2 - Valentina's Paradise
“Duke Edered of Terra Petronia…?”
Valentina’s voice turned cold involuntarily.
It was not a well-known fact, but Valentina had once been engaged to a boy named Edeled long ago. However, the engagement was broken off within a few years, and the two ended up never seeing each other again. And Valentina was the most pleased with the broken engagement.
If the imposter had known that fact, he wouldn't have dared to impersonate his name so carelessly.
She might have overlooked it if it were another name, but since he even mentioned the Count of Petronia, she couldn't just let it pass.
“I believe Emperor Alexius has not yet received the Allegiance Oath from the future Count of Petronia? Where did you get such information?”
For a moment, he looked as if he had been stabbed with a knife. He shut his mouth tightly and lowered his eyes before answering in a low voice.
“That is because I am the sole heir to the Count of Terra Petronia, and soon…”
“People call those who speak of their hopes as if they were facts imposters or liars. And in Regio Florida, impersonating a nobleman is punishable by death. Now, tell me your name again.”
The man’s face flushed. The knights and vassals standing behind him opened their eyes strangely and laughed silently. He bit his lip and bowed again. The second greeting was extremely polite, to the point where one could feel a fierce stubbornness.
“Edeled of Terra Petronia greets Her Highness Grand Duchess Valentina of Regio Florida.”
So he was going to keep insisting. Valentina watched him with cold eyes before spitting out,
“I’ve heard that Duke Edeled of Petronia is a very elegant and handsome man. Is this figure I’m seeing really Duke Edeled?”
At the unexpected question, he stiffened like a stone, shut his mouth tightly, and lowered his head. When no answer came out, Valentina ordered in a cold voice.
“In the future, if you’re going to impersonate someone, I hope you’ll at least put in the effort to get their clothes to wear. Of course, the real noble wouldn’t be able to give you his face as well. Ah, of course, the biggest problem would be that there won't be another chance to deceive. Lord Ricardo! Send this man to Lolo to find out his real identity.”
“Hey, you scammer. You should have shut your trap back then. Follow me! If you hang on the wall and receive plenty of Lolo's affection, you'll quickly remember your real name, age, and hometown.”
Lord Ricardo sneered as he twisted Edeled’s arm behind his back. But Edeled shook off his arm with all his might and snapped sharply at Valentina.
“Dominella! Do you judge people based on such flimsy evidence?”
Sparks flew from his dark eyes.
“If Your Highness is going to kill someone in the future, I hope you’ll at least put in the effort to obtain accurate information about the other person. I can’t expect you to have the wisdom to find out the truth. Ah, of course, the biggest problem is that you don’t have the ability to bring the dead back to life.”
A sharp retort quickly came out. It was a very insulting retort that used Valentina’s words in a parallel structure.
“Is this bastard crazy!”
Ricardo grabbed his hair and slammed him to the ground. He was already staggering and barely holding on, so he ended up slamming his head into the floor. But the fierce retort did not stop.
“I was very curious because there were rumors that Grand Duchess Valentina’s judgment was fair, merciful, and wise, but today I am very honored to know the reason. Because the dead have no words, after all.”
Valentina raised her hand to stop Ricardo’s assault.
…The way he speaks is completely different from the serfs.
He used perfect Continental Common Language, and even the northern accent and unique way of speaking that came out in a hurry were refined and dignified. He was definitely eloquent, and he was good at scratching with sharp claws in every word. It was proof that he had received a good education for a long time.
Valentina had him stand up and asked again in a softened voice.
“There is some truth in your words. Very well. By the way, is the Regent Duke of Petronia at peace?”
A murderous glint flashed in his eyes for a moment.
“Does Your Highness know my uncle well?”
“I have met him. Duke Edgar visited this place with his squire, William, when he was a Wandering Knight. There are many here who remember him even now. But is it so surprising that I know him?”
Valentina watched his expression closely as she answered. He looked at Valentina as if he was exploring her, then lowered his head and said.
“I apologize for my rude attitude. My uncle is well. Thanks to his merciful and wise rule, Terra Nebulosa and Terra Petronia are moving towards peace and prosperity.”
