The slaver, who had called him 'Black Dog', was one of the great servants of Sir Oscar, the former master of the concubine who had borne him an illegitimate son. When they left the castle of the Marquis of Aperato and crossed the eastern frontier with him, Sybil met the slaver, and before they crossed the River Tridene together they stayed at a villa that Sir Oscar had bought many years ago. The slaver treated him and Liena with the utmost respect, and he was courteous to the woman he had once owned.
The view of the villa was as good and quaint as the summer villas that his late mother had owned. It was located in the middle of a hill, so it felt like a lord’s elaborate castle rather than a simple villa. The exterior of the mansion, which overlooked the river and fields on the border of Lugdun and Lotan, was an old-fashioned yellow color, and the interior was filled with palm trees and horse chestnuts, and the garden inside the mansion was also extremely luxurious. It was too splendid and grand for a concubine’s villa.
The concubine was holding a newborn baby. She held him carefully as if she could not part with him for even a moment, and smiled neatly. Sybil lowered his gaze and glanced at the baby in the swaddle. He was the only son of the Count of Ikalant, one of the wealthiest families in the kingdom, and the only son of Lord Oscar.
Sir Oscar's blood cries day and night and cries for milk. His concubine smiles apologetically, breastfeeds the newborn, and changes its diapers. Sybil looks back and forth between her and the blood clot indifferently and then turns his head away.
He had a fiancée in the royal capital, but he had nothing to do with her. That was something that Sir Oscar and his concubine would do every night. Above all, it was very awkward to think that he was looking at the child born by that girl with the same affection as Sir Oscar. After all, it was a matter of not knowing whether or not they would get married.
After spending three days at the villa, they crossed the Tridun River. It was a river that had flooded three days ago due to heavy rain. By the time they crossed, the rain was pouring down again, and the poncho they had worn to disguise themselves as shabby slaves was soaked, so they looked like slaves. The territory they arrived at was Lugdun, a small territory that could be seen straight away if you crossed the Tridun River and ran through the forest.
“Do you know about the Battle of Callan?”
When they were halfway through the forest, Sir Oscar asked. Sybil nodded. The Battle of Callan was a great victory for Margrave Caraf de Elvanoton in Callan, an eastern border town during the Maxmann War. For his service, Sir Caraf, who was a Viscount, was given the title of Marquis, and the two knights who accompanied him were also given the titles of Viscount and Baron, respectively, and were ennobled.
“After His Majesty’s great-grandfather, His Majesty Armund, personally bestowed a title on a knight of the Margrave of Elvanorton who had distinguished himself in battle, Rensley Loathed, who was a knight of the Margrave, also became the Lord of Lugdun.”
A man with a hood turned over his head muttered with a gaunt face. He said he had become thin because he had quit smoking after his son was born. But the reason for his suffering was probably not just cigarettes.
“When I return, I will make my son’s mother the mistress of Count Icalant.”
If it was the King's order, it was the law of the kingdom that one had to marry even those of low status. Since it was a relationship established by the King, even if the couple's love was damaged, they could not easily divorce, and the children born between them were recognized as the head of the family. This was because it was the order of the supreme King. Sir Oscar looked at Sibyl and smiled faintly.
“That is not why I serve Your Majesty. It is unfair that you do not recognize a loyal subject like me. As a servant, I should serve my master.”
He stared at the man who served him with only sincerity. He took his gaze away from Sibyl and looked at the Viscount's castle in the distance.
“The Viscount has a young daughter.”
He narrowed his eyebrows and muttered in a dry, gloomy voice. Sibyl looked at the castle standing tall against the low hill. Compared to the great fortress of the Marquis of Aperato, it was a small and simple castle. It even had a shabby appearance compared to the villa of Sir Oscar where they had stayed.
Sibyl rolled the name Roate in his mouth. The castle, built as a strategic point during the time when Travasta was at war with the Magta clan, was rough and rugged compared to the splendid castles of the royal capital. The castle, built in the last century, was rebuilt and refurbished according to the royal capital’s fashion, but since it was a fortress built for the defense of the border, it was just a fortress.
“They said she was young and sickly.”
“Have you seen her?”
