< Chapter 52 - Unexpected Encounter #2 >
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Princess Darian.
Her official name is Perdarianne D. Saillun.
Although he was born to the second queen, he was considered half-siblings with Princess Daphne and Prince Dion, who were born to the first queen, but the three of them were on very good terms.
‘The age gap is large, and the possibility of Darian inheriting the throne is low.’
‘More than anything, Darian is cute.’
Although Uther frowned at the reason Cordelia gave, it wasn’t entirely wrong.
When a cute child clings to you and calls you “big sister”, it’s hard for people to show a sharp reaction.
‘Anyway, Princess Darian.’
Why is she, who is called the cutie of the Seilun royal family, currently staying in an inn in a mountain village like this?
‘I have a rough idea.’
‘You guessed it?’
‘You, didn’t you read the settings properly?’
‘No, you don’t? Do you even know how many shoes Cordelia cherishes?’
‘Hey, you’re Cordelia.’
‘I see?’
When Cordelia smiled, sticking her tongue out slightly as if to hide her embarrassment, Uther laughed in vain, but was satisfied.
Because it was cute.
‘Anyway, I can guess.’
‘What is it?’
‘But isn’t this a bit too high-level of eye contact? Do you understand what I’m saying?’
‘Uh… roughly?’
Even if we communicate well with each other, is it possible to have this level of eye contact?
Isn’t this almost telepathy?
‘Is it the power of love, as the Master said?’
‘If you keep doing that, you’ll get sick.’
Uther chuckled at the pretty smile Cordelia gave him and then ripped off a scroll from under the table.
Although the two people were having an almost telepathic eye conversation, it was difficult to convey specific information that could not be understood due to the circumstances or context.
So in cases like this, it’s better to just use message magic.
[They probably came because of the duke.]
[If he’s a duke… Princess Darian’s maternal grandfather?]
[Bingo, Henry Spencer, the father of the second queen and the head of the Spencer Duke family, who is of royal blood, although he is a collateral branch.]
[Aren’t you groaning in pain?]
[That’s why you came. To get medicine to cure your grandfather’s illness.]
[Ah, ahhh!]
Cordelia clapped her hands very slightly, as if she finally understood.
[Herbs found in Akeimon’s dungeon.]
[Bingo again this time.]
In the deepest part of Akeima’s dungeon, there was a medicinal herb called the Seven-Colored Herb. It wasn’t as strong as the Sunflower, but it had a fairly strong vitality.
[Probably even a minor illness can be blown away in one go?]
[But in the original, he keeps grumbling. Grandfather Duke.]
[I guess I couldn’t get the herbs in the end.]
[Well, Akeimon’s dungeons are difficult.]
Akaiman was a particularly eccentric individual among the many eccentric archmages.
Originally, the wizard’s dungeon was more like a laboratory with good security measures than a maze full of traps and monsters.
After all, it was a place created for research purposes in the first place.
But Akeimon’s dungeon was different.
The dungeon was filled with powerful traps and guardians, as if the purpose was crime prevention rather than research.
[Dungeon bosses are especially problematic.]
A chimera created by Akeima.
It was a monster created by combining three different demons into one, and could easily defeat low-level demons.
[Anyway, please explain.]
That was it. Uther turned his gaze to the side, and so did Cordelia.
Because one of the large men standing next to Princess Darian approached.
“There, two people.”
It was a low, threatening voice.
Cordelia, whose acting skills had improved by leaps and bounds thanks to her trip with Uther, blinked with a frightened face, and Uther leaned forward slightly as if to protect Cordelia and listened to her.
“What’s the matter?”
“Are you a tourist?”
“Yes, I am a tourist.”
When Yuder answered right away, the large man frowned instead of continuing.
‘You’re clumsy.’
‘You’re clumsy.’
It was probably sent at the order of a superior, but it seemed like this was the first time something like this had happened.
‘Is he the Duke’s knight?’
‘I think this is the first time I’ve done something like this.’
If you ask me if I’m a tourist in a place like this, what would I say? Of course I’d say I’m a tourist.
The man who had been hesitating for a moment glanced back, and the man who received the man’s gaze – the middle-aged man with the sharp gaze sitting next to Princess Darian – literally glared at him.
It’s like, ‘Why don’t you do it right?’
‘I know, too.’
Immediately after Uther and Cordelia exchanged glances, the man flinched again, turned his gaze towards Uther and Cordelia, and licked his lips a few times before speaking.
“Why were you looking this way?”
“It’s strange to see a child alone among adults. He’s even covering his face with a robe.”
