the count’s manor?*
Rough walls of exposed stone. Tiny windows that barely let in light.
To Sungjin, accustomed to the grand terraces and pristine stucco of the imperial capital’s buildings, the place felt less like a manor and more like a castle or fortress.
“I hear it predates even St. Bastian’s Church. Indeed, it’s the home of a noble house that has steadfastly guarded the continent from the Demonic Frontier for over half a century. What grandeur.”
Lady Masain’s admiring words brought a glint to the guard captain’s eyes.
“I’m glad it meets with your approval. Visitors from other regions sometimes express disappointment at first, unaccustomed to the unfamiliar style.”
There had been several attempts at renovation over the years, but the sheer scale made most plans fizzle out at the drawing board. Besides, continental architectural trends couldn’t solve the insulation issues here.
The only exception was the expansive garden stretching before the manor, styled in a fashion similar to those in the capital. Though the climate had withered the rose petals to dust, leaving only bleak, barren branches.
Stepping down from the carriage amid the parched garden, Sungjin was greeted by a group who bowed in unison and cried out.
“Blessings of the Lord upon the Millennium Holy Kingdom of Delcross!”
It seemed the entire Zigsmundt household—family and servants alike—had turned out.
Flustered by the unexpectedly warm welcome, Sungjin watched as an elegant middle-aged woman at the forefront stepped forward and lightly lifted her skirt.
“I am honored to meet the enlightened Prince Mores. It is our house’s great privilege to host Your Highness.”
She was Countess Zigsmundt, who had come from distant Anatolia in the south of the continent.
Her beautiful face, etched with fine laugh lines, brimmed with genuine joy at their arrival.
“My thanks for the warm reception, Countess. I hope we’re not imposing during such a busy time for the territory.”
Sungjin had half-expected some reluctance to his visit.
As he offered his greeting with that in mind, a gentle smile graced her lips.
“Not at all. Truth be told, I should have paid my respects in the capital. My mother-in-law’s illness kept me from attending the birthday celebration this year. For a guest from warmer climes to visit like this is always a great joy to me.”
Just then, Orden glanced around and asked,
“But Mother, where is Father?”
“Ah. He’s gone to inspect the Demonic Frontier defenses with Grandfather. The cold this year has the Lycanslopes migrating south earlier than usual.”
“…Grandfather too?”
“Lady Ilma is away from the territory, isn’t she? So Grandfather insisted on personally checking the borders, just in case.”
Vincent Zigsmundt, the empire’s famed veteran general, remained spry even after passing the title to his son. Then again, as a Decaron Knight himself, his vitality wouldn’t wane easily.
“Lately, he’s been singing the same tune about strange auras emanating from the Frontier. This gave him a perfect excuse to go—good for him, no?”
The countess added that before turning to Sungjin.
“The Lycanslopes that summer in the Frontier are starting to move toward countship lands. Regrettably, the count had to step away, but I shall personally ensure Your Highness receives the utmost hospitality in his stead.”
Sungjin nodded and offered his arm. The countess lightly took it, and the two proceeded into the manor in perfect sync, like old friends.
“You’ve already been of great help, Countess. You even sent your house physician.”
“Oh, I was so worried when I heard you’d been gravely injured on the journey. Are you fully recovered now?”
“Perfectly fine. Everyone just worried too much.”
“That speaks to how precious your health is, Your Highness. Truth be told, I was startled earlier. You look so much healthier than when I saw you last year.”
“Do I?”
“Yes, up close like this, you strongly resemble His Holiness the Holy Emperor and Empress Consort Elizabeth.”
Sungjin burst into laughter at that.
“I’m relieved you think so. Though I still fall short of escorting a beauty like yourself, Countess.”
“Oh, Your Highness! Hohoho. You make this old countrywoman’s heart flutter!”
The household and servants trailed behind them in a neat line.
Sungjin’s retinue—Orden included—stood there with mouths agape, staring in bewilderment.
What was that? That effortless banter?
Was that guy really the same wild prince who’d been hopping through snowdrifts until yesterday?
“Your Highness really is something else. Look at that smooth talk!”
“Lady Claudia! Smooth talk?!”
“…Bloodline? Some inborn talent for womanizing?”
“Hush! Sir Karmen! Such irreverence!”
Lady Masain reflexively pictured her uncle and Prince Logan in turn at the knights’ whispers, then paled and shook her head vigorously.
“No, surely not even His Highness would…”
* * *
Sungjin received the utmost hospitality.
A luxurious bedchamber, warmed by a roaring hearth prepared well before their arrival, awaited him.
He even merited a personal attendant.
“Our finest page. He’s already training to be a butler, so he can handle most anything you need.”
The head butler introduced a neatly uniformed boy.
“Louise Bartel, Your Highness. At your service.”
He appeared about Mores’s age, but carried himself with remarkable poise and gravity. The crisp precision of his bow suited a knight more than a servant.
