Chapter 171

Chapter 171 - The Daughter of Autumn, Valda (6)

The news that Viscount Winchester suffered a disastrous defeat spread rapidly.

Mercenaries and commoners marveled at the fact that the leader of the south was thoroughly ruined in a single battle.

On the other hand, the nobles were paying more attention to Eugene's negotiation terms than the Viscount's defeat itself.

- All of the territories including Haven. And the surrender and pledges of loyalty of your subordinate vassals.

This is practically the same as declaring he will reign as the supreme ruler in Britannia's noble society.

Moreover, taking the descendant of the Elf dynasty whose lineage had been cut off as a shield. Leaving aside whether she is real or fake.

"I hear the nobles are making a fuss saying another Kruger has appeared."

Was it because he ran wild so terrifyingly on the battlefield? Perhaps the rumors were distorted in a somewhat bad direction, the envoys who came to pay ransoms trembled more than necessary.

"I have never made a person into an eagle, and I think I've acted quite gentlemanly in my own way, though."

"It is an inevitable matter. When a wolf appears and bites the leader of the sheep to death, the rest are bound to be terrified. It takes time for the sheep to realize the wolf's tolerance."

Valda chuckled.

To the southern nobles who thought they would smoothly occupy Cornwall, it must have been a bolt from the blue. It was like two large grouses fighting over territory, and suddenly a black eagle swooped down from the sky.

Meanwhile, it isn't only the captured noble families who want negotiations.

Viscount Winchester is a lord who has reigned through deals and mediation rather than military force. Even while running away after a disastrous defeat, he hastily threw together a new negotiation proposal and sent an envoy.

Looking at this aspect, he certainly possessed the composure to reign as the leader of a region. If it had been peaceful times, he would have ruled his surroundings quite well in his own way.

"A marriage alliance, you say?"

"That is correct. His Excellency Winchester's second daughter, Lady Kate, will become the bride."

The envoy bowed his head deeply.

"He promised to also pay reparations as an apology for the unnecessary battle. As dowry, 7 villages including the city of Salisbury..."

"I don't need it. Because trivial territories like that can just be obtained by force. Moreover, the Winchester family has an eldest son and a second son, don't they? Is he trying to smooth things over with a daughter whose succession rank is of little meaning?"

The envoy's back became damp with sweat.

- Perhaps Viscount Meyer merely made an exaggerated demand aiming to gain the upper hand. Because calling a high price at the beginning of a deal is the basics of haggling.

Viscount Winchester pinned his hopes on that single assumption and attempted renegotiation.

However, the violent knight in front of him seems to have truly landed in Britannia with the intention of swallowing up everything.

"Choose one of the two. Surrender now and spend the rest of his life in a well-scenic manor holding massive wealth. Or be forcibly dragged down and sent to a monastery penniless."

"How could such..."

"You will have to carefully consider the words that will follow."

The envoy shut his mouth.

At the point of suffering a disastrous defeat, there is little Viscount Winchester can do. Diligently sending out rescue requests while holed up inside Haven's walls is everything.

"No matter how great His Excellency Meyer's power and renown are, His Excellency Winchester has also taken root in this land for a long time. If you drag down the family this mercilessly, the backlash will be massive."

"Who was it that permitted the Winchester family to become nobles for the first time?"

The envoy immediately noticed what Eugene was trying to say.

"What is the problem with the master who bestowed the noble status taking it back as punishment for disloyalty?"

The rumors of the Elf Princess Eugene is trying to enthrone are widespread throughout the island. If the bloodline is genuine, the image of being an invader of Roman will instantly thin out.

It was also fully possible to absorb the vassals by going on a tour performance around the south while Viscount Winchester is crouching down.

Around the time Haven's stockpiled food runs out, a nightmarish situation where the entire south is besieging the castle might occur.

It could be thinking too pessimistically, but seeing Viscount Meyer's confidence and intimidation, it seemed truly possible.

Looking at the envoy returning with a haggard face, Valda admired.

