“That’s true, that’s true, but rather than that...”
Count Merlin stuttered, unable to find an excuse. "I suppose this is a greeting, and I'm just being clumsy and not knowing what's going on." I crossed my arms and asked again.
“If the North Building is such a good place, send all the soldiers staying in the South Building here too.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“Why doesn’t that make sense?”
"That..."
Count Merlin stuttered again. He looked like a complete idiot. I took a step toward him.
Then Count Merlin chuckled and took two steps back. I seemed to be feeling quite burdened.
"Count, tell me honestly. Who instigated us to isolate us?"
“It’s absurd!”
Count Merlin barked. I covered my ears and then frowned at him.
“Does this strong denial mean you really received a blessing?”
“That’s not it...”
Count Merlin stammered again, and his attendant, unable to stand by, stepped forward.
“Your Excellency, you must finish your schedule for today.”
"Oh, right, right! Your Highness, I'm sorry, but I'm busy today and won't be able to finish this story. I'll see you next time."
As he said this, Count Merlin began to walk with long strides. He seemed to have given no heed to the honor of being a nobleman.
As I watched Count Merlin run away, my head started to hurt.
But I didn't want to capture him. This matter was ultimately resolved by fighting Princess Abigail, not Count Merlin.
To put out the immediate fire, I had to take matters into my own hands, rather than relying on Count Merlin.
I kicked my feet again, this time towards the north building where we were staying.
I took a few soldiers, including Hela, and escaped from Lord Merlin's castle. If he wouldn't provide supplies, I could use my own funds to procure them.
That alone would boost the morale of Count Winsley's soldiers to some extent.
Since countless people witnessed the large cart being pulled out, Count Merlin must have already heard the news. Fortunately, no one tried to stop me. And there was no reason to stop me.
But it was after arriving in the village that I found out the real reason.
“Didn’t you say that the damage to the village was minimal?”
“Yes. I’ve heard that it’s extremely rare for demons to directly inflict harm.”
“But why is it like this...”
The town wasn't in very good shape. The streets were deserted, and as a result, the market was in dire straits.
Most shops were closed, and the only ones open were small shops struggling to make ends meet. These were too small to even provide supplies for the soldiers.
“Find out why this happened.”
I gave instructions to one of my soldiers, and he immediately ran out. After stopping the cart for a moment and resting in a corner of the market, Hela asked me cautiously.
“Why does Your Highness, the Grand Duchess, do this?”
“Is it so strange that I take care of my own family?”
“No. I’m saying this because you’re always running around.”
I spent the whole day chasing after Count Merlin, investigating the giant demon, checking the supplies distributed to other armies, and trying to compromise with him.
As it turned out, Hela must have seen me as someone running around aimlessly. I smiled.
“I feel suffocated when I stay still.”
From this point on, my entire family was either dead or enslaved. To protect them, I couldn't rest even for a moment. Hela nodded, wondering how I'd heard his answer.
“I see. I respect you.”
I burst out laughing at the unexpected comment.
“Respect?”
"I've always admired the Count. But at the same time, I worried that his sheer goodness might harm him. I'm glad he has such a vigilant daughter."
“Is that a compliment?”
“That’s a compliment.”
It was a bit ambiguous, but since he said it was a compliment, I had no choice but to take it as a compliment.
While I was having a small talk with Hela, the soldier I had sent on an errand returned.
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
The soldier took a deep breath and answered immediately.
"They say it's because of the demons. The demons haven't directly harmed the villagers in many cases, but they've cut off all supply lines."
"That's nonsense. The lord's castle is so close, what is Count Merlin doing..."
As I was talking, it occurred to me: With our supply lines cut off, where did all the supplies Count Merlin had provided come from?
It was a horrifying thing to imagine. Even though the economy was so impoverished that it couldn't function, Count Merlin had undoubtedly exploited the people of his domain to obtain supplies. It was highly doubtful whether he had been properly compensated for the process.
“...I guess I should go back first. I need to find another way to get supplies.”
So I had no choice but to return empty-handed. No, rather, I sorted out the unused items from the supplies we'd been given and sent them to the village to sell them cheaply.
And after that day, there was another battle. This time, they secured a safe zone beyond the lake, where a large, old tree had grown. However, the supply problem remained unresolved.
At that time, someone came to see me.
It was a woman wearing an apricot-colored robe, with a white mask covering her eyes and red hair visible beneath a turned-up hat.
Looking at that vivid, beautiful hair, I thought of someone, but I shook my head. There was no way she could be here.
The woman greeted politely but didn't open her mouth. The attendant standing beside her spoke on her behalf.
“We come from the Baron Heira family.”
To be honest, I couldn't immediately recall the name. It took a moment of brainstorming before I could recall the young lady of Sina Heira, who had been particularly kind to me. The young lady had honestly told me she wanted to buy a rare magic stone from me.
The red-haired woman pulled the golden Heira Baron's crest from her bosom and showed it to me. It seemed fitting, I thought, for a family that prioritized money over honor.
“What brings you here? I don’t see Young Lady Heira.”
“Does she really have to come in person, Miss?”
