Arc-5 Ch-10

Every time the carriage jolted, Leon—crouched in the seat opposite me—let out a low groan. It was no surprise, considering the fierce battle he’d fought earlier today. No—if I counted the time since we’d been kidnapped by bandits, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’d been under relentless strain for five straight days.

In all the history of the Bartfort frontier territory, there had never been such an unbroken chain of crises. The only comparable time was during the war with the Fanoss Principality, but even then, no reckless Principality soldiers had dared to invade Bartfort land.

During that conflict, the territory merely fortified its defenses and quietly waited for the war to end. Afterward, our anti–sky pirate measures had gone no further than increasing aerial patrols around the borders. This land—still a frontier, with full-scale development only beginning about five years ago—lacked the constant tension of the royal capital or the great ducal domains.

That peace was part of its charm, but when the lord’s wife was kidnapped, the matter touched on noble pride. Sooner or later, we would need to assign personnel to strengthen our defenses. But that was an issue for the future. For now, the immediate concern was how to respond to the invitation from His Highness Julius, who was staying at the inn.

“Ugh… it hurts…”

“I told you to rest at the mansion, didn’t I?”

“No way I could do that. The invitation was for both me and you, Angie.”

After Leon’s duel with His Highness, we’d brought him—fast asleep—back to the mansion. Only a few hours later, a letter had arrived from Julius, requesting a meeting. It was addressed to Viscount Bartfort and his wife.

In other words: Leon and me.

If this had been the old Julius and his companions, I might have suspected some sort of trap—an attempt to ambush Leon out of dissatisfaction with the duel’s outcome. But now, with their current standing as heroes celebrated throughout the kingdom, I couldn’t imagine them committing such an outrage.

So, I had agreed to the meeting. I’d considered leaving Leon behind—injured, exhausted—and going alone. But he’d refused, adamantly insisting on coming with me. And so here we were: a ridiculous sight—my husband in formal attire, stretched out on the carriage seat, groaning in pain.

“I’m sleepy… and it hurts…”

“Don’t push yourself. It’s not too late to take some painkillers.”

“If I take those, I’ll just fall asleep.”

“Don’t you understand I want you to sleep?”

“I can’t sleep if I’m worried about you going alone, Angie.”

“You mean you can’t sleep unless I’m by your side.”

“…”

Leon fell silent, struck by the truth. What a handful of a husband. I moved over to sit beside him and rubbed his back. It probably didn’t ease his pain much, but it seemed to soothe him—the groans quieted for the moment.

“…What do you think this is about?”

“Most likely the duel’s outcome, and whatever comes after. His Highness and the Roseblade family are leaving tomorrow—they probably want to tie up loose ends tonight.”

“Sounds like a hassle. I don’t want to deal with it.”

“If someone hadn’t proposed that absurd duel, we could’ve handled this with a normal discussion. I wonder whose fault that is?”

“Okay, let’s drop this topic.”

Leon cut off the conversation with blunt finality. I wanted to needle him further, but watching him grit his teeth against the pain made me relent. A short while later, the carriage jolts grew gentler—we’d reached a paved road. The journey from the lord’s mansion to the high-class inn wasn’t far, but the approach to the mansion was unpaved, making the earlier ride rough.

Our mansion and furnishings were modest compared to those of most viscount houses. Still, with financial aid from a ducal family, we were relatively well-off for newly elevated nobility. Commoners often imagine all nobles as ancient families with over a century of stable governance, but in reality, many founding generations endure far leaner times.

Leon’s breathing slowed, and he slowly pushed himself upright. His face was battered and bruised, his body heavy with exhaustion. Seeing him like this filled me with unease. Why did Leon always push himself to the limit?

He could choose an easier path—but inevitably, he took the most difficult one. That was why I couldn’t leave him alone. Left to himself, my husband would be crushed beneath the weight of his duties as a lord. I found myself smiling wryly at the thought that I’d fallen in love with such a troublesome man, even as I kept rubbing his back and shoulders.

The scenery outside the window slowed, then stopped. The sound of hooves ceased—we had arrived. The carriage door opened, and I stepped out first to help Leon down. Normally, the man would escort the woman, but Leon didn’t have the strength for that right now.

