Clunk, clunk.
It’s been a week since I got permission for Kyle Galli and the board game.
During that time, rumors about Kyle Galli and the house rules spread quickly within the family.
“Wow, as expected, the Young Master is a genius! E-everyone has recognized the Young Master’s game and genius!!”
“Well, it’s mostly because of curiosity about a board game made by the third son, who used to have no presence. Grandpa Charles actively recommended it, and with the added buzz that even the knights often play it at the training grounds, most people just tried it out. It’s easy to play since you only need a bell and cards.”
“N-no! It’s because the Young Master is amazing…!!”
“Still, it’s good that everyone’s enjoying it.”
Aside from Sally’s over-the-top reactions, Kyle Galli has now become a part of the mansion’s routine.
It’s common to hear the bell ringing frequently in the servants’ quarters, and the kitchen even ordered a special bell just for Kyle Galli.
Moreover, the Knight Commander and the knights are said to use Kyle Galli during both training and breaks.
It’s satisfying to see them discovering the joy of board games… but.
Clunk.
‘Well, they didn’t have many forms of entertainment to begin with.’
For the servants who are confined to the mansion, their entertainment was limited to chatting or playing that chess-like board game.
It’s only natural that a new board game would spread quickly unless it was completely boring.
It’s just that the easy setup, simple rules, and the primal fun and competitive spirit made it spread faster than expected.
Honestly, what I’m more focused on isn’t the original Kyle Galli but the house rules the knights are enjoying.
‘It’s called Kyle Galli, but it’s just a knockoff with different images.’
The fame it gained was thanks to the original Hali Gali being a masterpiece. While it’s satisfying that people find Kyle Galli fun, I feel guilty and uncomfortable being praised for creating it.
But the house rules are different. They’re unlike any rules I’ve known before, created based on my experience with board games.
Were there people in the original world who enjoyed Hali Gali like this? I can confidently say almost none.
That’s why I can’t help but feel attached to it.
In a way, that’s the real ‘Kyle Galli.’
…Though it’s still just house rules and not a completely new board game.
If I keep gaining experience like this, maybe I can really create my own board game someday.
Thinking about how I came up with several ideas last night only to scrap them all, it still feels like a distant dream.
“So, there’s a lot to do. I need to request more bells from the blacksmith, procure special paper for the cards from the family-owned or other trading companies… Since Father has entrusted me with this, I need to stay busy.”
“Uh… i-in the carriage…?”
“…That’s the problem.”
Clunk.
Yeah, there’s so much to do to spread the fun of board games, starting with Kyle Galli.
Instead of running around busily, I’m stuck in this clunky carriage.
With Sally, my guard and personal maid.
“Phew… Sally, the letter?”
“Y-yes, I have it right here!”
“Thanks. But why on earth did Duke summon me…?”
“I-it’s because he finally recognized you! Y-you’re a genius, Young Master!”
I brushed off Sally’s usual flattery and still couldn’t understand it no matter how much I thought about it.
The Byron barony is certainly one of the wealthiest among the empire’s barons, and its location as a hub for transportation and logistics gives it some influence, but it’s nothing compared to a duke.
In fact, the place that sent the letter—the Everts ducal house in the west—is in a strictly hierarchical relationship with us.
‘They pay over 40% of the toll fees to the Everts ducal house.’
As a VIP among VIPs, as soon as Father became the head of the family, the Everts ducal house…
The Duke’s House had requested to reduce the toll fee by 30% for affiliated merchants and groups, but only allowed passage through Byron territory in return.
The Everts Duke’s House benefited from cheaper travel to and from the center, and we secured reliable customers.
Of course, since we gained quite a bit, our relationship with the Duke’s House was clearly one of dominance and subordination. That’s why my father earned the Duke’s favor, but… that’s ultimately my father’s story.
Even if it were the eldest son, the future head of the family, it wouldn’t make sense for a mere third son like me to be involved.
“Did you say the recipient of the letter… was me?”
“Yes, yes!”
“I really don’t get it.”
It wasn’t even as my father’s representative; the Duke specifically named me.
It would’ve been nice if the letter had stated the reason for summoning me, but it was filled with the typical noble roundabout talk and a vague “just send him over” kind of tone.
Still, there was one thing that bothered me.
