ALL NOVEL chapter 45
45 – Toward Home
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Yes. Driver! Start moving.”
“Yes, sir!”
Whirr! Crack!
At the sound of the driver’s whip, the large and heavy carriage began to move, with the horses emitting a loud ‘hee-haw’ sound.
“You rode a horse while complaining of a sore back when you came to the palace, and now suddenly you’re riding in a carriage this time. What’s up with that?”
“Well… this time the carriage has no girls in it…”
As Grandpa said, only Grandpa and I are riding in the grand, imposing carriage that Grandpa received from the craftsmen in Presswick.
Where did Nirserra, Satriasha, and Lina go? They are following us in the small carriage behind.
Because they were given an extra carriage from the palace. Although small, the design is no less impressive than this carriage.
At first, Grandpa and I were planning to ride in the smaller carriage, but the girls insisted that they would take the larger carriage that was given to them by the palace, so we had no choice but to ride alone in this spacious carriage.
In this spacious carriage, with only my grandfather and me, I feel somewhat awkward. Nevertheless, I’m truly relieved that I won’t be traveling with those women all the way back to Silverwood. Why, you ask? Hmm…
Well, as you probably already know, we didn’t depart for the palace right after receiving our rewards. Originally, we had planned to stay for a few weeks, and during that time, we had quite a lot of fun at the palace.
However, there were various incidents involving the women in our group, as well as the princess, both major and minor. I don’t really want to talk about them right now.
“I had something to say to you, which is why I got on this carriage. What exactly are you up to?”
“No, why…”
“I mean, I did want to see my great-grandson while I’m still alive, but I didn’t expect you to be running around so much.”
“Running around? It was really nothing, you know? It’s all a misunderstanding. Why don’t you believe your grandson?”
“Can you say the same thing in that carriage over there?”
“…”
“I don’t know what I should say to Her Majesty. It’s almost time for your engagement, and I should give a quick answer…”
“What are you talking about? What do I need to tell Her Majesty? It’s really not like that, I swear…”
“Oh, forget it. Let’s not talk about it.”
There really wasn’t anything significant. Please, just trust me…
Right now, my grandfather is making a big deal out of nothing. It’s like he’s saying that when a man and a woman hold hands, they’ll get pregnant.
“Well, aside from that… Give me that.”
“What?”
“The Golden Seal.”
“Why?”
“Why? Just give it to me!”
My grandfather raised his fist and threatened me. For a 60-year-old, his fist was surprisingly fast.
I reluctantly handed over the seal. My grandfather put it in his pocket and said,
“Think about it. Do you really think Her Majesty gave this to you for your own use?”
“Well, if she didn’t want me to use it, why did she give it to me… Ow!”
“Oh, you clueless child. Think about the effect of this seal.”
“What’s so special about it…”
“With just this, aside from Her Majesty, you can control all the nobles in this kingdom, whether they’re dukes or anything else. Still don’t understand what the issue is?”
Isn’t that a good thing? Just imagining controlling the high-ranking nobles with this seal seems enticing.
“What’s the problem with that?”
“Hey, who is your lord?”
“That…Is it Grandpa?”
“But what happens if you have this?”
“Ah!”
“Yeah, this. With this alone, you can legally obstruct anything Grandfather does.”
Hmm… a very delicate situation is unfolding indeed. With this evidence, no matter what happens with Grandfather (for example, independence…), there won’t be any problems in principle.
But can’t I handle this on my own?
“I wouldn’t dare do that to Grandfather.”
“If you have any sense of shame, I believe you won’t say it to me. But that’s not how the world works.”
As if indicating that I still had a long way to go, Grandfather nodded his head in response.
“Even if you have no intention of doing so, how will others perceive it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Edric. Your father has lived quite cleanly, but he has made a few enemies. Being the second prince of the kingdom isn’t such an easy position, being able to withstand the grudges of anyone.”
“In this kingdom, even if someone mobilizes 100 carriages to oust me, there would still not be enough room. People like these, what do you think they will perceive of you with this ‘evidence’?”
It’s obvious. Maybe Grandfather and I will be targeted, or they’ll ask me to share the title with them, or suggest that I take over the Lurayn Duchy from my uncle. Especially now that my great-uncle, Count Dalefred, is marrying a commoner, it complicates matters further. Of course, it’s absurd. It’s not only your grandfather’s son who is Count Dalefred, and it’s ridiculous to expect a granddaughter’s grandson to inherit the title.
“Those people know about the relationship between us and Grandfather?”
“Edric, how well you and I get along is irrelevant. They will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. If they see any opening, they will try to sow discord between you and me.”
