Chapter 128: Chapter 128

The queen and her attendants, who had left Hasra, headed north along the river, crossed a bridge, and then turned northeast.

Since it was none other than the queen’s procession, the cavalry endlessly rode back and forth in all directions, scouting to check if there were any rebellious groups or if any threatening monsters might appear.

Fortunately, thanks to soldiers constantly patrolling and subjugating monsters in the vicinity of Hasra, no threatening creatures were spotted.

The ones that appeared occasionally were defeated by Ravana, who took the lead and swung her rabbit feet.

“Ewahahat!”

Perhaps because staying confined inside the royal palace had been stifling as one of the few skilled female royal knights, Ravana seemed pleased to be out on an excursion for the first time in a while.

Not only that, but the guards selected for this trip were all individuals who had family in Palles.

It was meant as a gesture to let them see their families’ faces, since they had not been able to see them while staying in Hasra with Cheryn for a long time.

While the knights and soldiers, excited at the thought of meeting their families soon, defeated enemies along the way, Cheryn passed the time inside the carriage by replying one by one to messages printing out from the communication device.

Since they had loaded an entire supply wagon full of paper for this purpose, there was no need to worry about supplies.

Shan, who was sitting opposite her and quietly watching, saw Cheryn frown and press her fingers between her eyebrows.

“Ugh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Maybe because I’m reading text while riding in the carriage, my stomach feels nauseous…”

Muttering that she really needed to find a way to stop the carriage from shaking, even in this situation she did not stop devising clever inventions with magic.

In the end, after some more time had passed, she adopted the method of having the maids beside her read the messages aloud while she dictated the responses.

Fortunately, thanks to several maids taking turned reading, although a few came close to the point of almost throwing up, no one actually threw up.

Thus passed about ten and a few days.

Arriving at a small barony situated south of Palles, Shan rode his horse to the front and scouted the surroundings.

A quiet sigh slipped from his lips as he looked around at the surrounding scenery.

“This place hasn’t changed at all, back then or now.”

“Indeed.”

Roden, who was riding beside him, nodded.

Originally, this area had maintained neutrality even during the Pendia civil war before expressing cooperation only near the very end, thanks to which the lords here preserved their right of governance unlike the lords of the western or southern regions.

Even if one knew nothing else, it was immediately obvious upon seeing it that this was hardly a welcome thing for the lives of the domain’s residents.

Streets where filth flowed because proper water supply and drainage systems were not installed, worn-out clothes, unhealthy complexions, and cheekbones protruding from lack of nutrition.

In the past, this was a common sight of peasants found anywhere in Pendia, and having seen it quite often during the previous northwestern expedition, it was nothing surprising.

However, if it was a domain adjacent to Palles, the wealthiest region, the story was a bit different.

Moreover, was it not currently the peak season for harvesting the wheat that had grown through the winter?

Even if they trickled down only a tiny bit of the wealth and glory flowing from above, it should not have been like this.

At the very least, even the Treba domain, which contained swamps, lived far better than this thanks to trade with Palles.

“That can’t be helped. Because they maintain an inefficient administrative system and customary laws they arbitrarily made up themselves. Without understanding the principle that as the common people grow wealthy, those above them become even wealthier. They will fail to keep pace with the changes of the era and be weeded out. It breaks my heart that residents of my kingdom are caught in the middle and suffering… but still, I can’t just seize their governance rights without any justification.”

That afternoon, when Shan went into the carriage and spoke of what he had observed, Cheryn said in a sympathetic tone.

The nobles of the west, south, and central regions could have their rights of governance stripped under the justification that they had followed the two princes or started a rebellion.

The domains Count of Palles, Viscount of Treba, and Count of Shedil had their rights of governance transferred through agreements with the parties concerned.

However, the masters of these small northern domains had fought alongside Cheryn (even if near the end) and had not staged a rebellion.

No matter what, if she stripped them of their rights of governance, she would inevitably be condemned as a tyrant.

Nor did these lands possess anything so special as to warrant enduring that while hatching all sorts of schemes.

