The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 123

Chapter 123: Anxiety and the Dispatch of Blessings

Marie brought tea, steaming with white vapor, along with a fur blanket.

Spring had deepened, and though it wasn’t cold enough to really feel the chill, I was about to tell her that I didn’t need to go that far. However, Marie’s expression, as she offered the blanket, was tense, conveying her deep concern for Melfina. So, I decided to take it and draped it over my shoulders.

The warm tea was the familiar corn tea that Melfina usually enjoyed drinking in her daily life. As she exhaled a sigh of relief at the gentle, familiar taste, her agitation and trembling finally began to settle down.

—How pathetic I am, being so shaken like that.

Melfina had been operating under the assumption that, someday, the Saintess would appear in this world. One could say, for the most part, things had been going smoothly.

Even so, the thought that the world she lived in was actually the storyline of a game, and that some greater force was controlling the fate of Melfina and those she was trying to win over, was both terrifying and displeasing.

The idea that this irrational destiny might not only govern her own life but also that of those she had grown close to filled her with fear and anger.

“Lady Melfina.”

Marie, who had been waiting nearby, called out softly, prompting her to raise her head.

“Wouldn’t it be best for you to rest in your room? Fortunately, the Duke is also present.”

Since Alexis was the primary figure the knights served, Melfina could leave without causing any issues.

After Melfina had collapsed once, Marie had become even more cautious about her health, almost to the point of being overprotective.

“I’m fine. I just got a bit chilly, that’s all. After drinking some tea, I feel much better.”

She turned her gaze to the venue, following the surge of cheers. Although Marie didn’t seem entirely convinced, she said nothing more.

The three knights on horseback had straightened their backs and skillfully guided their horses to their designated positions. After nocking their arrows and taking two practice shots, the archery competition began.

Although they usually spoke casually, when they acted as knights like this, they appeared gallant and reliable.

First, Roland drew his bow and released the arrow. To Melfina, the distance between the horse and the target seemed quite far, yet the arrow flew straight and struck the center of the target as if it were being drawn in.

“Wow,” murmurs of admiration arose from the surrounding onlookers.

“I’ve heard that the knights of Oldrand are all trained in archery, but this is truly impressive…”

Melfina couldn’t help but exhale in awe at the refined skill on display.

In a world without precision-manufactured products, where individual differences in weapons like bows were likely significant, to be able to hit the target so accurately from horseback showed just how much they had trained and continuously honed their abilities.

Next, Sigmund, followed by Cedric, loosed their arrows, each hitting the center of the target as well.

The next round involved shooting arrows while riding at full speed. Sigmund won this round by a landslide. While Sigmund’s performance remained flawless as if he were stationary, Roland barely managed to hit the target with all three shots, and Cedric missed one shot entirely.

Even so, it was clear that it required considerable skill and strength to nock and shoot an arrow without losing balance while riding a horse at such high speeds.

Knights typically started as squires around the age of twelve, learning the ways of knighthood while taking care of a knight’s daily tasks. As they grew, they became shield-bearers, fighting alongside knights to earn honor, all with the goal of one day being knighted themselves.

All of this was to build the strength needed to defeat monsters and protect the northern regions. Melfina hadn’t fully grasped before why knights didn’t see standing guard as an honor, even when protecting nobles, but watching them now, she realized they were not mere protectors, but warriors.

In the end, Sigmund won the archery competition, and Roland gave Cedric a friendly pat on the shoulder in consolation.

“Sigmund’s skill remains as sharp as ever.”

“I’ve heard the famous story of Sigmund shooting five falling leaves from a tree with a single bowshot,” said Alexis and August, talking in admiration. Even to Melfina, who knew nothing about knightly customs, it was clear that Sigmund’s skill stood head and shoulders above the others.

“Cedric isn’t very good with the bow, is he?”

“His true strength lies in the sword. Honestly, the only one who can match Cedric’s swordsmanship is probably the Duke.”

“His sword is truly divine. In a chaotic battle mixed with magic, it might be different, but in a pure one-on-one duel, I’d probably be the one kneeling.”

