87 - Riane Fanbayle
I had visited a slightly aged mansion in Central, bringing Novem and Monica along with me.
The time specified by the other party was around three o'clock.
Having arrived a bit early, we were waiting while drinking tea.
In the drawing room, the gazes piercing through me and Novem were painful.
After all—
(When I check with my skill, the knights, soldiers, and even the servants are all red... this is terrible.)
Monica had confirmed that there were no poisons in the tea or sweets.
She was puffing out her chest a bit more than usual with pride, which emphasized her large breasts.
Aside from the knight monitoring us in the room, whose display changed from red to yellow for a single moment, there were no other notable changes.
(I'm grateful that Monica can check for poisons, but visiting with a maid... we've already angered them enough as it is.)
I recalled the day after I sent the letter requesting a meeting with Riane Fanbayle.
That happened a few days ago.
Inside the Jewel Orb.
Sitting around the round table with my ancestors, my cheek was twitching.
"Couldn't you have told me that sooner?"
Rather than being appalled, it was that the Walt family—especially the sixth and seventh generations—had a significant relationship with Fanbayle.
Celes had already broken the engagement.
As a member of the same Walt family, I truly felt sorry and wanted to apologize.
I was already a person with no connection to my family home. However, I thought I could use that as a pretext to have a conversation.
But when the lid was opened, the relationship between the Walt family and the Fanbayle royal family, beyond just Celes, was recounted by the sixth generation.
"No, at that time it couldn't be helped, or rather... when I participated, they had invaded as far as our territories."
The seventh generation followed up on the sixth generation's excuse.
"In my time, the other side unilaterally broke the treaty and invaded. But, well... it was only natural for them to be enraged by the tyrannical attitude of the corrupt Vanseim, yes."
I had underestimated it.
I had only thought that my ancestors had met the Fanbayle royal family on the battlefield once before.
In the era of the sixth generation, the Walt family, despite being a viscount family, had brought the surrounding areas under their control through military force.
Thanks to the many political marriages arranged by the fifth generation, the vassal group was well-established, so they invaded the surrounding areas that had been suffering until then.
Expanding territories.
And the developing Vice territory—
The royal palace at the time was corrupt, and they left it alone even when other families invaded the Walt family.
It seemed they had been silenced with bribes.
Therefore, the sixth generation apparently did the same, silencing others and crushing the surrounding houses.
It was like the Warring States period.
The chaos was not limited to the domestic front.
Similar situations were occurring in various places, and the nobles of Vanseim had also invaded Fanbayle, which shared a border.
(Of course they'd be angry. Or rather, the Kingdom of Vanseim is terrible, isn't it? It's an even more wretched country than I heard.)
In the books I had read, Vanseim was written as if it were the epitome of justice.
But when the lid was opened, justice was nowhere to be found.
"The sixth generation was the one where the Walt family, having dominated the surroundings, was dispatched as reinforcements to the border and fought the army of the Kingdom of Fanbayle. Then, a few decades later, the seventh generation repelled the Kingdom of Fanbayle when they invaded to reclaim their territory."
The seventh generation said with a smile.
"I seized and expanded the territory too."
"I didn't hear about any of that! What am I supposed to do! Am I supposed to go there and say, 'My sister caused trouble again, sorry!'? It wouldn't be surprising if I were killed!"
To Fanbayle, the Walt family must be a hated enemy.
After all.
"No, I only participated in the war with Fanbayle on the orders of the royal palace. I certainly seized key points, but I pushed the subsequent negotiations onto the royal palace side. I had them wipe the slate clean for the fact that I crushed the surrounding lords who had been doing as they pleased until then."
Hearing the sixth generation's excuse, the fifth generation spoke.
"...You went too far, you idiot."
The fifth generation wasn't the only one appalled.
The fourth generation also shook his head.
"Even if you acquire territory, you also have the obligation to manage it, right? Why did you expand it so excessively?"
The sixth generation replied.
"I helped the Foxuz family with their promotion and made them a baron family. They worked hard in the war against Fanbayle as well. Besides, they were people who would launch raids on us... I thought it would be better for us to manage them than to leave them alone."
The seventh generation added.
"The Foxuz family continued to have a relationship like dependents after that. They worked hard during my war as well."
I steadied my breathing before asking.
"Do they remember the sixth and seventh generations? They only perceive you as one of the lords of Vanseim, right? Tell me that's the case!"
While I prayed for that to be true, the sixth generation said apologetically.
"Sorry... we beat them to a pulp under the leadership of the Walt family. It was quite a complete victory, so it's probably in the records."
The seventh generation added.
"We invaded and beat to a pulp the Fanbayle people who were rejoicing over reclaiming their territory, centered around the Walt family. Since it happened in the sixth generation's time too, they looked quite frustrated when they heard the name Walt."
