Chapter 31
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 31. Little Boss
Main Castle's Office.
Lucia Von Astellia fiddled with the teacup, looking alternately at both sides.
To the left, Leona.
Arms crossed, glaring at the Black Knight. Murderous intent saying 'I'll cut your throat given the chance' lingers in her eyes.
To the right, the Black Knight.
Sitting on a chair, red glint flashing. If he stays still in that posture, it looks like he is devising a plan for world domination.
And next to him, Freya.
Munching on refreshments crunch crunch, totally failing to grasp the atmosphere. It seems the component called tension is sparse in her brain.
'What to do with this atmosphere…'
The air in the office was frozen.
Colder than the North's winter. More chilling than the Black Mammoth's breath.
But looking back, this was all her fault.
Should have explained properly to Leona from the beginning.
'Knight-nim is someone who needs help! Speaks roughly but isn't a bad person!'
She glossed over it vaguely.
'Complicated…''Just peculiar…''Just… Black Knight…'
Not some Zen riddle either.
The result?
A duel broke out. Black Mammoth woke up. Frostgard almost got half smashed.
'It’s all my fault…'
Infinite loop of self-blame.
But regretting now is useless.
There is only one thing she can do now.
'This time I must speak properly.'
Lucia put down the teacup.
Click.
Small sound broke the silence.
"……I admit the situation was different from my expectation."
Leona opened her mouth first.
Voice calmer than before.
Murderous intent right after the duel seems to have softened a bit.
Probably because of the battle with the Black Mammoth.
Black Knight blocking the breath for the people. Saving Leona.
Such things must have influenced little by little.
"But still, I can't trust that bastard. He’s a monster whose origin is unknown!"
Lucia was slightly relieved.
Because just a while ago it was 'I'll kill you'.
'Can't trust' is a lot of progress.
Must not miss this opportunity.
Lucia mustered courage.
"Leon, please listen to me."
Put strength into voice.
Not to tremble. Not to run away.
"This person is… my life's benefactor."
"……What?"
Leona's eyes widened.
Seems it was an unexpected word.
Well, 'Benefactor' and 'Evil Black Knight' are words that cannot be in the same sentence.
But it is true.
Lucia continued slowly.
"After fleeing the Imperial Palace, I was chased by demonic beasts in the blizzard."
Memory revived.
White snowfield. Red eyes. Three wolves.
"They were house-sized. Three of them."
Hand trembled slightly.
Fear of that time is still vivid.
"Thought I was dying. Really. When I thought there was no place to go, no hope anymore… that’s when this person appeared."
Looked towards the Black Knight.
Black armor. Red glint. Massive body over 2 meters.
Leona's brow furrowed.
"Okay, I get that he saved you. But didn't he abuse and confine you after that?"
Lucia paused for a moment.
'That is… correct but…'
No, is it correct?
To call it abuse… To call it confinement…
'Hard to explain…'
How to explain?
'At first scary, still scary now, but somehow doesn't seem bad, but not good either, how to say, just, um…'
Confusing.
How can she explain to others when she can't organize it herself.
But if glossed over vaguely, only misunderstanding piles up again.
Let's just say exactly what she feels.
"Right."
Nodded.
"At first I was scared too."
Glanced at the Black Knight.
"Too… that… threatening. Actions or tone."
"Only actions and tone?"
Leona tilted her head.
"Even now sometimes scary. No, often scary."
Honest confession.
"But. Not just scary."
Lucia looked straight into Leona's eyes.
Memories surfaced.
March in the blizzard.
"In that harsh blizzard, he protected me while catching monsters every day. Cooked when hungry, gave cloak when cold. Protected me so not a drop of blood splashed on my body during battle."
Rubbed hands.
To relieve tension.
"Still confused. Honestly. What Knight-nim wants. Whether threatening me, or helping me. Whether this person intends to use me, or…"
Or eat me.
Swallowed those words.
"Still, one thing is certain."
Changed the subject slightly.
"I am glad this person exists."
Leona's expression became complicated.
Recalled the final with Ulfric at the Axe Festival.
That moment the Black Knight was enraged.
"He was the first person to get angry for me against someone insulting me. In the Imperial Palace… no one did that."
Had to endure even if insulted. Had to not stand out.
But now is different.
"I am grateful. Sincerely."
Glanced at the Black Knight.
Red glint shook slightly.
Sitting without movement, but seems to be listening.
"Sister confessing right now?"
Freya opened her eyes roundly.
"No way!?"
Lucia shouted, startled.
"Just expression of gratitude! Gratitude!"
"Ey, look at the atmosphere. Totally confession atmosphere."
