The Hohenberg Marquisate (2)
There was probably no other prestigious family as resilient to misfortune as the Hohenberg family. Despite countless disasters—businesses they had poured everything into collapsing, betrayals by their own vassals, and more—the Hohenberg family had always survived until the bitter end. This time, though, they would surely fall. No amount of struggle could prevent it. It was a relentless streak of bad luck that refused to allow even a single ray of hope. And yet the Hohenberg family had somehow summoned heavenly fortune itself and achieved a miraculous comeback from the brink of ruin. It happened because, just as heroes are born amid chaos, exceptional talents always emerged whenever they stood on the verge of utter collapse. One could call it a feat worthy of a distinguished house that had produced a hero of national foundation. Despite their despair-inducing curse of misfortune, the leading family of the East had survived purely through the art of “raising exceptional children.”
“Please… let Edanant be safe, at least…”
Otto von Hohenberg, head of the Hohenberg family, always began his day with a heavy sigh. What was his son doing right now? Was he suffering somewhere? After his eldest son had suddenly vanished, the middle-aged man waited desperately for news of his second son, his earnest paternal love laid bare in every anxious breath.
“My lord, the weather has grown quite chilly.”
“If only sleep would come…”
Despite the sharply dropping temperatures, Otto paced the garden in an attempt to cast off his worries. His footsteps, laden with complicated emotions, often continued until dawn. The elderly butler approached and voiced his concern. Otto offered a bitter smile and shook his head.
“How could I possibly sleep in comfort? The thought of Edanant struggling because of his useless father leaves my heart in knots.”
Ever since he had lost his beloved wife early in life, he had lived solely for his children. He had sworn to her that he would protect his family no matter what happened. But what had become of that vow? His eldest son was missing. His second son was in the imperial capital, working hard to represent the family. Every time he stared at the hollow, empty dining table, he cursed his own incompetence. The guilt of having driven his family apart through his weakness and frailty weighed on him like a mountain.
“Sigh… It reminds me of what happened three years ago. Back then, too, I could only wait helplessly. It seems a man like me is incapable of growth.”
“……”
The head of the Hohenberg family clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky. Lamentation, regret, and a tangle of complex emotions surged within him. It was the sorrow of an ordinary man who had somehow fathered two unparalleled geniuses. He was always both overjoyed and ashamed as he watched his sons race far ahead of him. After all, a mere mortal like himself would only end up becoming a burden to them.
“To think even Edanant would be chosen by a Holy Sword, just like Maximilian… It’s enough to make one faint on the spot.”
“I was quite shocked myself when I first heard the news.”
The tales of Edanant’s heroic exploits had spread rapidly across the land, eventually reaching even the Hohenberg County after passing through countless territories. Otto had already known his eldest son was a Holy Sword user. After all, he was the prophesied hero chosen to escort the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom. But for his second son to be chosen by a Holy Sword as well… Perhaps the reason Maximilian had left behind the Holy Sword Aldebaran was to prepare one final contingency. Otto carefully tried to guess at his missing eldest son’s intentions.
“Isn’t it astonishing? That two unparalleled geniuses were born from a mere ordinary man like me. I cannot fathom the reason. It’s not as if any of our ancestors were Holy Sword users…”
The Hohenberg family had produced many outstanding talents, yet never a Holy Sword user. It was safe to say they had no connection whatsoever to the Four Holy Swords of Demon Destruction, the treasured relics of the Holy Kingdom. How on earth had such a miracle come to pass? Otto swallowed a heavy groan as he mulled over the mystery.
“Numerous families have been sending marriage proposals. With word of Young Master Edanant’s feats spreading, all eyes have turned toward the Hohenberg family.”
“If they were proposals for Edanant, I would have welcomed them with open arms… but this is truly a shameful affair.”
The flood of marriage offers that poured in like a sudden downpour were actually cautious suggestions inquiring whether the head of the Hohenberg family might consider remarriage. Divorced noblewomen and young ladies of marriageable age had begun courting him with fervor. Otto pressed his temples, visibly repulsed.
“They must be families envious of Young Master Maximilian and Young Master Edanant’s fame. So they’re trying to claim the innate talent you passed down to your sons, my lord.”
“That joke is in poor taste. Where in the world would you find an ordinary, idle man like me?”
His children were all grown. What nonsense was this about taking a new wife? Otto flatly rejected the proposals, whose ulterior motives were painfully obvious. They would only cause needless trouble. Thinking of his departed wife, he turned his head away.
“My lord!”
As he debated whether to retire to his bedroom, Eliot—a knight who guarded the family—came sprinting toward him, letter in hand.
