462

Episode 462: Are you exercising these days? (3)

The King of Lutania has been bedridden for a long time, so the Prime Minister and the Marquis of Branford are in charge of the government.

But twenty years ago, before the Marquis of Branford had truly seized power, and before the king's decline had begun.

'The royal family may have records related to this incident. The king would know.'

There was some basis for such suspicions.

This is the very strategy that the Duke takes.

'The Duke had been aiming for the capital city in his previous life as well. At that time, the Prince's faction was weak, so I didn't suspect much of it... ... .'

In war, capturing the king is a matter of deciding the outcome of the war. So at the time, there was no particular suspicion about the Duke's intentions.

Since most of the nobles had already gone over to the Duke's family, the situation was such that all they had to do was take over the capital.

'But things are a lot different now.'

Because of himself, the Duke failed to naturally swallow up the kingdom. In addition, he was designated as a public enemy of the kingdom and the church.

So even if they capture the king, they cannot take over the kingdom.

However, the Duke's army was adopting a strategy of targeting only the capital, not the entire kingdom. This can be seen from the way they moved their army.

'The Salvation Church attacked the Shadow Knights who protected the royal family about 20 years ago. That means they already fought once in the dark. They are still persistently targeting the royal family. They do not simply want to win the war.'

Perhaps they had been targeting the royal family since then. However, because of Jiselle's mother, the other side also suffered destruction.

So, he might have changed his plan to overthrow the kingdom.

Of course, this was a prediction based entirely on intuition. You shouldn't judge the enemy's strategy recklessly until the war is over.

Although she knew it in her head, Jiselle's intuition, having lived on the battlefield her entire life, told her otherwise.

To resolve the issue, we must meet the King in person and ask him if he knows anything about the Salvation Church.

'And about the Shadow Knights. And why one family has protected the royal family for generations.'

That part wasn't properly included in the book Belinda gave me either.

Giselle, who had some questions in her mind, smiled at Belinda.

"That's cool. My mother was the strongest in the kingdom, the one who protected Rutania from the darkness."

"Are you surprised?"

"Well, a little."

"I'm saying that all of your talents were inherited from Lady Annette. And Miss Elena's divine powers as well."

Belinda looked both proud and relieved. How long had she been itching to tell Annette what a wonderful person she was?

Jiselle scratched her head a little and asked again.

"So my mother's real name isn't… 'Elizabeth Laurence Le Yvonne des Vallières'?"

"yes."

"Then… is there a reason why it was built like that?"

"You just changed it because you wanted to use a pretty, elegant, and grand name. You had it in mind for a long time. So it's all fake."

"… … So, father doesn't know anything?"

"Yes, I just know you as someone pretty, bright, and fun…."

"What is your original personality?"

"Normally, that's true, but when he gets angry, he's a bit… … I think he has something in common with the master."

Jiselle readily agreed. Now she knew why her personality was like this.

"But still… was it really necessary to hide everything like that even from my father?"

My father would have been shocked if he had found out, because he only thought of my mother as a descendant of a fallen noble family.

As a husband, you might feel a little betrayed.

But Belinda thought differently.

"People tend to want to hide useless or bad pasts, especially from those they love. It wouldn't be good for you, Marquis, to know about such things. It could just hurt your pride. It's just consideration, consideration."

"Hmm… … I see."

"And there was another reason. Sure, Annette's mana cultivation method and techniques would have helped Ferdium, but if she had learned them, Ferdium might have been in danger sooner."

"Hmm… … ."

That was true. According to Melkir, the duke had checked his mother's whereabouts several times.

So, the mother might have given up on revealing her identity to Ferdium.

Belinda continued with a smile.

"I feel relieved now that everything has been revealed. If you wish, the vision is written in the book, so you can learn it whenever you want. It was originally yours."

"Well, think about it. By the way, how did you meet your father?"

"I originally planned to take a short break in the North and then head to another kingdom. However, while I was resting in Ferdium, I met the young Marquis."

"That's how our eyes met?"

"It was a close encounter. The Marquis was so persistent in pursuing Annette that he asked to meet her just once… … Even though she refused every time, he kept pursuing her. The Marquis was a man with a lot of tenacity."

"...okay."

Suddenly, I remembered what my father had said when he was drunk when I asked him about my mother.

― I confessed that I would give you my heart. After that, whenever we had a fight, I heard you ask me when I would give you my heart. Hehehe.

When I looked closely, I realized that she wasn't someone my father could handle. Still, in a way, my father was amazing for successfully marrying someone like that just for love.

"So that's why Belinda stayed here to look after me and Elena."

"Yes, Lady Annette also wanted me to live here in peace. That is why the Marquis left the young master and young lady in my care."

