98 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
Alicia's Bride is a Warrior from Hell 98
There was only one reason why the responsibility was passed on to Alisha.
To marry Reikart.
A brief, empty wind blew between them.
"Shall I swear my allegiance right now?"
Reikart said, getting off his horse with a loyal face.
"Good."
Alisha permitted with a beaming smile.
Her posture, sitting askew on the stopped horse, was almost arrogant.
Reikart knelt on one knee and paid his respects as if taking an oath of allegiance.
"Son of Ferdinand II and Idgis of Ivelin. Reikart Tessen swears allegiance to Alicia Lane until his last breath."
Alisha spread a playful smile and placed her hands on Reikart's shoulders in turn.
"Rise, Knight Ray."
"I'm serious."
Reikart said challengingly, rising to his feet.
"I'm serious too. I feel secure knowing that Satan with an Axe is my knight. Let's get going."
"Alright."
Reikart dusted off his knees and mounted his horse.
"What would be a good way to address her?"
"Ingrid, that's enough."
Listening to Reikart's answer, Alisha increased the speed of her horse.
As she raced quickly toward her destination, Alisha suddenly had a question.
But how do I find Hell?
Alisha and Reikart's visit to Orie was sudden.
As the two entered the Luaire manor, a welcoming voice rang out.
"Ray!"
A small person in the garden was sitting in a wheeled chair.
Their face was not clearly visible because of the awning fixed to the back of the chair.
Behind the wheeled chair stood a middle-aged woman with a stubborn expression.
She leaned down and said something, and the person buried in the chair nodded repeatedly.
"Ingrid."
Reikart waved back at the person waving at him.
Since he was not one to do such things, Alisha watched the amazing sight with a curious feeling.
Noticing Alisha's gaze looking up at him, Reikart smiled and said,
"Alisha, this is Ingrid."
Henrik, who had lent them horses to come here, did not show it, but his face was hardened.
Connie and Jamie's faces were also gloomy.
Unlike their worries, Reikart's face was clear with the joy of seeing someone he missed.
Alisha was also unknowingly nervous.
Reikart took Alisha's hand, who was nervous, and led her to Ingrid.
The frail body buried in the chair was stretched out towards the two approaching.
It was a gesture like a curious child.
"Reikart."
"Greetings to Your Grace."
Camille held the small body in the chair so it would not fall and greeted Reikart.
"Ingrid, I've come."
Reikart carefully let go of Alisha's hand and lowered himself in front of the chair.
He took the hand that had been extended towards him and met the eyes of the face sitting in the chair.
"Welcome. I'm sorry for worrying you when you visited last time. Would you introduce the guest next to you?"
Reikart knelt in front of the chair, placing his gaze even lower than Ingrid's.
In front of the petite Ingrid, Reikart looked much larger than usual.
The dry, wrinkled hand gently stroked Reikart, who seemed much bigger than herself.
It was a gesture full of love.
Reikart showed a submissive attitude to the touch that caressed him, then stepped back and stood beside Alisha.
"Ingrid, this is someone I cherish. This is Alisha."
Alisha lowered her body deeply, just as Reikart had done.
"My name is Alicia Reine. Ingrid, it is an honor to meet you."
Only after lowering her body as much as possible could Alisha see the face hidden under the awning.
Alisha felt a little afraid.
A person who had gone through a fate that she might have experienced.
No matter what her appearance was, Alisha hoped she would not show a surprised expression.
"Nice to meet you, Alisha. I didn't think this day would come in my life because Reikart is such a fool. I'm really glad to meet you."
The face hidden in the deep shade of the awning slightly revealed itself.
Ingrid had the appearance of an octogenarian, as she had heard.
The traces of time were densely packed on her entire face and everywhere visible.
But from her childlike smiling face, one could not feel the unpleasantness of a curse or punishment.
Ingrid carefully extended her hand to Alisha.
Her attitude of expressing friendliness contained hesitation.
"Thank you for welcoming me. I'm sorry for the sudden visit. May I stay here for a few days?"
Alisha clasped her wrinkled hand.
"I don't know how long it's been since we've had a guest! Thank you for staying. Let's go inside, I'll tell you all the stories of Ray's childhood."
Ingrid said, spreading a smile all over her face.
Alisha gestured to Camille with her eyes, asking if she could push the chair, and headed to the back.
"I should have stayed here instead of going home. I only realized just now that Ray had a childhood."
"Then I'm happy."
"Shall we go inside?"
Camille was about to say that it was not easy for a beginner to push.
But she was already pushed aside and handed the chair handles to Alisha.
Camille almost blurted out words of praise when Alisha released the locking device and rolled the wheels smoothly, she was so skilled.
"This way."
Ingrid indicated the direction with her hand.
Alisha pushed the chair with strength and skill, heading smoothly into the mansion.
"How old was Ray when you first saw him?"
"Fourteen years old. He was really as pretty as an angel back then. He's too big now, but there must be something good about him as he is now. I have a few drawings I made when he was young, I'll give them all to Alisha. I can't see well these days because my eyes are blurry, so they're useless even if I have them."
Ingrid chattered in a cheerful voice and gently ordered the servants.
