Chapter 192 : Chapter 192
Chapter 192 : A Love Never Seen Before
Labotas Territory.
Count Theodore was inspecting the site for the newly planned Solari branch.
There were many people in the entourage.
Led by his blood relatives Declen and Linda, the mansion retainers followed in a line behind them.
'I am getting nervous for no reason, perhaps because of the numbers.'
Roberto swallowed hard. Gulp.
He was leading the inspection team in his capacity as the Guardian Knight of the Solari branch and an honorary priest.
'......Hmm.'
There was a figure drawing his gaze.
It was a woman walking side by side with Count Theodore.
The fact that she occupied the spot right next to the Count meant she was no ordinary person, but he could not gauge her identity at all.
First of all, her attire was suspicious.
She was covering her entire body with a long robe, and she even had a white veil covering her face.
'Who on earth is she?'
Roberto could not help but be bothered. His eyes kept drifting toward her without him realizing it.
"Good. This should be enough to start construction without issues."
Count Theodore stopped abruptly and spoke.
He looked around and nodded as if satisfied.
Roberto, who had been stealing glances at the mysterious woman, flinched like a person caught stealing.
"Th-thank you, My Lord!"
"No need for thanks. You are the one who suffered. The roots of the brushwood were deep and there were many small stones, so it must have been quite annoying, but thanks to you, we can advance the schedule significantly."
Count Theodore was bright when it came to siege warfare.
He always commanded the construction of fortifications, bridges, and encampments on the battlefield.
When he looked at the land, a blueprint was naturally drawn in his head.
"Ahem, hem."
It was when Count Theodore was patting Roberto's shoulder.
The man who was attending the mysterious woman cleared his throat.
It seemed he was asking for understanding.
Only then did Count Theodore step back slightly as if he had momentarily forgotten.
The man who cleared his throat stared at Roberto.
"I heard that Bihen Benkou's performance was amazing."
Roberto was startled. Because he did not expect that name to come out of that man's mouth.
Roberto, who was pointlessly looking for cues, only opened his mouth after seeing Count Theodore pull his chin in as if it was okay.
"Yes. Sir Bihen's help was significant."
Bihen Benkou was the very person who purified the mine, the long-standing Demonic Realm of Labotas.
However, Roberto had no choice but to be careful, thinking that the fact might offend Count Theodore.
On the other hand, hearing that name after a long time made him glad, and he became truly curious about their identities.
"By the way, may I ask who...... you are?"
Roberto asked, looking alternately at the man, Count Theodore, and the mysterious woman.
He should have asked earlier, so now that it was late, he could not help but feel awkward.
His wandering gaze suddenly landed on another man attending the mysterious woman.
He was a man with a sophisticated appearance like a noble.
He looked at Roberto and placed a finger on his lips.
"......."
Roberto narrowed his forehead.
Being told to shut his mouth abruptly was absurd and extremely unpleasant.
"The Labotas branch―"
At that moment, the woman's voice was heard.
At that single phrase, the eyes of the entire party focused simultaneously.
"Is located at the choke point heading from the West through the Central and South to the East. It is on the line connecting the Solari Main Headquarters in the western Imperial Capital to the Conwell branch in the east."
Roberto flinched.
Although he could not see them, he felt that the eyes hidden in the shadow were directed at him for a moment.
"It does not mean only the expansion of the church's influence. It is also a matter of connecting the new pulse of the Kingdom. Therefore, it will not end as a simple monastic branch."
"Ah, yes......."
At the unexpected encouragement, Roberto bowed his waist awkwardly.
He thought she might be someone like a high priest from the Solari Main Headquarters.
'No matter how great she is, to be on equal footing with His Excellency regarding authority?'
He was just puzzled. He was tilting his head repeatedly.
"So, did Bihen Benkou―"
Suddenly, the voice became much brighter.
Like a person who suddenly thought of something pleasant.
"Leave any other words for you, by any chance?"
"......Pardon?"
"I heard he stuck around here the whole time? And that he even saved your life in the mine."
Roberto blinked.
That was certainly correct, but the atmosphere was somehow strange.
"Looking at his actions, it seems he regarded you specially."
"Me, me.......?"
"Yes. He is a person with surprisingly deep affection inside. But because he is clumsy at expressing it, those who receive help usually only realize it long after."
Roberto almost scratched the back of his head.
Is that so?
"If there is anything you remember among the private chats you shared, could you tell me?"
He could feel an obsession.
At this point, Roberto thought.
Just what does this woman do?
'Private chat.......'
Still, he could not just keep his mouth shut.
As he searched his memory, his eyes naturally turned upward.
―Will I also be able to become a father to someone like you one day?
What actually came to mind was those words.