The view of the villa was as good and quaint as the summer villas that his late mother had owned. It was located in the middle of a hill, so it felt like a lord’s elaborate castle rather than a simple villa. The exterior of the mansion, which overlooked the river and fields on the border of Lugdun and Lotan, was an old-fashioned yellow color, and the interior was filled with palm trees and horse chestnuts, and the garden inside the mansion was also extremely luxurious. It was too splendid and grand for a concubine’s villa.
The concubine was holding a newborn baby. She held him carefully as if she could not part with him for even a moment, and smiled neatly. Sybil lowered his gaze and glanced at the baby in the swaddle. He was the only son of the Count of Ikalant, one of the wealthiest families in the kingdom, and the only son of Lord Oscar.
Sir Oscar's blood cries day and night and cries for milk. His concubine smiles apologetically, breastfeeds the newborn, and changes its diapers. Sybil looks back and forth between her and the blood clot indifferently and then turns his head away.
He had a fiancée in the royal capital, but he had nothing to do with her. That was something that Sir Oscar and his concubine would do every night. Above all, it was very awkward to think that he was looking at the child born by that girl with the same affection as Sir Oscar. After all, it was a matter of not knowing whether or not they would get married.
After spending three days at the villa, they crossed the Tridun River. It was a river that had flooded three days ago due to heavy rain. By the time they crossed, the rain was pouring down again, and the poncho they had worn to disguise themselves as shabby slaves was soaked, so they looked like slaves. The territory they arrived at was Lugdun, a small territory that could be seen straight away if you crossed the Tridun River and ran through the forest.
“Do you know about the Battle of Callan?”
When they were halfway through the forest, Sir Oscar asked. Sybil nodded. The Battle of Callan was a great victory for Margrave Caraf de Elvanoton in Callan, an eastern border town during the Maxmann War. For his service, Sir Caraf, who was a Viscount, was given the title of Marquis, and the two knights who accompanied him were also given the titles of Viscount and Baron, respectively, and were ennobled.
“After His Majesty’s great-grandfather, His Majesty Armund, personally bestowed a title on a knight of the Margrave of Elvanorton who had distinguished himself in battle, Rensley Loathed, who was a knight of the Margrave, also became the Lord of Lugdun.”
A man with a hood turned over his head muttered with a gaunt face. He said he had become thin because he had quit smoking after his son was born. But the reason for his suffering was probably not just cigarettes.
“When I return, I will make my son’s mother the mistress of Count Icalant.”
If it was the King's order, it was the law of the kingdom that one had to marry even those of low status. Since it was a relationship established by the King, even if the couple's love was damaged, they could not easily divorce, and the children born between them were recognized as the head of the family. This was because it was the order of the supreme King. Sir Oscar looked at Sibyl and smiled faintly.
“That is not why I serve Your Majesty. It is unfair that you do not recognize a loyal subject like me. As a servant, I should serve my master.”
He stared at the man who served him with only sincerity. He took his gaze away from Sibyl and looked at the Viscount's castle in the distance.
“The Viscount has a young daughter.”
He narrowed his eyebrows and muttered in a dry, gloomy voice. Sibyl looked at the castle standing tall against the low hill. Compared to the great fortress of the Marquis of Aperato, it was a small and simple castle. It even had a shabby appearance compared to the villa of Sir Oscar where they had stayed.
Sibyl rolled the name Roate in his mouth. The castle, built as a strategic point during the time when Travasta was at war with the Magta clan, was rough and rugged compared to the splendid castles of the royal capital. The castle, built in the last century, was rebuilt and refurbished according to the royal capital’s fashion, but since it was a fortress built for the defense of the border, it was just a fortress.
“They said she was young and sickly.”
“Have you seen her?”
Liena looked at him sideways and asked.
"Yes."
“She wouldn’t be so foolish as to be rude to Your Majesty, would she?”
Liena asked with a worried voice. Liena, who grew up in the noble society of the royal capital, was mature for her age. As she was accustomed to the court society, she knew how crude and humiliating the secret gossip and gossip that girls her age shared behind fans was. The hypocrisy of smiling like a picture and pretending to be noble was beyond ugly. And Liena lived every day at the court with such children. If Sir Oscar deliberately made a comment about the lord's daughter, it was a sign that she was in danger.
"Hmm..."
The man frowned at Liena's question.
"Sir."
Liena urged him on in her impatience.
“They say it’s a nervous breakdown. They say she’s feeling unwell and is very irritable.”
“What was it like when you saw it?”
