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243. Childhood Friend – Lucky Guy

“Are we really not too late because of us?”

Three carriages arrived in one city. Among the lined-up carriages, Leo Dexter stepped down from the elegant carriage with its red pine and dark reddish exterior and asked.

Early spring, Reb and his party had just left the Jerome Holy Kingdom.

If they had ridden horses, they would have arrived at Marquis Gaidan’s territory by now.

But a newlywed couple’s journey couldn’t be that quick, so Reb took the time to decorate the carriage for Leo and Lena (even setting up a bed) and leisurely traveled south, sightseeing various towns.

Shaking his head, Reb said,

“All good. We still have time. Why isn’t Lena getting off?”

“She’s studying.”

“Studying what?”

“Cooking.”

“…Still can’t let go, huh?”

Lena’s cooking skills had never been good. Everyone here had tasted Lena’s food after she got married and started cooking seriously.

It wasn’t at an unmanageable level, but Reb was the only one who praised it. Even Lena herself would mumble, “It’s not worth praising…” and didn’t threaten the position of their cook, Vann Bijan.

However, Leo said,

“What’s the problem? It tastes fine.”

Maybe Reb’s reluctant compliments spurred her on, for Lena had even gone out to buy and read a cookbook.

“Now that we’ve arrived, tell Lena to get off. We’re going to stay here for about four days.”

“Four days?”

Leo tilted his head.

It was his first time coming this far south, and he quickly looked around at the unfamiliar (yet familiar) buildings of the Orun Kingdom before asking.

“This is ‘Bridget’, isn’t it? Where Marquis Evni Dragin governs. Why are we staying here for four days?”

“Because I need to convince that marquis.”

“What? Didn’t Dragin say he would join the fight? You mentioned it last time…”

“That was a lie. It will end up that way, so it’s not a complete lie. Just wait.”

Reb said nonchalantly. Leo made a bewildered face for a moment and then chuckled.

“You’ve really changed.”

Was that a compliment? Reb shrugged lightly and turned away.

[19/23]. After experiencing a tumultuous episode 18 times, he could no longer be called an ordinary young man from a remote mountain village. Approaching the lord’s castle, he announced, “Come here.” to indicate the arrival of a precious guest.

As Leo teased, “Did my little one fall asleep while reading?” while Lena Ainar had already dozed off, Reb held a meeting with the northern duke of the Orun Kingdom, Marquis Evni Dragin. The marquis greeted Reb with a begrudging expression.

“…Welcome. It’s been a while.”

This wasn’t their first encounter during this round. He had briefly met the marquis in Nebis last year, and at that time, the marquis had looked down on Reb.

A peasant aspiring to ascend the throne just because he became a swordmaster.

The Dragin marquis didn’t even acknowledge Reb’s greeting. He advised his friend, Marquis Gaidan, who was firmly enchanted by the peasant.

“I have no intention of joining this baseless rebellion. It’s not too late. Change your mind now.”

However, perhaps influenced by Reb’s previous relationships shoulder to shoulder with the King of the Jerome Holy Kingdom, Marquis Evni Dragin greeted him differently than before. Recognizing that it was the courtesy respected during the Acaian Empire era, he couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s good to see you again. I expected to see your son and return, but I was surprised to find you here.”

Why are you here instead of being in the capital? Did you come to accept my proposal for rebellion and check the troops? — When he asked, the marquis replied while standing.

“I’m just passing through to fulfill my duties as a duke. While the Jerome Holy Kingdom is indeed peaceful, there may be some unsettling movement.”

I see. So you’re more capable than you seem. So, does the Holy Kingdom support you? — Marquis Evni Dragin retorted.

If that were the case, the discussion would have quickly concluded, but King Krington de Frederick of the Jerome Holy Kingdom refused any military support. Reb glanced at the plush sofa, crossing his legs.

That was a silent complaint to sit down. The marquis awkwardly gestured to indicate he was being rude, and Reb happily settled into a seat. What the marquis had just asked became irrelevant.

In a sense, it was a petty battle of nerves.

However, nobles exchanged intentions this way.

“Unfortunately, the Holy Kingdom cannot provide military assistance. But I’m close with Krington de Frederick. So it’s not that I’m providing no help; you should see it as a tacit alliance.”

Without needing to blabber in such a roundabout way, he could eliminate unnecessary discussions. The mere act of omission became information in itself, so the marquis didn’t end up losing out unilaterally.

But I have a different card to play.

Reb, comfortably lounging on the sofa, brought up an entirely different subject.

“The truth is, I came here to ask for a favor. Please allow me to use the church’s communications.”

“Sure. But why?”

“I’d like to contact Prince Lean de Yeriel.”

Marquis Evni Dragin’s brows twitched, lifting significantly.

Though short in stature, he had masculine eyebrows and an egg-shaped, soft jawline, giving him the impression of a schemer in his forties, he asked,

“Are you referring to the new heir of the Yeriel Royal Family?”

“Yes. It’s about time, so I’d like to get in touch. That way we can coordinate timings.”

Recently, there have been three events of great interest across the continent.

One of them was the war between the Austin Kingdom and the Belita Kingdom, which had seemed to be entering a ceasefire, shifting the focus to other matters.

The first was the emergence of the fourth Swordmaster from the Jerome Holy Kingdom.

Except for the fact that his name is Reb, nothing is known about this mysterious powerhouse who appeared alongside King Krington de Frederick. He is believed to have significantly influenced the Frederick Royal Family’s efforts to shake off the Cross Church’s interference.

