Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 244

Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 244

243. Childhood Friends - The Lucky Ones
“Are we not too late because of us?”
Three carriages arrived in the city. Leo Dexter stepped down from one of the carriages, which had elegant red pine and vermilion outer walls, and asked the question.
It was early spring, and Rev and his party had only just left the Kingdom of Jerome.
Had they been riding horses, they would have arrived at the Marquisate of Guidan by now.
However, as it was a honeymoon journey, Rev had arranged a luxurious carriage for Leo and Lena, even installing a bed inside. They traveled slowly southward, sightseeing in various villages along the way.
Rev shook his head and said, “It’s fine. We still have time. Why hasn’t Lena gotten off?”
“She’s studying.”
“Studying what?”
“Cooking.”
“...She still hasn’t given up, huh.”
Lena had never been good at cooking. After getting married and seriously starting to cook, everyone present had tasted her food.
It wasn’t inedible.
But Rev was the only one who ever praised it. Even Lena herself admitted, “It’s not good enough to be praised...” trailing off, without threatening the position of their party's cook, Vanne Bizaine.
However, Leo, perhaps spurred on by the fact that he stubbornly ate the food and declared, “What’s wrong with it? It’s delicious,” led Lena to start reading cookbooks.
“We’re here, so tell Lena to come out. We’ll be staying here for about four days.”
“Four days?”
Leo tilted his head in confusion.
This was the first time he had come this far south, so he looked around at the unfamiliar (but somewhat familiar) buildings of the Orun Kingdom and asked.
“This is ‘Brigitte,’ right? The marquisate governed by Marquis Evni Drazhin. Why are we staying here for four days?”
“We need to persuade the marquis.”
“What? But Marquis Drazhin already agreed to join the war. Didn’t you say that last time...?”
“That was a lie. But it wasn’t a lie, because it will happen eventually. Just wait.”
Rev said slyly. Leo looked bewildered for a moment before letting out a chuckle.
“You’ve changed a lot too.”
Whether that was a compliment or not, Rev shrugged lightly and turned away.
[19/23]. After going through eighteen tumultuous cycles, he was no longer just an ordinary young man from a remote mountain village. As they approached the lord’s castle, he announced, “Come forth.” The noble had arrived.
While Leo teased the now sleeping Lena Ainar with, “Aww, did our baby fall asleep reading?”
Rev had a meeting with the northern border marquis of the Orun Kingdom, Marquis Evni Drazhin. The marquis greeted Rev with a reluctant expression.
“...Welcome. It’s been a while.”
It wasn’t the first time they had met in this cycle. They had briefly encountered each other last year in Nevis, where the marquis had looked down on Rev.
An arrogant commoner trying to claim the throne just because he became a Swordmaster.
Marquis Drazhin had refused even to acknowledge Rev’s greeting. Instead, he advised his friend, Marquis Guidan, who had been deeply influenced by this commoner.
“I have no intention of participating in such a baseless Rebellion. It’s not too late. You can still change your mind.”
However, perhaps because Rev had stood shoulder to shoulder with the King of the Jerome Holy Kingdom, Marquis Evni Drazhin greeted him this time.
Rev, recognizing the etiquette from the time when even nobles respected commoners in the Arcaea Empire, smiled faintly.
“It’s been a while. I thought I’d be seeing your son and then leaving, but I’m surprised to find the lord himself here.”
Why are you here when you should be in the capital? Did you come all this way to inspect the troops in response to my Rebellion proposal? ─ Marquis Drazhin asked while standing.
“I’m here to fulfill my duties as a border marquis. Although the Jerome Holy Kingdom is a peaceful nation, there might be some unsettling movements.”
I see. So, you’re more capable than I thought. So, is the Holy Kingdom going to help you? ─ Marquis Evni Drazhin asked again.
If that were the case, the conversation would have ended easily, but the King of the Jerome Holy Kingdom, Kranzar de Frederick, had refused to provide military support. Rev glanced at the plush sofa and shifted his weight.
It was an unspoken protest that he wanted to sit. The marquis, reluctantly acknowledging his rudeness, gestured for him to sit, and Rev gladly took a seat. The marquis then pretended the previous question had never been asked.
It was a petty psychological battle, in a way.
But this was how nobles communicated. Without the need to boast or explain,
“The Holy Kingdom cannot offer military assistance. However, I am close to Kranzar de Frederick. Consider it an implicit alliance, rather than no help at all.”
They could skip unnecessary conversations like this. The mere fact that something was omitted could itself convey information, so the marquis didn’t suffer a complete loss.
But I still need to play another card.
Rev, now comfortably seated on the sofa, brought up a completely different topic.
“I actually came here to ask a favor. I’d like to use the church’s communication network.”
“Of course. But why?”
“I want to get in touch with Prince Lean de Yeriel.”
Marquis Evni Drazhin’s eyebrows twitched and shot up.
The forty-something noble, who had a tactician-like appearance with his small stature, masculine eyebrows, and soft egg-shaped jawline, asked,
“Are you referring to the new heir of the Yeriel royal family?”
“Yes. It’s about time, so I want to get in touch and coordinate the timing.”
Recently, three events have drawn significant attention across the continent.
One of them was the war between the Kingdom of Astin and the Kingdom of Bellita, but as a ceasefire seemed likely, other matters had taken its place.
The first was the appearance of the fourth Swordmaster in the Jerome Holy Kingdom.
Aside from his name being Rev, little was known about this mysterious figure, who had appeared alongside King Kranzar de Frederick. It was rumored that he had played a decisive role in helping the Frederick royal family fend off the interference of the Church of the Cross.