"Said no!"
Face turned red.
Leona looked at Lucia with a complex expression.
Eyes pondering whether to believe or not.
Just then.
The Black Knight opened his mouth.
"Hm."
Low voice.
Lucia's instinct sounded an alarm.
'……Something ominous.'
From experience so far, if the Black Knight starts with 'Hm', nine out of ten times the situation worsens.
"A body once tamed cannot return to before."
"What?"
"Means the pure white drawing paper has already been painted pitch black."
'…….'
Crash.
Sound of something breaking.
Things like tower of emotion built just now, or bridge of trust.
"Wh, What did you say just now…? You perverted sadistic bastard……!"
Leona bolted up.
Lucia wrapped her head.
'Aaaaaaack!'
Inner scream.
'Why! Why at this timing!'
Defended so touchingly just now!
Life's benefactor! Thankful!
All that became foam.
"E, Excuse me, Leon, calm down……"
"Can I calm down!?"
Leona looked back at Lucia.
"Lucia, why are you staying still hearing such things!?"
"Th, That is…… that person's words…… just ignore them……"
"Ignore!? Such insult!?"
"……Get dull if hearing every day……"
"That is a bigger problem!"
Lucia tried to make an excuse.
But didn't know what to say.
Honestly Leona's words aren't wrong either.
'But why am I not particularly unpleasant?'
'Became dull?'
'Or……'
'……What is it?'
Don't know.
"Everyone don't think too seriously."
'Freya!'
Lucia's eyes sparkled.
Hand of salvation.
'Right, Freya just needs to testify!'
Because she saw and experienced Lucia's daily life from the side all this time.
Optimal person to resolve all these misunderstandings!
"Sister eats really well and lives well!"
'Good!'
"Black Knight takes care of her every day!"
'Good good!'
"Sticking right next to Sister from morning to night!"
'That expression is a bit ambiguous…?'
"Feeding thick things every day!"
'…….'
"Examining every corner of Sister's body asking if flesh rose!"
'Wait a minute.'
"Seemed satisfied saying Sister's body became soft and squishy these days!"
"Freya."
"Ah, and went out just the two of them every day… aren't they doing something going to gloomy places secretly?"
"Freyaaaaaaa!"
Lucia screamed.
'Not help but pouring oil on fire!'
Leona's expression hardened.
"Every day. Thick things?"
Eyes recalling something.
Seems to recall the scene seen in the office before.
'That was really just stew!'
Special stew going into Queen Spider's elixir!
Northern spiritual medicine can't buy with money!
"Really! Not strange! I didn't want to eat but forced… no, took care! Just food!"
Leona's eyes were still full of suspicion.
Then.
"Ah!"
Freya clapped her hands.
"Wait a minute!"
Bolted up and kicked the door open.
Tatadadak.
Footsteps running down the hallway.
Lucia and Leona looked at each other blankly.
Awkward silence.
1 minute.
2 minutes.
Tatadadak.
Freya returned.
A large pot was held in her hand.
"Ta-da! This is it, this!"
Thud.
Pot placed on the table.
Opened lid, thick scent spread.
Thick broth. Unknown ingredients. Strangely fishy yet savory smell.
"Black Knight Special! Leftover from today's lunch!"
Freya declared triumphantly.
"Spider Elixir! Frost Bear Gall Bladder! Walrus! All super luxurious health food ingredients!"
"……."
Leona looked inside the pot.
Suspicious eyes.
Freya held out a spoon.
"If suspicious, eat yourself!"
"……."
Leona hesitated for a moment.
But to confirm truth, no choice but to experience directly.
Accepted spoon, scooped one bite carefully.
Moment putting in mouth.
"……!"
Leona's eyes widened.
"……Delicious?"
Voice surprised herself too.
"Right? Right?"
Freya jumped up and down excitedly.
"Black Knight is surprisingly domestic!"
Giggled.
"Imagine wearing an apron and swinging a ladle with that terrifying face! Totally funny, right?"
"……."
Leona's expression became subtle.
Eyes not believing.
No, eyes not wanting to believe.
Leona tapped the table with her finger.
Expression lost in thought.
'Will she believe… explained properly this time… have proper evidence this time too……'
Lucia watched nervously.
"……Understood."
Leona opened her mouth.
"I will believe you for now, Lucia."
'Relief!'
Lucia's face brightened.
Phew.
Seems avoided worst situation for now.
"However."
Leona stood up from her seat.
"I will keep watching by your side."
Leona shot back at the Black Knight straight.
"Whether this man really doesn't harm you. Until I confirm with my own eyes directly, I won't move a single step from your side."
