Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 243

Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 243

242. Childhood Friends - New People
As dawn broke, with darkness still lingering, Nevis, the capital of the Arcaea Kingdom, was slowly waking from its slumber, beginning from its outskirts.
The ones to first breathe life into the sleepy capital were the street vendors. At the crack of dawn, when the streets were still touched by the winter chill, the merchants set out—just as some debauchee might be falling into a belated sleep.
"Good morning! Did you sleep well?" They exchanged greetings with the joviality typical of merchants, dealing in goods as they did so.
Having traded for anywhere from over a dozen years to several decades without missing a day, haggling was rare among them. Instead of exchanging money immediately, they often settled debts by simply marking a stroke in their ledgers.
Not long after, the farmers and livestock herders added their presence to the dark streets, rising just a bit later than the vendors.
Farmers, accustomed to the weight of their plows on their shoulders, drank the porridge-like tea offered by a vendor as they headed out to till the frozen winter ground.
Though the residents near the capital lived in an area where even a closed eye could be at risk of theft, they were naturally kind-hearted and grateful for the vendor’s attempt to attract customers. Nodding in thanks, they hurried along their way.
After the taciturn hunters departed one by one for the mountains surrounding Nevis, only the carefree children, women, and elderly remained on the outskirts. This was the time when the capital's lower classes began their day-to-day struggles, while the middle class within Nevis Castle was just starting to wake up.
Artisans who skillfully created various goods, cooks who had met a noble lord at least once, and maids and servants of noble households all waited for the castle gates, firmly shut through the night, to open. When the morning bells of the Nevis Church tolled and the gates swung open, they each purchased the necessary raw materials from the vendors outside.
This was when the vendors, who had been friendly just moments before, suddenly changed.
Haggling became commonplace, and the weights on their scales were as light as their consciences. Amidst the bargaining, one clumsy servant got swindled and would surely face harsh reprimands upon returning.
As the water carts creaked into the castle, most of the upper class in Nevis was still asleep.
It was just dawn, and the water for washing had not yet arrived. But here, in a wooden building, a man who had risen from a makeshift bed was shaving dry, guided only by the feeling in his fingertips.
With practiced motions, he cleanly shaved his chin, tidied up his sideburns, and tucked a sharp dagger into his coat. After wiping his face with the water left from the previous day, he deliberately stomped down the wooden stairs, making his steps loud.
“Commander, you’re up already?”
“Yes. The water carts will be here soon, so wash up quickly and come out.”
He did this to wake his attendant, who had risen later than the commander, a punishable offense, but he said nothing more. The commander had a habit of getting some work done before breakfast.
In his office, seated at a neatly organized desk, he processed a few documents before his lazy attendant brought in breakfast. The commander quickly finished his meal.
While he ate, the attendant helped him into his leather boots and tightened the laces. Then, offering salt to replenish his body's needs, he suggested the commander clean his teeth. The commander thoroughly scrubbed his teeth with a finger dipped in salt, swallowed it down with water the attendant brought, and headed out immediately.
He stepped out briskly, leaving the headquarters and running to the more distant barracks, where he soon met ‘Mr. Brender.’ The entrance to the barracks, swarming with burly men, bore a sign that read "Cesar Mercenary Corps."
“Good morning, Mr. Brender.”
“Good morning, Commander Cesar.”
The mercenary commander, Cesar, greeted Brender with a friendly smile.
“Nothing out of the ordinary last night, I hope? But with you here, Mr. Brender, I have nothing to worry about. Haha.”
“Yes. The men’s morale is high thanks to your daily visits and care, Commander. I’m almost embarrassed.”
“Oh, nonsense! It’s all thanks to you, Mr. Brender, that we’ve established this order. Have you had breakfast? I have something to ask you.”
Cesar and Brender entered the barracks. Once in disarray, the barracks were now spotless, thanks to Brender, a former knight. The mercenaries, though still somewhat unruly, exhibited a degree of discipline in their greetings to the commander.
After making a round of the barracks, Cesar and Brender sat down. Cesar opened the conversation by asking about Count Amus.
“The Countess’s birthday is approaching. What should I gift Lady Taralin Amus that the Count would appreciate?”
