"This...”
A red piece was seen sticking out from under a stack of papers piled on one side of the desk.
A round, flat, dark red object the size of a gold coin had grooves cut with a carving knife along its circumference, and only half of it was sticking out from under a pile of papers.
I felt that it was a familiar object as soon as I saw it. I stretched out my hand and pulled it out from where it had been laid.
“...It’s a nameplate.”
The village of Plogne lies across the land of the Kingdom of Oberon, but its people do not belong to the kingdom. When I was born and raised in that village and spent my childhood, I did not exactly understand what it meant.
In order to come to Valmonde Castle and stay with me, Hannah gave my name to her vassal's family as an adoptive daughter to obtain my status, and even after going through such a complicated process, several years later, the status system of Oberon's kingdom was established. I came to understand properly.
The village of Plogne did not exist on the map.
We were the son and daughter of the tree that took care of the sacred tree Arbor, so it was so wrapped up in mystery that even the fact that people perished with it as it burned down felt tragic but natural.
From a young age, I was taught not to tell anyone that giant trees exist.
‘Keep secrets to yourself. It's no secret that two people know each other.'
However, even in a hidden village far from the world, they cannot do everything on their own, so they have continued passive commercial activities in the village at the bottom of the mountain.
Medicine, cloth, or tools that need to be used by a blacksmith to become usable.
There were many things that would be of comfort to many people if they acquired them, so they sold herbs and pigments that could be obtained through labor in the mountains.
Since the people of Plogne were not citizens of the kingdom, they did not have identification cards, and this nameplate was what they accepted on their behalf at the village market, which had only known about the existence of 'mountain residents' for a very long time.
After trimming the red-colored sheetrock into a round shape, people carved their own. There couldn't be any two shapes that were the same.
When doing important work or making only a down payment and paying a large sum later, the kingdom temporarily entrusted you with proof of identity.
Since the people of Plogne did not have one, they made a nameplate and used it, but only the nearest village at the foot of the mountain would accept it.
But that wasn't the problem. My hand trembled as I picked up the piece of red stone.
“This is my dad’s.”
He lived at the edge of Valmonde's estate, abandoning his Vermont identity. So, even though he had identification, the only thing he used to make money in the market was Plogne's nameplate.
The clear, crudely engraved letters indicated the father's name, 'Evan'.
There cannot be two identical items; it was the nameplate of my father, who died ten years ago. On the day my father was engraving this, I came forward and begged him to do it, and the carving knife got sprained, and even the incontinence-like trace left behind was intact.
“Why does Kaian have this?”
My normal flow of thoughts was suddenly interrupted.
In the middle of the mound where my mother had lost her life, at the bottom of the far cliff of the ice valley where my father had given up on life, my consciousness was scalded, frozen, and thawed as if my body had been ripped out and thrown away, and my hardened mind was spinning in confusion.
Sunlight streamed down through the small window in the stable, drawing lines along the bars. Walking along with the stable keeper, Valquiterre looked at the horses closely.
“There is no one running amok. They are such quiet guys.”
Kaian and Valquiterre were looking around the stables.
“These guys are so stubborn. Isn’t this the time for horses to rest?”
Although Rowalen is warm all year round, this was relatively the off-season. No matter how much food was available all year round, other estates could harvest and sell it, but if they gathered for the winter and stored as much food as they needed, they could eat and live through the winter.
Grain trade stopped in the winter, and only fruits, vegetables, and flowers along the Shen River were sent to the capital.
Since Rowen's abundance was automatically adjusted to just what was needed, there was no time to take care of the territory.
On the other hand, the beginning of spring determines the year's farming, so the busy days begin in Rowen to the point where it is said that there may be no children. It wasn't long before the horse's comfortable life, which had to carry its owner around the estate, would come to an end.
“So when do you plan to go back?”
No matter how much he asked, Kaian was frustrated because Valquiterre kept talking or did not answer properly.
"Well."
“Speak properly.”
“Kaian. If you’re like this, where am I supposed to rest?”
The blue eyes, shaded by light golden blonde hair, sometimes looked inorganic, like gems pulled from nature, if you erased any emotion.
