Chapter – 76
Pop!
Maranello appeared on the opposite side of the street.
The child, who had been bending down to pick up a bag of candy, was now in Maranello’s arms.
“W-who are you, Grandpa?”
Everything had happened so fast that the child didn’t seem to understand what was going on at all.
Dududududu!
A six-horse carriage sped past.
“How dare you defile Decaron with the wheels of Schwerin.”
Carlisle had seen it.
A murderous gleam flashed in Maranello’s eyes…
Flash!
A sharp light glinted—and the rear wheels of the running carriage were sliced clean off in a perfect horizontal cut.
How fast was that?
Carlisle shuddered at Maranello’s speed.
He hadn’t seen it. Not even a blur.
He thought he had glimpsed Maranello swinging a weapon, but he wasn’t sure if it was real or just his imagination.
All he knew for certain was this: in the time it took to blink, Maranello had crossed the road with the child and swung a blade?
Carlisle was convinced he wouldn’t last a single second against Maranello’s full strength.
Kwarrrr!
Crash!
“Hiiiiiing!”
With its rear wheels gone, the carriage skidded across the road, and the galloping horses collapsed in a tangled mess.
Thud!
“Agh!”
The coachman was flung nearly ten meters before slamming face-first into the ground.
“What the—?”
“Why did the carriage suddenly flip?”
People began to gather, murmuring.
“You must look carefully before crossing the street, child.”
“What do you mean, Grandpa?”
“There are things like that. Just remember what this grandpa told you.”
“Okaaay!”
The child, smiling innocently, grabbed the candy bag and disappeared into an alley.
“You’re incredibly fast.”
“My back is killing me, though.”
Maranello chuckled and made a show of massaging his waist.
Yeah, right. As if your back hurts.
Carlisle internally scoffed, though he kept a straight face.
A chill ran down his spine.
Maranello was smiling, but his eyes were cold and murderous enough to make Carlisle’s knees buckle.
Those guys are dead.
Carlisle could already guess what was about to happen.
Maranello was terrifying when angered.
“Ugh!”
“S-son of a—!”
Knights staggered out of the wrecked carriage, trembling.
“How the hell were you driving?”
A low, husky voice came from the carriage.
Alicia von Loren.
Daughter of the House of Loren, and the younger sister of one of the main characters, Caldor von Loren.
“My lady, the rear wheels were cut.”
“Cut?”
“Look here.”
“…This is…”
Alicia’s expression turned cold.
Though not a knight, she was an accomplished swordswoman.
The cleanly sliced cross-section of the wheel was enough for her to understand what had occurred.
“Who did this…?”
Her sharp gaze swept the area and landed on Maranello.
“So it was you, Maranello. Reaper of the North.”
“Heh.”
Maranello smiled and approached Alicia.
“Maranello, Chief Steward of Decaron, greets the Lady of Schwerin.”
“Speak. Why did you do this?”
“I merely offered a warning, my lady.”
“A warning?”
“Your carriage was being driven far too recklessly. I stopped it, nothing more.”
“All we did was go a little fast. And you overturned our carriage for that? Does that make any sense?”
Though furious, Alicia was clearly holding herself back—only because the opponent was Maranello.
“There is a time and place for speed, and a time for caution.”
Maranello spoke calmly, as if advising a child.
“You must not charge through the middle of a city like that. Someone could get hurt.”
“Did someone get hurt? Show me, then.”
“Heh.”
“You could say that after an accident happens, no? We’re an envoy. We came here to congratulate you on your Victory Festival. And you—”
“A child nearly died, my lady.”
“Hhk!”
Alicia suddenly clutched her chest in pain.
“My lady!”
“Are you all right?!”
Her knights rushed to her side, but they were no exception.
“Kugh!”
“Ghh—!”
The knights too grabbed their chests, writhing in agony.
“I ask that you take this to heart.”
“Hhh—!”
“Schwerin will not harm the people of Decaron—not on this land. Should anyone of Schwerin harm a citizen of Decaron, this old man will drag his worn-out body to ensure the price is paid. Is that clear?”
“Y-yes… s-so just… stop…”
Tears welled in Alicia’s eyes.
“Did you understand?”
“Y-yes, so… enough…”
“Good.”
As if the terrifying expression had never existed, a gentle smile returned to Maranello’s face.
“I trust the message was received. Then I’ll end my admonishment here. Ah, and welcome. Though the distance wasn’t that far, I imagine the trip was tiring. Hohoho.”
“….”
Alicia stared at him with a look that said, What kind of lunatic is this?
Maranello’s scolding was over, but the situation wasn’t.
Alicia’s trembling eyes showed how enraged she still was.
“Bring me the coachman.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said bring the damn coachman!”
“Y-yes!”
The knights dragged the unconscious coachman over and slapped him awake.
Smack! Smack!
“Ughhh!”
His face contorted in agony—having been flung ten meters into stone, he likely had multiple fractures and heavy bruising.