"You are gentle to your family but merciless toward the outside."

"I said it so the southern lords would also hear. I have to do at least this much so the bastards testing the waters will quickly make up their minds. Moreover, it's fine if the rumors about me circulate a bit frighteningly during this campaign."

"Why? Isn't it better to be seen as a merciful monarch if possible?"

"Because the main character is not me, but Valda. And I am the knight enthroning you."

Eugene went behind Valda and grabbed both her wrists, lifting them. Like a marionette doll.

"If a rumor spreads that the subordinate is a bloodthirsty bastard, what does it matter? If need be, we can even show a scene of Valda severely reprimanding and me apologizing."

When Eugene grabbed Valda's wrists and moved them this way and that, she chuckled cheerfully.

"The words and gestures seem different? Isn't this a puppet Princess manipulated by you?"

Even as she said so, Valda's words and expression were different. The tone sounded like her pride was hurt, but her expression was a smile that seemed somewhat excited.

* * *

The envoys who came to the Moving Castle for ransom deals were bewildered three times.

"Envoys, please wear these visitor passes. Do not even go near restricted areas. The spoils exhibition hall or internal gardens are open, so you may use them freely."

"Ah, understood."

First was at the actual reality of the majestic castle in legends.

Purrrk.

Hiiiigh.

"Do not worry as your horses and carriages will be taken care of here. The state of the hooves is not good, so we will change the horseshoes for you."

"Oh!"

Second was at the super-massive stables unbelievable to be indoors and the warhorses that looked to exceed a thousand.

"You are doing better than I thought?"

Third, they were surprised by the appearances of the prisoners who looked to have better complexions than usual.

"I do think the eating and drinking are better than when I was at the main house. You try some dried dates too. It's the first time I've seen something this sweet."

"Uh, I will eat well."

"Try drinking this too. It's called Makgeolli brewed by Dark Elves, and the tipsy yet savory taste is fantastic. Don't keep gulping it down just because it's sweet though. Because you might see hell the next day."

"..."

From the rumors circulating outside, they thought they would be undergoing terrifying torture, but that wasn't the case at all.

From the nobles wrapped in clean bandages, only the scents of bitter medicine and subtle alcohol wafted.

"Eeyagu, how refreshing."

A little distance away, they could even see someone lying on a sofa receiving a massage from an Eastern Empire slave. The envoy watching that made a sour face.

"Has elder brother escaped safely?"

"Yes. The head of the family told me to convey his gratitude for buying time to escape at the risk of your life."

"What gratitude. It was doing what I had to do as a younger brother. Rather than that, what happens from now on is more important."

The noble wasn't just playing and eating aimlessly. He was chatting with other prisoner nobles and compiling the information trickling in little by little to agony over what stance the family should take.

That was the same for the family outside. Depending on whose side they stand in the upcoming civil war, the destiny of the family could change.

To keep their loyalty, Viscount Winchester is already practically eliminated from the competitive race.

On the other hand, in Eugene's case, the more they asked around, the achievements he built on the continent were at an unbelievable level.

"I heard he's a lunatic who hacks away with an axe until the person is severed, is that true?"

"It's true he severed a person with an axe, but he didn't hack. It just got cut in one strike. The more you talk with him, the more refined a person he is."

"Then what about riding a demonic beast and making it tear and eat corpses?"

"It was a terrifying warhorse. It definitely inherited the blood of a divine beast. One time it chewed and burst the head of a charging knight's horse. But it didn't tear at people at all."

The noble checked off the inflated rumors one by one. Since rumors about him were so monstrous, correcting them one by one was quite fun as well.

"Let's speak frankly. If a knight on a winning streak in duels had the guts to come alone right in front of the army, they should have shown respect even if he was an enemy. Shooting arrows at him on top of that, isn't that the shame of the south?"

"He certainly is knightly, but he is still an invader."

"Was an enemy... would be the correct expression. We don't know what will happen from now on."

Watching the attitude the noble showed, the envoy realized it. That as a born knight, his heart toward Viscount Winchester had already mostly evaporated.

