"Your Highness!"
Serenade descended from the carriage, supported by her escort.
Naturally, that escort was her loyal subordinate Elize, who was carrying a massive Sword Coffin.
"It must have been a tough journey, Serenade."
I spread my arms to welco my guests. Serenade and Elize both slightly bowed to .
Hidden beneath her strands of sapphire-blue hair, Elizes expression was neutral, but she stole a quick, disdainful glance at .
Her complexion looked fine; she must have been doing well.
Serenade stood straight and smiled warmly.
"I apologize for the delay. Weve been clearing the road from the Imperial Capital to here. It took a bit longer than expected."
What did you say?
You ca here while also clearing those treacherous mountain roads?
I thought they were taking a while to arrive, but that wasnt the reason.
They accomplished an unimaginable task in no ti, these people...!
With newfound admiration, I looked at the mbers of the rchant Guild. They started to look like heroes against all odds.
"Our rchant Guild undertook the nationwide road project. And were not entirely finished; weve only completed the most basic stages as we made our way here."
Serenade pointed towards the cargo wagons behind her.
"Still, this shouldnt interfere with the magic stone distribution. If you grant the permission, we can start shipping magic stones from Crossroad to the Imperial Capital as early as tomorrow."
"Youve done well, Serenade. Thank you."
As I expressed my gratitude, Serenade fidgeted with her fingers, appearing sowhat shy.
"Oh, no, Your Highness. Its a promise I made with you; theres no need for thanks."
"Uh, okay..."
Yes, youre making feel embarrassed too...
I scratched the back of my neck, feeling awkward. Just then, a strangely fluffy atmosphere began to form.
"Um, um, um..."
Standing beside , Evangeline, who had been shivering, looked up at Serenade with a shocked face and began to mumble.
"This mature, sophisticated, and beautiful woman... Could she be...?"
"Ah, let introduce you. Evangeline, this is Serenade, the owner of the Silver Winter rchant Guild."
I introduced Serenade to Evangeline.
"Serenade, this is Evangeline, the heir to the Margrave title of Crossroad."
"Pleased to et you, Evangeline. My na is Serenade. I look forward to working with you."
Serenade took the initiative to bow, demonstrating flawless etiquette. It was a greeting with not a single flaw.
"I, Im also pleased to et you, Serenade! But!"
Evangeline, who had been sneaking glances between Serenade and , suddenly asked.
"Actually, when I was living in the Imperial Capital, I read a lot of gossip magazines about the two of you!"
"..."
I rested my forehead in my palm.
Now that I think about it, this Evangeline character collected and read all sorts of scandalous magazines about when she was attending the academy in the Imperial Capital...!
"All kinds of rumors were rampant about the relationship between the two of you! I was so, so curious that I couldnt sleep! Please, just tell one thing!"
Evangeline hurled a fastball directly at Serenade.
"What exactly is the relationship between you two?!"
"Huh? Um, well, you see..."
Confused and hesitant, Serenade cautiously glanced at before mumbling, her face slightly flushed.
"...An ex-girlfriend, maybe?"
At this, Evangelines eyes popped wide open as she let out a loud squawk.
"Ex-Girlfriend?!"
"..."
Why does saying it like that make it sound like she was an EX-Rank girlfriend or sothing?!
"Wait, you an, you dated soone this pretty, senior...?"
"No, I an, I didnt date her. Well, I did, but"
As I stamred, Evangeline, who had been trembling, suddenly punched in the shoulder.
"You womanizer! Bad man!"
Why the hell did she hit ?
***
"Thank you for coming all this way, Serenade."
Young Lords Mansion. The drawing room.
Sitting across from each other with so light refreshnts, I asked Serenade,
"Is everything alright? You must have plenty of work in the Imperial Capital. Was it really necessary for you to co all the way to this Margraves territory?"
"Businesses in Silver Winters rchant Guild have all stabilized. Alberto has been a huge help with the new projects in collaboration with the Imperial Family."
