Chapter 93
Chapter 93
“It's visible.”
After riding in the carriage for a while, the gate leading into the South Yorkshire territory came into view.
Several carriages were already lined up in front of it, waiting to enter and exit, but in our carriage rode none other than the young lady of the Sheffield Count Family.
The moment she revealed herself, all the soldiers guarding the gate snapped to attention and reported that there were no abnormalities during their watch.
“Milady, the lord left word that he wishes you to come to the manor as soon as you arrive here.”
“My father did?”
She looked puzzled at the captain of the guard’s report, but soon nodded.
In any case, we had already been on our way straight to the Sheffield family manor.
We had planned to stop by a famous restaurant Leysias recommended to have lunch, but perhaps because she was told to come immediately, she apologized to us and canceled the schedule.
The carriage entered the territory without incident.
We pressed up against the windows to look around the city, and everyone kept letting out exclamations of admiration.
‘This place seems to match my sensibilities the most.’
Just as described in the original work, the cityscape was impeccably orderly.
It wasn’t as flamboyant as the Imperial Palace, nor as antique as Britain, but at a glance, traces of careful maintenance were visible everywhere.
The road the carriage ran along was neat without any protrusions, and the streets were spotless, not a piece of trash in sight.
Perhaps the standard of living was high as well—the citizens’ clothing was far cleaner than anywhere else.
Elysia was probably comparing Britain to this place and feeling envious.
In fact, it felt similar to the scenery of a modern city, which gave me a sense of familiarity.
However, the atmosphere felt slightly strange.
“……?”
I thought it might just be my imagination and turned my head away, but once the carriage entered the commercial district, it became unmistakable.
Since it wasn’t even past lunchtime yet, people should have been overflowing everywhere.
But the sight outside the window was bleak beyond measure.
The shops were open, and there were occasional passersby, but it was so deserted that calling it a city’s commercial district felt embarrassing.
Even the gazes of the citizens watching our carriage pass were listless, their expressions filled with an unspoken sense of wariness.
“……?”
The others inside the carriage seemed to sense it too, exchanging puzzled looks.
By the time it reached Leysias, she opened her mouth with a flustered expression.
“It’s not usually this subdued…….”
The carriage soon passed through the commercial district and entered the plaza.
As expected, the facilities were excellent.
Of course, compared to the imperial capital they fell slightly short, but the gorgeously decorated fountains at the entrances and center of the plaza were flawless.
Yet just like before, there were no people.
It was as if the bustling district earlier had been a joke—there wasn’t even the trace of a single person.
‘…Soldiers?’
Right after that, I spotted figures moving along the street across the plaza.
They looked like soldiers of the Sheffield family, marching through in squad-sized formations.
City guards patrolling for public safety was nothing unusual, but patrolling while so heavily armed meant something was going on.
Still, I kept my mouth shut and didn’t show it.
There was no need to stir their anxiety, and we would soon arrive at the Sheffield family manor.
Once we met the count who governed this place, we would be able to hear the general situation.
The carriage soon arrived at the Sheffield manor.
When the carriage door opened and we stepped outside, we saw a large number of people lined up in formation in front of the main gate.
“Father! Mother!”
And from among them, two dignified men and women stepped forward.
Leysias hadn’t expected her parents to come out to greet us personally; she wore a flustered expression as she stepped forward.
Even so, the way she briefly checked my reaction suggested she had already told them that I was a prince.
‘It’s fine.’
A count of Sheffield’s stature would already know about my movements.
When I gave her a light nod, she looked slightly relieved and stood before her parents.
“Everyone, welcome to South Yorkshire.”
Unlike Leysias, the countess—who had short bobbed hair and a modest, elegant bearing—slightly bowed her head as she greeted us.
Those of us who had disembarked from the carriage returned the greeting, bowing our heads and thanking them for the warm welcome.
At that, the Count of Sheffield stroked the short mustache growing on either side of his nose and grinned.
“Come, let’s go inside. You must be tired after riding in the carriage.”
Unlike his refined wife, he had a short, stocky build.
But that only made him seem more approachable.
Saying that his daughter’s friends were always welcome, he smiled genially, meeting each person’s gaze and nodding.
When his eyes brushed past me, a brief flicker of surprise appeared, but I didn’t bother to react.
The count gestured toward the manor, his lower belly jutting out beneath his jacket wobbling as he moved.
We followed without objection, first unpacked our luggage in the rooms assigned to us, then gathered in the central reception room.
“Everyone’s not too tired, right? According to the original plan, lunch was supposed to be outside—”
“No, the first meal should naturally be served at the manor.
Aren’t you guests of our family?”
At some point, the Count of Sheffield had entered the reception room and made the suggestion with a hearty laugh.
We had no reason to refuse.
Leysias made a slightly subtle expression, but soon prepared the meal according to her father’s words, and we were able to enjoy a lavish lunch.
The food itself was excellent—good enough to rival what we had eaten in Britain.
Just like when King Arthur had been present, the Count of Sheffield and his wife dined with us, but the meal took place in a far more gentle atmosphere.
After the meal ended, the count and countess excused themselves, telling us to enjoy our time.
As soon as they left, Alice, who had been chatting energetically, changed her attitude and spoke to everyone.