Though it sounded cold, in the end a ruler had to know how to choose between the big and the small and discard the latter.

“Their minds will change someday too. A day will come when they realize that stepping in place while everything around them moves forward is regression.”

Cheryn muttered as she looked at the domain situated beyond the carriage window.

It was a witch’s prophecy.

*

Because they had made contact via the communication device in advance, boats capable of carrying over four hundred people were already prepared at the fortress south of the Tesen River.

Crossing the river aboard these, the queen and her attendants received a grand welcome just as they had in the past.

“The Queen has arrived!”

“Long live Her Majesty the Queen!”

“O Queen of Palles!”

To the people of the Palles domain, Cheryn was the symbol of victory.

In that she had washed away the miserable past when they had to hand over their jewel after losing to the King of Pendia once.

Since the princess of Palles ruled Pendia, by logic it meant Palles ruled Pendia.

In that sense, not a few people felt disappointed that Cheryn, having become queen, had been residing continuously in Hasra.

Everyone understood that Palles could not be made the capital due to geographical issues or symbolism, but still, shouldn’t she show her face occasionally?

All the disappointment they had felt during that time was dissolved by this royal tour of the queen.

As Cheryn, daughter of Aste (who was once the most beautiful jewel of Palles) waved at the people, explosive cheers erupted alongside spring flowers showered from all around.

While Cheryn moved to Palles Castle amidst the fervent welcome of the crowds gathered at the harbor, Shan and Roden disbanded the guards who had accompanied them.

After all, it wasn’t out in the wild, and inside Palles there was no reason for guards to suddenly assemble.

“Until a separate assembly order is issued, everyone is granted free leave. So that you may all spend enjoyable time with your families.”

“We shall obey your command, Lord Protector!”

The faces of the soldiers answering loudly were all smiled.

The black army armored in hydra leather scattered to their respective homes under the envious gazes of Palles’ citizens.

As the majority were Altoans, their families lived in the Altoan residential district created between Palles Castle and the harbor.

After disbanding the army, those who entered Palles Castle first exchanged greetings with the count, his family, and the various nobles of Palles.

Having already seen their faces at the recent coming-of-age ceremony, they did not say it had been a long time.

“It is an honor for you to visit us, Your Majesty.”

“Think nothing of honor. More importantly, where is my master?”

“He is being hosted in the finest guest room of Palles Castle.”

Guided by Kladek, Count of Palles, Cheryn headed straight to the bedroom where her master, Court Count Tenon, was staying.

Coming to visit someone whose days were numbered, there was no reason to waste time on empty formalities.

In the palace count’s bedroom, Ravana’s daughter Kiri and a few priests were attending to the old man.

The figure of Asha, who had come from the neighboring Treba domain, was also visible.

Discovering Ravana standing beside Cheryn, the young girl perked her fox ears and opened her eyes wide.

“Mom!”

“Have you been well, Kiri?”

“Mm. I’ve been good! Ah…”

After briefly welcoming her mother, whom she was meeting for the first time in months since Cheryn’s coming-of-age ceremony, Kiri lowered her voice as she remembered the patient lying beside them.

While mother and daughter conversed in whispered, Cheryn approached her master lying on the bed.

The old man’s completely emaciated appearance was unmistakably that of someone with little time left to live.

“…You have come, Princess.”

Perhaps because his mind was hazy, the palace count called Cheryn “Princess” instead of “Queen.”

That was likely because it was the title the old man had used for Cheryn over the longest span of time.

Cheryn let out a faint sigh and took the old man’s wrinkled hand.

“Yes, it’s me. Why have you suddenly lost your strength like this? There is still so much to know, so much to create.”

“I have… grown satisfied. The moment… my research succeeded.”

Court Count Tenon, Orum Sagat, had begun his research on mana stone communication more than thirty years ago.

Of course, during that time he had conceived and succeeded in various other research projects, firmly maintaining his position as the President of the Magic Society, but that was what he had poured his heart and soul into for the longest time.

And not long ago, he finally saw its fruits.

