chapter 37
6. Bullshit – 05
It is said that a thousand years ago, Devhard, who was the first emperor and a hero who ended all the tribulations on the continent, suffered greatly from the problem of ruling the empire. This is because even though one-third of the continent was reborn as a huge empire united by Devhardt, unrest, large and small, continued throughout the continent.
If you think about it differently, it couldn’t have been natural. We’ve been snarling at each other and aiming spears at each other for countless hours, but now that we’ve become ‘same imperial citizens’, it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to sit together and drink alcohol. Despite the fact that the Emperor’s edict was delivered that no quarrel would be tolerated, the situation did not calm down at all. It’s been too long since we hated each other and took each other’s things for granted. It seemed that now there was nothing but unfounded hatred between them. The chaos accelerated like that, and the situation became more serious day by day.
On the other hand, the empire was not long after its founding and could not afford to project its power even to the frontier. In the end, Devhardt came up with a special measure. It was an attempt to spread the influence of the imperial family as much as possible by placing the vassal he cherished and trusted the most, namely the 4th duke, at the end of the border. Well, even so, even though they gave the fief to the eldest land in the frontier, saying that they would pay attention as much as they were national contributors, the fact that they essentially put the duke’s family in a corner of the country would be an unmoving fact.
Thus, Estelle in the north, Tournigen in the west, Dekaraznan in the east, and Crusell in the south emerged.
This may be the reason why the four ducal families, which rank second in the Empire to the Imperial Family, are forced to stay in the remote corners of the border. Well, it’s just a musty old story that’s already a thousand years old. I know very well that nothing will change by complaining now, but I just couldn’t stand one fact.
‘…No, but why are we in the north?’
In the history books of the empire, the representative case of noblesse oblige, in which the 4th ducal family personally sacrificed themselves, was written full of nonsense, but I couldn’t bear to see my face become a piece of toilet paper every time I read the related record. Why, why, of all things, did the Duke of Estelle take over the north?
From what I hear, if you look at novels that are popular among women in the fortress system, she has sculptural beauty, and her fighting skills are strong enough to slap the Master, and she has a cold temper like a wolf, so she never shows mercy to her enemies. It is said that the ‘Northern Grand Duke’ who possesses enough money to rot and overflow is enjoying such sensational popularity.
No, based on common sense, wouldn’t there be a lot of money in a f*cking neighborhood where sleet pours down even in midsummer and farming doesn’t work properly? In other words, the real Northern Grand Duke is nothing more than an ant with the guts to look up at the sky and let out a sigh as to how to survive this winter, far from giving the heroine an armful of jewelry and dresses.
The reason why I am suddenly thinking this is because the scenery of the Marquis of Castana seen from outside the carriage was showing a very different look from the average state of the northern part, where the barrenness is unspeakable.
It was a green meadow. The peaceful sight of shepherds herding cows in a wide meadow comes into view. Beyond the meadow, a wide field stretched out. The field was densely planted with wheat, and at first glance the sight of the wheat blowing in the wind was a beautiful sight, like golden waves rolling on the ground. In addition, there were pine trees and cypress trees densely planted around the field to create a windbreak, but they also harmonized with the surrounding scenery, so I forgot to think that it was like a painting.
“…Master said, the Marquis of Castana has a way to artificially control the heavens using magic. They also have a way to restore the soil’s fertility and replenish nutrients in the soil. So, I don’t think you need to blame yourself too much, Lord Cain.”
Arya, who was sitting next to me, cautiously spoke to me, as if I was reading something from my expression. Really, like Bianca and Arya, if a person learns magic, will they be able to read other people’s minds as if they were looking into them?
“…Yes, I know. That their prosperity is due to the supernatural power of magic.”
How can I not know that? In the first place, 10 years later, when winter came to the entire continent due to witches, it was all thanks to the magic of the Marquis Castana that farming was possible in a limited environment. Well, even for them, overcoming the extreme cold where even the moisture in the air freezes and producing food must have been a difficult task.
Not long after I was immersed in various thoughts while watching the scene outside the window, the carriage stopped. From the front of the carriage, the driver’s voice is heard.
“…Small Duke, we have arrived.”
“…I see. Good job.”
Have you finally reached your destination? While Aria and I were quietly waiting in the carriage, the door of the carriage opened cautiously. In front of the door, a middle-aged man in a tailcoat with all his hair tossed back was bowing respectfully toward me.
“Duke Estelle, welcome to the Marquis of Castana.”
nod
If the Duke of Estelle had come to greet me personally, the middle-aged man in front of me would not be of such a low status either. I gave the middle-aged man a slight nod and got off the carriage.
I raise my head. In my eyes, a gigantic castle that is twice as large and three times as grand as the original castle of the Duchy of Estel is reflected. Needless to say, the nature of Castana Marquis must be true.
