The Arrival of the War Heroes
The Reinhardt Duchy rules the east, while the Royce Marquisate forms the heart of the west. Each holds a vital role, and their importance in the story runs deep. The Royce Marquisate served as the stage for the Burning Great Plantation episode. The Reinhardt Duchy, for the rebellion.
But why hasn't there been any reply? Noble houses usually keep dedicated messengers. There's no need to sit around waiting for a letter, yet everything has been far too quiet. Could it be that they never received it?
"My lady. Forgive me for asking, but you're certain you sent it correctly?"
"Yes, of course I did."
So for a brief moment I had even suspected Amelia. She would have sent it, obviously.
"Still, the fact that we haven't heard a single word back..."
"Perhaps something has happened?"
A shadow fell across Amelia's face. After so long without contact, it was only natural to assume the worst. I felt the same.
"I looked into it because I thought it might worry you. Both families are reported to be free of any major issues. No unusual disturbances either."
I had waited long enough to account for delivery time in both directions before ordering a discreet information check. Just in case something had gone wrong, as Amelia feared. Though Marseille is small, ships arrive from many regions. Simply wandering the harbor lets you gather news from all over. The same held true for the other two territories. I had sent people to confirm, but the reports were nearly identical. Reliable.
"Really? That's a relief."
Amelia pressed a hand to her chest and let out a long sigh. It was a timid gesture, nothing like what you'd expect from a hero who had survived a brutal war. Or perhaps that was exactly why. Having lived through crises that others would dismiss as trivial, she couldn't help but worry.
"Those two aren't the sort to go around getting beaten up, are they? If anything, I'm more worried they'll tear something apart."
Their fame. Their families' power. And martial strength so overwhelming it could crush the weight of those massive backgrounds rather than be crushed by them. They had to be safe.
"Pfft...!"
Amelia hurriedly covered her mouth and ducked her head. I hadn't expected her to burst out laughing at a joke like that. It probably says something about how low the comedy standards are in this rofan world. Still, laughter was good. Far better than crying until your insides grew damp and rotten.
I sat on the resort's rooftop terrace, gazing down at the view below. Ever since I arrived under the pretext of inspecting the property, I'd remained here. Thinking. Brooding.
What on earth am I supposed to have her do?
Amelia still wanted to work, and that was the problem. I couldn't see any immediate task to assign her. Security? The Marseille Defense Force, created during the war, already handled that. Administration? I could teach her, but we weren't so desperately short-staffed that it was necessary. The same went for manual labor. And I could hardly push noble responsibilities onto another family's daughter. That would imply I intended to bind our houses through marriage.
This is genuinely troubling.
Even with the cool sea breeze brushing my face, no clear answer appeared. It left me feeling somewhat frustrated.
"Young master!"
At that moment, Aaron—the escort knight who had been lying across the entrance—came running in a hurry. He looked extremely urgent. Did he need to use the bathroom or something?
"What is it? Stomach trouble? The young lady is here, so go ahead comfortably. Can't be helped with bodily functions."
"If that's the case, don't worry and take care of it. Failing to resolve such matters promptly lowers concentration and harms physical condition."
I offered emotional comfort. Amelia offered rational comfort. Was it because she was a war hero? She remained utterly calm even at the mention of stomach pain. She'd probably seen blood, guts, and everything that spilled from them more times than she could count.
How horrible.
The old memory surfaced, tightening my brow. The first time I saw a person's intestines—an enemy's—flashed vividly in my mind. The way I'd vomited. A sight I would never forget until the day I died.
"It's not that...! Honored guests. The honored guests have arrived!"
Aaron shouted, his voice tight with urgency. Thanks to him, I'd been pulled from those old memories. I'd have to buy the man a drink later.
"Honored guests? Who?"
I stood, meeting his eyes. There were far too many important people in the world; he needed to be specific. Like giving emergency dispatch instructions.
"The heroes have arrived. They're waiting in the resort lobby."
My eyes flew wide. Amelia rose as well, her own eyes round with surprise.
Wow...
Calculating from the day the letter was sent until today, it seemed they'd come the moment it reached them. That explained the lack of reply.
"They were much faster than I expected."
I rephrased the idea of impatience more politely. Amelia was right here, after all.
"I'm sorry. Once those two make up their minds, they tend to act immediately..."
Amelia gave an awkward smile. She wasn't upset about me speaking ill of her friends; she genuinely looked troubled. Perhaps from years of being swept along by their personalities? Still, their impatience wasn't the reckless, answerless kind. It was closer to boldness.
"You don't need to apologize, my lady. In any case, since they've come, we should go greet them. What about you?"
"I'll come too. It's bewildering, but... I'm rather glad to see them."
Amelia smiled bitterly, yet there was clear joy in her expression. Then we had to go.
"Let's go."
We descended to the first floor together. The building was tower-shaped, but nothing like the dizzying height of a 102-story skyscraper. Just pleasantly modest.
They really came.
