Duke Ferbache, Yohan, Francia, Laryana, Minister Rahardt, Rudbeckia, Elena, Rudella
Morning.
Yohan could hear the sounds of servants busily moving about.
Amidst the commotion, Rudella gently rose onto her tiptoes and left a warm kiss on Yohan’s cheek.
“Now the preparations are complete.”
Rudella smiled brightly. The newly risen sunlight illuminated her smile. Today was the day he would depart for the north for the final Demon Nest purification.
“I’ll be back. Take care of yourself.”
“Hehe, Yohan is the one who needs to be careful.”
She chuckled and smoothed out a wrinkle on Yohan’s uniform with her fingertip. She was the very picture of an ideal noblewoman.
“….”
Francia glared at them with a chilly gaze from the side, but regardless.
Rudella said, “I heard the number of Demon Nests in the north is unusual. Be careful not to get hurt, and don’t try to shoulder all the danger alone. The Purification Office and public officials’ martial officers are all there to fight.”
Struck to the core, Yohan flinched momentarily.
Rudella knew his work habits well.
Not in everything, but he often stepped forward himself rather than entrusting tasks to others. Because that would reduce the danger. That’s why Demon Nest purifications always placed a heavy burden on Yohan.
“… Who told you?”
Rudella shook her head slightly.
“No one did. I just said it because I thought that’s what Yohan would do.”
And she smiled softly. As she was now, Rudella was always quick-witted and thoughtful.
Yohan smiled lightly.
“Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Well, then, have a safe trip.”
Rudella once again rose onto her tiptoes and kissed Yohan’s cheek. This time, on the other side.
“Haha.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. Rudella had a cold impression, but she had her cute side.
“Yohan? That’s enough sweet time. We have to go now.”
At that moment, Francia, her eyes narrowed, spoke. Her face was frozen with coldness. It was jealousy directed at Rudella. Looking at the situation now, anyone would say that woman was the rightful wife.
“Ahem, I’ll be going.”
Yohan went to the side of the carriage and offered his hand to Francia so she could climb the steps. It was a basic escort. She stepped lightly into the carriage.
Receiving Rudella’s warm gaze, Yohan also boarded the carriage.
-We’ll depart!
And the wheels began to turn. Because it was a craftsman’s carriage prepared directly by the Imperial Family, there was no shaking.
Francia started the conversation.
“Hehe, this is Yohan’s first time in the north, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. I’m looking forward to it.”
“In what way?”
Yohan smiled lightly.
“Well, it’s also the hometown where Francia was born and raised, and isn’t the north said to be the place where heroes are born?”
The north was a cold and barren place. Moreover, it was known as a difficult place to live because of the large number of Demon Nests and the abundance of magical beasts. But that was only half true.
“And considering the spoils of the magical beasts, the rare minerals, mana stones, and magic stones… In my imagination, the north seems to be a fairly developed place. So I’m looking forward to it.”
In fact, the north had a lot of money. A tremendous amount. Even though Demon Nest outbreaks occurred every winter, doesn’t it give you a sense of how they’ve survived without problems in that vast land until now?
Francia smiled brightly.
“Hehe, that’s right. The north has technological prowess comparable to the Imperial Capital. They’re also decisive in their work. Maybe that’s why the people are so passionate.”
“Ah, that’s a famous rumor.”
Yohan chuckled.
“It’s an indispensable saying when it comes to the north. Isn’t it interesting? The saying that people who survive that cold are all passionate people.”
Where people live is all the same, the different tendencies of people depending on the region was a universal truth. Because tendencies optimized for the environment were created.
Francia covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled.
“I would think that there should be more cold-hearted people in a cold region.”
But people’s hearts were the opposite.
“Certainly, the north has many unexpectedly interesting aspects. The people, and the fact that it’s famous as a barren place, but it’s developed to the point where it’s comparable to the Imperial Capital.”
Yohan nodded with a small smile. Then, as if something suddenly came to mind, Francia touched her fingertips together.
“Ah, that’s right. A letter arrived from my father, and he said that when you come to the north, you must stop by the Duke Ferbache’s mansion right away.”
“I was going to do that anyway, but seeing as he even sent a letter, it seems the Duke misses Francia very much.”
In the original work, Duke Ferbache was a daughter-obsessed father. That was also the impression Yohan got when he actually saw him. He probably was incredibly happy at the news that his daughter was returning to the north.
“Hehe, I think so. But it seems he wants to see Yohan too? He was wondering how his son-in-law was doing these days. He also told me to keep a close eye on you.”
Pause.
Yohan’s fingertips stopped momentarily. To tell her to keep a close eye on him of all things. It was a meaningful nuance mixed in, rather than a simple greeting.
Yohan could tell. The Duke was putting pressure on him. In case he had developed another lover.
It was a story that could be laughed off as the Duke’s joke if he had nothing to hide, but Yohan had a lot to feel guilty about. Laryana and Eris might also become lovers.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
Of course, nothing was confirmed yet.