Lucia had complex feelings.
Joy of being able to stay with friend. Relief of having a reliable ally.
But at the same time…
'If Leona is here, don't I have to explain relationship with Black Knight every day?'
Infinite explanation hell.
Feels like getting stress gastritis.
Lucia glanced at the Black Knight.
Please.
'Please stay still.'
Or just say one word 'Welcome'.
But the Black Knight was the Black Knight.
He stood up slowly from his seat, tilting his head towards Leona.
"Hm…"
Black Knight rested his chin on hand.
"Good. If close, easier to tame."
'Aaaaaaaack!'
Lucia wrapped her head with both hands.
"Entering my territory is free."
Black Knight stood up from chair.
"But when leaving, you will need my permission."
Helmet's red glint flashed.
Leona's face turned red. With anger.
"Wh, What are you saying!"
Hand went to Holy Sword.
Lucia hurriedly intervened between the two.
"Leon! Endure! That person is originally like that! Imperial language command ability is a bit low so like that!"
Waved both hands frantically.
"Really not bad meaning! Probably!"
"Probably!?"
Leona's eyes widened roundly.
"…Mostly?"
Voice became smaller gradually.
'What use is explaining until now…'
Sense of shame surged.
Tears about to come.
"Oho, Hero-nim living with us too?"
Freya intervened with sparkling eyes.
Atmosphere grasping ability still zero.
"Fun! Let's spar every day!"
"……Sparring is good."
Leona glared at the Black Knight.
Murderous intent settled in eyes.
'That’s not sparring but assassin's eyes…'
Future was more worrying.
Black Mammoth Hunting Commemoration Festival.
To Northerners, 'Thing to celebrate' and 'Excuse to drink' are synonyms.
Banquet hall was full of heat.
Bonfires burning, smell of roasting meat vibrating, sound of clinking glasses echoing.
"Drinking all night today too! Because today is special day!" "Didn't we drink all night yesterday too?" "You bastard! Daring to ignore Black Knight-nim's achievement right now!" "N, No, not that meaning……."
Warriors' cheers didn't cease.
Lucia was tilting her glass quietly in one corner.
Of course not Northern strong liquor but sweet honey beer.
Princess shouldn't get drunk and act disgracefully.
'Today was long too…'
Fatigue surged.
Duel watching. Mammoth subjugation. Conference room mediation.
Mentally exhausted to the limit.
Suddenly someone approached.
"Little Boss-nim!"
Lucia lifted her head.
A few Northern warriors were standing holding glasses.
"…Yes?"
Lucia blinked.
Little Boss? Who? Me?
Hulking warrior grinned and gave a thumbs up.
"Thanks to Little Boss-nim, no worry about starving to death this winter!" "Right! Making intermediate base, was a god's move! Thanks to that supplies came on time!" "Heard Little Boss-nim scolded Imperial bastards trying to rip us off? Dying of gratification!"
Warriors chattered all at once.
Lucia blinked.
'Remembered… that?'
Things she did came to mind.
Supply system organization. Division of labor system introduction. Tax collection fairing. Emergency relief response. Merchant renegotiation.
'Just work that had to be done naturally…'
No, honestly speaking.
'Did to survive… to extend expiration date…'
To not be eaten by Black Knight.
To become useful livestock.
So just worked desperately.
Old elder approached.
"Hoho, now doing quite wolf's eyes. As expected, Grombalt blood cannot be deceived. Please take care of us in the future too."
Lucia was speechless.
Corner of chest became lumpy.
Something seemed to block the throat.
Memories of Imperial Palace brushed past.
'Barbarian blood.'
Called like that.
'Expensive item to be sold someday.'
Whispered like that.
No one acknowledged.
So lived holding breath not to stand out.
Pretending to be fool, pretending to be incompetent.
Because had to do so to survive.
'Never felt I was a needed person.'
But now?
"North runs because Her Highness exists!" "Really works well!" "Long live Little Boss!"
Warriors' cheers continued.
"Little Boss!" "Smart Boss!" "Cute Boss!"
Emotion surging up.
But there is Princess's face.
Lucia coughed dryly to not show.
"Ahem! Th, Just… did natural work. As Princess… no, as Temporary Leader."
Waved hand.
But corners of mouth kept going up.
Cannot suppress.
"Sister's mouth sticking out~"
Freya giggled from the side.
"N, No!"
Face turned red.
But couldn't deny.
'…Secretly good.'
Looked at warriors' cheers once again.
'No, actually very good.'
Pure gratitude and respect without calculation.
'Don't have to hide here. There are people looking at me.'
Somehow North doesn't feel cold today.