Chapter 255
Chapter 255
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Southern Journey (2)
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“We sincerely welcome the dispatch of the Hawson diplomatic delegation.”
The city closest to the southern front line.
The citizens of Bansque lined the streets at the city gates.
They clapped from atop the buildings, scattered flower petals, and cheered to welcome the diplomatic party.
They believed without a doubt that this summit would end the long cold war.
Especially since it was Princess Leah, who had handled and successfully led most of the empire’s summits.
The people’s fervent support was palpable on their skin.
“You’re incredibly popular, Your Highness.”
I said to Leah as we entered side by side.
Even as she received the shower of welcomes, her expression remained cool and detached, not particularly pleased.
“It just means the people have been that anxious.”
Leah elegantly brushed her bangs behind her ear.
Thanks to that, I could see her eyes even more clearly.
“They must have been hoping for peace themselves, now that we’ve allied with Bakal in the north.”
Unlike when she looked at the ministers, her gaze toward the citizens was incredibly gentle.
Like a mother watching over her family.
“...”
That sight perfectly resembled her father, the wise ruler Leonhardt.
It made me even more certain that she was the right material for the next emperor.
Flower petals scattered by the citizens gently settled on Leah’s shoulder.
The beautiful woman in her uniform picked up the petal and gazed at it intently.
I stared fixedly at the princess like that.
I’d thought she only cared about maps and tactics, not flowers.
But blinking her long eyelids and looking at the petal with a distant gaze felt somehow different.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
When Leah noticed my gaze and asked, I turned my head.
Then, watching the falling petals, I too sank into memories.
I’d experienced a similar situation once in my previous life.
‘It was probably when I first entered the capital after making my name on the northern front.’
Back then, I’d received cheers from everyone just like now.
I’d been so intoxicated by the ecstasy that I waved my hand vigorously.
But.
The gazes of the other knights and nobles watching me from afar that day were different.
They were plotting how to bring down someone like me who’d risen from outside with achievements.
‘But this life is different.’
The grand ducal residence of the southern grand duke visible in the distance.
Grand Duchess Rosetta herself had come down from there to greet me.
The future had changed.
“Welcome, Your Highness Leah! It’s been a long time.”
A woman with short blue hair bowed her head with a bright smile.
She greeted us in the leggings and black uniform worn by knights.
“It’s been a while, Grand Duchess. Your mana feels even stronger than before.”
Leah shook hands with the grand duchess in her usual relaxed and dignified tone.
Rosetta responded with a wide smile.
“Your Highness’s magic seems even more cohesive as well.”
‘As expected, powerhouses greet each other with their mana.’
I nodded to myself, pleased as I watched.
However, I focused again at Rosetta’s next words.
“And your appearance and aura have changed quite a bit too.”
Leah gave her a surprised look at the grand duchess’s words.
“Me?”
Leah pointed to her own face with a finger.
Rosetta, a woman in her thirties, chuckled and replied.
“Yes. Your eyes have softened. The once cold aura feels warmer now.”
The grand duchess’s perceptive blue eyes caught the sunlight.
Her gaze turned to Leah, whose appearance had changed so much from the past.
In the past, she’d had the cold aura of a soldier who’d never received or sought others’ love and attention.
But now, her movements were a bit more fluid, and there was a relaxed air in her eyes.
Especially when she held the scattering petal and gazed at it intently.
Even Rosetta, watching from afar, was surprised at how emotional Leah had become.
“I’ll take that as a compliment. The capital has been peaceful, unlike here.”
“Indeed, I heard you’ve had a string of happy events lately.”
The grand duchess glanced at me as she spoke.
She must have already heard the news of me becoming the empire’s greatest swordsman.
“Yes, and the reason we’re here—rather, the reason we’ve come—is to spread that peace.”
Leah, apparently awkward with the praise, stuttered slightly, unlike her usual self.
The shrewd Rosetta immediately sensed something off and looked back and forth between me and her.
“Hmm—.”
Leah cleared her throat and turned her head first.
I pretended not to notice and stepped back.
“So, Grand Duchess, what’s the situation in the Hawson Kingdom?”
Rosetta dropped her smile the moment state affairs were mentioned.
She led us to the ramparts.
Climbing the stairs, the Hawson Kingdom’s city came into view beyond the long river that marked the border.
Even in the south, their architecture wasn’t much different from the empire’s.
Their walls also looked very high and sturdy, probably due to maintaining the cold war along the border.
“Since the crown prince arrived in Bansque, there hasn’t been much reaction. He’s been spending his time very quietly.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of Leon’s exploits.”
Our side’s walls were also very solidly fortified.
Especially the mages guarding the border—they seemed well-trained.
They must have followed the teachings of the powerful grand archmage Leon well.
“How much must they have been watching him to try pulling away their top asset, the head of the shaman studies, to defect.”
Rosetta raised a finger with a knightly, resolute gaze.
