To the Imperial Capital (2)
Why had my sad premonition never once been wrong?
Sien pressed her palm to her forehead and let out a long sigh.
“... ...!”
“... ...! ... ...”
I wasn’t sure exactly what they were saying, but the Lichtenauer knights were in the middle of a heated argument with someone.
It was obvious that the opponent was from the Fiore family knights.
“Lord Sien. They suddenly started the fight first. What should we do?”
To Adel, who knew little about the relationship between the Lichtenauers and the Fiore, it simply looked like a group of madmen starting trouble out of nowhere.
“...For now, follow me.”
At Sien’s words, Adel nodded without hesitation.
The two approached the knights still locked in their confrontation.
“Everyone! Stop this at once. What is going on?”
“Ah, Lady Head!”
“...Lichtenauer Head?”
The Lichtenauer knights brightened at once.
Conversely, the Fiore knights scowled deeply.
The Fiore family had an extreme hatred for demons.
They had lost many of their own in the wars against demonic beasts.
Although the victims had been slain by the beasts rather than the demons themselves, to them the two were ultimately the same category.
Therefore, they had no reason to welcome Sien, whose blood carried demon heritage.
“What are you doing right now? People are frightened.”
“I-I’m sorry, Lady Head.”
“Lady Head, these people dared to insult you and the Lichtenauers!”
“That’s right. As knights, this is something that cannot be overlooked.”
The knights could not hide their fury and growled.
Sien did her best to calm the knights of that family.
As people who valued honor above all, any insult to their lord or their house was unbearable.
Yet this place was not far from the Imperial Capital.
If they caused a disturbance, no matter how powerful the Lichtenauers were, they would still be held responsible.
“Is what these people say true? Knights of Fiore?”
“I don’t understand what you mean, Lady Lichtenauer.”
“That is correct. We were only speaking of ‘half-bloods’.”
It was obvious. There had to be something more attached to the word half-blood.
Sien bit her lip and suppressed the surge of anger.
Regardless, the fact that she was a half-breed of human and demon was true.
And many people across the continent still hated demons.
Though they had allied with humans, fought the war, suffered countless sacrifices, and received imperial recognition.
Their reputation toward demons remained poor.
“What are these people doing?”
...Yes, I knew this would happen at this point.
Since the owner of this side had spoken, the other side should also send their owner to match.
“Oh my. We meet here like this. Sien. Ah, should I call you Lady Lichtenauer now?”
Sien turned her head toward the source of the languid voice.
A woman she had seen only once long ago.
The only daughter of the Fiore family, the family’s promising successor, and the next head of the Fiore.
Etria Fiore.
“It’s been a while, Etria.”
“Indeed. I saw you once at the family meeting before, and recently at the center? Back then you were a crybaby who was easily frightened. Now you’re the proper head of a family. How impressive.”
“...I don’t recall the old days well.”
“Really? That’s strange. I remember it very clearly.”
Whether the words were meant as praise or belittlement, Sien’s insides boiled, yet she endured it.
I know this woman, Etria, well.
Though her personality was sharp, her skill was unquestionable.
Because she was the only daughter and successor, she was not being pampered.
Her swordsmanship was excellent enough to earn the title of promising successor.
Moreover, as the next head, she must have received the family’s secret techniques long ago.
‘Compared to her... I am still weak.’
Her father, who should have taught her, and her brother, who received the teachings.
Both had passed away in an instant, so it was only natural.
Although the family’s swordsmanship itself had not been lost, and although she herself could not be said to be incapable of it.
There was undoubtedly an unbridgeable gap between learning from books and learning from person to person.
Sien also possessed some expertise in swordsmanship, but compared to Etria it was lacking.
And Etria surely knew that as well.
‘This woman intends to provoke me into a duel.’
After the great war, inter-noble land disputes had been absolutely banned.
Valuable forces could not be wasted on internal conflict.
Yet disputes between nobles continued without end.
They still bit and fought to prove superiority over one another.
Therefore, duels had become widespread instead of land wars.
Without losing lives or suffering major injuries.
But instead, one lost honor and became easy prey for mockery.
Even the imperial family had no grounds to stop duels.
“By the way, what brings you here?”
“I have some business.”
“Business? Why did you come all the way from the family?”
“Is there any reason I should explain?”
The Fiore, who had harassed the Lichtenauers at every turn.
Naturally, Sien’s reaction would not be pleasant.
But Etria did not frown.
Instead she simply gave a light laugh, looking entirely at ease.
“Well, that’s true. After all, when did the Fiore and Lichtenauer ever get along well enough to have this conversation. My apologies, Lady Head.”
Then Etria’s gaze moved to Adel standing beside her.
“Is this your escort knight? He looks quite handsome. With that face, can he swing a sword properly?”
...What is this woman saying now?
Sien and the Lichtenauer knights all wore dumbfounded expressions.
The Lichtenauer knights, and the Fiore knights.
I can guarantee that none of them have seen such overwhelming martial prowess as Adel.