“What is it?”
“Young Master Edanant… he says he’s coming home!”
It seemed his desperate prayers had finally reached the Earth Mother. At Eliot’s shout, Otto’s face lit up and his eyes flew wide.
“Is that true? Edan is coming back!”
What father in the world wouldn’t rejoice at his son’s triumphant return? The sparse hairs on his balding head stood on end like weeds sprouting in barren soil. Even his pitiful remaining strands seemed to celebrate the intense joy.
“It would be nice if he brought back a fine daughter-in-law from the capital. I’ve reached the age where I’d like to dote on cute grandchildren.”
“How did you know? Saintess Jeblina, along with Her Highness Ludmila and Her Highness Elizaveta, are traveling with the young master!”
“What?”
“The First Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, and the Second and Third Princesses of the Valtaria Imperial Family!”
His son, who had left the family, was returning with a saintess and two imperial princesses in tow. How was he supposed to process this? The marquis, fallen into panic, eventually gave up thinking altogether. Happiness that far exceeded one’s station had a way of twisting into disaster. The news that the beautiful saintess and princesses representing both the Holy Kingdom and the imperial family were coming struck the marquis—who had been living a quiet rural life—like a bolt from the blue.
“Ugh!”
“M-My lord!”
A short groan escaped him. At the same time, the head of the Hohenberg family staggered. The butler and guard knight rushed to support him from both sides before he could collapse to the floor.
She had already visited the Hohenberg Marquisate twice before. There was no need to be nervous. This was simply a trip to change her mood. The fact that the travel destination suddenly chosen was the Hohenberg Marquisate was nothing more than pure coincidence. Ludmila murmured to herself like a mantra, repeating the words she had agonized over since the previous night. Yet it had no effect whatsoever; anxiety showed in every line of her body.
“S-Sister! What on earth is all this?! Did a war break out?!”
Elizaveta screamed. As many as fifty knights had been mobilized, moving an absolutely enormous volume of luggage. Seeing them sweat profusely as they worked, Elizaveta was struck speechless. There were dazzling treasures of gold and silver, luxurious garments, and even all sorts of rare medicinal ingredients reserved for the imperial family. Was she already planning to exchange gifts? No—even for that, this was far too much! She was rendered mute by the sight of her sister looking strangely excited.
“We have received so much help from Edanant until now. Therefore, I intend to repay the Hohenberg Marquisate.”
“……”
Was she planning to win over her prospective father-in-law with a massive show of wealth? How petty. It was a shallow scheme that not even vulgar upstarts would attempt. Elizaveta wanted to stop her triumphant-looking sister, but eventually gave up. More than half the items had already been loaded into the carriages.
She could only let out a heavy sigh.
“…Saintess?”
“Your Highness Ludmila.”
When the hastily conscripted imperial knights finished transporting the supplies, the Holy Kingdom’s paladins arrived at the platform carrying heavy loads of their own. At the same time, Ludmila and Jeblina met as if encountering each other on a narrow single-log bridge.
“Where are you headed, Saintess?”
“I am visiting regions neglected by the faith in order to spread the teachings of the Earth Mother far and wide.”
“Then you must have mistaken the platform. This train is bound for the Hohenberg Marquisate.”
“No, it is correct. The Empire’s red dragon, using travel as its pretext. The Holy Kingdom’s white dragon, using missionary work as its pretext. It was truly a magnificent confrontation that made one’s chest swell with grandeur. If the Emperor and the Pope were to witness this scene, they would surely let out heavy sighs. The imperial knights and paladins mobilized for logistics looked at each other and nodded. They seemed to share a sense of sympathy that transcended national borders.
“Edan!”
“You…! Explain yourself at once!”
Edanant arrived with Lue shortly afterward. Sharp cries immediately flew at him from both Jeblina and Ludmila. Why is that woman here? The saintess and princesses glared at the playboy in unison.
“Since everyone said they were going to the Hohenberg Marquisate… I naturally decided to accompany you all. You said you were going to the marquisate for travel and missionary work, didn’t you?”
He could not refuse Jeblina and Ludmila’s proposal to accompany him all the way to the Hohenberg Marquisate. There was no valid justification to reject them. When the saintess and princesses declared they were going, a situation as volatile as a powder keg on the verge of exploding was bound to unfold. Yet even knowing that, he could not avoid it. As if such chaos were the very fate assigned to the Hohenberg family.
“Lue.”
“Yes!”
Edanant, in a state close to resignation, called out to Lue, who carried a travel bag on her back. At the same time, he shouldered a large barley sack filled with five hundred Nong-jjuk Candies.