Chapter 23: The Hidden Secret
TL: Potato-tan
Proofreader: Asianpotato
It was in vain to try and stop the Lord from getting engaged. In the end, Albert intervened and rebuked him, and only then did Lord Frederick stop. Russell sighed inwardly; the Lord looked sullen, and Zeona was confused.
They sat in a large reception room after dinner, where they received cookies and pastries. Only Lexi was munching on the cookies. Suddenly, Russell thought of the princess. Hadn’t the wolf-head helmet knight who had come with them disappeared somewhere in the middle?
“But the princess. . .”
As soon as he heard the word princess, the Lord’s face turned pale. If Albert hadn’t said, “My Lord, control your expression,” he would have kept that face. Lord Frederick said, reluctantly:
“The princess gave me the first chance to see you. She asked me to send you off after the meal. Anyway, she did make a big show of bringing two hundred soldiers with her. . .”
“But they did pay for the food that their soldiers ate.”
“That’s why I’m sitting here quietly. If I hadn’t even done that, I would have kicked them out.”
“Then you won’t be looked upon favorably by other cities or lords. It’s dangerous to antagonize the Empire.”
“Hey! If it weren’t for the princess, I. . .”
“The princess deserves respect for not having to borrow from the Dwarven Bank.”
“Ugh. Not the loan, not the loan. . .”
Albert massaged his temples and approached Russell, who was holding out his other hand that wasn’t holding the staff.
“Your swordsmanship last night. It was very impressive. Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Albert.”
“Russell.”
Albert was, in many ways, what Russell had imagined an ordinary elf to be. At first glance, his slightly dull blonde hair, dark blue eyes, and beautiful young face could easily pass for a woman. Albert said it with a smile.
“I’ve lived for over 150 years, but it’s the first time I’ve seen such a sight. And. . .”
━that hair color and those eyes. It’s an unusual appearance.
Russell’s eyes narrowed. Different words came out of the same mouth. One was vocal, and the other was magical. Albert continued with a smile.
“Above all, your skill in wielding that great sword was amazing. You possess the capability to wield a sword typically larger than a claymore, effectively dispatching a troll, a minotaur, and even a dragonkin! You also use magic as a wizard. We have a famous swordsman’s guild in Calisden; do you know about it?”
━Although black hair is uncommon, it is a common color on the continent. It’s not surprising since it also appears among our elves. But the eyes. One of the rumors I heard comes to mind. The head of a noble family on the outskirts disappeared and showed up a week later with a baby in his arms. They said the baby’s eyes were purple.
The elf, who had lived for over 150 years, was definitely not an ordinary wizard. Is this what it means to say two words at once? In a loud voice, he praises Russell and talks about the swordsman’s guild, while at the same time, in a magical voice, he says that he knows his true identity.
“. . .I see. I’ve never heard of it.”
Russell smiled without saying anything. It had a handsome face, like that of a nobleman, but its meaning was fierce enough to tear even a beast apart.
“Rephilia Swordsman’s Guild. That’s the swordsman’s guild that taught our Lady Zeona. You should visit it sometime. The head of the swordsmen’s guild is a very strong person. You probably won’t be able to defeat her easily with just swordsmanship. You’ll have to eat your heart out.”
━Oh, don’t make such a scary face. I have no intention of disseminating your secret. But to be honest, aren’t you being too open about it? If you go around like that, everyone, not just me, will notice. It seems like I might be able to help you. What do you think?
Russell said it with a smile on his face.
“. . . Thank you for your offer, but I’m a busy man. I’m only planning to stay in Calisden for a few days. I’ll see you next time.”
━There is no magical way to conceal my eyes. Do you think I haven’t tried that?
Ordinary people would be confused if they heard either of these words, but Russell naturally understood both conversations and even spoke with a voice of magic.
Albert was surprised that Russell had immediately figured out his technique and used it, but he showed no signs of it on the outside.
“Is that true? It would have been a good sight. Oh, and you don’t have to go to the Chamber of Commerce to collect the auction money. I bought the troll’s body. I’ll pay you the reward here.”
━As expected, those purple eyes are magic eyes. I was half-convinced when I heard the dragonkin’s words yesterday. Would it be rude to ask you to come into my lab and demonstrate that ability?
Anyway, wizards. Russell silently clicked his tongue before speaking.
“You don’t have to go to such lengths. Thank you.”
━I apologize.
“What. You’re the one who saved our city and Lady Zeona. This is the least I can do. Hahahahaha.”
━Too bad. I understand.
The conversation between the two seemed very ordinary and harmonious on the surface, so no one knew the inside story. This was even more true because they both spoke with smiles on their faces.
