Chapter 273 : Chapter 273
Chapter 273 : Pink Cloud Assembly #1
-1- The Afterstory of 『Knights of Elderwood』.
"So? What happens next?!"
"Did the King of Embers really die? Huh?"
"What about Cervantes? Did he go back to the Queen?"
The children pushed themselves forward recklessly. They looked ready to devour him.
"Woah, woah—everyone calm down."
The rowdy noise stopped abruptly as if it were a lie.
At the same time, the tightly shut mouths of the children all turned their gazes toward one place.
"Ahem, cough."
Receiving the gazes of the surrounding children all on his body, the man let out an arrogant cough.
It was Ramba, who was sitting leisurely on top of a wooden box roughly piled up to serve as a platform.
"Uh, well, so......"
With a deliberately solemn expression, he fiddled with his thinly grown beard. He was enjoying the children's anxious hearts.
"He left."
"......What?! He left? Where to?"
"To find the ultimate pure poverty and contentment."
The children frowned and looked at each other's faces in turn. They hoped someone would give an additional explanation, but unfortunately, there was no such bright friend.
"What is that? Is it something you eat?"
"It's the final stage that only those who have truly awakened the ultimate state can reach."
"......?"
"Only when you're willing to cast aside wealth and fame can you finally harbor the most noble conviction. In other words—"
Ramba suddenly pulled his chin to his neck with a grim expression.
The children gulped.
"Cervantes became penniless."
Above the silence, a dog's barking echoed emptily. A crow cawed somewhere as well.
"Annoying. What kind of ending is that?"
"Hey guys, let's go home."
Does the chronic illness of ruining the ending rarely get better?
Toward the backs of the turning children, Ramba quietly opened his mouth.
"Aren't you curious? Where would Cervantes, who laid down everything, would have gone?"
The children stopped. They only turned their heads slightly, but their expressions were still stiff.
"Where did he go?"
Ramba grinned.
"Partizan. The legendary paradise."
At that moment, a faint sound of a bell echoed from afar. It seemed to draw a line, saying that today's story ended here.
Ramba and the children raised their heads and looked around to find the source of the bell.
One child pointed to the sky and shouted.
"Oh! Look! The sky is pink!"
It really was. As if cherry blossoms were in full bloom behind the clouds, the sky was strangely reddish.
"Hoh...... The scenery is truly spectacular."
Ramba, who was admiring it, spoke as if granting a favor.
"To tell you one more thing, the King of Embers didn't die."
"Wh-aat—!?"
The children were startled. Ramba chuckled.
"If you're curious about the afterstory, come back tomorrow."
The lingering resonance of the faintly spreading bell flowed long over the sky where the pink sunset was rippling.
'My lord might not know, but—'
Ramba had found the ultimate pure poverty and contentment.
---
-2- Dawn
Dong— Dong— Dong— Dong—
The sound of the bell echoed long along the walls of the stone chamber.
A spacious stone chamber open on all sides.
Adeline and Declan looked down at Count Theodore, who was lying with his hands neatly folded.
The deceased's face was peaceful. It was hard to believe he was a man who had roamed the battlefields for his family his whole life.
It was a quiet rest that someone had so desperately longed for.
"Your Highness, you must be incredibly busy looking after state affairs without a moment to blink, so it is deeply embarrassing that you have personally walked all this way to this distant place."
Adeline shook her head.
"You speak disappointing words. Did I look like someone who would forget the duties I must keep just because I sat on the throne?"
"Ahem, how could that be?"
"If it weren't for the Theodore family, I wouldn't be who I am today."
From the Conwell civil war until now, the bond between the Queen and Theodore had grown increasingly solid.
As Adeline led the transformation of the kingdom's constitution through strong centralization, Theodore was the Queen's most reliable ally and a pillar-like family supporting royal power.
"Since there are only the two of us, please speak comfortably as you used to. It's thoroughly uncomfortable."
Adeline spoke, taking her eyes off the sleeping Count Theodore.
Declan shook his head.
"Father will be greatly furious. I'm afraid he might jump right up."
"Do as you please. It seems you're not actually afraid of the King while saying that."
"Ah, th-that is......"
"It's a joke."
Adeline smiled faintly. The gaze with which she looked back at the deceased was sorrowful.
Declan firmly shut his lips, then spoke in a deliberately light tone as if trying to change the atmosphere.
"Even looking after this one small fief is overwhelming day by day, so I can't even grasp how heavy the crown Your Highness bears must be."
Adeline smiled lightly.
Even if it sounded like words just blurted out, she knew well it wasn't.
She knew well it was a consolation offered by carefully considering every single word and even paying attention to the tone, so that it wouldn't be a burden to the listener and wouldn't hurt her pride by sounding like pity.
And she suddenly remembered her childhood self, who was endlessly envious of Linda for having such a meticulous older brother.
