Chapter 184: Wars of the Roses (2)
4w9The Smile of the Rose, a hallmark of the city of Soara.Tgx4
x8bfAOn a normal day, it would be filled with delicious aromas and bustling conversations, but today, the atmosphere felt strangely heavy.zmNRW1i
zd5ht“Aren’t you going to order anything besides beer?”2ugh2u
5PxQt“No.”XV61yrw
N0I2“And you, brother?”aWJmo6
45uZa“No.”lnIamv
C5gs“Ah… What’s wrong with the customers today?”t7EluK
FycxgNed, a dark-skinned boy, scratched his neck in frustration upon seeing that Harven and Otar had only ordered one beer each.E8M
6LiepAlthough business had been good lately, why were they spending so little?pkKotAS
p7yn“Then at least leave me a tip. If you don’t order more, I won’t get my bonus.”p0cn7
4n8BIN“A tip? Here.”ELCB
FkhU7TlHarven raised his middle finger in response to Ned’s complaints.BBY
xDvR2L“Today, don’t ask customers for tips. That’s my tip for you.”UwqQ
gFm“That’s disgusting. Really.”pT1CXQ
UJoexBJEven though Harven was acting playfully, his voice was serious, and Ned could only frown.MOo2
HPYwvHarven, though not as much as Vlad, was now someone not to be taken lightly.1VQVJL
YdA“If I had kept stealing as Vlad suggested, I wouldn’t have lived long.”2dsdr
5k9N6SN“Hmm…”r2iG0
ad1LOtar sighed while watching his brother walk away angrily.r8NPz
nXNGfAlthough the boy moved with agility, his lack of insight prevented him from noticing the strange tension enveloping the Smile of the Rose today.XizgHBA
V0BiI“This reminds me of the old days.”CZdj
usYHarven lifted his beer mug and looked around.D5E
4LIAZPerhaps this was how it was when One-armed Jack and Jorge were around.o33k
2vubUV8A sharp tension, unseen for a long time, enveloped the inn.gJabB
lRoab“All familiar faces.”EOJ7BX
OzyiZAlthough the owner of the place hadn’t planned it, today the inn’s customers naturally divided into two factions.qmJu
ErB4bplEach with a simple beer, watching each other.7ZgEP
Sql9CNed might not recognize them, but they were all representative merchants from northern companies.5Oakd3m
RV7ckN“All these busy people gathered here.”UNKdCW
kX08“Yes.”UINs
ifO0fAs Harven said, all those who prided themselves on having an incredible nose for money had gathered in the same place on the same day.TlHOLH
fJAAwAnd the place where they were setting up their camp was in a separate room on the third floor where Zemina and Alicia were.EdL
8MChWill it be Soara or Deirmar?vNYgqp
zduczLThe place where trade with the new world of elves and dwarves will take place.bkDQ9Zu
j5f4eXpWill it be Bayezid or Hainal?pTRSj8x
OcimWhere the knight named Vlad, recognized by the Orthodox Church and sponsored by the Smiths, will lodge.1Sm
6yNb“I bet on Zemina.”WrH11R
moPK“Mmm. Me too.”1FbceR8
zWQrQyIt’s not just a simple political battle, but a silent war based on the interests of countless people and political calculations.nXX2xSp
PNrzMkEHarven, who adjusted his captain’s hat, raised his beer glass towards the other captains sitting across.KeqLmln
zEVwCPeople are divided into factions between red roses and blue roses.Mt7CIC
mI8rfAnd the place where Harven was sitting now was where the side of the Red Rose was.elCJCk
mJzH***MCE0Sos
gJW“Delicious. I feel like inviting the person who made this dish to my mansion.”zzm
BHCpWas a fight possible between a woman from the alleys and a noblewoman?SJH
ukgNormally, this would have been nonsense, but if it were limited only to Vlad’s issue, it would have been completely unknown.XTCA3S5
lJ1o“It seems that Bayezid is planning to take advantage of this woman.”aSy
c9jAlicia, who was a noble but also the daughter of a baron, knew this very well.wmKG
ee0TThe level of food you’re consuming now cannot be achieved simply with money and culinary skills.qYU16aE