“…My father was unusually calm.”
He’s usually strict when handling official matters, but the fact that he wasn’t flustered even when the Duke personally sent a letter to someone like me was surprising.
It was as if he had anticipated this… an ambiguous attitude.
At the time, I was too flustered to notice my father’s odd behavior, but after being quickly put into a carriage to cool my head, I realized there were quite a few suspicious aspects.
But what could I do? The carriage had already departed, and the only option was to head to the Duke’s territory to find out the reason.
I just sighed and leaned back into the plush seat.
“…?”
For some reason, I kept feeling like someone was watching me from outside the window.
I brushed it off as my imagination.
*
The journey to the Everts Duke’s territory didn’t take long.
In a typical medieval world, it would’ve taken days, but this was a world where aura and magic existed.
Naturally, the horses pulling the carriage and the carriage itself weren’t ordinary. Of course, this was only possible because we had spent a fortune.
It wasn’t for nothing that the specially made carriage rattled. It meant we were traveling at a speed that would make even a noble’s carriage shake.
As I watched the scenery whiz by like I was in a car, we slowed down upon entering the Duke’s territory, and the surroundings became clear.
A city incomparable in size to our territory, clearly divided roads for carriages and pedestrians, a seemingly comfortable middle class, and patrol knights deliberately showing off their aura to reduce crime rates.
It wasn’t for nothing that rumors circulated that if the Empire’s power had weakened even slightly, this territory would have declared independence.
Moreover, everything went smoothly even after arriving at the Duke’s castle.
“Welcome, Kyle Byron. Duke Nicholas is waiting for you.”
“…He’s waiting for me now?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go.”
Suddenly, I found myself standing in front of the Duke’s castle reception room.
Sally was waiting in the guest room, while I was guided by servants to the door.
There was no need to hesitate now, so I knocked on the reception room door.
Surely, he didn’t summon me to cause trouble.
*Knock. Knock.*
“Come in.”
As the Duke’s permission was granted, the maids beside me gently opened the door.
The reception room I entered was—larger than I had imagined.
Reception rooms are places to welcome guests. Naturally, they are also places where the power and grandeur of a noble house can be displayed, so many decorate their reception rooms lavishly and majestically.
The Byron Baronet’s reception room was no exception, but the Duke’s castle reception room was beyond my imagination.
All sorts of rare items adorned the display cases, illuminating the room. A crimson high-quality carpet covered the floor, and numerous documents and books overwhelmed the visitors.
It was splendid and grand, but it made me tilt my head wondering if this was truly a reception room befitting the Everts Duke’s House.
However, I think I understood the true meaning of this space.
The Everts Duke’s House didn’t need to decorate their reception room like other nobles. That kind of…
There’s no need to flaunt power like that. Everts is Everts.
At the center of such pride, a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard, looking at me with a dissatisfied expression, is sitting on the sofa.
As soon as I entered the room, I bowed my head first.
“Kyle Byron. Duke Nicholas, it is truly an honor to be invited by you——”
“Take a seat first.”
“…Yes.”
What’s with this serious atmosphere?
It’s so cold that for a moment I thought I might have done something wrong.
But we’re meeting for the first time. Why on earth?
Such curiosity flew away as soon as I sat down on the opposite chair.
‘…What’s that?’
Between the Duke and me, on the luxurious table, there are teacups and a glass pitcher. That’s obvious.
Next to it is a bell and a deck of cards with shapes drawn on them.
Of course, it was Kyle Galli.
Why on earth is that here?
“Your eyes immediately went there. Kyle Galli… was it?”
“Yes, yes! That’s right, Your Grace.”
“William suddenly sent it as a gift, so I tried it out, and it was quite an interesting game. Not just fun, but it also has its own philosophy. Bold enough to put his name on the game.”
“Ha, haha…”
Is that a compliment? Why are you complimenting me with eyes that look like you could kill someone?
Moreover, William, my father, sent it as a gift?
‘So that’s why he was so indifferent…!!’
I wondered why the Duke had it when even the servants in the mansion didn’t have it properly supplied, but it turns out it was sent as a gift.
Up to that point, well, it’s possible. It’s possible.
But why did the Duke call me separately because of that game? If he enjoyed it, a simple note saying he liked it would have been enough.