When Cordelia spoke naturally, the man was taken aback again.
Because when I thought about it, it was true.
A small child stands alone among large men, his body and face covered by a robe.
‘I will look at the country too.’
The young knight of the Spencer Dukes – Hunt felt embarrassed, but he could not look back.
Because if I continued to do that, I would definitely get a severe scolding from the captain.
‘I feel like I can hear it already, but sob sob.’
In fact, Hunt was wronged.
Any of the knights who came with him would have been unable to respond beyond their own capabilities.
“Excuse me… is there something troubling you?”
When Cordelia asked cautiously, Hunt blushed slightly and hesitated again.
Although I was at a loss as to how to respond, the main reason was Cordelia’s beauty.
‘It’s so pretty.’
It was pretty from afar, but it was even prettier up close.
“Hunt!”
Hunt, startled by the sound of shouting from behind, spun around to come to his senses.
Since it had come to this, I had no choice but to do something that would either kill me or make me food.
“You two are so suspicious. Identify yourself. You’re not just travelers, are you?”
It was a pathetic line even though I said it myself, but there was nothing I could do.
And at that pathetic line, Uther let out a sigh, turned to Cordelia, and gave her a look.
‘Let’s just play as players.’
‘You want me to intervene?’
‘It’ll be good for you if you become friends with Princess Darian.’
I was wondering how to go to the capital right away and meet Princess Daphne, but if I became friends with Princess Darian, I could solve the problem right away.
After catching his breath, Uder stood up and spoke.
“Sir.”
“Why… Huh? Oh, no. I’m not a knight or anything. I’m just a veteran mercenary on a trip.”
“It’s okay. Are you a knight of the Spencer Duke?”
Right after what Uder said.
The atmosphere inside the inn changed abruptly.
The men surrounding Princess Darian all stood up at once, and even the confused Hunt grabbed the sword at his waist with a sharp aura. He looked ready to draw it at any moment.
And then one person moved.
A middle-aged man sitting right next to Princess Darian.
It was Lord Cornwell, the commander of the Order of the Red Rose, known as the Sword of the Duke of Spencer.
“Who are you? Your life could be in danger depending on your attitude when answering.”
It didn’t have the sharp momentum of a hunt.
He wasn’t even holding a weapon like the others.
But the quality of the pressure was different.
Uther, who met her gaze as if pressing down on him, took a deep breath and took a step forward. He stood in front of Cordelia as if protecting her from everyone, including Lord Cornwell, and opened his mouth.
“Judah Bayer, the second son of the Bayer family, meets Sir Cornwell, the Knight of the Red Rose.”
Sir Cornwell narrowed his eyes a little more at Uther’s soft, yet fearless words, and the knights, including Hunt, could not hide their bewilderment.
“Oh, how.”
“Bayer Street?”
Very small voices sporadically emerged, but soon died down.
It was because Lord Cornwell began to exude a fearsome aura.
But that didn’t last very long.
“Enough, Lord Cornwall.”
A lively girl’s voice, out of place in the current atmosphere, broke the awkward silence.
Lord Cornwell frowned and then turned to Princess Darian, who smiled and walked towards Uther and Cordelia.
“miss.”
“It’s okay. Lord Cornwell is here with you.”
At Princess Darian’s words, Lord Cornwell finally sighed and took a step aside.
“Hehehe, thank you. Lord Cornwell is the best after all.”
Princess Darian, who spoke coquettishly, took off the hood that was pulled down to the top of her head.
Then, the golden hair, which is said to be the symbol of the royal family, and the pretty face like a doll were revealed.
“Phew, I can finally live a little. Are you saying that you were upset and angry?”
She muttered something to herself without knowing who she was talking to, then took a deep breath, looked up at Yuder, and spoke.
“Handsome guy, let me guess too.”
Who I am.
At the provocative question, Yuder smiled brightly, and Princess Darian blushed slightly.
It was because he was buried by Cordelia, and like her, he was a member of the Four Commanders of Pretty Boys.
Just as a beautiful woman’s smile is effective on men, a handsome man’s smile is effective on girls.
Moreover, Uder went one step further here.
“I would like to greet you with great pleasure.”
Yuder, speaking softly, knelt down on one knee, lightly took Princess Darian’s hand, and placed his lips on the back of her hand.
“Judah Bayer of the House of Bayer, Countess of Bayer, meets with Princess Perdarianne.”
And again, a bright smile.
Princess Darian involuntarily gasped, and Cordelia, who was watching her, wiggled her eyebrows.