“Speak. What happened?”
Alicia’s voice was icy.
“N-nothing happened, my lady. Truly.”
“And yet the Reaper of the North overturned our carriage? Does that sound believable to you?”
“T-that…”
“A child was nearly run over?”
“I think… something was in front of the carriage, but it vanished so quickly that I couldn’t see clearly…”
Smack!
Alicia slapped him again.
“A mere coachman dares to put me in a difficult position?”
“M-my lady!”
“Hold him.”
At her order, the knights pinned the coachman down.
“You right-handed or left-handed?”
“R-right-handed, my lady. Why do you—”
“If you must work to eat, it’s better to leave the dominant hand intact, wouldn’t you say?”
“M-my lady! Please, forgive me! I was wrong! I only wished to display the dignity of Schwerin before those Decaron dogs!”
“The dignity of Schwerin?”
“Yes, my lady! The people of Decaron are nothing but our meat shields!”
Alicia burst into laughter—sharp and hysterical.
“How amusing.”
“M-my lady…?”
“Do you know why Schwerin is wealthy? Why we can use Decaron’s people as shields? Because my cunning ancestor betrayed the Chaos King and endured the scorn of the world.”
Her self-mocking words made not only the coachman but even the knights of Schwerin bow their heads in silence.
“To this day, Sigmund, the other houses, and even the royal family mock us. They call the Lorens vile, cunning, deceitful, shameless traitors. But we endure the ridicule and contempt. Why? Because we want to live well. Not just our house—even trash like you. Do you understand?”
“I… I am too foolish to comprehend your wisdom, my lady.”
“You crossed the line. Dignity of Schwerin? From a lowborn worm like you?”
“T-that’s…”
“You common swine contributed nothing to our wealth. Schwerin prospered because my house bore the disgrace of betraying the Chaos King. You dared stain that disgrace.”
Alicia turned away from him as if he were beneath notice.
“He’s right-handed, so cut the left arm. He’ll never hold reins again.”
“Yes, my lady.”
A knight drew his sword.
“M-my lady! I beg you! Spare me!”
His pleading was useless.
“Open his mouth.”
“Mmph! Mmmpgh!”
The knights gagged him and held him in place.
“What are you waiting for? Cut it.”
“Yes!”
Slice!
The sword came down, severing the arm.
“Mmmmmm—! Mmmphhhhhh!”
The coachman let out a muffled scream, though thanks to the gag it wasn’t too loud.
“Are you satisfied now, Reaper of the North?”
Alicia turned, as if to display her judgment for Maranello to witness.
“How merciful you are. I heard the Lady of Schwerin was wise and magnanimous. It seems the rumors were well-earned.”
Maranello didn’t so much as blink at her provocation.
He even smiled—and Carlisle understood why.
She really was merciful.
If the carriage carrying the Lady of Schwerin had run over a child of Decaron?
War would have been inevitable.
Because of one foolish coachman’s pride, hundreds, maybe thousands, could have died.
So cutting off just one arm was indeed a merciful sentence.
“As it happens, a carriage is ready…”
Maranello looked to Alicia.
No. Absolutely not.
Carlisle crossed his arms in a desperate refusal, but the sly old butler ignored him and asked Alicia:
“Would you like to ride with us?”
“Gladly.”
A disastrous outcome for Carlisle—Alicia accepted without hesitation.
“To share a carriage with the Reaper of the North—what an honor.”
“I am merely an old butler now.”
Maranello laughed modestly.
Clatter, clatter.
Inside the carriage headed for the castle.
“You. Who are you?”
“…?”
Alicia frowned at Carlisle.
“And why are you sitting here with your hood pulled down over your face in front of me, the Lady of Schwerin?”
“…”
“What, no answer?”
Irritation flared in her eyes.
“Young master, you should show Lady Alicia the proper respect.”
“Ugh.”
At Maranello’s gentle yet pointed remark, the hooded Carlisle flinched.
“Young master?”
Alicia narrowed her eyes and tilted her head.
“Young master? So you’re either Frey von Sigmund or that infamous good-for-nothing rake? The one who’s only known for his pretty face?”
“My lady, please mind your words. Hoho.”
“Right. Sorry, butler.”
Alicia quickly backed down—she knew too well what happened to those who crossed the line in front of Maranello.
“So who are you? Don’t tell me—Frey?”
“This is Young Master Carlisle.”
“Ah…”
Alicia let out a sound that needed no explanation—she was clearly disappointed.
“Young master, please show some minimum etiquette. There was a small commotion, but she is still a guest of honor.”
“….”
“If you continue—”
“Sigh.”
Carlisle let out a long breath, removed his hood, and revealed that face—the one famed across the North, perhaps the entire continent.
The unbelievably handsome face.
“Oh my.”
Alicia reflexively raised her hand to her lips.
Seeing Carlisle’s face, her only evaluation was:
“…Magnificent.”