She pointed to the grand ducal residence in the southern city visible even over the high walls.
“Apparently, Hodrian’s illegitimate son has arrived to receive the diplomatic delegation.”
“Illegitimate son? The king has such a person?”
Leah placed a hand on her chin and asked.
Rosetta replied with a quite serious expression.
“Yes, not the legitimate crown prince, but he’s twenty-two and commands the kingdom’s entire military.”
“With military power, he might have his eyes on the throne.”
As the empire’s First Imperial Princess spoke coldly, the grand duchess politely shook her head.
“I thought so too, but he says he’s content as supreme commander. The ministers highly value his humble demeanor, and he’s quite popular.”
“Humble demeanor...”
Perhaps because she’d been immersed in brutal politics since childhood.
Leah couldn’t help but sneer.
“Who knows. His heart might change the moment the king dies.”
“...”
Seeing the sharp First Imperial Princess, Rosetta thought that even if she’d changed, her wisdom remained as keen as ever.
“A dutiful son doesn’t necessarily make a good brother.”
Even with her newfound feminine side, she was still Leonhardt’s eldest daughter.
“The summit preparations are ready for tomorrow, so rest for today. We’ll take good care of you.”
Rosetta smiled brightly at Leah.
Then she looked my way and waved happily.
“Thank you. Perfect timing for tea.”
Leah turned her head with her hands behind her back.
She headed toward the majestic grand ducal residence building before her eyes.
“Prepare a room with good sunlight. I’ll review the strategy plans in advance.”
“Yes, this way, please.”
I stared at the leading grand duchess and princess.
Then, I quietly approached Leah and whispered.
“I’ll take some time alone until the banquet. I’ll check on the shamans too.”
Rosetta’s eyes widened at the sight of me daring to whisper to the famously fearsome First Imperial Princess.
But that was just the beginning.
“Alright, come back by the banquet.”
Leah permitted it readily.
Rosetta blinked her blue eyes, wondering how we’d become so close.
It was astonishing to see us so relaxed, like we were just out for a stroll before an important event.
“Grand Duchess, I’ll be off then?”
“Y-Yes.... Go ahead. Just follow the main road into the city.”
Having split from the group, I first headed to Mago, who must have been exhausted from watching the shamans.
Conveniently, she had handed the prisoners over to the southern mages and was out in the city.
We reunited on Bansque’s streets.
“How is it? Your first time in the south?”
“Yeah, it’s still muggy here even in early autumn.”
True to her great witch status, she wore a long dress.
Feeling hot, she fanned herself with her open palm.
“But what brings you to the city? Out for some air?”
I walked side by side with her on the stone road, clasping my hands behind my neck.
Mago, holding her staff demurely with both hands, replied.
“Yeah—. Emal and Lize wanted fruit.”
“What? You’ve already gotten friendly?”
Perhaps thanks to her history leading a mercenary band.
Mago seemed to make friends easily wherever she went.
“They said it was because of you? They got hooked on watermelon when you gave it to them in captivity.”
“Ahh—. Well, it was from our farm.”
Hearing that made me feel pleased, and my lips curved up involuntarily.
“Then let’s go together. I’ll buy the fruit.”
“Hehe, you should. You’ve been working your friend so hard—.”
Mago closed her eyes and lifted her chin proudly.
I poked her cheek and fired back.
“Who knows. You didn’t have to come, but you followed anyway.”
“W-Well... the opponents are shamans! It’s safer if a shaman handles shamans!”
Lize was practically my property anyway, thanks to the obedience spell.
But for now, I decided to play along with Mago.
“Alright, alright—. Thanks to you, we got here safely.”
I chuckled and took the lead.
Mago followed, gripping her staff tightly with both hands.
Her short twin tails swayed too.
We entered the market entrance visible from the grand ducal residence.
There, children waited out front while their mothers shopped.
You can indirectly gauge a city’s public safety and culture from what the kids play.
And Bansque’s children mostly played war games.
They wielded wooden swords carved from branches, clashing them in mock duels.
“Probably because the front line’s close—swordplay games must be popular.”
“Yeah, back in Cornel, we all played like that when security was bad.”
The kids flicked swords against each other with cute kiais.
Then, the moment a frail-looking shaggy-haired boy dropped his sword.
“Aah...!!”
His wooden sword slid right in front of my military boot.
“...”
I stared down at the fallen wooden sword.
When the little boy timidly approached, I picked it up and handed it to him.
“Thank you....”
Perhaps because of the rough scars on my wrist.
The boy looked scared.
But soon, he recognized my uniform, and his eyes sparkled through his shaggy hair.
“Big bro, are you a knight...?”
“What? A knight?”
His friends, who’d been waiting from afar for him to return.
They perked up at “knight” and swarmed over.
‘Ugh, this is annoying again....’
I do like kids quite a bit.
But on this long dispatch trip, I just wanted to grab fruit and lounge on the sofa in the sunlight.