It’s because the judging was somehow distorted.
‘Hey, hey. Take it easy, okay? Yeah?’
Don’t seduce innocent girls?
Although he glared at her intently, perhaps because she had shot him in the back of the head, or perhaps because she was deliberately ignoring him, Yuder maintained a bright smile while holding Princess Darian’s hand.
Just a few seconds like that.
Princess Darian, who had just come to her senses, smiled shyly and said.
“Wow, you are amazing. Are you really Prince Jude Bayer of the Bayer Counts?”
“Yes, Princess. I am Juder Bayer.”
But that was it.
Because Lord Cornwell, who had been listening silently, stepped forward again.
“Give me your evidence. No, first answer the question. Why do you think we are the Spencer Dukes?”
Princess Darian frowned slightly when Lord Cornwell showed his forceful attitude again, but did not do anything to stop him.
Because it was Lord Cornwell’s business in the first place, and the princess was also curious.
How on earth did you know?
“It’s not that big of a deal.”
Uther answered softly, stood up, faced Lord Cornwell, and continued his explanation.
“First of all, the attire was too unnatural to be called a mercenary.”
At Uther’s words, the rest of the knights, except for Lord Cornwall, turned to look at themselves.
This is because they were quite mercenary-like outfits, including cloaks and leather armor.
“The quality is very good. Most of them are new. Especially the shoes.”
Mercenaries were people who wandered around looking for work, especially work using swords.
Their shoes were always worn out from the rough travel.
‘I guess he told me to get some clothes that mercenaries would wear.’
But the knights of the Duke’s house – and especially the Duke Spencer’s house, which was located in the center – would never have worn the second-hand clothes worn by mercenaries. They would have bought them all new.
“Moreover, most mercenaries don’t wear such a perfect full set, even paying attention to color combinations.”
At Uther’s remark the knights looked back at their clothes again, and a deep wrinkle formed on Lord Cornwall’s forehead.
“And above all, the sword. The sword on the waist of the person who first spoke to us… was the sword of the Spencer family. I knew it by the emblem engraved on the handle.”
At Uther’s words, Lord Cornwell quickly turned to Hunt and glared.
It seemed like he was scolding me with his eyes, asking if I was stupid enough to bring the Duke’s sword.
‘Because it’s hard to change weapons.’
For the inspector, the sword was like his own life.
If the knight was not accustomed to stealth in the first place, there was a possibility that he would have taken his sword with him, even unconsciously.
‘Actually, I think there are a few more like that.’
Some knights who saw Hunt being scolded flinched and covered their swords with their cloaks.
“And one more thing to add… You’re all too handsome to be mercenaries.”
The rest of the knights, except for Hunt, who cringed at Uther’s words, let out empty coughs.
It was very embarrassing, but at the same time I felt good.
‘Of course, it’s not that he’s really handsome, but rather that he’s handsome.’
Anyway, most of the knights looked convinced by Yuder’s story.
Because it seemed like a pretty accurate story.
‘Of course, the truth is that it’s just a roughly made-up story.’
Even if you’re a mercenary, do you think you’ll always use old stuff?
Sometimes I’ll use new ones too.
Moreover, if you are a high-class mercenary who specializes in escorts, you will often have what is called a tailored suit, whether it be armor or something else.
Their clients, the escort subjects, often wanted escorts who looked good.
In the end, if you think about it calmly, each and every one of the arguments can be refuted, but what was important was the atmosphere.
Oh, that makes sense.
Does that sound right?
Once this kind of atmosphere was formed, any talk would be overlooked as long as no one made a big fuss.
‘As expected, there’s a scammer in our house.’
Uther smiled happily(?) at the sight of Cordelia’s gaze behind him and looked back at Princess Darian. Before he knew it, she was completely absorbed in Uther’s explanation and asked with sparkling eyes.
“Then what are Lord Cornwell’s and my names?”
“It was a lot easier.”
Yuder, who had knelt down on one knee again, continued speaking while locking eyes with Princess Darian.
“Lord Cornwell is the only one in the Spencer family with such a fine physique and such a handsome beard.”
Princess Darian laughed heartily and clapped her hands at Yuder’s words.
“Yes, Lord Cornwall has a very fine beard. It’s probably the finest beard in the capital.”
“miss······.”
Lord Cornwell’s voice was suppressed as if he was troubled, but the corners of his lips rose slightly, indicating that he was pleased.
“And the princess… how could I not recognize such a lovely princess?”
Princess Darian’s face turned bright red at Uder’s sweet whisper.