B37aCmv“Especially, the quality of the meat is excellent.”3QQVAMZ
KYyx“It’s meat provided by the Kannor family. They were all animals that roamed freely in the pastures.”uV88xI
e1ycmjgIt wasn’t just the meat.KXC
X44Various delicacies, which not even money could buy, kept coming into the room.N1QfQ
uFIThe inn ‘Smile of the Rose’, under the protection of the Bayezid family.dDoF
a4WYrWNow, Zemina was showing through the luxurious food who was backing her.pM1BVfH
VTI3N8“…As much as they roamed the pastures, in the end, they were raised in a corral.”sQZk
T5PMHowever, Alicia responded coldly as she looked at the aromatic food.9NUYa
BOud“The land called Bayezid is so vast that they wouldn’t even realize they are enclosed.”BKzWf
YPK“…Really?”qnza4
VvFjpIDoes this woman know?dTOX
ozSNThe fact that Bayezid was using it.ydqQd5
VzXIf he does this knowingly, he probably isn’t worth respecting.DYF9rz
slHqJJ“I’m worried that Lord Vlad, who is now free after his contract ends, will end up tied like this.”Tl2vh
BWOZZAlicia smiles as she twirls the meat with her fork.h8VhpoL
mXanHHowever, the unsettling feeling towards someone at the end of that smile is probably not just an illusion.GPc
vXiIv9“Isn’t the baron trying to keep Lord Vlad in his arms anyway?”CkQ
v5Os“That’s right.”zYqx7
IKqtw“So I think it would be safer for him to be on large grounds than in a small enclosure.”w0p
y53QTiZemina responds quietly to Alicia’s words and sprinkles sauce over the meat.AIR
G2ZxHer behavior was courteous and irreproachable, but her comments were startlingly rude.wJ5
7MTM“No matter how good a horse is, it won’t be able to run freely in too narrow a fence.”vPyE
QaYWH“…”Ltdx
XNH9EuAn odd tension filled the room.ZHsz7Nm
BSnag1oEven the old knight Duncan set down the utensils he was holding.uJ45Iz0
yGaUxeThe women’s fight, which no one could resist, made the room’s air infinitely heavy.MqRon
OFs“…Although what I have is small, I’m just grateful it’s not a fence trying to trap someone.”yNGG0
UC0OerWAlong with the response, the sound of a knife cutting through meat is chilling.h3S1e
wqlL“Unlike some people.”jaf
KWpdAlicia compares Zemina to a fence trying to trap Vlad.Q83H
a5nMCnxZemina was infuriated by those words, which hit her harder than any other insult.ypyyma5
wSq1“…But you too, Baron.”HVM8qC
Ym9“At least I won’t try to enclose him.”iX8a9
84KAlicia dried her lips with a napkin and smiled as she looked at Zemina.0NNmy
e2DjIn moments like this, the blue blood of a serene noblewoman showed its true worth.RHrUvo
g2e1LP“Rather, I gave it to you if you gave it to me.”WLyPEkx
jDN0Alicia nodded at those words and at the large amount of food being served, as if she was going to inspect it.fVqfcRE
qtxl“All this must be borrowed from someone. Is there anything here that is entirely yours?”nuQFQ
FW0om“…”ExYZ0
bEAZemina fell silent under Alicia’s sharp observation.skKQV
DDXIndeed, everything Zemina possessed had been borrowed and allowed by Bayezid.QIqKJ
zCP“Hainal is a small and humble family as you say, but at least I can promise many things to Lord Vlad.”cbl5U
UNPiAlthough the difference between Bayezid and Hainal was immense, Alicia was confident she could offer enough support to Vlad.7GAW1B
DUx8kgN“If he wishes, I can share everything I have. They are things that my ancestors have accumulated over hundreds of years.”RXPQkDd
itxSIeTIt was too much to offer to a mere knight, but Alicia’s special situation made it possible.zaPK3v
EMhLrA lady who must protect her family’s name alone.j0IXaJ
bWvchWnFor her, who had to worry about matters of succession and inheritance, Vlad, a promising knight without backing, had become the best option she couldn’t pass up.3QU1