Upon achieving what he had labored over for decades, along with the realization that nothing remained ahead of him now, his health rapidly collapsed.

Of course, his body had also been damaged from frequently overworking relative to his age, as well as enduring all kinds of hardships such as being imprisoned in jail.

“A person can remain young only when striving for something. From that perspective, I suppose I have grown old.”

“You said you would master the wisdom of immortality and live forever.”

Several years ago, while teaching the young Cheryn, Court Count Tenon had spoken with full confidence.

That he would one day create magic to stop aging, living and researching forever.

But in the old man currently awaiting death, no such ambition could be felt.

Senility seemed to have stripped away not only his physical strength but even his mental fortitude.

“You know that is impossible, Princess. It is an impossible feat for a mere ordinary man like me. I am now in a state where I cannot even properly control my own bodily wastes, forced to await the day of my death.”

A self-deprecation unbecoming of an old man who had always babbled about being a living temple of knowledge and an intellect chosen by the era.

Cheryn knew where his sense of shame came from.

It was because of herself.

A being who, once a princess and now a queen, could roll an entire kingdom in the palm of her hand while still never letting go of all kinds of magical research…

She knew that while raising such a person as his disciple, Court Count Tenon harbored a secret feeling of inferiority.

Though she had not let it show out of respect for her master.

“Did you look through all the copies of the Altoan ruins I sent you before? Even if just until you finish reading them all…”

“I have read them. Unfortunately, I could not understand them in the slightest.”

He did not confess that while reading them, he had felt anew the gap between himself and Cheryn, who, unlike him, had extracted several usable concepts from them.

For it was no fault of his disciple that she possessed intuition far superior to his own.

“I only hope my successor will be able to assist you better than I have, Princess.”

Afterwards, Orum and Cheryn discussed who should be entrusted with Palles’ magic device factory in the future, and how the Magic Society should be operated.

As the conversation shifted to that topic, the old man, who had seemed on the verge of death moments ago, appeared to regain a bit of vitality.

Yet that too was fleeting; Orum suddenly asked for a visitor’s dismissal, saying he wished to rest a little.

Looking far more exhausted than just moments before, the old man looked back and forth between Cheryn and Shan behind her, leaving his final words.

“Working hard is good, but live happily. Youth and health do not last forever.”

Though it was tedious advice typical of old people, it was the final words he could leave to his disciple as a master.

For in terms of magic, she had long since surpassed him.

It was a few hours later that the Queen’s master answered the summons of the Goddess and passed away.

*

“The deceased was a great master of Pendia and a veteran of the magic world who achieved truly great contributions. Through his research, we gained light and were able to take several steps forward toward truth…”

Since Orum had never married in his life and had no family, his funeral was managed by his disciple, Udin.

Befitting a high nobleman holding the title of Palace Count, Orum’s funeral was conducted extravagantly.

The coffin crafted from ebony wood was leafed in gold on the outside, with fine velvet draping over its center.

Here, led by Queen Cheryn, Lord Protector Shan, several royal knights, Count of Palles, and other notables of the kingdom expressed their condolences by placing flowers on the tomb one by one.

All of this showed that the old man was someone who had accomplished great deeds as a mage and risen to the highest of positions.

During the funeral, Cheryn maintained a fairly serene expression, but Shan could sense that she was deeply grieving.

It was the exact opposite of her father King Gizel III’s funeral, during which she had feigned sorrow while actually feeling none at all.

In contrast, Kiri sobbed and wept throughout.

Though precocious for her age from following her mercenary mother around, it was difficult for her to remain calm at the death of someone she had followed like a real grandfather.

“Don’t cry. Grandfather must have gone to a good place. Because the magic he invented made many people happy.”

Ravana wiped Kiri’s tears and comforted her with a sorrowful expression by her side.

After the funeral proceedings ended, Cheryn returned to the lounge and ordered her maids to step outside.

Collapsing onto the bed without even changing her clothes, she looked at Shan and spoke.

“Shan.”

“Yes.”

“Hold me.”

