Chapter 132: To the Royal Capital (2) (1/2)
Late post again. Genshin is always to blame for my late posts recently, hahaha.
An invitation to the founding anniversary of the kingdom.
The founding anniversary itself was naturally a big event, but it was also a relatively common event that happened every year.
Therefore, a lot of countryside nobles didn’t attend it, and the royal family did not encourage the countryside nobles from attending too.
But it was different this time.
Because it was the celebration of the 300th founding anniversary.
People had interestingly attached meanings to numbers that were perfectly matched.
Like 10, 20, or 30.
But this time, it was 300.
It was just 299 becoming 300 when viewed objectively, but its significance was bound to be different.
‘It’s amazing that the kingdom has been around for 300 years.’
It wasn’t just a small country in some remote area, as it was one of the two strongest powers in the continent, a major power that had stood for 300 years.
So it was a seriously outstanding accomplishment.
‘Nobles from all over the country will gather.’
The royal family even issued invitations to low ranking nobles in the countryside.
It was literally unreasonable for Count Bayer and Count Chase, who both belonged to the 12 northern families, to pull out of such an event.
“Gaël, Jude, and I will go to the royal capital, so I’ll leave the territory to Sir Victor.”
No one opposed Count Bayer’s declaration.
While it was normal for either Count Bayer or Gaël to remain in order to manage the territory, the founding anniversary made the situation different.
Even in the Chase family, Count Chase and his successor Edward, as well as his youngest daughter Cordelia, would be going to the royal capital too.
‘It’s quite different from the original.’
Around 4.5 months after the beginning of the Cordelia route.
In the original, Jude was still suffering from his illness while Cordelia was missing, so neither of the two counts went to the royal capital with a joyful heart.
‘Only Edward headed to the royal capital as the Chase family representative.’
Even in the Bayer family, it was Gaël who headed for the royal capital because their intelligence network had reported that there were unusual movements in the barbarian lands.
‘Because Haraken had almost taken over the western side of the wild lands at that time.’
But everything changed, so the two count families decided to go to the royal capital as if they were going sightseeing.
“Are you saying that the two of you…would be going first alone?”
“Yes, father.”
The original plan was for the Bayer and Chase families to pack up and set off for the royal capital together.
But the trip to the royal capital was long, and the preparation itself took quite some time since they also had to prepare gifts to exchange with the nobles in the royal capital.
“We have some things to discuss with the Guardians of the Holy Cross regarding the wild lands. Most importantly…I have to meet my master too.”
Iron Man Landius.
Count Bayer was forced to step back when that name was mentioned.
The tremendously talented Jude had inherited the martial arts of a foreigner instead of the swordsmanship of Count Bayer, so it would have been normal for Count Bayer to be angry, but the mentioned foreigner was that Landius.
Iron Man Landius was always mentioned in discussions about the continent’s strongest people. And Jude would soon inherit the martial arts of an ancient person who had defeated the overlords of hell in the past. So Count Bayer was fine with Jude learning from Landius.
“I understand why you have to go first. But as for going with Lady Cordelia…”
Count Bayer’s words trailed off in the end, and Jude glanced at Cordelia who was standing next to him. She had a slightly resentful look before she blushed and said.
“That… I-I… Mr. Bayer… I love him so much…”
“So do I. I want to be with her all the time.”
Cordelia fidgeted and stuttered while Jude openly spoke and flirted. A smile then spread over Count Bayer’s face.
“Ahem, well… since you said that, I guess I’ll allow it.”
What a cute couple.
Count Bayer warmly looked at the two, and Jude turned to Cordelia as he had a happy expression too. On the other hand, Cordelia awkwardly smiled and looked at Jude.
‘Hey, is this really the only way?’
‘It is? I mean, it’s effective.’
‘Eueue…’
Why is it always me who says the embarrassing words, and why is Jude fine and I’m the only one who’s embarrassed?
And why is the shame always mine?
‘Anyway, let’s finish this. Smile, quickly.’
When Jude said that with his eyes, Cordelia reflexively smiled, and Count Bayer spoke afterwards.
“I’ll allow it if Count Chase gives his permission. But I have one condition.”
“Condition?”
“Yes, regularly report your activities and contact us. Traveling like you’ve did before is not permissible. Do you understand?”
“Yes, father.”
“Yes, father.”
Their discussion ended at that.
Jude and Cordelia obediently answered, and Count Bayer smiled again. He told them to talk to him again after they had obtained Count Chase’s permission.
And a few days later.
During the time when Saluzia heard the news that Jude and Cordelia were heading to the royal capital.
“It went smoothly.”
Inside a two horse carriage driven by a coachman, Jude looked out of the window with a peaceful expression.
Just like Count Bayer, Count Chase had also allowed the two to travel.
‘He also generously took care of our travel expenses.’
As expected of my future father-in-law.
I really love you.
‘It’s going really smoothly now.’
Being allowed to go first was nice, but the most important part was being allowed to go on a trip with just the two of them.
‘Because it would be difficult to do the quests if someone else is with us.’
They wouldn’t be directly heading to the royal capital, as they would be stopping here and there while on the way. So it would inevitably be difficult for them if someone else joined them.
‘We’ll have to explain why we have to go somewhere else while on the way, and why we know of such a place.’
But fortunately, the two were allowed to travel alone, and Count Chase greatly helped them too.
‘Hmph, I don’t like that you still look weak and frail…but it would be okay if it’s the two of you. I’ll allow it.’
Count Chase said that with his usual serious and stern face, and even brought him a gift like always.
‘Thank for helping me always, Father.’
Jude mentally thanked him as he continued to look out of the window with a smile.
The world looked so beautiful to him now that his worries were resolved.
And across from him.
Cordelia crouched her body and was troubled as her lips quivered.
‘Eueue….’
She was like that because her conversation with Dahlia the night before their departure had continued to bother her.
She squinted her eyes and then closed it, and Cordelia recalled yesterday’s conversation.
“Miss, please remember what I’m saying. You’re not married yet, so you should never cross the line. Do you understand?”
“What are you talking about? What do you mean by crossing the line? There’s nothing like that, okay?”
It was just the delusions of her older sister Dahlia.
When Cordelia had unknowingly opposed it strongly, Dahlia narrowed her eyes and said as she touched her chin.
“Good. However, you two can kiss instead. Just kiss but don’t cross the line. Do you understand?”
“H-he won’t! Ju-Jude is a gentleman, okay?”
“He is. He is a gentleman. But he’s a man too, right? He’s also a wolf, okay?”
“W-wolf?”
When the protesting Cordelia became curious, Dahlia quickly nodded and said as she drew her face closer.
“My lady, I find you very pretty, cute and lovely even if I’m a woman too.”
“Are you angry?”
“Not really. Anyway, how would you look like in Mr. Bayer’s eyes? Wouldn’t he see you as a real angel?”
“Umm…”
She was a real angel in the first place.
Because of Ancestral Regression.
“Mr. Bayer must be holding back a lot too. So I’ll tolerate kissing. If it’s that much…you’re 17 years old now and can do it.”
“W-what are you talking about? What do you mean by tolerate? A-are you saying that Jude wants to kiss me?”
“Wouldn’t he? He’ll seriously want to, right?”
“T-that’s ridiculous.”
“No, it’s not ridiculous. It’s something that’s reasonable. Mr. Bayer is also a man, a man. He’s a human. He’s not a stone statue but a person made of flesh and blood. A human.”
Cordelia stepped back at Dahlia’s fiery speech.
But instead of protesting, she quivered her lips from worry again.
Because Dahlia’s words somehow made sense.