The man looked back at Liena at the urgent question. He looked at Liena for a while and then opened his lips.
“She’s just a kid.”
“...”
“Compared to Miss Duanen, she must be a child. If you think of her as a younger sibling and take care of her, you’ll be fine.”
He turned his head. Liena glanced at the King with a calm face. He had a blank expression yesterday and today. No matter how much of a disguise it was, living as a slave was not easy. As soon as Liena heard about the lord's daughter, her head felt like it was on fire.
If it was Lugdun, it was a territory ruled by the Roate family. Even though they were lords of the border, they were not to be ignored as they were real powers with central influence. They had accumulated great wealth through the territory granted by the King, and their military was also composed of trained soldiers to defend the border, and their foundation was as solid as that of the central nobles.
The daughters of the lords that Liena had seen were all daughters of such nobles. Girls who entered the palace holding their father's hand to debut in the capital and competed with the daughters of the central nobles. However, the daughter of the Viscount...
“Has that child ever been in a palace?”
Oscar, who was holding the reins, looked back at her.
“No way.”
“I don’t remember...”
“I guess it’s true that you don’t remember.”
“She must be very young. If she were a girl, she would have been to the royal palace at least once...”
“No. She doesn’t know that. She probably doesn’t know where the royal capital is or what it is. She probably doesn’t know what a debutante is. And since she doesn’t know that, she probably doesn’t know anything about the society of noble ladies like Miss Doanen. Oh, right. She’s not that young. She’s nine.”
"Ah..."
“She’s not a bad kid.”
"Yes."
Oscar rode his horse again. At that moment, the rain began to fall again, causing him to wince in his left eye. He wiped his eyelids with his gauntleted hand and picked up the pace. They ran straight ahead without even having time to talk. Liena bit her lip and thought about what Oscar had said.
She was nine years old. At the age of nine, Liena had already become accustomed to the general life of the court. The noble girls were accustomed to forming groups and keeping each other in check, as they were used to imitating their mothers and hanging out with each other.
But she doesn't even know what a debutante is... What kind of child could she be? Liena's head was filled with worries and concerns about her. She felt pitiful and foolish at the same time, not knowing what a debutante was. The curiosity that filled her while she was riding was soon resolved.
By the time they reached the castle, Sir Oscar had disappeared. When Sir Oscar disappeared, the slave trader treated them as real young slaves. It was something they had already agreed to, but they couldn't help but feel angry. Besides... Compared to the great nobles of Duanen, he was nothing but a Viscount... Sir Caraf, who was vassal to Viscount Roate, was a loyal servant of the previous Count of Duanen. He was awarded the title of Marquis for his meritorious service in battle, but he could not compare to the venerable Count of Duanen.
But worse than that...
The servant slapped the King in the face at the lord’s gaze. Her murderous intent surged. Meanwhile, the King silently endured the violence. He didn’t waver at all, as if nothing had happened, with an expression on his face.
As Liena clenched her fists and trembled, a small object jumped out from somewhere and squeezed between the King and the servants. It was a child. It had pink hair and the color of her eyes, seen briefly under her long eyelashes, was a refreshing light green and extremely beautiful. Her eyes were like glass, melted and shaped into jewels by trapping the dispersing summer. Liena looked at the child with her swollen eyes.
She was a stunningly pretty girl. Her long pink hair and clear, beautiful eyes like glass beads were the color of the spring leaves that bloom in the new green. Her skin, which clearly showed signs of illness, was morbidly pale, but her cheeks were a light plum color and her lips were plump and well-shaped. The girl, with her exquisite features like a doll held in the arms of a noble girl, was perfectly beautiful down to the small parts such as her round ears and earlobes.
A girl who had squeezed her way in between the servants slapped the hand that was holding the King's hair and screamed. Even though she was screaming at the top of her lungs, her screams were faint and sounded like the purring of a kitten. There were a few scuffles. The girl who had separated the King from the servants screamed.
“I want to have it.”
"Yes."
“She wouldn’t be so foolish as to be rude to Your Majesty, would she?”
Liena asked with a worried voice. Liena, who grew up in the noble society of the royal capital, was mature for her age. As she was accustomed to the court society, she knew how crude and humiliating the secret gossip and gossip that girls her age shared behind fans was. The hypocrisy of smiling like a picture and pretending to be noble was beyond ugly. And Liena lived every day at the court with such children. If Sir Oscar deliberately made a comment about the lord's daughter, it was a sign that she was in danger.
