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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 84: The blue-eyed knight (2)

Chapter 84: The blue-eyed knight (2)

“Why‌‍ haven’t you come‌‍‍ yet?”

Alicia⁠‌⁠ wrapped her head​‍ in her hands⁠‌ and leaned over‌‍‍ the desk, emitting‌‍​ laments of distress.‌

“It’s‌⁠‍ been a month‌‍ today since I sent the letter,‍‌⁠ and there hasn’t​⁠‌ even been any‍ message, let alone⁠​​ an envoy.”

To‌ this day, more⁠ than a month⁠ has passed since​‌ Count Gaidar sent​⁠‌ an unpleasant communication.‍‍⁠

They​‍ must have gathered⁠‌​ people and set⁠‍‌ out, so they‌‌ will arrive here‌ sooner or later.‌⁠

“Let’s​‌‍ wait a little‍‍‌ more patiently.”

Old​​​ Knight Duncan looked⁠ at Alicia, who⁠​‌ sobbed at the​‍​ desk, with sad​ eyes.

Because‌‍​ there is an⁠ imminent threat, it‍‍⁠ can be confusing.‌‍‍

However,⁠ Duncan knew well‍‍⁠ that this was‌‌⁠ the time when​‌⁠ vassals like him⁠‌​ had to correct‍​ their lord.

“You‌ should always prepare⁠‌‌ for the worst.​ Only then can⁠ you face everything​⁠ with humility.”

“…Should‌ I marry there?”‌

Alicia,​​‍ who had been‍‌‌ grumbling with pursed⁠ lips, began to‍‍ laugh emptily, as‌​⁠ if it were‌⁠​ funny even after‌ hearing what she‍ had said.

“It’s‍‍‍ a ridiculous story.”‍‌

“…Indeed.”​‌​

Sigmund,‍ Count Gaidar, sent‍ a letter to‌⁠‍ Alicia asking if⁠⁠ she would marry‌‍​ his eldest son.‍

The⁠‌ Gaidar family was⁠ one of the‍ most prominent families​ in recent times,​⁠ and especially being​⁠ a border with‍ Deirmar, so it‌ was a proposal​​​ worthy of consideration⁠ at least once⁠​⁠ from Alicia’s point​⁠ of view.

However,‌ the problem was‍​‍ that there was​‍ no sign of‌​⁠ respect toward the‌⁠ Hainal family in‌‍ the letter.

If‍‌ Sigmund truly wanted​ Gaidar and Hainal⁠ to unite, he⁠ would not have​⁠ sent a marriage⁠‍ proposal that seemed​ like a warning⁠ like this.

The‍ sweet words written‌‌‌ in the letter⁠ were sweet, but​‌‍ they did not⁠‌‌ actually promise Hainal’s​⁠ future, and the⁠ relentless war that⁠‌ Count Sigmund had​ waged so far⁠ was a good⁠ example of his⁠​ greedy nature.

In⁠‌ other words, the‍​ proposal sent by‍ Count Sigmund was⁠‍ like poison that⁠ should not be⁠​ drunk.

“There⁠⁠ are only thieves⁠ around here.”

“…Lady⁠ Alicia.”

Alicia‌ knew better.

Bayezid‌ also does not​‌‍ treat them with‍⁠‍ a simple favor.‌‍

There‍‌ was no unconditional​ ally for the‌​ powerless.

“If​‍‌ we had time,‌⁠⁠ we would have⁠‌⁠ a chance to‌‍‍ defend ourselves.”

Listening​‍ to Duncan’s words,‌‌‍ who tried to‍‌⁠ give her some‌‍‍ strength, Hainal, who​ had been lying‌ powerless on the⁠ desk, adjusted her‍ posture.

“That’s⁠​ right. You have‌⁠ to try until‍​ you try.”

It​​ was no shame‍​ to cower when⁠​‍ you had no‌ strength.