It’s not like the Duke suddenly became a hardcore fan of Kyle Galli and wanted to see my face! Looking at that murderous expression, that can’t be it.
Then why?
“Of course, I didn’t call you all the way here just for that. It’s not something I would put everything aside and wait for.”
“…I understand.”
“Yet, I called you and kept waiting… because I have a request.”
A request? From the Duke? To me?
Judging from the flow of the conversation so far, it seems related to Kyle Galli. What is it? To monopolize this game? Future sponsorship? Or a warning?
“I have a daughter. Do you know her?”
“I know there is a princess around my age, but I don’t know anything else.”
“Well, I want you… to meet my daughter.”
“What… do you mean?”
For a moment, not understanding the Duke’s intention, I felt awkward, and the Duke, with sunken eyes, continued.
“My daughter hasn’t come out of her room after going through some things.”
“…The princess, you mean?”
“Yes, she won’t even meet me. But do you understand why I want to approach my daughter, who won’t even meet her own father, with you?”
Well.
Looking at the current atmosphere and the Kyle Galli deliberately placed on the table, there’s only one answer.
“Is it because of Kyle Galli?”
“Correct. My daughter really likes Kyle Galli. So, as the creator of Kyle Galli, you… might be able to do it.”
“Are, are you serious?”
“Serious? Of course, I’m serious. Frankly, I don’t think you’ll succeed. But…”
*Tap.*
The Duke’s eyes, as he put down the teacup, were deeply sunken yet desperate at the same time.
He must have made every effort to talk to the princess who has shut herself in her room.
All of that failed, and the Duke, driven to the edge, personally requested me, a mere board game creator.
Even if it’s just a small, thread-like hope.
Praying for success.
“……Even if he’s William’s son, he’s desperate enough to spill family secrets to an outsider.”
“…………….”
“If you fail, we’ll just find another way. But I don’t want to carelessly overlook even the smallest chance in the process.”
“………I see.”
“It’s been a long time since my daughter has been so engrossed in something that she spends all day on it. While the objective probability of success is low, among the recent attempts, yours is still the best.”
“………….”
“So, what do you say? Will you take it on? Even if you fail……I’ll make sure you’re compensated for humoring my stubbornness.”
The Duke seemed truly desperate. To the point of promising rewards just for trying to the third son of a mere baron.
But no matter how much I thought about it, there was one thing I couldn’t understand.
“……Duke, didn’t you say earlier that the Princess is currently obsessed with Kyle Galli?”
“That’s right.”
“Kyle Galli isn’t a board game you can play alone. There must be someone playing with the Princess, whether it’s a friend or a servant. Couldn’t you go through them?”
This was the question I’d been wondering about. If the Princess is enjoying Kyle Galli all night, there must be someone playing with her.
If the Princess, who doesn’t even talk to her father, is playing a physically intense game like Kyle Galli with someone, they must be quite close.
Wouldn’t it be better to go through that person? Even if they’ve tried and failed before, it’s still more likely to succeed than dragging me, the creator, into this.
At my question, the Duke grimaced and sighed as if he’d expected it.
“You’re not wrong. Yes, you’re right.”
“Then──”
“……The being with my daughter isn’t a person.”
What?
“Huh?”
“My daughter, Leisha, is a Spirit Master.”
“So……the one playing the game with her is a spirit.”
“I want you to talk to Leisha, get close to her, and pull her out from the excessive love of the spirits.”
“That’s all I want.”
*
Ding!
“I won……55 wins in a row. Huh? Are you listening? Speak up……….”
[Ding.] [Whoosh.]
“I see, okay.”
[Whoosh.] [Meow.] [Ding.] [Growl.]
“The person who made Kyle Galli.”
[Growl.] [Clatter.] [Whoosh.]
“They came by carriage? They’ll be here soon?”
[Ding.] [Clatter.]
“Alright, then……chase them away.”
[Meow.] [Moo.] [Whoosh.] [Growl.] [Clatter.] [Whoosh.]
“I have you guys, and that’s enough.”
[Ding.]
“……Don’t be too rough. They’re still the person who made this game.”
[Growl.] [Clatter!]
“Please. Then……shall we play one more round?”
[Whoosh!]
“………Sure, let’s do it.”