“Are you bothered by me staying here?”
However, Valquiterre, who spoke informally with his mouth and looked like this, was trying to gauge the extent of Kaian's feelings as a subject as a King.
“That can’t be possible.”
“Then why are you asking me that? The thing you said the most when I came to Rowen was to ask when I was going to return.”
“You speak really twisted words. I’m saying this because I’m worried that the kingdom has finally stabilized, but you came down so unexpectedly that you didn’t even notify us in advance.”
"Aha. Were you worried?”
A smile returned to the face of the young man whose eyes had narrowed as if he was questioning whether he liked Kaian's answer.
"Of course. It’s been so long since the capital’s nobles kept quiet and behaved.”
“I left the court bag on purpose, but I didn’t expect you to nag me so loudly.”
“Why didn’t Court Chamberlain Makie come?”
But Valquiterre stopped his steps as if he had not heard what Kaian said.
"This speech. Is this the new guy brought in?”
“How did you know?”
How could one know that a stallion with shiny black fur all over his body and a white cross star on his forehead was a new breed?
A round, flat, dark red object the size of a gold coin had grooves cut with a carving knife along its circumference, and only half of it was sticking out from under a pile of papers.
I felt that it was a familiar object as soon as I saw it. I stretched out my hand and pulled it out from where it had been laid.
“...It’s a nameplate.”
The village of Plogne lies across the land of the Kingdom of Oberon, but its people do not belong to the kingdom. When I was born and raised in that village and spent my childhood, I did not exactly understand what it meant.
In order to come to Valmonde Castle and stay with me, Hannah gave my name to her vassal's family as an adoptive daughter to obtain my status, and even after going through such a complicated process, several years later, the status system of Oberon's kingdom was established. I came to understand properly.
The village of Plogne did not exist on the map.
We were the son and daughter of the tree that took care of the sacred tree Arbor, so it was so wrapped up in mystery that even the fact that people perished with it as it burned down felt tragic but natural.
From a young age, I was taught not to tell anyone that giant trees exist.
‘Keep secrets to yourself. It's no secret that two people know each other.'
However, even in a hidden village far from the world, they cannot do everything on their own, so they have continued passive commercial activities in the village at the bottom of the mountain.
Medicine, cloth, or tools that need to be used by a blacksmith to become usable.
There were many things that would be of comfort to many people if they acquired them, so they sold herbs and pigments that could be obtained through labor in the mountains.
Since the people of Plogne were not citizens of the kingdom, they did not have identification cards, and this nameplate was what they accepted on their behalf at the village market, which had only known about the existence of 'mountain residents' for a very long time.
After trimming the red-colored sheetrock into a round shape, people carved their own. There couldn't be any two shapes that were the same.
When doing important work or making only a down payment and paying a large sum later, the kingdom temporarily entrusted you with proof of identity.
Since the people of Plogne did not have one, they made a nameplate and used it, but only the nearest village at the foot of the mountain would accept it.
But that wasn't the problem. My hand trembled as I picked up the piece of red stone.
“This is my dad’s.”
He lived at the edge of Valmonde's estate, abandoning his Vermont identity. So, even though he had identification, the only thing he used to make money in the market was Plogne's nameplate.
The clear, crudely engraved letters indicated the father's name, 'Evan'.
There cannot be two identical items; it was the nameplate of my father, who died ten years ago. On the day my father was engraving this, I came forward and begged him to do it, and the carving knife got sprained, and even the incontinence-like trace left behind was intact.
“Why does Kaian have this?”
My normal flow of thoughts was suddenly interrupted.
In the middle of the mound where my mother had lost her life, at the bottom of the far cliff of the ice valley where my father had given up on life, my consciousness was scalded, frozen, and thawed as if my body had been ripped out and thrown away, and my hardened mind was spinning in confusion.
***
Sunlight streamed down through the small window in the stable, drawing lines along the bars. Walking along with the stable keeper, Valquiterre looked at the horses closely.
“There is no one running amok. They are such quiet guys.”
Kaian and Valquiterre were looking around the stables.