“You’re from the imperial family?”
“That uniform has the imperial crest. Don’t you know the Capital Defense Knights?!”
The kids gawked at the Radiant Knights like they were legendary monsters.
Their big eyes sparkled at the medals on my chest.
“Veil, you okay? You hate this stuff.”
Mago, who knew my personality well, poked my side and asked.
And besides her, there was another person watching me surrounded by kids from afar.
Leah, in the grand ducal residence window, pondering summit details.
She was occasionally observing me through a small telescope.
「――――――」
“Surrounded by an unexpected ambush, Veil.”
Left alone in her private room, Leah chuckled as she looked down at the empire’s greatest swordsman.
With curious eyes, wondering how he’d handle the kids.
“I’ll watch how you, the hassle-hater, get out of this.”
Pleased to have found good entertainment, Leah poured tea into her beautiful teacup.
She sipped it with half-closed eyes, gazing down at me.
“Eh—. But the strongest in the imperial family is the Imperial Knights, right?”
“No way—. Lately, the Radiant Knights are the top dogs, don’t you know?”
The kids openly dissed the man right in front of them.
Hearing that, he got playful and grinned slyly.
“Hehe.... You kids don’t know the real hidden powerhouse is the Water Division?”
“Nuh-uh—. We know defense knights are low in rank too.”
The kids, unaware of capital news, retorted.
Well, just them not knowing the man before them was the top swordsman said it all.
“Do you know the top two knights from the capital both came from the Water Division this time?”
“Nuh...?”
“Yeah, now that you mention it, I think I heard the tournament winner was a defense knight....”
A knowledgeable kid chimed in.
The boys then focused back on the man.
“And I’m his closest colleague—?”
Veil pointed to himself with a sly voice.
Leah nodded approvingly at the sight, her sensual eyes watching.
“Indeed, you’re hiding your status well, as I commanded.”
Satisfied that the man outside obeyed her orders, she smiled faintly.
She amusingly observed the fox-like knight spinning tales for the kids.
“To handle kids so well and play with them happily....”
Seeing the man’s domestic side she hadn’t known, Leah felt a strange sensation.
She swallowed deeply and fell into delusions alone.
With the feeling from reading about the northern grand duchess and slave knight.
“You’d make a good father.”
Muttering unconsciously, she covered her mouth with her palm.
Rosetta’s words about her softening suddenly came to mind.
“Ahem.”
The princess cleared her throat and looked out the window again.
With gentle eyes, she warmly watched Veil teaching the kids swordsmanship.
But soon, her eyes caught the petite woman chuckling by Veil’s side.
Mago, who’d joined the dispatch under the pretext of being a shaman.
She’d have dismissed her as a cute kitten before, but now her gaze lingered.
They didn’t even enter the market after teaching the kids—instead, they kept chatting at the entrance.
Like lovers sharing intimate whispers.
“...”
Leah’s expression quickly turned cold.
She diligently finished organizing summit notes and left the room.
“Your Highness, do you need something?”
The Radiant Knights waiting outside asked.
They wondered if they should call Richard for an inspection.
But Leah firmly shook her head.
“No. In these tense times of cold war, knights swarming around would scare the people.”
Using sound logic to shake off the knights.
With her characteristic cold gaze sending them away, she exited the residence alone.
“I’ll take a walk alone, so don’t worry.”
The princess removed the lion badge symbolizing royalty from her uniform.
She tucked it into her pocket and leisurely headed to the market entrance.
―――――.
She approached the knight and witch who’d been waiting at the entrance for a while.
Noticing her, I greeted politely.
“Ah, Your Highness. What brings you here?”
“Just out for a stroll.”
Leah spoke in a formal tone with hands behind her back, and Mago clung tightly to my side.
She quietly bowed her head in greeting.
“You two out for a walk as well?”
“No. Just stepped out to buy some fruit.”
I smiled casually and pointed to the fruit stall nearby.
Leah slightly furrowed her fine brows.
As if knowing I hadn’t bought fruit despite having plenty of time.
“Is that so? Then why loiter here instead of buying?”
Perhaps because of Mago in front.
Leah asked in a more regal, noble tone than usual.
I swallowed deeply.
With a slightly tense look, I glanced at the fruit stall.
“A ‘special’ reason, perhaps?”
Leah crossed her arms alone and asked back.
Her full figure was accentuated by her arms.
“Well....”
I scratched the back of my head quietly.
Then, I approached Leah discreetly.
The princess looked at me with cold eyes.
But the moment she heard my whisper.
“...!”
Her sharp gaze instantly turned to embarrassment.
“They discount fruit at 6 PM. Like an end-of-day sale—.”
Leah’s face flushed at the unexpected answer.
Realizing her jealousy had grown lately, she whipped her head away.
“H-How thrifty....”
Seeing my practical side sparked all sorts of delusions again; she kept hiding her face.