The southern nobles, who had always been threatened by the fierce nobles of the central region, had longed for a powerful supreme ruler.

In that regard, the appearance Viscount Winchester had shown so far and the appearance the new conqueror shows are as different as heaven and earth.

If it's an era where violence cannot be avoided anyway, they wanted to charge following behind that highly renowned undefeated knight and demonic beast executioner.

"Anyway, please keep your mouth shut until the negotiations are over."

The envoys, having confirmed the safety of the prisoners, had a luncheon with Eugene.

"I prepared local indigenous dishes here together with foreign dishes. Since you are rare guests, I wanted to let you taste the foods of various countries."

Among the envoys, there was also someone who participated in the pitched battle. The appearance of Eugene causing a bloodbath with a massive axe on the battlefield remains vivid. It was hard to believe he was the same person as the Viscount hosting them with a gentle face right now.

"Th, thank you."

"It is an honor that you welcome us hospitably."

At first, the envoys ate mainly local dishes. The roasted calf, which Britannians cannot resist, was popular.

"Please enjoy slowly."

However, as their hearts relaxed thanks to Eugene treating them warmly, they started reaching for various exotic dishes.

Steamed lobster, boiled quail eggs, sea turtle soup, peeled oranges, grilled bananas, etc., there were many foods that had never been seen in Britannia.

The maids carrying the food were beautiful Dark Elves. The envoys' eyes widened. Furthermore, Eugene is wearing a nomadic traditional outfit instead of a Roman noble's attire.

"It seems the relationship between Your Excellency and them is not merely that of employer and mercenary."

"It is truly incredible how you won the hearts of this proud warrior group."

Befitting Britannia where the existence of Elves holds great meaning, being a monarch served by the Fairy Race holds great significance.

Eugene, smiling warmly, praised them by weaving the folktales or unofficial histories he knew with the history of each family.

It is basically an era lacking in entertainment. The stories themselves are fun, but finishing with praise for their affiliated families, the envoys burst into hearty laughter and rejoiced.

As sufficient time passed and the tension mostly subsided, it reached the point where the envoys exchanged jokes one by one with Eugene.

"We thank you for bestowing mercy upon our family's knights. Thanks to the prompt treatment, everyone will likely be able to continue their lives as knights without aftereffects."

Each family prepared the maximum amount they could produce and sent envoys. The martial prowess Eugene showed in the battle and the achievements he built on the continent were so tremendous that they didn't even dare think of haggling.

This is ransom data, but at the same time, it's also sincerity not to offend the conqueror's mood. Naturally, Eugene, whose pockets became thick, also hosted the envoys even more gently.

"Huu. Huuuu."

In the good atmosphere, one envoy with a tense face took a deep breath and raised his hand.

"There is one thing I wish to ask Your Excellency."

"Ask anything."

"Are you truly serving the blood of the royal family, Ruiamor? The head of the family has immense interest."

"I know well what meaning the Elf royal family holds in this land. I do not spout nonsense with such matters."

"I did not dare have such doubts."

"Seeing it directly with your own eyes would be the most certain rather than me saying it a hundred times, right?"

Eugene brought up the talking point he had been waiting and waiting for.

"I am going to respectfully escort the Princess to the Shade Garden."

"!!!"

The Shade Garden is a historic site located west of Haven. The residence of the Half-Fairy family born from the union of Elf royalty and human high nobles. The political arena that firmly ruled the entirety of Britannia for the first time.

When the royalty disappeared, the city also lost its vitality and only a desolate site remained. However, because of its symbolism, no lord could declare sovereignty over this place.

Even the Agrippa family, who were regents, only used it for the purpose of dedicating New Year's festivals after declaring the Shade Garden a sacred place.

"I want several honorable families to attend that occasion."

The place that withered when the Elf royalty disappeared. There is no Britannian who doesn't know of that living legend.

To take the descendant of the royal family there and tell them to observe. To the southern nobles, that was an irresistible right and duty.