U4TM2Hd“No matter what Bayezid promises Lord Vlad, they won’t be able to offer him as much as I can.”IyLJBor
j04ZvGP“…”JPjkdSq
OLP0nEZemina was speechless when she saw that Alicia even offered to stand by her side.Nhm98a1
jBKIf she really wanted to share everything, Bayezid couldn’t match her terms unless they offered Soara.Wzvf
M681A“Why… so much?”kmn
jsOb“So, please, let him go.”RWKr
tN0Lady Zemina had Vlad’s past, but Lady Alicia trusted his future with Vlad.gYg
qsqDAlthough both women were looking at the same man, their perspectives were completely different as they looked into each other’s eyes.ygbNdwW
ZnVi“Don’t you think it’s a waste of his potential? If Lord Vlad stays here, he’ll just be a knight who follows orders all his life.”xbMe3
syyAlicia was telling her that, while Zemina would be only an obstacle, she could be his wings, taking him beyond the range of a knight to become a lord.1Xih
vB0QkR“Don’t you think it’s a shame that someone like Vlad is tied to an inn like this?”lJoi1
ALLW“…”wvOa
NckZemina began to feel confused by Alicia’s words.QbJ
3vhYShe thought that being in Bayezid would obviously be better than in Hainal, but upon hearing such sincerity, Zemina couldn’t help but feel bewildered.n6eFugB
36V‘Am I really… tying him down?’9DQ
jj1SBfZemina had always given everything for Vlad.AYbKx8x
n2TSHXBut now, Vlad, who had progressed, was no longer the boy who stood in the mud and looked at a sword beside her.Bd3VfxP
IWYv2V“…”PuI40DG
JFvYKtZemina looked down at her toes in silence and thought.nyJu
cUFShe wondered if the footprints she had ever left were suitable for the Vlad of now.rWJTp
umDShe wondered what would really be the best way to help Vlad at this moment.5CPoktt
qr717***UYkBc
peuNwIn front of the gates of Soara.m7m2cuV
awVVlad looked at the familiar man standing in front of him and warmly greeted him.2Rr3nZv
jfIwzK“Long time no see. Mister Marcus.”CuYrM
XeJV6i“…My name is Vilmosi now.”IkQ
vUqcjThe man with scars all over his face stroked his chin as if he couldn’t help it while looking at Vlad, who kept calling him Marcus.u4i1
LZCLkWv“But why are you here…?”vtM
J7nf6Q“Perfect. Stay with me for a moment and let’s wait for someone.”IQWuLJa
tOZIWXA man with a strange atmosphere who greeted him after a sinister fortune.SXR9A
g9nVGrVlad began to feel that this encounter was not a mere coincidence.99FS4I
hUi“Do we have to wait long? There’s someone I want to meet quickly.”5ml51J9
4pLT“They’re just arriving.”QbiPm
z2vv8UVlad turned his head to follow Marcus’s nod.jmz4zai
JqJdfFlags visible from a hill in the distance.VdUTcf
puPK8GThe flags carved on the walls of Sturma symbolized the return of Bayezid’s army through the Western Gate from afar.3t4EYb0
rM3“Who’s that! The rumored Vlad Aureo. Isn’t it you?”pXeoiF
nw4RSkU“…Long time no see. Mister Rutiger.”A0AEfA
SV6layPUnder the flag that arrived first were Rutiger and his mage Dorothea, smiling cheerfully.wKmG
CPBgOTs“Is there such a coincidence? I still wanted to see you at least once.”qso
PwonTheir relationship might have been awkward due to his connection with Joseph, but Rutiger approached Vlad without hesitation and touched his shoulder.Z2qlHx
O05Sfn“Has the rumor spread that far?”P9q4L
ttcXME“Rumors are birds that fly very far.”NkF2
wRiWith both hands rounded, Rutiger playfully placed them next to his ears.bWd
EKNk5l“Besides, I have ears that can hear anywhere like a mage.”KkNB9W
VlAyhAs Rutiger finished speaking, Nibelun and Dorothea, recognizing each other’s mysteries, began to greet each other.jkX
tBxThey were a tribe of beastmen who roamed all their lives because they had no place to settle, but because of that, there was a stronger relationship between the races.yGah7C