This time, it was a red-haired woman who spoke. But her voice sounded familiar, as if I'd heard it somewhere before. I couldn't help but wonder if it was her.
“That’s not it, but... huh?”
I stopped answering and stared at the woman. She smiled charmingly beneath her mask. Then she slowly removed it. Looking at her pale face, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Marian!”
Marianne said with a playful smile.
“How is it? I tried following Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”
Marian's cheeks were flushed with a soft pink, and her eyes shone brightly.
Without realizing it, I jumped up and hugged Marianne tightly. I was worried she might stumble as I held her, but surprisingly, she held on well.
It was a wonder how the young lady, who couldn't even breathe properly because her waist was so tightly bound by a corset, became so strong.
“Madam, I didn’t know you would welcome me this well.”
Marian smiled happily as she spoke. Her pretty eyes sparkled with joy, as if she was glad to see me, too.
"What the hell happened? How did you get here? What happened to Baron Heyra's crest? Was anything dangerous?"
Marian covered her mouth and smiled brightly. She looked much better than when we parted ways. Even then, her face was cheerful, but there was a hint of anxiety about her new life. Now, she had shed a layer of her own, looking more mature.
Marian said, holding my hand tightly.
"First, let's have some tea together. I brought some good tea. Can you spare some time?"
“Of course. Come in.”
I led Marian in a bright voice. After seeing only dull soldiers, my eyes brightened at the sight of this radiant young lady.
The soldiers looked back and forth between me and Marian, wondering what was going on. I took Marian up to my room.
I brewed the tea leaves Marian had given me myself. The standard teapot was crude, but it didn't lose the aroma of the tea leaves. The tea had a sweet aroma, but it wasn't overly bitter, making it refreshing.
“The tea is really nice.”
"Right? Miss Sina found it herself this time. She's thinking about what to name it."
I blinked and asked what I had been wondering all along.
“Hey, you seem pretty close to Young Lady. How did you know each other?”
“Haha, I guess you’re curious about that, right?”
“Don’t hesitate and speak quickly.”
Marian nodded and continued.
"Hey, Young Lady, she found me somehow. She told me to follow you since you had nowhere else to go."
“Why?”
She thought I might be of help in her future dealings with the Duchzan.”
“It was because of the rare magic stone?”
"Yes. At first, I thought she was dangerous, so I couldn't even open my mouth. But as she came to see me every day with such sincerity, I couldn't ignore her. More than anything, the stories she told me were fascinating."
“What did she tell me?”
Marian smiled, pulling the corners of her lips together.
“It’s about money.”
Count Merlin stuttered, unable to find an excuse. "I suppose this is a greeting, and I'm just being clumsy and not knowing what's going on." I crossed my arms and asked again.
“If the North Building is such a good place, send all the soldiers staying in the South Building here too.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“Why doesn’t that make sense?”
"That..."
Count Merlin stuttered again. He looked like a complete idiot. I took a step toward him.
Then Count Merlin chuckled and took two steps back. I seemed to be feeling quite burdened.
"Count, tell me honestly. Who instigated us to isolate us?"
“It’s absurd!”
Count Merlin barked. I covered my ears and then frowned at him.
“Does this strong denial mean you really received a blessing?”
“That’s not it...”
Count Merlin stammered again, and his attendant, unable to stand by, stepped forward.
“Your Excellency, you must finish your schedule for today.”
"Oh, right, right! Your Highness, I'm sorry, but I'm busy today and won't be able to finish this story. I'll see you next time."
As he said this, Count Merlin began to walk with long strides. He seemed to have given no heed to the honor of being a nobleman.
As I watched Count Merlin run away, my head started to hurt.
But I didn't want to capture him. This matter was ultimately resolved by fighting Princess Abigail, not Count Merlin.
To put out the immediate fire, I had to take matters into my own hands, rather than relying on Count Merlin.
I kicked my feet again, this time towards the north building where we were staying.
***
I took a few soldiers, including Hela, and escaped from Lord Merlin's castle. If he wouldn't provide supplies, I could use my own funds to procure them.
That alone would boost the morale of Count Winsley's soldiers to some extent.
Since countless people witnessed the large cart being pulled out, Count Merlin must have already heard the news. Fortunately, no one tried to stop me. And there was no reason to stop me.
But it was after arriving in the village that I found out the real reason.
“Didn’t you say that the damage to the village was minimal?”
“Yes. I’ve heard that it’s extremely rare for demons to directly inflict harm.”
“But why is it like this...”
The town wasn't in very good shape. The streets were deserted, and as a result, the market was in dire straits.
Most shops were closed, and the only ones open were small shops struggling to make ends meet. These were too small to even provide supplies for the soldiers.
“Find out why this happened.”
I gave instructions to one of my soldiers, and he immediately ran out. After stopping the cart for a moment and resting in a corner of the market, Hela asked me cautiously.
“Why does Your Highness, the Grand Duchess, do this?”
“Is it so strange that I take care of my own family?”
“No. I’m saying this because you’re always running around.”
