Chapter 669
"Dear Lord Rid Baldia,
I hope this letter finds you well.
First, I must sincerely apologize for the impropriety of delivering this message through Capella Didor.
As you may have guessed, I chose Capella as the messenger to avoid causing unnecessary concern to the rest of the Baldia family.
However, I was shocked to learn that should you be defeated in the preliminary battles before the Beast King Tournament, there are talks of arranging a marriage between Baldia and the tribe that produces the next Beast King.
Thus, I felt compelled to write with urgency.
Lord Rid, you once declared before His Majesty Elias and myself:
'The moment I met Princess Fara, it was love at first sight. Please become my bride. I swear I'll make you happy.'
To which Fara responded:
'I too have feelings for Lord Rid. Nothing would make me happier than to marry him.'
Though young, their mutual affection undoubtedly forms a solid foundation for positive relations between our two houses and nations.
However, we need show no mercy—none whatsoever—to those who would cast shadows over their future.
Should Lord Rid lose the preliminary battles, the bloodline of the Renalt royal family might be transferred to another nation.
This poses a grave threat to relations between our houses and countries.
In such an event, I intend to have Fara return to Renalt while maintaining the marital alliance.
Furthermore, I shall make known to all nations how Zveera acted with such vulgarity—and publicize the heartwarming exchanges between these two young lovers.
Rest assured, preparations for her return are already complete.
P.S. His Majesty Elias has been privately informed of this matter. I sincerely hope you will proceed with full awareness of the stakes.
But these are merely contingencies for the worst-case scenario.
I have every confidence that Lord Rid will emerge victorious.
May fortune favor you in battle.
Eltia Riverton"
As I read the sharply penned yet elegant letter—its strokes like sword slashes—I felt the blood drain from my face.
The paper felt ice-cold in my hands, making my fingertips tremble.
By the time I finished reading, I'd turned pale, my mouth agape as if my memories—no, my very soul—were escaping.
Mother Eltia is seriously angry.
Moreover, the exchange between Fara and me quoted in the letter happened over three years ago.
Comparing it to my memories, every word matched perfectly.
The realization sent a chill down my spine, and I gulped.
And then there was this line:
"The moment I met Princess Fara, it was love at first sight. Please become my bride. I swear I'll make you happy."
I meant every word then, and I still do now.
But even now, remembering how I said that in front of everyone—on Elias's orders, no less—makes my ears burn with embarrassment.
Ugh, it's so hot, so hot!
Overcome with shame, I clutched my head and groaned.
Mother Eltia comes from the Riverton family, which oversees intelligence operations.
She understands the importance of information, so she must have recorded everything on paper.
For all I know, she might have documented every word I spoke during my time in Renalt.
"Of course I did."
I could almost hear Mother Eltia's cold voice in my head, sending a shiver down my spine.
I hastily straightened my posture and glanced around, but no one was there.
Capella, Tink, and the others had all tactfully moved to the front seats.
It must have been my imagination.
"Lord Rid, is something wrong?"
Sensing my distress, Tink peeked back from the front seat.
Startled, I forced a laugh and rubbed the back of my head.
"Ah, no, it's nothing. Haha..."
"Are you sure? If anything's troubling you, please don't hesitate to say so."
"Yeah, thanks."
As Tink turned away, I took a deep breath, pressing a hand to my chest.
Then I looked back at the letter.
Reading it again, it was clear just how furious Mother Eltia was.
The mere fact that she threatened to publicize Fara's and my sweet exchanges across the continent showed she wasn't holding back—even toward me.
On the surface, the goal was to expose Zveera's vulgar actions and sway public opinion.
But the real aim was likely to pressure and intimidate me.
Noble society places great importance on reputation.
If I failed to protect the one I loved, my name would be mud, and the Baldia name might suffer irreparable damage.
Though I might die of shame before that happens.
Most striking was the declaration that, should the worst happen, Fara would return to Renalt "while maintaining the marital alliance."
And the line: "His Majesty Elias has been privately informed of this matter."
She actually told Elias?
Knowing Mother Eltia, she probably laid out a flawless, logical argument with a perfectly straight face.
In any case, if these measures were enacted, relations between our houses and nations would undoubtedly deteriorate.
The free trade agreements and tax benefits between Renalt and Baldia would surely be reexamined.
All our efforts to avert the condemnation would be for nothing.
It might even affect Mother's treatment, though she's recovering.
So, from the Empire, we have Her Majesty Matilda, and from Renalt, Mother Eltia.
Either way, if I lose the preliminary battles, averting the condemnation will become far more difficult.
Matilda the Empress, who issues imperial decrees; Sekmetos the Beast King, who issues royal commands; and Mother Eltia, the Shadow Queen, who issues grand edicts.
Why, oh why, am I surrounded by such formidable women?
They're incredible allies.
But since they're all neutral parties, the moment our interests diverge, they become terrifying opponents.
"Lord Rid, you've been groaning, clutching your head, and staring at that letter. Are you truly alright?"
"Huh...?"
At Capella's voice, I snapped back to reality to find Amon, Tink, Chris, and Emma all tilting their heads in concern.
"Ah, haha. Well, reading Mother Eltia's letter made me think of Matilda and Sekmetos..."
"Ah, I see. They're not the type to be easily handled, after all..."
Chris nodded deeply, her gaze drifting to the sky outside the window.
Having met Matilda, Mother Eltia, and Sekmetos, she must have her own thoughts on the matter.
If even Chris—who's negotiated with countless merchants and nobles—says so, then Matilda and the others must be among the continent's most formidable women.
"Juggernauts" might be a better term.
Though Chris, Tink, and the others are plenty impressive themselves.
With a wry smile, I quietly slipped the trembling letter back into its envelope.
Even if we proceed smoothly through the tribal territories, I'll have at most a month to train for the preliminary battles.
For the condemnation's reversal, for Baldia's future—I must steel myself.
Just as I resolved this, the carriage jolted violently.
Though the bovine tribe's territory is flat, the roads aren't well-maintained.
The shaking was more than enough to reawaken the motion sickness I'd been suppressing.
"Ugh...?!"
My head spun, my vision warped, and though I was seated, I felt like I was floating.
This is bad. Worse than ever.
Why now? Why so intense?
As I clapped both hands over my mouth, the smiling faces of the bovine women flashed through my mind.
"Lord Rid, please eat as much breakfast as you like."
That was undoubtedly the cause.
I couldn't refuse, so I'd eaten a larger portion than usual.
"...?! Lord Rid, are you alright?!"
"Ugh... Y-yeah. More importantly..."
"R-right! Just a moment!"
Capella and Tink sprang into action, anticipating my needs.
"Lord Rid, I have candy. Open your mouth."
Meanwhile, Chris approached with a piece of candy, gently offering it to me.
But I...
As screams and chaos erupted in the carriage, our charcoal-powered vehicle continued onward, leaving the bovine territory behind as if nothing had happened, entering the ursine tribe's territory .