The moment I reached the bottom of the stairs, an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar sight greeted me. This was our first face-to-face meeting. Yet because I'd read those pages until they wore thin, their appearances felt intimately known.
In a quiet corner of the lobby, the women who had been resting in the simply arranged café rose from their seats. They looked overjoyed to see us.
No, not me.
I quickly regained my composure and took a step back. The joy wasn't directed at me. It was for Amelia.
"Amelia!"
"You really were here!"
The woman with white hair and the woman with black hair rushed to Amelia's side like overly affectionate retrievers.
"How could you two show up without any word?"
Amelia's eyes sparkled. Seeing her this happy after only a few days apart warmed my heart.
"We got your letter and ran straight here without time to write back."
The white-haired woman smiled brightly first, making no effort to hide her delight. Guilt flickered in her golden eyes.
"I'm sorry. I'm so ashamed I hardly deserve to call you friend."
The black-haired woman followed, bowing her head like a criminal. It was almost painful to watch.
The white-haired one was Reina Royce. The black-haired one was Charlotte Reinhardt. Both were war heroes, and their primary magics were devastating. Reina specialized in cold and ice. Charlotte in fire. Useful in moderation, but raise the intensity and they became catastrophes. The same was true for Amelia.
"Lady Glacel, it seems best if the three of you spend some calm time together first. I'll greet you properly afterward."
Just as the atmosphere grew so heavy it was difficult to speak, I naturally stepped between them.
"Thank you."
Amelia nodded at me, her expression a mix of apology and gratitude.
"I'll introduce myself formally later. For now, please make yourselves comfortable."
I greeted the other two as well and took charge of guiding them. They said nothing, but I caught hints of goodwill in their eyes. It seemed I'd passed the first impression test.
The three war heroes sat together at a table, gazing at one another with identical expressions. Gladness. Guilt. As friends who had shared the same pain, the emotions they felt were perfectly matched.
"Let me say it again: please don't feel guilty. I simply wanted to confess how pathetic I had been."
Amelia spoke first. She had already written her feelings in the letter, but now she expressed them again with her voice—emotions that mere sentences could never fully capture.
"No. I was the fool for not realizing my friend's pain. I was too busy shutting myself away, saying I was the one struggling."
Reina shook her head. The guilt she hadn't been able to shake during the journey was plain on her face. It was pain Amelia knew all too well.
"I understand. The way the world looked at you made your heart sick. In that state, you wouldn't have had any attention to spare for the outside."
She offered the comfort of complete understanding. Suffocating pressure. Emptiness. It was empathy born from genuine experience, not empty platitudes.
"Thank you for saying that. It comforts me, but it also makes me feel even more pathetic. I should have been the one helping you."
"Same for me. Supporting each other in times like that is supposed to be my role, yet I failed completely."
Charlotte picked up where Reina's lament left off. Though heavy guilt lingered in her voice, seeing Amelia's face seemed to bring her some relief. Despite suffering the same gazes and the same pressure, Amelia looked happy. That alone was enough.
They spoke of how they had traveled here, when they had arrived, and how they had met. Reina had frozen a narrow path and slid along it. Charlotte had ridden a horse. Both claimed to have traveled alone, but Reina took it a step further.
"You came all by yourself?"
"Yes. Traveling with people who cower at the mere sight of us only makes me angry. It's unpleasant for everyone, so I came alone. My insides feel completely refreshed."
Reina twisted the corner of her mouth into a smile. She meant every word. Charlotte nodded silently and added her own comment.
"Same for me."
"I see."
Amelia sighed and nodded. She understood so deeply that she had no words left.
"Right. Let's stop talking about such depressing things. It's wonderful to see you looking this happy."
Charlotte forced a smile and broke the heavy silence. The mood lightened, if only a little.
"Thank you."
"Then let's set the past aside for now and talk about what we mentioned earlier. That man we saw—is he the eldest son of the Meyer family?"
"Yes."
Amelia nodded. Intense curiosity and anticipation sparkled in Charlotte's eyes.
"Did we see him at the banquet? I don't recall."
"The young master said you didn't attend many events."
"That explains it. But with looks like that, even I would have to remember."
Charlotte was a duke's daughter. For someone who couldn't avoid meeting countless people to say such a thing meant he truly stood out. Amelia's cheeks flushed as she nodded. Now that she was conscious of it, she felt embarrassed.
Oh my?
The girl who always maintained polite distance with that iron wall of kindness is acting this shy?
Reina and Charlotte both widened their eyes in surprise. The natural consideration he showed them, the fearless gaze, the kind voice and warm expression—it was all refreshingly new. On top of that, he had resolved difficulties for Amelia that even they hadn't known about. How could they not be curious?
"What kind of person is he, exactly? Tell us what you felt."
Charlotte urged her in a coaxing tone, half teasing. Amelia noticed and her cheeks grew even redder. Embarrassment sealed her lips for a moment.
"He's a good person."
Still, she forced the words out, voice barely above a whisper. There was so much more she wanted to say.