I was pleased to hear Albertos na.
The old butler who used to handle Star Palace, now it seed he was making a na for himself in his second life at Silver Winters rchant Guild.
"Ive put Alberto in charge of overseeing businesses in the Imperial Capital. Hes extrely ticulous, given his lifelong service to the Imperial Family. His connections are also extensive. So, in that aspect, he might even be better than . And for ergencies, we can communicate through ssenger eagles..."
The rchant Guild of Silver Winter had a communication system using ssenger eagles. So even ca along with the rchant Guilds convoy this ti. If sothing urgent ca up, I could contact them using those birds.
But still, shouldnt the guild leader be in the Imperial Capital rather than at the end of the world in the south...?
"Also, um..."
Serenade, stirring her tea with a spoon, began to shake slightly as she spoke.
"Alberto urged to go wherever my heart desires. He pushed to."
"..."
Whoa, whoa, whoa! The atmosphere has been getting increasingly mushy! My tolerance for this kind of mood isnt great, you know! Ash, get out here and handle this! Werent you her first love?
"...And most importantly."
At that mont, Serenades expression beca serious.
"I absolutely need to tell you sothing in person, Your Highness."
I blinked in surprise. She had sothing to tell ?
Inhaling deeply and looking straight at with her silvery gaze, Serenade was about to speak when
"Ah."
She turned her gaze abruptly to the side. Huh? I looked in the sa direction.
"...Ah."
Lucas was standing at the entrance of the drawing room.
Hiding his massive body behind the door and only peeking his head in, he was checking out the situation.
Hey, big dog! You think thats going to hide your size?
"Its been a while, Sir Lucas! How have you been?"
Serenade was the first to wave and greet him.
A flustered Lucas rolled his blue eyes around and awkwardly scanned the room before finally saluting.
"...Its been a long ti. Miss Serenade."
"Why are you standing there? Co in. Youre the Princes escort, after all."
"Ah... well, you see..."
Lucas glanced at cautiously. I was also sweating bullets internally.
"...Shall I, um, resu my escort duties, my lord?"
Lucas, who spoke those words, still had bandages wrapped around various parts of his body.
He had been left neglected in a cell for a week even after the battle had ended, without receiving proper treatnt. He would need a few more days for a full recovery.
"Youre not fully healed yet. Rest a few more days."
"But..."
"Dont push it."
"...Understood, my lord."
With an expression like a dog abandoned by its owner, Lucas staggered away, exiting the reception room.
"Um..."
Serenade, who had been watching Lucass retreating figure, awkwardly smiled before asking,
"Sir Lucas seems to have changed quite a bit in his deanor, hasnt he? He used to be more..."
"No, its just, um."
Feeling sowhat embarrassed, I hastily sipped my tea and briefly explained the recent events.
The last battle had been incredibly dangerous. As the situation grew dire, Lucas unleashed his own berserk state, exposing himself to danger. He had almost permanently lost his humanity, becoming a beast.
I also told her that I had severely reprimanded him so that he would never resort to such ans again.
For the past few days, the atmosphere had been awkward between us, I admitted honestly.
"Your Highness, hasnt Sir Lucas been your escort since a very young age?"
Serenade, after hearing my explanation, softly spoke.
"Did you really have to discipline him to that extent?"
"I almost lost him."
Lucas is the protagonist of this ga.
Hes essential for the strategies ahead and is also a valuable comrade.
Despite warning him not to use such a dangerous double-edged sword called beastification, he had almost impaled himself.
"I had to apply the brakes to his rampage."
The battles to co will only get more intense.
If I didnt rein him in now, Lucas could potentially do sothing even more dangerous. Thats why I had to be harsh.
"More than anything, Serenade, this is a fortress city. I am the commander of this garrison."
With a heavy heart, I looked down at the cup of tea in my hand. My reflection shimred on the surface of the rippling tea.
