Chapter 17 (1/2)
Ch.17 Looking for Isabelle
TL: Warriormonk
Editor: Isleidir
The two men traveled by day and trained fiercely at night, arriving at Lea Marquisate exactly fifteen days later.
The only thing that awaited them, however, were shocking news.
“What did you say? Isabelle already left, two days ago?”
An old servant with a goatee was sweating fiercely with an uncomfortable expression. He was one of the butlers of the Lea Marquisate.
“Yes, sir. Two days ago, the lady left the Marquisate under guard by the holy knights of the church of Flora.”
“Did they mention where they were headed?”
“I apologize, but I do not know.”
Luke bit his lips. He had rode his horse here mindlessly, only to find that everything had been useless.
‘Looking at the situation, this was planned.’
It was also out of order for a seemingly low ranking official, a butler, to greet Luke on his arrival.
“I wish to see the lord of Lea Marquisate.”
“I apologize, but the lord has gone out on a patrol around the territory.”
“When will he return?”
“It will take fifteen days at the fastest.”
Luke rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. How could he possibly find Isabelle now that the holy knights of the church had taken her? Luke gripped his fists tightly.
‘The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds would have taken her to the main temple in the capital. No doubt about it.’
Luke made up his mind to look through every road leading from the Marquisate to the capital to find Isabelle. The butler looked at Luke carefully and remarked.
“Since the engagement has been called off, your knighthood in our House has been cancelled as well. The lord has entrusted me with the written contract to give to you.”
Luke silently accepted the contract. The contents of the contract included permitting his marriage to Isabelle provided his swearing fealty as a knight to the Lea Marquisate.
“All right. I have no more business here, so I will be on my way.”
“Please be careful on your long journey.”
Luke walked out of the lord’s hall of Lea Marquisate with a stiff expression. Kurotan, who had been waiting with the horses, greeted him.
“How did it go?”
“Not well.”
Luke slowly shook his head and took the reins of his horse from Kurotan. He took a couple of steps before stopping. He had discovered a familiar face approaching him.
The man, clearly a knight, seemed to be in his thirties, with a kind face.
It was Isabelle’s brother, Robel.
“It has been a long time.”
Luke bowed his head stiffly, and Robel frowned with sympathy.
“I’m sorry that you came all this way for nothing.”
“It’s all right. Then, I am busy so…”
“Wait a second.”
“Yes?”
Robel looked around to make sure no one was around before lowering his voice.
“Are you planning on chasing after Isabelle instead of returning to your House?”
Luke’s face turned serious.
“Yes but… Do you happen to know which way Isabelle was headed?”
“Of course. I escorted the party until the edge of our territory.”
“Can you… tell me where?”
“The child is headed for the Tranbel Kingdom. The church of Flora is planning on raising her into a Saintess in the main temple of Tranbel’s capital.”
Luke frowned.
‘It seems the church wants to avoid any possible conflicts with our House, and sent Isabelle to another Kingdom.’
The House of Esteban was counted amongst the most powerful of Houses in the Kingdom of Hansel, and would be a force to reckon with even for the church of Flora.
“I am sorry about the whole ordeal. Even I cannot agree with my father on this matter.”
“….”
“This is the way it is with our House, so I can only ask for your understanding.”
“Not at all… Thank you for telling me Isabelle’s destination.”
“It is not a problem.”
Robel shook his head with a bitter expression.
“Isabelle talked a lot about you. Thank you for making her happy until now.”
“No, sir. I was the one who was happy to be with her.”
“Even if you catch up to their party, it will be difficult to see Isabelle. The church of Flora sent thirty holy knights to escort her.”
Luke’s expression darkened at hearing that the church had sent a force of thirty holy knights. He had hoped that the escorting party was small enough for him to take out and safely escape with Isabelle.