Chapter 331 – 33. Marguerite of Immorality (1)
The snowstorm stopped at sunset. Dusk lingered in the square. Despite the polar cold, those who came out to the streets cheered and welcomed the new news. At first glance, the noble daughter of the squadron was happy that she had finally become a female princess.
“Long live Her Majesty the Duchess of Le Mohan!”
The piles of firewood piled up like houses caught fire one by one. The dusky evening turned into night and burned fiercely, as if trying to chase away the darkness that came naturally.
“For the Barony of Ardennes!”
Meanwhile, on the platform erected by a skillful craftsman, a woman newly declared to be a powerful figure in Gaul wore a barbed iron crown on her head and raised a handsome ceremonial sword high in the air. Although she didn’t feel like it, she seemed to be doing the bare minimum since it was for her husband.
“Eternal blessings to the northern frozen land!”
It was truly a banquet on a grand scale. Although the festival was currently limited to the city of Ardennes, by tomorrow the entire northern region would be singing and dancing together. Among the crowded crowd, there were also a few wandering peddlers and lonely travelers.
“You people of Gaul! Richard, Commander of the Knights of Calais, asks! Will you faithfully serve Her Highness, the 10th Duchess of the Northern Eastland? Bless the future of your great kingdom! This moment today will forever be remembered in history! Will we truly be moved and be together?”
“A strong and beautiful winter stone! Your Highness Lucienne of Le Mohan! I see your face!”
Soon, people made their way through the dense crowd around the podium and quietly plucked the strings. The sight of sweaty playing next to a reddish bonfire was the most perfect way to praise a fleeting moment.
Among those who harmonized like a musical band that had been together for a long time, several people who were very moved and danced to the tune. Also, those who carried the freshly cut meat usually grilled it with the help of women.
“You citizen of the Ardennes! Vincent, the court of Gaul, asks! Are you willing to follow the Invincible, the new leader of this land? Save the kingdom in crisis! This is the man who wreaked havoc on the continent! Will we recognize Romuald’s rule?”
“Lumière’s invincible knight! The hero of Limousin! Baron Ardennes, supreme loyal subject! Please lead us as you have done so far!”
For security purposes, lightly armed people struck down the spears they were holding. They laid down their weapons neatly in front of the podium where the female princess stood and saluted in unison. And when he saw the man who appeared next, he cried out passionately.
“The 1st Baron Ardennes! The noble loser of the North!”
“The Sword of the West Continent Heavenly God! The end of war! Guardian of peace!”
“Waaah, Romuald Arden!”
He said that a place makes a person. Rom, dressed in neat ceremonial attire, showed off even the fierce scar beneath his carefully combed hair with charisma. When her wife, disguised as a cold beauty, gave her a somewhat harsh look, she looked embarrassed and continued the play.
“Your Highness Princess Lemohan, your vassal Romuald is here to meet you.”
“Suddenly, Degvuz Lemuld…”
“Don’t be scary, but since you’re in front of people, quickly hand me the sword.”
I knelt reverently. He bowed his head solemnly. When a female princess wearing an iron crown presented him with the ceremonial sword he was holding, he carefully held it with both hands. Since it was a hastily constructed item, it wasn’t particularly valuable, but at least they tried to make it appear that way in front of the citizens.
It was the moment when the vast Northern Territory came under the rule of the baron.
A moment later, Rom stood up and raised his sword high. Lee Geon-man, who never shows off his skills due to his humble nature, showed off a short sword dance as if it was special today. With a light stroke in the air, all the clouds in the dark sky were chased away.
“All peoples, my name is Romuald Arden!”
The sword, which was just a simple ceremonial dress and had a blunt edge, shot out a fierce wind. Lucien sighed, saying that she really couldn’t stop him, and gave a small spark from her fingertips with magic, and it exploded in the night like a colorful firework.
“I swear here that I will take care of you with a delicacy that would even dare to surpass heaven! Like a moment when I hoped that happiness would last forever with my beloved family! “I am determined to achieve this with all of you!”
The flames riding the sword wind sparkled dazzlingly. I was thrilled to finally be intoxicated with the peace that I had completely forgotten about after going through such a long and difficult time. Lovers and couples kissed and friends and family celebrated by holding hands.
“End the dark past and move towards a better future!”
All things are reincarnation. Isn’t it natural that day comes after night falls? The world’s dark ages, as harsh as those of the noble knight Rom, were about to come to an end. As someone said, it is the coldest and darkest time before dawn.
Although there were still great trials and turning points ahead, the Baron of Ardennes would be able to overcome such crises.
“Finally, I ask you, will you please make this lackey a companion to walk by your side?”