"Hierarchy is necessary. Even if a knight is loyal, if he continues to disobey , I have to punish him."
Of course, Id prefer to interact with my comrades like friends. Creating stiff boundaries isnt my style.
But when needed, it must be clearly ingrained.
That I hold the reins of life and death on this frontline.
"I understand your point, Your Highness."
Serenade softly smiled at .
"But even if mistakes are punished, should not rits be rewarded, as per military law?"
"..."
She was right. I was at a loss for words.
"Sir Lucas may have made a mistake this ti, but he also achieved sothing in this battle."
"Um..."
Lucas was indeed the MVP of this stage. He had single-handedly crushed the enemys main force.
"Sotis, stern punishnt is necessary, but what really moves a persons heart are a few warm words."
"..."
"Even if Sir Lucas actions were a bit misguided, they were all done for Your Highness. Youve already given him his punishnt, now you should nd his spirits."
Yes, I knew that. From Lucas perspective, his actions were done out of loyalty.
And of course, we had to reconcile. We couldnt continue like this, awkward and on edge.
But... that, um...
Reconciling after a fight is easier said than done...
If it were up to , I would bow my head and apologize first. But the scolding I gave Lucas wasnt as an individual; it was a decision I made as a frontline commander.
I had ted out punishnt to a subordinate officer in my role as a superior.
For the sake of maintaining discipline in the army, I couldnt be the first to apologize. This was the military after all.
But honestly... I feel like I might have been too harsh...
As Serenade said, Lucas had used his beast form in the last battle and had also been the MVP by killing the most monsters. It would only be right to comnd and reward him...
Aaaah! Being a commander is hard!
I buried my face in my hands and groaned. Serenade chuckled, covering her mouth as she watched .
"Youll manage, Your Highness."
"Hm?"
"Those who worry tend to, even if they wander, find the right path in the end."
The right path, huh.
Not just with scolding Lucas, but all the choices I had made up to this pointdid they really lead to the right path? Was it even a proper path to begin with?
There was no certainty.
I just kept moving forward. Even if I looked back, I would continue to take steps forward.
Toward that faintly glowing destination called Clear, by any ans necessary.
***
Silver Winters rchant Guild had purchased a building downtown to set up their branch office.
A sign reading Silver Winter rchant Guild - Crossroad Branch was being displayed.
Workers were swarming, quickly renovating both the exterior and interior of the building. Their speed was truly astounding.
"Your Highness, you have two tasks for our rchant Guild: gemstone distribution and, um..."
While watching the renovation, Serenade glanced at and asked.
"A tourism city project, right?"
"Yes."
"Weve brought in competent architects, so we can start on the hotel construction soon. Ill order them to survey the land and create a draft."
Serenade humd thoughtfully, pressing her full lips with her index finger.
"And about the Fall Festival... its already that season? When does it start?"
"In two days. Itll last for three days."
"The traditional events for Crossroad are the martial arts tournant and dance festival, correct?"
Deep in thought, Serenade crossed her arms and lightly tapped her fingers on her arm.
"The natural scenery is quite beautiful, and theres plenty of vacant land within the territory... Given these conditions..."
She seed to be calculating sothing, her fingers moving rhythmically.
I simply watched, entertained by her actions.
"While we dont have much ti, so drastic changes wont be possible... Lets give it our best effort."
Finally, as if concluding her calculations, Serenade gave a refreshing smile.
"Lets transform Crossroad into the top tourist destination in the South, slowly but surely! The upcoming Fall Festival can be the first step toward that!"
"Uh...? Oh, sure!"
I sensed that sothing was a bit off here.
No, the tourism city project I had in mind was... simply to build a hotel with a casino to et the minimum tourism score and lure in SSR-SR grade heroes.
It seed that the head of the Silver Winter rchant Guild had sothing much grander in mind.
I chuckled wryly. How many tourists could possibly co to such a remote corner of the world...?
Reviews
All reviews (0)