Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: The Pious Lord of Mavrano
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After the Frostfang Wolf, they encountered several other minor monsters.
And each time, it wasn't the Grand Duke's knights who stepped forward, but the chosen children.
The children's practical training was not yet over. They still had the mission of safely escorting Elbadin to the Imperial Palace.
They could have been tired and weary from the continuous monster appearances, but the children handled each situation with composure.
In truth, compared to the Frostfang Wolf, these monsters were practically cute.
Lucillea also played a significant role, assisting the other children.
Of course, Lucillea had her own agenda.
-"Can I have the goblin claws?"
-"Can I have the goblin claws?"
-"Can I have the goblin claws?"
-"...Why those?"
-"...Why those?"
-"...Why those?"
-"Think of it as an investment. An investment. Oh, Serdian! Can you pull out that kobold's glowing scales for me too? Please!"
-"Think of it as an investment. An investment. Oh, Serdian! Can you pull out that kobold's glowing scales for me too? Please!"
-"Think of it as an investment. An investment. Oh, Serdian! Can you pull out that kobold's glowing scales for me too? Please!"
-"..."
-"..."
-"..."
Just as she had planned, she was able to collect the alchemy ingredients that came from the monsters.
'I can grow the medicinal herbs myself, so I'll just have to ask Serdian for the materials from the monsters.'
*Hehe.* Lucillea hugged the box of ingredients and smiled slyly.
'It was a good thing I researched the monsters of the Northern Mountains beforehand.'
Thanks to that, she knew exactly which monsters possessed which alchemical ingredients.
Perhaps that was why. Whenever a monster appeared, Lucillea would be the first to notice and proactively stop the carriage.
The monsters had started to look like gold to her.
By the time her magical storage box was bulging with the ingredients she had gathered, the Grand Duke's carriages arrived in the territory of 'Mavrano'.
At the entrance to the domain, an iron sign bearing the territory's name glittered in the sunlight.
"It's a pretty big territory."
As Reiden muttered while looking out the window, the eyes of the other children in the carriage also turned outside.
The carriage wheels rolled smoothly along the cobblestone road.
Sun-drenched signs lined the entrance to the territory, and along the wide road, vendors and merchants had set up shop side by side.
On both sides of the road, pastel-toned two-story buildings stood clustered together, their balconies overflowing with flower pots.
The attire of the people on the street was varied.
Not only were there locals, but also noble caravans heading to the capital and travelers unloading their luggage at inns, making the entire territory a chaotic tapestry woven from threads of every color imaginable.
The sound of people brushing past each other, the shouts of merchants, the flapping of tents in the wind.
Was it because they were getting closer to the capital? The vibrant colors were a feast for the eyes, a stark contrast to the Grand Duke's northern domain, which was covered in pure white snow.
The atmosphere was distinctly different from the small, shabby village of Millé.
Just then, the scent of golden-brown pies wafted past her nose.
It was followed by the aromas of rosehip, mint, roasted meat, and pungent spices. The scents layered upon one another, carried by the breeze into the carriage.
"Wow, what's that smell? I'm hungry."
"Me too."
As Lucillea murmured, Reiden chimed in with a laugh.
In contrast, Serdian and Irnel remained silent, as if uninterested in the scenery of the territory.
Lucillea glanced at Irnel.
Perhaps because her best friend, Keilin, was being treated in another carriage, she was even more quiet than usual.
'She's like a female Serdian.'
Blunt, quiet, and rarely showing any change in expression. Just like when she first met Serdian, Irnel was a difficult child to approach.
They had worked together against monsters countless times, but that was as far as it went. She drew a line, preventing anyone from getting closer, yet never approached them first.
When Lucillea returned after saving Keilin, her cold, icy demeanor had softened a bit, but it wasn't as if she had completely opened her heart.
Lucillea let out a small sigh and averted her gaze from Irnel.
She had no intention of getting close to the other children at the grand ducal estate, and she especially didn't want to make an effort to change the mind of a child who wasn't fond of her.
'I have neither the time nor the energy for that.'
After facing the Frostfang Wolf, they had traveled while dealing with many more monsters. With no towns nearby, they even had to camp outdoors.
Had she already grown accustomed to the comfortable life at the grand ducal estate?
After just a few days of camping, her whole body ached with fatigue.
Though it had been a fruitful journey in terms of collecting ingredients, she was growing physically exhausted.
Lucillea looked at Serdian and asked.
"You said it takes about two days to get to the capital from this town, right?"
Serdian nodded.
"That's right."
As the iron sign at the town's entrance indicated, this was the territory of 'Mavrano'.
It was about a two-day journey to the capital. While not a massive domain, it was quite large for a town situated between the North and the capital.
Serdian continued, gazing out the window.
"Our schedule got a little messed up."
"Messed up?"
"We were supposed to have arrived at the Grand Duke's capital residence by now."
However, due to the unexpected number of monster appearances, they were behind schedule, and the children were drained of their energy.
Consequently, Elbadin had decided to let the children, exhausted from consecutive nights of camping, rest for a night in a nearby town.
And this was that place, the Mavrano territory.
