Chapter Fifty-seven: A New Wind (Julius’s POV)
“It’s unusual for you to skip a hunting festival, Julius. I imagine you’re receiving even more invitations than ever.”
“I’ve declined them all because I want to stay by Karen’s side.”
“That makes sense. In case any trouble occurs with the Princess, someone should be present who can converse with her as an equal.”
Julius thought this might be interpreted in a romantic way, but Helfried analyzed the situation dispassionately. Alise chuckled with a wry smile.
Every year, during the hunting festival season from autumn to winter, Julius would attend various hunting festivals as invited. That way, he could get opportunities to fight monsters. It also allowed him to naturally delve into the dungeons of those territories while being welcomed.
But this year, there was no need for that. Thanks to the magical sachet Julius received from Karen, he would no longer be driven by bloodlust, and he could get through winter without having to fight in the freezing snow.
“How were the Princess and Karen getting along?”
“Her Highness seems to have taken a liking to Karen.”
Karen apparently didn’t think Waltride’s physique was due to the influence of her Bloodline Blessing. When Julius asked Karen later, she said she thought Waltride had become that way due to her own lack of self-discipline, and Karen was depressed with self-loathing.
It was not a story that should reach Waltride’s ears, but if she did hear it, she might actually be pleased. After all, it meant that in Karen’s eyes, being overweight itself didn’t seem abnormal.
Among nobles and royals with high magical power, such a physique was nearly impossible, so anyone who saw Waltride at a glance pitied her. Some even shed tears at the pitiful sight of her.
Though Waltride was usually strong-willed, she seemed to become depressed when people treated her as if she were in an extremely abnormal and pitiful state, even if it was out of goodwill. So she had welcomed Karen with genuine delight.
“I wish the Princess could also escape from her Bloodline Blessing…”
“Yes, indeed…”
Helfried and Alise lowered their heads with gloomy expressions. These two, out of their kindness, worried about the Princess’s future. The gentle yet sorrowful First Princess Waltride of the Kingdom of Earthfill. She was no longer connected to them… but Julius too wished for her happiness. Among them, there was a lingering hope—perhaps, if it were Karen, she could truly make it happen. The only concern was whether that expectation would become a burden on Karen. Strangely enough, Karen was a girl who carried countless insights within her.
The investigation into Karen’s background continued, but the source of her diverse knowledge remained unknown.
“I hope you two have a wonderful time at the hunting festival.”
“It’s just a small hunting festival with family only.”
“Ufufu, peace is a good thing. Thanks to the fewer monsters, we can even bring Sieg along.”
Hunting festivals were annual events where nobles cleared their territories of monsters. Due to Julius’s conquest of the Ehlertt territory’s dungeon, monsters in the territory have become very scarce now. Therefore, it would be a very small-scale festival without invited guests, but it was something that must be held as a lord’s duty.
Helfried, Alise, and Sieg would be away from the mansion for about two weeks for the hunting festival.
“I’m counting on you to take care of Karen, Julius.”
“Understood… Sister-in-law, I entrust my brother and Sieg to you.”
“Ufufu, leave it to me.”
“Wait, why are you asking Alise there?”
Julius and Alise laughed in unison at the confused Helfried. It was because Helfried was slightly exhausted, though he himself hadn’t noticed it. But there was no need to tell him that.
The Ehlertt Earldom. The place where Julius and Helfried spent most of their childhood. A land that remained cool throughout the year, colder than the royal capital in winter, and deep with snow. The forests scattered throughout the territory were deep, making it easy for monsters to enter—a large territory yet difficult for people to live in.
While it was a domain that should be protected, for Helfried, it was also a place he wanted to avoid. Too many shadows of the past lingered here. That was why being able to leave the mansion for the hunting festival was a good thing for Helfried.
“Well then, I’ll head back to Karen.”
After excusing himself from the two, he returned to Karen, finding one of the estate’s veteran butlers explaining the portraits displayed in the hallway to her.
“I must say, I’m surprised that you, an alchemist, don’t know about Lord Winfried. However, given your commoner background, it is understandable. He is a hero of Ehlertt. Please, do remember his name.”
“He doesn’t look much like Master Julius and Lord Helfried, considering he’s their father…”
Seeing Karen’s disappointed expression, Julius almost burst into laughter. Though her straightforwardness probably conveyed that she meant no harm, the butler had a disgruntled look on his face at Karen’s comment.
“Both of them take after the former Countess. However, Master Julius’s strength closely resembles that of Lord Winfried.”
Hearing his name being mentioned and placed alongside his father’s, Julius felt as if his heart had sunk heavily.
“Lord Winfried possessed tremendous magical power and was also an excellent swordsman. Even in the most dangerous times, he would take the lead in battle, dedicating himself entirely to protecting the people of the land.”
He was simply intoxicated with magical power and rampaged for his own pleasure. Knights who knew the battlefields of those days would agree with Julius’s words, but many died in battle after being caught up in Winfried’s reckless fighting. Therefore, not many people know that that tyrannical man was no hero, and the Ehlertt territory was still filled with voices praising him. Those who believed in that man’s heroism became the power behind the scenes, supporting Helfried and declaring that the son of the hero was the rightful head of the family.
That was why Julius couldn’t go around saying the truth was different. Doing so would risk losing the influence they held in this land, where Winfried remained highly revered. Knowing that the council of elders from his father’s generation was using Winfried to maintain their power, Julius could only stand by helplessly, unable to do anything about it.
He couldn’t even dismiss the long-serving butler who still admired the former head, leaving him to do nothing but watch as the butler spoke of the man’s supposed greatness to Karen.
“In the end, he entered the Ehlertt dungeon alone to suppress it when it was about to cause a major collapse and he lost his life there. That’s why the people of Ehlertt admire Lord Winfried.”
“I see. Um, so this two children next to Lord Winfried, could it be Master Julius and Lord Helfried…!?”
“… Sigh. Well, yes, I suppose so.”
“H-how cute…!”
The butler was deflated by Karen who showed not the slightest interest in Winfried’s portrait, while Karen was completely absorbed in Julius’ childhood portrait.
Feeling a new wind, Julius walked towards Karen with a relaxed smile on his face.
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