14 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
“How could….”
It was possible for Harry, who was in the same hallway, to hear parts of the conversation.
But it was impossible for Reikart, who was at the entrance on another floor, to hear it.
The butler with the man wore his usual expression, seemingly unaware of the private conversation.
“I heard it.”
Alisha looked up at Reikart with a suspicious expression.
“That… that can’t be….”
The amber eyes that had been looking ahead met Alisha’s gaze.
Reikart, with a slightly different expression, spoke again.
“I heard it.”
Alisha grew increasingly confused.
It was impossible.
It couldn’t be.
Yet, Alisha herself had experienced something impossible.
“…Your Highness, what is it?”
Alisha looked at Reikart as if he were something strange.
Reikart responded with a short laugh.
“Let’s go. The Marquis’s residence is large, and the gate is far.”
Despite Reikart’s words, Alisha stared up at the man’s face.
It was a face that never seemed of this world.
On top of that, his hearing was unnaturally sharp; he was an incomprehensible being.
“How much did you hear?”
Alisha mumbled vaguely, as she had in the past.
She was so flustered that she couldn’t speak properly.
“Stop looking.”
Reikart didn’t answer, only said something else.
Alisha nodded, but didn’t take her eyes off him.
It was hard to look away from the shining silver-blonde hair, backlit by the light.
His amber eyes, which seemed to know everything, were fascinating.
“Why is Your Highness ‘Satan with an Axe’?”
Alisha suddenly recalled the most destructive epithet among the man’s many nicknames.
Without realizing it, she blurted out her honest question.
She really didn’t understand.
Reikart didn’t answer, muttering, ‘You know a lot,’ and strode ahead.
Alisha followed him, relieved that she hadn’t said the entire nickname: ‘Satan with an Axe’ who is ‘red-skinned’ and wields a ‘giant’ axe.
Outside the Marquis’s residence gate were Roderick and the knights.
The knights, upon seeing the Duke, changed their direction and prepared to leave.
Reikart, making Alisha’s offer to see him off meaningless, opened the door himself.
He used the small door on the side, which was more practical, rather than the large central gate.
As he stepped out the door, he looked back inside the mansion.
“Alisha.”
It was a sudden call.
“Yes.”
Alisha answered reflexively, surprised that Reikart knew her name.
More precisely, she was surprised that he called her by her name alone.
It was natural that he knew her name, as he had recited it on the day they first met.
She had known it in her head, but hadn’t felt it.
But when her name was called, it felt real.
“I’m not saying this with any particular meaning. I’m just telling you this so you know. You can use Ludern Castle immediately if you need it, without requesting it from the Imperial Family.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
Alisha responded with a dazed expression.
“It’s cold, go inside. Thank you for seeing me off.”
Reikart put on his gloves and headed to where Roderick had prepared his horse.
He mounted the horse and quickly disappeared into the distance.
Alisha watched his departing figure for a long time.
As she did, she realized that the man had heard everything.
And she realized something else.
She couldn’t tell what meaning the man had put into his words, telling her to just know, without any particular meaning.
The fact that he had told her without meaning was meaningful to Alisha.
Belatedly, she wondered what had brought Reikart here today, but decided to postpone it until next time.
Putting the fact she had just realized into action came first.
Alisha’s face was serene as she returned to the mansion.
Daisy approached and greeted Alisha as she entered the entrance.
“Lady. Welcome back.”
“Daisy, pack your bags. I will go to Ludern as soon as preparations are complete.”
The quiet face spoke in a monotone voice.
What Alisha possessed was the power to declare a farewell to someone.
That someone would be her family.
It was an unexpected turn of events, but it was time to say goodbye to her family.
Alisha defined it as a moment of independence rather than a farewell.
Ludern welcomed its new master.
The existing Ludern administration was being run by Baron Caruso’s people, according to the Imperial Family’s orders.
The new master did not take away work from Baron Caruso’s people or drive them out.
They did not become the people of the new master, who would soon become a Count from the Baron.
Their new master requested a meeting with the Baron to coordinate opinions.
The Imperial Family’s order to Baron Caruso had not yet been withdrawn.
Alisha asked Baron Caruso to continue to carry out the Imperial Family’s order.
Baron Caruso had no choice.
He did not want to be disliked by the new master of Ludern, so he behaved politely.
Alisha asked him to come to her if the Imperial Family’s order changed.
Not only that, but she gently said that if the Baron agreed, she would like to continue entrusting the administration of Ludern to the Baron’s people in the future.
It was a harmless statement for him.
The Baron was receiving a considerable amount of silver from the Imperial Family in return for administering Ludern.
Alisha telling him to come to her if the Imperial Family’s order changed meant that she would pay instead and ask him to do the work if the Imperial Family stopped paying the silver.
Baron Caruso expressed his respect as if he were receiving an Imperial order.
Alisha spent a considerable amount of time drinking tea with Baron Caruso.
She expressed interest in various topics, such as the state of affairs in the Imperial Capital, what fields the Baron was currently interested in, and even his family relationships.
The Baron answered sincerely.
He revealed that he was interested in finding Treasure Island and Treasure Ship, which he had seen in a book when he was young, although he was ashamed to admit it.
