The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Conversation between the Knight and the Mage

After leaving the office, Marie glanced briefly at Julius, gave a ceremonial bow, and then went downstairs.

I’m aware that I’m not particularly sensitive to people’s emotions, but it’s clear that Marie doesn’t have very favorable feelings toward Julius. This was especially evident after Julius got involved with Melfina.

Although Marie’s position as a secretary is different from that of a bodyguard, I understand how concerned she must be for Melfina, given that she spends most of her time with her.

Julius’s frivolous attitude doesn’t suit the people from the North. Using words that intrude on others’ feelings has always been one of Julius’s bad habits.

“It seems like you have something you want to say. I’m about to fall asleep soon, so it’s better to say it quickly.”

Suppressing a yawn, Julius, who seemed to have no intention of caring about others’ emotions, was glared at with irritation by Cedric.

How many times since childhood have I thought this about my free-spirited childhood friend who acts on his own principles? Today, I felt that sentiment deeply and repeatedly.

“Can’t you choose your words more carefully?”

Melfina is a woman of noble standing. Unlike knights or mages accustomed to experiments, she isn’t used to bloody matters.

Growing up in the royal capital, it must be the first time she’s actually felt the presence of magical beasts, even though she has knowledge about them.

Marie must have endured quite a lot, only reproaching Julius internally when Melfina turned pale from his words.

“You know I can’t do that, but you really have a hard time giving up. But if you were good at giving up, you would have already given up on me, so I actually like that about you.”

“Bringing up things like that… no, it was useless.”

“Yes, yes, that’s the spirit.”

In the Kingdom of Francesca, it is not particularly unusual to praise someone directly or express affection openly. However, such customs are less common in the North. Even Cedric, who has been serving as a knight in this region for several years, has become quite distant from the capital’s practices.

Today, Melfina was clearly downcast. Despite having successfully repelled the magical beasts that appeared in the territory, it seemed that her suppressed anxiety surfaced more than any joy or relief.

Over time, it has become clear that Melfina, like Marie in a different way, tends to suppress her emotions.

Although she always tries to remain calm, she is still a young noblewoman. Observing Melfina, it becomes apparent how unreliable the rumors that reached the capital were. At the same time, it’s somewhat understandable why such an intelligent woman was plagued by those rumors.

Melfina did not directly refute the malicious rumors; instead, she likely tried to negate them by always showing the correct demeanor of a noblewoman. Cedric finds this attitude admirable. He would probably act similarly if faced with a comparable situation.

However, from an objective viewpoint, those who spread bad rumors do not care about the truth.

The daughter of the Crawford family, which rules the South. Her bright blonde hair and green eyes are features associated with royalty, reflecting how closely the Crawford family is linked with central power.

It is likely that there were not few who felt envious of Melfina’s very existence, with her striking beauty, extensive knowledge, and exceptional execution skills.

Even if she tried to prove her legitimacy by governing herself, it was clear to Cedric that such efforts would end in vain.

While she often displays unconventional behavior as a noblewoman, her refined manners and deep education are evident to anyone who is close to her. During her time in the capital, there were no talks of her being uncharacteristically noble, so she must not have behaved in such a manner.

And it was probably the same after coming to this Enkar region.

Melfina often behaves in ways that are unorthodox for a noblewoman, but on the other hand, she maintains ideal conduct as a lord. She listens well to the people, develops the land, and does not exploit it for personal gain, improving the lives of the inhabitants.

From Cedric’s perspective, her overly lenient judgments can be a cause for concern, but at least Melfina has never made a fatal mistake.

Melfina performed her duties as a lord so effortlessly and achieved results one after another that it was easy to forget she had only taken on the role this spring and hadn’t been groomed for it from the start.

The trap Melfina devised this time is likely to be highly effective against the Sasurika threat.

Cedric knew well how heavy the burden of the Pluina’s extermination was on the North. Just yesterday, a knight he had been drinking ale with at the same table was devoured alive by that horrible monster.

As a knight serving the Oldrand family in the North, Cedric couldn’t avoid making that proposal.

