Chapter 180: Eternally Welcome Guest

Translator: Lei

Proofreader: Enigami

Whiiiiiiiiiiiirrr!

“Ohhhhh!’

“I-It’s activating!”

“B-Beautiful!”

‘Seriously, I’m a magic genius. Huhuhu.’

The crux of the fort’s defenses, the magic array, was glowing with at least ten different magic lights that indicated a resistance to the four elements—earth, wind, water, and fire—that made up all spells. When the array engraved on the mithril alloy plate gave off a light so strong it was almost blinding, the mages in the room let out entranced cries of admiration. Mages lived and died by magic. For former military mages like them who were practically abandoned by the magic towers, being able to witness this high-circle defensive array was akin to a dream.

“Study the magic array properly.”

“Thank you, Tower Master!”

“Thank you!”

The saying ‘All roads lead to Rome’ also applied to magic. It was difficult for normal mages to come in contact with a magic array imbued with high-circle magic knowledge. There were people who were able to overcome their circle walls by looking at such advanced arrays every day. That was why Hassias and the other mages were shouting their gratitude to me.

‘The fort will go into full operation now.’

I was very pleased. One by one, things were slotting into place in Nerman. Now, enemies who came by land would be blocked at this fort and wouldn’t be able to walk one step into my territory.

‘I wonder how Rosiathe’s doing.’ I was busy, but Princess Rosiathe of the Havis Kingdom must be just as busy stabilizing her kingdom. ‘Should I go over once?’

The Havis Capital wasn’t all that far from the border fort. Now that Nerman was becoming more stable, a desire to have a brief fling(?) sprouted up within me.

‘Alright, might as well go since it’s on my mind.’

No one would stop me. Unlike other nobles, I preferred to act alone, without a single guard knight, and there wasn’t a single person in Nerman who would worry about my safety.

That’s because everyone knew. They knew that I was worried about them, so I had to take care of myself.

* * *

“A-An envoy from the Empire?”

The Yukane Kingdom, which bordered the Laviter Empire, was once in an alliance with the now-extinct Perkan Kingdom. Together, they kept the hostile Laviter Empire in check, but because Perkan was annihilated so suddenly that Yukane didn’t even have the chance to help them, the Yukane Kingdom was now walking on eggshells around the Empire. They could only flee the continent or escape to the Baerkain Kingdom, which was a nation that possessed a similar amount of land. However, even if they wanted to escape the continent, they couldn’t even go out to sea due to the Kesmire pirates’ maritime blockade, so all of the kingdom’s commercial activities were occurring through the Empire.

An envoy sent by the Laviter Empire arrived in the Yukane Kingdom Capital.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The Foreign Secretary of the Empire, Marquis Pesocanian, has come in person.”

“Mm…” groaned King Lyvaitor at the Lord Chamberlain’s report. He was in his late forties, an age at which he should have plenty of fighting spirit, but the tall and gangly king was a fearful man. Ever since he was taken as a hostage by the Empire and returned, fear towards the Empire had taken firm root in his heart.

“Your Majesty, you must refuse the Empire’s requests as much as possible.”

Duke Samotuan, who had been carrying out the meeting in the throne room until just moments ago, looked at the King’s frowning face, feeling regret.

To be honest, if the Empire wanted to, they could easily make the Yukane Kingdom walk the road of ruin in less than a fortnight. Because of its closed-off terrain, it shared no borders with any kingdoms other than Baerkain, and the nobles and knights alike were all infected with instinctive fear towards the Empire. Even the military power the kingdom held was a little lacking to be called a kingdom. At most, they possessed no more than 400 Skyknights total, and their career soldiers numbered no more than 100,000.

It was because the Yukane Kingdom was so vulnerable that they had to be as knowledgeable about the surrounding political situation as possible. The only option available to them was to maintain the kingdom’s existence by not stepping on the Empire’s toes.

“I know. Bring in the envoy.”

King Lyvaitor managed to agree, giving a limp nod, but his eyes were trembling. The Lord Chamberlain went outside at his words.

“Your Majesty, please keep your chin up for a little longer. Yukane will soon be the object of God’s grace,” said the one and only duke of the Yukane Kingdom, Samotuan, in a passionate voice. Having maintained blood relations with the Royal Family for many years and worked hard to be a sturdy pillar of the kingdom, the ducal house was one with the Royal Family.

“Sigh… so it should be.”

But King Lyvaitor had nearly lost all confidence. He stared at the throne room doors with an anxious gaze.

“Your Majesty! Entering, the envoy of the Emperor of the Laviter Empire, Marquis Pesocanian!”

From outside the door, the Lord Chamberlain loudly announced the envoy.

“Permit his entry.”

As careful of the Empire as he was, he was still, at least in name, the king of a kingdom. King Lyvaitor’s voice rang out in the throne room.

Creeeak.

With his permission, the large throne room doors with the golden twin lions of the Royal Family opened.

And then, a man confidently strode in. Marquis Pesocanian, who had recently been appointed as the Foreign Secretary of the Laviter Empire, approached the king on his short legs, an inscrutable smile in his beady eyes.

