Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Minster Kingdom (2)
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Anje stepped out of the prison to undergo her parole hearing.
Perfectly legally, of course.
Before she left, I made her promise not to use her abilities under any circumstances.
Fortunately, unlike before, Anje nodded obediently and said she understood.
Seeing this, it was clear the Red Saintess was changing.
'I'm glad I gave her Eri's novel.'
I hadn't read all of her novel, but the delicate, emotional prose in the early parts.
Just immersing herself in that would secure a good deal of her humanity.
And the result?
She was finally getting her long-awaited parole hearing.
"What a truly historic moment..."
A wave of emotion swelled in my chest.
It felt like sending off a daughter who'd only caused trouble at home, now all grown up and getting married.
I sipped my coffee with a gentle, fatherly smile.
'I should pay Eri a visit soon to express my thanks.'
Among all the women I'd met, she was the most comfortable to be around.
She had nothing to do with power, strength, or charisma.
She was exactly the kind of woman I'd hoped for in my fantasy life.
The beautiful, pure type.
"Warden, there's a visitor outside."
"Who is it?"
"She says her name is Lady Eri."
"She's here?"
I rose as if to receive a proper noble lady.
Like a single lamb had wandered into this rough place by mistake.
"Bring her in. I'll pour the tea myself."
"...Understood."
The vice warden left the office with a strangely blank expression.
Soon after, he returned with a woman whose long pink hair cascaded down her back.
Dressed in a wide-brimmed hat and white dress fit for early summer.
Considering it was still a bit chilly, she had a cardigan draped over her shoulders.
The outfit accentuated her pure image and her bountiful curves.
"It's been a while, Warden Derek."
She smiled with her eyes, and even the mole under one eye seemed to greet me warmly.
"To think you'd come all the way out here on my account. I would have visited you."
I stood, feeling healed just looking at her like a painting come to life.
I guided her to the sofa with two cups of tea I'd poured myself.
"To see a busy person, I had to come myself."
"What could I possibly be busy with? I was just sipping coffee a moment ago."
Eri held out a bouquet of flowers with both hands.
Deep, dark roses.
"Congratulations, even if it's late. Beating Stillman felt so satisfying."
"Beautiful roses. The slightly blackish-red hue gives them a special feel."
I stroked the bouquet as I replied.
Eri covered her mouth with her fist and laughed brightly.
"Do you know the flower language of roses?"
"Passionate love?"
It was such a common one that I answered right away.
Her red eyes under the hat curved like a crescent moon in a smile.
"Love is one meaning, but it also signifies passion. It reminded me of your passion for victory, so I picked them."
"Haha... To think they carry such deep meaning. Thank you so much."
A light conversation flowed between young man and woman.
The prison vice warden watched from a distance.
Though she showed no outward reaction, her busy hands holding the prison ledger had come to a complete stop.
"...I think dark red roses have a different flower language."
Clea, who had little interest in trivial things like flower meanings, pondered for a long time.
She was about to tell her boss the truth about dark red roses symbolizing possessiveness and obsession.
"Oh, right. On the way here, I saw another carriage heading this way."
"A carriage? Did it have any imperial or military insignia?"
I decided to stay silent at Eri's intriguing remark, which preempted things.
"No, nothing like that. No insignia at all."
"That means..."
"Yes, someone hiding their identity is approaching."
A more suspicious atmosphere than the flower language had been detected.
True to form as chief vice warden, Clea moved first.
She went to the window and looked down toward the prison entrance.
"Lady, the carriage you mentioned seems to have just arrived."
I followed to the window.
The moment I spotted the flagless carriage, instinct told me who the uninvited guest was.
"...The Bacar royal family."
In my previous life, as Imperial Knight Commander, I'd met him privately.
Varhan X.
He was a young king in his thirties, infamous for his thirst for talent rivaling even Prince Ivan.
His greed was such that he'd visit the Empire personally to poach talent.
And now, he was visiting this remote prison.
─────, ─────.
Soon, footsteps of about three men echoed in the hallway.
The door opened, and the vice warden entered with a troubled expression, escorting two men.
Two men with blue hair, dressed in casual clothes.
"W-Warden, visitors insist on seeing you..."
"I understand. I'll handle them. Go tend to your duties."
They tactfully vacated the room at my prompt reply.
Now the office held only me, the vice warden, Lady Eri, and the two mysterious men.
"For the abode of the North's foremost sword, it's awfully cramped."
The man with hands behind his back spoke leisurely.
Early thirties, blue hair slicked back with pomade, exposing his forehead.
And eyes as blue and clear as the eternal snowfields.
The very image of Bacar's wise king in his prime.
"You must be Warden Derek Minster."
Lady Eri rose gracefully from her seat.
True to her noble upbringing, she stepped back politely and stood beside Clea.
"Yes. But..."
I stared intently at the man seeking a private audience.
Then I glanced at his aide.
The one who absolutely didn't look like a disguised king.
"Why is His Majesty the King dressed as a guard knight?"
"..."
The man who'd questioned me first fell silent.
He slowly turned, gauging his aide's reaction.
"You know my face, it seems."
Dark black hair like a wolf prowling the snowfields.
Golden eyes gleaming within.
The man, who resembled Queen Christina's late husband, spoke.
"I've rarely attended official events with the Leon Empire."
Varhan X, disguised as a guard knight, clasped his hands behind his back.
Taller than me, he approached with cold eyes.
