novelraw Chapter 178: Childhood Friends – The Incident That Couldn't Be Prevented
Chapter 178: Childhood Friends – The Incident That Couldn't Be Prevented
178. Childhood Friends – The Incident That Couldn't Be Prevented
In the early morning, a modest household gathered around a small dining table, the clinking of cutlery breaking the silence.
"Brother, did Mr. Drun deliver the lumber yesterday?"
"Not yet. He's bringing it tomorrow, so today we should finish what we owe Mr. Brau."
"And how is Sister-in-law?"
"She's exhausted. She barely sleeps, feeding the baby every couple of hours."
The two young men chatted while eating heartily. Their mother, though preparing side dishes for her sons, seemed lost in worry.
"How have you been, Mom? Weren't you assigned to serve a princess recently?"
"..."
"Mom?"'Marisa' lifted her head, looking at her sturdy second son and her first son, who had recently married and had a daughter. Her eyes were filled with a complex emotion.
"Yes... She’s a good person."
But she didn’t reveal her true feelings of resentment.
After the sons hurried off to work, Marisa went to her eldest son’s house, prepared breakfast for her sleeping daughter-in-law, and then headed to the lord’s castle.
Seven years had passed since she settled in the Guidan estate after living in the Kingdom of Orun. Greeting the guards with a nod, she entered the castle and headed towards the maids' quarters.
She greeted the head maid and changed into her uniform. Before starting her duties, she warmed herself by the fireplace with her fellow maids, warding off the early winter chill.
The castle was cold.
Even with wooden floors and carpets, the stone structure retained an inherent chill.
However, Guidan's lord’s castle was comparatively better. Since logging was the main industry of the Guidan estate, the maids were allowed plenty of firewood, a luxury not available in other estates.
As the maids dispersed to their tasks, Marisa finally left the warmth of the fireplace. Her mistress had not yet stirred, giving her some extra time.
She fetched hot water from the kitchen, gathered washcloths and perfume, and went to the princess's room.
As expected, the princess was still sleeping. She had a smile on her face, perhaps dreaming a pleasant dream, and was starting to stir, hugging a fluffy pillow.
A light cough would have sufficed to wake her, but Marisa waited. A mere maid could not dare wake a royal.
"Mmm... Tian is so... Hm?"
The princess woke up, squinting sleepily before sitting up and giving an awkward half-bow with a smile.
"Hehe... Good morning."
"Good morning, Princess."
Marisa helped the princess wash.
She dipped the washcloth in the perfumed water and gently wiped the princess's fair skin. The princess, sitting on a chair, kept her head down and stayed still.
Initially, Marisa didn’t understand why the princess behaved this way, as if embarrassed or unaccustomed to being bathed by someone else.
But now, she thought she understood.
Marisa asked, "How would you like your hair done today?"
"Um... braid it like last time."
She always asked for a braid.
Marisa had realized that the princess knew only that hairstyle.
Marisa began to braid the princess's hair, sectioning it into small parts, starting near the right temple and working diagonally to the left nape. The braided hair wrapped diagonally around the princess’s head, with the remaining hair falling naturally.
She then dressed the princess in a dress approved by the marchioness, and the princess went to meet Lady Sierra Guidan.
The marchioness taught the princess something every day, usually basic etiquette.
"Good. After receiving a greeting, please be considerate. If you do not dismiss their formality, they may feel uncomfortable."
"What should I say?"
"There’s no need to say anything special. Usually, asking about their spouse's well-being and helping them up is safe, but if possible, inquire about someone unexpected in their life."
"What if I don’t know?"
"You must not be unaware. Understanding the relationships of those you meet is fundamental."
Marisa watched the strict teaching of Lady Sierra and the princess's enthusiastic learning.
With mixed feelings, she followed the princess, who carried a book given by Lady Sierra for reading.
"Ugh, why is the handwriting so weird..."
The strange handwriting made it hard to read. Marisa realized that the princess only knew very simple writing.
"That means 'slave'."
"Huh? Thank you... I mean, thanks. And what’s this beside it?"
"...That’s a particle."
"What’s a particle?"
She doesn’t just know simple writing, Marisa realized. She briefly explained particles.
"Oh, I see. Let me try reading. Please check if it's correct."
How much could she understand from such a brief explanation? Marisa didn’t expect much.
"The Kingdom of Orun, rich in mines, has long been called the empire’s... furnace. What’s a furnace? Anyway, due to the rugged terrain, the many barbarians in the Kingdom of Orun are captured as slaves to work in the mines. Is that right?"
Marisa was quite surprised.
Though there were many errors, she was astonished at how quickly the princess grasped the simple explanation and corrected her mistakes.
"Ugh... It’s difficult."
- Scratch scratch.
The princess's small hands diligently moved the quill.
But it didn’t last long.
Lunchtime came, and after eating, the princess returned, dozing off at her desk. Eventually, she began to look for a place to lie down.
And soon, she was asleep.
"......"
Marisa watched the sleeping princess with a conflicted expression. Sighing, she adjusted the blanket over her.
Yesterday, she had learned the names of the prince and princess who had come to the castle. For security reasons, their identities had been revealed late, and she was surprised to find that...
They were the ones her husband had served.
Her husband never returned. His last known whereabouts were when he left for the royal palace over a decade ago. She had heard through various sources that he had fled to the Kingdom of Orun with the prince and princess.
Marisa stepped outside. Steeling her resolve, she went to find the prince.
Prince Leo and his knight, Rev, were engrossed in a large map spread out on the table, discussing something.
"Prince Leo de Yeriel."
Am I asking something unnecessary?
"I am the wife of Bart. He was a royal guard... Do you know where my husband is?"