If⁠⁠ you don’t have‍⁠​ something at hand‌‍‌ right now, you’ll‌ have to borrow⁠‌​ it somehow, and‌⁠ Alicia was willing​​ to pay the‍‌⁠ full price.

“But​​​ is it so‌ hard to borrow‍​‌ from a squire​‌ who isn’t even⁠ a knight?”

However,​‌‍ the boy she‍​⁠ had asked Bayezid​ for still had⁠⁠ no contact and⁠⁠ hadn’t even been​ seen.

“…He’s​ just a squire.”‌⁠​

He​⁠ wasn’t an ordinary​‍‌ boy.

The‍‌‌ boy who upheld​ Hainal’s honor in‌ that day’s duel.‌

And​​‌ he was the​ boy who cleaned⁠ his parents’ tombstones‌​⁠ with both hands,‍​ holding his handkerchief.‍⁠‌

“Lady‍‍​ Alicia. It is⁠‌ said that people‌ from the Gaidar‍ family have already​ arrived in the‌‍‌ territory.”

When​ everyone around revealed⁠‍ their dark intentions‌​‌ about the territory⁠⁠ called Deirmar, there​ was only one⁠​ person who could⁠⁠ help Alicia out‍ of pure duty.‍​

“It’s​‍​ okay.”

And​‍‍ Alicia kept waiting​​ for the boy.⁠⁠

***‍

There⁠ were men entering‍​ through the entrance​‍ of Deirmar.

The​⁠‍ men, about ten⁠ of them, were‌⁠ all well-armed knights.⁠⁠⁠

“It’s‌‍‍ a rural area.”​

The​⁠ man at the‌‌⁠ front of the⁠⁠‍ group looked around⁠⁠ with wide eyes‍ and opened his‌‌⁠ mouth.

“And​‍ it’s very quiet.”‌

Thick,‌‌⁠ unkempt eyebrows, broad‍​​ shoulders.

And⁠ though he smiles,‌ he seems belligerent.​​​

The​‌ young man, who​ proudly flaunted himself⁠⁠‌ without any composure,‍ furrowed his brow‍‌ as if unsatisfied‍‌ with the spirit‌⁠‌ that had caught‌‍ his attention.

“So​ this is Deirmar.⁠ It’s a territory​‍⁠ based more on‌‍⁠ diplomacy than war,‍‌⁠ and on agriculture​ rather than trade⁠​‌ and industry.”

“Sounds⁠ like it’s not‌​‌ much fun.”

The‍​‌ burly man scratched‌‍ his head as⁠⁠ if he had⁠​​ lost interest in‌⁠‌ the explanation about​‌ Deirmar coming from‌‍ his side.

“I⁠‌ just need to‌⁠⁠ stand still. Right,‍​ Godin?”

“You⁠ should greet.”

“All​ I have to⁠ do is greet,‍‍​ right?”

“Pretend⁠‌‌ you’re interested and⁠ talk about various⁠ things.”

“Yeah.”‌

Stephen,‌ the eldest son⁠ of the Gaidar⁠‌ family.

He⁠‍ was someone who‌​ didn’t hesitate to‌⁠ do what he‍ wanted, and he​‍‍ was also someone​ who was born‍‌ with the natural⁠‌‍ ability to refuse‌ to do what​ he didn’t want​ to do.

“I‍ don’t want to⁠‌​ do that kind⁠ of troublesome work.”‌

The⁠ knights behind him⁠‌ naturally grew nervous‌​ at Stephen’s sudden‌⁠ fierceness, as if‌‍ he was warming‍ up just with‌ the idea of‍‍ being annoying.

“You⁠ must fulfill your‍⁠ duty to the⁠‌ blood you were⁠ born into.”

However,‍‍ Godin, who bore⁠‌‌ the brunt of‌‍​ the force, simply⁠​​ smiled calmly.

A knight who always‌‍⁠ hides a sharp​ sword behind a smiling face.