“Under the orders of the mighty Emperor Hadveria von Laviter III of the Great Laviter Empire, I, Pesocanian, present myself before the King of the Yukane Kingdom for an audience.”

"....."

Marquis Pesocanian flaunted the name of the Empire and the Emperor from the very beginning, putting pressure on the King. At his obvious show of diplomatic discourtesy, the nobles and Royal Guard inside the throne room frowned imperceptibly.

“W-Welcome, M-Marquis Pesocanian.”

Pesocanian was someone the King already knew very well. Back when he was held hostage in the Empire, they took classes together in the Imperial Knight Academy. At that time, the Marquis was among the Empire noble scions who bullied the King.

“It has been a while, Lyvaitor… Your Majesty.”

After calling the King’s name, Pesocanian added the ‘Your Majesty’ after a short pause. His blatant disrespect made the King’s face twitch and harden.

It wasn’t as if envoys didn’t come from the Empire over the years. Or rather, after his hostage period ended and he returned to the kingdom, Lyvaitor had no choice but to attend the Emperor’s birthday celebrations and big banquets of the Empire. Every time he had to do so, the scions of imperial nobility covertly pressured Lyvaitor. That didn’t change even after they grew older. He might be the King, but because Yukane was a minor kingdom unworthy of equal treatment, Pesocanian committed disrespect so blatant it was palpable by everyone inside the throne room.

“Your words are a little severe, Marquis Pesocanian. You may have come here on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, but I am appalled that you would speak so insultingly to the king of a nation! Apologize at once!” His face red, Duke Samotuan shouted at the Marquis to apologize.

“Insultingly? Which one of this Marquis’ words did the Duke find insulting? What gross disrespect are you saying I, someone who has come on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, have committed?”

Pesocanian’s chin rolls wobbled as he made an unknowing expression.

“You…” Clenching his teeth, Duke Samotuan glared at brazen Marquis.

With a shameless face, the Marquis turned to Lyvaitor, who was sitting with a mortified expression. “Your Majesty the King, did you perhaps find my words disrespectful?”

“N-No. We were not able to feel any disrespect.”

Flinching at the viper-like gaze directed at him, the King denied any disrespect, even going as far as to make hand gestures to that effect. Duke Samotuan stared at those actions with hollow eyes. He tried to protect his lord’s honor, but his lord himself abandoned his honor.

“Haha. That’s a relief then. That aside, I have come bearing secret orders from the Emperor…”

Emphasizing the words ‘secret orders,’ Pesocanian looked at the nobles and Royal Guard inside the throne room.

“All men are dismissed. Until I give the command, entrance to the throne room is forbidden.”

“As you command!”

Shouting to acknowledge the King’s command, the Royal Guard and nobles hurriedly left the room.

‘Haah, what a shame. What a shame…’

He tried his best to serve the kingdom and the King, but the Yukane Kingdom was bending over more and more. Samotuan, who held the title of a duke but was chased out of the throne room all the same because of one mention of a secret order, was unable to suppress his regret.

Creaaak. Thud!

When the Duke stepped out, the doors of the throne room shut with a resounding thud. He felt powerful mana rippling from the throne room, as if the large-scale Silence magic array that was used only during secret meetings was activating.

It was almost as if the mana was whispering the fate of the kingdom that had to live with bated breath…

“Count Kyre!”

Rosiathe came running towards me like Buttercup rolling down the hill to reunite with Wesley in the Princess Bride.

‘Goodness, you’ll trip.’

My chest grew hot at the sight of Rosiathe rushing out while clutching the hem of her gold-embroidered blue dress. I had distanced myself from a woman who liked me this much even though she wasn’t actually all that far away because of an excuse called ‘work.’

“Y-You’ve come… Hah, haah.”

She must have run all the way from the palace upon hearing I’d come, because she was gasping for breath. Sweat had beaded up on her forehead, and as she breathed deeply in and out, a sweet, fruity scent traveled on her breath.

‘Their military discipline is firm now.’

Behind Rosiathe and her sparkling blue water-drop diamond-like eyes, were Royal Guard knights. They had changed since I last saw them. Up until very recently, they’d been giving off a not-very-knightly aura, but now, their shoulders were straight and unyielding.

“I hope you are well, Princess Rosiathe,” I said with a bright smile, looking into Rosiathe’s warm eyes.

“Yes… I am. Thank you.”

Blooming into a broad grin at my smile, Rosiathe’s eyes curved into crescents.

‘She smells so good!’

As I smelled the faint peony fragrance I thought of when it came to Rosiathe in the wind, I thought it was good that I’d come to see her.

“That’s a relief.”

It did seem like she had been doing well. Her baby-soft skin so unblemished it was hard to believe she was barefaced and her small, dainty red lips seemed to be evidence of her good health.

“The rumors say you are still busy, so why have you…”

Despite her joy, Rosiathe asked why I’d come, as befitting of a princess responsible for her nation.

“I came because I suddenly wanted to see you,” I said quietly, like I was whispering in her ear.

"....."