“Hm, I doubt he’d care much, but… Ah, anything related to beauty would please him. The Count wanted to marry his daughter off to one of the princes. Besides… Though it pains me to say, the Count is known for hitting her often, so a gift like makeup to cover bruises would certainly be appreciated. It’s a pity for the young lady, though.”
“...I see. Anything else?”
Brender shrugged, implying there wasn’t much else.
Though dissatisfied with this answer, Cesar nodded.
On his way back after finishing his business at the mercenary barracks, Cesar passed through the Nevis commercial district, deep in thought.
If I buy rouge to cover bruises, the Count will be pleased. But Lady Amus will only get hit more because of it.
Brender’s advice was credible.
Brender had been a knight of the Amus family but resigned after the twin princes took power, disillusioned by the Count's growing vulgarity. He started a small mercenary group that Cesar scouted after finding him escorting merchant caravans.
Thus, few knew the inner workings of the Amus family better than Brender. Cesar should follow his advice, yet as he fiddled with a jar of rouge that matched the pale skin of Lady Taralin Amus, he set it down. Instead, he bought a pair of high-heeled shoes from a shoemaker.
He then visited a jeweler, asking for gems that would match Lady Amus’s pink hair to be set into the shoes. The result was just what he wanted.
The shoes were dainty, adorned with lace in a way that resembled how she usually braided her hair. The gems, small and not overly flashy, were the perfect expression of a modest sentiment.
But was this the right thing to do?
Cesar felt a mix of relief and guilt, knowing he was going against his liege's wishes.
Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to gift the rouge. Holding the well-wrapped shoes, he climbed into a carriage and soon arrived at Count Amus’s mansion.
“I am Cesar, Commander of the Cesar Mercenary Corps. The Count has summoned me.”
Cesar passed through the gates easily, as he was a frequent visitor. He followed a maid to the Count, without needing a butler to accompany him, and encountered...
“Greetings.”
“...Commander Cesar, it’s been a while.”
...a listless young lady.
Taralin, who seemed to wither more each day, took after her mother, not her father, and was an adorably petite young lady. She was small in stature, with a tiny head and sparkling eyes, but she was reaching her limits.
It was because of the tasks her father forced upon her. Left alone...
“Excuse me, please.”
“Yes?”
“I heard your birthday is soon. I brought a small gift.”
“A gift from you, Commander?”
“Yes.”
His firm tone and the gaze of a man looking at a woman conveyed genuine emotion.
Though in his early thirties, Cesar’s dark complexion and earnest expression made the much younger Taralin purse her lips in thought. Accepting the gift, she shyly asked,
“May I open it now?”
“Of course.”
Cesar nodded happily.
The maid who had been guiding them unwrapped the package, revealing the shoes. Seeing the shoes that resembled her, Taralin burst into laughter, the first in what seemed like ages.
“Thank you. I’m not sure if they’ll fit, but I’ll wear them well.”
“They’ll fit. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
Cesar maintained his stiff and respectful demeanor as he brushed past the young lady. Entering the Count’s room, he greeted him with a smile like that of a jester.
“Count! I hope you’ve been well. It is an honor to visit your mansion again. It looks splendid as always! I noticed the new statue in the garden.”
The Count, lounging arrogantly on a sofa while flipping through some papers, turned his yellowish eyes. He smiled, seemingly pleased.
“You have an eye for interior decoration. Please, sit. I’ve summoned you because I have a task for you.”
“Anything you need, just say the word.”
“I want you to investigate the Conrad Kingdom. There’s something troubling me...”
Cesar remained silent, a chill running down his spine at the insight of his liege. He seized the right moment to probe further into the Count's words.
This was the reason he had put up with the Count's whims for so long.
“Understood. But is it perhaps because of Elzeor de Lognum that you want this investigated?”
The Count’s eyes flicked toward Cesar. As befitting a noble, he concealed his surprise and asked calmly,
“What makes you think that?”
“Because the Second Prince received the southeastern coastal lands of the kingdom as his duchy. I thought the land might be a bit too small for his satisfaction.”
“Haha. You never cease to amaze me. Go on. Surprise me even more.”
Cesar bowed his head, rubbing his hands together obsequiously as he replied.
“Hehe, thank you. Given my situation running a small mercenary group, I can’t help but pay attention to such news.”
That was enough humility.
