Chapter 284 – 28. Family Management (4)
The northernmost part of Gaul, the Marquis of Lemoang.
As the carriage procession got closer to its destination, the weather got worse and worse. It seemed that the wheels of the cart, which were rolling on the frozen ground, kept slipping, and later, there was an accident in which a horse fell over.
“How about your stitched arm, Sir Jiro?”
“It feels a little strange, but that’s okay. The fact that I can not be crippled is just a sense.”
Guillaume, who was sitting on the other side of the driver’s seat, replied in a non-trivial tone. With only a blanket wrapped around his military uniform, he did not seem to suffer from the cold, perhaps because he was born in a frozen land. On the contrary, looking at that light-hearted expression, he even gave the impression of welcoming the harsh cold.
“We will arrive at the citadel in a little while. As soon as I go back, I will tell my wife to reward her separately. I hope you will focus only on recovery.”
“I was just doing what I had to do as a knight. How can we afford to lose ourselves when the baron sets an example himself? I have to say thank you. How do you put so much trust in a knight who once antagonized you…”
Rom grinned as he grabbed the reins and drove the lead wagon. His face, which had a bloody look with scars, gave a rare benevolent impression. Even considering that there was a big change in the mind of the viewer.
“This journey has been a turning point in many ways in my life. I was able to recall the original intentions that I almost forgot. It was a great stimulus in many ways to get a glimpse of Master, his nemesis, and his skills.”
Before leaving her duchy, Oliver, who was also trying to return, and Kenna, who set out to see them both off, passed on her teachings that money couldn’t buy. That is to say, she was a tribute to a younger student who was qualified to end the long-standing conflict and inherit the lineage of Yu-geom, who had fought in real life.
‘It is a troubled time. A huge whirlwind of fate will soon overtake you. If possible, try to be more diligent in preparation for that time.’
‘Romuald Ardennes, approved by Kenneth Somerset, an instructor of the Quick Sword School.’
‘Ganggeom School instructor and current Guild Leader Oliver Somerset officially recognizes it.’
‘Sweetheart, you are the new master of the Yugem school following Simon Somerset, who died as of this time. Even if it’s a name that’s only a façade, let’s keep alive and aim for a higher realm.’
Nationality is not important to swordsmen. It is enough for people who pursue the right ideology and can raise a sword for it. Although the baron’s swordsmanship had a somewhat distant feeling from Britannia Somerset as its origin.
‘I’ll show you my real steel sword.’
‘It won’t be exactly the same as my heyday, but this is the quicksword I used to use.’
The master, who was no longer swayed by delusion, proved his great power with a single hand gesture that cut through the air. Also, the woman who was that alumnus showed off a quick sword without any preparation, and easily sniped at the distant horizon and hinted at it.
“Are you talking about the hard sword and the quick sword? I couldn’t see it because I fell out due to an injury, but I heard from Sir Peltier that the baron won a landslide victory.”
“Well, I was good at aiming for gaps.”
Oliver was shaken by his thoughts and restrained himself. Kena’s back to the sword wasn’t enough, and because she wasn’t perfect, she could only show her skills that were far behind in her prime. That’s why the skill the two showed before leaving the duchy was all the more meaningful.
‘I’m sure I’ll be the winner of the duel trial, but if you fight to the death with two people, you don’t know which one will survive. I am still lacking and need to work harder. But I won’t neglect the happiness I’ve been given because I’m obsessed with getting stronger without meaning.’
Rome’s smile, which had come to a realization in its own way, was so bright. The baron, who had passed through the coniferous forest full of bare tree branches and pondered on his meaningful achievements, was bright as he saw the gray castle that began to appear in the distance.
“However, the great thing has not changed. From the fact that he risked his life to fight for the sake of Madame Lemoang’s maternal relative, a knight who engages in a duel like this is bound to aim for honor. The baron was even willing to say that he regarded her as my concubine just to save Lady LeBlanc.”
“… Hmm?”
“People of good standing will appreciate your sacrifice. Seeing him prioritize his family over mere honor, many knights will regard him as an example to follow. The ignorant ones will assume that Baron Ardennes was disrespectful to the Duchess because he was blinded by color.”
Guillaume shook his head with a determined expression. Like him, who clenched his fists as if his jointed arms were still awkward, Gallia’s pompous people interpreted Rom’s actions as such.
“Most of them would know the true intentions behind it. That Romuald, Baron Ardennes, even dedicated my honor to defend LeBlanc’s wife, Henrietta.”
Rom put on an embarrassed expression for a moment. As for the remarks at the trial, I had to save Henrietta first, so I said anything to make a justification for me to come out, so embarrassingly, I was worried about how to handle the aftermath.