"Tell me things like that sooner! Celes stole the fiancé, and my ancestors beat them to a pulp in the past... what am I supposed to do!"
The fourth generation calmed the chaotic scene.
"Well, we can hear about the Crown Prince, so let's meet if we can. If she's unwilling, she'll just refuse."
The third generation was also carefree.
"Right. At this point, even if you say you're the son of the expelled Walt family, there's no way a princess of a nation would meet you!"
He laughed loudly, and those around him held similar opinions.
"Damn it... what do you mean 'no way'. My stomach hurts."
My stomach was churning from the hostile gazes surrounding me.
After I sent the letter, a letter specifying the date and time arrived from the other side.
From that day on, I had been agonizing over how I should apologize.
"Are you alright, Lyell-sama?"
As Novem looked on worriedly, Monica peered into the black tea I was drinking.
"There are no poisons in it, though?"
Just as I was about to tell Monica to consider the setting a bit more, a woman entered.
She was smiling, but her purple eyes were not.
It was as if the highlights had vanished.
And her deep pink hair was in a ponytail, reaching down to her waist.
Her age was likely the same as mine or slightly younger.
"I have not put any poisons in. Even if... it were a member of the Walt family, the arch-enemy of the Kingdom of Fanbayle, and a member of the Foxuz family, their dog."
(The Foxuz family has also managed to buy some anger, subtly.)
Looking at Novem, there was no change in expression. He had more nerve than I did.
Voices echoed from the Jewel Orb.
Starting from the third generation.
"You're hated."
"It seems the grudge is quite deep."
"Well, at the very least, they probably think you owe them three major debts."
"...Even though the one who gave the orders was the Vanseim royal family."
"Quite so."
The sixth and seventh generations made excuses, but I stood up to greet her.
Novem and Monica did the same.
"Excuse me. I would like to offer my apologies."
While my stomach was churning, Princess Riane sat down before us.
After taking a sip of the tea served by a maid, she told us to sit.
"You said you wished to speak? Did someone who was kicked out of his family home come to laugh at me, who had her engagement broken? Truly... the Walt family is the jinx of the Kingdom of Fanbayle."
The Princess was giggling, but her complexion was poor.
Perhaps she hadn't slept much, as there were faint dark circles under her eyes. She was likely hiding them with makeup, but I could tell.
"...I am one who has been kicked out of my family home, but I apologize regarding the matter of my sister."
"Even if you apologize, will you do something for me? What is the reason a powerless person like you contacted me?"
The Princess dismissed my apology as meaningless. It was certainly meaningless.
I stated my business.
"Then I would like to ask. I have heard that Central has been strange lately. From your perspective, Princess, have you ever felt that way?"
"That is a remarkably vague way of putting it."
Drinking her tea, the Princess sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
"Five years, or six... was it around then? I felt that Vanseim was gradually becoming strange."
Hearing that, I remembered it overlapped with the time Celes became strange.
(It's almost the sixth year. In that case, did the country start becoming strange from around then?)
The First Generation called Celes a monster.
That she could change even the surrounding environment.
"At first, it was Central. Just when that hateful woman made her social debut in Central, she was being pulled to parties in various regions. Come to think of it, I have never seen you. You were the eldest son of the Walt family, which represents Vanseim, were you not?"
The Princess looked at me with a smirking smile as if to provoke me.
My hands were shaking.
Hearing Celes's name, knowing she had been moving around while I was locked away... I was becoming afraid.
The life of being shunned by my parents, despised by vassals, and living in a state of house arrest flashed through my mind.
When Novem gently placed his hand on my shaking hand, the trembling stopped.
Looking at Novem, he gave me a light, smiling nod.
I felt relieved and looked at the Princess.
Seeing the interaction between me and Novem, she seemed to have lost interest and was drinking her tea.
"...Is it becoming strange outside of Central as well?"
To Novem's question, the Princess nodded.
"Yes. When traveling from my family home to Central, there are places to stay. Was it a sense of incongruity at first? It's true that I felt my existence was gradually being shunned, but other than that... there was an anxiety that I couldn't put into words. Rufus also gradually changed."
Thinking that this person had also been tormented by the gradually changing environment, I felt sympathy.
"...Me too. For nearly six years now, I stopped being seen as the heir."
The Princess was looking down, but the hand holding the cup shook slightly.
"I see."
Saying only that, she finished her tea and looked at me with a serious expression.
A bit of light had returned to her eyes that seemed to lack highlights.
"Since I was kicked out of the royal palace, I have no intention of saying this out of false pride. However, I think it was good that I didn't stay in the royal palace."
Monica stood near me without moving a muscle.
Novem was also listening to the Princess's story with a serious expression.
"May I ask the reason?"
