Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Baron Veil
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After the werewolves departed.
The dark Nightwood Forest had brightened with morning.
Thanks to that, we were able to recover the body of Hummels, the culprit behind this incident.
“...”
Hobet, the elder's son, gently laid his father to rest in an unmarked grave.
Yet I didn't pity him.
Perhaps because I'd seen the sorrowful eyes of the Elder Wolf, enraged over the loss of his son.
Hobet simply finished a brief prayer and quietly rejoined the diplomatic procession.
With the werewolves gone, we could take the shortcut through the plains.
And at last...
We stood upon the high ground overlooking Bakal's border city.
Barhan.
“We've arrived.”
Princess Christina gazed fondly at the sturdy walls and beautiful stone city.
Her face lit up with joy at safely returning to her homeland.
“Sir Veil, come forward for a moment.”
I stepped up from Lea's side at her call.
The noble second daughter of Bakal flashed me a bright smile and expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you so much for helping today. It was our problem, after all...”
“Even if we hadn't, we all would've died together.”
The white-haired princess lifted the corner of her mouth at my matter-of-fact reply.
“Always so humble.”
Tina stared intently at my face.
Then, cautiously, she asked.
“You... You're actually some hidden imperial royal from Leon, aren't you?”
“Pardon...? What do you mean?”
I chuckled and asked back, and the princess replied leisurely.
“Whenever something important happens, you're always the one who helps. I was just curious about that.”
Tina patted my shoulder.
Her strong arm made me flinch involuntarily.
“It was all coincidence, really. Who am I to...”
True, I'd been summoned to every major event.
But considering none of it was what I'd wanted...
'It was all just coincidence.'
Christina gazed up at me as I waved it off.
Then, looking at my fox-like elongated eyes, she gave a sly smile.
“You know what they call it when coincidences keep happening?”
She asked secretly, one hand covering her lips.
Standing on the high ground, her radiant white hair swayed gently.
“What do they call it?”
I forced myself to stay calm and asked flatly.
But the heart I'd barely steadied...
“...”
The princess's face drawing near.
The fragrant scent of fruit.
“They call it fate.”
Melted completely at her moist lips touching my neck.
“Whew...”
The princess left a deep lipstick mark on my nape, as if biting it.
She tapped my stunned face with her finger.
“Next time, I'll invite you myself.”
Tina spoke with a much more relaxed expression.
Her snow fairy-like eyelids fluttered.
“What right do I have to visit here? I'm just a mere defense knight.”
I chuckled in response.
The princess shook the escort badge pinned to my chest.
“I'll make sure to tell them to include you in our diplomatic delegation next time?”
Putting me, a private citizen, into official state affairs between nations.
A fitting ambition for a princess from a warrior nation.
“If you call, I'll come, so please don't...”
I shuddered, and the princess giggled.
She offered her own reason.
“Don't feel burdened. I just want to repay the debt I owe you.”
The white-haired princess peered down at the city of Barhan alongside me.
Her blue eyes overflowed with the wisdom only royals possessed.
“You're not going to deny me even the chance to repay it, are you?”
She glanced at me.
In the end, I could only chuckle.
“Understood. I'll be sure to visit.”
“Good. I'll be waiting.”
As I accepted, the princess wrapped her arms around me tightly.
Her heart still trembled faintly from the events before dawn.
“I'm off, Veil.”
I silently felt her trembling and patted her shoulder.
The princess then departed, her snowfield-like beautiful hair flowing behind her.
“Safe travels...”
I watched the departing northern princess and her delegation in silence.
Then, out of respect for her, I bowed my head deeply in greeting.
Everything she'd shown so far.
Even from an enemy nation's perspective, boldly pointing out terrain flaws to shore up.
And her vow to dispel prejudices against other races.
If the Tina from my past life had been just an ordinary enemy princess.
In this life, as the Elder Wolf said, she felt like she'd become a fine ruler.
“Empress, huh...”
Perhaps, as the century-old chieftain said, she might become Bakal's emperor.
'When that time comes, it'll be even harder to defy her orders...'
I thought that and smiled proudly.
Afterward, I quietly turned toward the escort team.
That moment.
“...!”
I locked eyes with a presence as hard to defy as the empress herself.
“That was a bit excessive for a farewell with an enemy princess, Mikhail.”
Lea Andalusia.
Dressed in her white uniform, she stood alone with arms crossed.