Was it because it was the last conversation he shared with him, or was it because it was an unexpected question?
No.
He at that time had the face of an ordinary man who had found true rest, not a swordsman.
So it had no choice but to remain in his memory.
"He asked if he could become a father......."
Roberto spoke in a blank voice.
The party members were also the same in hearing the unexpected answer.
Not only Count Theodore but also Linda opened her eyes wide.
Adeline took off her robe completely.
"Wh, what did you say......?"
"He asked me if I thought he could become a father. If he could handle the name of a father."
Adeline asked back with a trembling voice.
"......So? What did you answer?"
Roberto grinned broadly like a person recalling a pleasant memory.
"I said it would not be easy."
While everyone was snickering―
Adeline and Linda, just those two people had their expressions stiffen strangely.
***
The party returned to the Theodore mansion.
Adeline made time briefly before the banquet to organize the overdue official duties with Henry.
The bedroom quickly turned into an office.
It was a familiar task for Adeline.
"It isn't, right?"
Adeline suddenly muttered.
Although her eyes were scanning the lines on the parchment, her thoughts were actually elsewhere.
Henry, who was sitting opposite, glanced at Adeline and then returned his gaze to its original position.
There was no need to ask back.
"Yes."
"Huh? What did I just say, Henry?"
"No."
"......?"
Henry calmly pretended not to know.
Since Bihen asked if he could become a father, there was no way Adeline would not be bothered.
It is not a remark a sane man would spit out easily.
'Bihen. Just what are you doing going around like that, you.'
She was feeling dizzy.
She did not know about other people, but herself, Roland, and above all Adeline must absolutely not be shaken mentally.
If even one person stumbled, the livelihood of Conwell would be shaken as it is.
'I want to go back to the guard.......!'
Henry shouted inwardly.
Pent-up anger was on the verge of piling up.
Janson, Bill, and Ayan came to mind.
He heard they were going around the entire Conwell area using the Spatial Transfer Gate to sweep away swarms of demonic beasts and bandits.
Everyone looked full of vitality. He envied them.
"Your Excellency."
The man who entered without knocking was Joel.
Of course, such informal behavior was familiar to Adeline.
However, Joel's atmosphere was strange, so Adeline frowned slightly.
"What is the matter?"
"You must go quickly. A messenger from Windermere is in the reception room."
Adeline poked her chin with her finger.
Windermere.
A powerful noble family in the western part of the Kingdom.
Among the territories around the Imperial Capital, it was counted on one hand in terms of prestige.
"A child of the Windermere family has come in person."
Adeline's expression stiffened at once.
For a blood relative, not a retainer, to come personally from such a family meant it was not a simple visit.
Adeline headed to the reception room accompanied by Henry and Joel.
"Oh, Your Excellency. I was just about to look for you."
Count Theodore welcomed her.
Because of the connection that continued from the previous generation, he lowered his speech in private, but he deliberately used honorifics in public.
Adeline responded with a light silent bow and found a seat to sit.
In the reception room were Count Theodore, Declen, Linda, and a few stewards of the Theodore family and―
"Isaac Windermere, the third son of the Windermere family."
He was a handsome man with fine lines and platinum blonde hair.
"It is an honor to meet you, Your Excellency Duke of Conwell."
Adeline flinched and stepped backward.
She could not know the reason.
***
"But is this right?"
Tiaro stopped suddenly.
McRay, who was walking side by side, stopped walking along with him and frowned deeply.
It was starting again.
"Ah― why again!"
"Isn't it so? Anyway, the Ruler of the Port is now Ellen. Is my word wrong?"
McRay glared at Tiaro as if telling him to keep babbling.
His remaining tolerance was only enough to listen to one or two more words.
"But why do we still have to suffer like this looking for tourists?"
McRay smirked as if it was ridiculous.
His eyes, the size of pinky fingernails, were drooping with irritation, and only the corners of his mouth went up.
"You really are dumb, Tiaro."
"I don't know about other people, but you shouldn't be saying that to me."
"Didn't you hear what the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult said? They said Brackenport's sea scenery doesn't lag behind even compared to the outside. We have to revive this so we can stand shoulder to shoulder with other territories and receive treatment as proper Kingdom people too."
McRay shrugged as if he was proud of himself, then hurriedly took a defensive stance seeing Tiaro raise his hand as if he was going to hit him suddenly.
"What! Is it a surprise attack?!"
"You, fuck, do you believe what those people say literally?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult! Those people, they are Imperials."
"So?"
"So, fuck. Who are the Imperials to babble about whether we receive treatment as Kingdom people or not? That itself is funny. I'm asking how we can believe the words of such people."
McRay blinked.
