Chapter 57: The Worst Reunion (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: The Worst Reunion (3)
Night fell.
Narupa calmly waited for the activities inside the carriage to come to an end.
“Haa…! Ahh…!”
Since it was the first romance for both Alto and Airune, things were a bit noisy.
However, Narupa had never even experienced that first romance herself.
On the other hand, Arasen, who actually had a lover, was slumped in a corner of the camp with a dark expression. Having learned Airune’s true identity following Alto’s, she was in a state of dazed shock.
“Heh heh heh, it’s been a long time since I’ve sharpened the edge of my Black Blade.”
A smile refused to leave the lips of Count Dakuus as he pulled out his weapon to maintain it.
He felt a bit embarrassed overhearing glimpses of the displays of affection from Airune, whom he had raised like a daughter, but on the other hand, he felt proud, seeing it as a natural and necessary step for the future of Hus.
When the entire carriage began to rock during the final stages, the Count even let out a boisterous laugh, remarking that she would surely be prolific.
Narupa did not like that one bit.
“You seem to be in a good mood, Uncle.”
“Ahem! Narupa, it’s only because they’re in the early stages of love, so don’t be too upset. Just wait a little longer; this uncle of yours will do his best to ensure an opportunity reaches you as well.”
“…I understand.”
The sensible eldest daughter nodded and stepped back once again.
In truth, she didn’t want to.
However, until her father became a hero, she had watched him blow up entire villages at the slightest provocation, spew reckless insults at the state, and cause all sorts of conflicts and grudges. She had lived her life using him as a negative example.
If she endured just once, things would be peaceful.
If she thought just one more time, she could find a way for everyone to smile.
But until when?
Because she endured once, she was always the one who ended up enduring and letting things go.
It was the same with Rune.
Since they were young, Rune would whine and throw tantrums like a child whenever she wanted something.
Dolls, trinkets, pretty clothes.
Because she didn’t want to fight with Rune, her only friend, Narupa always yielded.
As Airune grew older, she didn’t just throw tantrums anymore. About once every five times, Airune would yield as well.
But she never did when it came to the most important things.
She didn’t know how to give up until she obtained it or convinced herself of it.
That charm, which stemmed from her beautiful and innocent personality, was, conversely, like a form of soft violence.
That was why Narupa was anxious.
She was afraid Airune would try to monopolize every bit of space by Alto’s side.
Clatter!
“Kyaa!”
“Put some clothes on, you brat.”
“I am wearing them~.”
“You’re just covering yourself. And with Alto’s robe, no less.”
“What’s Alto’s is mine, isn’t it?”
When the carriage door swung open, Airune, who had been draped in the robe, curled up in surprise.
Despite her words, her naked body beneath the robe was drenched in sweat.
“What were you doing that made the whole carriage shake?”
“Kissing.”
“You strip naked just to kiss?”
“Yeah, it’s thrilling, so I like it.”
Judging by the intense flush on her face, it must have been incredibly thrilling. Recalling the steadfast Alto, Airune wore a smile that was half-shy and half-affectionate.
“Is it that good?”
“Yeah, it’s great. You should find a good man and start dating too, Narupa.”
“I plan to.”
“Really? Do you have someone in mind?”
“Of course I do.”
“Someone you’re seeing?!”
“Not yet.”
“Who is it?”
Narupa simply smiled without a word at Airune, who asked with sparkling eyes. As she looked at the mage whose eyes weren’t smiling at all, Airune’s expression gradually stiffened.
“No way…?”
“Rune, didn’t you tell me to find a good man and date?”
“Not mine! Absolutely not!”
“Let’s be clear. Alto isn’t yours; you are Alto’s woman.”
Airune stood up.
The robe slid down, revealing a curvaceous, naked body stained red in various places.
Narupa had certainly lost in terms of breast size. Instead, Narupa’s breasts were well-shaped and fit perfectly in one hand.
“Alto is mine. He only loves me.”
“That’s cold, Rune. Where else in the world is there a man as handsome and wonderful as Alto? You expect to keep him all to yourself?”
Airune flinched at the madness lurking in Narupa’s eyes.
Taking another step forward, Narupa pressed firmly against Airune’s lower abdomen. At that, the fluid Alto had gifted her trickled down.
“You, all by yourself… enjoying this kind of happiness first.”
“Alto wouldn’t…”
“I fell for Alto at first sight.”
“……”
Airune was flustered. Narupa was someone who would always step back maturely even if she whined a little. But now, her eyes held a desire that could not be broken by any means.
“If it’s me, I can provide Alto with everything he could ever need. I am the world’s greatest businesswoman and the wealthiest person, after all.”
“I can provide for him without lack too. I’m the one who will become the Great Lord of Hus.”
“Wouldn’t that just burden him with being the Great Lord’s consort? Wouldn’t he be left alone and lonely, forced to attend unpleasant social gatherings and watching your empty seat while you’re busy with official business?”
“That would never…!”
“I’m different. If I want, if Alto wants, I can create a world just for us and live inside it. Forever.”
Count Dakuus and his wife had evaluated the two like this:
Airune would strive for a world where she could be with the person she loved, while Narupa would create a world where she would be only with the person she loved.
That was why even Count Dakuus, who cherished Narupa, had given Airune priority in approaching Alto.
“Rune, I feel like I’m going crazy, you know? Even now, I imagine Alto appearing and holding me. No matter what I do or where I look, I can’t think of anything but wanting to be with him.”
Narupa suffered from a severe lack of affection.