“You okay?”

“I want to go back to the mansion.”

“I told you to stay and rest.”

“No way I’m doing that.”

I lent him my shoulder and got him moving. Such a high-maintenance husband. As we walked, his stiffness seemed to ease; bit by bit, his stride returned to normal until he no longer needed my support. At the inn’s reception, we completed the formalities, and a servant guided us down the corridor.

Each time we rounded a corner, a sharp-eyed man’s gaze locked onto us—likely one of the knights assigned to guard royalty. When royalty chose to move about freely, their attendants suffered for it. Unfortunately, the Holfort royal family seemed oblivious to the trouble they caused their subordinates.

His Majesty Roland was infamous for slipping away from the palace to chase women, while Lady Mylene was known for taking unscheduled “relaxation” strolls.

It was no mystery, then, why their son—the crown prince, His Highness Julius—was equally prone to shirking his education. Clearly, it ran in the family. At last, we reached the designated room. A guard knocked, then opened the door. Inside, along with His Highness Julius, stood four other men:

Greg Fou Seberg.

Chris Fia Arclight.

Brad Fou Field.

Jilk Fia Marmoria.

And Julius Rapha Holfort himself.

The pressure radiating from these five heroes—the ones who had saved the kingdom—was intense. Most women would be too overawed to speak in their presence. To me, though, they were familiar faces from childhood. And Leon… well, Leon was never one to be intimidated, even by the most formidable warriors.

When Julius sat, the other four followed suit. We were then motioned to take our seats as well. The round table in the room seemed oddly mismatched with the furnishings—clearly brought in from elsewhere, a little too large for the space. No doubt it had been placed here specifically for this meeting.

A heavy silence hung over the room. Julius looked uncertain how to begin. But it would be improper for us to speak first, so we waited.

“…Bartfort, how’s your condition?”

“I’m battered all over. Can’t you tell?”

I barely kept myself from clicking my tongue at Leon’s curt reply. Why did he insist on being so defiant toward His Highness?

With other royals or high nobles, Leon at least attempted some measure of politeness, however awkwardly. If this hostility came from the fact that Julius and I had once been engaged… well, I might be a little pleased. But pleased or not, such behavior would only disadvantage him in noble society. I’d have to scold him for it later.

“I was wrong back then. I wasn’t myself.”

“I got carried away too.”

Julius’s expression was contrite, while Leon’s remained unyielding. His Highness bore no signs of injury from their duel—only a faint redness on his right cheek, no doubt from the slap I’d given him. Leon, in contrast, had a face swollen and mottled with bruises.

The doctor had assured me that his bones and teeth were intact, and that a few days’ rest would see him recovered. Which meant, starting tomorrow, I would make him rest. Still, despite his battered appearance, Leon’s attitude was so arrogant that it was hard to tell which of the two had actually won.

“Let’s move forward. First, the duel’s outcome.”

“Rejoice, Bartfort. It’s your victory.”

It should have been good news—yet unease still lingered in my chest. Leon didn’t look pleased either; dissatisfaction was plain on his face. After three years of marriage, I could tell when my husband was plotting something.

“I object to the result.”

“Dissatisfied, Bartfort?”

“Yeah. Having the win handed to me is humiliating. If I’m going to feel indebted and have to hold back, I’d rather admit defeat outright and submit.”

As expected, I sighed. Leon’s body might be battered, but his eyes burned with stubborn resolve.

If Leon weren’t injured, he might very well be reckless enough to demand another fight. Watching him, I finally understood one reason why he is feared in noble society. He lives by his own will and convictions.

Even when outwardly obeying the unspoken rules of the court or the strict chain of command in the military, inwardly he’s always searching for an opening to defy them—if he deems them unworthy of respect. As both a noble and a soldier, he’s an anomaly—an untamable beast.

The only chains that can hold him are those tied to his wife, his children, or his blood relatives. Anyone—be it even a member of the royal family—who harms them will face his rebellion without hesitation.

Controlling Leon is no simple task. Left unchecked, he would likely push himself too far and throw his life away before long.

“How about another fight with me, then?”

“No way. The only reason I managed to hold my own against Your Highness was because I used tactics no one expected. If my methods are understood and countered, I don’t stand a chance.”

