Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: On the Way to the Capital (3)
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Leonhart Ducal Family's Knights Captain Alfred.
He was a warrior who had pledged his loyalty to Family Head Gerard Leonhart for many long years.
As such, he knew Gerard's personality well.
A man as unyielding as stone, who valued strict discipline above all and never hesitated to fight for the Empire.
He had lived his entire life that way, even after meeting his wife and having children, but his nature never truly changed.
So Alfred had expected it.
Gerard's son would be the same.
That was Alfred's misconception.
Kline Leonhart.
The eldest son of the Leonhart Ducal Family and the prime candidate for succession to the ducal seat.
Though his position had wobbled a bit when his younger sister was born, most of the household retainers supported Kline.
His outstanding eloquence, handsome features, and kind heart.
A boy so exceptional that one had to wonder how he could have been born to a father like Gerard.
From the many conversations he'd had with Kline up until now, Alfred knew.
It wasn't proper for a vassal to say it, but the words fit perfectly.
'What a rascal.'
More precisely, he was born that way.
So Alfred had thought he'd gladly protect this young lion.
Expecting him to one day succeed Gerard and lead the Leonhart Ducal Family.
He never imagined he'd say...
-I'll use a separate room by myself.
...
Alfred was hiding near Kline's room.
It was only natural. Alfred had left the family to protect Kline.
He wasn't the type to handle things carelessly, even under the pretext of gaining real combat experience.
Thus, concealing his presence, he kept watch on the situation in Kline's room.
'Anyone who messes with Young Master won't be anything special anyway.'
From the moment Kline's group had arrived in Mudridge, the locals would have caught on.
That they were high-ranking nobles.
You could tell just from the carriage or their attire.
So unless it was some hulking brute, no one would dare touch them.
No point in it—they'd get thoroughly thrashed by the escorts, and on top of that, they didn't want to face pursuit from a ducal house.
If anyone still tried, they were the dregs of the dregs.
Thugs without a shred of judgment. That was part of why Alfred had permitted Kline's solo outing.
'Here they come.'
Finally, the thugs surrounded Young Master's room.
What followed was simple and swift.
Kline kicked open the door and immediately laid out the two by the entrance.
Then, of the remaining three charging at him, he dropped two more right away.
Using the swordsmanship he'd learned.
'Fierce Tiger Strike Sword and Azure Dragon Soaring Sword. Well done, Young Master.'
Alfred nodded with a satisfied expression.
No faults in his sword proficiency or judgment.
At this rate, Kline would become a great man and lead the family well.
The only slight regret was that he hadn't left major wounds on the kidnappers.
The last one remaining, the leader, looked somewhat strong, so the judgment to hold back his power was excellent.
Even accounting for that, though, it felt a bit excessive. There was no need to hold back that much.
'He's still young.'
Alfred thought that even though Young Master acted like an adult, he was still just a child.
But the developments that followed exceeded Alfred's expectations.
Kline clashed auras with the leader and claimed a mature victory.
The difference in pure talent.
That alone wouldn't have surprised Alfred.
-Shut up and listen.
Kline slashed deeply across the leader's chest without a moment's hesitation, then stomped down with his foot.
To the point where you couldn't imagine it was the same person who'd shown mercy moments ago.
He interrogated them about their client, then raised his sword as if he'd kill him if he didn't talk.
-My little sister's eight years old. But she killed people. If you do the same as my sister... Ariel won't be lonely, right?
Kline's expression showed not the slightest hesitation as he said it.
Utterly firm, without a shred of doubt.
As if protecting his sister made something like this no issue at all.
-I-I'll talk! I'll tell you, so please spare me!
In the end, the leader couldn't overcome his terror and confessed.
-Th-that woman! She's our client.
-A woman? Tell me more.
-I don't know! She was wearing a hood, so I don't know her face.
-Then you die. Farewell.
-Her eyes! She said she wore the hood because she had nothing to cover her eyes. She said she forgot the collection she usually carries!
-Oh. Really? Must have money.
-Y-yes. That woman said she's going to the capital. Said she'll manage money there and achieve her goal. That's enough, right!
-Yeah. Sleep well then.
Thud!
Kline knocked the leader out without hesitation and relaxed his stance.
-Phew.
And that was the end of it.
Kline gathered the thugs in one spot and headed downstairs.
To hand the kidnappers over to the sheriff.
"......"
Alfred watched it all and quietly mulled it over.
Replaying Young Master's actions from moments ago.
At first, he'd thought he was hesitating to hurt people.
But he'd been utterly merciless to the leader.
Especially when it came to taking a life—he hadn't hesitated for a second.
As if he truly didn't care at all.
Somehow, Alfred felt like he grasped the reason.
'Because of Young Lady.'
Kline had said it was for his sister.
That made sense.
Back at the mansion, Young Master had always been so attentive to Young Lady.
The only slightly puzzling part was...
'Isn't it a bit much?'
Considering Young Master's kind nature, it was a little unexpected.
He was so good-hearted. No need to show mercy to kidnappers like that, sure.
But to try and kill him outright?
"No way."
Alfred sighed and returned to his room.
He needed to sleep now if they were heading to the capital tomorrow.
Only a whispered soliloquy lingered.
"Young Master might be smitten with Young Lady too."
It was a small doubt.
The next day, I woke up and met Alfred and Cobson.
The kidnappers I'd taken down the night before had all been thrown into Mudridge's temporary jail.
The sheriff would come later to punish them, apparently.
