Chapter 129: 129 Prologue

--A fresh early summer breeze rushed past, shaking the flowers and grass at my feet.

Surrounded by rough seas that are difficult to traverse on the north, south, and west, and a rugged mountain range that blows all year round on the east side of the continent, the country is surrounded by these mountains, but it is blessed with a strangely mild climate, and the four seasons that revolve around it nurture a rich natural environment. The Kingdom.

In the southeastern corner of the kingdom, at the foot of the Goddess Mountains, a vast area of land that includes a forested area has long been known as the "Cresta Zone," and the family of the lord who rules this land has been promised an orderly life.

The family name of the lord's family is "Crester", taken directly from the name of the land. His title is "Count. He is a member of the old nobility, having been knighted more than three hundred years ago.

The Crester Zone is the oldest of the Crester Counts, and is the home of the Count family. Normally, a splendid castle filled with the history of the family (whether they live in it or not) would be built in the home of a splendid old nobleman, but even if you look around the Crester Zone from one end to the other, you won't find any such thing.

The family has lived in a mansion that can barely be called a mansion, buried in the forest at the foot of the mountain range. There is a forest area around the house that has remained almost untouched since ancient times, and only the front of the house, which can be called the face of the house, and the back of the house, where garden parties may sometimes be held,......, have a modestly maintained garden. The surrounding area is a sparsely wooded plain with almost no houses, and its vastness alone seems to claim it as "the land of the lord".

However, it was not that the people of the Crester Zone did not build houses in the surrounding area out of respect for their lord's family. --It's just that the people of the Crester Zone are not building houses around the lord's family. Even before that, it's a very simple problem.

That's a lot of tension. ......

Oh, ...... you two haven't moved a muscle since a while ago.

In the middle of the meadow that surrounds the house, a large blanket is spread out in the shade of a tree, and a basket of snacks, a pot of tea, and enough teacups for everyone are laid out on it.

However, the tense atmosphere of the two men facing each other with weapons at the ready, well away from the shade of the trees, told me that this was not just a picnic.

--Yes, the plains surrounding the Crester mansion had long been a training ground for the servants of the Crester family. If it was just for sword practice, many of them would use throwing weapons, and if they built houses near the training grounds, they would never know when their weapons would break through the windows. Inevitably, the people would live far away from the houses. The result is a large grassy area around the mansion.

Of the two men facing each other with weapons at the ready, the younger one is only about 20 years old. He is dressed in black, and is holding a dagger in one hand. The age of the other man is hard to tell, his face and body alone make him look to be in his late twenties or thirties, but the deep sense of presence emanating from his entire body tells us that the years he has walked are not short. Like the young man facing him, he was dressed in black and wore a short sword, and his dark hair and eyes, which were rarely seen in the Kingdom of Elgrand, were impressive.

You can find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing.

Sitting side by side in the middle of a spread of cloth in the shade, in a position where they can be watched, and watching them with bated breath, is a young man and woman. The man's name is Jouk - his official name is Jouk de Leyre Elgrand. The girl sitting beside him is named Shayla Callerd. They are the young King of Elgrand and the favorite princess who was taken in by the King, though very few people know about it.

As the most noble couple in the country stare breathlessly at the scene in front of them, a brother and sister sitting together on the mattress laugh.

It's ...... tough, brother.

You can't do that even with me. ...... I don't see any opening for an attack. It's as scary as it sounds.

You can't even see me doing that. ......

That's why it's so scary. It's the fact that it's random that scares me. The lioness has somehow not been pressured and has not created an opening,......, but if she is still going to attack, it will be the lioness.

In any case, it's not every day you get to see a serious battle between two strong men like this. I have Sora-sama and Kai to thank for that.

The ones calmly discussing the battle at hand are Edward Crester, the heir to the Earls of Crester, the family of lords who rule the Crester Zone, and his sister, Deanna Crester. In spite of being born into a noble family, the older brother is an expert in martial arts, and the younger sister is very good at finding medicinal properties in plants and animals by running around the fields, mountains and forests. They are the siblings of the "What is a nobleman? In the case of the Cresters, their parents' generation, grandparents' generation, and even further back than that, there are not many aristocratic people to be found.

The unofficial royal couple, who were listening to the aristocratic exchange between the two siblings, tilted their heads to the side.