“Even after a fight like that?”

“Even with strategy, favorable terrain, and luck on my side, the best I could manage was a draw. I can only beat Your Highness once—on the first try. If I don’t win then, I’ll never win no matter how hard I try.”

“Are you being humble, or do you just give up too easily? I can’t tell.”

“My conditions for victory are different from Yours, Your Highness. As long as my family can live in peace, winning or losing a fight is secondary.”

“You don’t care about victory in battle?”

“For me, survival is victory. No matter how much praise I get from others, if I die, I can’t do anything.”

In short, as long as he and his family are safe, he doesn’t care if the kingdom or even the royal family falls into ruin. That kind of thinking, if taken the wrong way, could make him seem little different from the nobles who betrayed Holfort during the war with the Fanoss Principality. It’s dangerous. Leon’s words could easily be read as treason.

“I understand now why Father and Mother are so intrigued by you.”

“That’s too generous a compliment.”

“But I also see why some people see you as a threat.”

“So, you’re withdrawing your demands in case you won?”

“That’s your victory, isn’t it? Rejoice, Bartfort. This fight is yours.”

I nudged Leon—who still looked dissatisfied—with my elbow. This was a moment to step back quietly. Right now, with the Holfort royal family in a weakened position, bringing in someone as defiant as Leon would be far too dangerous.

Keeping him as a cooperative ally, but at arm’s length, would cause the least trouble. That, most likely, was the conclusion His Highness and the others had reached. For now, I could breathe a little easier, knowing we’d avoided immediate danger.

“Now, let’s conclude the discussion. From here, we’ll hold a banquet to celebrate Bartfort’s valor.”

His Highness clapped twice, and the door opened. A man who appeared to be a royal servant entered. A cart was wheeled in, carrying a basket with a wine bottle and enough glasses for everyone. The servant poured the wine with smooth, practiced movements. The glossy reddish-purple liquid flowed like blood into each glass.

Seven glasses were set on the round table. With a respectful bow, the servant departed—likely to attend to other duties. Servants in the Bartfort household could never move with such refined grace.

“To our valor—cheers!”

The glasses tilted, and the red wine slid down our throats. It was exquisite—worthy of royalty. Without checking the label, I couldn’t be sure, but I suspected it was from the vineyards on the northern floating islands. Its rich aroma teased my nose, while the vibrant flavor danced on my tongue.

It was so good I wanted another glass—if any remained. The others seemed to share my opinion; faint signs of intoxication softened their expressions. Only Leon sat with a serious look on his face.

“Not to your taste, Bartfort?”

“No, it’s delicious. I just don’t have the palate—or the head—to truly appreciate it.”

Neither His Highness nor the others were trying to mock Leon, and Leon wasn’t being self-deprecating for show. If anything, they seemed to be quietly amused by his straightforward honesty. Come to think of it, they’d reacted in much the same way when they were around Olivia.

I could understand the curiosity toward someone raised with different values and a unique perspective. Since becoming engaged to Leon, I’ve become acutely aware of just how much my own values have shifted.

“Such a pity, Bartfort.”

“What’s that?”

“Your talent. I don’t think there’s another man your age with such tactical skill.”

“Stop it. Flattery won’t change my mind.”

“Forgive me—it’s human nature to want what you can’t have.”

“Your Highness, you should give up already. I thought our earlier conversation made it clear—this man can’t be tamed with status or wealth.”

Jilk’s interjection came from his belief that Leon was dangerous, and I agreed. A man with such blunt speech, remarkable ability, and an unusually strong rebellious streak is nearly impossible to manage. If Leon served in the royal palace, he would be drawn straight into political strife. Even now, he was already entangled in the conflicts between the royal family and the ducal houses.

As an ally, he was difficult to control. As an enemy, he would be terrifying. It was far safer to keep him at a remove from any faction. At his core, Leon truly believed his place was in working on the land, surrounded by his wife and children. As long as you didn’t provoke him, he wouldn’t bite.

As the conversation flowed, the door opened again and several servers entered. This time, their cart carried large platters piled high with assorted dishes. Most were specialties of the inn. They were somewhat costly, but far humbler than what royalty would typically eat.