Daring to touch a noble—they probably wouldn't get off lightly.
Honestly, dying by my hand might've been the better end for them? Nah.
Cobson, upon meeting me, chattered away as if he was angrier about it than I was.
"Aigoo, Young Master. No injuries, I hope?"
"I'm fine."
"Daring to lay a hand on our Young Master. We should lock those bastards up and starve 'em."
Cobson had slept soundly and woken up full of energy.
Well, with Alfred around, he had nothing to fear.
Alfred looked a bit tired by contrast, but his condition seemed fine.
He was staring right through me, though.
Something up?
"Young Master."
"Yes."
"You're safe."
"Of course. Were you worried, Alfred? Didn't trust me?"
"No. I believed you'd handle it well."
"Then why's your face look so off? Something happen?"
"No. Just..."
Alfred hesitated, as if pondering what to say.
Eventually, he shook his head faintly.
"It struck me how much you resemble Young Lady."
"That's random. Why state the obvious?"
"You're the only one who thinks that."
"Well, I'm her only brother."
He was saying the most out-of-left-field things.
Of course, Ariel and I didn't look alike, our personalities didn't match, and neither did our tastes.
Didn't matter. Siblings resemble each other just by existing.
I shrugged and headed down alone.
Time to set off.
"How much farther to the capital, Cobson?"
"Ah, about one more day. If we keep going straight, we'll arrive around noon tomorrow."
"Got it. Shall we head out then, Young Master?"
"Yes."
Thanks to the shortcut, we'd shaved quite a bit off the schedule.
The three of us boarded the carriage and continued toward the capital.
And the next day.
When the sun hung high in the midday sky.
"We've arrived!"
I had reached the capital.
——
The Crimson Blood Cult's forces were invading the continent.
The strongest and worst being to appear one day: the Blood Demon.
The elder vampire known as the Blood Demon had formed a cult of his kin and thrown the world into chaos.
Naturally, the Empire had summoned knights and recruited soldiers to stop them.
But even before the vampires appeared, the Empire had already lost its most precious treasure to them.
Such things held zero interest for Kline, though.
"You always have that frown on your face."
The Empire pondered how to block the Crimson Blood Cult's forces.
In the imperial palace, where nobles from across the lands had been summoned.
The Third Imperial Princess Adelheit addressed Kline.
"......"
Kline didn't reply.
The other nobles hadn't arrived yet.
Too busy blocking the cult or pursuing their own gains to come.
Foolish.
The palace itself had already been breached by one of the cult's great leaders.
How could they hope to stop them?
"You're ruining a perfectly good face. Doesn't it hurt my eyes?"
"I don't keep my face up for Your Highness."
"So rude. And here the princess says she wants to see it."
"If there's no business, I'll take my leave."
Kline replied without a flicker in his expression.
'Really, the spitting image of his father.'
Adelheit sighed inwardly as she looked at him.
Gerard Leonhart was a man whose personality was as rigid and unyielding as stone.
Like father, like son—he'd inherited that trait perfectly.
With no choice, Adelheit got to the point.
"I'm curious why you arrived so early."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The other nobles haven't come yet. Why did the heir of the mighty Leonhart Ducal Family arrive first? I'm just so curious."
"......Nothing special."
Kline let out a short sigh.
Really, it was no big deal.
To Kline, it was as natural as breathing.
"For honor's sake. How could I hesitate to offer this body for the Empire?"
"What's this? Suddenly so eloquent. I can tell you don't mean a word."
Adelheit stroked her chin with her hand.
She felt the cold touch of the mask.
Yes, the Third Imperial Princess hid her face behind a mask.
Back then.
During the 'Cluster of Stars' social gathering at the palace.
After the woman who would later be called the Crimson Blood Cult's Fifth Division Leader tore off her face.
Adelheit had lost her radiant beauty and begun hiding behind a mask.
"You only have your little sister on your mind. I can see that desire to outshine her and gain recognition plain as day. Don't try to fool me."
"......Is that all?"
Kline's voice sharpened.
If she weren't the princess, he would have drawn his sword on the spot.
Adelheit chuckled and waved it off.
"Don't get so mad. I didn't call you here to blame you."
"Choose your words carefully. These are dangerous times—one careless remark could have dire consequences."
"Indeed. Like my face, you mean?"
"......"
Kline's gaze turned to Adelheit.
He saw the mask concealing her disfigured face.
"What do you think? Everyone says a princess without a face has no political value anymore. Do you see it differently?"
"What's the intent behind your words?"
"Just curious. A mask hiding a melted face. A princess who's lost her value as a fiancée. In your eyes, am I worth taking as a wife?"
A politically thorny question for royalty to pose to a noble heir.
But neither Adelheit nor Kline cared.
The world was already steeped in chaos.
The old noble values wouldn't help anyone survive.
So Kline voiced his honest opinion.
"Not even worth considering."
"What?"
"I have one goal. As you said, to surpass my sister. ......Everything else that gets in the way is unnecessary. Even if it's marriage and producing heirs."
"Indeed. Your heart's already parched. Not even jokes land anymore."
Adelheit nodded slowly.
Then she gazed out the window.
Far at the edge of imperial territory, war with the Crimson Blood Cult was surely raging.
Someday, Adelheit would head there too.
To kill the woman who'd left her face like this.
But.
"......Pity."
She whispered faintly.
Just one word.
Folding away the faint hope that he'd say, 'I don't care about such things.'
——