However, Melfina clearly wanted to erase from existence the trap she had created. As someone who served her, understanding and following the will of the master was one of his roles.

“You’re deep in thought. Lady, you will continue to govern this land, won’t you? Then your proposal was very reasonable. The harm caused by magical beasts can sometimes swallow villages and destroy cities. Sometimes, making a ruthless decision before that happens is necessary. Isn’t that what a lord is supposed to do?”

“That person is kind. She probably doesn’t intend for something she created to be used to cause suffering.”

“I don’t see the Lady as just a kind person. Oh, and this isn’t an insult, so don’t glare at me so much. It’s scary.”

“I was born with this face.”

Julius gave a vague, elusive smile.

“You don’t like the Lady just because she’s kind, do you? The job of a lord is the opposite of charity and benevolence. Managing the people as numbers, assigning them here and there, and sometimes making decisions in dangerous or fatal situations. That’s why there’s charity work in noblewomen’s duties, isn’t there? If a husband turns people into pawns, then it’s the wife’s job to care for the human side of those pawns. The Lady is trying to do both on her own, so it’s natural for her to have days of conflict. It’s a path everyone must eventually tread, and your master is someone who can overcome it.”

He’s still talking as much as ever. His face looks half asleep already, but his mouth keeps running smoothly.

Cedric thought that wanting to fulfill the master’s wishes while also wanting the master to understand what he believes is right might be a common conflict for those who serve someone with great responsibility.

“By the way, do you know about something called ‘Tora’?”

“? No, I don’t recognize the term. What is it?”

“As far as I know, ‘Tora’ is a name for a mythical beast said to dwell on a continent located further south from Romana, which is itself located further south from the Southern Region. Of course, this continent might be just a rumor. Trade beyond the Southern Region across the sea is controlled by Romana and is completely unknown to the citizens of Francesca. My knowledge comes from having acquaintances among obsessive researchers in the Ivory Tower. Apparently, ‘Tora’ is a creature that’s as huge as a horse but is a giant cat.”

“Your explanations are so convoluted. What exactly are you trying to say?”

“The trap is called a ‘Tora Trap’, right? It’s clear that the name comes from the fact that it traps like a pair of scissors, but I was wondering what the ‘Tora’ part means.”

“Isn’t it from ‘trap’?”

“Well, maybe. I’m too sleepy to think straight.”

His laid-back childhood friend yawned again and rubbed his eyes. His mannerisms hadn’t changed at all since childhood.

“The Lady seems, how should I put it, precarious. Despite being so sharp, she seems like her heart can’t keep up. It’s as if she has two completely different minds. You and that girl, um—”

“Marie.”

“Right, right. I think both of you need to be careful. But both of you are so serious. If you take everything too heavily, you might end up breaking from the strain. That’s called elasticity. Soft materials bend when force is applied, but hard materials often snap right in the middle.”

“Your conversation is going off-topic. —As always, you can’t remember names.”

“I remember your name just fine. Well, that’s just how I am.”

Cedric saw Julius off to the guest room in the expanded wing. Given his condition, it seemed likely that Julius would collapse into bed without even changing into a gown and wouldn’t come out of his room for several days.

“Serious, huh.”

Cedric thought that being described as stiff and lacking in flexibility, in various ways since childhood, was both his flaw and his strength.

Indeed, Melfina, Marie, and himself, despite having different directions, all share a seriousness and a tendency to view things heavily and to be prone to deep thinking. It’s possible that Julius coming to the Enkar region has created a good balance.

“If only I could bend instead of Melfina.”

Cedric chuckled self-deprecatingly at his own uncharacteristic thought and headed outside to give instructions to the stationed soldiers about issuing notices to the villages.

In recent days, the commotion caused by the magical beasts had made the lord’s residence quite unsettled, and Cedric had spent a lot of time away from Melfina, moving around outside.

Starting tomorrow, life would return to its usual routine, and it would be good if such days continued indefinitely.

Cedric himself had not yet realized that this wish was far removed from his former self.