"Serve tea to the Lady. Bring some dessert too. After you finish your work, bring the paintings with the emblems in the gallery."
She invited Alisha to sit in the seat she wanted.
"Are your eyes not good?"
"Ah, don't worry. It's just because I'm getting old, so it's not particularly painful. Ah, I completely lose my memory on some days. I might not recognize Alisha then. Would you understand?"
Ingrid had the ability to speak of tragedy peacefully.
When she spoke calmly about the harsh reality, it seemed like nothing much.
"...Yes, I will."
Alisha hesitated but answered calmly.
"It's okay. I just told you in case Alisha is suddenly surprised. What is Reine like? I haven't been to Reine."
"Reine is a boring place. And cold. People's expressions are all cold, so everyone is misunderstood. Ingrid, are you going to tell me about Ray from when he was 14 until now?"
"Should I? I'm afraid I'll be talking too much..."
In the sunny window, Alisha and Ingrid chattered excitedly.
Reikart stood a step away, watching the two talk about him.
The two women were chatting in front of the person in question, saying that his basic expression was now unkind, and wondering what he ate to grow so tall.
Ingrid confessed that Reikart was already as big as her when she first saw him, but recalled that he didn't take up as much space as he does now.
"..."
Camille stood beside Reikart, listening to the conversation of the two people talking about him.
Ingrid told in detail an episode where Reikart was oblivious, and Alisha responded that he must have been oblivious from a long time ago.
Ingrid heard about the oblivious situations of Reikart that Alisha knew and laughed, holding her stomach.
"Your Highness is very bold."
Camille whispered in a quiet voice.
Reikart frowned slightly and retorted.
"I think this is the first time I've seen you joke."
Ingrid and Alisha's conversation moved on to Reikart's clothes.
It was the story of when Reikart started to rebel because he was not close to Henrik when he was young and wore what Henrik recommended.
"It's the truth, Your Highness."
Camille said with a serious face.
At the same time, she focused on the voices of Ingrid and Alisha.
Henrik liked flashy things, so Reikart wore a lot of bright pink shirts or jackets with flashy decorations until he was 16 years old.
Reikart hated the clothes he wore back then.
Camille slightly twitched her lips as she listened to Ingrid say that Henrik probably cried on the day Reikart refused to wear such things anymore.
Reikart's large Alban rings were all Henrik and Connie's taste.
Thanks to the two of them, he was said to have dressed neatly like a prince before he became a young man.
Ingrid's episodes about Reikart were endless.
Alisha nodded and responded to all of Ingrid's words with an admiring face.
After many stories, it came to the fact that Reikart hated and was afraid of fish.
Eventually, Reikart pushed his sturdy frame forward and stopped the pleasant tea time.
"Let's eat."
An expression without friendliness and a blunt voice.
The tactless words that coldly cut off the atmosphere were a bonus.
When Alisha and Reikart finished their first dinner in Orie, the Grand Duke's guards joined them.
The next day, Daisy and the rest of the group arrived in Orie.
Considering Ingrid's special situation, only Alisha and Reikart decided to stay in the main building of the mansion.
The time spent in Orie was pleasant.
Unlike her worries, Ingrid was living a healthy and peaceful life.
The days passed in an instant.
Alisha spent a lot of time with Ingrid.
They shared many stories and spent quite a bit of time in silent silence.
They shared their daily lives by looking at paintings, looking at scenery, and looking at the phrases and objects that Ingrid showed them.
Ingrid had to take breaks between her daily life, but other than that, there seemed to be no other problems.
It seemed that everything was fine as long as she prioritized not overdoing it.
The morning of the 7th day.
Alisha received a letter.
The Anchor Tree flower garden of the Lord Brenel family was burned down.
Mannors had sent a warning to Brenel for his outrageous threats.
Alisha gave detailed instructions on Anne's personal protection and a refuge in case of any subsequent accidents.
After finishing writing the letter, Alisha raised her eyes and was startled.
Ingrid stood in front of the study with her long hair loose.
Alisha quickly put away the letter and was about to ask why she hadn't called her.
"Who is the Lady?"
Ingrid said softly to Alisha.
Alisha was momentarily flustered by the sudden change in attitude of the person she had eaten breakfast with.
"...My name is Alicia Reine..."
In response to Alisha's answer, Ingrid showed the same innocent smile as in the morning.
Is it a prank?
Around the time she had that thought.
"Lady, your eyes are purple."
Ingrid said, looking into Alisha's eyes.
"Yes..."
Alisha was doubtful.
Ingrid came into the study, closed the door herself, and gestured for Alisha to come closer.
Her frail body looked precarious, but fortunately, she didn't fall or anything.
Alisha moved as she was told, feeling bewildered.
Ingrid gestured to Alisha as if telling her to lower her voice.
Is she playing hide-and-seek?
Ingrid firmly grabbed Alisha's hand as she approached.
Not only did she stand close, but she gestured again to bring her face closer.
Alisha obediently did as she was told.
"Lady Reine. Did Marquis Reine send the Lady here?"
"No."
Alisha did not know what Ingrid's memory state was, so she did not use honorifics.
Ingrid did not seem to care about honorifics.
She didn't care at all that the answer was short.