Serdian continued.
"So we were looking for an inn, but somehow the lord of the territory heard and contacted us. He invited the Grand Duke's party to his mansion. We'll rest at his estate today and depart tomorrow morning."
Since it only takes two days to reach the Grand Duke's capital residence from this town, if they traveled quickly, they could still make it in time for the evening banquet, Serdian added.
"Oh."
As Lucillea let out a short exclamation, Reiden tilted his head and spoke.
"But if he's the lord of the Mavrano territory... that would be Baron Barthold Jaeger."
At Reiden's words, Lucillea asked.
"What about it?"
Reiden hummed softly and said.
"Under imperial law, barons aren't supposed to hold territories. But Baron Barthold's situation is a little different."
"Different how?"
Reiden began to speak about Baron Barthold Jaeger.
"Baron Barthold Jaeger is famous for being an incorruptible nobleman devoid of greed. Despite his numerous achievements, he refused all higher titles and only requested a small plot of land from His Majesty the Emperor to serve God. This is that place."
*Ooh,* Lucillea thought, impressed, and turned her gaze back to the scenery outside the window.
Now that she knew the story behind the territory, she saw things she hadn't noticed before.
It was lively and bustling, but by no means extravagant.
Instead of ornate decorations, the buildings had small flower pots with symbols of God carved on them in every window.
What caught Lucillea's eye the most were the small chapels scattered throughout the streets.
'He refused a title and received a small plot of land to serve God?'
A righteous and devout lord, with good-natured subjects.
It was an idyllic scene straight out of a fairytale.
However.
Lucillea found the peaceful scenery so perfect that it felt unnatural.
Moreover, for what was supposed to be a small plot of land, the territory seemed quite large, even to Lucillea's untrained eye.
No. Lucillea shook her head.
'Maybe I'm just too cynical.'
In any case.
'I can sleep in a bed tonight.'
She might even be able to get some warm water.
Meanwhile, the carriage was passing through the main square.
As the carriages bearing the Grand Duke's crest passed by, people's gazes subtly shifted toward them.
Their gazes held more caution than reverence, more fear than curiosity.
Some whispered to each other discreetly, while others quickly bowed their heads and pulled their hats down, as if they had encountered a being they dared not make eye contact with.
This was the case even though Grand Duke Elbadin himself had not appeared. The crest on the carriage alone was enough; its noble and overwhelming dignity seized the air of the street in an instant.
Amidst the countless gazes, the carriages of the Grand Ducal House of Descartes passed through the center of the territory and headed toward the lord's mansion.
When the carriage stopped in front of the mansion, a man who had been waiting stepped forward.
The carriage door opened, and Elbadin was the first to descend. Dressed in a black uniform, he exuded a heavy presence, as if he had swallowed the sunlight itself.
Jed, Riat, and then the children appeared in succession.
Baron Barthold Jaeger bowed deeply, offering a polite and practiced greeting.
"May Mavrano's welcome be warmer than the northern frost today. I have been waiting, Your Highness. I am Barthold Jaeger."
Elbadin gave a short nod. Despite his intimidating presence, which betrayed neither a glance nor a flicker of expression, Barthold maintained a natural smile without any awkwardness.
"You must be weary from your long journey. I have prepared ample rooms. I hope you will find them to your satisfaction."
Riat then stepped forward and spoke.
"We thank you for your hospitality. On behalf of the Grand Ducal House, I express our gratitude for your kind offer of lodging."
At Riat's words, Baron Jaeger smiled gently and waved his hand.
"Not at all. It is the greatest honor for Mavrano to host His Highness the Grand Duke. Is it not God's will that our two families, who have had no prior relations, should form a bond on this occasion?"
Baron Jaeger chuckled softly. His kind eyes and every gesture were steeped in courtesy.
"Please, come inside."
"Yes."
Riat glanced at Jed, who quickly turned toward the carriages to lead the children.
The children picked up their luggage and headed to their assigned rooms.
The children's rooms were on the second floor.
The corridor was so quiet it seemed to swallow the sound of their every footstep. The smooth stone floor was polished to a shine, and the walls were adorned with high-quality velvet curtains and cross-shaped ornaments at regular intervals.
Serdian, Reiden, and Irnel entered their respective rooms first.
Following them, Lucillea entered a bedroom at the very end of the hall.
The room was very neat. It lacked splendor, but a certain warmth permeated the space.
The walls were finished with plain, light beige fabric, and a soft wool rug was spread across the floor. The only decorations were a bouquet of dried flowers on the windowsill and a small cross hanging in a corner of the ceiling.
The bed's duvet and pillows were made of a light, clean linen.
Lucillea ran her fingertips over the edge of a pillow. It had a different kind of neatness from the refined luxury she had grown used to at the grand ducal estate.
*Thud.* Lucillea carelessly dropped her luggage against a wall.
'I need to wash up and change my clothes quickly.'
The thought of enjoying a hot bath for the first time in a while made Lucillea feel giddy. Just as she was about to sneak toward the bathroom to claim the tub first...
*Knock, knock.*
Someone knocked on the door.