“What…is that?”
Bertol Axios, a young nobleman from the Axios Earldom and a representative of the North, muttered blankly as he gazed at the massive army marching toward them, kicking up clouds of dusts.
“I guess the news of Baron Greze’s defeat must be true. But he wasn’t someone who would fall so easily to mere barbarians…”
Viscount Varnan, who had joined the expedition in response to Viscount Viche’s request for reinforcements, clicked his tongue and his expression turned regretful.
Berton Axios, Count of Axios, was puzzled.
Viscount Viche had certainly claimed that Baron Greze’s subjugation force had been wiped out, but he hadn’t believed it. Three years ago, he had led the Imperial War to victory alongside Zester, so he knew better than anyone how Zester was on the battlefield. That man wasn’t someone that could be easily defeated.
“We cannot allow them to advance any further. Count, let’s move.”
“Wait.”
Bertol’s red eyes gleamed sharply.
“Hm? Don’t tell me that’s Baron Greze’s subjugation force?”
Viscount Varnan narrowed his eyes, peering at the approaching army. He was surprised to find familiar faces mixed in with the army he had assumed consisted entirely of the giant, monstrous Rakans, and barbarians.
“Indeed, it is the Baron.”
Bertol murmured, watching the red hair fluttering atop the black steed leading the pack. It was unmistakably Zester Greze, the ‘Red Hound’, the man who had dominated the battlefield with him three years ago.
“And that’s a woman, isn’t it?”
Viscount Varnan said with astonishment.
It was an unbelievable scene. Not only was the subjugation force, who were supposedly annihilated, leading the barbarians, who showed no signs of hostility but contrary to Viscount Viche’s claim, Zester was alive and well, and the mysterious woman in his arms was also a surprise.
As Zester’s arms drew nearer, they spotted Count Axios and Viscount Varnan’s forces and halted their advance. Zester recognized them immediately.
“Count Axios, Viscount Varnan.”
“Baron Greze! What is going on here? We heard from Viscount Viche that your subjugation force was annihilated…”
“Ah…”
While Zester and Varnan exchanged words, Bertol couldn’t take his eyes off the mysterious woman in Zester’s arms. Her snow-white complexion shone even with the dust littered on her face. The fleeting glimpse of her brilliant blue eyes kept catching Bertol’s eyes.
“What in the world happened? What’s with these b-barbarians? And this woman…”
“Ah, this is my wife.”
“Your wife? As in the daughter of Count Ruberno?”
Viscount Varnan asked in surprise and only then did Cassia place a hand to her chest and offer a polite nod.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Viscount Varnan…and Count Axios.”
“Why is the Baroness here?”
Bertol asked, seemingly in anger.
He seemed displeased by the stark contrast between the situation Viscount Viche had described, and that reaction was precisely what Cassia was hoping for.
Putting on an expression of fatigue, Cassia carefully opened her mouth.
“It will be a long story if I start. We set out on a campaign after hearing that a tribe had taken up residence in Viche territory and were threatening the Viscounty. But when we arrived, we were surprised to find the truth entirely different. For barbarians, they were peaceful and rational. After hearing their story, it seems they’ve been having a hard time because they can’t find a suitable place to settle down, so we plan to gather the remaining people and return to Greze.”
“What do you mean? You’re going to accept barbarians into Greze territory?”
Viscount Varnan asked with wide eyes.
“They have never attacked the homes of residents or harmed any of the people. Apparently, they only asked the Viscount for a place to stay…”
Cassia didn’t go into detail, but the way she trailed off with a sigh gave them a rough idea of what was going on. If her words weren’t true, how could a group with such a fearsome reputation be following the subjugation force so docilely?
‘Viscount Viche must have racked his brain for a way to easily deal with these barbarians.’
Bertol narrowed his eyes.
He knew Viscount Viche’s snake-like nature all too well. The man never directly asked for reinforcements, only spreading rumors of his desperate struggles to try and get free help. Seeing right through those pathetic intentions, Bertol intentionally ignored him.
When he heard Zester was taking the deployment, he had only clicked his tongue, thinking the sly viscount would once again have a blast manipulating Zester.
“I grew up in the South, so I didn’t know much about the North. I’d heard many rumors that the lords here are cold-hearted and individualistic, but I didn’t believe it. But thanks to this incident, I’ve been given a little insight. If a barbarian tribe is causing issues, I’m sure you’re aware that it’s not just a problem for that territory alone…”
As her words trailed off bitterly, Viscount Varnan’s face grew flushed.
She wasn’t wrong. The northern territories bordering the kingdom have long endured relentless invasions by outside tribes. In severe cases, territories were even massacred or destroyed, so it was an unspoken rule that nearby territories would cooperate with each other for aid.
Of course, any territory receiving aid was expected to show courtesy by compensating accordingly but Viscount Viche was unwilling to show even the most basic of manners, so the two lords had deliberately ignored him.
“Baroness, you’re being rude! If the Viscount had made a proper request for reinforcements, this would not have become such a mess!”
“Yes, you’re right. That is true. However, our Baron also knew that Viscount Viche’s demands were unreasonable when he set out on this expedition. He simply acted because he judged that the issue concerning Viche territory was a matter that concerned all of us in the North, and he had to step forward for the North’s stability. He didn’t take up the sword thoughtlessly.”
Everyone knew Viscount Viche was up to no good but how long did they plan to stay silent? They needed to join forces and come up with an alternative somehow. Zester hadn’t gone to war for petty pay; he had stepped in because someone had to.
The intent behind her words was clear. Viscount Varnan had no retort and simply flushed deeper.
“Your Lordships aside, I think it would be wise for the northern nobles to take this incident to heart and reflect on this situation. Like it or not, we all represent the North.”