Laryana and Eris might give up.
“Ha, haha….. I see.”
That’s why Yohan could only laugh awkwardly.
-We have arrived!
In the meantime, the wheels of the carriage that had been rolling stopped.
Looking out the window, he could see the towering buildings of the Purification Office and the public officials. Since they
both had similar roles, they were in the same area, on the same site.
Yohan got out of the carriage first and offered his hand so that Francia could descend carefully.
“Thank you.”
Francia smiled brightly and stepped down the stairs with a light step. Yohan gently brushed back her bangs and said,
“Then, let’s see each other when we depart.”
“Yes. See you later.”
Yohan turned his back only after confirming that Francia had entered the public officials’ building.
‘Now, the final purification.’
And he hardened his expression.
If this matter ended safely, he would go down to Minister Rahardt’s territory and live a peaceful life with his lovers.
* * *
The North.
A wind as sharp as a blade cut through the earth.
Even though winter was coming to an end, the cold here did not subside. The sky had sunk to an ashen color, and the land and trees were trapped in cold ice.
The snow-covered mountains, obscured by blizzards, seemed to threaten the outside world, crouching in silence.
The river flowed slowly under the cold ice. The village endured the winter with thick log houses and chimney smoke, and people walked through the rough wind wearing coats made of magical beast hides.
However, the streets were definitely developed. There was no place where people’s footsteps reached that roads were not paved, and magic-powered streetlights were installed everywhere.
In the center of it all were carriages bearing the flags of the Purification Office and public officials, and martial officers riding on horses.
‘It’s a hard place to live, but it has a lot of money.’
Yohan let out a hollow laugh as he looked around the streets. The north was that contradictory.
“Minister, Aide Enrique has arrived.”
As Yohan was looking around the streets of the north, Elena delivered the news.
“I’ll go right away.”
Yohan entrusted his horse to a suitable place and moved with Elena. Rudbeckia had separate tasks to do as an aide, so she did not move with him.
The place Elena led him to was a huge inn.
When he went inside, Enrique was sitting at a table.
“It’s been a while, Minister Rahardt. Welcome to the north. Have you been well?”
“It’s been a while. I’ve been well, but a lot has happened.”
“Hahaha, I’m glad you look healthy anyway. Please, sit down first.”
The two greeted each other lightly and sat down. The central nobles strangely embellished their words, making even greetings unnecessarily long. He already liked the northern way.
“Then, I’ll introduce this place first.”
Enrique’s words continued.
“This inn is the largest and best-equipped inn in the north. It’s mainly used by northern explorers. We have prepared all private rooms so that the martial officers can stay comfortably.”
Accommodation was a critical matter.
Taking care of their physical condition was essential.
“Thank you. You’ve solved a big headache for me.”
“Haha, this much is a matter of course.”
Every time they went on an expedition, the accommodation for the martial officers always caused problems. There was no suitable place for a large number of martial officers to stay comfortably.
“Ah, and the Ferbache Knights will also be helping with this purification operation. It seems there’s a high possibility of getting lost because of the blizzards.”
Guidance was essential. No matter how much the survey team had been dispatched in advance to provide maps, the harsh environment with blizzards always brought unpredictable variables.
“That’s all I have to say for now. We’ll share the details at the Duke Ferbache’s residence.”
Enrique smiled and handed over a letter summarizing what he had just said. He was indeed a neat aide.
“Yes, then I’ll organize things and visit the Duke’s residence right away.”
They only talked about the necessary business, and the conversation ended lightly. Was it because survival was prioritized here? The work was very fast and straightforward.
“Then, I’ll see you next time.”
Enrique left his greetings and left the inn first. It seemed that the payment for using the inn had been paid in advance by the north.
Yohan took the letter that Enrique had handed him and said.
“Elena? I’ll leave the martial officers in your care.”
“Yes.”
And so, Elena also left the inn.
Yohan narrowed his eyes and examined the letter.
‘The scale of the Ferbache Knights is considerable.’
Befitting Ferbache’s prestige, the Knights were of a level that could not be compared to other territories. And the number could not be ignored. Perhaps they were the best Knights on the continent.
It was only natural. In order to stop the magical beasts that flocked from all over the north, talented people were needed.
The facilities themselves for training knights and soldiers must be good.
‘At this rate, this purification operation will go smoothly.’
They were no less than the support troops sent by the Holy Kingdom. Indeed, there was a reason why they had been able to prevent the magical beast outbreaks without problems for so long.
‘I’ll rest for the next two days to improve the martial officers’ condition, and then depart right away.’
Yohan got up from his seat. First of all, he also needed rest. He had accumulated fatigue while coming to the north. There was nothing more frustrating than getting hurt in the final Demon Nest purification.
‘Let’s go.’
Tomorrow, he would stop by the Duke Ferbache’s residence.
The next day, he would depart to close the Demon Nests of the north.
The plan was perfect, and the preparations were solid.
Everything was going smoothly.
To the point where he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.