"Hmm..."
The man frowned at Liena's question.
"Sir."
Liena urged him on in her impatience.
“They say it’s a nervous breakdown. They say she’s feeling unwell and is very irritable.”
“What was it like when you saw it?”
The man looked back at Liena at the urgent question. He looked at Liena for a while and then opened his lips.
“She’s just a kid.”
“...”
“Compared to Miss Duanen, she must be a child. If you think of her as a younger sibling and take care of her, you’ll be fine.”
He turned his head. Liena glanced at the King with a calm face. He had a blank expression yesterday and today. No matter how much of a disguise it was, living as a slave was not easy. As soon as Liena heard about the lord's daughter, her head felt like it was on fire.
If it was Lugdun, it was a territory ruled by the Roate family. Even though they were lords of the border, they were not to be ignored as they were real powers with central influence. They had accumulated great wealth through the territory granted by the King, and their military was also composed of trained soldiers to defend the border, and their foundation was as solid as that of the central nobles.
The daughters of the lords that Liena had seen were all daughters of such nobles. Girls who entered the palace holding their father's hand to debut in the capital and competed with the daughters of the central nobles. However, the daughter of the Viscount...
“Has that child ever been in a palace?”
Oscar, who was holding the reins, looked back at her.
“No way.”
“I don’t remember...”
“I guess it’s true that you don’t remember.”
“She must be very young. If she were a girl, she would have been to the royal palace at least once...”
“No. She doesn’t know that. She probably doesn’t know where the royal capital is or what it is. She probably doesn’t know what a debutante is. And since she doesn’t know that, she probably doesn’t know anything about the society of noble ladies like Miss Doanen. Oh, right. She’s not that young. She’s nine.”
"Ah..."
“She’s not a bad kid.”
"Yes."
Oscar rode his horse again. At that moment, the rain began to fall again, causing him to wince in his left eye. He wiped his eyelids with his gauntleted hand and picked up the pace. They ran straight ahead without even having time to talk. Liena bit her lip and thought about what Oscar had said.
She was nine years old. At the age of nine, Liena had already become accustomed to the general life of the court. The noble girls were accustomed to forming groups and keeping each other in check, as they were used to imitating their mothers and hanging out with each other.
But she doesn't even know what a debutante is... What kind of child could she be? Liena's head was filled with worries and concerns about her. She felt pitiful and foolish at the same time, not knowing what a debutante was. The curiosity that filled her while she was riding was soon resolved.
By the time they reached the castle, Sir Oscar had disappeared. When Sir Oscar disappeared, the slave trader treated them as real young slaves. It was something they had already agreed to, but they couldn't help but feel angry. Besides... Compared to the great nobles of Duanen, he was nothing but a Viscount... Sir Caraf, who was vassal to Viscount Roate, was a loyal servant of the previous Count of Duanen. He was awarded the title of Marquis for his meritorious service in battle, but he could not compare to the venerable Count of Duanen.
But worse than that...
The servant slapped the King in the face at the lord’s gaze. Her murderous intent surged. Meanwhile, the King silently endured the violence. He didn’t waver at all, as if nothing had happened, with an expression on his face.
As Liena clenched her fists and trembled, a small object jumped out from somewhere and squeezed between the King and the servants. It was a child. It had pink hair and the color of her eyes, seen briefly under her long eyelashes, was a refreshing light green and extremely beautiful. Her eyes were like glass, melted and shaped into jewels by trapping the dispersing summer. Liena looked at the child with her swollen eyes.
She was a stunningly pretty girl. Her long pink hair and clear, beautiful eyes like glass beads were the color of the spring leaves that bloom in the new green. Her skin, which clearly showed signs of illness, was morbidly pale, but her cheeks were a light plum color and her lips were plump and well-shaped. The girl, with her exquisite features like a doll held in the arms of a noble girl, was perfectly beautiful down to the small parts such as her round ears and earlobes.
A girl who had squeezed her way in between the servants slapped the hand that was holding the King's hair and screamed. Even though she was screaming at the top of her lungs, her screams were faint and sounded like the purring of a kitten. There were a few scuffles. The girl who had separated the King from the servants screamed.
“I want to have it.”
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