She couldn’t muster the courage to ask if he was alive.
*
Silence fell.
Rev and Leo, recalling the map they had seen in the last chapter about their childhood friends, looked at each other. Since the question was directed at the prince, Leo spoke.
"Are you referring to Sir Bart?"
"Yes! I’m sorry. Yes, do you know where he is... even if it’s just his grave..."
Leo was at a loss in front of the tearful woman. He didn't even know if Sir Bart had been married, and now guilt washed over him. At the same time, he didn't know how to convey the truth.
Bart was alive. For now.
Before they had arrived at the Guidan estate, he had already killed Duke Tertan's grandson and was now escaping by boat along the Irrotasi River.
Should he tell her that Bart was alive?
It made sense for Leo to not know Bart's current status. If he revealed that Bart was alive, questions like "how do you know?" and "where is he?" would arise, and Leo wouldn't have answers.
But...
"Sir Bart is alive."
"Is that true? Did he come with you? Why hasn't he... I'm sorry, he must have had a reason. So, where is he? Does he know I'm here?"
"No. He did not accompany me. We parted ways a long time ago. He did everything he could to save me."
"...What do you mean by that?"
Marisa glared at the prince with piercing eyes. If he dared to say Bart lived on in her heart, she would explode with anger, prince or not.
"I delivered the news. I stayed in the Kingdom of Conrad for quite some time and met Sir Bart there."
Fortunately, Rev stepped in.
"I know where Sir Bart is. What a coincidence. I was just thinking about how to let him know that Prince Leo is alive. However, the concern is..."
Rev trailed off.
They had considered bringing Sir Bart back. However, they didn't have enough time to stop Bart from attacking Philas Tertan, as they had to go to Orville to fetch Leo de Yeriel.
Frankly, only Prince Leo could convince that slightly unhinged knight.
"Sir Bart is being pursued. If we send someone indiscriminately, he might mistake them for a pursuer and kill them, which is why we haven't contacted him..."
"So, where is my husband?"
Marisa interrupted Rev.
She cut off his lengthy explanation and demanded Bart's location.
Rev revealed his whereabouts.
He was hiding in a dilapidated warehouse at the Noyar port, occasionally going out to sea. Waiting there, he would return eventually—
He disclosed all the secrets Bart would have jumped to deny knowing how they had been discovered.
"Take this. It will serve as proof that I am alive."
Leo handed over a necklace. Marisa received it with a complex expression.
Would it be okay to give this to her husband?
She hated her husband for abandoning the family out of loyalty. At the same time, she was dying to see him but feared that he would leave again if she gave him the necklace.
"Thank you..." Reluctantly accepting the necklace, Marisa left early. She wanted to pack and head to Noyar port immediately, but it was just her heart speaking.
She was concerned about her daughter-in-law, who had just given birth. She couldn’t ask her sons to abandon the lumber mill they had built through years of hard work.
She even considered leaving alone but eventually told her sons that their father was alive. Her unmarried second son took the necklace and left.
That resentful father,
To bring back Sir Bart.
*
A period of peaceful days followed.
Rev and Leo had little to do until Marquis Harvey Guidan arrived. They recalled and mapped all the barbarian village locations and occasionally sparred.
Rev was stronger.
There was no doubt about that. Rev's movements, enhanced by the scenario reward {Swordsmanship.5v: Forte Style}, were difficult for Leo to comprehend.
Rev taught him the Forte family's swordsmanship, but it was clear that Prince Leo lacked talent in swordsmanship. Even without Minseo, he showed no progress.
Nevertheless, with {Swordsmanship.4v: Jacob Style}, Leo de Yeriel and Rev were good sparring partners for each other. The knights of Guidan House could not match them.
"Rev, try this. I made it myself..."
"Is this an experiment?"
"No, it isn’t!"
The first snow fell.
Lena, dressed warmly, and Leo and Rev were out in the yard enjoying the snow.
Lena, who had learned to cook from the marchioness, offered some simple cookies she had baked. True to her talent, the cookies were beautifully shaped.
"Do I not get any?"
"You can have this."
"..."
There were some mishaps. Leo received a crumbled cookie and looked hurt.
Snicker.
Rev couldn't help but laugh.
It was amusing how well he understood Leo's feelings. Unconsciously, he pulled Lena's cheek.
The soft, chubby cheek of his little sister... brought him joy.
"Ouch! What are you doing!"
Lena blushed. “How dare you pinch a princess’s cheek!” she feigned anger, but Rev was flustered.
For a moment, he thought he was Lena’s brother. Memories intertwined, and seeing his sister Lena before him, he got confused.
Rev said,
"I'm a barbarian, so your status doesn’t matter to me. Besides, Leo and I are friends. Right?"
He made an excuse and looked at Leo, who was looking at Rev with a peculiar gaze.
"Why? Do you mind me pinching your sister's cheek? If she's your sister, she's my sister too."
As the first snowflakes gently fell, Leo smiled and said,
"So, it was your habit of pinching cheeks."
He realized where his habit of pinching Lena's cheeks came from among the three Leos.
Rev couldn’t have pinched childhood friend Lena, who was set to become a priestess, so it came from Rev’s hesitant hands.
Rev remained silent. He rubbed his thumb against his middle and index fingers, looking far northwest.
"Rev, I don’t see you as a sister..."
- Neigh!
At that moment, carriages arrived at the main gate.
Seeing familiar faces among the maids, they knew Marquis Harvey Guidan had arrived. However, the person who stepped out was not the marquis.
Harie Guidan.
The disheveled, bedraggled young lady staggered, muttering, "Philas... Please..." as she passed by Leo's group with empty eyes.
"What's wrong with her?"
Leo and Rev could not answer.
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