Thus, the southern nobles who became prisoners did not leave the Moving Castle even after paying their ransoms.

"Please allow us to be together at that glorious occasion."

The nobles who had conversed with Valda even once during their Moving Castle life did not want to miss that historical event.

There were also some slight troubles that occurred during that process.

"Baron Foster. You have suffered much."

"I merely fulfilled my duty as a retainer. Rather, I had fun the whole time going around gathering comrades. However..."

Baron Foster, who gathered the representative group of Cornwall nobles, still sent sharp glances toward Viscount Winchester's vassals.

They have a history of fighting for a long time, and recently even conscripted troops with the intention of annexing the Cornwall region. Naturally, there couldn't help but be grudges.

"Baron."

"I apologize. I was rude."

Baron Foster bowed his head and apologized. Now is not the time to put personal feelings forward.

"I heard you are heading to the Shade Garden."

"Reviving that place is first. Striking Haven is next."

The Shade Garden during the days when it was intact with the power of the royalty possessed an incredible position both militarily and politically.

The sight that would occur when Valda enters that place will become a massive turning point in Britannia's civil war.

The auspicious day was picked by Marbas.

- Let us start two days from now. Because there will be a rain shower that day.

The summoner who read the weather through the Spirits of Wind and Water advised.

- Would it do for the sky to be murky on an auspicious day? I think it would be better to do it on a sunny day if possible, though.

- It would be so if it was an ordinary event. But if it's the Shade Garden Duke Valda will resurrect, the story is different.

Summoners are experts in various events including the four ceremonial occasions. Eugene followed that advice.

* * *

Guuuuuuuung.

As the massive gates of the Moving Castle opened, a completely different scenery from what they were seeing just moments ago appeared.

"Isn't this west of Haven?!"

The Britannia nobles gathered in the lobby opened their eyes wide in shock.

"Will you now believe the legends are true? As well as the reason my army could drop onto this land abruptly."

"We apologize for daring to doubt! Please punish us!"

"Since an auspicious event is ahead, I will just let it pass. Please have a bit more faith from now on."

During the banquets so far, the nobles had been asking how on earth Eugene's army landed without a sound or rumor.

An expedition in this era is structured so that rumors inevitably spread through all sorts of methods. Nobody noticing an army being brought from across the sea made no sense.

When Eugene said he came riding the Moving Castle, they said 'Ah, is that so. It is truly incredible' and agreed, but they hadn't genuinely believed it.

When a bit of alcohol went in and they got drunk, they asked again and again.

"During my knight errantry, I once viewed the statue at Bone Yard. It was a truly overwhelming sight. Although I had forgotten about it for over 20 years since then..."

Baron Rochester bowed his head to Eugene and expressed his courtesy.

As can be known from the fact that Chester (fortress) is included in his name, it is a family that gained a peerage for their merits regarding frontline bases during the time of the 2nd Era Ancient Kingdom's invasion.

Baron Rochester, who had not much inspiration regarding the Elf royal family, came out politely regarding the power of the Moving Castle.

They held a banquet for a while after that, waiting for other nobles to arrive. Because there were also families coming from north or east of Haven, more time was needed.

Viscount Winchester's scribes shouted at the top of their lungs telling them not to join Eugene's invitation, but there weren't many who listened. Everyone was drawn to the call like pilgrims heading to a holy land.

"It is parched and lean, but somehow peculiar."

This is Eugene's impression of the Shade Garden.

It is certainly so desolate that not a single leaf could be found. However, there is no feeling of being barren or burnt ruins.

It is merely an atmosphere as if all the natural elements constituting this place have collectively fallen into a hallucination.

Believing that it was winter before, it is winter now, and it will be winter from now on, as if falling into a deep sleep.

What is needed to wake this place up is neither the wind of a warm spring day nor magic blooming sprouts on a wasteland.

It was merely the footsteps of a single person.

With everyone watching holding their breath, Valda took her first step. Then, the collapsed grasses raised their heads.