Her gaze fixed on me with eyes as cold as the empress's.
'Her eyes feel colder than usual...'
“Ahaha... My apologies.”
I forced a laugh and brushed it off.
But the princess ignored my apology, simply tucking her monocle into the tight pocket over her ample chest.
“I'm not in the mood for laughter. Help prepare to head back.”
Lea curtly cut me off and turned away.
She then began directing the escort team to ready for departure.
“We'll go together, Your Highness...!”
I hurriedly joined her cold footsteps.
We safely returned home along the now-safe, easy plains road.
「――――――」
Upon returning to Leon, we encountered the carriages waiting to greet us.
Thanks to that, I dismounted my uncomfortable horse and reclined on the plush leather seat beside Lea.
―――.
The city buzzed with celebratory atmosphere from the successful diplomatic welcome.
But for the knights, it was different.
First priority was returning to headquarters to report in.
So naturally, I assumed Lea would drop me off at the Defense Corps.
Yet the carriage passed the northern capital and silently headed toward the empire's heart.
“Your Highness...? Where are we going?”
When I asked, Lea, seated across from me on the leather seat, slightly raised her head.
“To see my father.”
“To His Imperial Majesty the Emperor...?”
Her legs, clad in lace-trimmed stockings, crossed sensually.
The princess, thighs pressed together, replied with mature eyes.
“Yes. Father commanded me to bring you upon our return.”
“Why on earth would he summon me...”
I swallowed deeply and asked.
Lea smiled brightly and said meaningfully.
“You'll find out when we get there.”
The carriage halted at the central palace.
We were then escorted down the spacious corridor to the vast emperor's office.
“Doesn't seem like bad news...”
In the sunlit hallway gallery.
Seeing the emperor's office door, usually closed, swung wide open, I surmised as much.
“Yes, it feels like very good news.”
Lea walked tall with haughty eyes and said to me.
The lewd expression from that night a few days ago was long gone.
We stopped at the office entrance.
And there...
“You're here, Veil.”
“You're back sooner than expected?”
Irina and Lydia, dressed in ornate gowns.
「Indeed, you've returned.」
Even their father, Leonhardt IV.
“I greet the great emperor...”
The royals who summoned me awaited.
「Yes, you've worked hard on the long journey.」
The majestic emperor in platinum uniform adorned with golden epaulets.
He swept his white hair back from his forehead, exuding grandeur.
As if some important coronation were today.
'Come to think of it, Irina and Lydia too...'
The two wore even more ornate gowns than usual.
Like at my knighting ceremony back then.
「Do you have any guess why you've been called here?」
The emperor asked me with stern eyes.
Unlike his frail days, his straight posture made...
His massive frame seem even more imposing.
“I have no idea, Your Majesty...”
Kneeling in the center of the office, I replied.
「Hmm... Strange. After causing so many events, you claim no idea.」
Had I done something wrong?
Anxiety surged, and I swallowed deeply.
「If you can't remember, have them recount it themselves.」
The emperor turned his majestic gaze to his daughters.
My anxiety began poking at my vitals.
'Don't tell me... All those scandalous things with the princesses have been reported!!!'
Lewd memories suddenly flooded in.
Honestly, those alone warranted execution.
“...”
Overwhelmed by terror, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Bracing for the princesses to voice my shames.
But.
“Then I'll start.”
The princesses' words flowed entirely differently from my fears.
“Veil helped me uncover Hakim's secret organization hidden in the capital's east.”
Their testimony wasn't to punish me...
“He quelled Hakim's rebellion and single-handedly punished Hammus, the former eastern knight commander.”
It was to praise me.
“But his true value went beyond mere force.”
The twin-tailed princess smiled at me.
Arms crossed, she fluently praised me with expectant eyes.
“He even earned the highest praise from Bakal's arrogant elders.”
The youngest princess toddled over on her petite frame and handed her father a document.
It contained the elders' hot spring evaluations.
「The hot spring management was a bit clumsy, but the knights' hospitality was impressive. Especially the knight named Veil—he was an excellent knight who truly respected his guests.」
The emperor read the document handed by Lydia flatly.
「Thanks to the dessert he served, we waited pleasantly while the hot spring temperature adjusted. I commend him.」
The emperor glanced at me after reading.
Unlike before, the corner of his mouth subtly lifted.
“Beyond force, a demeanor respecting others. He possesses not just a commoner's virtue, but a noble's elegance.”