What's so great about this game?

I'm not sure what to make of it.　Most of the time, sword fights are between commanders.

If you are an amateur fighter, this question may be rather natural. To the question of his friends, the one who was asked shook his head and answered.

The one who was asked shook his head in response to his friends' question, "When it comes to serious fights between talented people, sword fights are rare.

It's a kind of performance. It is a kind of performance. Both sides fight with a certain degree of awareness of 'spectacular combat'. Right, Al?

Of course you do. What's the use of fighting for your life in a match to show off your knightly skills with a sword? I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea. What's needed is simplicity, but not serious competition.

"So that's how it is. In other words, if you were to play a serious game without the performance, you would see a different kind of battle.

I'm not sure what to make of that. He is always close to the king, and serves as the king's sword and shield in both private and public life, and as the leader of the King's Kingsguard, he should be the king's top vassal in both name and reality, but his tone is extremely light in front of the king.

It's no wonder, this is not a public occasion, but a completely private one for the king. And Alford, like Edward, is more than a vassal to the king, he is his friend.

Diana smiled at the conversation between the three good friends.

In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with your loved ones, please do not hesitate to contact us. I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results. ...... I didn't think I'd have to sit in those special seats and watch with my face exposed.

But since Dee was able to watch the match like that and report it back to the palace, we were all able to celebrate Commander Gracie's amazing accomplishments.

"It was a great turnout for all but a few, that's for sure.

I was also surprised that Commander Gracie had so many secret admirers.

That doesn't surprise me too much. Chris's sister-in-law, who is on duty in the inner palace, looks really dignified and wonderful even from a distance.

"Dee must really adore Commander Gracie. You must have been very lucky to have had a special seat to watch the match.

I guess so. Every time my sister-in-law had a match, I had a hard time making up the Red Rose's face.

Once a year, in the early spring, the king holds an Imperial Tournament in his presence, and it is a major event in which all the knightly professions in the country participate. Of course, there are preliminaries to cut down on the number of participants, but the main tournament still lasts for three days. This year, the Red Rose sat next to the king as a substitute for the queen, who is not here at the moment, and watched the match with the king, and in addition, Christel Gracie, the leader of the rearguard knights, was among the top eight.

The person who was the topic of conversation, Christel, a.k.a. Chris, couldn't help but laugh at the conversation between her sister-in-law and her best friend.

If Diana and the courtesans are happy, then it was worth the effort of showing off. It's a good thing that ...... there is a distinction between a "glamorous" match and a serious contest, but to be honest, I was surprised by the sluggishness of the Royal Army's skills. They are so focused on making the sword look flashy that they can't even see the opponent in front of them. If they did that, they would be cut down without being able to move properly in actual combat.

"Don't say that, Chris. In this day and age, when war itself has become history, the military's role is not to fight, but to keep the city safe. If you're fighting backstabbers, that's a different story, but you don't need a sword to kill ordinary people. In some cases, the sword dance is enough to frighten them and capture them.

Ed is a man of vision. ....... It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to be doing.

I'm not sure what to make of this. In the end, the only thing that survives in this day and age is a special skill that only a few - like those who work behind the scenes and exchange lives in the shadows of the world - have mastered: the sword for killing people. I'm sure you'll agree.

The conversation between Edward and Chris, who are engaged to be married, though privately, is really fast-paced. Edward is also the master who taught Chris practical swordsmanship, so this kind of conversation is probably a part of their daily life.

Edward was talking with a wry smile, but when the conversation was interrupted, he looked away from Chris and back to the battle in front of him. As if following his lead, the people present once again turned their attention to the two men facing each other, weapons at the ready.

Three beats later, a silence fell.

!

A strong low wind blew, and the body of the younger man, the one known as the "lion cub" in the underworld, disappeared. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to be doing and how you're going to do it. You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of these in the marketplace.

Squeak, squeak!

The high-pitched sound of metal hitting metal resounds. In the event that you have any kind of questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at our own web site. .

In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with me, please do not hesitate to contact me.

"That's it!　Sora-dono wins this match!

Thank you very much.

The loser, the young man with the nickname "lion cub", Kai, straightened his posture and bowed. In the event that you have any kind of questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.

