The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 122

Chapter 122: The Martial Arts Tournament and the Saintess

The martial arts tournament was set to take place in a plain a bit away from the center of Enkar Village.

Nearby, there was a campsite where people with their own carts could set up tents and stay, not too far from the residential area, so it seemed that more spectators were gathering than expected.

People gathered to claim a good vantage point outside, where stakes had been driven in and hemp ropes strung up. Those quick to seize business opportunities loaded their carts with ale, soup, and flatbread sandwiches to sell.

From the lord’s manor, large barrels of ale were being brought in and sold for iron coins, and it seemed to be selling quite well, as a long line could be seen from the tent set up as a VIP area.

Cedric was also participating in this tournament, so he sat beside Alexis in the VIP area, while Serleine took a seat across from Alexis. Behind them were August and another knight brought along by Alexis.

“There are quite a lot of spectators. I don’t think the ale you prepared will be enough.”

Cedric remarked.

“It’s a great opportunity, so I should have made a bit more.”

Alexis replied.

“Diligence is a virtue, but life also needs entertainment. It might be good to organize regular festivals or support events in the village.”

Cedric suggested.

Indeed, the festival led by Melfina had been the autumn harvest festival, the first and last of its kind, and nothing else resembling a festival had occurred since.

Looking out at the venue, everyone was smiling brightly as they drank ale and nibbled on flatbread sandwiches. These were things that could be bought from stalls in everyday life, but under the blue sky, gathering with many others to eat made it something special.

Perhaps these festive days are necessary sometimes.

“What kind of festivals are there in the northern region?”

Serleine asked.

When he inquired, Alexis stroked his chin and made a thoughtful gesture.

“Your Excellency, I believe the flower festival is the most famous around here.”

August whispered from behind, but at this distance, Melfina surely could hear him as well.

“Indeed, the most famous festival is the flower festival held in Soarasonne. At the beginning of summer, carts laden with flower baskets sell flowers everywhere, and families, lovers, and close friends exchange flowers, giving one each. Many bands gather in Soarasonne for this day, filling the streets with flowers and music.”

“Well, that sounds lovely.”

“It originally started as a festival initiated by the temple and was small at first, but during my father’s time, the Oldrand family provided support, claiming it was suitable for the Grand Flower Festival in the North, leading to its current scale. The number of flowers represents the goddess’s blessings, and it is said that those surrounded by flowers possess great virtue.”

“There are also smaller music festivals and ale festivals held by districts, it seems. While these are on a district or village level, they occur on set days every year, attracting more tourists from nearby areas, making inns very busy.”

“It seems the duke isn’t very interested in festivals.”

Serleine remarked.

“Rather than lacking interest, it’s because I’m on the managing side. If I have no opportunity to give or receive flowers, it’s hard to remember them.”

Alexis replied.

Despite such a lively festival taking place in the duke’s territory, Alexis spoke as if it were entirely someone else’s affair.

Melfina would surely participate with flowers in hand. She thought of all the faces she wanted to give flowers to: Marie, Cedric, Serleine, Simon, Julius, and others living at the lord’s manor, as well as Ed, Cliff, Rad, Anna, Rod, Rena, Nid, Eli, Lutz, Fritz, Ricardo, Eddie, Lewis, Roy, and Carl.

It was something possible only because it was a small territory. Alexis, as the lord of a vast area in the North, was naturally very different from Melfina, despite sharing the same title.

“Well then, at the beginning of summer, I’ll bring you some rare flowers, Your Grace. But wouldn’t you prefer ale?”

Serleine asked playfully.

“No… then, let me send you flowers as a token of my esteem. I’ll include some fine tea as well,” Alexis responded.

Alexis was an exceptionally good trading partner. He governed a large territory, and his commitment to fulfilling contracts sincerely was admirable.

While Melfina thought it proper to receive flowers as a gesture of respect, she sensed Alexis’s confusion about how to respond, wondering if she had made him uncomfortable. However, he didn’t seem to take offense.

“Is there a special festival in the Kingdom of Luxen, Your Excellency?”

When I called out to Serleine, who was on the other side of Alexis, he peeked up with his small head.

“The most famous festival is the Summer Solstice Festival. In Luxen, summer is short, so on that day, everyone dresses up, sets up pillars decorated with flowers and leaves, dances, and enjoys feast.”

He explained.

He added, a bit regretfully, “I’ve never participated myself.”

Being a prince and in poor health, it was likely difficult for him to leave his private quarters often.

“That’s why this festive atmosphere is new to me, and I’m really excited. I’m grateful to you, Lady Melfina, for this precious opportunity.”

He said, his formal speech fluent and fitting for his status.

Last year’s harvest festival had taken place before Serleine arrived in the Enkar region. It was uncertain how long he could stay, as it depended on the royal family’s intentions, but if he remained until then, he would be able to join in a larger-scale festival.

“Ah, the knights’ entrance is beginning.”

Serleine noted, prompting Melfina to turn her gaze to the venue. Cedric, Roland, and Sigmund, three knights, entered, leading their horses.

Instead of their usual knight uniforms, all three were clad in heavy metal armor.

First, the three armored knights would demonstrate their horsemanship, archery, and sword skills. Since only members of the knight class generally rode horses, and with fewer participants this time, it would be a display of individual skills rather than a tournament.

After that, soldiers would showcase their archery and spear skills, from which the three knights would select the top performers to participate in mock battles, as outlined in today’s schedule. Melfina would provide prizes for the knights and the selected soldiers.