“These guys are so stubborn. Isn’t this the time for horses to rest?”
Although Rowalen is warm all year round, this was relatively the off-season. No matter how much food was available all year round, other estates could harvest and sell it, but if they gathered for the winter and stored as much food as they needed, they could eat and live through the winter.
Grain trade stopped in the winter, and only fruits, vegetables, and flowers along the Shen River were sent to the capital.
Since Rowen's abundance was automatically adjusted to just what was needed, there was no time to take care of the territory.
On the other hand, the beginning of spring determines the year's farming, so the busy days begin in Rowen to the point where it is said that there may be no children. It wasn't long before the horse's comfortable life, which had to carry its owner around the estate, would come to an end.
“So when do you plan to go back?”
No matter how much he asked, Kaian was frustrated because Valquiterre kept talking or did not answer properly.
"Well."
“Speak properly.”
“Kaian. If you’re like this, where am I supposed to rest?”
The blue eyes, shaded by light golden blonde hair, sometimes looked inorganic, like gems pulled from nature, if you erased any emotion.
“Are you bothered by me staying here?”
However, Valquiterre, who spoke informally with his mouth and looked like this, was trying to gauge the extent of Kaian's feelings as a subject as a King.
“That can’t be possible.”
“Then why are you asking me that? The thing you said the most when I came to Rowen was to ask when I was going to return.”
“You speak really twisted words. I’m saying this because I’m worried that the kingdom has finally stabilized, but you came down so unexpectedly that you didn’t even notify us in advance.”
"Aha. Were you worried?”
A smile returned to the face of the young man whose eyes had narrowed as if he was questioning whether he liked Kaian's answer.
"Of course. It’s been so long since the capital’s nobles kept quiet and behaved.”
“I left the court bag on purpose, but I didn’t expect you to nag me so loudly.”
“Why didn’t Court Chamberlain Makie come?”
But Valquiterre stopped his steps as if he had not heard what Kaian said.
"This speech. Is this the new guy brought in?”
“How did you know?”
How could one know that a stallion with shiny black fur all over his body and a white cross star on his forehead was a new breed?
As he asked Kaian half a question out of curiosity, Valq raised the corners of his mouth sheepishly.
“The Count of Montagne said he couldn’t send me a stallion because he couldn’t find a great horse. Here we are.”
Kaian's forehead felt itchy.
'Is that something like that?'
The Count of Montagne, who had borrowed a large sum of money from the previous Duke of Temnes and had secured a quarter of his land as collateral, sent word to him and begged him to keep this fact a secret from His Majesty the King.
“You are so lucky.”
It was difficult to read any emotions in the blue eyes we encountered.
“No matter how hard you try, the best things always end up being yours.”
If Valquiterre became aware of this fact, it would be difficult for both the Count and him to feel comfortable.
'What should I say?'
How can he change Valquiterre's words without getting on his nerves? It was time for Kaian to think hard and come up with a difficult solution.
“It won’t be long.”
Valquiterre belatedly answered Kaian's question.
“If Makie bring the boat, he will finish the water banquet and then ride on it and go to the royal castle.”
“Is that why the marquee didn’t come with you?”
The 'Water Banquet' was a tradition of the Rowen estate.
The event held every year in mid-February was a declaration of the end of the farming season and the start of the new year.
If the Lord gave a generous gift, he would eat and drink as much meat as a snack and promise to work hard.
At night, they went out on boats on rivers and lakes, lit small candles in boats made of paper, and sent them away. It was an event filled with superstitions, such as saying that if you write down your wish, it will come true, or that if the paper boat completely catches fire and burns, a letter will be delivered to the dead.
“But there’s still this week left. Wouldn’t it be boring?”
When he came to Rowen when he was young, only Queen Sylvia returned to the castle first, and Valquiterre stayed in Rowen for a long time.
The area around the capital where thr royal castle is located is a plain, so there is no cover, it is not appropriate for a male child to learn anything like hunting, so he leaves it to his uncle, the Duke of Temnes, his ancestor, to learn how to ride a boat and hunt. This is because he found it desirable.