“I thought Prince Elzeor de Lognum might be very interested in the lands of the Conrad Kingdom. However, he wouldn’t be able to manage it alone, so he would need the kingdom's support and the assistance of nobles. Since you mentioned it, it means that both have been secured... Did you join forces with Marquis Guidan? Or perhaps with the Eastern Border Count? Oh, pardon me. Since you’re from a different faction, that couldn’t be it. Then you must be planning to participate yourself! If Count Amus joins, the Second Prince will be overjoyed, feeling as if he’s gained a whole new army.”
“Hmm... You got one thing wrong.”
The Count deliberately revealed what Cesar had failed to predict.
“Marquis Guidan has indeed joined forces with Duke Elzeor de Lognum. A war will break out this year. But I’m impressed—you got nearly everything else right.”
“Hehe, thank you. My humble...”
“I’m torn, though. Should I assist the Second Prince in the war, or would it be better to stay in the capital and support the First Prince? What do you think?”
“It’s difficult to say, as it’s such a significant matter, but...”
Cesar pressed his lips together as he bowed his head.
“I think it would be wise to observe the situation before committing to the war.”
“And why is that?”
“It’s clear that the political situation must have become chaotic when Prince Leo de Yeriel returned alive and killed Prince Eric. The Western Border Duke’s house, the Tertan Duchy, has fallen, and wasn’t it the Ropero County that took its place? An untested family is now in charge of the border, so you would likely gain the upper hand in the initial phase. However, the Conrad Kingdom is not an easy target. Even if you break through their borders, the fierce resistance will likely result in more losses than gains.”
“Hmmm.”
“That’s why I suggest...”
This was the crucial moment. Cesar felt his throat dry up as he repeated the words his lord had taught him long ago.
“I’ve heard that the nobles who supported the Second Prince have been lost and aimless ever since he was made a duke and left. Would it not be wise to solidify relations with them while assessing the situation? If the Second Prince's campaign appears to succeed, you could lead a large army with those nobles. Then the Prince wouldn’t dare overlook you. If it seems likely to fail, you could draw those nobles into the First Prince’s faction instead...”
Cesar trailed off. With his head bowed, he couldn’t see the Count’s expression.
However, showing an expression that suggests scheming to a noble could be very dangerous. Cesar remained still, his head lowered in apparent remorse for his audacious advice, until he heard the Count’s voice.
“Even if the campaign succeeds, I would lose nothing by remaining with the First Prince, is that what you mean?”
“Yes, that’s correct. And there’s one more advantageous option.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve heard that you don’t particularly like Count Geogis Germain. If you send him to participate in the campaign, you would be the only one left here...”
“What? Hahaha!”
Cesar felt the Count slap his back. He bowed even lower.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Kuhuhuhuhu. No, that was truly amusing. That fellow, the merchant family he’s been sponsoring... The Theovic family, was it? They went bankrupt recently, so he’s been on edge. If he heard such words from a commoner like you, his expression would be priceless. Oh, don’t worry, I won’t tattle on you. Hahaha. I’ll seriously consider your advice.”
Success.
“...Thank you.”
Cesar lifted his head, struggling to suppress a smile. The Count looked at him, but instead of fear, the satisfaction of success was so evident that the Count didn’t notice anything unusual.
Before leaving, Cesar decided to throw in one last comment.
“Oh, and congratulations. I noticed that Lady Taralin’s birthday is soon. I sent her a pair of shoes as a gift. I hope she likes them.”
“That was unnecessary.”
Count Taradin Amus frowned slightly.
“What good are shoes for a girl who can’t even charm the princes who are so fond of women? She’ll be twenty next year, already past her prime. There’s no longer any need for her to spy at noble parties, so I’ll have to find a suitable marriage for her this year.”
“...I see. Ah! I’ll take my leave now. If you need anything else, please call on me at any time. I’ll come running like the wind.”
This year. This year...
Despite having successfully completed a mission given by his lord, Cesar felt no joy as he lingered in front of the Count’s mansion for a moment. He boarded the carriage, hoping that Lord Rev Bizaine wouldn’t be late.
The carriage headed toward Count Geogis Germin’s mansion, and betrayal, manipulation, and deceit were his specialties.
Cesar, who had become a new man bound by an oath of absolute loyalty, prayed that these shameful talents would be of use to her and his lord.
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Chapter 243