Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: The Lady's Persistent Pursuit
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“Count, Count. Later when we rest, could you take a look at my swordsmanship?”
“I’m lacking myself, so I don’t have the spare time to critique anyone else…….”
“How about a game of chess then? I want to redeem my loss from yesterday.”
“Lady. I’m sorry, but we’re not on a pleasure trip right now. And that… you’re sticking a bit too close. Could you give me some space?”
“Yeesh. Tch. It’d be nice if we could just share one horse…….”
“Pardon? What was that?”
“Nothing.”
Lorein flashed a bright smile and finally put some distance between herself and the horse Luke was riding.
“You’re doing great, just like that. Sticking on like glue—you’re a proper twin-headed ogre. This lady’s coming on strong without a shred of shame. Eek? Look at her tossing her hair and acting all coy.”
The spirit, who had been flitting around the pair while chattering away, soon grinned lecherously and landed on the mane of Lorein’s horse.
Then, it stealthily glanced at Eugene up ahead and Luke right in front of it.
“Ptooey!”
Kee-hee-hee-hee-hing!
Caught off guard by the sudden barrage of spit, the horse Lorein was riding reared up in fright, front hooves kicking high.
“Aaah!”
“What the—!?”
As a startled Lorein let out a scream, Luke leaped from his saddle like lightning, right in front of her.
Whoosh!
He caught Lorein, who was about to tumble off the back of the saddle, in his two strong arms.
The classic princess carry.
“Ke-he-he! Squire No. 2’s got some moves? Lady, you owe me now? You’ll be grateful. So when things go well, offer up gold and jewels to this body. Double for the two of you. Ki-he-he-he-heh!”
The lecherously cackling spirit watched the cockroach pair(?) with gleaming, excited eyes.
Luke, supporting Lorein’s back and thighs with his firm arms, asked without hiding his worry.
“Lady! Are you alright?”
“Ah! Ahh……. Y-Yes.”
Lorein’s heart began pounding wildly, her cheeks flushing bright red.
Naturally, not because she’d nearly fallen from the horse.
The young count’s piercing eyes, filled with genuine concern, and the warm breath brushing her face with every word hammered mercilessly at the maiden’s heart.
“L-Lady Lorein! Are you okay?”
Knight Bonmer rushed over belatedly and fussed over her.
“The horse must’ve been spooked suddenly. Good thing there are no injuries. Knight, please look after her.”
“Ooh! Thank you, Count!”
Bonmer was truly grateful to Luke as he gently set Lorein down.
Swordsmanship as a knight, noble manners and bearing. And even deep consideration in treating prisoners honorably.
This young count was a fine talent even in Bonmer’s eyes, one worth coveting.
He was leagues above the typical knights his age—brash, simple-minded fools blinded by merit who couldn’t rein in their hot blood.
‘But he might clash with our Françil someday……. What a dilemma.’
Bonmer’s gaze naturally turned to Eugene, who was watching them from up ahead.
Judging by the face full of irritation and exasperation, the only one who could rein in the young count—the master—still clearly didn’t think much of Lorein.
And that was the truth.
“What a bothersome girl, stirring up all sorts of trouble.”
“Haha. Isn’t that how man-woman relationships go? From Sir Eugene’s perspective, Lady Lorein’s naturally not to his liking.”
Eugene narrowed his eyes at Lancelot’s meaningful smile.
“Man-woman relationships? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Huh? You didn’t know?”
“…….”
As Eugene just scowled without answering, Lancelot let out an awkward laugh.
“Ha! Well, what can I say. I assumed you knew and allowed Lady Lorein to join us.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Lady Lorein has her sights set on Count Crawmarin.”
“……What?”
Eugene was dumbfounded. This girl who’d gotten captured pulling some nonsense now had her eye on someone?
“She joined our journey specifically to impress Count Crawmarin. If she paid the ransom and went back, she’d never see him again.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“No joke. I may like a good laugh, but I wouldn’t spout nonsense about the futures of House Françil and House Crawmarin.”
“Crazy…….”
As Lancelot answered seriously, Eugene muttered in exasperation.
But soon, watching Lorein trailing doggedly after Luke—and the squire who kept glancing back at her in concern—he said lowly.
“What do you mean, that I’d know her intentions and allow her to tag along?”
“Well, because her family is Françil. Sure, they talk of dukes, but they’re still a house recognized in Brantia as contenders for the throne, right? So I figured you were planning to pair Count Crawmarin with Lady Lorein and swallow up House Françil.”
“Oh.”
The irritation vanished from Eugene’s face in an instant.
This was definitely a plausible scheme, wasn’t it?
“So, what should we do?”
“Huh? You, with your devilish brain, are asking me?”
“…….”
Eugene just smacked his lips without replying.
Honestly, he had confidence in wracking his brains for other issues, but man-woman stuff was an exception. How could he scheme without knowing the first thing about it?
“Ah, right…….”
Lancelot nodded as if he’d realized something.
It was a well-known fact among those close to him—not just that one—that Eugene kept a wall up with women entirely.
Even Odmar the merchant lord had seriously pondered securing a particularly beautiful courtesan as a special tribute for the revered Sir Eugene.
“Right? What’s that mean?”
Eugene pressed, slightly annoyed by Lancelot’s know-it-all attitude, and Lancelot grinned.
“Nothing. Anyway, with matters like this, you just leave them be.”
“Just leave it alone?”
Glancing at Lorein, who had slyly crept back toward Luke at some point, Lancelot said softly.
“If you tell Count Crawmarin to go for Lady Lorein, he’ll dutifully follow orders. But that’s not action from the heart—it’s just carrying out a command.”
Lancelot pointed to the center of his chest as he continued.