Usually, the story of a middle-aged man’s treasure would be met with a pathetic laugh.
But the Lord of Ludern, perhaps because she was still young, expressed active interest.
The Baron excitedly recounted stories that no one else cared about, but were absolute secrets to him.
After listening to him, Alisha encouraged him, saying that it seemed like a place where treasure could really be hidden.
He wouldn’t have done so normally, but the Baron complained that he was considering giving up his absurd actions due to financial difficulties.
Then, unbelievably, Alisha offered to become his investor.
While drinking tea and eating cookies, the two of them adjusted the contract details with warm words and consideration.
Baron Caruso couldn’t believe it even as he signed the investment contract.
It was a business that everyone had ridiculed.
He couldn’t believe that a relative of the Imperial Family with a bright future had become his investor.
Since there would be no immediate income from the investment, the Baron pleaded with Alisha to do anything for her.
Alisha asked him to send his eldest daughter once every seven days to receive advice on her attire.
It was too small a condition compared to the investment.
The Baron had shown courtesy and humility when he was invited to Ludern, but he was more humble than ever when he returned after the visit.
Baron Caruso couldn’t hide his happiness and excitement as he left Ludern.
He was able to continue the opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream.
“Baron. Is something the matter?”
Sven, who worked as a messenger in Ludern, spoke to him.
“What kind of person is the new Lord of Ludern? She’s a precious daughter of the Reine family, so her spending must be extravagant, right?”
“Could it be….”
Sven looked at the Baron with a surprised expression.
“What is it?”
“Could it be that the Lord invested in the Baron’s treasure hunt?”
Sven was half-doubtful as he spoke.
“…H, how did you know….”
The Baron was just as surprised.
Only good things had happened since he came to Ludern today.
It was too good to be true.
His life couldn’t be like this.
The Baron looked at Sven with a face that said he would be okay with any tragedy.
“It seems like the Baron is really going to try to find that treasure.”
Sven looked at the Baron, unable to hide his surprise.
“What do you mean?”
Baron Caruso rolled his eyes with a bewildered expression.
“I’ve run errands for the new Lord a few times. The new Lord buys or looks into things that others aren’t interested in. Among the things I’ve run errands for, there are things that haven’t changed yet and things that have succeeded, but there’s nothing that’s failed. So it seems like the Baron’s treasure hunt will also succeed. Good luck.”
Sven, who had been talking in a low voice, opened the door of the carriage.
The Baron got into the carriage, his eyes fixed on Sven.
The door of the carriage closed, and the sleek carriage sped towards the castle gate.
Alisha’s residence in Ludern Castle attracted brief attention.
It was not discussed as a major topic.
It was tentatively concluded that the Imperial Family had ordered it because she would become the fiancée of a member of the Imperial Family.
Compared to the public’s quiet interest, the Imperial Family and the Marquis Reine family were on edge about Alisha’s residence in Ludern.
The person who was most surprised by Alisha’s move to Ludern was Reikart.
“Lady.”
Reikart had told Alisha about using Ludern, but he had not expected it to lead to her moving there.
The Emperor, the Imperial Family, and even Marquis Reine had all asked him about Alisha’s strange behavior.
Reikart did not speak rashly about his intended fiancée.
He was surprised by Alisha’s unexpected drive and execution, and did not immediately look for her.
He finished his work and made an appointment when he had business to deal with Alisha.
“Come in.”
Only after hearing the voice from inside the room did Daisy open the door and usher in the Duke.
“Please, come in.”
Reikart waited for Daisy to fully open the door before moving.
There were several tables in the large room.
There were folded pieces of paper on the tables.
He entered, scanning the writing on the paper with his eyes.
“I greet Your Highness the Duke.”
“You may dispense with the formalities. Have you been well? Clear the area.”
Reikart approached Alisha, taking off the leather gloves he was wearing.
He spoke to Daisy, who was standing by the door, as if in passing.
Daisy quietly closed the door and stepped back, without adhering to the Lady’s etiquette.
“I have been busy and well.”
“Yes, I heard you have been very busy. I came to inform you that the table arrangement for the Earl’s investiture ceremony in the Great Hall has finally been completed.”
The man, who was a member of the Imperial Family, moved with a face that showed he was sick of the Imperial Family.
Reikart moved between the tables, rearranging the papers on the tables.
An arrangement that the Emperor and Empress both agreed to, and that the attending Imperial Family members, their spouses’ families, and retainers did not express dissatisfaction with.
A battle of nerves had taken place in the Imperial Palace for days over the seating arrangement, which was only for a short time.
The Emperor and Empress, who were always known to be on good terms, sent each other letters with elegant words scribbled on them through attendants even during meal times.
The Emperor and Empress, who were always known to be on good terms, had slept in separate rooms for five days because of the seating arrangement for the investiture ceremony.
“I will memorize it.”
Alisha looked at the confirmed table positions and did not understand who the victor of the grand battle of nerves was.
“How is living in Ludern?”
“Busy, but rewarding.”
Reikart, having finished adjusting the table arrangement, headed for the door.
Alisha followed him to the door.
As he opened the door, the maids and servants of Ludern were standing in the hallway in front of the room, packed tightly together.
