Chapter – 85
As soon as they arrived at Decaron, Marder and Wilson left Carlisle’s side as if fleeing.
Understandably, as mere soldiers, they seemed uncomfortable around Carlisle, a nobleman.
Within the unit, Carlisle might have been a lowly private and the rookie of the reconnaissance team, but here in Decaron, he was the lord’s son and the second young master of the Sigmund family.
Grand Duke Guntram’s carriage came to a stop.
The Grand Duke, who had alighted first, gazed intently at Carlisle’s party’s carriage, which had stopped a bit later.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Yes.”
“……”
“Ah, and also.”
Carlisle spoke as if he had just remembered something.
“Please send just one mage to the unit.”
“A mage?”
“Yes.”
“Do you realize how precious mages are?”
“That’s the case in the North.”
“As you know, most mages are deployed to the front lines.”
“Then there’s nothing to be done.”
“You give up quickly.”
“What choice do I have? You said there aren’t any.”
“Don’t you feel like making a deal?”
“A deal?”
“Asking for a mage without any compensation, don’t you think that’s rather shameless? Haven’t you, you rascal, always expected something in return from your father too?”
“Why is that shameless?”
At the Grand Duke’s attack, Carlisle retorted as if to say, what nonsense is that?
“If there’s a mage in the unit, am I the only one who benefits?”
“……That is…”
“I’m asking for a mage for the unit’s sake, not for my own convenience. It’s not just me in the unit, is it? Boulden Fortress has about 100 troops, and those people are all citizens of the Decaron territory, your people. So why should I have to pay a price?”
“Ahem.”
“Moreover, I was planning to use my own funds to supply the unit with weapons and even hire mercenaries……”
“……”
“If you don’t want to send one, fine. I’ll request one from a place like the Mercenary Guild and hire one. That should be alright with you, right?”
Maranello, who had been listening quietly, let out a soft, deliberate cough.
For Maranello, seeing Grand Duke Guntram in a predicament wasn’t a common sight, so he was desperately trying not to laugh.
“I’ll… send a mage.”
The Grand Duke said, his eyes tightly shut.
“However, I can’t guarantee it will be an excellent mage. There are simply too few mages in the North.”
“Then wouldn’t hiring one be better?”
“I cannot permit that.”
“Why not?”
“Hiring mercenaries isn’t a matter to be decided lightly. Security is one issue, it’s too dangerous.”
“Because you never know when they might turn into enemies?”
“Correct.”
“If it’s a trustworthy mercenary group, wouldn’t it be okay?”
“Such mercenary groups are generally expensive. Can you afford it?”
“That’s true too.”
“And most mages belonging to mercenary groups tend to be problematic individuals. So, while I might consider it for infantry strength, I oppose hiring a mercenary mage.”
“I understand what you mean very well.”
“Good, then I shall take my leave now.”
“Take care.”
Carlisle gave a slight nod and then turned his steps towards his room.
Shortly after Carlisle disappeared around the corner.
“It seems you were somewhat bested, Your Grace.”
“I am aware.”
Maranello subtly remarked, and Grand Duke Guntram retorted irritably.
“Don’t laugh.”
“Hehe.”
“I said don’t laugh.”
Grand Duke Guntram glared at Maranello.
“I feel like I’m being played by that rascal.”
“How could that be? Hehe.”
“Hmm.”
“But thanks to your second son becoming a new man, I hope you don’t consider it a loss. That is this old man’s wish.”
“Where in this world are there parents who win against their children? On the battlefield, I wouldn’t want to lose even once, but with children, it’s an exception. I don’t mind losing as many times as needed.”
“Your Grace…”
“I shall take my leave now. I need to thoroughly review the lad’s proposal before the Victory Anniversary ceremony begins.”
Grand Duke Guntram left with those words, and Maranello watched his lord’s retreating back with a gaze full of respect.
He couldn’t help but admire the attitude of seriously reviewing even the proposal of his good-for-nothing son, rather than dismissing it.
* * *
Alicia, feeling stifled, ran into Carlisle while he was coming her way during her walk.
As always, Carlisle didn’t even glance at Alicia.
Knowing Carlisle’s stance and personality regarding the Loren family, Alicia decided to let it be.
It was true that she had been angry at his attitude of completely ignoring her at first, but now she felt he had his reasons and didn’t think much of it.
However, separate from that, a thought occurred to her whenever she saw Carlisle.
‘Every time I see him, I can’t help but think he’s really handsome.’
Indeed, there was something about Carlisle’s appearance that made one marvel.
As Carlisle passed by, a careless mutter escaped Alicia’s lips.
“I’m jealous… being able to live like that…”
“……?”
Carlisle, who had stopped walking, stared intently at Alicia.
Thump!
When Alicia met Carlisle’s eyes, she felt her heart sink.
She realized it for the first time.
That looking directly into the eyes of a truly handsome man was a very breathtaking and heart-pounding experience.
“What, why?”
Flustered, Alicia snapped at him abruptly.
“What do you mean, ‘live like that’?”
“Uh……”
“You think I’m just lazing around?”
“Th-that’s not what I meant!”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm.”
Carlisle gave Alicia a sidelong glance for a moment, then nodded as if he understood.
“Well. I guess that makes sense.”