"......Can't we believe them? We could believe them."
"......."
"And they gave us a lot of money too. To us."
Tiaro let out a short breath.
It was hard to refute.
In fact, they practically gave it away.
The intention was suspicious.
"When they gave money, you took it gladly saying it was good!"
"Then do I not take it?!"
"If you took it, you should shut up and listen."
There is a proverb in Brackenport.
Even a dog does not bite the hand that feeds it.
"Thanks to those people, Ellen is safe, Deiron died...... and above all―"
McRay cut off his sentence and glanced at Tiaro. Tiaro also nodded slowly.
Even without saying it, the meaning was getting through.
A strange silence arose between the two people.
―Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Submission.
The events of that day, all memories felt like a dream from last night.
It was somehow cautious to even speak of it.
They were moments where overwhelming mystery and fear were mixed.
It was hard to believe even while watching.
Since that day―
Something definitely started to change in Brackenport.
No one could pinpoint exactly what that was and explain it.
Someone said the profanity heard on the streets decreased, and someone said people seemed to open their eyes more kindly than before.
Some people said the tone of speech became a bit softer, or somehow their dreams became pleasant.
"If it got better, then it's done."
As McRay muttered that, Tiaro laughed quietly.
Not knowing exactly what it is.......
The important thing was, the belief that it starts from now on was clear.
"For instance, this moment right now―"
"Like a great beginning......."
"Right. It's like that, Tiaro."
McRay and Tiaro faced each other and nodded simultaneously.
At the moment they were about to clasp their palms―
"Hahahaha!"
The sound of some woman's laughter was heard. It was inside the dense trees.
"......Who is it? Some bitch crazy to die―"
Tiaro pressed and massaged the fist he had clenched with his other hand.
The sound of bones rang brutally.
He didn't know about other things, but he could not tolerate the act of throwing cold water on the serious atmosphere of men.
"Ah, sorry if I offended you. It's because you two were cute."
She revealed herself saying that.
She was a girl of similar age with noticeable white skin and blonde hair.
"Wow......."
"She is fucking pretty."
Tiaro and McRay muttered blankly.
She seemed like a different species.
It was hard to believe she was the same human.
"Haha, you really are cute."
"......What are you doing here? Are you lost? Should we help you? Just say the word."
The men of Brackenport have never learned how to control their instincts.
The relief of desire comes first and reason is always next.
"My name is Roxy Windermere. Have you heard of me by any chance?"
Tiaro and McRay exchanged glances.
As soon as a silent conversation was exchanged, the two people shook their heads simultaneously.
"No."
Roxy laughed again, kya-rur-rur.
Only then did Tiaro and McRay realize something was a bit strange.
First of all, her attire was like that.
Just looking at it, the quality was different.
On top of that, a cheerful yet alluring atmosphere that did not match her age coexisted.
Gulp.
Tiaro and McRay swallowed simultaneously.
The class was different from the outsiders they had seen so far.
Although they had never seen one in real life, she might be a daughter of a high noble family they had only heard of in words.
"Ah, I remembered. I heard the seed of nobility dried up in the South? Well, then you might not know. It's okay, I understand."
"Th, thanks."
As McRay muttered, Tiaro smacked his head as if telling him to wake up.
Roxy went 'poof' and laughed.
"Introduce yourselves too."
"I am Tiaro, and this guy is McRay. We came from Brackenport."
"Oh, really? We were just about to go to Brackenport too."
"We?"
Then a presence was heard from behind.
Tiaro and McRay turned around in a fright.
"Ta-da."
Likewise, some kid of similar age stood and waved both hands as if greeting.
Tiaro and McRay blinked while frozen.
The voice was definitely a girl's, but the hair was short like a boy's.
'The important thing is.......'
'......She is as pretty as Roxy.'
Just what situation is this.
Neither Tiaro nor McRay could know.
They were only confused.
"My lover, Masa Springeus. You wouldn't have heard of her either, right?"
Tiaro and McRay's eyes grew large as if they would pop out.
Both of them turned their heads toward Masa at the same time.
The gaze went from the face to the chest, and then up to the face again.
'Lover......?'
Masa smiled brightly and spoke.
"Could you help us a bit? Actually, Roxy is not alone right now."
Tiaro and McRay looked at each other with blank faces.
They could not get a grasp of the situation easily.
"What do you mean? Are you saying she is with child?"
Masa and Roxy nodded their heads up and down furiously.
McRay broke the silence that flowed for a moment.
"......Shouldn't she go to the baby's dad?"
Masa said cheerfully.
"There is no dad. I am the dad."
Tiaro opened his mouth after a long while.
He was completely dispirited.
"We got our hopes up for nothing. They were just crazy bitches, McRay."