The night is long and the dawn is deep. But a new golden age was clearly dawning. That’s why Antoine and Fabien, who were wrapped in bandages, approached from afar with clenched fists. Each of them showed their faces while being supported by their lover Annette and her colleague Guillaume.
“God, Mathieu Peltier!”
But what moved Rom more than anything else was the old knight. It was as if he had been waiting for this moment ever since the intense duel trial, as he appeared in heavy armor alongside his subordinates and took off the helmet he was wearing. Because he just fell on his knees.
“I dedicate my poor labor to you and pledge allegiance to the new owner of the northern frozen land, Baron Ardennes, and his family!”
The men, who were upright and had no idea of surrender, bowed down willingly. Everyone repaid the baron’s long-standing devotion by adding a word.
“God, Hugo Henry! As a knight who follows the invincible, I pledge eternal loyalty!”
“God, Guillaume Giraud! As a knight under the example of all people, I pledge my unwavering loyalty!”
And that was the beginning. Officials who participated to discuss major and minor issues appeared all at once for reasons of various intertwined interests. The change in the hearts of the knights, who had loudly declared that they would never serve anyone other than the dead Margrave Gerard, seemed to have moved their hearts, and they followed suit.
“Mayor of Saint-Buch, Georges Garel, on behalf of the citizens of the gateway, celebrates the cause pursued by the Baron! For a strong future of Gaul and Ardennes!”
“My name is Marcel Poincaré! “We, the Lucerne Company, hereby pledge that we will always be the Baron’s reliable allies!”
“This is Eugen Bank of the Brulin Commercial Guild! Congratulations on the new beginning of the northern frozen land! As always, our union will help Baron Arden like a grain of wheat!”
“Thomas Gillen, the Britannia Trading Company expresses its unconditional and full support for all of Baron Arden’s great endeavors!”
Even those who flattered those in power were sometimes useful. Because they were quick-witted, they were unrivaled when it came to brightening the mood.
Thanks to this, by the time Aragon’s eccentric genius Pablo, blacksmith Ian, and stonemason Ernst stepped forward, the entire square had become a melting pot of enthusiasm.
“Okay then! Let’s celebrate this precious day under your blessings! Let us rejoice that the deep conflict between North and East has been resolved! Please praise Henrietta, Lady Leblanc, who came to my family as a witness!”
“Spring in the East! Queen of social circles! Long live Henrietta Leblanc!”
“Please don’t forget the alliance that together prevented the empire from foreign powers! This man, who never breaks in the face of any hardship, is my best ally! I wish for a safe delivery for his wife, Hoelun, who gave birth to heir! The next leader of the Great Snow Plain will be taken care of by Romuald Arden as his godfather!”
“Long live the Kingdom of Gaul! Long live the Kamagh Tribal Union! Long live the Barony of Ardennes!”
Men appeared along the streets of the city, rolling heavy liquor barrels and assembling wooden tables. Under the direction of Jean Marion, the maid in charge of the housekeeping, the nanny Anaïs, the butler Leonard, and her assistant maid Jean Françoise joined in to preside over the festival.
The maids exclusive to the LeMohan family, who were planning to become independent soon, the duke servants who had emigrated from the East to follow their master, and the nine dancers who were still wearing tentacle costumes following their master’s orders, carried drinks and glasses.〈 Br〉
Lucien, a female worker who was far from the attention of the podium, managed to catch her breath, Oriane and Henrietta, who were full of thoughts of making their husbands drink, ordered strong drinks one after another, and Temur, who seemed to be hungry and went to the side of the log fire with a plate, chatted warmly with the already drunk citizens. We split the meat and tore it apart.
“That’s a really great ramp. In the end, all the real power of the LeMohan family was taken away, and only the justification was left behind.”
“I heard that on the day the festival ends, the appointment of family members and estates will be announced. But even the famous Baron could not have predicted our presence. If you thought that you would just ignore the bitch who runs the family just because of your ancestry, you would be mistaken.”
“But everyone, don’t think about getting too close. I don’t know if anyone will recognize me. Especially when it comes to Oriane Lemohan…”
“Hmph, anyway, it’s over once your father comes back. Unlike the northeastern region, led by the city of Havre and the Saint-Bouches gateway, we are holding tightly to the northwest region. If Caubin and other vassals join in with the funds that have been stolen so far, victory is a given.”
“It’s just as you said. Lemoine is indomitable. The conclusion of the Northern Restoration War is not far away. So, let’s not forget each of our duties and prepare for an uprising. “It won’t be easy to steal them away from the barbarians in the snowy plains.”
Amidst dark clouds that can be considered a harbinger of trials.
* * *
“Huh? Did I see it wrong?”
“Why are you doing this, Oriane?”
“Ah, I think I saw a familiar face over there.”
“Who? Do you know someone too?”
“I guess not? “I guess I was mistaken for someone else.”
