Chapter 7 (1/2)

As winter approached, the territory Ernst would rule was decided.

The butlers, the maids, the cooks, and even the man who owned the donkey shed tears as they bid him a reluctant farewell. This made Ernst feel happiness. When Ernst had separated from the royal palace, every single person there had an attitude expressing how they just wished for Ernst to hurry up and get out. Yet even so, the people of this villa were willing to cry for him. They cried and were angry over how absurd his situation was.

Ernst’s territory was a backwater area along the border, Meissen.

Meissen.

This was a place that shared a border with the neighboring country, Lux Kingdom. The snow-covered region was barren, and it was separated from the adjoining region of Rintz[1] by steep mountains and valleys, which couldn’t be crossed during the winter season. The territory itself was broken up by steep mountains and vast forests, and it also held a raging river which served as the border to Lux Country; it was an impoverished but vast territory.

Most of its population was said to suffer from famine. Even the Lord of the territory likely wouldn’t be unaffected by it. For over a hundred years, there were no Lords ruling over Meissen.

It was probably due to the raging river and the land being too poor that the territory hadn’t been stolen by Lux Kingdom.

Crying, the butler who had once frightened Ernst with the story of the wolf shouted: Why must he have to go to that sort of place?

But for Ernst, there were things he had to do which left no room for him to spend grieving or getting angry.

That was, to prepare himself for his departure. Even if he left immediately, it was uncertain whether he would arrive safely at his destination. Winter was coming soon. Or rather, it might already be snowing over the land. In this season, Ernst didn’t know if it was even possible to cross the mountains and valleys separating Meissen from the Rintz region.

Even so, it was impermissible to ignore the King’s royal decree until next spring. With his life riding on the line, early in the morning on the very next day, Ernst hurriedly set off.