But now, unlike then, Valquiterre was just 'resting' and had nothing to do, so Kaian, who could not just deal with him, was also concerned about the King's rest schedule. This week was too long to just eat, sleep, and play without much happening.
“This is my first time taking a break since ascending to the throne. Don’t be too strict.”
Looking at Valquiterre, who calmly ignored what he said as if he were a nag, Kaian eventually nodded his head.
“The Count of Montagne said he couldn’t send me a stallion because he couldn’t find a great horse. Here we are.”
Kaian's forehead felt itchy.
'Is that something like that?'
The Count of Montagne, who had borrowed a large sum of money from the previous Duke of Temnes and had secured a quarter of his land as collateral, sent word to him and begged him to keep this fact a secret from His Majesty the King.
“You are so lucky.”
It was difficult to read any emotions in the blue eyes we encountered.
“No matter how hard you try, the best things always end up being yours.”
If Valquiterre became aware of this fact, it would be difficult for both the Count and him to feel comfortable.
'What should I say?'
How can he change Valquiterre's words without getting on his nerves? It was time for Kaian to think hard and come up with a difficult solution.
“It won’t be long.”
Valquiterre belatedly answered Kaian's question.
“If Makie bring the boat, he will finish the water banquet and then ride on it and go to the royal castle.”
“Is that why the marquee didn’t come with you?”
The 'Water Banquet' was a tradition of the Rowen estate.
The event held every year in mid-February was a declaration of the end of the farming season and the start of the new year.
If the Lord gave a generous gift, he would eat and drink as much meat as a snack and promise to work hard.
At night, they went out on boats on rivers and lakes, lit small candles in boats made of paper, and sent them away. It was an event filled with superstitions, such as saying that if you write down your wish, it will come true, or that if the paper boat completely catches fire and burns, a letter will be delivered to the dead.
“But there’s still this week left. Wouldn’t it be boring?”
When he came to Rowen when he was young, only Queen Sylvia returned to the castle first, and Valquiterre stayed in Rowen for a long time.
The area around the capital where thr royal castle is located is a plain, so there is no cover, it is not appropriate for a male child to learn anything like hunting, so he leaves it to his uncle, the Duke of Temnes, his ancestor, to learn how to ride a boat and hunt. This is because he found it desirable.
But now, unlike then, Valquiterre was just 'resting' and had nothing to do, so Kaian, who could not just deal with him, was also concerned about the King's rest schedule. This week was too long to just eat, sleep, and play without much happening.
“This is my first time taking a break since ascending to the throne. Don’t be too strict.”
Looking at Valquiterre, who calmly ignored what he said as if he were a nag, Kaian eventually nodded his head.
“I’m just worried about you.”
“Thank you. The nagging from my father is enough.”
“What a nag. It's natural for the Grand Duke to be worried about you. But what did you say?”
“Is there anything else? I’m just asking you to find a good Queen.”
As Valquiterre turned his eyes away from the horse and headed out of the stables, he sighed involuntarily.
'Ha. Really.'
Every time this happened, Kaian felt extremely tired.
He truly did not want to live with Valquiterre like this.
He wonders to what extent what the other person is saying is sincere, whether they are going to backstab him, whether they are betraying him, blaming him, or going somewhere else and saying outrageous things.
It was enough to review and doubt something that was always done with other unspecified nobles, merchants, or someone from a foreign country.
He thought that he was just like family and that there was no need to wear a mask and treat him like a confrontation even with Valquiterre, whom he grew up with like brothers until he returned from the battlefield, but Valquiterre, who greeted him on the throne after he had won and improved, changed.
'Your loyalty and glory to the Kingdom of Oberon will be remembered for a long time.'
Valquiterre, who had become so dignified that Kaian, who had seen the future King all his life from birth, felt proud, was quite different from before.
He treated him like a subject and acted as if he would not give up his side. Then, at night, she secretly came to his bedroom, had a face that looked just like his deceased mother, lowered hia rich golden eyelashes like the full moon, and spoke helplessly.
'Sorry, Kaian. There's a lot of noise both inside and outside the kingdom, so I can't give you special treatment in front of the old nobles.'
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