Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 522

“Your Highness Kiel. Why are you here? I see that you have no knight escorting you."

Father was so surprised that Kiel flinched and nodded.

"Oh, yes, indeed, of course. I have been escorted on the way here by a group of knights, so you can rest assured. The knights of Bardia had taken over the escort and returned a step ahead of us on my orders."

"I see. But I'm afraid we were supposed to pick you up at the imperial castle."

"I am sorry to trouble you, but there has been a sudden change of plans".

He then reached into his pocket and handed Father a sealed envelope bearing the seal of the royal family.

"I will take a look at it."

Father received it with great interest, opened the seal, and examined its contents.

Even so, I had never imagined that he would suddenly show up at the Bardia residence.

Moreover, there were more than a dozen carriages lined up behind Kiel.

“By the way, Kiel. May I ask you about these carriages?"

"Of course. I'm glad you ask."

He leaned forward with a twinkle in his eye and looked sideways at the carriages.

"Every one of these carriages is filled with books that have been 'transcribed' from the various documents in the empire's prized archives.'

What? ......?”

Stunned by his answer, I looked around the carriages again.

The cargo of a dozen or so wagons lined up in a row were all carrying books that had been “transcribed.

The royal family is indeed a very powerful family.

In this world, personal computers, word processors, and even typewriters had not yet been introduced.

In other words, what Kiehl means by “transcription” is “copying” done completely by hand.

"......When did you start making all these 'copybooks'?"

"Since Mother showed me the portrait of Herr Meldie,. I had instructed the archivists to make at least one copy every day. Thanks to that, we now have this many books."

“Wow. That's great."

In my head, I could picture the nameless archivists hard at work transcribing the books.

Although he said it as if it was a matter of course, the archivists must have had a hard time every day.

When I responded with a nod, he continued with a serious face.

I had long thought that it would be dangerous for valuable documents to be gathered only in the imperial archives, in case something should happen to them.

'Well, well, it's true that if it's valuable documents, it's probably better to have transcripts in addition to the originals."

"Oh, Rid is a good listener. Rid understands what I'm talking about. I've been trying to convey the importance of the codex to the nobles, but I can't get through to them, you know."

He let out a deep sigh, cowered his shoulders, and shook his head.

Valerie had told me he was a bookworm, but this is more than a bookworm.

I think it would be more accurate to say that he is a fanatic when it comes to books.

"Oh, by the way, .......”

I looked around again, feeling uncomfortable.

"Kiel . Where are the people who are going to Bardia with you?"

"Ah . They all refused to go with me because they had too many personal belongings and there was no place for them in the carriage."

"...... What, uh, what do you mean?"

“Hmm. Just as I said."

He smiled with his eyes narrowed, but I didn't understand what he meant.

By personal belongings, does he mean his copybooks?

No, he refused to take any of his squires because there were too many of them. ...... No way, he couldn't be serious about such a jokey thing.

I thought so, but the smile Kiel showed was so reminiscent of His Majesty Matilda that it sent shivers down my spine.

"Everything His Highness Kiel said seems to be true."

Father let out a deep sigh, shook his head, and handed me the sealed letter he had given me.

"This is .......”

In the sealed letter, in the handwriting of His Majesty Irwin and Matilda, there are many things written, but in summary, it says, “No matter what personnel is selected, those who have connections with the revolutionary and conservative factions will be mixed in. Therefore, we have asked Kiel to go to the Bardia territory alone. Incidentally, he has agreed to this. P.S. Take care of Kiel." From Matilda.

Where would a parent send a child of the royal family, even the second prince, to the frontier with no clothes on?

I was so disgusted that I was beyond angry, and I plunged into it in my heart.

"But how could the nobles agree to this?"

When I asked him in dismay, he laughed gruffly.

"That's a lot of tricks. Well, let's get going. I've been looking forward to this day so much."

"Thank you, Your Highness. Let's get going."

Father bailed, and Keir shook his head.

"Reiner,. You are the father of my fiancée, Meldy. In other words, you are my father-in-law. Please treat me as you would my brother-in-law, Rid."

"I understand. Then, let me take you at your word. From now on, I will treat you not as His Highness, but as my son-in-law. May I?"

"Yes, I do. I look forward to working with you."

After he nodded happily, we hurriedly coupled the dozen carriages loaded with books to the charcoal wagon and left the Bardia residence in the wee hours of the morning. We set out early in the morning for our return trip to the Bardia territory.

But not long after we left, my father, who was driving the charcoal truck, said to me,

"Rid, since it's a good time, why don't we take a look at the Ronamis house?"

“Oh, can we?

The Ronamis residence is the place where Mother was born and raised in the imperial capital and where the late Count Tristan Ronamis lived.

"Um. You can't go inside, but you can at least see the house from the outside."

"Yes, I'd love to come by then. Is Kiel going to be all right?"

"Of course. Of course. I'm interested in the Ronamis house, too."

That's settled. Well, let's stop by for a bit, shall we?"

The father stopped the charcoal truck and instructed the chariot driver to go to Bardia first.

Then, only the charcoal truck with us on it headed for the Ronamis mansion in the aristocratic district of the imperial capital.

◇

'This is the Ronamis residence."

In front of the place where father stopped the charcoal truck, there was a magnificent mansion.

The gate had a family crest with three swords and a circle representing a star.

It was probably the crest of the Ronamis family.

"......It's beautiful even though no one lives here."

Even if it is only a quick peek from the outside, it is easy to see that the garden inside the mansion is in good order.

The house that is no longer inhabited will soon become weedy and desolate if it is not taken care of.

The trees, plants, and flowers in the Ronamis mansion, however, were neatly pruned.

"The Ronamis mansion is under the control of the emperor,” said Matilda, who is a close friend of Nannalee. I heard that His Majesty Matilda, who is very close to Nanaly, is taking good care of it."

"My parents are surprisingly loyal, you know."

When Kiel said this, he smiled happily.

"Heh. But this is where my mother was born and raised?"

As I was deeply moved, I felt a small sense of discomfort.

I felt like I had seen this mansion somewhere before, but where?