‘I’ll be sick.’
It’s new, but seeing with my own eyes how well the hostile families with whom we don’t get along is so prosperous, it’s like my stomach hurts. The Duke of Estelle was still using the original castle that was built a thousand years ago, but the Marquis of Castana seemed to have even remodeled the castle instead of expanding it based on the overflowing money.
‘…You’ve carved a physical resistance formula on the castle gate. In addition, the castle gates were coated with magic metal?’
I can assure you that even if the money paid to the castle gates by the Marquis of Castana is counted, there will be an amount that can completely rebuild the original nature of the Duchy of Estel. He knew well that the difference in wealth between the two families was enormous, but he never imagined that the difference would be this great.
I smiled bitterly and fidgeted with the bracelet in my pocket. Indeed, with so much money rotting and overflowing, it must be that Bianca was able to hand it over casually as a gift.
But that was the time.
Cuckoo coo-
The castle gate of the Marquis of Castana slowly opened with a dull sound. And, behind the castle gate, countless servants were standing quietly on either side of the sight. As soon as the gates opened, they all bowed their heads at me.
“Meet the little Duke Estelle!”
“…..”
I involuntarily stiffened my body at the greetings of the attendants who were in perfect order as if they had practiced several times. I never imagined that the Marquess of Castana would treat me with such hospitality, no matter how nominal the engagement was. Bianca Is this girl really out of her mind?
But it didn’t end here. At the far end, where servants are standing on both sides, I see a beautiful woman in a gorgeous sunset-colored dress with tears in her eyes. The red-haired and red-eyed woman and the sunset-colored dress that accentuated her figure matched terribly well. She was so beautiful that I wondered if the word Hwayongwoltae (花容月態) was made for that woman.
“Cain!”
Bianca, dressed in a sunset-colored dress, ran lightly towards me. Even though it had only been two weeks since he broke up with her, Bianca had an expression of affection on her face that was beyond words. Bianca’s expression was pitiful enough to think that if someone who knew nothing about this scene saw this scene, it would be like a widow who witnessed her husband, who was said to have died in the battlefield, suddenly return alive one day. Even I, who knew very well that this girl was a goddamn woman, was momentarily downcast.
“…Cain, I missed you. really.”
Saying that, Bianca snuggled into my arms. I had the strange idea that her body seemed to emanate a subtle scent like sweet fruit. It was truly terrifying. I don’t know why, but I thought for a moment that this woman was lovely.
At that moment, I noticed a small strand of hair sticking to her cheek. I raised my hand as if possessed by something. Then he carefully pulled the hair from Bianca’s cheek. As my fingers touch her cheek, Bianca smiles softly at me. Bianca’s and mine cross each other. I could see her red eyes shaking yo-yo-yo.
gulp.
Unknowingly, I crossed my throat and swallowed. this is dangerous If it went on like this, it might not be imitation of an engagement, but it might cross the line. Bianca in front of me now had that much charm.
Sarak.
I hear the rustling of clothes. Bianca snuggles into my arms. Her voluptuous limbs touch my whole body. It was too much to call it acting. I feel my hands shaking. Bianca looked at me like that and smiled softly. Now, it was absolutely impossible. That’s how my reason was gradually about to fly away.
“…Cain-sama? Are you okay?”
Yes, if it wasn’t for the voice of a girl calling me as she got off the carriage. At the voice of Aria calling me, my mind, which had been confused for some reason, returned to my senses.
“…ah.”
So, the magic was broken. I instinctively take a step back from Bianca. It was because I thought that if I continued to be next to her, I might cause an accident in front of so many people.
“…ha.”
And the moment I took a step away from her, Bianca’s expression turned ferocious beyond words.
‘…This crazy.’
And when I saw that ferocious face, I unknowingly shrank.
“…what the hell…”
Bianca looked at Arya from the carriage with a look of genuine annoyance. Just like that, the eyes of the two crossed each other.
“…!”
Bianca’s eyes widen when she sees Arya’s face. As if someone saw something they shouldn’t have seen, their eyes shake violently. And then, a cold light began to shine in her pupils. At the same time, though weak, she felt some energy leaking out of her body. Perhaps, due to the sudden change of emotions, he could not control his energy momentarily. I realized instinctively. this is dangerous really.
“Bianca!”
I unconsciously ran to Bianca and hugged her into my arms. It was calculated that no matter how insane she was, she would not push me, her nominal fiancé, in the midst of so many eyes.
“…Ah, Cain.”
…Fortunately, it didn’t happen that Bianca pushed me away or got angry at my sudden action. She was quietly, quietly in my arms. As if he insisted that that was all he wanted from the beginning.
“…..”
Looking at Bianca like that, I closed my eyes tightly without realizing it. sure It didn’t feel wrong. The energy that leaked out of Bianca just now, that. certainly.
It was to live.