Belinda's eyes filled with tears again as she said those words. It seemed that she still missed him a lot.

Jiselle, who was looking at her with pity, suddenly frowned as another question came to mind.

"Wait a minute, but the royal family didn't look for your mother? I thought the duke and Melkir were still looking for her too?"

If such a great person had disappeared, the royal family would not have remained silent. However, there is no record of anyone searching for him at the time, and no one has ever heard of him.

Belinda replied with a snort.

"Even if they were the kings of the Shadow Knights, their identities would be unknown. They were an independent organization. Their members were only orphans, so they had no families."

"Does that… make sense? Not even meeting the king?"

"Only the captain wore a mask and met the king. So even if you wanted to find him, you couldn't find him. Maybe he was relieved that he disappeared."

An organization that gathers information and moves on its own without the king's approval. It's great, but in some ways it's a double-edged sword.

This means that if their leader changes his mind, he can even cut off the king's head.

The royal family may have felt very uncomfortable with the Shadow Knights being affiliated to a single family.

"I see. So that's why the Salvation Church and Melkir wanted to take over the Shadow Knights. To capture the king easily."

"I think so. But it failed. But Annette said she left a letter before she left."

"What letter?"

"Since the Shadow Knights have collapsed, you are saying that we should create a new guardian group or family. At that time, you said that Lady Annette had dealt with all the enemies who were targeting the royal family, so you have done everything you had to do. Since the Knights have disappeared anyway, it would be more dangerous for Lady Annette to remain."

"Yeah, that's it."

Most of my curiosity was satisfied. However, I still wondered how such a group was created and maintained.

'You'll know when you meet the King.'

It was new and surprising. His own mother was the leader of such a huge organization. And at that time, she was said to be the strongest in the kingdom.

Giselle pulled herself back from her reverie and spoke to Belinda.

"Let's stop here for today. If I have any more questions, I'll ask. Belinda, get some rest too. We'll leave early tomorrow."

"What about you, Young Master?"

Jiselle stood up from her seat with a subtle smile.

"I have to convince Elena too."

* * *

"after...."

Jiselle exhaled, glaring at herself in the mirror.

The red palm print has not yet disappeared. This is because Jiselle deliberately blocked the flow of mana to prevent recovery.

It was to strongly appeal to Elena, the successor to Ferdium, the lord of Fenris, and the commander of the Northern Army, that she had left a palm print on his cheek.

Originally, fights between siblings had to be this childish.

"Ha, I don't have time to do this."

While he was heading to Ferdium, he heard that the Duke's army had also moved.

As expected, the Delphine army advanced in three directions. One of them was towards the northern army. They were said to be moving very quickly, so they would collide soon.

I was planning to rest for a day or so for the knights who had been on a forced march, but Elena's work became a variable.

"I have to convince him somehow by today."

The night passed and morning came. I had to convince him today so that we could leave tomorrow morning.

Giselle decided to persuade Elena once again with sincerity and went straight to see her. There was no time, so she had to do her best.

dripping.

As I knocked, a cold voice rang out from inside the room.

"Don't come in."

Suddenly.

Despite Elena's refusal, Giselle opened the door and went in. She didn't even care about her sister's refusal.

"Ah! Don't come in!"

"Elena, calm down for a moment and listen to me."

"No, no, no, no!"

"You can't let your talents go to waste here in the North. You really have the talent to be the best."

"I'm going to be an elegant lady! I'm going to marry a handsome prince! What kind of battlefield is this!"

In the past, I would have teased her and told her not to talk nonsense. How could a young lady from a poor estate meet a handsome prince and get married?

But things have changed a lot these days. Many prestigious families are sending proposals. Thanks to Giselle, the Ferdium family has become one of the best families in the kingdom.

Rather, it was this side that was choosing a spouse. The problem was that the daughter-fool Zwalter was tearing up all the marriage proposals as soon as they arrived.

Jiselle said with a slightly sad look in her eyes.

"You're better suited to running wild on the battlefield than to getting married. Like a raging bull. You could be a terror. Isn't that cool?"

"Eww! It's annoying! Get out!"

It was a typical conversation between siblings, but it wasn't making any progress. Jiselle said, pounding her chest in frustration.

"You can be the ultimate combat weapon! No, just combat weapon isn't enough to describe you. You're a siege weapon! Wow, siege weapon Elena!"

"That's why I don't want to do that!"

"Why? Isn't that cool? A human being as a siege weapon!"

"It's not cool at all!"

"It's all for you!"

"I don't like it!"

"Ah! Tell me to do it!"

Even the best Jisel in the world couldn't help but get angry if her family didn't listen to her. Or she had to find a weak point and harass them, but she couldn't think of anything right away.