If this was considered the height of Bartfort hospitality, we risked being looked down upon. I was about to request a change in the menu, but His Highness stopped me with a small gesture.

“No need to worry. I ordered these dishes myself.”

“Your Highness personally?”

“Tonight, I want to talk freely—no titles, no formalities.”

The dishes were set out: perfectly stewed beef and vegetables, grilled chicken skewers glazed with sauce, crisp fried potatoes, and more. The sort of food young commoners would savor with enthusiasm. Once the servers departed, everyone began helping themselves.

Since His Highness ate without a poison-taster, it would have been rude for us to hesitate. I ladled stew into a dish, while Leon took cheese-topped fried potatoes and skewers. The wine remained mostly untouched—informal or not, a baseline of decorum had to be maintained.

It wasn’t a lavish banquet or a loud drinking party—simply a comfortable meal. Come to think of it, though I had acted alongside these five before, I’d never once shared such a relaxed meal with them. My lack of composure in those days must have fueled their distrust of me. Back then, I truly was impatient and narrow-minded.

I tasted the stew—rich beef fat and tender vegetables melding in a perfectly seasoned broth that awakened my appetite. Since becoming pregnant, I’d been eating more than usual. While I had to be careful not to gain excess weight, for the baby’s sake I couldn’t neglect my meals.

I made up for it by walking more and exercising as much as my condition allowed. As I ate, I glanced at Leon. He had barely touched his plate.

“Leon, no appetite?”

“I’m just tired. And eating will make me sleepy.”

“Then eat properly so you can heal.”

I picked up a chicken skewer and held it to his mouth. He grimaced and tried to turn away, but his injuries made him too slow to stop me. Gradually, I forced him into a corner and got him to open his mouth.

“Stop it, it’s embarrassing!”

“Come on—chew and swallow properly. After this, you’re eating vegetables too.”

“What are you, my mom, Angie?”

“I’m already a mother of two, soon to be three.”

Bite after bite, I kept feeding him until his plate was empty. Why was my husband so much trouble? Our son and daughter were far easier to manage. When I finally looked up, I found every eye in the room on us. Oh no—I’d treated Leon exactly as I did at home or in our villa. Flustered, I sipped my soup to hide my embarrassment, only to find it had gone cold.

“…Is that really Angelica?”

I didn’t know who muttered it, but I could guess that everyone familiar with the old me was thinking the same thing. I glanced at Leon for help, but he turned his face away. This was all his fault—for making me act so foolishly in public.

“Let’s return to the main topic,” His Highness said, shifting the atmosphere with a deliberate change in tone.

“We’ve decided to accept Angelica’s proposal. This time, we gathered here to subdue the Ladies’ Forest as part of maintaining domestic security. But once we return to the capital, we’ll each resume our respective duties. From here on, my mother will likely take the lead behind the scenes in coordinating our actions.”

With that, His Highness guided the conversation into calmer, more businesslike waters. For my part, I much preferred speaking about politics to the emotional tangles from earlier.

“I’ve been handling a variety of administrative duties in the palace,” Julius began. “Post-war recovery, repairing relations with the former Principality—there’s a lot on my plate.”

“I’m still sorting through the documents in the archives,” Jilk said. “The upside is I get to read every report on the kingdom’s current situation.”

“My work involves guarding the royal family’s dungeons and mines, along with handling nearby sky pirate activity,” Greg added.

“My main responsibility is maintaining domestic security,” Chris said. “I get dispatched to different places as the need arises.”

“I’ve been assisting my father and traveling to the frontier,” Brad said. “Though, since the Principality no longer exists, the workload has eased a bit.”

In other words—His Highness Julius and Jilk would remain in the capital, while Greg, Chris, and Brad would be sent to frontier regions or other assignments away from the capital. Lady Mylene would likely issue her orders directly to the two staying behind. The real challenge would be the other three.

“Did you read my proposal in full?” I asked them. “I’d like your honest impressions.”

“…Is something like that even possible?” Greg asked, skeptical.

“I can’t say for certain,” I admitted. “This would be the first attempt of its kind in the history of the Holfort Kingdom. That said, similar systems already exist in your respective territories, don’t they?”