It was obvious that it was a forced embellishment. However, if he was really Edeled, such an attitude was natural. The current ruler of the Petronia County is Duke Edgar, Edeled’s uncle and guardian, who killed Edeled’s father and usurped the Nebulosa Dukedom.
Of course, Edeled’s father was a tyrant consumed by madness, and Edgar was the benefactor who rescued his nephew Edeled, who had been imprisoned in a tower. But the fact that Edeled was deprived of his father’s vast dukedom by his uncle does not change.
At this point, Valentina became confused as to whether this beggar youth was really Edeled or not. There was no way a mere serf could know this information and fabricate an attitude appropriate to the situation.
In addition, the way he spoke revealed the unique antiquity and weight of the northern aristocracy. Even standing there in that state. Just as Valentina was about to carefully open her mouth, he suddenly put an end to the confusion.
“Here, this is a letter from my uncle Edgar. Dominella.”
He took out a letter from his bosom, and an embarrassing silence fell among Valentina and the people around her.
Why is he only taking out that important thing now?
“The Rose Seal of Nebulosa is correct.”
Lord Camilo, the herald, received the letter, examined the state of the wax seal, and handed it over with a slightly surprised face.
“…It’s the Duke’s handwritten letter.”
Duke Edgar, a typical warrior, was poor at writing and had terrible handwriting, so most of his letters were dictated and written by a scribe. So, a handwritten letter meant that he absolutely wanted to avoid a situation where the authenticity of this letter was questioned.
The content was as Edeled had said. If you remove the formulaic praise and greetings that sounded like a minstrel was singing next to him, the entire content was, ‘I will send my nephew, so please make him an apprentice knight and ask for proper education.’
…Oh dear.
She suddenly became embarrassed. The fact that the letter was genuine meant that the dirty beggar was Duke Edeled. She was beyond dumbfounded and felt puzzled.
“With Duke Edgar, his guardian, alive and well, how did you come here alone, Gongzi? Among the Black Rock Knights of Petronia, who boast of their bravery, was there not a single one who would accompany you on this dangerous journey?”
“No. My uncle gave me five knights and twenty guards. However, we encountered armed thieves in the Black Forest, and we got separated while running away. Fortunately, a few days later, I met a passing farmer, exchanged clothes and food, and was guided out of the forest.”
“Well, the thieves in the Black Forest are notorious. But didn’t you go back to find the escort? They must be worried?”
“I judged that it would be more dangerous to search for them in a lost state. Wouldn’t they find their way to their destination if they couldn’t find me?”
“Unfortunately, the escort has not arrived here. Escorts who have lost their lord cannot arbitrarily return to their territory or move to their destination. They must still be looking for you in the forest. It’s strange that someone who grew up as the heir to a great lord didn’t know such basic things.”
“I couldn’t afford to lose my way and even my life while keeping those basics.”
He cut off her words in a tired tone, then added with a blatant sigh.
“Please, that’s enough. How long are you going to keep verifying my identity as your fiancé?”
“What? Fiancé…?”
People suddenly became quiet as if struck by lightning. Valentina hardened her expression and said.
“Fiancé? What are you talking about? It’s been six years since we broke off the engagement.”
His complexion changed in an instant. But he bit his lip and asked in a calm voice.
“What are you talking about? When did we ever break off… the engagement?”
What is he talking about again?
Valentina was flustered, and the people were completely frozen. But the most flustered was Edeled, the person who had brought it up. It was visible that his legs, which had been struggling to hold on, were faltering. His fierce voice burst out.
“Wasn’t it an engagement that was proposed and arranged by Florida first! I have never shown any intention of breaking off the engagement, nor have I ever received a notice of breaking off the engagement!”
What crazy talk is this!
It was 10 years ago that Valentina was engaged to Edeled. Edeled was eight years old at the time, the same age as her least favorite ‘noisy and messy snot-nosed’ cousins. The thought of such a guy becoming the Owner of her Heart made her feel resentful and suffocated.
So, when the engagement was suddenly broken off four years later, Valentina felt deeply relieved and happy.
But now, that snot-nosed kid suddenly appeared as a beggar and was talking nonsense, asking when we had ever broken off the engagement.