"Thank you for the words, but I'll decline. Your shoulders don't look so light either for me to be worrying about myself."
Adeline replied neatly and turned her gaze. She knew better than anyone that to the person sitting on the throne, the understanding and sympathy of others were sweet poisons.
A man came to mind.
A swordsman who walked his path silently, even though no one in the world recognized him or tried to understand him.
'......Bihen.'
He, too, must have endured each day amidst such harsh solitude.
She couldn't even dare to guess how long he had stared into the abyss alone while sharpening his blade.
'Perhaps even now.'
Carrying a mission that no one could replace, not craving the understanding of others, he would still be moving forward.
Bihen.
You are my lover, but before that, you were my only understanding.
The only person who supports me at the peak of these cold ten thousand people.
Adeline slowly lifted her eyelids, which had closed without her realizing it.
Her eyes met exactly with Declan, who was looking at her with a blank face.
"......Are you unwell anywhere?"
"......No."
Declan sighed long and shook his head.
"Haa—where on earth is Bihen wandering around? Not even protecting Your Highness's side in such a critical state of affairs."
"......"
"He's truly selfish. He thinks his job is done once he dances with his sword in front, but he doesn't know that the people left behind are dying trying to clean up after him. Isn't cleaning up the aftermath originally the hardest part? Isn't that right?"
At that moment, Adeline's and Declan's gazes headed downward simultaneously.
Because the epitome of the selfish martial artist Declan had just spoken of was Count Theodore, who was lying right in front of their eyes.
Declan quickly fixed his expression.
"Ahem! What I mean is, well, isn't the rebellion of Duke Bolton a headache these days? If Bihen were here at a time like this, it would've just been bam— damn, yes. Well, I'm saying, wouldn't it have been finished long ago?"
Declan scooped back his words while making random hand gestures in the air. Adeline replied without moving an inch.
"Since Sir Noser and Sir Jayden have marched out together, it will be suppressed shortly."
Declan's eyes widened in circles.
"Wasn't Sir Jayden supposed to be protecting Conwell?"
"Since a competent and trustworthy proxy was sent to Conwell, Sir Jayden must do his part now too."
"Hmm? Lord Roland must be fully occupied with his duties as Chancellor, so if you say a competent and trustworthy proxy......"
His mind spun busily. There weren't many talents who could be trusted with a massive fief like Conwell.
"There is one. My own flesh and blood. A talent who couldn't fully display his abilities while remaining in the Imperial Capital."
Declan froze, rolling his eyes here and there, before exaggeratingly laughing as if he finally realized it was a joke.
He looked suggestively at the hand Adeline had gently placed on her stomach.
"Hahahahaha...... Your Highness, really. Of course, I understand the expectations placed on the child in your womb, but isn't that a story for the very distant future?"
---
-3- Women
「......Let me tell you again, the North will never be in my life a second time.
That damn Duke Bolton! Stirring up a pointless rebellion and making people tired.
During the next raid, I'll definitely stand at the vanguard, take his head, and piss on it.
You know what? If you pee here, it freezes instantly. Seriously! It's unbelievably cold.
Haa...... Seriously, I can't believe, I don't want to believe, and it pisses me off that you'll never have to experience this kind of thing again.
Royal Chief Chef?
Sorry. I just spat out some phlegm. Yeah, honestly, it's amazing. I never dreamed you had that kind of talent.
They say even a slug has a talent for rolling, and that's exactly what it is. I thought all you knew how to do was stuff it into your mouth, but it turns out you weren't eating everything in vain all this time, were you?
Come to think of it, for you, every day must be a fierce war.
Doesn't the safety of Her Highness and the child she carries completely depend on your hands, you bastard?
Wow......
Even as I write this, it's absurd.
By now, Her Highness's belly must be quite full, right? I want to return and see her soon.
Thinking about it, I remember the first time Her Highness called my name.
It was on the way to Ludglen with Bihen. Jor was there too.
The moment Her Highness first called my name, I really felt like I had the whole world.
A guy like me has now received knighthood from her and become a knight protecting the kingdom.
Damn it, my eyes are getting hot so I should wrap this up. I can't cut an unsightly figure in front of my subordinates.
Anyway, brace yourself. I'm saying do your best!
Her Highness needs to give birth to at least two more in the future.
Because one must rule the kingdom, one must rule Conwell, and yet another must rule the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Got it? Don't get looked down on, man.
P.S. There's no way it'd happen, but if anyone bothers you, tell me. I'll go and smash them.
To my friend, Royal Chief Chef Bill.
The Kingdom's Finest Spear, Janson.」
Bill wiped under his nose with his finger.
'This bastard, making a person cry.'
Bill neatly folded the letter. He vowed that once he returned, he would fatten up that skinny body completely.
'Fufu, that'll be a good match too.'
