Arc-6 Ch-37

 The bustling shopping district of the royal capital is something I still haven't gotten used to, in a way different from the nobles’ residential areas. The royal capital on an ordinary weekday is livelier than the festivals in the Bartfort territory that are held several times a year, and because the sounds and smells are so mixed together, I feel as if I am using nerves that are normally asleep. Also, the prices are simply high. Good food and high-quality furnishings cost several times more than the going rate in the Bartfort territory.

Every time I look at a price tag, I keep thinking it would be cheaper to have the craftsmen in my own territory make it. A few years ago and right after last year's war ended, commoners who had lost their homes and fields apparently formed groups of refugees and flooded in, making the royal capital’s security quite dangerous. The reason the royal capital is calm now is thanks to the Queen laying out various policies and the Saintess running around to aid the poor. Could they divide off a few hundred of those homeless refugees and send them to the Bartfort territory?

A population once decreased does not increase so easily, and whether it is soldiers or farmers, it takes a fair amount of time and money to turn someone into a fully capable adult. The Bartfort territory still has room to develop, and we want as many hands as possible, and money as well. Thinking that far depresses me. Why is it that I, who have only been a noble for a few years, am somehow managing to serve as lord?

Because Angie has the knowledge of administration and local governance, and because the Redgrave family provided manpower and funds. I picked a fight with the most important wife in the world and with the ducal house that is my guardian. And I did it in a way that was practically a direct declaration of war. Of course they would be angry, anyone would be angry, anyone would question the sanity of the guy who did it. But I had no choice! The royal family kept fussing over appearances and babbling endlessly! The Duke stubbornly refused any reconciliation! Ah, I see, so that's how it's going to be. Then I’ll do as I damn well please too.

You people don’t even have the guts to fight for real, yet you probe endlessly for someone else to make the concessions. If you're going to keep on playing a board game that will never end, then I’ll flip the entire table over. Entangled threads are faster to deal with by cutting them with scissors and tying them anew than by picking at them little by little. The Queen was at fault for asking Angie to mediate the reconciliation, and the Duke was also at fault for dragging me into his faction. I don’t care about your convenience; if you want a fight, I’ll take you on, so come at me.

After going that far and somehow reaching the verge of reconciliation, Angie went back to the ducal house. I was at fault too, since I pointed a gun at my father-in-law the Duke.I even said things like making Angie or my son the heir of the Redgrave house. We had clearly passed the point where turning back was still possible, and the angry Angie returned to the ducal estate. After sending off the heroes and the Saintess’s lady-in-waiting, our airship was sent back to the territory, and I am staying in an inn for commoners.

The newly risen noble Bartfort family doesn’t have a secondary residence, and the high-class inns for lords visiting the capital on business are absurdly expensive. Above all, I wanted to think alone. I hate the idea of going home and being asked by my family, "What happened to Angie?" and if my children asked, "Where is Mother?" I would want to die.

I have no intention of returning to the Bartfort territory until Angie forgives me. I feel like she may never forgive me, but I will ignore that part for now. I instructed the crew of the airship to deliver a letter explaining the circumstances to my father and the others. Unless it is an emergency, it should be fine to leave the territory in the hands of Father or my brother. It is irresponsible of me as a lord, but it cannot be helped. I am only able to perform my duties as lord because of Angie.

If Angie does not come back, then there is no way I could carry out the duties of lord. In that case, my brother, who is to take a wife from the Roseblade family, should become the lord instead. After the commendation ceremony was over, my brother and Dorothea's wedding was scheduled to take place soon. If Angie does not return because of this incident, I will renounce my title and become a commoner. If I become a commoner, I will till the fields while raising my children. At times like this, being raised practically as a commoner is one of the few advantages. After the war, many nobles were stripped of their titles or had their lands confiscated as punishment, but from my point of view, what is so bad about being a commoner?

Supporting one’s family with one’s own earnings is natural. Without the support of commoners, nobles could not enjoy luxury, and I have no desire to become an idle noble who is nothing but a burden to society just by existing. What is wrong with living a life suited to one’s station? The fact that I became a noble in the first place is a joke in terribly bad taste. For now, I will keep apologizing until Angie forgives me. That was all I could do at the moment.

