[Sest]
Even Yard, who rarely lost his composure, was disarmed by the sheer lack of tension in that loud voice. Both of them looked up and glanced toward the back of the maid.
Down the road, about ten figures were approaching.
The child in the center was Van. He seemed slightly taller than before, but otherwise, there wasn’t much change. I couldn’t recognize the people behind him. I had assumed Espada and Dee would be accompanying him, but neither of them were in sight.
“...Van. Make sure to educate the maid properly.”
Finally, Yard said this with a tone that suggested relief. The maid’s shoulders jerked at the comment. Van stepped forward, placing a hand gently on the maid’s back, who immediately appeared nervous.
“Sorry about that. Till has been taking care of me since I was very young, so she got carried away by her emotions. Normally, she’s an excellent maid. A bit clumsy, but wonderful.”
Van smiled as he spoke, and Till, the maid, bowed her head shyly. Yard, clearly not pleased with this display, frowned and opened his mouth.
“...It’s been a while, Van. I’ve seen Ceat and toured your lands. Quite impressive development, I must say. Though still smaller than our city, it’s lively and appears safe. Of course, I could have developed it even further myself.”
Yard shrugged as he spoke. The men and women standing behind Van looked exasperated.
Wait a minute… what is with those extravagant outfits? Fabrics so fine, decorations so intricate—it doesn’t seem suitable for a battlefield. They look like something a high-ranking noble would wear. Could they really be lords and ladies?
But if that were true, it wouldn’t make sense for Van, a mere baron, to lead them around. Perhaps Van’s youth allows him some leeway in protocol.
Either way, since it’s highly likely that these people outrank me, it’s best to greet them first.
I leaned next to Yard and spoke quietly to Van.
“...Van, introduce the people behind you.”
At that, Yard finally noticed the subtle differences in the faces and attire of the men and women behind Van.
“Huh. Indeed...”
Yard muttered softly. Perhaps he heard me, as Van gave a small smile and stepped slightly to the side, arranging the others so that we could see them face-to-face.
“First, the distinguished gentleman in the center is His Majesty Dino En Tsora Bellrinet. Next to him, the beautiful yet powerful lady is Viscount Panamera Carrera Cayenne. Then…”
Van went through each person’s title and introduction, though the names barely registered in my mind. The initial introduction of the king alone was overwhelming. Even the nobles introduced afterward faded in comparison.
“...Finally, this is our exceptionally skilled and kind maid, Till. And this is Kamshin, who may soon become one of the finest in the knight order.”
Once everyone was introduced, Van smiled, waiting for our reactions.
“Ah… I apologize for the delay in introduction. I am Yard Gai Fertio of the Fertio Marquis House, and this is my younger brother, Sest Ere Fertio. We are representing our house in this campaign.”
Yard stammered through the introduction, and I followed suit with a polite bow.
The king frowned slightly as if tasting something bitter, then scanned our faces in turn, tilting his head slightly.
“…Hmm. An invasion of Yerinetta Kingdom territory, yet the marquis sends his children instead of himself. A rare choice. Surely, this is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the Fertio family’s abilities. I trust you won’t claim that you’ve already surpassed your father in skill?”
The king’s words curled slightly at the edges in a hint of amusement. Yard forced a sheepish smile and shook his head.
“No, not yet… but someday, I hope to surpass my father and further elevate the Fertio house.”
Yard said this with confidence. How the king interpreted it, I didn’t know, but we needed to clarify our standing as representatives of the marquis house.
I spoke up beside him, acting as a proxy.
“Um… my father, Marquis Fertio, should be joining us shortly. He judged it necessary to strengthen our forces further…”
I tried my best to explain the situation, but the king’s expression remained unchanged. After glancing at us with slight dissatisfaction, he sighed.
“Very well. Earlier, you said something that caught my attention. Yard, was it? You claimed you could develop this town more effectively than it is now?”
The king’s gaze prompted Yard to nod emphatically.
“Of course. While substantial labor and materials were provided here, I would not design such an eccentric layout. Its visual impact is undeniable, but for efficiency, a traditional fortified town is far superior. Also, I notice few slaves. Efficient use of slaves can lead to great profit.”
Yard spoke with confidence, though I watched nervously, unsure how the king would react. Considering the resources poured into this development, perhaps the king himself had influenced the design.
Fortunately, it seemed there was no danger of insulting the king’s ideas. He nodded thoughtfully, expressionless.
“Hmm, you mean to say the general town layout and governance of our kingdom is the most superior, yes? If it were a year ago, I might have agreed. But regrettably, Baron Van’s domain is far stronger than the standard fortified towns of our kingdom. And most astonishingly, he achieved this entirely on his own. Study Baron Van’s lands carefully, and you will learn much.”
The king’s words forced Yard and me to look at Van. He stood proudly, chest out, beaming.
Van built this entire fortified city?
Impossible. Unthinkable. Van has neither vast wealth nor the time—only a little over a year. Constructing a city of this scale would require immense manpower, resources, and gold.
Yard likely thought the same, but we could not contradict the king. All we could do was quietly respond, “Understood.”
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