When the words just wouldn't work, Jiselle turned around. She was planning to use a different, but deadly, method.

"I'll tell your father and have him kick you out to the Northern Army."

"What? What? Are you crazy? Hey! Stop! You crazy bastard!"

Elena followed Giselle with an urgent look on her face.

Giselle holds Ferdium's leash. If Giselle forces him to send her away, it will be difficult for her father and his retainers to refuse.

After the assassins went on a rampage, the vassals gathered in Daejeon to hold a meeting. It was to assess the damage and strengthen the castle's defenses.

Giselle, who thought the timing was good, spoke to Zwalter as soon as she entered.

"I should take Elena to the Northern Army and train her."

"Umm… … . Do you really have to do that?"

Zwalter had already received the report. Although it was good news that his child was born with divine powers, he did not want to send his daughter into difficult situations such as training or fighting.

Besides, the Northern Army is an army that only seeks out battlefields. I couldn't send my daughter to such a dangerous place.

"Daddy, Daddy! I don't want to go! Don't ever allow me to go!"

Elena came in, panting, and hung next to Zwalter. Zwalter spoke solemnly to his daughter's request, whom he would not mind putting in his eyes.

"Is there a need to take someone who doesn't want to fight? Besides, isn't Elena still weak? It would be dangerous if she went to the Northern Army."

"Don't worry, I'll be stationed in the rear garrison. I'll teach you personally and make you strong quickly."

"Oh, but I said it's dangerous. You can't do that."

In response to Zwalter's strong opposition, Giselle brought up a different topic.

"Father, even if a superhuman ambush comes, you won't die right away. If you just hold on, you can attack from the surrounding area. Isn't that right?"

"Yes, I am at that level now."

"But not Elena and Rachel. One mistake could kill you. After what happened, I thought they should be able to protect themselves."

"Hmm… … But wouldn't it be better to train here?"

"I teach the fastest. Don't you know that?"

"Ugh… … ."

Zwalter was troubled. In fact, assassinations were now extremely rare, but he was not wrong.

While Zwalter was pondering, Giselle glared at Homer, the governor, and Albert, the treasurer. It seemed to indicate that if they wanted to continue receiving help, they should do as they pleased.

Two people who noticed the meaning stepped forward.

"The Archduke is right. Miss Elena, you should also build up your military strength at the very least."

"Yes, we have neglected that part. If you are the Archduke, you will be able to receive training."

The two of them had no choice anyway. The Archduke was a man who would really take everything away if he got caught. They didn't want to give up this comfortable life.

All the other vassals came forward and expressed their agreement. Even the doting daughter Zwalter was taken aback.

Elena shouted in anger after seeing Giselle's trick.

"What the heck! It seems like everyone is desperate to kick me out! This is just too much! Are you that scared of Oppa?"

Wah, wah!

The armrest of the chair Zwalter was sitting on was shattered by Elena's enraged hands. Now she did not hesitate to unleash her power.

Even Zwalter, who had been opposing it, looked at it with slightly fearful eyes and muttered.

"Go, I think it's okay to go… … ."

"Eeeeek! Is dad really going to do that too? I'm not going! I'm not going, so don't let anyone come to see me! If you come, you'll all die!"

When Elena showed her fist and grumbled, everyone took a step back with fearful eyes. She quickly ran away to her room.

Zwalter put his hand on his forehead and thought for a while before opening his mouth.

"I don't know. You two figure it out. You're not the type to listen to other people anyway."

"Thank you. Then I will 'take care of it'."

Giselle left Elena, who was hiding in the room, to rest.

After a good day of rest, Giselle and the knights woke up early in the morning and prepared to leave.

Rachel, who had packed her bags and came out, asked with a slightly fearful look in her eyes.

"Uh, what about Elena? Am I going alone?"

Despite their differences in status, Elena and Rachel were best friends. Since Gillian was certain to receive a noble title someday, Ferdium did not stop the two from getting along well.

Rachel mustered up the courage to follow Giselle's persuasion that Elena would go with her.

Gillian was a little worried, but she didn't object too much because it meant having her daughter, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, close by.

If the Northern Army falls, it is obvious that Ferdium and everything else will fall as well. In that case, it was decided that it would be better to stay together and train them.

Jiselle answered Rachel's question with a snicker.

"Don't worry. Elena will go with you."

Jiselle took a black cloth from her bosom and tied it so that it covered her eyes. Several knights followed suit.

Then a band of vicious bandits appeared in front of the castle.

Jiselle muttered, rubbing the back of her neck a few times.

"I don't know why they always make everyone use their strength. It's so much better when they just tell you to go easy on yourself. Isn't it?"

There are times in life when you have to rob, even if it's your own brother.