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The promised time. The location written in the letter. As we entered a tent belonging to the Kalia Marquis Family, we found Eunice, who was glaring sharply.

‘…She seems really angry.’

While the Marquis’s army took substantial losses in this war, I couldn’t help but wonder if something far more significant had happened.

Eunice’s expression was nothing but stiff, suppressing a deep frustration. Even just before returning to her homeland, there wasn’t a hint of joy or positivity from her.

‘She feels even more on edge than before.’

With the return imminent and no enemy in sight, she donned her carefully prepared armor, equipped with her sword and shield, like a warrior still immersed in battle.

“Ah, you’ve arrived. I was waiting for you. Please, this way.”

Eunice welcomed us with a smile, but the serious atmosphere inside the tent was impossible to dispel.

“Lady Shione and Lord Ray’s achievements were truly remarkable. How reassuring it is to have two such extraordinary knights in the kingdom.”

“You flatter us. Lady Eunice also played a significant role in fending off the demons. It’s a relief to have a knight like you guarding the border with the Empire.”

“It’s an honor to hear that.”

Despite the friendly exchange with Shione, I couldn’t help but feel a shiver from Eunice’s sharp gaze fixed upon me.

Why was she so fixated on knights and keeping an eye on me? The burdensome attention rekindled memories from the past.

Finally, the pleasantries were over, and we moved on to the essential topics.

“Then, before we get into the important matters…”

Eunice picked up a small letter from the table in the corner of the tent.

With the luxurious letter stamped with the seal of the Kalia Marquis Family in front of us, she placed it on the desk between us and said,

“First, there are things the main figures of the Count’s House and Lady Shione need to hear. Allow me to convey that information before anything else.”

“You received a letter from your family?”

“Yes. It contains the words from my mother, the current head of the family, along with our retainers. There are phrases only my mother and I know, and several means of verification to assure its authenticity… I hope you will listen and not dismiss it.”

“…Understood.”

The atmosphere grew heavier with each passing moment.

Shione, like a bow ready to release its arrow, and Diolia, like a knight poised for battle, I was caught feeling discontent about this unusual situation as I awaited Eunice’s next words.

“The Kalia Marquis Family’s military rights have all been transferred to the Siabel Shianella Count Family.”

What…?

For a moment, everyone from the Count’s House here couldn’t help but display question marks above their heads, utterly puzzled by her words.

‘The head of the Marquis Family is sitting right here, and surely there are trusted retainers and children. Why would they hand it over to us?’

Is the military operational authority of a family, especially one as notable as the Marquis Family, something to be transferred so easily? The rumor of how powerful the Marquis’s army is already spreads throughout the kingdom. Understanding why such authority would be completely handed over to the Count’s House is challenging to comprehend rationally.

“To be precise, starting now, as long as the Siabel Shianella Count Family believes there are enemies in the vicinity related to demons, the Marquis’s army will be used according to the Count’s will until the search for and extermination of the enemies is entirely complete.”

Hearing this, I…

Overseeing Diolia’s expression, which had turned heartfelt into a frosty demeanor, I noticed Shione, too, became unexpectedly sharp with a cold, cutting gaze akin to her bloodline.

“Lady, are you truly saying this?”

“It may be hard to believe, but it’s all true.”

After Eunice Kalya took a deep breath, she continued,

“Moreover… your sister, Lady Siabel Shianella, is currently on her way to the Kalia Marquis’s territory.”

The name I hadn’t heard in a long time.

Shione’s sister and my challenging sparring partner, who wielded a sword superbly.

As the name Siabel Shianella was mentioned, both Diolia and Shione’s expressions subtly transformed once again.

“And along with that, the immediate judgment authority over the people of the Kalia Marquis Family.”

Immediate judgment authority over the Kalia Marquis Family. The impact of this term was beyond imagination. The deluge of news was overwhelming enough to shake our understanding.

The reaction to Siabel’s name transformed our atmosphere yet again, and Shione seemed to struggle to articulate her thoughts, repeatedly opening and closing her mouth as if searching for words.

“Did you just say immediate judgment authority?”

“Yes, my lady. The Count now possesses immediate judgment authority over the military rights and the bloodline of the Marquis until the kingdom’s reinforcements reach us.”

“Just as Siabel Shianella rules as a margrave in the West, so too does the Kalia Marquis stand in the East. To think that even the Marquis’s members would not escape this immediate judgment authority… this letter can’t be right—”

Eunice quietly shook her head as she closed her eyes.

“The letter did not conceal the truth. The reason such content was included is solely due to the fall and betrayal of one individual.”

She slowly walked to the table where she had taken the letter and picked something else up.

‘What is that–’

Allen Kalia….

It was a portrait of him sitting in a chair with a faint smile.

Thud—

Eunice slammed the portrait down on the table.

“Lady—”

Her eyes burned fiercely with rage as she glared at the portrait.

The fierceness of that glare would have frightened any child to tears. A noble beggar, bold enough to grab hold of anyone’s pants for coins, would quietly edge away from Eunice’s current ferocity.

“Allen Kalia. Always spinning fanciful tales, proclaiming himself the kingdom’s… no, the continent’s only knight while spewing nonsense—”

Eunice was filled with despair.

“It turns out he’s indeed fallen into a contract with demons, walking down the path of wickedness.”

“The proud knights of the Marquis Family entrusted to him have already fallen under the demon’s influence. The grasp of Allen is slowly creeping towards the other soldiers and knight battalions.”

“When my mother learned of this, it was said she eventually called upon the Count’s House due to the oath made among the forebears.”

An oath made among our ancestors?

What kind of oath could allow such authority over military rights and immediate judgment authority to have a lasting influence even extending to future generations?

Beyond such irritation and confusion…

‘Allen Kalia, I really didn’t like him from the very first meeting.’

All the grievances against Allen Kalia began to resurface.

His actions were reminiscent of that pretentious Bronte, which was particularly irritating. He strutted around making cute sounds appropriate for a girl, flaunting his appearance for an insistent appeal. He even went so far as to contract with demons.

While my face soured with discontent, Eunice’s words continued uninterrupted, prompting us to focus back on her speech.

“And so… I take this opportunity to ask of you, my lady, who is the second daughter of the Count’s House.”

The eldest daughter of the Marquis and first in line to inherit the family bowed her head.

“Please, I beseech you, assist us in the Kalia Marquis Family alongside Lady Siabel.”

*

“Lady Siabel, we have arrived at the Kalia Marquis Family.”

At Bronte’s words, Siabel, who had been dozing in the carriage, stirred and waved her hand.

“Yawn… If we’re just at the entrance of the territory, you don’t need to tell me. Just wake me up when we reach the center.”

“We are at the center now. It would be best to prepare as we will soon be stepping out of the carriage.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, indeed.”

With that, Shione brushed her messy hair away with her hands and looked out the carriage window.

The colossal fortress city, Kalia Marquis. The scenery outside was bustling with mercenaries and merchants.

Soon, Siabel Shianella emerged from the carriage, not as a noble lady but as a knight. Clad in armor instead of formal attire, with a striking sword instead of elegant accessories.

“So, this is Kalia Marquis Family.”

The wind fluttered her long hair.

Regardless, Siabel turned her head to survey her surroundings.

The castle walls stretched high, though lower and narrower than those of the Count’s House. The ambiance felt gloomier than her homeland, and there were tales of noble blood mingling with demons here.

Once she confirmed no one was around, she whispered quietly enough that no one could hear.

“So this is the feeling of the Marquis Family.”

Siabel grinned slightly at the corner of her mouth, murmuring quietly,

“The Count’s House is far better.”

 

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