It looks like it’s going to burst if you touch it.
And one person.
‘Hey, hey. Shouldn’t you do it moderately? Hey!’
Cordelia, who was somehow angry, glared at him sharply, but Uther remained unmoved.
He continued to send his sparkling eyes to Princess Darian, who twisted her body and soon spoke loudly.
“A fantasy couple!”
What is that noise all of a sudden?
But Uther and Cordelia reacted reflexively, and Princess Darian spoke quickly in an excited voice.
“I heard the rumor too. A fantasy couple who were already in love but loved each other even more, and wanted to love each other so much that they ran away in the middle of the night!”
It was a single blow that would make even the most skilled Yuder hesitate.
No, it’s fine until it becomes a fait accompli.
It’s good that the king thinks that way too.
Uther glanced back at Cordelia and saw her face flushed like a persimmon about to burst.
‘Hey, do something about it!’
Uder nodded at Cordelia’s eyes, who had begun to wander around, and then looked back at Princess Darian and spoke.
“Well… Well, we are that fantasy couple, but….”
“also!”
Princess Darian clapped her hands again and looked back at Cordelia, who was startled and belatedly got up from her seat to pay her respects.
“Cordelia Chase of the House of Chase meets Princess Perdarianne.”
Princess Darian blushed again in delight at Cordelia’s greeting.
But that was just then.
“Prove it.”
Lord Cornwell raised his large hand and stood between Princess Darien, Uther, and Cordelia. He then glared at Uther and continued speaking.
“I know how you recognized us, but that doesn’t prove that you are descendants of the Northern Twelve Clans. Prove your identity.”
The atmosphere inside the inn became tense again at Lord Cornwell’s sharp remark.
‘Indeed, the Knight of the Red Rose.’
The position of Knight Commander was not something that was easily obtained.
Instead of panicking, Yuder got up from his seat and took out the object he had hidden in his arms.
“This is a family crest that only the eldest son of the Counts of Bayer can have.”
It was the emblem of the Counts of Bayer, who were not a family of nomads, but were one of the top families among the twelve northern families in terms of military power.
Lord Cornwell accepted the sentence and nodded.
“You are indeed the son of the Count of Bayer. Then what about you?”
As Lord Cornwell’s gaze turned to Cordelia, Cordelia blinked and then looked back at Uther.
This is because, unlike Yuder, he didn’t really have any phrases or anything like that.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.’
‘how?’
‘There are many.’
Yuder smiled and lowered his posture again before facing Princess Darian.
“Your Highness, unfortunately my fiancée does not currently have the family crest. However… is there any need for proof?”
Princess Darian’s eyes sparkled with curiosity at Uther’s question, while Lord Cornwell frowned.
And then Uther continued speaking.
“My fiancée, Miss Cordelia Chase, is reputed to be the greatest beauty in the North. If you have heard the rumors about us… Princess Darian must already know about it, right?”
“Yes, I heard that. A beautiful girl like an angel, with bright red hair and blue eyes that sparkle like jewels.”
Cordelia’s face turned red again at Princess Darian’s description.
And then Yuder gave it his all.
“That’s right. The most beautiful girl in the North. A girl who is truly like an angel descending to earth.”
Speaking theatrically, several of the knights nodded without realizing it, and Hans, who was sitting at the counter, did the same.
“A woman so lovely and beautiful, like a flower that makes you want to look at her no matter how much you look at her.”
‘Hey, shit. Stop it. Stop it! Hey!’
Whether Cordelia screamed in her heart or not, Uther continued to speak, and a smile bloomed on Princess Darian’s face.
“Is it true that her beauty itself is proof of her identity?”
“Yes, wise princess.”
Princess Darian, who laughed out loud at Uther’s words, looked up at Lord Cornwell, who sighed helplessly and nodded.
In fact, when I saw the Bayer family crest, the identification process was almost complete.
In fact, it was closer to nitpicking to ask for the Chase family crest to be presented.
“It seems to be true to the rumors. I would like to hear the story of the two of you. Can you tell me? Oh, are you still in the midst of a love affair? Yes?”
The way he asked with a slightly lowered voice was very cute and lovely, but instead of answering, Cordelia covered her face with both hands, and Uther shook his head slightly.
“No, Princess. Love’s elopement has already ended.”
“sure?”
“I’m on a journey of love right now.”
Uther spoke shamelessly, Princess Darian’s face became like a dreamy girl’s, and Cordelia couldn’t take her hands off her face.
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< Chapter 52 - Unexpected Encounter #2 > End