Speculation was rife that he might be a hidden power of the Frederick royal family. Meanwhile, Prince Cleo de Frederick was pressuring the Count of Simon, and public attention was focused on whether the renowned Simon family would yield to the royal family’s demands. If they didn’t, people were curious about how the Swordmaster would be used.
The second was the declaration of war by the Kingdom of Aster against the Kingdom of Aisel.
Last fall, during the ‘Retti Tournament’ held in the Kingdom of Aster, King Petra de Klaus declared war.
Throughout the winter, troops were assembled, and knight orders were mobilized. The Kingdom of Aisel also raised its forces in response, but the prevailing opinion was that King Petra de Klaus had launched an unreasonable war.
The Kingdom of Aster had no magic tower.
Due to the lack of wizards, it was predicted that the Kingdom of Aisel, which had a vastly superior magical military force, would easily repel the forces of the Kingdom of Aster.
Therefore, public interest shifted away from the war itself to the question of which of the Isadora royal family’s princes, who were competing for the position of heir, would benefit from the war—Vivian de Isadora, the eldest prince and designated commander-in-chief, or Oscar de Isadora, who possessed innate magical talent and had the support of the Cornel Magic Tower.
The outcome was still undecided.
In the midst of this, it was revealed that the Kingdom of Aster had attempted to marry Prince Pablo de Klaus to Princess Elika de Isadora, the precious jewel of the Kingdom of Aisel, which only further fueled the ridicule that Aster was a kingdom of ignorant barbarians.
The third major event captivating the continent was the dramatic return of Prince Lean de Yeriel and Princess Lerialia de Yeriel.
The prince and princess, who were believed to have died over a decade ago, were alive!
This alone was big news, a topic that captured everyone’s attention, but they hadn’t just survived.
They had shown extraordinary resourcefulness, winning over nobles dissatisfied with Prince Eric de Yeriel’s legitimacy and successfully reclaiming their rightful lineage. They even spread rumors that Prince Eric was a monstrous abomination, securing their claim.
It was astonishing.
Furthermore, during the ceremony to confer the title of heir, Princess Lerialia’s beauty was revealed to the world. Those who saw the princess in person said,
“I couldn’t breathe.”
“Princess Lerialia is unfortunately only beautiful in two instances—when her eyes are closed and when her eyes are open.”
No one hesitated to adorn their descriptions with every flowery expression possible, emphasizing that no amount of exaggeration could suffice. The popularity of Chloe de Tatalia, the flower of the Kingdom of Bellita, waned as a result.
Who Princess Lerialia would marry became a matter of intense interest.
Gossips were feverishly debating who would be fortunate enough to claim the continent’s greatest beauty.
Excluding Cleo de Frederick and Pablo de Klaus, who had recently gone public with their romance, the names of Vivian de Isadora and Oscar de Isadora from the Kingdom of Aisel, Athon & Elzeor de Rognum from the Kingdom of Orun, and Cleon de Tatalia from the Kingdom of Bellita were among the candidates. Even the heir of the prestigious Forte family, Gilbert Forte, Toton Tatian, was mentioned as a potential groom for Lerialia.
Of course, Marquis Evni Drazhin had no interest in such matters. He was more intrigued by whether this man had ties to the much-talked-about heir of the Kingdom of Conrad as well.
“Lean de Yeriel... Understood. What reason should I give for contacting him?”
“Tell him his ‘childhood friend’ is waiting for the prince’s call.”
“Childhood friend?”
Was this a boast, sincerity, or code?
Marquis Drazhin thought he would soon find out and sent his steward to the church. It was worth keeping an eye on this commoner, who claimed to have ties not only with the Frederick royal family but also with the Yeriel royal family.
The truth was, he intended to help.
Not because of this Swordmaster, Rev, but because of his only true friend, Harvey Guidan.
That friend had already gotten himself too deeply involved. It seemed difficult for him to escape now, and Marquis Drazhin couldn’t just ignore the situation. So, if his friend raised an army, Drazhin planned to do the same. That’s why he had come this far to inspect the soldiers.
Honestly, the odds weren’t good.
Even with this Swordmaster, they were severely lacking in knight forces, and it had become difficult to ally with the Magic Tower, given that Rev was using the liberation of barbarians as his cause. The only advantage they had was well-trained soldiers and excellent generals...
‘If the other side doesn’t understand warfare, we might have a chance. There’s no way the rotten nobles in the capital still have any decent generals left. But if, by any chance, they do have a competent general on their side, we’re doomed.’
This was the first time he had staked his family’s fate on a gamble. As he was brooding over this, the man in question, Rev, showed up, claiming that he was deserving of the throne.
Though he was annoyed, the marquis, after concluding their conversation, provided Rev with a good room.
He met various demands from this lucky fellow who had gotten his hands on a glowing stick that could cut through anything, such as asking for a tour guide and introducing the local sights for the recently married couple in their party. He even hosted a lavish banquet for the barbarians who claimed to be Rev’s disciples.
After all, they were the ones who would have to go out and fight. And, in any case, the fact that the Jerome Holy Kingdom was on Rev’s side meant that he could mobilize all the troops guarding the border, so their contribution couldn’t be ignored.
Let’s decide whether to give the throne to that commoner after the deed is done. ─ As Marquis Drazhin was thinking this, the next morning, his steward came running with shocking news.
“Marquis! You need to go to the church immediately. And bring the guest with you.”
The marquis frowned.
“What is it? Did the Yeriel royal family send a reply? If you’ve received a message, just say it.”
“That’s not it...”
The steward hurriedly said.
“The Cardinal of the Kingdom of Conrad personally contacted us. Prince Lean de Yeriel is waiting nearby as we speak!”
The prince himself?
Marquis Drazhin scratched his head in bewilderment. Could they really be childhood friends? As he entertained the absurd notion.
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Chapter 244