Sungjin, who had quietly worried that the rigid Edith might cause some blunder in the count’s household, felt a weight lift.
“Good. I’ll be counting on you for a while.”
With that greeting, Sungjin eyed the boy closely, struck by an odd sense of familiarity.
Come to think of it…
“Hm. Haven’t we met somewhere before?”
“…Pardon?”
The boy seemed flustered for a split second but quickly composed himself and shook his head.
“I’ve never left the territory. I believe this is our first meeting, Your Highness.”
Fair enough.
Sungjin, who had spoken without thinking, now tilted his head in mild confusion.
That’s weird. He’s clearly a stranger, but I’ve felt this a few times today already.
“…Bartel, you say?”
At Sungjin’s echo, Louise nodded knowingly.
“Ah, you must have met my father on the way here. He’s Sebastian Bartel, captain of the Zigsmundt countship guard.”
“What?”
Sungjin blinked at the surprise, then pressed further.
“Wait. Then you’re… Lady Ilma’s…?”
“Yes. I am the daughter of Lady Ilma Bartel.”
…Daughter?
Sungjin was stunned.
*I totally thought he was a boy!*
The Demon Lord snorted in his mind.
[What’re you on about? She looks like a girl plain as day. You’ve got sharp eyes for weird stuff, but blind where it counts.]
Huh. He’d chalked her slender build up to boyish youth, but Louise might actually be older than she looked.
“Lunch is prepared. Shall I escort you to the dining hall?”
Lost in thought, Sungjin stared blankly until Louise calmly announced the next item on the agenda.
The daughter of Lady Ilma and Guard Captain Sebastian.
No wonder she looked familiar. The girl had inherited traits from both parents evenly.
Her sharp features and upright posture echoed Lady Ilma; her pale flaxen hair and serene eyes were pure Sebastian.
“Or would you prefer a warm bath to rest first?”
“Uh, no. Dining hall now.”
Sungjin shrugged off his heavy winter coat and handed it to Louise.
In that fleeting moment as she took it, Sungjin’s keen eyes spotted something unusual on her hands.
*…She trains with a sword?*
The girl’s long fingers bore the thick calluses unique to seasoned swordsmen.
Not surprising given her parents, but hadn’t she just said she was studying to be a butler?
Sungjin found it odd but followed her out without comment.
Woof! Woof woof!
Walking the first-floor corridor behind Louise, Sungjin heard barking from several dogs somewhere nearby.
“You keep dogs?”
Louise glanced out a window and explained.
“They’re the count’s hunting hounds. Right on time—they’ve just finished training.”
“Oh?”
Come to think of it, Hermann had mentioned that the Zigsmundt lands, bordering the Demonic Frontier, relied heavily on their hounds’ prowess.
The manor even bred and trained them professionally. They managed prime bloodlines and crossbred some with wolves to produce wolfhounds.
Woof! Woof!
A long, searching howl.
Sungjin paused to listen, then turned to Louise with a strange premonition.
“Any chance I could take a look at the hounds now?”
A flicker of surprise crossed her face, but she checked her pocket watch, gauged the time, and nodded.
“There’s a shortcut through the rear garden to the main building. The kennels are close by, so it should be fine. Shall I fetch your winter coat? Just a moment, please.”
“Nah, I’m good. I’ll use aura.”
A short jaunt in the cold was no trouble.
But the moment Sungjin stepped into the frigid rear garden…
Thud thud thud.
A massive hound barreled across the garden at full tilt, straight toward him.
“……?”
Huh?
Sungjin, sensing no hostility, let his guard down—only to stagger under the beast’s weight and tumble to the ground.
“Your Highness!?”
Before he could recover, something wet slapped against his face. The hound, having pinned him enthusiastically, began licking his face with gusto.
Louise swiftly shoved the dog off.
*What the hell is this?*
Sungjin sat up in bewilderment as the hound—overjoyed for some reason—began bounding circles around him, tail wagging furiously.
“Max! Max!”
An elderly kennelmaster came huffing and puffing toward them.
“Max! You rascal! What’s the big idea charging off like that?!”
…Max?
The hound barked low at the man, almost as if scolding him back.
Woof! Woof!
*Max? Coincidence…?*
For some reason, the dog’s appearance tugged at Sungjin’s memory.
Wolfish overall. Dark gray back fading to tawny flanks. White fur gleaming on both cheeks and belly.
…No way?
“…Max?”
Sungjin called out in a trembling voice.
Then.
Woof!
As if in answer, the dog barked loudly, sat, and wagged its tail.
“Max? Really? Then why aren’t you talking…?”
Sungjin trailed off. The dog cocked its head, then slathered his nose and cheek with its sopping tongue.
No sign of Iji anywhere—just an energetic mutt full of vim and vigor.
Sungjin reeled in shock.
“No way…”
Max! What the hell happened to you in the meantime?
How’d you end up like this?!