"Don't you already know? That girl named Celes... she is quite the monster. The monsters in the Fanbayle royal palace look cute in comparison. People who could be considered monsters are rolling around everywhere if you go to the royal palace. But that girl is different. After all, even the knights and servants I brought became her captives."
The Princess continued.
"The knights, soldiers, and servants I have now have been completely replaced from the members who stayed in the royal palace. Besides, I met that girl several times. I felt it was no wonder they became captives."
It seemed there were knights of Fanbayle who had become captives of Celes.
Moreover, even knowing that Celes was the daughter of the Walt family.
The knights directing hostility toward me surely directed hostility toward Celes at first.
But the result was the same as in my case.
"I have formally accepted the breaking of the engagement. I will likely never come to this land again. I'll tell you this because I sympathize... it's for your own sake to flee quickly. That girl will definitely do something. And on a national scale."
"Though these are just the ramblings of a pitiful and foolish princess whose engagement was broken," the Princess said as she stood up.
Novem and I also stood up.
"...This country will probably be in turmoil."
Saying that, the Princess left the room.
On the way back, I spoke with Novem and Monica.
In Central, where it was beginning to grow dark, lively voices could be heard from the taverns.
It was getting colder, and I felt the whiteness of my exhaled breath increasing.
Monica said.
"A monster, is it? I cannot understand that. Though, for me, the enemy is you, Novem!"
Monica pointed sharply at Novem, but then turned to me.
"Lyell-sama, are you satisfied after speaking with the Princess? Just what is it that you wanted to know?"
I looked up at the sky and spoke.
"No, I just wanted to reaffirm how much of a monster Celes is."
In truth, neither I nor my ancestors truly understood the 'monster'.
Despite being close to her, I had not firmly grasped the threat of Celes.
I had simply thought of her as a sister I could not defeat.
However, as the First Generation said, Celes is a monster who can move even a nation.
Novem looked down slightly.
"A monster, huh."
Hearing that, Monica also said.
"Rather than a freak, a monster... if the Chicken Bastard says so, I'll call her that from now on too."
I spoke to Monica in exasperation.
"Fix the 'Chicken Bastard' calling first!"
Monica was adamant.
"I refuse. If you really hate it that much, I'll rename you the Flying Chicken Bastard!"
"Don't say that! I'm putting in effort to try and forget it!"
Having my unwanted past touched upon, I began a verbal spat with Monica.
However, Monica simply enjoyed the verbal spat with me.
She was happy if she won. She was happy if I won.
The worst.
Looking at Novem, he seemed to be slightly troubled.
"What's wrong, Novem?"
"No, it is nothing, Lyell-sama."
I felt his smile was slightly different from usual, but I decided to think it was my imagination.
—The gate of Central.
There, the gate was open even though it should have been after hours.
Around it, soldiers were turning away those who said they wanted to enter.
"Please, I'll die outside on a cold day like this."
"No! A noble person is coming! It's after hours, go to your designated place quickly!"
More than twice the usual number of soldiers had been mobilized, and among them were knights who had rushed to provide support.
That was how much the guests were awaited by Central...
Knights and soldiers were arranged in lines as if to protect a luxurious carriage.
The group approaching the gate with dignity passed through the gate without stopping.
A man watching this looked at the crest on the carriage.
"The Walt family... no matter how much of a count family they are, they should stop at the gate."
The man looked at the group following behind the Walt family.
"Travelers and merchants? They followed behind the Walt family. In that case, I will too."
He blended in while remaining wary of the soldiers.
"Now I can get inside. But they're a strange group. With those faint smiles... why do they look so happy despite being injured?"
The man thought so, but.
Once the Walt family group passed through, the gate was closed.
The soldiers had no intention of letting the group that followed the Walt family inside.
"It is after hours. Come back tomorrow morning."
The tattered group was shut out with those words.
The man said.
"Damn it! You could have just let us in! You let the Walt family through... this is why I hate nobles."
Then, a voice called out to the man.
"Hey, what did you just say?"
"Huh?"
Turning around, everyone from the elderly to children was looking at the man.
There was hostility in those gazes.
Among them was even a man wrapped in bandages from injuries, holding a club.
"No, I just said it's strange to let nobles through after hours... normally, even nobles can't pass through the gate of Central after hours!"
Then, a stone was thrown at the man.
The one who threw it seemed to be a child.
"W-what are you doing! ...!"
The man felt that the surroundings were strange and started to run to escape.
However, he was surrounded and could not escape.
"S-stop it. I was wrong. I'll apologize."
The man's voice sounded as if he were about to cry.
However, those around him said.
"He made fun of Celes-sama..."
"He lumped the Walt family in with other nobles."
"Even though they are our benefactors."
By the time the man noticed the madness of the surroundings, it was already too late.
"H-help meeee!!"
The soldiers nearby did not rush to the man's screams—.