However, there was a small commotion when Zeona, who saw Russell’s smiling face for the first time, became absent-minded. Lord Frederick teased her, and Zeona, unable to bear the shame, slapped her father’s back and then went on a rampage.
The Lord, who had fallen to the floor, got up, holding his waist, and shouted, “Ouch!”
“Ever since she awakened her magic, she’s been treating her father like this. Ouch. When you get old, you’re prone to dying.”
“Your words are only funny when you say them in front of me, my Lord.”
“Damn it, Albert. Does it make your life a little more enjoyable to rebuke me like that?”
“It’s one of my joys in life. Please respect it, my Lord.”
While the Lord and the Elf Wizard were chatting, Lexi laughed, spraying the cookies she had in her mouth, and Evelyn also snickered. Only Russell looked at the elf wizard with cold eyes. ‘How much does that guy know?’
Just then, he felt someone approaching the door. Someone knocked on the door, and the knight with the wolf-head helmet made his way inside. She said.
“My Lord.”
As if that one word was enough, Lord Frederick immediately straightened his back, erasing his playful expression. That figure was no longer the man who had befriended the elf or the father who loved his daughter. There was a ruler who ruled a city.
“Yes. Is it time?”
“Yes. Her Highness, the Princess, is waiting.”
“Hmm. Tell her I’ll be right there.”
“Yes.”
The knight bowed her head and stepped back. Lord Frederick sighed and said,
“Today marks the end of this. But I haven’t given up yet.”
Russell just smiled a little. Then Lord Frederick also laughed and said, “Hahaha.”
“And then I’ll give you your reward. Then I’ll guide you to where Her Highness the Princess is. She is currently staying in a separate annex.”
The Lord took out a silver bell with a string from his bosom and shook it. As if they had been waiting, servants with trunks and pouches came in. Russell’s was a trunk.
The yellow light reflecting in the box illuminated his face as he opened it. He neatly arranged a large number of gold coins in rows. It was far more than a hundred. Lord Frederick shrugged his shoulders.
“I would like to give you twice as much, but my finances are tight. If I give you twice as much, I’ll have to borrow without fail. Then our city will be ruined. Don’t be too disappointed.”
‘Disappointed? When you see this gold, how can you feel disappointed?’ Russell was very satisfied, and he put the trunk in his bag. This would be enough to relieve him of any worries about accommodation for the time being. He might even be able to buy a horse and travel around. Since it had been quite some time since he left home, his travel expenses were running out, so this large amount of gold gave him a sense of security.
When he looked at the other members of the group, Evelyn and Lexi were also closing the pouches’ entrances with satisfied faces and putting them in their bags. It seemed that they had received more compensation than they had expected. The Lord said to Evelyn:.
“Evelyn, right? I’ve heard about your exploits, too. You were the wizard who rescued the greatest number of soldiers during the battle with the Dragonkin. Many people are grateful to you.”
“You’re flattering me.”
“And dark elf, Lexi. The female swordsman stood out the most alongside Russell on the castle wall. The soldiers and mercenaries thought it was a Valkyrie descendant.”
“I was just good at swordsmanship.”
The Lord nodded.
“Thank you for protecting our city and soldiers. Here’s a token that will allow you to use the Lord’s armor for free. Go to the Blacksmithing District and use it a lot.”
Another servant held a box, from which he removed a metal badge resembling a medal and presented it to Russell, Evelyn, and Lexi. The repair fee was fixed.
After receiving the reward and the free armory use token, Albert opened the door.
“I’ll show you where the princess is. Follow me.”
“I’ll go later. Go ahead.”
After that, they followed Albert through the corridors inside the castle. The corridor, lined with large windows and several small doors, led them outside, where a small annex stood at its end. Two soldiers were guarding the main gate, but they were not wearing the city’s uniform, but the princess’s.
The soldiers recognized the party and silently raised their spears. Albert also passed them without saying a word.
The annex was simple, just like the exterior, but it had everything it needed. The princess was sitting on the sofa in the annex’s living room. Behind her, only Lyos with his lion-head helmet and the female knight with the wolf-head helmet were standing, and none of the other Dawn Knights were visible.
On the opposite side, a familiar blond-haired priestess was sitting. Elenora was there. She confirmed who had entered and briefly greeted them.
The princess, who was sitting on the sofa, also stood up with a bright face when she saw the party, including Russell. Her appearance was exactly like the Lord in the hall a while ago, and Lexi smiled a little. The princess said it in a clear voice.
“Welcome! I thought my throat was going to be dry from waiting.”
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
Albert bowed to the princess and left. He intended not to disturb them. The only people left in the living room were the princess, the two knights with animal head helmets, Russell, Evelyn, Lexi, and Elenora, seven in all.
After a brief introduction between Evelyn and Lexi, Evelyn made a hand sign that looked like a red topaz and greeted her.