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There was still a little time before the appointed hour. I watched the crowd absentmindedly from the corner of the plaza as I waited for the one who had summoned me. Honestly, I did not want to see them. Right now, the top priority for me is making up with Angie. Do not drag me into any more trouble. Why is it that every time something happens, troublesome people come relying on me?

Even if you expect something of me, I cannot do anything that great. You all have more status, money, and power than I do. Do not rely on a man who is doing his best just to manage his own problems; have some shame. When I cannot find a way, I aim for the other party’s opening and launch a borderline-legal attack. If it comes down to it, I cause utter havoc, scratch up the whole situation, and force everything to be reset.

This life should have been lost on the battlefield; the title and land I never wanted were forced upon me. Please do not make me shoulder anything more; the only lives I can bear are those of my wife and children. I have already decided. Even if someone asks something of me, I will absolutely refuse. I do not care if they call it disrespect; clean up your own mess. When it comes down to it, I have the bad habit of steeling myself and wagering my own life. Unless someone stays beside me, that habit really will never go away until I die.

"Have you been waiting?"

The one who spoke to me was a handsome man. Handsome, incredibly handsome. Even in disguise, he is so handsome that the girls around can tell he is handsome. The girls in the plaza have been glancing over at him since earlier, that’s how handsome he is. If he appeared at a night party, women of all ages would approach him. Meanwhile, I have never been complimented on my looks by anyone other than my mother since I was born. On top of that, because of the war, scars remain on my face, and when I approach girls, they scream in a different sense. Would it not be considered self-defense if I used their rudeness as a pretext to shoot them in the back?

Even before I met Angie, I had once chased off a twisted prospective marriage partner, whose appearance and personality were both warped, by pointing a gun at them. Anyway, please do not casually approach me. If you are the standard, then ninety percent of the men in the world are considered ugly.

"I have been waiting, Your Highness. What business do you have today?"

"Do not dislike it so much. Did you really not want to come?"

"I have fulfilled my duty. What more do you want me to fulfill?"

I threw extremely rude words at the handsome man in front of me. I do not care if someone rebukes me. Making Angie happy is more important to me. If after mediating between the royal family and the ducal house the result is a divorce, that would not even be a joke.

"I understand why you dislike the royal family. But just for today, bear with it."

"I have no memories of being rewarded for bearing with anything."

"…I am sorry. Right now, the best I can do is apologize."

The handsome man in front of me, His Highness Julius, spoke words of apology. But they do not reach me. Because I am twisted to the core, and I hate the royal family. To be honest, after the meeting with the duke, my loyalty toward the Holfort royal family has gone down a lot. I’m against causing a civil war just to seize the throne, and I think splitting the kingdom in two less than a year after the war with the Fanoss Principality ended is tone-deaf. But that’s pretty much my only reason for opposing them. If no one died and the nation stayed stable, I would have gladly cooperated with the duke’s faction.

Even this morning, I visited the ducal residence and got treated coldly before being sent back. Just because I mediated between the royal family and the ducal house doesn’t mean they can assume I’m cooperative toward the Holfort royal family, or that I’m neutral.

“What is your business today?”

“I don’t know the details either. I was just told to bring you.”

Oh come on, give me a break. The only ones who could use a prince as a messenger are the king or the queen. The rumor that the real ruler of this country is Her Majesty the Queen and that the king is a foolish ruler who spends his time playing around has spread not just among commoners but even to other nations. I’m not good with that queen. I get that she’s extremely capable, and she’s a beautiful woman who doesn’t look like she could have a child the same age as me. But she judges me based on whether I’m useful to her — to the Holfort royal family. Maybe that’s correct from the queen’s standpoint, but as the one being used as a pawn, it’s unpleasant.

I get sent to the front lines, forced to become a noble, then because I mediated with the ducal house I nearly ended up divorced. If she demands anything more unreasonable, I’ll side with the duke’s faction and destroy them. Well, complaining now won’t change anything. If you’re going to hurl insults, it’s best to do it while looking the other person in the eye. Who cares about courtesy? I don’t mind being charged with lèse-majesté.