It wasn't a bad shot. But that was sweet.

You can't do that,......, you don't have to be so hard on yourself. It's been a long time since I thought I'd be wiped out the moment I made a move.

If you don't take this seriously, you won't get your punishment.

I don't need that kind of commitment. ......

As if to comfort Kai, the man pats him on the shoulder. The man patted Kai on the shoulder as if to comfort him. His expression was full of love and affection, just like a father who cares for his child. Even though they are not related by blood, it is clear that Kai is an important son to him, "Sora the Kuro Lion".

In the midst of this heartwarming atmosphere, the man who was acting as judge approached with a wry smile.

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The man who had been acting as judge approached him with a wry smile, "You have shown me something very good. It must have been a good stimulus not only for Master Edward, but also for our young people who were watching. For some reason, many of our next generation are not very good at fighting.

"Really?　The other day, I got a glimpse of their training, and I don't think any of them were that weak.

No, they're not weak. Our duty is first and foremost to protect the Cresters. If your fighting skills are inferior to the young master's, you can't be trusted to protect them.

Sirius, the current head of the Darkness, a covert group owned by the Earl of Crestor, is indeed very strict with his subordinates. But he's even harder on himself than that, so there's no one to complain about his devilish discipline.

The lion and his son are all smiling at the bitter Sirius.

"...... Sirius. Isn't that asking a little too much of young people, Sirius?

There are not many people in our generation who are stronger than Edward. I might be able to win somehow if I use a bunch of cowardly moves, but I'm not sure I can win in a real fight.

"Our young people don't have the spirit to try to surpass Edward-sama by any means, like you.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea.　You should appreciate his loyalty to the Count family and his sense of common sense more than the fact that he has a lower fighting strength than Edward-san.

Chris and Deanna both let out a sigh at the insane content of the conversation being exchanged in front of them.

It's always the same: ...... Ed was definitely born in the wrong place, wasn't he?

I guess he's still an airhead just because he wasn't born into a tightly knit conservative family like the Landrose family. ......

I think the Cresta family saved my life, a lot. --I'm not sure what to make of that.

In the event that you've got a lot of money to spend, you'll be able to take advantage of it.

The insane man seemed to have chosen to join the conversation in front of him, after he was unsure which side of the conversation he wanted to go into. He stood up from the mattress and walked over to the three men.

Sirius, I didn't know you still cared about that. I've told you many times that I don't expect the Dark Lord to be a better fighter than me. Sirius happens to be stronger than me, but not all the leaders of the Dark Lord were specialized in fighting. I want him to be strong enough to protect Chris and our children who will be born sooner or later, but everyone already has that level of strength.

"Even from my point of view, Edward-san is overwhelmingly a defender rather than a protected.

At least I can take care of myself. --So, it's time to start selecting the next leader. The leader of the Darkness has been the right-hand man of the leader for generations, so it's not like I have nothing to do with it.

It's true that, considering Edward's age, it's about time that the next head of the family was chosen. This is because the timing of the succession of titles in the Kingdom of Ergeland is basically left to the discretion of each family, and in a sense, the generational change of nobility can be said to show the "color" of the family most clearly. The most common is the succession to the next generation due to the death or serious illness of the current generation, which is also in accordance with the succession to the throne of the royal family.

However, as usual, the Cresters, who have a style of kicking aside common sense and convention, do not give up their titles until the death of their predecessors. It depends on the situation at the time, but in most cases, the next generation takes a wife and quietly inherits the title when they have settled down. The reason for this is clear: it is more efficient for both parties to hand over the job while the predecessor is still in good health, and for the new Count and Countess to follow up on what they lack or don't understand while they are actually doing the work of the lord.

As for Edward, as an example, when his engagement to Chris is officially settled and she becomes his wife in name and reality, he will inherit the title. Within the next five years at the latest, the Earls of Clester should be replaced. --When that happens, it won't look good if the head of the family doesn't have a right-hand man.

In the event that you're looking for the best way to get the most out of your business, then you're in the right place. Deanna smiled, stood up, and welcomed them.

Thank you, Sora. Good job, Kai. That was a great battle.

I was no match for you, though. You're the only one who can call me amazing in this case.

No, you're not. Even I can tell you that it's amazing that you were able to get that close to Sora-sama, who has no chance.