“They do,” Brad nodded. “But they’re mostly managed by commoners. Are you suggesting the kingdom itself take control of them?”

“Exactly,” I said. “If we’re to rebuild the kingdom, we’ll need the strength of both the new nobility and the commoners. But as things stand, they lack the knowledge and experience to manage territories or finances effectively. The kingdom would provide support in those areas.”

“In doing so, the royal family could reduce public distrust,” Chris said, following my train of thought.

“Precisely,” I agreed. “War is a tragedy, but it can also be a turning point. If we act quickly—establishing a clear framework and creating opportunities for success—we can set the stage for recovery.”

The Holfort Kingdom is bleeding. We must act decisively on the economy, human resources, trade, and security. If we delay, our decline will accelerate, and other nations will trample us without hesitation. Every resource we have must be used to stop the bleeding.

“What exactly needs to be done?” Julius asked.

“Your Highness and Jilk should follow Lady Mylene’s instructions,” I said. “In addition, you’ll need to win over the nobles in the capital.”

“Hold on,” Jilk interjected. “The nobles currently in the capital are upright and principled. They’ll see little personal benefit in this and may outright oppose it.”

“We’ll present it to them as an investment opportunity,” I replied. “Encourage them to contribute part of the rewards they’ve received for their merits.”

“That will only worsen their mistrust toward the royal family!” Jilk protested.

“I’ve already spoken to Lady Mylene. She intends to allocate a substantial portion of the royal budget to it.”

“Mother is thinking that far ahead?” Julius asked in surprise.

“That’s why you are important, Your Highness, to rally the royalist faction. In the past, they might have dismissed your words. But now, many will listen.”

Though His Highness Julius had been demoted in the line of succession, his actions alongside Olivia—now a saintess—had restored much of his lost respect. He may never sit on the throne, but there were whispers that he might one day leave royalty and be granted a dukedom. Whatever the case, his words could no longer be dismissed as youthful folly.

“As for the other three,” I continued, “present this as a profitable venture to everyone you meet. Don’t differentiate between court nobles and territorial lords—speak to anyone who might become an ally.”

“The kingdom is split between the royalists and the ducal faction,” Greg pointed out. “Both court nobles and territorial lords are tangled in those disputes.”

“Then here’s what you do,” I said. “To the royalists, tell them ‘The queen is leading this initiative.’ To the ducal faction, say ‘The ducal house is behind this.’ That way, there’s no friction.”

“That’s a recipe for disaster—so many problems will come from that!” Greg exclaimed.

“The proposal is mine, but Lady Mylene is the one implementing it,” I explained. “So I’m not lying.”

“That’s basically fraud,” Brad muttered.

I knew it was sophistry, but there was no time for pure, honest persuasion. If we didn’t use tactics bordering on deception, the bleeding would never stop.

“Wait—Olivia’s involved in this?” Chris asked.

“Lady Mylene plans to contact her,” I replied. “Right now, the most pressing danger is the unrest in the kingdom and the growing discontent of the people. If Olivia—revered by the masses—were to be used as a figurehead in toppling the monarchy, the kingdom would collapse.”

The nobles pushing that dangerous idea were from the ducal house. Even if Olivia herself had no such ambitions, there was no telling what the temple’s upper ranks were scheming. We needed to act before Olivia was married into the ducal house, giving her father an excuse to move against the royal family.

“Leon, you’ll be in charge of persuading the ducal faction’s territorial lords and the nobles whose lives you’ve saved,” I said.

“Me?” Leon grimaced.

What’s with that look, you fool? Did you still think you were an outsider at this point? If so, you’re more naïve than I thought, Leon. The moment I contacted Lady Mylene—no, the moment you became engaged to me—you stepped onto the political stage.

I felt guilty dragging him into this, knowing he longed for a quiet life. But as the daughter of a ducal house, my marriage came with political entanglements. Leon had no choice but to face reality and play his part.

“I’m not confident,” Leon muttered. “Who would trust someone like me?”

“We’re here, aren’t we?” Greg said.

“I don’t like it, but I have to admit you’re capable,” Jilk said grudgingly.

“At the very least, we trust you on this,” Chris added.