If I can reconcile with Anige, I’d gladly return everything the kingdom has given me. In contrast to me walking with clear displeasure, His Highness was somehow restless and light-footed as we walked through the shopping district. He peeked at trinkets from street stalls and looked curiously at food from vendors. For an adult of his age, his behavior was oddly childish. If you don’t guide me, I don’t even know where to go. I’m not familiar with the capital’s layout to begin with. At this rate we’re the ones being put on display. Two grown men walking together happily is pure hell. I’m not a homosexual, so going on a date with a man doesn’t make me happy at all. Let’s hurry and head to our destination.

“Come on, let’s go, Your Highness.”

“Sorry, it’s all so unusual.”

“You live in the capital. You can look at this stuff anytime you want.”

“Getting out of the castle without anyone noticing is extremely difficult. I couldn’t even enjoy simple street food.”

His Highness’s face as he talked about his past was cheerful, yet held a trace of sadness. I’ve heard a lot about Angie’s life as a duke’s daughter of quasi-royal status. If he’s the firstborn of the king and queen and first in line to the throne, the surveillance around him must have been even stricter than Ange’s.

“A schedule planned down to the second, meals decided months in advance. Constant demands to surpass others, and not only mistakes but even hesitation was unforgivable. You start to lose track of whether you’re alive or dead.”

“…And would you like to say that you couldn’t endure the fiancée your parents chose for you?”

“…………”

Looks like I hit the mark. It’s a common story — young noble men and women who get sick of the lives their parents or their houses decided for them and then go astray. Those naïve enough to believe that leaving the house will change something, that they can carve out their own lives, tend to dream those dreams. Back when I was in the kingdom’s army or after I became a noble and hired soldiers for my domain, I've known quite a few people with some background as nobles or knights.

The older guys or the ones whose bodies were trained had steeled themselves, so they worked well. But more than half of the young nobles quit almost immediately. Well of course. A pampered young master who’s lived under his family’s protection can’t suddenly survive using only his own strength. Living is full of hardship and pain. Those raised soaking in lukewarm water panic at reality’s harshness and cry and scream, and I can’t stand that. The nobles I’ve known the longest are Zola and the others, but honestly, I’m impressed at how they can believe they’re great just because of their lineage.

“If you’re seeking comforting words from me, you’re asking the wrong person. I may be a viscount now, but I was born to a baron house — and one so low-ranked that the head did his own farm work. If you tell me the life of royalty feels suffocating, all I can say is ‘Oh, I see.’”

“You’re harsh.”

“I’ve got a bad personality. That’s why they call me the Villainous Knight. If you want comfort, go to Lady Olivia. The saint is kind to everyone.”

“I can’t. Olivia is now the saint and the hope of the Holfort Kingdom. Everyone admires her, and she works for the people. She’s become someone I alone can’t reach anymore.”

“You’re the ones who made her that way. I know you have your circumstances, but if you want to love Lady Olivia as a person, you’ll need an appropriate status. You’d need the kind of cunning and power of, say, a duke who becomes king and tries to marry her to his son Gilbert. I don’t think you have that kind of power right now.”

“Who told you that?”

“Angie, the Four Idiots, Marie, and Lady Olivia herself. No offense, but Lady Olivia treats you as a comrade, not as a man.”

“…I know.”

If he knows, then why get depressed?

Maybe I said too much, but I’ve got my own frustrations built up, so I didn’t hold back.

“It’s an internal decision, but the Holfort royal family intends not to punish the Redgrave Ducal House. The nobles on the royalist side are displeased, but with orders from Mother and the Chancellor, they can’t act openly. Of course, the details need to be discussed, but the royal family will formally apologize to the ducal house.”

“Is that alright? The royal family’s honor will be completely crushed.”

“Even if they try to uphold appearances, the reality won’t change. In that case, it seems they believe showing sincerity and seeking reconciliation will lessen the criticisms somewhat.”

“That’s good to hear. Getting punched by Angie wasn’t for nothing.”

“In regard to this matter, there are voices saying the royal family should reward Lord Bartfort. I don’t know the details, but some form of reward will be prepared.”

“Great.”