I spent the whole day chasing after Count Merlin, investigating the giant demon, checking the supplies distributed to other armies, and trying to compromise with him.
As it turned out, Hela must have seen me as someone running around aimlessly. I smiled.
“I feel suffocated when I stay still.”
From this point on, my entire family was either dead or enslaved. To protect them, I couldn't rest even for a moment. Hela nodded, wondering how I'd heard his answer.
“I see. I respect you.”
I burst out laughing at the unexpected comment.
“Respect?”
"I've always admired the Count. But at the same time, I worried that his sheer goodness might harm him. I'm glad he has such a vigilant daughter."
“Is that a compliment?”
“That’s a compliment.”
It was a bit ambiguous, but since he said it was a compliment, I had no choice but to take it as a compliment.
While I was having a small talk with Hela, the soldier I had sent on an errand returned.
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
The soldier took a deep breath and answered immediately.
"They say it's because of the demons. The demons haven't directly harmed the villagers in many cases, but they've cut off all supply lines."
"That's nonsense. The lord's castle is so close, what is Count Merlin doing..."
As I was talking, it occurred to me: With our supply lines cut off, where did all the supplies Count Merlin had provided come from?
It was a horrifying thing to imagine. Even though the economy was so impoverished that it couldn't function, Count Merlin had undoubtedly exploited the people of his domain to obtain supplies. It was highly doubtful whether he had been properly compensated for the process.
“...I guess I should go back first. I need to find another way to get supplies.”
So I had no choice but to return empty-handed. No, rather, I sorted out the unused items from the supplies we'd been given and sent them to the village to sell them cheaply.
And after that day, there was another battle. This time, they secured a safe zone beyond the lake, where a large, old tree had grown. However, the supply problem remained unresolved.
At that time, someone came to see me.
It was a woman wearing an apricot-colored robe, with a white mask covering her eyes and red hair visible beneath a turned-up hat.
Looking at that vivid, beautiful hair, I thought of someone, but I shook my head. There was no way she could be here.
The woman greeted politely but didn't open her mouth. The attendant standing beside her spoke on her behalf.
“We come from the Baron Heira family.”
To be honest, I couldn't immediately recall the name. It took a moment of brainstorming before I could recall the young lady of Sina Heira, who had been particularly kind to me. The young lady had honestly told me she wanted to buy a rare magic stone from me.
The red-haired woman pulled the golden Heira Baron's crest from her bosom and showed it to me. It seemed fitting, I thought, for a family that prioritized money over honor.
“What brings you here? I don’t see Young Lady Heira.”
“Does she really have to come in person, Miss?”
This time, it was a red-haired woman who spoke. But her voice sounded familiar, as if I'd heard it somewhere before. I couldn't help but wonder if it was her.
“That’s not it, but... huh?”
I stopped answering and stared at the woman. She smiled charmingly beneath her mask. Then she slowly removed it. Looking at her pale face, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Marian!”
Marianne said with a playful smile.
“How is it? I tried following Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”
Marian's cheeks were flushed with a soft pink, and her eyes shone brightly.
Without realizing it, I jumped up and hugged Marianne tightly. I was worried she might stumble as I held her, but surprisingly, she held on well.
It was a wonder how the young lady, who couldn't even breathe properly because her waist was so tightly bound by a corset, became so strong.
“Madam, I didn’t know you would welcome me this well.”
Marian smiled happily as she spoke. Her pretty eyes sparkled with joy, as if she was glad to see me, too.
"What the hell happened? How did you get here? What happened to Baron Heyra's crest? Was anything dangerous?"
Marian covered her mouth and smiled brightly. She looked much better than when we parted ways. Even then, her face was cheerful, but there was a hint of anxiety about her new life. Now, she had shed a layer of her own, looking more mature.
Marian said, holding my hand tightly.
"First, let's have some tea together. I brought some good tea. Can you spare some time?"
“Of course. Come in.”
I led Marian in a bright voice. After seeing only dull soldiers, my eyes brightened at the sight of this radiant young lady.
The soldiers looked back and forth between me and Marian, wondering what was going on. I took Marian up to my room.
I brewed the tea leaves Marian had given me myself. The standard teapot was crude, but it didn't lose the aroma of the tea leaves. The tea had a sweet aroma, but it wasn't overly bitter, making it refreshing.
“The tea is really nice.”
"Right? Miss Sina found it herself this time. She's thinking about what to name it."
I blinked and asked what I had been wondering all along.
“Hey, you seem pretty close to Young Lady. How did you know each other?”
“Haha, I guess you’re curious about that, right?”
“Don’t hesitate and speak quickly.”
Marian nodded and continued.
"Hey, Young Lady, she found me somehow. She told me to follow you since you had nowhere else to go."
“Why?”
She thought I might be of help in her future dealings with the Duchzan.”
“It was because of the rare magic stone?”
"Yes. At first, I thought she was dangerous, so I couldn't even open my mouth. But as she came to see me every day with such sincerity, I couldn't ignore her. More than anything, the stories she told me were fascinating."
“What did she tell me?”
Marian smiled, pulling the corners of her lips together.
“It’s about money.”
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