To overcome it, she had immersed herself in business and research.
However, those years were rendered meaningless the moment she saw Alto; her brilliant mind instinctively realized he was a proper man who would love her completely.
A man who would accept her even when she acted spoiled.
A man who would love her for exactly who she was.
On top of that, Alto was the exact physical ideal imprinted into her very genes.
In the first place, he was the ideal for a ‘happy life’ created by gathering information over generations to find a man like him, so it was a foregone conclusion.
“I’ll yield Alto’s first time and the position of his top woman to you for now.”
Narupa clutched her pounding heart and made her declaration of war.
“You know as well as I do that this damn world won’t let a man like Alto have only one wife anyway, right?”
Having said her piece, Narupa slammed the carriage door shut.
Left alone, Airune pulled Alto’s robe close, buried her nose in it, and mumbled.
“Just you try. Alto’s primary wife will definitely be me…!”
* * *
Count Dakuus, who had overheard this entire conversation, could not hide his bitter feelings.
The sisterly bond had cracked. And over a single man named Alto.
Since neither Airune nor Narupa could ever give him up, Dakuus, as a parent, had to agonize over a way to untangle this knotted thread.
“Sigh.”
“Your sighing has increased, Commander.”
A pleasant baritone voice pointed out the involuntary lament.
“I wasn’t your commander. Donovan was.”
“Didn’t you take overall charge after the Four Heroes dashed off?”
“I did nothing but tell everyone to hold out, survive, and then retreat.”
Dakuus embraced the man and then shook his hand.
Beside the middle-aged man, who had a neatly grown and groomed mustache, a black horse’s eyes glowed quietly in the darkness.
“Levantello.”
“Our primary enemy, the worst executive, Old Man Dakuus.”
“Did you come alone?”
“An army is meaningless against a bastard like Yobeste anyway.”
“That’s a bit much, considering a large force of adventurers from Lukart is marching this way.”
“Do those adventurers belong to any nation? They belong to the Guild.”
Still, there was such a thing as minimum courtesy. It was also a very Duchy-like method, always chasing cost-effectiveness.
“Trying to treat a war veteran as just another veteran… it’s amusing and offensive. What do you think, Levantello?”
“Old man, Yobeste has crossed the line. He’s already killed several people, and a significant number of them were men.”
“I heard from Giamant. Didn’t they all deserve to die?”
“That’s why I was turning a blind eye to the killings until then. But killing a diplomatic delegation is a different story.”
“And leaving a war veteran neglected like that is a story that’s okay?”
“……”
The Count pulled a bottle of whiskey from his luggage. It was whiskey his wife had packed for him. He grabbed a wooden cup, tossed it to Levantello, and poured a drink.
“The people of the world shout our names and cheer, but they have no interest in how we are actually living or what difficulties we face. The Duchy and the Kingdom are the same.”
“That’s the realm of politics. Don’t bring up complicated issues to a soldier who’s been relegated to a minor post.”
Thud.
Being a wooden cup, there was no clear ringing sound. After a rough toast and a gulp of whiskey, Levantello frowned at the liquor, which was unexpectedly mild.
“What about that Alto fellow? Giamant was in an uproar, excited that he came with you, old man.”
“He went to do his own work.”
“Ha, I never know when or where he’ll show up. That’s what’s scary about him.”
As a sign of protest, Levantello poured out the rest of the drink in his cup.
Count Dakuus smacked his lips and pulled out a new bottle of whiskey. This was also a drink his wife had personally packed. But just before uncorking it and tilting it toward the cup, Dakuus stopped the bottle.
“Is this the way the world is supposed to be?”
“Are you going senile, old man?”
“I was shoved away as the Acting Lord of Hus under the pretext of monitoring the Heroes’ daughters, and you were placed in a border region where no wars happen, with some long-winded honorary title of Commander-in-Chief.”
“……”
“Is that all? Yobeste took justified revenge for having his wife stolen, yet there was no consolation from the Duchy. And Alto, among the men who survived in Lukart, was bullied for being ugly and then practically chased out to Hus after the women in his party cheated on him.”
“Alto? That Alto Bertrand, because he was ugly?”
“He didn’t go around revealing his identity, of course. If he had, those Kingdom bastards wouldn’t have left him alone.”
“Even so, to treat a person like that for such a pathetic reason…!”
“This is the very image of the peace that we, our comrades, and the Heroes protected with our blood.”
“Old man, what are you trying to say?”
Only then did Dakuus pour the drink.
“And despite that, they’re pressuring you to arrange a political marriage between the Duchy’s Prince and your daughter, aren’t they?”
“Old man.”
“We in Hus believe in marriage for love. That’s why Alto is becoming involved with the young lady of Dakuren, and the young lady of Diberuper is also aiming for him.”
“Are you telling me to marry my daughter to Alto?”
“What are you talking about? I said we believe in marriage for love.”
“I’m a soldier. Speak plainly.”
Count Dakuus shook the bottle. A heavy, sloshing sound could be heard.
“Come to Hus, Levantello. If we gather together, we can at least correct this twisted peace in Hus.”
“You sound just like those Kingdom bastards. Saying they’ll gather all the war veterans for the Victory Commemoration Ceremony.”
“We’re different.”
“How so?”
At that, Dakuus frowned and raised the bottle.
“Because we are the damn war veterans ourselves, aren’t we?”
“…Oh. Then why don’t you persuade that Yobeste fellow as well?”
“I was planning to do exactly that tomorrow.”
The Count then proceeded to drink straight from the bottle.