IKE“It seems you’ve just returned.”uRK
2nk7Gg“I handed it over to the Maringen family. I wonder if those people arrived a little late and had a hard time.”oAz1
GEMeTs6Rutiger joked that he was tired of the dry dust of the West.lCg6
xJsLooking at him like that, Vlad awkwardly smiled.fcOpUB
iM8XXMUAlthough they were brothers born of the same lineage, he had a completely different charm from Joseph.JV49MvS
m2E“Welcome to Soara!”RV4
lBNwThe guards of Soara shouted loudly at the two knights passing through the castle gate.N7V
fYnIt was a shout that made Nibelun’s eyes widen as he experienced such hospitality for the first time.Rlpkv
bZvr338“It’s great to see you after so long. How about we go to the Town Hall and have a drink?”peLFsX
OYB3Rutiger smiled and clinked his handmade glass.khG
vUrVlad wanted to go to the Smiling Rose right away, but he couldn’t ignore Rutiger’s words.yKeu
eALd9QfRumble-!XtTNtkW
GhhIf it weren’t for the water bottle that was upside down in front of me.tgpE
nGmBup“Wow…”O4Ih
6Qq9v9“…!”YRt
aO1YmHow to recognize your companions.zCf
Bx3pEnaFor Rutiger, it might have been nothing more than a surprise, but Dorothea couldn’t hide her surprised eyes when she recognized the mysterious weight contained in the water bottle.svPru
Y1Mw“…I’ll definitely see you tonight.”nUdi
4NoGN“Huh?”YUo
IpmKRutiger was bewildered by Vlad’s completely unexpected words.IJlCo
fNHE9Z3No matter how busy things are, is there anything more important than Bayezid’s sole heir?14GIt8l
1Ve6Z7h“Where are you going?”6sNNNco
fiK4oEven Marcus mobilized to create the current situation.8pzF
eTFvK3However, Vlad acknowledged the mage’s warning and quickly grabbed Noir’s reins and began to flee from the procession.7MR3qN4
ToQ0“…What’s this.”N6PQn3
6hPXXmVlad dared to reject the offer from the heir of the family and the representative knight of the North.9csqb
3LOz3iRutiger simply watched Vlad’s back as he ran away bewildered.qAss8lH
Xuz“Do you want me to come with you?”RLD2
HN6ysgw“…”1cpE5fn
k3PThen, in the place where Vlad left, there was only a cat that he had never seen before.3dVxQgJ
chsHWhen Rutiger saw Nibelun close the entrance of his backpack, he simply nodded, looking embarrassed.GhmPb
IDvfq***noSj2
gxUK6“…Vlad always had something he wanted to do. Ever since he was very young.”IGzrX
F4KAlicia’s point was extremely harsh.JKrAc
WuJQWhen asked what she could do for Vlad, Zemina had no answer.Mr5a
1cTQrOY“It was a dead end that would have shaken anyone, but probably that’s why Vlad could become a great knight.”ON8fuS
hBtKwBut Zemina knew better.7cYu
fBIQFor Vlad, being someone else’s isn’t as important.KgBI
pghiD“What do you mean?”2zJ4
RrSoA“…What I mean is this.”I4dH
AZiTThe girl who stood in the mud with the boy understood it better than anyone.dXfWCcU
wxT“Vlad won’t need anything you give him, Baron.”XBlDTSO
P0lWhat the boy wanted wasn’t a 5 gold coin sword, but the shine only that sword had.PXN
QaWU68U“Because Vlad is a person who only wants to have everything that is completely his own.”ycFg
4s3Not someone else’s, only mine.DcM0C
QArZemina knew very well that Vlad had been fighting to have his own world that no one could take away from him.I5e
YgDHClatter!TzXCkK4
QLeqPBeyond the silence created by the two women, hurried footsteps could be heard.PWYno
OsX“…Hah, hah. Has something happened?”7DPX
pf1nPA man burst open the door and rushed in.3YD
LhYJSfo“…Why is the atmosphere like this?”9xXLqe4
FlEIm0The two women, who had become equal only in front of Vlad, looked at him at the same time.ff4
i08mTPWSeeing their somber gazes, Vlad automatically recalled the ominous foreboding Nibelun had mentioned.ImJr
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