At my words, Rosiathe turned bright red.

“If you haven’t eaten dinner yet, would you mind giving me a meal?”

I asked the enthralled Rosiathe to invite me for dinner.

“Huh? Yes!”

‘She’s beautiful every time I see her.’

She wasn’t called the Greatest Beauty of the Northern Continent for nothing. Seeing Rosiathe, a flower glistening with vitality, a calm smile automatically formed on my lips.

* * *

“Thank you oh so very much, Count Kyre.”

I dropped in unannounced, but I was given a satisfying dinner that fully merited being called a palace feast, as if telling me that Havis had returned to life. The table was decked with a soup made of fragrant mushrooms and various spring vegetables, multiple fish dishes that used fruits to eliminate fishiness, tender female calf veal and other kinds of meat. On top of that, instead of wine, there was even golden beer topped with plentiful foam in tin mugs enchanted with cooling magic. After I filled myself up on the dozens of dishes lining the palace table, Rosiathe started expressing her sincere thanks to me.

“Thanks to Count Kyre and Nerman, the border tolls have exponentially increased. After the Bajran Empire declared Nerman as a close ally, the movements of the merchant groups became very active.”

As a member of the Royal Family representing the Havis Kingdom, Rosiathe didn’t forget to be thankful.

“Haha. Think nothing more of it.”

I gave a hearty chuckle. There was much that Nerman gained from Havis as well. If any invading armies wanted to attack Nerman with infantry, they would have to go through Havis Kingdom land. Rosiathe had passed along all of that information, without fail.

We were like teeth and gums. The Havis Kingdom was Nerman’s first line of defense.

“The kingdom knights are taking after you and working very hard. From what I heard, all knight aspirants on the Continent praise you as a hero and are taking you as their role model. As a true knight among knights who single handedly nurtured the collapsing Nerman into the best territory on the Continent and saved the Bajran Empire’s Imperial Family from crisis.”

As if my happiness was her happiness, the elated Rosiathe sang my praises.

‘As they should. If not for me, the Continent would have been plunged into a sea of blood.’

As long as humans existed, bloody fights would never stop. Other people’s wealth and land looked greater than one’s own. I imagined that the Continent, which had maintained decades of peace with no real wars, had accrued an incredible amount of covetous energy over all those years.

It only took one moment for a dormant volcano to transform into an active volcano spewing out jets of lava. At the very moment the Continent’s volcano of greed was about to erupt, I showed up and cooled the entire volcano down with freezing magic. If Bajran had fallen, the allied kingdoms that invaded would have definitely clashed to try and nab as much land as possible, and it went without being said that more powerful nations would use the chaos in the balance of international strength to invade weaker nations.

But with the flames of greed spreading in Bajran extinguished, the greed of the kingdoms was once again submerged. The fact that war was not simply a matter of the victor and the defeated, but something that used the blood of all of the people involved as energy, was something that just about everyone knew. I wanted to give a big thumbs up to anyone praising and trying their best to emulate me, the person who stopped such a bloodbath.

“Do you share those thoughts as well, Your Highness?”

If we were alone, I would have spoken casually while exchanging warm looks with her, but I had no choice but to speak deferentially because of the attendants serving the meal and the Royal Knights who never left Rosiathe’s side.

“...Yes. Of all of the knights I have seen, Count Kyre is… the most amazing one.”

The shy way with which Rosiathe responded to my blunt question was so cute I wanted to squeeze her cheeks.

Knock knock.

While an ambiguous mood filled the air, there was a knock on the door of the dining hall.

“Your Highness, His Majesty the King seeks your presence.”

“What? R-Royal Father did?”

“Yes. He just woke up and asked to see Your Highness and Count Kyre.”

‘The comatose king woke up?’

Havis was Nerman’s next-door-neighbor, so I was also aware of the rumors. The king, who had always been in poor spirits, was bedridden despite the kingdom’s crisis with hardly a care for the time and place. That was why all of the kingdom’s small and big matters were being taken care of by Rosiathe.

‘But why’s he looking for me?’

I was confused by the fact that the King wanted to see not just Rosiathe, but also me.

“Count Kyre, let us go quickly. It’s the first time Royal Father has woken up in a week.”

Rosiathe was unable to conceal her infinite happiness at the news that the King had regained consciousness. With her mother, the Queen, already deceased, if the King went into the God’s embrace as well, she would become an orphan. For her, the King was probably the most important person in the world.

“I wanted to come give him my greetings once, so this is excellent.”

I’d wanted to greet him once anyway. It would be rude to come to the palace and not give one’s greetings to the senior-most person, the King. In addition, he was the person who created(?) such a beautiful and clever woman.

I wiped my mouth with a white napkin and rose from my seat.

‘Somehow, this feels like…’

When I got up, I felt a strange emotion. It almost felt like I was going to my father-in-law to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. To be honest, I did have an inkling of desire to do so. Rosiathe, the Beauty of the Northern Continent, was simply too much of a treasure to give to anyone else.

As long as she was fine with it, I wanted to give her an eternal welcome to my paradise.