That’s‍ why he’s the‌‌ kind of man⁠ you can’t smile⁠⁠ at face to‍‌​ face.

“…I⁠‌ understand.”

Seeing‍‍ Godin unwavering in⁠ his own strength,‌‌‍ Stephen could only​ sigh as if​​ there was nothing‍‌‌ he could do.​

The‍ fact that Godin‌⁠ was sent as‍‌‌ his right hand⁠‍⁠ also meant that⁠ his father was⁠⁠‍ taking this matter​⁠ seriously.

“They‍‍‍ said she has⁠‌⁠ a beautiful appearance.”‌​⁠

Godin⁠‌ knew well that‍ Stephen was a man who couldn’t​‍⁠ be appeased just‍ by restraining him.​⁠

“They⁠‍​ say there’s no⁠​⁠ noblewoman in this‍ area who can​‌ compare to her.”​​‍

“…Is‌⁠ that so?”

A person of Western⁠ blood who is⁠​⁠ honest about his​‍ desires and doesn’t‍⁠⁠ hesitate to do‌⁠ what he wants.⁠‍‌

Stephen,‌ who inherited Sigmund’s‍ personality, nodded as⁠ if understanding the‍ carrot Godin had‌ openly bitten into.⁠

“I⁠‌‌ feel a little⁠ motivated.”

It‍ was a boring‍⁠ and unpleasant mission,‌ but he was​⁠‌ glad that at‌⁠ least there was​ one thing that⁠ interested him.

At‍ the end of‍ Stephen’s field of⁠⁠​ vision, knights carrying​‍ the banner of​‍ the Hainal family‍‍​ ran.

***‌

“Oh‌‌ oh.”

The​‌‍ first thing Stephen‌⁠ said as he‍ looked at the‌⁠ woman with aquamarine‌​​ hair sitting atop​‍ him was an‍⁠ exclamation.

“I​ knew it from‌⁠ rumors, but rumors‍‌ were just rumors.​‌ Now I have⁠ before me a beauty that cannot​​ be contained in⁠⁠ mere words.”

“….”‌⁠

Despite‍‍‍ his rough appearance,⁠‌ Stephen was quite‌ a sophisticated horseman,‍ but Alicia already‌ felt uncomfortable with‍​ him.

This​‌ was because Stephen’s​⁠ attitude towards a feudal lord was‍‌​ too light.

“I’m‍ glad to see‌‍ you, Lady. I am Stephen of⁠​‍ the Gaidar family.”​

“…Welcome,​ Stephen of Gaidar.”⁠

Stephen​ dared to address⁠⁠​ Alicia by the​ mere title of⁠⁠ Lady, even though‌ she held the‍‌‍ official title of‌‍‌ Baroness.

Duncan,‌‍ who was beside​‌ her, pressed Istvan​​​ with a sharp‍⁠ force, but Istvan,‍‍‌ who was actually⁠⁠ involved, simply laughed.‍‍

“You​‍​ worked hard to‌ get here. It‌ would have been‌‍ better if you‌ had given me‍‌ a message in⁠‍ advance.”

First​‍‌ and foremost, these​‌⁠ were people who‌​‍ couldn’t be pushed⁠‍ with impulse. However,‍⁠‍ Alicia Hainal was‍⁠⁠ the rightful owner⁠‍ of Deirmar. As‌⁠⁠ a lord, the‍⁠⁠ owner had the‍​ duty to honor​⁠‌ himself.

“Wouldn’t‌‌ it have been​​⁠ necessary to coordinate‍⁠ in advance this​⁠ marriage proposal? I think it was​‌ a bit hasty⁠‌ to come here⁠⁠ so suddenly.”

Her⁠‍ hair was the⁠ color of aquamarine,⁠‌‍ but the color‌⁠‌ of the words​⁠‍ flowing from the‌ tip of her‌⁠‌ tongue was icy‍ blue.