In a way, it could sound suggestive, but Shan could tell that Cheryn did not mean it with such intent.

As Shan climbed onto the bed and embraced Cheryn, she buried her face in his chest, weeping and stifling her sobs.

Like this, the queen could not even carelessly display her grief to the outside.

Because externally, she had to display a resolute and flawless image.

Shan held her tightly until she fell asleep exhausted from crying, then used the items on the vanity table beside them to clean off her makeup before stepping out.

“Do not enter the bedroom until Her Majesty the Queen calls for you.”

Thinking that she would not want to show her swollen eyes even to her own maids, Shan issued such an order.

“Understood, Your Highness.”

At this, the maids bowed politely and obeyed.

Attending to the queen was originally their duty in which Shan could not intervene, but everyone knew that Cheryn trusted the boy before their eyes far more than she trusted them.

The next day, Cheryn showed herself with a fairly normal face, even if a slight reddish tint remained around her eyes.

First and foremost, she declared that she would check whether Palles’ administrative work had been functioning properly in her absence.

Of course, the proxy currently managing Palles was her maternal uncle and original lord of the domain, Kladek, but even if he was a close relation, skipping inspections altogether was out of the question.

Doing so would set no example for others.

Before long, a grand spectacle unfolded as documents sent up from all across the domain piled outside the office.

While Roden, highly competent in administrative tasks, was summoned to assist with this, Shan received an unexpected visitor.

It was Blois, the count’s son, who came to see him.

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

Turning fourteen this year, the boy had grown quite tall in the meantime, shedding his childish air to some extent.

Of course, he was still about half a head shorter than Shan.

It was fascinating how his manner of speech had become quite mature during the year or so they had not met.

Up until then, he had seemed completely like a young child.

“Ah, Blois. What brings you here?”

When they first met as an ordinary knight and the heir to a count, Shan had to speak honorifically, but since the winter of two years ago when Shan was adopted as Count of Shedil’s adopted son, their statuses had inverted.

Now, even Blois’ father, Count of Palles, dared not speak casually to Shan.

Bowing his head politely, the boy brought up his actual business.

“Actually, I came to ask if I could follow Your Highness back to the capital when you return.”

“Follow me?”

“Yes. After all, the era when one stayed holed up in their domain just because they are a count has passed. I heard that a knight academy will soon open in earnest in the capital, and I wish to enroll there.”

“You could undergo knight training right here in Palles, though.”

“Because I heard the person who raised His Grace the Duke is the headmaster.”

His logic was that someone who raised the strongest knight would naturally be the finest master.

Moreover, he added that if he lacked aptitude and failed the entrance exam or could not complete knight training, he was also willing to pursue studies on the administrative official side.

Either way, he wished to pull his own weight rather than remain an incompetent noble’s son here in Palles.

Impressed by his admirable mindset, Shan nodded, saying “Oho.”

“That’s a good idea… but why bring that to me, of all people?”

“Well, I was hoping Your Highness might become my guardian.”

“Guardian?”

He explained that Blois’ mother, Countess Sina, was fiercely opposing his journey to the capital.

And that the count, being weak-willed by nature, was troubled and unable to take either side.

To overcome this situation, the help of someone high-ranking was needed, but since his cousin Cheryn was not particularly close to him, it was difficult to ask her.

In contrast, it was much easier to bring up the subject with Shan, who had often played with him since he was young.

Nodding that he understood, Shan brought up a sudden question that crossed his mind.

“Then you won’t be able to play with Kiri. I remember the two of you got along quite well… though, have you grown up now and don’t hang out like before?”

“I heard Kiri is also going to the capital this time. Since her master, the Palace Count, passed away, and Sir Ravana will remain in the capital.”

Seeing him smoothly reel off information Shan himself didn’t even know, Shan let out a soft exclamation of “Oh.”

Though he wasn’t usually quick on the uptake, given this many clues, he could roughly figure out what was going on.

“Could it be that you want to go to the capital just to stay with Kiri?”

“N-No, it’s not!”

Blois denied it, his face flushing bright red.