“Evelyn Kudmila, who studied at the Red Magic Tower, I welcome Her Highness the Princess.”
“It’s Julia. You’ve come from the Magic Tower. How are all the masters?”
“Thanks to your concern, they are all healthy.”
Lexi came next. She scratched her head and just bowed it roughly.
“Lexi. As you can see, dark elf. I came up from the south to meet my sister.”
Lyos, who was standing behind the sofa, flinched at her impudent words and actions, but he did not act, perhaps because he had something to do before. The princess accepted the greeting, even though she knew everything.
“It’s been a long time since I saw a dark elf. Nice to meet you, Lexi. It must be colder in the northeast than in the desert. Are you okay?”
“The desert is also quite cold at night. It’s nice to be cool here.”
“I’m glad. Come and visit the Empire sometime. There are many great things to see.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Only after the two of them finished greeting each other did the princess turn her head toward Russell. Her lively expression was like that of a child who wanted to taste the strawberry on top of a whipped cream cake last.
“It’s nice to see you again one day. Did you sleep well?”
“Thanks to your concern, I slept comfortably.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t have breakfast with you. There was an order, so I couldn’t help it.”
If the princess had been at the table, Russell would have felt uncomfortable no matter what. Russell said moderately.
“Let’s do it together next time.”
“Oh! Remember what I said? Are you really going to have dinner with me? If you said it just to say hello, I won’t let you off the hook!”
“. . .Yes.”
When he answered, the princess slowly bent her finger, which had been poking him. Her face was also slightly red, as if she were embarrassed by what she had just done.
“Hmm. I showed you an unsightly side of me. By the way, I called you here to explain why I came to this city. I heard that not only Russell but also Evelyn and Lexi played an active role on the battlefield.”
‘What else is she going to say?’’ Russell glanced at the faces of the others. Elenora had her usual expressionless face. Lexi had a face that was trying to hold back a yawn. And Evelyn. . . She had a look in her eyes as if she had noticed something. The princess replied,
“This is the reason I came to Calisden. One of my ancestors’ traces ended in this city.”
‘Ancestor?’
“Three hundred years ago. A warrior fought against the evil dragon Dragon Ismenios, who appeared in the Empire and caused great damage.
Everyone’s eyes grew wider. Elenora’s blue eyes, Evelyn’s green eyes, and Lexi’s red eyes all widened in anticipation. And Russell’s purple eyes. The princess, staring into their eyes, appeared to be happy for some reason. The fact that she had shaken Russell, who had seemed uninterested in everything, was especially noteworthy.
“A wanderer who voluntarily abandoned the throne and wandered the wilderness. A brother who enthroned his sister as the first empress of the Empire. And the knight in black armor who forced the evil dragon that had almost burned down the Imperial capital, Hippolias, to retreat.”
The princess pronounced the name clearly. Ludwig Dracas de Hyperion.
“I came to this city, Calisden, formerly known as De Calas, to find the traces of that great ancestor.”
Russell let go of the thoughts that came to him. Nazurek. Monsters. Minotaur. Karugon. Dragon. Ludwig. Evelyn then said:
“. . .Your Highness. I also came here after discovering a certain trace.”
The princess smiled.
“The traces of a dragon, I presume.”
“Yes.”
Yesterday’s discussion at the inn’s restaurant resumed. With a gentle gesture, the princess spoke.
“Priestess Elenora here also said that she came to this city for a similar reason.”
Russell looked at Elenora, who was sitting on his left. Her eyes turned to Russell for a moment, then back to the princess. She said.
“The light told me that a war between the children of the war and the children of the earth would take place under the ancient city, and that I must stop it. With God’s guidance and the help of a warrior, I was able to enter Calisden safely.”
The princess nodded. She looked around slowly. She could hear the sound of birds chirping, soldiers shouting, and the noisy sounds of the market below the castle from outside. That’s why the small space was, ironically, even quieter.
“Now, the priestess, the wizard, and I have gathered here with one purpose. I find it hard to believe that this meeting is just a coincidence. It’s like cobblestones thrown carelessly have formed a perfect polygon. Chaos awakens from harmony, and harmony slumbers in chaos.”
The princess put her white, beautiful hands on her knees and folded them.
“My ancestor and the evil dragon. A priestess who heard an oracle. A dragonkin and a wizard of the Magic Tower found the traces of a dragon. I have a story that encompasses them all. It’s going to be a bit long, but is that okay?”
Russell nodded. It was time to digest it anyway. The other women seemed to agree. The princess’s silver hair and golden eyes, which were receiving the light from the shining chandelier on the ceiling, sparkled.
The princess began to speak slowly, in a soft and mysterious voice.
“There are hidden spaces in our palace. . .”
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