“Hmm…”
“Of course, because we trust each other, we won’t fall for their shallow schemes. There’s no need to go through the trouble. There’s a way to avoid getting caught in the flies – it’s just as foolish as crawling into a dung barrel. And didn’t you know you have to submit a report to the palace every time you use this?”
“Yes. Don’t you just have to write it adequately?”
Whack!
“Ow! Why did you hit me?”
“Damn fool. If you act like that, how will I know what you’re up to if His Majesty gives this to you? If there’s anything unavoidable, you have to document exactly where and how you used it and submit it to the palace every time. If you get caught using it without reporting, it’s death, death!”
“De-death?”
“Yes. So, using this is already a heavy burden. That’s why I’m telling you to take care of it. I won’t be wiping your mouth after eating this. You’re responsible for managing it properly.”
“Yes…”
“And I’m not saying I’ll keep it forever. If you need it later or when I die… return it.”
“Why are you talking like that?”
“I am already 64 years old this year. It’s not unusual for me to go anytime. Maybe I can hold on for another 10 years or so…”
“Sigh. You don’t need to return it forever, so live a long life.”
“hehehe… this guy. He really fooled us. He really did.”
“Even if you say it nicely…”
“Forget it, you jerk.”
**
When our group arrived at the Lurein Marquisate, we had to part ways with the Marquis’s family.
“Alright, be careful when you enter.”
“Yes, grandfather, take care as well. I’ll send you letters frequently.”
“Marquis…”
“Yes?”
As I bid farewell to my great-grandfather, Lena suddenly approached me.
“You… should take responsibility, right?”
“Snap!”
In an instant, Lena’s nonsense made me feel irritated. Can’t you see everyone around is murmuring because of you..!
“Why on earth are you acting like this too…?”
“heheheh. Just kidding. Be careful, Marquis!”
Lena left after leaving those words behind…
After a brief commotion, the three of us boarded the carriage assigned by the palace and for a while, none of us spoke a word.
Something just came to mind, honestly, Satricia should return the money she received in exchange for protecting me until the palace. Apart from that one brief moment, she has never really protected me. Even now, thanks to the Marquis assigning soldiers, we can comfortably sit in the carriage. This seems to be a real problem. I should talk to her about a refund right away…
“Marquis.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Don’t you have something to say to us?”
“What?”
Upon hearing Satricia’s words, I raised my head and saw both Satricia and Niersera looking at me expressionlessly. What is this, it’s scary..!
“Why, why are you like that?”
“We’re asking if you have something to say to us.”
“What?”
“Is it because of what Lena said earlier? She said it was a joke herself.”
“But it didn’t seem like she was joking…”
“No, why is everyone acting like this? Nothing happened to us. Isn’t that right, teacher?”
“Is it really…not a big deal…?”
It seemed that Ms. Nirsela was taken aback by my words, as her expression changed and her gaze turned icy.
“Lies…I…don’t…”
“Assuming that’s true, don’t you think the princess is also not to be pitied…?”
“Oh, really! What are you doing? Just stop it all!”
Seeing that I was about to explode, the two finally stopped teasing me.
“Well, shall we stop here for now?”
“Yes. It’s a shame, but I don’t think it was so bad to be able to see the ‘various aspects’ of the Viscount that we hadn’t seen before.”
“Right. I always thought there was a 30-year-old man living inside, but he really is 15 years old.”
“What…! Seriously…!”
The soft warmth that had enveloped everything about me made me terribly nostalgic for Eileen’s protection. I didn’t notice it when she was by my side, but now that she’s gone, I feel like I could go mad from the longing.
Women…are scary…!
**
“At…last…”
Finally, I am freed from these cursed women. After many trials (Nirsela) and tribulations (Patricia), I have arrived in Silverwood.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been long since we left, but it feels like it’s been a long time since we’ve been here…”
“Right. Oh, isn’t that Lady Laila…? And Miss Eileen too?”
“What?”
When Patricia pointed, I saw that indeed, mother and Eileen were running towards us from the gate.
“Really…but why are they running like that?”
“Really? Is it because the Viscount is so happy to see us?”
“Is there something we forgot?”
As mother and Eileen approached, I waved my hand with joy and said.
“Mother! Eileen! I’m here!…huh?”
“Me.”
Crash!
“Oh! Mother?”
“I told you to send the letter!!!!!!!!!!”
“Oh, right…oh! Aah! Help me!”
“Oh, my gosh! Help!!”
“Your Lordship… I cannot forgive this either…”
“Even you, Eileen…!”
Upon returning to Silverwood, I was relentlessly scolded by my mother under the pouring rain until the teacher and Patricia intervened.
Damn it.