“The problem is, women always—every last one—can tell. Especially Lady Lorein, direct lineage of House Françil. She’s fended off suitors from countless nobles and knights. Distinguishing a man’s true feelings from fakery is child’s play for her.”
“Hmm. Fair point.”
Eugene had no clue, but he nodded along anyway. Lancelot barely stifled a laugh at the obvious pretense.
“So we leave it alone for now. It’s clear Lady Lorein has feelings for Count Crawmarin. He finds her a tad annoying but doesn’t dislike her. In time, her feelings for him will only deepen.”
“Hmm.”
Eugene was still puzzled.
But Lancelot’s advice seemed trustworthy—he was popular with women of all classes and ages, wherever he went.
“Anyway, if those twin-headed ogres hit it off? Then Françil……. Ah! That’ll do it.”
Ignorant of romance but razor-sharp in other matters, Eugene now had a rough sense of how to devour House Françil once Luke and Lorein paired off.
“Sounds like a good idea’s come to you.”
Nodding to Lancelot’s expectant gaze, Eugene said.
“I’m thinking of reusing the good knight, bad knight ploy.”
“Eek! As expected of my lord—impotent in love but elsewhere he’s just… Gack!”
“Pfft-haha!”
The spirit, who had flown over unnoticed and started spewing facts, flattened itself, and Lancelot’s laughter finally burst out.
* * *
“Lord Reyma. The envoy we sent to House Riward has returned.”
“Mm. Send him in.”
A well-dressed noble and knight entered the large, ornate military tent, floored with carpets like a high-end inn transplanted inside.
“How did it go? How much ransom is Count Crawmarin demanding?”
“That’s… it’s complicated.”
“Complicated? How so?”
Reyma, the eldest son of Viort Françil, furrowed his brow. Was he demanding an absurd sum?
“Lady Lorein isn’t at Riward Castle.”
“What? N-No way…….”
As Reyma’s face darkened at the word ‘execution’ crossing his mind, the noble who’d handled the talks hurriedly shook his head.
“No, it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“Then what happened? Why is it complicated?”
“The druid staying at the castle…….”
The noble briefly relayed what he’d heard from Pitamoras.
“So, Lorein went off with that vampire high noble of her own accord?”
“That’s what we heard. The druid said it himself, so it’s no lie.”
“Hah!”
“And Sir Stain reports that Knight Bonmer went with her to look after Lady Lorein.”
“Who cares if that guy lives or dies. No, if he dies, we can pin it on that Eugene. That troublemaking girl would’ve done one good thing for the house at the end. Might even be better.”
Cruel words unbelievable from blood brothers, but the nobles and knights gathered in the tent all wore impassive faces.
They knew well how much Reyma doted on Lorein despite his harsh words. Just his personal involvement as Françil’s heir for the negotiations showed his love for his little sister was beyond doubt.
“No need to worry much about the lady’s safety. Not only Sir Ian Eugene, but Count Crawmarin left with his full forces.”
“Hmm. Is that so? Their forces must be stretched thin then?”
“We assume so, but we couldn’t enter the castle to confirm. Also, Beowulf warriors came out to escort the druid, all armed in special armor. Lord, it seems the rumors from Brighton were true.”
“Hmm.”
Before coming here, they’d disguised themselves and stopped in Brighton first to gather intel.
Reyma and the nobles were first shocked that Brighton had been annexed by Count Crawmarin’s domain, then again that their army was far larger and stronger than expected.
Especially the tale of two vampire knights wiping out the black mage, death knights, and ghouls in Brighton’s underground—it was hard to credit.
“By the way, where have Sir Eugene and Count Crawmarin gone in these times? Off to conquer another territory?”
“That’s… they went to Duke Bartla’s house. To claim the title.”
“What?”
Everyone’s eyes went wide.
Alongside the famed Lake Knights of House Durak, House Bartla was Brantia’s most renowned noble house.
“A noble of the Night Clan claiming Duke Bartla’s title? Does that even make sense?”
As Reyma muttered in disbelief, the nobles cautiously replied.
“It’s not entirely impossible. After centuries, even the first duke’s noble bloodline has mixed thoroughly. We’ve had an elf duke already—no law against a vampire one.”
“If he can prove legitimacy, they could well elevate Sir Ian Eugene to duke. Wasn’t Laplace, the top candidate, lost after leaving on a knight’s pilgrimage early this year?”
“Exactly. With Lord Laplace gone, they lost the house’s heirloom too, they say. If he finds that, it might just work.”
“Hmm.”
Reyma drummed his fingers on the large round table, face stern, then suddenly looked up.
“Could it be… Lorein followed Sir Ian Eugene because she thinks he’ll become Duke Bartla?”
“……!”
The nobles flinched, exchanged glances, then nodded eagerly.
“It’s plenty plausible. If the lady pairs with Duke Bartla, doesn’t that give him legitimacy for the throne?”
“There’s precedent for vampire nobles wedding humans. Being rare, it could even be a boon.”
“Indeed. Seems the lady found a way to back you, Lord Reyma, and aid the house.”
“Haha. Lord Reyma! Lady Lorein’s certainly grown up.”
The mood turned cheerful in an instant.
Reyma struggled to keep his lips from grinning, feigning sternness.
“Ahem! If she’s had such a clever thought, she deserves praise, but nothing’s certain yet. Contact the main house first, and we’ll hold position here. Ah, and to be safe, avoid anything that could spark conflict with Riward’s domain.”
“As you command!”
The nobles and knights beamed back at the heir, who cherished family gains as much as his sister.
Oblivious to the fact that the true gains were being plotted by a romance-ignorant love fool.
(To be continued in the next installment)