"How did you know, Derek Minster?"
He emanated no mana at all.
Yet, like when I'd first met the Emperor, I felt an overwhelming presence.
The subtle dignity of a sovereign that subdued others.
"..."
I couldn't very well say I'd met him in my previous life.
I had to navigate this plausibly.
"I knew from the carriage."
"We deliberately chose an imperial-style one."
"But it wasn't made in the North. It's from the capital."
"What does that matter?"
The black-haired king asked flatly.
"The capital's nobles are full of elitism. They think the Empire's provinces are unsafe and lawless."
I replied with a blank expression, backlit by the sun.
"That's why they always display their family crests on their carriages. A warning not to touch a prestigious noble."
I showed no tension even before a foreign king.
On the contrary, showing fear here could invite disaster.
A figure like Varhan X could kill a border official like me anytime and cover it up.
"Yet Your Majesty's carriage had no insignia. Obvious capital origin, though."
I pointed at the real aide disguised as the king.
"Next time, switch to a Berryhill-made carriage."
"..."
The bold aide who'd spoken first clamped his lips shut.
He glanced at Varhan X, about to bow apologetically.
But the king waved it off.
No reprimand before a foreign vassal.
Another sign of Varhan X's character.
"A fine deduction."
"Thank you. It was thanks to Your Majesty's hint that you'd visit personally soon."
I bowed lightly in greeting.
Clea and Eri behind me followed suit.
However...
Unlike the wary vice warden, the lady's expression was remarkably serene.
As if she'd known the visitor was Bacar's king all along.
"..."
Clea found that highly suspicious.
Could she be... acquainted with Varhan X?
"Your exploits have reached even my homeland, impressively so."
"I'm not sure what you mean."
The black-haired king slowly surveyed the office.
He lightly stroked the desk as he recited.
"Raiding the Empire's largest conglomerate, Walter Group, and seizing assets worth an entire kingdom."
Boasting Bacar Kingdom's overwhelming intelligence, as if.
"Taking down the Holy See's top knight and the Eastern Continent Alliance's top ten master single-handedly."
He flashed two fingers at me in a V-sign.
"Now riding Princess Camillia's coattails to check Prince Ivan."
Then three fingers.
"Assets, martial prowess, connections. A man needs those three most."
"You're too kind. Just luck."
Varhan X let out a scoff.
He placed a large hand on my shoulder and whispered politely.
"No need for humility. I'm not here for formalities."
What was he here to discuss, exactly?
No way...
"I'm here with one proposal for you."
He beckoned his aide.
The man who'd posed as king moved briskly.
From his jacket pocket, he drew a luxurious wristwatch.
The finest piece symbolizing Bacar royalty.
"I hear the Minster family is treated like troublemakers in the Empire. Even as the princess's close aide."
He gently placed the golden watch in my hand.
"Why not seek a new shadow? Somewhere cooler and more comfortable."
"Are you telling me to... betray my homeland?"
I looked up at him with serious eyes.
Amused by the challenging gaze, Varhan X chuckled.
"No, I never said that. Who asked you to betray your origins?"
He seemed to like the bold spirit, rather.
"There are plenty of legal ways to switch allegiance. Without pricking your conscience."
If Prince Ivan used authority to persuade talent...
Varhan X persuaded with perfectly rational means.
Like a skilled talker, he presented a new path.
"You're unmarried, right? If you wish, I could introduce a northern duchess."
Marry into Bacar, naturally aligning allegiances.
Then independent from the Empire, establishing your own satellite state.
That was his talent recruitment strategy.
Elevating beyond mere vassal to king of a nation.
What proposal could tempt a man more?
"If you're tied to our nation, the imperial family won't easily control you."
"True enough. If I end up resenting the imperials, I could just side with Bacar."
The prospective emperor-to-be smiled benevolently.
"Exactly. You catch on quick. I'll do my utmost for your choice of partner. What do you say?"
Clea, listening from afar, furrowed her brow slightly.
I was deeply troubled too.
'What kind of development is this...'
Bacar's king was famous for his generosity to vassals.
Hence visiting talents personally.
But accepting and leaving the Empire? Who knows what chaos.
Bacar couldn't handle the ruin that even the Empire couldn't.
"..."
My hesitation silenced the office.
In the suffocating quiet, only one remained calm.
Lady Eri, waiting patiently at the back.
As if anticipating this moment, she spoke.
Flawlessly fluent Bacarian, startling everyone.
All eyes turned to her.
Eri slowly approached my side.
She removed her hat, revealing her pure face.
Varhan X nodded magnanimously.
He seemed pleased by her fluency.
Eri paused briefly, then boldly extended her hand.
And then.
She gently linked arms with me and leaned her shoulder against mine.
Huh...?
What did she just say?
I, who knew some Bacarian, stared at her blankly.
Eri whispered as if I were clueless.
'No choice. Want to be known as an Empire traitor?'
'Ah, got it.'
Understanding her intent, I relaxed.
Eri continued her skilled acting.
The marriage partner was already Bacar-connected.
Varhan X brightened, pleased things were going smoothly.
But.
The others listening had grim expressions.
"Political marriage...?"
Clea, with her high intelligence already knowing Bacarian.
Her face went blank for the first time ever.
Eri glanced at the stunned vice warden.
Her eyes, deep as an ocean of blood, bloomed into a radiant smile.
A leisurely victor's smile.
In that moment, Clea realized.
This massive scheme was orchestrated by her.