That was like an old dog meeting its master after a long time raising its head at a nostalgic scent.

"Did you just see that?"

"The wind didn't blow, right? Right?"

Leaving the murmuring of the amazed nobles behind, Valda's footsteps continued lightly.

Crunch.

Even those without magical talent definitely heard it. A cracking sound as if chestnuts and acorns were breaking their own shells.

The most peaceful sound of destruction in the world. The sounds of shells breaking and sprouts budding echoed concurrently everywhere in the Shade Garden.

Even the branches that fluttered collecting only sighs from the colliding wind budded new shoots.

Sniff sniff.

Homi's nose was the first to react.

"This smell...?"

And the noses of the other people also reacted. The scent of moss, grass, and savory tree bark started to mix into the air of the historic site that was full of only desolation and dryness.

Crack crack.

Crack.

"Careful! You'll fall!"

"Uwaat!"

The mycelium roads that had been cracking open like a drought-stricken field began to fill up.

It was a sight like dried-up and cracked dough rapidly completing into bread. As if the Elf Princess's warm breath blew in heat and yeast.

"It's hard?"

"If it's this much, the road won't be ruined even if iron wheels are rolled over it."

The Dwarves tapping the mycelium road marveled. In an instant, flat and solid roads that could only be seen in the royal capital were crossing through the historic site like blood vessels.

Meanwhile, Valda entered the center of the Shade Garden.

Massive tree trunks that would take about fifteen adults surrounding them to embrace. It is a space where dozens of such things are clumped and tangled together like conjoined trees.

The mycelium road resurrecting like rolling dominoes caught up to Valda. The destroyed stairs passing her and climbing the conjoined trees rearranged themselves like freshly baked toast.

Lightly.

As Valda's foot stepped on the first stair, the tree branches budded leaves and dropped vines.

However, Valda did not take the second step. As if realizing something, she stopped abruptly.

"Eugene."

She extends her hand.

"I hate climbing alone. Guard my side."

"I will gladly accompany you."

The human monarch and fairy princess holding hands side by side like that look back.

The leaves of the rapidly awakening tree branches covered the ceiling. The two men and women shimmer between shadow and light.

Dark Elves and Dwarves, Britannia nobles alike all looked with overwhelmed faces that couldn't be described with words.

Rumble.

At that time, a small thunder could be heard from inside the dark clouds. At the same time, the smell of humid air coming on the wind.

"It seems it will rain soon. The weather was a bit bad after all."

"Please wait a moment. Something to cover..."

Murmuring spread among the nobles and servants. At that time, Valda spoke toward them.

"We cannot let precious guests get hit by rain. Everyone follow us inside. In this place, there is a resting place, warmth, and clean water for you."

Creaaaak.

The trees of the Shade Garden were extending their leaves and vines while making vigorous sounds. The ceiling that had gaping holes leanly had also been perfectly filled. It was tailor-made for avoiding rain.

Naturally, there is not a single person who refuses the chance to enter into a fairy tale.

"Father should have seen this."

An old noble shed tears and stroked a tree trunk overflowing with vitality. The time of the Shade Garden, which had been stopped throughout the 2nd Era, finally began to flow again.

The gazes of the nobles headed toward the two men and women climbing the stairs up ahead.

A human and an Elf taking each step forward while affectionately holding hands. They take the lead as if guiding the nobles, as if opening a new era.

"Baron. Do not overexert yourself and go slowly. I am worried you might get hurt."

"Be quiet!"

The wrinkle-filled noble shook off his worried attendant and quickened his pace. That was the same for the other nobles around.

They chased keeping a distance as tailing closely felt ungracious, and before they knew it, Eugene and Valda had disappeared around the corner in an instant.

As the two people disappeared from their sights, the nobles were swept up in a sense of terror.

This indescribable sensation was something everyone was feeling for the first time in their lives. More than the threat of the cruel Count Kruger, the mere fact that the two people disappeared was unbearably terrifying.

Autumn came back to the Shade Garden, which had been stopped for a long time.