A reward, huh. I don’t have a good feeling about this. If possible, I’d prefer clean, simple money. If I could repay the ducal house’s loan with interest, I could reduce the troublesome involvement. I definitely don’t want to leave debts for my brother or my son to inherit when they take over the domain. Receiving a title or land only increases the burden. I don’t understand why high-ranking people want higher positions when they don’t even have policies they want to implement.

I mean, I get that luxury costs money, but just because meat is ten times more expensive doesn’t mean it tastes ten times better. I personally just want to live a modest life, yet this past year I’ve been meeting all sorts of big-shots and I’m confused every day.

“How is Angelica doing?”

“She’s still shut inside the ducal residence. I send gifts and letters through the maids, but I don’t know if she’s read them.”

“The child hasn’t been born yet?”

“She’ll tell me when the baby is born, I’m sure.”

Surely she’ll at least notify me when the baby is born. …She will, right?

If she didn’t even tell me that, I’d cry. I’d cry my eyes out right in front of the ducal residence. The first birth was twins and took about half a day — it was rough. This time it’s just one, so I want to believe it’ll be an easy delivery. We’ve made preparations for the birth in the Bartfort territory, but the due date is soon. It wouldn’t be strange if the baby came any day now.

"You can make that kind of face too, huh."

"When it comes to my family, I am always serious."

"Do you love Angelica that much?"

"Of course."

A woman that wonderful is not someone you can easily find even if you search the whole world. I probably used up all the luck of my entire lifetime just to marry Angie. I doubt I could be reborn as a human again. Just how many good deeds did I do in my previous life to be engaged to a lady who was a candidate for queen?

"It’s too late to regret anything now. Angie is my wife. If you intend to take her from me, be prepared for the kingdom to be destroyed."

"…Don’t threaten me. When you say it, it doesn’t sound like a joke."

"If it sounded like a joke, then I think Your Highness still lacks resolve."

I have no desire for promotion, but if Angie wanted it, I am soft enough to think that getting promoted wouldn’t be so bad. I mediated between the royal family and the ducal family only because Angie want it. Conversely, if Angie resented the annulment of the engagement and sought revenge against the royal family, I’d be fighting for the ducal faction. The Holfort royal family’s lifespan was extended because I prioritized Angie’s reconciliation. I made sure to hammer that point in thoroughly.

"Why did you fall for Angelica to that extent?"

"On the contrary, what part of Angie were you dissatisfied with, Your Highness?"

"She fussed over rules and valued customs over my own will. She didn’t try to understand me and pushed her ideal fiancé onto me."

"She did that because she was worried about you. Angie is not the type of woman who picks faults with someone who has done nothing wrong and gets angry at them unfairly."

The truth is that Angie is actually quite jealous. I’m safe because women hate me, but a handsome guy like His Highness is wildly popular because of his status too. She must have been constantly on edge during the engagement period.

"Your Highness says she pushed her ideal fiancé onto you, but did you make any effort to show your true self to Angie?"

"…No."

"I’m a stupid coward, so whenever something troubles me, I immediately consult Angie. I’ve shown her plenty of pathetic sides, and because of a secret that might make her lose affection for me, we’re now on the brink of divorce. It seems relationships between men and women don’t go well unless you’re honest and sincere."

"Is that Lost Item ship real?"

"I’ll leave it to Your Highness to judge for yourself."

The flying ships in the old-human dungeon were beyond repair except for one. The problem is that the surviving one is way too dangerous. If push comes to shove, when the kingdom’s army storms the dungeon, I’ll have that sphere collect anything valuable and let it escape. It seems it plans to wander around searching for its master quietly for several decades, so I’d like to think it’ll be fine during my lifetime. I don’t want to be blamed for awakening something that dangerous. Besides, even if I hadn’t found it, someone else would’ve unearthed it decades or centuries later. Using ancient tech you don’t understand to rule a country just earns you unnecessary hatred. Well, the royal family can work hard to deal with that part.

"You are truly an insolent fellow. Normally if someone spoke like that, they’d incur displeasure and be punished."

"If you want to punish me, please go ahead. It’s not a position I obtained because I wanted it. Those people who used polite speech and flattered you—were they really Your Highness’s allies?"

"In your written reports you used quite a formal style, though."