You're right, young lady. I'm glad to see that your skills are improving, even though you've spent some time in the palace.

I'm glad to see that your skills are improving, even though you've been in the palace for a while. ...... So when you say that, it doesn't really sound like a compliment.

In the event that you have any questions concerning where and the best way to get in touch with your loved ones, you can call us at the web site. This is Rita, who has grown up with Diana since she was a child and is like a reliable older sister to him.

"Kuro Lion-sama, Kai, thank you for your hard work. There's warm tea, but Deanna-sama thought it would be better for the two of you after the battle, so she prepared this for you.

"It's not much of a preparation, but... It's a thick fruit water with ice. If you'd like.

"Well, well, well. ...... How thoughtful of you. What a waste, youngest princess.

No, Miss Thora. It's my way of thanking you for letting me watch you two practice up close. Please don't hesitate.

Well, thank you.

...... You're really tight with the Cresta people, aren't you? --Thanks, Deanna.

Although the father and daughter seem to be contrasting, they are very similar in many important ways, such as their politeness in thanking each other before accepting what is offered to them, and their casual consideration for their superiors. She nodded and laughed at them as they picked up their glasses and waved at Edward and Sirius who were still arguing.

'Brother, Sirius!　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.　I don't want to keep you and Shayla waiting any longer.

"No, Red Rose. You don't have to worry about us, do you?

I appreciate the gesture, but it's only half an excuse. When it comes to that subject, your brother and Sirius are on opposite sides of the argument. The best way to end this quickly is to use the guests as an excuse.

You're used to it, Dee. ......

I haven't been your sister for eighteen years.

I've been a sister to my brother for 18 years. However, there is no one here, including the king, who would question such a thing.

The reason for this is not because Diana is the Red Rose, the highest-ranking concubine in the current palace - of course not.

"Sorry, Juke. Sorry I kept you waiting.

"Don't worry about it. There's still plenty of time for tea.

Shall we open the basket? What's in the basket?

You can count on it. Our chef is a first-rate cook.

I'll make you some tea.

Thank you, Rita. When you're ready, you can sit down. There's plenty of room for everyone in this room.

Okay. We're doing our best to ignore the security measures.

Sora-dono and Kai, you can sit if you want.

That'd be great, but ......

Are you sure it's okay for people like us to be sitting with the king?

You're asking me that now?

This is because Deanna, Edward, and everyone else in the room have a unique relationship that transcends the boundaries of status.

It's not that I'm not a fan of this kind of thing, but I'm not a fan of this kind of thing. In the absence of a queen, the current royal family has no problem with her temporarily serving as the queen's deputy, and she is a girl of outstanding status, education, and behavior. --The only thing is that she is the direct daughter of the Countess of Crestor, who is rumored to be the "king of the underworld, controlling the evil of the kingdom" due to the fact that all of her successors have been evil people. I'm not sure what to make of that.

Shayla, smiling and exchanging words with Diana, puts baked goods on a plate. Shayla, who was taken in by King Juke, is also a concubine. However, due to the various circumstances of her family, her position in the royal court is lower than most. Due to various incidents that occurred last year and the beginning of this year, several of the nearly fifty members of her entourage have been eliminated, but she is still at the bottom of the list.

If you think about it, it's not a miracle that the highest-ranking and the lowest-ranking concubines meet and become friends. And when you add in the situation of a "candidate for the role of queen" and a "favored princess who receives the king's love," it's hard not to have a love-hate drama. --However, it is the Crester family and Diana who easily cause this miraculous situation. The circle of friends gradually expanded, and eventually even the king was involved, and this strange friendship was formed.

When everyone had sat down on the mat and picked up their cups of tea, Diana smiled and raised her cup.

"And so, ladies and gentlemen, once again... --Welcome to Crester!

With complete disregard for etiquette, the teacups, which were not meant to be toasted, clinked lightly together.

In the cool early summer sunshine, it seemed as if there was only hope shining in the air.

By the way, why are Diana and Shayla, the two side chattels who live in the rear palace, spending their time peacefully in the Cresta Zone, far away from the royal capital? On the contrary, even Juke, who is supposed to never leave the royal capital, is with them.

The beginning of the story goes back to the springtime in King's Landing...

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