Speculation circulated that it might be the hidden strength of the Frederick Royal Family as Prince Cleo de Frederick was currently pressuring the Count Simon Family, and the public’s attention was glued to whether the formidable Count Simon would accept the royal family’s demands. If he refused, everyone was left wondering how the Swordmaster would be utilized.

The second issue was the declaration of war from the Austin Kingdom against the Aisel Kingdom.

Last autumn, at the Letii Tournament held in the Austin Kingdom, King Petra de Klaus declared war.

The army was summoned during the winter, and the knights were mobilized. In response, the Aisel Kingdom also raised troops, with the general consensus being that Petra de Klaus instigated an unreasonable war.

The Austin Kingdom lacked a Magic Tower.

Without it, it was believed that the magic kingdom of Aisel, with its superior magical capabilities, would easily defeat the troops of the Austin Kingdom.

Thus, public interest shifted from the war itself to which among the princes of the House of Isadora, Vivian de Isadora or Oscar de Isadora, would benefit from the war, amidst their competition for the heir’s position.

Would it be the first prince, Vivian de Isadora, appointed as the Commander-in-Chief? Or would it be Oscar de Isadora, blessed with magical talent and supported by the Cornel Tower?

The outcome was yet undetermined.

Meanwhile, the Austin Kingdom, which declared war, attempted to marry Prince Pablo de Klaus to the beloved Elika de Isadora Princess of the Aisel Kingdom, revealing yet again how they were scorned as an ignorant barbarian kingdom.

The last of the three was the dramatic return of the prince and princess, Lean de Yeriel and Reriana de Yeriel.

The prince and princess, long thought to be dead over ten years ago, were alive!

This alone was big news, a captivating topic, but they didn’t merely survive.

They demonstrated great ingenuity by pulling nobles discontented with Prince Eric de Yeriel’s legitimacy to their side and succeeded in reclaiming their bloodline. Moreover, they spread rumors that Prince Eric was a hideous monster to secure their claim.

It’s astonishing.

Furthermore, at the ceremony crowning the heir, Princess Reriana’s beauty was unveiled to the world. Those who beheld the princess exclaimed,

“I couldn’t breathe.”

“Princess Reriana is regrettably beautiful only in two scenarios: when her eyes are closed and when they are open.”

They didn’t hesitate to use all sorts of embellishments. No matter how much they exaggerated, it was not enough, emphasizing that the popularity of Chloe de Tatalia from the Belita Kingdom had diminished.

There was immense interest in where Princess Reriana would marry.

Gossipers were fervently debating who would win the heart of the continent’s most beautiful woman.

Excluding Cleo de Frederick and Pablo de Klaus, who recently started a public romance, other contenders for good fortune included Vivian de Isadora and Oscar de Isadora from the Aisel Kingdom, Aeton and Alzeor de Lognum from the Orun Kingdom, and Klian de Tatalia from the Belita Kingdom. Even heirs from prestigious families like Gilbert Forte and Toton Tatian were mentioned as possible suitors for Reriana.

Of course, Marquis Evni Dragin had no interest in such matters. He wondered whether this guy was connected with the buzzworthy heir of the Conrad Kingdom and finally spoke up.

“Lean de Yeriel… I understand. What reason should I put forth for the request to contact him?”

“Please tell him that ‘Childhood Friend’ is waiting for the prince’s communication.”

“Childhood friend?”

Was this bragging, sincerity, or code?

The Dragin marquis would find out soon enough, he thought, sending his steward to the church. A suddenly upstart peasant claiming connections to both the Frederick and Yeriel families needed to be monitored closely.

In truth, he planned to help.

It wasn’t the Swordmaster Reb but Harvey Gaidan, his only true friend.

That friend had already plunged too deeply in. It seemed hard to withdraw now, and he couldn’t ignore it, so he had come to check on the troops as he planned to raise his own army if that friend did.

Frankly, there was little hope.

Even with this Swordmaster, they were severely outmatched in cavalry strength, and it became difficult to align with the tower while he pushed the narrative of barbarian liberation. The one advantage was having well-trained soldiers and excellent generals…

‘If the other side doesn’t know military strategy, there may be hope. After all, there’s no way any good generals remain among the rotten nobles in the capital. Yet, if by chance there’s a decent general on the princes’ side, that’s the end.’

It was the first time gambling the family’s fate on probabilities. Just as he was worried, the subject at hand, Reb, emerged, insisting he was fit to take the throne.

Though begrudgingly, after the discussion ended, the marquis offered Reb a nice room.

The lucky guy who obtained a shiny wand capable of cutting through anything had various requests (as there was a recently married couple in the party, he asked to be introduced to local attractions and even for a guide to accompany him) catered to, and a lavish banquet was held for his supposed disciples, the barbarians.

Because they needed to go out and fight. And anyway, the fact that the Jerome Holy Kingdom was siding with Reb meant that they could mobilize all the soldiers guarding the border, which couldn’t be disregarded.

Whether to grant that peasant the throne or not would be decided after the matter succeeded—this was what the Dragin marquis thought, but the next morning, the steward rushed in with a thunderous news.

“Marquis! You must head to the church immediately, along with that guest.”

The marquis frowned.

“What now? Did the Yeriel Royal Family send a reply? If you got something, just say it.”

“N-no, that’s not it…”

The steward hurriedly explained.

“The cardinal of the Conrad Kingdom personally called on the communication. Prince Lean de Yeriel is waiting right beside him!”

The prince himself?

Marquis Dragin scratched his head in bewilderment. Is it really the childhood friend? His mind whirled with nonsensical imaginings.