“What does?”
“Nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. If you started it, finish it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re running around frantically, scrambling to survive, and it’s a mess, while that good-for-nothing over there, despite being a Sigmund, seems to be living carefree without doing anything, so it grates on you, right?”
“……!”
Alicia flinched in surprise.
She hadn’t expected this northern good-for-nothing to see right through her.
“What do you know, spouting nonsense?”
“I know enough.”
As Alicia flared up, Carlisle let out a snort and answered.
“The relationship between the Loren family head’s first wife, and your mother, the second wife, isn’t good, right? Their support bases are hostile too. So, naturally, your relationship with Caldor is at its worst, isn’t it? You’re fighting over the successor position.”
“Th-that…”
“And in the midst of that, the Loren family head is probably just standing back, folding his arms, watching you fight like a fire across the river, right?”
“You… just who are you?”
Alicia stared at Carlisle as if she couldn’t believe it.
The words that had just come from Carlisle’s mouth weren’t something a man known to be obsessed with alcohol, gambling, women, and all sorts of vices could possibly say.
“What do you mean, who? I’m the northern good-for-nothing.”
Carlisle retorted curtly.
“Anyway, I’m not on your level, but I’m also living my life in my own tiresome way, so don’t say things like that so openly.”
“……I apologize for that.”
“Fine.”
Carlisle gave a slight nod, and as if he had nothing more to say, he left Alicia behind and went on his way.
‘But at least you won’t be killed by your own flesh and blood.’
Alicia couldn’t help but envy Carlisle.
* * *
“Yum yum yum!”
The little dragon, as soon as it arrived in the room, greedily devoured snacks like cake and pastries, then curled up on the cushion Evangelin had made and fell fast asleep.
‘Is it because it’s a newborn? It just eats and sleeps.’
Carlisle looked at the soundly sleeping little dragon and snorted, then sat by the window.
Sipping a cup of tea, Carlisle lost himself in thought.
‘Alicia von Loren. She has her own ambitions and considerable ability. She’s even managed to corner Caldor before.’
Caldor was one of the main characters in the game [Overlord], the eldest son of the Loren family and a character who would later become the lord of Schvern.
His personality was sinister, cunning, and crafty; for his own benefit, he didn’t care about his reputation.
No wonder he was called the [Cunning Snake].
‘If left alone, she’ll probably die at Caldor’s hands. Herself, and all her relatives.’
Of course, he didn’t care whether Alicia lived or died.
To Carlisle, her life wasn’t worth even a single cookie.
However, as a means to strategically check the Loren family, Alicia could be a rather attractive card.
‘Those Loren bastards are disgusting, though. If I get the chance, crushing them thoroughly would be better in many ways.’
Historical events between the two families aside, the Loren family was a very tricky and bothersome existence.
The Loren family were experts at sowing discord between other families, stabbing them in the back, and switching sides like bats.
‘If I use Alicia well, I could destroy the Loren family. Should I try?’
If that happened, both Carlisle and Alicia could get what they wanted.
Carlisle could keep in check the Loren family, the Sigmund’s long-time nemesis that still sucked their lifeblood like parasites, and Alicia could save not only herself but also her relatives.
‘I need to think about this a bit more. Alicia isn’t an easy person either.’
Since she also carried the Loren family bloodline, she wasn’t the type to obediently play the role of a puppet.
The information Carlisle had about her indicated that she was intelligent, sometimes cunning, and had considerable strategic insight.
If he wasn’t careful, he could get betrayed by Alicia, or the Sigmund family could face difficulties due to counter-intelligence, so he couldn’t decide recklessly.
Joining hands with her without a solid safety net was highly likely to be a very dangerous choice.
Just as there were sayings on the continent like [It’s not worrying about Sigmund] or [The only one who can defeat Sigmund is Sigmund], the saying [If you trust Loren, you will surely be betrayed] existed for a reason.
‘Let’s watch for now.’
Carlisle left open the possibility of joining hands with Alicia.
It was risky, but if things went well, both of them could get what they wanted.
As Carlisle drank his tea and looked out the window, he saw a giant white carriage in the distance, rushing forward accompanied by hundreds of knights.
‘That is.’
Carlisle recognized the identity of the giant white carriage at a glance.
A pure white carriage drawn by eight horses.
Moreover, even the horses pulling the carriage were armored in pure white.
The carriage was adorned with pure gold everywhere, and the door was engraved with an emblem depicting a stylized eye.
Furthermore, if there were hundreds of fully armed knights surrounding it… there was no need to look further.
‘The Royal Family.’
Confirming that the royal family’s delegation was arriving, Carlisle’s eyes gleamed.
The Oracles.
The family that had ruled the United Kingdom for the past several hundred years through their power of foresight.
The current king was unable to attend to state affairs due to a long illness, so it was highly likely that the Crown Prince, [Gordon von Oracle], was riding in that pure white eight-horse carriage.
‘Even considering the Victory Anniversary, for the Royal Family to come in person… What are they scheming? Gordon?’
The Crown Prince’s visit was something Carlisle hadn’t anticipated at all.
However, one thing was certain: the Crown Prince’s visit was not a welcome event.
The Royal Family had always sought to check and weaken the twelve great families and the large territories they ruled.