“You are completely right. It is embarrassing to have to be properly reprimanded by a young Baroness. I shall bear your words in mind.”
Berton, who had been quietly listening, readily admitted.
“I apologize if I’ve overstepped.”
“Not at all. But Baron, did you truly go on a subjugation campaign with the Baroness at your side?”
“No. This is…”
Zester blushed at Bertol’s sharp retort. Although he hadn’t personally brought Cassia to the battlefield, the fact that he put his wife in danger remained, so he had no excuse.
“This situation is because of a miscommunication between the tribe and our subjugation force. They couldn’t stand by as their kin were being mercilessly killed so some of the tribe members came to the castle to see the Viscount. Although they simply wished to have a conversation, the Viscount jumped to a hasty conclusion and sent them to me, who was stationed in the castle. They had no choice but to take me away.”
“Wait, what, what are you talking about?!”
Unlike the Bertol, who listened silently, Viscount Varnan erupted in anger.
Cassia spoke as if she was defending the barbarians and the Viscount, but upon closer inspection, her words were appalling.
In what world were the barbarians simply wanting to talk? Anyone could tell they had entered the castle, intending to take the Viscount hostage after feeling pressure from the enemy forces. And the Viscount, fearing for his life, had abandoned all noble dignity and handed over the innocent Baroness in his place.
“Why are you defending that wretch of a lord?! We know we’re not innocent either, so you don’t need to protect us!”
At that moment, Jerome, the tribal leader who was behind Zester and Cassia, cut in (1). He looked quite angry, obviously considering the two nobles who came as reinforcements as being on the same side as Viscount Viche.
“We couldn’t just sit and die, so we went to capture the lord! But that damn lord said the subjugation leader’s wife would make a better hostage and sold her out instead! Thinking about it now, what a despicable and vile fellow! Are all nobles like that?!”
“Jerome, calm your anger.”
Cassia spoke, seemingly being stern but inwardly, she was filled with a sense of satisfaction. With this, she had successfully exposed the Viscount’s nasty face without ruining her own image by slandering him.
Gazing at the two nobles, who were speechless, Cassia chuckled inwardly.
Although Viscount Viche was the wrongdoer, both of them must also be feeling embarrassed. They were nobles of the north like Viscount Viche, and they had done nothing even with a barbarian tribe causing trouble, treating it like someone else’s problem.
Nobles can never tolerate anything that tarnishes their pride.
The embarrassment they felt now would turn into arrows of blame, pointing straight at Viscount Viche. Viscount Viche might as well be buried now, at least within the North.
No one was going to give him any time of the day. This was basically killing two birds with one stone. Cassia smiled to herself.
At that moment, Zester tightened his grip on Cassia and spoke.
“Under normal circumstances, I would have returned to Viche Castle to report the situation. However, I am a little uncomfortable seeing the Viscount at this time so I shall be heading back. Lord Count, could you please explain the situation when you get to the Viscount’s castle?”
Hearing the story of his wife being taken hostage once again with his own ears, even the gentle Zester seemed to boil with rage.
Bertol nodded in response to Zester’s stern expression.
“You’ve worked hard. Do not worry. I shall not stand idly in the face of the Viscount’s atrocities. Return home safely.”
“Thank you.”
With that short exchange, the Axios and Varnan reinforcements made way. Zester’s army, now proudly flanked by dozens of beasts, marched forward with confidence. The reinforcements who had made way, watched the procession towards Greze, their mouths agape.
Bertol’s eyes, however, remained locked on the Baron and his wife. More precisely, his wife, Cassia, who was tucked in Zester’s arms like a treasure.
‘Certainly, with a wife as beautiful as her, anyone would want to wrap her up and prevent a single scratch on her.’
Plus, she wasn’t just a pretty face like the rumors suggested.
Zester’s whole attention was focused on his wife in his arms, as if he was worried that something might happen. Bertol inwardly thought, ‘I can understand that’, and he let out a small laugh.
***
As soon as they got home, Zester felt lighthearted.
He had been worried he might punch Viscount Viche in the face if they met again, but thanks to encountering Count Axios and Viscount Varnan, that confrontation was avoided.
More importantly, everything had turned out well, just as Cassia had said. The closer they got to Greze territory, the more excited he became.
“Wife.”
“Yes?”
He had already called out ‘Wife’ countless times on the way back even though he had nothing to say. He just liked hearing her prompt reply.
However, Cassia seemed to be finding it quite annoying. She looked back at Zester, who once again had nothing to say, and there was a hint of dissatisfaction on her brows.
“Why do you keep calling me if you don’t have anything to say…”
“No, no! I do! I have something to say! Uh…”
Zester thought for a moment, then slapped his knee and asked.
“Right. How do you know Count Axios and Viscount Varnan? I thought you’ve never met them before but somehow, I felt like you recognized them.”
Cassia flinched at Zester’s question.
Count Bertol Axios.
17-year-old Cassia might not have known him but the 27-year-old Cassia, who had gone ten years back in time, knew him very well.
“No. I just, well,…figured it out.”
Cassia shuddered as the faint memory of her past conversation with Bertol flashed through her mind.
『I’m saying this because you’ve made it impossible for me to go back to my everyday life…』
『As much as I want to bring you back to my territory, I won’t force you. What do you say?』
He was a crazy bastard.
『I think we can be very good friends. Friends who satisfy each other’s desires.』
TL’s Corner:
1) Jerome’s title is 부족장(bujokjang) while Jerd’s title is 족장(jokjang). Both titles essentially mean ‘Chief’ but Jerd’s title is a higher tier and can even be translated to ‘Patriarch’. For distinction, I will call Jerome’s title ‘tribal leader’ moving forward and keep Jerd’s title as ‘Chieftain/Chief’.
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