My reputation, which was already marching high, was wrapped in a joke even when I declared that I would have an affair with the duchess as her concubine on the subject of the baron. It was a lot to blame for the nonsense, but it was a reputation that was absurd nonetheless.
“Guillaume, what are you doing?”
While I was scratching my head in embarrassment, an older knight came out from the back of the carriage and asked.
“Ah, Sir Peltier. We are almost there.”
“The baron was also with you. More than that, I know we’re almost there. But I need to keep an eye on the front.”
The baron, who was lowering his head, and the knight, who was looking to the side, tilted his head as he lay sideways. Mathieu shrugged and pointed at the checkpoint at the end of the coniferous forest at the two who were relaxed.
“See for yourself.”
Only then did Rome look ahead, widening his eyes. Guillaume, who belatedly turned his attention, was equally astonished. Furthermore, Fabien Dupuy, who led the back row, and Hugo Henry, who were wrapped in bandages, came forward before they knew it.
“Ah…”
Even Henrietta, who felt a presence.
“Welcome, honey!”
“Rom, how are you?”
“Master, adult!”
In front of them, a large crowd of people in the city were welcoming the baron’s party. There were not only the members of the winter mansion, led by the wife and daughter Lemoyn, the concubine, the maid Françoise, and the head maid Marion, but also her sister Margaret and her former nanny, Anais and Leonard.
“Lady! Master Henrietta!”
In addition, Annette, the maid of honor, Antoine, the decree, and the knights’ families.
“Baron! Thank you very much for your hard work! Please choose the celebration party provided by our Lucerne store to celebrate your return!”
Marcel Poincaré of the Lucerne Chamber.
“Ugh! How dare you deprive the family baron of time to spend with his family! Don’t do that, our Brulin Commercial Association has prepared a nice wine…”
Eugenbank of the Bruhlin Commercial Association.
“Be careful! No matter how much our merchants are human beings who take precedence in the business, what kind of insolence is this in front of those who dedicated themselves to the northern frozen land! I just want to congratulate you on your safe return…”
Thomas Gillen of the Britannia Trading Company.
“What kind of a nobleman is he who isn’t even a Gaul…”
“How many of these are there?”
“Wugo! You idiot, who has been hurt like that for a long time!”
“Mathieu, did you have a good tour of the East?”
“Leonard, do you know what I’ve been drinking…”
“Are you still fighting well, Mr. Peltier?”
“How can you compare to the Great Snowfield’s mother, Anais?”
Rom’s party got off the wagon and approached the boisterous crowd. In the meantime, the soldiers guarding the checkpoint saluted the baron with a modest gesture and set out to hand over the horse and cart instead.
“Welcome back, Baron.”
“… Antoine, how are you?”
It was a happy aftermath. Everyone in the city was holding a welcome ceremony for the warriors who had returned after a victorious victory. Georges Garrel, the mayor busy taking care of himself, or Pablo Cervantes, Ian Winchester, Ernst Möller hired from outside.
And even the noble ladies in three colors who fluttered their fans from far away.
The prestige of the Northern Territory, which was evaluated as the weakest, was reorganized with Rome at the forefront. Soldiers who are loyal to their wives and concubines, flattering politicians, and merchants who want to make deals.
“Isn’t it spectacular? There is no such thing as a perfect celebrity.”
“Lucienne, how are you?”
“It was boring because I didn’t have you. So after work, do I have to hang out with my mom, me, and even Françoise?”
The scenery that I wanted to protect even if I put my whole body in it touched me warmly. In the meantime, her mother and daughter, especially Lucienne Le Moin, called the Winter Stone of the North, who often walked up to her, put on a rather serious expression and whispered in her ear.
“Rather than that, the court baek contacted me earlier. He made a sudden proposal from the royal family that he wanted to elevate the Ardennes family to the rank of duke.”
“… What? Being a duke is no joke.”
“Yes, no matter how you look at it, the power of the north has grown beyond negligence, so it seems like they are testing their loyalty. The difference between answering immediately and not is so big that I sent it back, saying that I would only accept my heart on my own. But I think you should know.”
“Oh, that’s a wise decision. I’m not interested in titles, and I hate being involved in politics. Because I have a smart wife, it’s very comfortable to leave my seat with peace of mind.”
“Isn’t it? Unless the king and his ministers went crazy as a group, there’s no way a baron would be made a duke right away.”
“Are you sure you don’t know? Could it be that the royal family is impatient with my irresistible charm?”
“Puhu, no matter how much my husband was, that was a bit harsh! Is Alphonse de Gaulia an idiot?”
Among the gathered crowd, the couple smirked and nodded. It was a judgment completely different from the central intention to say that the statue was a dream, but the baron and his wives were satisfied at this moment anyway.
“Anyway, I have a lot to say.”
Because time is running out
“You’ve worked hard, our Seobang-nim!”
Really.