Alicia​ managed to display⁠​ the colors of‌‍‍ nobility, at least‌⁠⁠ on the outside.‌⁠‌

“I⁠‍⁠ am a little‍ disappointed with the‍ attitude shown to‌‌ me by Gaidar.”‍

As‌‌ Alicia said, sending⁠​‌ a letter would​​ naturally not establish⁠ a marriage or​​‍ engagement between nobles.​⁠ However, Gaidar had​​ already sent the​‍‍ involved party, Stephen,‌ to Deirmar without⁠‌ even hearing Alicia’s‍ intentions, so no​ matter how kindly⁠ she saw it,‍‍​ it could only‌‍ be seen as⁠⁠‍ a lack of⁠​ respect towards Alicia.‍​⁠

“Our​ Count said that‌ there would be‌‌​ relationships that would​ start through a meeting.”

“Are​​ you saying that‌‌ a meeting between‌⁠ noble families would⁠‍​ take place so​‌ hastily?”

Duncan,⁠⁠‍ who felt offended‍⁠⁠ by Godin’s cunning‍ words, felt like‌⁠‌ cursing.

To​⁠‌ the old knight,‍ Lady Alicia was​ someone he cherished,‍⁠ nothing less than‌⁠‌ his own daughter.​⁠​

“Don’t⁠‌ be like that.⁠ If the Count‌‍‍ cared so much​ about Alicia, he‍‌‍ would have sent⁠⁠ his son directly‍ to avoid losing⁠​⁠ her to someone⁠⁠ else.”

However,⁠ you shouldn’t get‌​⁠ angry out of‌‌ carelessness.

It⁠ must have been​‌​ an intentional act⁠ on his part‌ to enter so​‍‌ recklessly, and that⁠⁠​ intention would have‌⁠ been to gain​ his own justification.​​‍

“We⁠‍ apologize for any​‌​ degree of disregard‌ for etiquette and​ procedure. However, Stephen​​⁠ here is the​​​ eldest son and‌ heir of the⁠‍‌ Gaidar family. He‍ is someone who‍​ can already carry⁠‌​ out procedures that‍ are not usual‍⁠ just by existing.”​‍‍

As‍ Godin said, sending‌‍ the eldest son‌‌‌ of the family‍ to this event‌‍ also meant that‍ Count Sigmund gave‍‍ it great significance.‌‍‍

If‍‌ Alicia treated him‍​⁠ carelessly here, it‍​‌ would be no‍‍ different from a public criticism of‌⁠‍ the Gaidar family.‌

“Don’t​ get so angry.‌​⁠ We are the​ ones bringing good‌⁠ news.”

Seeing‌ Stephen’s malicious smile,​ Alicia gripped her‍ skirt tightly.

Uninvited‌⁠ guests who came​ with a difficult⁠⁠ and tricky motive​⁠⁠ to propose marriage.‍

Alicia‍ did her best‌ to be patient‍​‌ as she watched​‌​ the men who⁠⁠ clearly had what‌ they wanted and​​ were very unpleasant‌ in what they‌‍ wanted to do.‌

“We⁠‌ welcome your visit.⁠‍ For now, rest​‌‌ in the shelter​⁠ provided…”

“Instead​ of taking a break, I would⁠​ like to have​‌ a close conversation⁠‍​ with Alicia first.”‍​

Trailblazers⁠​ are unstoppable.

If‌​⁠ there’s something you‍‌​ want, you say⁠​‍ you want it‍‍ without hesitation.

“I​‍​ would like to‍ greet my parents‍‌ first, but that’s⁠​‌ not possible.”

And‍⁠ to have it,⁠‌ no means or⁠‌ methods are chosen.​‍

Alicia’s​‍⁠ aqua-colored eyes caused‍‍ huge ripples as​‍ she looked at⁠​‍ Stephen, who even‌⁠‌ talked about her​⁠⁠ now deceased parents.‌⁠‌

“How‍ dare you…”

Patience​‌ is a valuable⁠​​ virtue for everyone,‌‌ but it’s also‌‍‌ a good thing.​​‍

If‍⁠​ you persevere even‌ after crossing the⁠​ line, it’s just‌⁠⁠ an act of‍⁠ humiliation.

