Merchant Noble is out (4/4 chapters for today)
Leone Goes to the Royal Capital
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Even during the day, the forest was dim, surrounded by thick trees, with the moonlight being the only source of illumination. In the midst of that, a lone house stood. It was the small house where Verite and Leone lived.
*Knock knock*
One night, the door of that house was knocked on.
“Yes, who is it…” (Verite)
“Good evening!” (Mia)
When Verite cautiously opened the door, a familiar female adventurer was standing there.
“Oh my, you are…” (Verite)
“Yes! I am Mia, a third-class adventurer. Two months ago, when I was injured and wandering, the two of you kindly gave me your only horse. If you had abandoned me back then, I surely would have died on the way and never made it back to Mikanda. Thanks to you, I was able to return safely to Mikanda and inform my master of the crisis immediately. I cannot thank you enough for this debt!” (Mia)
Mia spoke rapidly and nonstop. When she had come seeking help in a desperate situation, having been wounded by arrows while retreating, it was Leone’s decision that led them to lend her the house’s only horse. They hadn’t particularly worried, but it seemed she had survived and returned safely.
“That’s good to hear. Are your injuries all right?” (Verite)
“Yes, as you can see!” (Mia)
Mia lifted her clothes with energy. Her smooth, youthful skin was suddenly exposed, and Verite instinctively averted her eyes. Even if they were the same gender, she was far too unreserved. Perhaps adventurers had no sense of propriety.
“There are still some scars from the arrows, but with time, they will disappear.” (Mia)
“And today, what brings you here…?” (Verite)
Verite changed the subject while averting her gaze from the dazzling young skin.
“Ah! Yes, that’s right!” (Mia)
Mia clapped her hands as if she had just remembered the main reason.
“I’ve come to return the horse you lent me the other day. I’m sorry, since it was your only means of transport, I wanted to return it as soon as possible. But I had to wait for my wounds to heal…” (Mia)
“In that case, could you please tie it in the stable out back?” (Verite)
Sensing that this could turn into a long conversation, Verite interrupted her mid-sentence.
“Yes! Understood!” (Mia)
Verite saw Mia off as she cheerfully led the horse away, then let out a small sigh and turned to go back inside.
“Verite-dono.” (Arc)
It had been quite a while since someone other than Leone had called her name.
She turned reflexively at the sound of her name. She hadn’t noticed due to Mia’s loudness, but there was another person besides her.
A man was standing there.
“It really was you, Verite-dono.” (Arc)
A familiar face. Verite bowed her head deeply to him.
“Arc-sama. It has been a while.” (Verite)
Verite had once served Leo, Leone’s father, and Arc had also, though reluctantly, followed Leo at one time, so the two were acquainted.
“Thank you for helping Mia the other day. I have come today to express my gratitude for that.” (Arc)
When Arc Warden bowed his head with a smile, Verite gave a faint, slightly mocking laugh.
“Arc-sama. You are not the kind of person who would come all the way here just to express gratitude, are you?” (Verite)
“How rude. But yes, I would like to see the grown-up Leone-sama with my own eyes.” (Arc)
Verite spoke bluntly, and Arc protested jokingly. However, it was only Arc who was smiling, but Verite did not even chuckle.
“Please leave. I will not allow you to meet with Leone-sama.” (Verite)
After all, Arc was the very one who drove Leo to his death.
How could she possibly treat him with goodwill? She spoke firmly, casting a cold gaze at Arc.
“What is going on?” (Leone)
Noticing the exchange at the door, a young boy came out. The moment he saw him, Arc fell to one knee and showed the utmost respect.
“Leone-sama. It has been a long time. My name is Arc Warden.” (Arc)
“Arc, huh. I have a faint memory of you from when I was still a baby.” (Leone)
Judging from his response, he didn’t seem to hold much hostility toward Arc. Since Leone had been only five or six when Arc betrayed Leo, he probably didn’t have a real sense of it. Arc made his appeal to Leone.
“Leone-sama, I must inform you. The kingdom is now facing its greatest crisis. The royal bloodline is on the verge of disappearing.” (Arc)
“Arc-dono! Stop this at once!!” (Verite)
“Verite. There is no need to stop him. Arc, continue.” (Leone)
Realizing what Arc was about to say, Verite tried to stop him with a firm tone, but Leone, in turn, stopped Verite.
“Among the children of the great Zerold I, your father Leo-sama and his younger brother Louis-sama are no longer of this world. Lady Marie has married into another family as my wife. There is no heir to succeed Casablanca-sama. Leone-sama, I humbly ask you to return triumphantly to the royal capital with me and ascend to the throne as King of Laplace.” (Arc)
Arc declared his intention to welcome Leone as king.
“You intend to use Leone-sama as a figurehead, to make him your shield, don’t you! Such a thing can never be permitted.” (Verite)
“Indeed, great hardships await us as we seek to restore the kingdom. But we will never abandon Leone-sama. We will risk our very lives to protect him.” (Arc)
Even while receiving Verite’s accusations, Arc spoke firmly and clearly.
“After you betrayed Leo-sama in the end and drove him to his death, how dare you say such things!” (Verite)
“Verite.” (Leone)
It was Leone who stopped Verite, who still continued to criticize Arc.
“Arc. I understand. Let’s go to the royal capital.” (Leone)
“Leone-sama…” (Arc)
“Verite has always protected me. As long as I stay here, I can live safely. But that won’t do. My father would laugh at me.” (Leone)
Facing Verite, whose expression showed a complex mixture of emotions, Leone expressed his gratitude while also speaking with strong resolve. To live quietly in the depths of the mountains while the country fell into chaos… For Leone, who bore the proud blood of royalty and inherited Leo’s passionate spirit, such a thing was intolerable.
“I will become king.” (Leone)
In the dim forest, a boy dressed in simple clothes no different from a farmer declared this.
“Before His Majesty the King, Arc Warden offers his humble respects.” (Arc)
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