Alexis remarked casually, which surprised Melfina a little.

She had often heard from the knights about Alexis’ exceptional martial prowess, and Melfina had never doubted it.

Even in the game, Alexis was described as having immense magical power and combat abilities, said to be the strongest in the northern regions.

However, Cedric was also one of the central characters, and although his parameters had strengths and weaknesses, his stats should have been at least on par with Alexis in most respects.

After the archery contest ended, there was a short break before the swordsmanship demonstrations began. During the break, the spectators lined up at food stalls or gathered at the toilets, where long lines had formed.

“Maybe we should add more outdoor toilets. But if we add too many, it’ll be troublesome to clean them up later.”

“I think adding a few more would be a good idea. People in the Enkar region are already accustomed to using toilets, but with the laborers constantly rotating, it seems the soldiers often have to remind them.”

It seemed that some of the people coming from outside still resisted waiting in line or searching for a toilet.

“Later, we’ll need to discuss where and how many to add.”

“We’ll conduct a survey in Enkar Village and Melto Village. I’ll report back on the results.”

Marie, as always, was an efficient secretary. Melfina smiled at her prompt and responsive attitude, and Marie returned a relieved smile.

“I’m glad to see your color has improved, Lady Melfina.”

“Sorry for worrying you.”

Marie then said she would prepare another cup of tea and quietly walked away.

“You two seem as close as ever. Like sisters.”

Alexis remarked.

“Yes, I think of Marie as more than just a reliable secretary; she’s like a younger sister to me.”

Melfina replied honestly, and Alexis simply nodded in response.

“By the way, I was thinking of having the children from the Enkar region receive blessings at the temple and church. Should we prepare some special token of thanks if we do it as a group?”

Melfina asked.

“You mean for the commoners’ children?”

“Yes. There’s an increasing number of children showing signs of talent. While it’s up to them to decide what path to take, knowing what talent they possess would make it easier for them to choose the right path.”

Receiving a blessing wasn’t an unusual practice, but in some regions, there were no temples or churches, and not everyone had the opportunity. Alexis probably hadn’t expected her to suggest moving a whole group of children to where the temples or churches were located.

“Depending on the number, moving them all could be troublesome. You could request the dispatch of priests and clerics.”

“Is that really an option?”

Melfina recalled that when she turned eleven, she had traveled all the way to the temple in the royal capital to receive her blessing. There had been several other noble daughters present that day, so she had always thought it was something you went to the temple or church for.

“When local lords want their children blessed, they sometimes invite priests or clerics for promising vassals’ children as well. If you’d like, I can reach out to the priests and clerics with whom the Oldrand family has good relations.”

“I’d really appreciate that. Also, if you could teach me the proper etiquette for offering thanks and hosting them during their stay, that would be helpful too.”

“For that, the steward would be more knowledgeable. August?”

Alexis said, passing the responsibility.

“I’ll consult with the steward to ensure we follow all the proper customs. Ideally, we’d build temples and churches in the Enkar region, but…”

August replied.

“Given the situation with the clerics during the recent Pluina subjugation, I doubt it will happen in the next few years. A regular dispatch, once every few years, would be more realistic for now.”

At the time Julius visited the Enkar region, Melfina had learned that the temple and church were already aware of the Saintess’s descent. With the impending arrival of the Saintess, it was understandable that there wasn’t enough capacity to build new temples or churches in the countryside.

However, Alexis spoke as if he knew the situation in detail.

— Could it be that Alexis also knows that the Saintess is coming next year?

This thought stirred a sense of unease in Melfina’s chest.

Lately, things had been going smoothly. She had been able to interact with Alexis more calmly, and business with the Duke’s domain was progressing well. But the arrival of Maria, the Saintess, could change all of that drastically.

Perhaps that’s why she felt so unsettled.

As the break came to an end, the knights, now equipped with their swords, returned to the field. The excited murmurs of the audience clearly reached all the way to the VIP seats.