“Where​⁠​ I am…”

Lord⁠‍ of Deirmar, the⁠⁠‌ sole Hainal.

He⁠ stood up to‍‌ vent his anger‌ at the insult‍ he should not⁠⁠⁠ have endured.

“The‌‌‍ knights of Bayezid‌ have arrived!”

Just⁠​‌ as Alicia was‌‌ about to lose‌ her balance, which‌‍ she had managed‌​ to maintain with‌‍​ patience, the butler​⁠ crossed the hall⁠⁠‌ shouting loudly.

From​‌ the employer’s point‌‍ of view, it⁠ was no different⁠‌⁠ from tying the​ master’s mouth shut,‌ but the butler​​​ was already allowed‌‍ to do this​‌ and had to‍⁠ do it.

“They‍‌⁠ have just arrived⁠ at the mansion.”‍⁠‌

The​‍‍ butler had a pale complexion and​‍ was cold sweating‍‍ due to the⁠​ force of the‌​ knights glaring at‌​ him from behind,​ but he was‍‍⁠ doing his best​‌‍ to do his‌​‌ job.

“Come‍⁠ in!”

Duncan’s⁠‍ preparations were successful,​⁠ and the poor‍‌‍ butler did his⁠‌​ best to complete‍⁠ his task.

With⁠​ Duncan’s urgent cry,‌⁠⁠ the hall of‌ Deirmae opened on​ its own.

There​ were men visible​‌‌ through the door‍ slowly opening.

An⁠‌​ exclusive dark cloak​‍ from the North.‌

The‍ knights from the⁠ North exuded a cold and sharp‍‌⁠ aura like their⁠‍⁠ place of origin.​⁠

“It’s‌⁠ been a long​ time. Baron Hainal.”‍⁠

And⁠ the one-eyed knight⁠⁠ standing before them⁠‌ and courteously bowing‌​⁠ his head.

“The‍‍ knights of Bayezid⁠‍ meet with the‌‌ Lord of Deirmar.”​

Unlike⁠ the Western knights,⁠‌⁠ the Northern knights‌‌ treated the Lord​⁠ of Deirmar with​⁠⁠ courtesy.

“…”​‍‌

Alicia​⁠⁠ looked at the‌⁠ boy who made‍⁠ eye contact with‌⁠​ her without bowing​‍‌ his head.

The‌⁠‍ blue eyes looked‍⁠‍ at Alicia with⁠​‌ the same unwavering‌‌ gaze as before.​‌

When⁠ she renounced everything,‌ it was the‍‌ boy who entered‌⁠​ the battlefield alone‌‍ carrying his honor.⁠​⁠

“Forgive⁠⁠ me for the‌‍‍ delay.”

The⁠ boy standing in​ front of the⁠‍ hall with a slightly different status⁠​‍ from the knights​ here late bowed⁠‍‌ his head slightly‌⁠ and greeted.

“I‍​​ have come here‍⁠ now to respond​ to your call,‍⁠‍ Lady Alicia.”

Stephen⁠‌‍ has no right‌ to call Alicia​⁠​ Lady.

But‍‍‍ the boy who​ now entered the⁠⁠‌ hall had the‍‌ right to call​​‍ her Lady.

Because​⁠‌ he was the‌‌ only one she‍ allowed.

“Welcome.‌⁠ Knights of Bayezid.”‍​‍

With‍‌ Alicia’s nod, the‌​‌ door of the⁠ hall closed.

Now⁠⁠​ all those who‌⁠⁠ need to enter‍​‍ are here.

They​ looked at each​‍​ other—those who came⁠ for a cause‍⁠ and those who‍ came with a cause in hand.‌‍​

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