“…It really seems like something happened, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. It’s not usually like this.”
When we asked Leysias if she knew anything, she said she hadn’t heard anything other than news about facility construction a few days ago.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to go out sightseeing in this atmosphere, so I’ll ask my parents. Since you came for tourism, they’ll probably tell us if it’s reasonable.”
She bowed her head, apologizing for the sudden situation.
Everyone said it was fine, but for Leysias herself, she likely felt guilty for ruining the mood.
Soon, she left the reception room.
Right after that, I said I would return to my room for a moment and followed after her.
“Leysias.”
“…You.”
She widened her eyes, apparently not expecting me to follow her.
In response, I walked alongside her and gestured ahead.
“For now, we should hear what’s going on.”
“…That’s true. Your personality isn’t the type to just sit still.”
She let out a small laugh and accepted my company.
At that, I lightly tapped her shoulder and spoke as if she’d grown quite a bit.
“You used to collapse onto the floor and tremble just from making eye contact.”
“…Bringing up the past to a woman is bad taste.”
Chatting idly, we headed to the lord’s office, where the Count of Sheffield and his wife greeted us as if they had been waiting.
At that reaction, I realized there really was something going on.
‘Most matters can be cut off at my level, but…’
I had been considering the involvement of another prince or high-ranking noble.
There was no way Carius would do something like that, but if it were Darius, it was entirely possible.
Since my true intentions had already been exposed, it wouldn’t be strange for him to try anything.
“Well now, I wonder if my daughter has shown discourtesy to Your Highness…….”
The Count of Sheffield naturally raised his speech level as he addressed me, wiping sweat from his cheek.
He looked like a plump, good-natured middle-aged man, but there was no way the head of the Sheffield Count Family would be someone to take lightly.
He himself was a highly capable mage, and a noble who had rolled around within the cracks of imperial power.
“…….”
And beside him, the countess—who erased her presence like the count’s shadow—gave off an air as if she were subtly examining me with a small smile.
Normally, it would have been too subtle to notice, but after reaching the realm of Sword Master and becoming able to observe myself, I had grown sensitive to external sensations.
Because of that, I could roughly infer how they viewed me.
‘They’re still half in doubt.’
As someone close to the core of power, the Count of Sheffield must have heard many rumors about me.
Moreover, as the head of a prestigious mage family, he likely had many people planted in the Imperial Palace Magic Tower.
Naturally, he would know about the commotion I caused there.
Still, mages were the sort who didn’t believe anything they hadn’t seen with their own eyes.
That was why they wanted to face me directly and judge for themselves.
Leysias seemed to have noticed as well, her expression tinged with slight anxiety.
“I’ve received several letters from my daughter as well. They included things about Your Highness.”
“Oh? That does pique my interest.”
“Father.”
With a bright red face, Leysias grabbed the hem of his clothes and spoke in a low voice.
The force in her tone—almost as if telling him not to say unnecessary things—made the count flinch, and he quickly changed the subject.
“Normally, I would like to hold a grand welcoming ceremony, but the situation has turned unfavorable.”
“What happened? I only received notice about facility construction.”
“That is…….”
The Count of Sheffield went straight to the point.
Starting a week ago, people had begun to go missing.
It happened suddenly and so covertly that at first they didn’t even realize anyone had disappeared.
“Only on the third day did we finally grasp that something was happening and hurriedly take action, but the number of victims has already exceeded fifty.”
It was enough to make my face naturally frown.
Fifty people had gone missing in a single week.
And it wasn’t just that they vanished.
From time to time, body parts of the missing were discovered throughout the territory.
Some were cut cleanly, as if sliced by a blade, while others were roughly torn apart as if mauled by beasts.
“Ah…….”
“You don’t need to worry too much.
The family’s mages and knights are doing their utmost to find the culprit.
The imperial family has also promised assistance, so the truth should be revealed soon.”
The count’s words were spoken softly, meant to reassure his daughter, but at the same time, they were directed at me.
“The count is quite honest.”
I found that a little surprising.
Human nature is to downplay failures and exaggerate achievements.
Especially when someone of higher status stands right in front of you, that tendency becomes more pronounced.
But the Count of Sheffield gave a bitter smile at my words and shook his head.
“I have a duty to uphold the legacy of the Sheffield family, to keep this territory peaceful and help it prosper.
In such a situation, if I were to hide this disturbance, would I be able to face my ancestors with dignity?”
To be honest, I didn’t know much about him.
In the original work, his mention was brief, and he wasn’t a character I paid much attention to.
But now that I was facing him directly, even if I couldn’t read his true intentions, judging by appearances alone, he seemed to possess a benevolent disposition.
After that, trivial conversation followed—updates on each other, the situation at the palace, life at the Academy, and so on.
After wrapping things up, I stood up with Leysias.
“I’m sorry. My father said unnecessary things.”
After leaving the lord’s office, she brushed her hair back awkwardly, as if embarrassed by the conversation so far.
At that, a mischievous smile crept onto my face.
“They seem like good people.”
“They’re more than I deserve.”
“It’s the same for me.”
When I shrugged and said that, she let out a small laugh.
“Laughing is a crime of irreverence.”
“Since you’re close with His son, maybe they’ll let it slide once.”
At that, we looked at each other and burst into loud laughter.