Those who slaughter 3rd-grade demonic beasts alone.
As far as they knew, there was no one like that in the world.
Because they all acted in groups and fulfilled their duties.
Yet to Etria, that expression looked different.
A clear aura of mockery was gradually thickening.
“Are the Lichtenauer’s escorts picked just by looks? Or not? It’s not just the escorts, right?”
The last words were clearly aimed at Sien.
Just as the knights were about to explode with anger.
Etria turned her body first, taking her knights with her.
She had said everything she wanted to say and was ready to leave.
A mockery more cutting than this for a rival family that had fallen after losing their head and successor.
There would be no more perfect disregard.
“W, what...!”
The Lichtenauer knights were enraged.
They wanted to draw their swords right away.
“...”
Sien was the same.
She bit her lip tightly.
Red blood flowed from her bitten lip.
Even the contempt and mockery directed at herself was enough to make her angry.
But what was harder to endure was the disregard toward the Lichtenauer family.
“Sien-nim. It is our turn.”
Adel, who had been standing quietly beside her, spoke softly.
At his words, Sien took a deep breath and nodded.
“Receive it.”
Adel extended his handkerchief, and Sien accepted it.
Then she wiped her own lip.
‘When I return, I must focus on swordsmanship.’
As the head of a swordsmanship family, how could I be weak.
The head’s original duties were important, but swordsmanship was important too.
“Are you alright?”
Adel asked cautiously.
Sien forced a smile at the question.
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“...”
“It was always like this. There’s no helping it. Because I’m half-blood. Many people on the continent still hate demons. This is something I have to bear.”
After saying that, Sien turned her body and boarded the carriage.
“...”
Adel did not miss the fact that her hand holding the carriage door trembled slightly.
The Fiore people who were smiling happily in front of him were visible.
She was not particularly interested in noble society or the political world.
But now she was a person of the Lichtenauers.
Although the process had been strange, in the end she had agreed to it.
Many good people had been met on this new journey.
And Sien was a mysterious person she wanted to examine in detail.
The Fiore was hostile to the Lichtenauer, to Sien.
When she had been by the Emperor’s side, the enemy had been demonic beasts.
And Adel had thoroughly exterminated such enemies.
Now she was no longer by the Emperor’s side, but by the Lichtenauers’.
And after the demonic beasts, a new enemy had appeared.
If they met again next time, what would they do then.
At that time...
‘Kill them.’
***
After more than ten days of travel, they finally arrived at the Imperial Capital.
Most of the knights suggested rest to Sien.
But she immediately said to go straight to the Legram Merchant Group headquarters.
She could not delay even one day, or even one hour.
She had to meet her allies quickly and ask for help.
“We have arrived, Lady Sien.”
Without waiting for Adel to speak, Sien stood up abruptly.
She opened the carriage door and stepped out.
A group of merchants, no, ‘demons’ approached.
“Welcome, Head of the Lichtenauer family.”
“Thank you for the welcome. I’m here to meet the guild leader.”
“I’ve already received the notice. Follow me.”
The demons belonging to the guild led Sien inside.
A place with a garden that had been carefully tended.
In there, a woman was quietly drinking tea.
When Sien confirmed the woman’s appearance, she spoke.
“Karina Legram.”
Upon her call, the woman turned her head.
Red-tinged eyes, just like Sien’s.
Deep blue hair reminiscent of the night sky.
And the large horns on both sides of her head.
“You came earlier than I thought. I thought you’d arrive late in the afternoon.”
The demon slowly stood up from her seat and approached Sien.
“Me too, and you, we both don’t have time to waste.”
“That’s true. Anyway, it’s been a while, Sien.”
The owner of the Legram Merchant Group, Karina Legram.
She hugged Sien tightly and patted her back.
Despite the sudden action, Sien did not flinch.
“Are you okay?”
Losing her father, losing her brother.
Just losing the whole family had been hard enough.
She had taken on the position of head who had to control one huge family.
Asking if she was really okay with all that, if she was holding up.
“Yes. I’m fine. Of course I’m fine.”
“That’s good. I thought you’d be really struggling.”
With a bright smile, Karina offered her seat.
“I’ve heard the news. They say you’re in financial trouble.”
“It’s embarrassing, but that’s the situation.”
“Being friends is what it’s for. Money, I can give as much as you want.”
“But you’re a merchant. And merchants don’t get free things.”
“That’s right. You know it well. The conversation is quick, isn’t it?”
Tap!−
Karina placed something on the table.
When Sien checked it, she let out a sigh of ‘uh?’
“...Is this for real?”
“Yes. This is my condition.”
“No... Is this possible? This is...”
“This is a reward for meritorious service based on public support. I also received the right to bring along one confirmed guest. So there’s no problem. The only problem is whether you accept it or not.”
“...”
Sien silently looked at the conditions Karina had presented.
The contents were an invitation letter to the Imperial Palace conference opening tomorrow.