“It’s a noble’s duty. Best accept it,” Brad said.

“We’re counting on you, Bartfort,” Julius said.

“I’m not happy about this! Being trusted by a bunch of muscleheads doesn’t make me feel better!” Leon protested.

I worked on calming him down while he grumbled. My husband had little confidence in himself and hated troublesome work—yet somehow never noticed how often he caused trouble on his own. Eventually, the four—excluding His Highness—gathered around Leon. Eight eyes were now fixed on both him and me.

“…What’s this about?” I asked, wary.

Then, the four dropped to one knee before me. I couldn’t see their expressions, but their posture carried no hostility.

“Angelica Fou Bartfort, Viscountess—we owe you an apology,” Greg began.

“In the past, we were so focused on Olivia that we neglected you and treated you as an enemy,” Chris said.

“Given the circumstances, your anger toward us was justified. We acknowledge that now,” Brad admitted.

“We don’t expect forgiveness,” Jilk said. “But we ask for your aid in saving the kingdom.”

I glanced at His Highness, who gave a small nod. So… this was the real reason they had summoned us here. Such a roundabout way to apologize. It was so sudden I didn’t even know what to feel.

My anger toward them hadn’t completely vanished, but the days spent peacefully in the Bartfort territory with Leon had begun to heal those wounds. And I couldn’t forget that they’d saved our lives during this incident.

I truly didn’t know what the “right” response was. When I looked to Leon, he wore his usual grumpy expression—his way of telling me to decide for myself. After a moment’s hesitation, I made my choice.

Thud! Thwack! Bam! Bonk!

My fist came down on each of their heads in turn, the dull sounds echoing through the room. Hitting four times in a row made my hand ache. I rubbed it while staring at the four of them, still solemn despite the blows.

“This is your pardon,” I said. “I won’t forgive you—but I owe you for saving us. Work hard to save the kingdom, and we’ll call it even.”

The four seemed satisfied and returned to their seats, their expressions a little lighter.

“Your Highness, aren’t you going to apologize?” I asked.

“I already apologized and got slapped for it,” Julius replied. “I got slapped again this afternoon.”

“That’s not fair!” Leon protested.

“But I am grateful for the chance you’ve given me,” Julius added.

“Well, whatever,” Leon muttered.

The five of them soon descended into their usual bickering, but I felt oddly distant from the scene. A few years ago, Olivia had been at the center of those five.

If I had managed to build trust with them back then, could I have stood there too?

It was a useless thought, but it lingered nonetheless. After my engagement was broken, no other noble sons or daughters sought to keep ties with me.

That was a reflection of my own lack of virtue.

Now, years later, I finally felt as if I had taken a step forward from those days. And it was Leon—my lazy, irritable husband quietly picking at his food beside me—who had given me that push.

The banquet ended after every dish had been eaten. When we returned home, the Bartfort household was in an uproar over the news that my brother-in-law’s engagement to Dorothea had been finalized—but that is a story for another time.

The next day, His Highness Julius and the others returned to the capital. As I looked up at the clear, cloudless winter sky during their send-off, it seemed to mirror my own heart—finally free of sorrow.

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Authors Note

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Epilogue of Part 5

I considered several ways for the “Five Idiots” and Angelica to reconcile, but ultimately chose the safest approach. In the original novel, Leon acting as her proxy in the annulment duel had already softened her resentment and sadness, so I decided to let his presence serve as the bridge here as well. My personal belief that “good food and a little intimacy can soothe a lot of anger” is also baked into this scene—blunt though it may be. . The next chapter will begin Part 6. I plan to post the adult-oriented chapters at the same time, so the release is scheduled for a week from now.

Addendum: At the client’s request, illustrations were commissioned from the following artists:

Kou-sama: Pixiv

Namukot-sama: Pixiv (slightly NSFW, caution advised)

Ganbarutoufu-sama: Skeb

Your opinions and feedback would mean a lot and help motivate me moving forward.

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Translator Note

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  So I completed  Upto arc five! 

 I took a sneak peek in coming chapters and oh god they are lengthy! And jumbled up so I will a take break for now!

Next update will be 25th (12 days later) August! For this series! And ofcourse it will be multiple chapters ( atleast 5+).