Lydia elegantly gathered the hem of her black dress.
She lifted it slightly to convey her intent to her father.
「I see... Now, Irina, you speak.」
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The silver-haired princess placed a hand on her chest.
She opened gracefully with a refined bow.
“Sir Veil hosted Bakal's difficult princess most comfortably. Thanks to his eloquence, she smiled throughout the Noston tour.”
Irina continued matter-of-factly.
“Moreover, at this eve festival, he discovered and personally dealt with the villains plotting to terrorize the palace.”
Irina glanced at me.
With a faint smile, she said.
“I too believe Veil possesses both ability and elegance.”
「Indeed...」
The emperor's mouth curved higher; his solemn face softened.
He gently extended his hand to the eldest princess last.
「Lea, as co-leader of the escort, do you have a separate report?」
The empire's operations commander, hat tucked firmly at her waist after removing it.
She reported ramrod straight.
“None.”
Unlike her sisters, her short, clear word.
It drew all eyes in the office.
「None...?」
Even the emperor tilted his head.
As expected of his coldest daughter.
But.
He soon heard the unexpected.
“Yes.”
For his daughter praised someone earnestly for the first time.
“Veil was perfect on this escort mission.”
Perfect.
The emperor's blue eyes flashed at the word.
A term Lea, ever meticulous, rarely used.
“Veil did his utmost to protect the delegation.”
Lea peered down at me through her monocle lens.
“He stepped forward personally even in situations endangering himself.”
Maintaining her expressionless face, she continued flatly.
“Facing a strong foe like werewolves, he showed unblinking resolve.”
Lea raised her head high.
With a grave expression, she reported to the emperor.
“I believe he qualifies to be called noble.”
'Phew...'
Fortunately, Lea spoke well of me.
Relieved, I sighed inwardly.
'Wait... Noble?'
As I pondered the meaning.
The emperor approached his desk as if to explain himself.
「I think so too.」
He picked up an ornate scroll.
Approaching me slowly, he said.
「Raise your head, Veil Mikhail.」
“...”
I lifted my head at his command.
「Today I learn your merits overflow, as all my daughters attest.」
Having heard even Lea's testimony, the emperor now smiled faintly.
Gentle, like a father.
「Thus, to highly commend your service, I bestow this honor...」
Emperor gripping the document in one hand.
「From this day, I, Emperor Leonhardt of Leon,」
With his other hand, he drew his ceremonial sword and leveled it at my shoulder.
Then declared.
「Ennoble Veil Mikhail as baron of the empire.」
With eyes acknowledging me.
“...!”
Orphan.
Commoner.
The stigmas chained to my arm.
Snapped by the two words: baron.
「From today, your lands shall be called the baronial domain...」
The sudden ennoblement blanked my mind.
The emperor's words began sounding distant.
「Your name, 'Mikhail,' shall be recognized as a legitimate house.」
'Why does it feel so uneasy...?'
「Any woman you meet henceforth may take your name, and your heirs shall inherit the title.」
All the empire's women at my reach.
「Thus, hasten to betroth and spread your talents across the realm.」
The emperor gazed at me fondly, satisfied.
Yet an inexplicable chill hid in his eyes.
Meaning: hold me forever to use.
Bind eternally through children.
Exactly that.
――――――.
The princesses' faint applause echoed.
They smiled brightly at me.
“I am deeply honored by this title, Your Majesty.”
I cautiously looked up at them.
And that moment.
“...!”
The princesses' faces felt utterly different from our first meeting.
At the ceremony, they seemed divine beasts raised in ornate cages.
But now...
They looked like fierce predators awakened to the taste of fresh meat.
“No more teasing you as a commoner, pity... But congratulations anyway.”
Lydia smiled at me with her usual haughty eyes.
Yet a strange yearning gleamed in her red eyes.
“Congratulations, Veil!!”
Irina congratulated me with her pure gaze, like in our past life.
But unconsciously, she wet her lips and swallowed lewdly.
“Now a noble, no more leaving the capital.”
Lea too wore her usual form-fitting uniform.
But her body seemed subtly ripened, as if touched by someone.
「I look forward to your service, Baron Veil.」
A noble title was surely exalted.
Yet that title...
Felt like unleashing the beasts caged around me.
「Bear many heirs across generations to glorify the empire.」
From the iron bars of 'status difference.'