Bill left his office and walked through the garden. He had gained a lot of weight lately, so he needed to move moderately.
"Hmm?"
Bill tilted his head. Busy noises were heard from somewhere. Palace officials were flocking in droves to the corridor leading to the audience chamber.
'Eh? There are soldiers too?'
Even at a glance, it looked urgent, as if some big incident had happened. Bill caught the sleeve of a passing palace official and asked.
"Hey, what's going on? Why is it so noisy?"
"Ah, Chief Chef! It's His Majesty's order. Everyone assemble in front of the audience chamber. It seems precious guests have come from afar."
"Precious guests? From afar? Who? There shouldn't be anyone coming from Conwell."
"Ah, it's the Empire! They're people from the Empire!"
Bill's eyes grew so large they looked ready to pop out. He inadvertently began running along at the tail end of the palace officials.
"It's been a while, Your Highness. Ah, it was worth practicing all the way here. Fortunately, the changed title fits perfectly on my tongue."
Jewelina slowly stood up. Adeline, sitting on the throne, nodded slightly.
"Welcome, Vice Master. No, rather, I don't know what I should call you now either."
"Please call me Jewel comfortably. Well, if you don't want to, there's nothing I can do. Right now, I'm in a state of being neither this nor that."
The officials of the Imperial Capital filling the audience chamber and the palace officials lined up in the back rubbed their forearms at an unknown chill.
The audience chamber, where cold air already lingered, felt exceptionally colder today.
The identity of the chill was because of the presence of the four people facing the Queen.
Far from being crushed by the momentum of the Queen, who had even earned the moniker 'Iron Monarch' among the public, they were instead facing her tensely, so to those watching, this atmosphere itself felt extremely bizarre.
"Thank you, Jewel."
The officials lined up on both sides raised their heads and glanced left and right.
Two women were showing something like a smile toward each other.
"Don't mention it. It was what I had to do."
Fates originally blossomed from human hands, but their ends could not be tied by human hands.
Adeline and Jewelina finally accepted that fact.
"Maserin."
At Adeline's call, Maserin took a step forward and bowed her head.
"I sincerely congratulate you on ascending the throne, Your Highness."
"Thank you. I have not forgotten that your devotion was definitely there on the road to this place."
Adeline felt that Maserin had grown much more mature in the time they hadn't seen each other, but she didn't bother to bring that up.
"Sir Jayden has been counting down the days waiting for you to come."
"......"
Maserin's eyes shook for a split second. Only then did Adeline realize that she hadn't lost her age-appropriate appearance and felt relieved.
Step.
As if the pleasantries ended here and it was time for the real business, Jewelina and Maserin stepped aside to both sides simultaneously.
The man and woman behind the two lightly bowed their heads toward Adeline.
Adeline wore a bright smile.
"We finally meet like this. I was truly waiting for you."
At that, the man opened his mouth, which had been firmly shut all along.
"I don't see Bihen Benkou."
At that single sentence, the officials and palace officials were silently horrified.
That a person who would brush off the Queen's hospitality so dryly and bluntly existed.
He was truly an outsider.
Not to mention the out-of-bounds rudeness, even his appearance was like that. Long, curling blonde hair and a tiger skin draped over him like a bandit.
Whether a noble was playing at being a mountain bandit or the opposite, they couldn't even catch a clue.
Toward those who harbored such doubts inwardly, the blonde beast confidently lifted his chin and spoke.
"I am the Tiger of Brian, Hermann Brian."
"You're a very cheerful man, just as I heard."
"This unworthy ronin is overwhelmed by the Queen's praise."
Even so, his posture was slouchy and relaxed. At that endless arrogance, Joel and Stanley, who escorted the Queen on her left and right, knit their brows.
In the moment Hermann snorted at the two of them—
Rustle.
The woman next to Hermann slowly lifted her black veil.
The moment the face hidden beneath it was revealed, several officials let out small exclamations.
It wasn't merely because of her outstanding beauty. It was similar to the awe of facing a legendary spiritual creature right before one's eyes.
"Sena Benkou pays her respects to the Queen."
There was someone letting out a loud hiccup from behind, and it was none other than Bill.
The sound was exceptionally loud, so gazes couldn't help but be drawn to him.
It was a time when the flustered Bill was at a loss for what to do while covering his mouth.
"Let me pass for a moment."
What was heard from behind Bill's back was an old yet rod-straight voice like frost.
When Bill turned around in utter shock, an elderly woman of small stature was standing there.
Neatly combed-back hair and a modest demeanor. A perfectly tidy appearance as if she wouldn't tolerate a single disarray.
Gulp.
Bill swallowed hard and stepped sideways. For some reason, his legs were trembling.
Even if the momentum of the three women in front were combined, it felt like it wouldn't even reach the toes of the intimidation the elderly woman exuded.
No, from the start, it was a distant difference in caliber where comparison didn't even form.