"That’s thanks to military-style report writing and Angie’s training. If you want attendants, pick someone else. You’ve got a scheming green one, a muscle-brained red one, a pretentious purple one, and a needy blue one."

"They’re busy with work, and the one summoned was you."

"You can leave it to your subordinates."

"I don’t have many loyal subordinates."

Don’t know, don’t care; I hardly had any friends since the day I was born. Lutoart and Merce are enemies, my older brother is reasonably busy helping Father, my older sister and Finley don’t get along with me, and I don’t want to drag the pure Colin into this. The close comrades from my kingdom army days are all dead or missing. Even if I have acquaintances among nobles, things get complicated with ranks and power relations. The only people I can really open up to are my family.

…This is depressing, I feel like crying.

"…For now, just tell me the destination. I’ll head there alone afterward."

"Impossible. That person wishes for both you and me to be present."

Nothing good comes from being liked by that terrifying queen. …She won’t tell me to become her lover or something, right?

His Highness is beside me, so I hope she restrains herself in front of her son. If both the puppet king and the queen were lust-struck fools, I’d seriously flee the country.

"Here we are."

We arrived at a tavern commonly found in the royal capital. Entering the place and examining the customers, I saw all sorts of people—men and women of all ages—drinking while snacking on food. On the tables were a wide variety of dishes, from large platters to individual plates that looked quite pricey. For that queen to choose a place like this is surprising. When she meets Angie, it’s usually a quiet high-class restaurant.

Apparently, there’s a private room for large groups at the back of the tavern; that must be the meeting spot. Guided by His Highness, we moved toward the back, and there was a man standing in front of the room.

"I’ve brought him, Fred."

"Thank you for your effort, Your Highness, but may I ask you to wait a moment?"

"What is it? We’re earlier than scheduled; there should be no problem."

"Yes, that’s correct. Under normal circumstances, there would be no issue. However, how should I put it…"

The man speaking with His Highness seemed reluctant to say something. His face radiated the sorrow of accumulated hardships. Honestly, he seemed like someone I could get along with better than His Highness. As I watched the two conversing in front of the private room, I began to hear voices from inside.

"Ehh~, don’t joke like thaaat♡ You’re lying, aren’t you♡"

"Come on, believe me. I’m actually pretty important, you know."

"Oh my, you’re really good at flirting♡"

A laughing woman and a man persistently hitting on her. There was no need to think about what was happening in the room.

"I’ll be taking my leave. We can talk another day."

"Wait, Bartfort!!"

As I turned my back to leave, His Highness rushed ahead and blocked my path. His physical abilities exceed mine; forcing my way through won’t be easy.

"They’re here! How long do you intend to keep doing that!?"

Fred’s voice came from behind. A terrible premonition surged; I knew I should’ve refused from the start. Stupid me, giving in to authority even while complaining. From now on I’ll refuse even if the summons comes directly from the royal family. A woman burst out of the room and hurried past me, her clothes disheveled. I wanted to forget that sight immediately. I tried to use the chance to escape, but His Highness let the woman pass and kept me from fleeing.

"Well now, you’re already here?"

The one who appeared from the room was a middle-aged man. Long blue hair, an air of refinement mixed with wildness—a rather handsome man. If His Highness aged a few dozen years, he might look something like this. That thought alone filled me with a terrible premonition. Why am I always getting dragged into the Holfort royal family’s mess?

"This is the first time we’ve met face-to-face like this, Lord Bartfort."

"…I am deeply honored to be granted an audience with Your Majesty on this occasion."

Forcing out a greeting I didn’t want to say, I glared at the man before me.

Roland Rapha Holfort.

The supreme authority of the Holfort Kingdom stood there.

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Authors Note

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In a way, the popular character Roland makes his appearance.

Even in the original work and the comic adaptations, he’s a hopeless adult who’s constantly harassing Leon, but in this story, since Leon doesn’t try to flirt with Mylene and has only ordinary-level abilities, maybe it’s a bit more manageable? (Just a thought.)

Roland has his own way of thinking, but how that will turn out is something to look forward to.

I would greatly appreciate any opinions or feedback, as it would encourage me moving forward.