“That armor looks quite heavy.”

Serleine remarked.

The knights were entirely covered in metal armor, fully enclosing their heads. Their movements appeared smooth, almost as if the weight didn’t hinder them, but it must have been quite heavy.

“When including the helmet, it exceeds twenty kilograms. That said, in actual combat in the North, armor is rarely used; it’s mainly ceremonial or worn by those protecting royalty.”

Alexis explained.

“Ah, because monsters appear in winter, and metal armor gets too cold.”

Serleine responded.

“You’re as frighteningly sharp as ever.”

Alexis replied with a hint of admiration. Though Alexis’s tone sounded more exasperated than complimentary, he nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, in actual combat in the North, armor is rarely made of metal; they wear gear heavily made of fur. Many cloaks have fur lining as well.”

He explained.

That might be heavy, but it was certainly better than a twenty-kilogram lump of metal.

Melfina found it more puzzling why armor existed in a world without wars, even in a formal sense.

“Could it be that there was a time in the past when the church and the temple did not restrict wars?”

She asked.

Alexis seemed to grasp the intent of her question immediately.

“If fighting against beasts or monsters, it would make more sense to develop armor like chain mail rather than heavy armor. If there’s no war between humans, I can’t think of a situation where one would need to cover themselves in metal armor to guard against arrows or swords.”

“The church and temple have not changed their claims, but there have been many times of diminished influence, particularly… no.”

He hesitated.

“? What is it?”

Melfina asked.

It was rare for Alexis to hesitate like this. She glanced at him and noticed a slight furrow in his brow.

“When a saintess appears, the very bad winds caused by illness and injury decrease, naturally lowering the social superiority of the church and temple. After the saintess passes away, the period before their influence recovers tends to lead to increased conflict. Once humans start fighting, it becomes difficult to stop unless there’s a significant need for healing. They find reasons—face and pride—to justify continuing the conflict. I’ve heard that until a large plague struck about thirty years ago, there were considerable disputes between territories.”

Melfina gasped at the mention of the saintess in what had begun as a casual conversation.

“A saintess?”

She echoed.

“Yes, you must know of her, right? A holy maiden sent by the gods. She wields great magic freely, healing all wounds and illnesses. The land ruled by a saintess is filled with blessings, and even four-star monsters are no match for her. She is the woman who governs healing and blessings.”

Unbeknownst to her, the fingertips resting on her lap had grown cold, and when she tried to clasp them, they trembled and failed to do so.

“Could it be that this is about the story of the Pure Maiden who founded the nation?”

She asked.

From Alexis’s words, a faint memory stirred in her mind—her nurse had told her tales as bedtime stories.

A Pure Maiden sent from the heavens blessed the world, and she united with a prince to establish a new nation, living happily ever after. This was the children’s “story” that marked the beginning of the current Kingdom of Francesca.

“Yes, there’s a sermon about that in the temple. In the church, it’s told that the king who founded the nation acquired the holy maiden and created a land filled with happiness.”

Alexis replied.

It made sense that the temple worshipping the goddess would focus on the tale of the saintess, while the church venerating the male god would tell tales of heroes.

“Is it a historical fact that the saintess founded the Kingdom of Francesca?”

She asked in a stiff voice.

Alexis’s pale gray eyes showed a hint of surprise.

“I thought it was a fairly well-known tale, but it seems even you have things you don’t know. If you’re interested, I can arrange for a history book to be delivered. There’s a memoir from the duke of that time, although it’s from a northern perspective.”

“Please do.”

She replied, her voice caught in her throat, making it difficult to speak. She could feel the tightness in her lungs from her intense nervousness, causing her breaths to become shallow.

—Was it true that a saintess had already appeared in this world?

Alexis seemed to regard it as common knowledge that Melfina should be aware of. Until now, she hadn’t connected the saintess with the Pure Maiden her nurse had spoken of, but it was clearly a famous story.

Most likely, children like Melfina first heard these tales as bedtime stories from their nurses or parents.

Eventually, they might visit the temple for consolation or, when they made friends of a similar age, discuss the romance between the king and the saintess.

Melfina had lost her nurse when her education as a lady began, and since then, she hadn’t had anyone close in age to tuck her in at night or chat with her.

The things she had learned were all suitable for a lady—culture, languages, and practical subjects like economics. She had dismissed reading stories as a waste of time.

It was likely that her girlhood had not been particularly wholesome. She never imagined that the consequences would manifest in such a way now.

If the saintess had already come to this world, what did “now” even mean?

Moreover, Alexis’s tone suggested that the saintess had descended multiple times over a considerable period.

“Melfina.”

He called.

“…Yes?”

“Your complexion looks pale. Is something wrong?”

For Alexis, who was usually oblivious to others’ nuances, to point that out meant she must look quite awful right now.

“No, I’m fine. —Marie, could you bring some tea? Even if it’s lukewarm, it’s okay.”

“Right away.”

Marie replied, bowing before swiftly exiting the tent.

When she lifted her gaze, cheers erupted as the three knights mounted their horses.

“Don’t worry, Your Grace. I’ve just gotten a little chilly.”

She assured Alexis.

Today, they were the main event. This martial arts tournament was organized as a rare opportunity for the knights to demonstrate their skills and training in front of their lord, having lost the chance to achieve feats of valor.

Despite her multitude of concerns, she knew she had to focus on them for now.

As she smiled and directed her attention to the arena, her clenched fists trembled slightly in her lap, and she found it hard to stop.