It seems the journey from Baldia territory to the imperial capital was really enjoyable. As a result, she had apparently asked to accompany Esther on his inspection of the border area. Esther initially refused, but in the end, he gave in to Trett’s wishes.
Reiner felt a twinge of anxiety and sighed with an exasperated expression.
“Sigh… Father won’t admit it, but he’s always had a soft spot for Mother.”
After finishing Trett’s letter, Reiner took out another letter from Esther.
He opened the seal and scanned its contents. It was about an inspection to be conducted near the border. The scale of the inspection included an elite force of forty members, including Knight Commander Gawain and Vice Commander Gregory.
With this scale, they wouldn’t be outmatched even by a large bandit group. Rather, it was a composition capable of annihilating them. His gaze suddenly shifted to Trett’s letter he had just read.
“This scale… I suppose it’s because Mother is accompanying them, so they’re taking extra precautions…”
Probably, Esther didn’t want to take Trett along. However, because Trett wouldn’t budge, they reluctantly increased the number of knights for the inspection. It felt like they had dealt with it by increasing the security force.
Reiner was surprised when he checked the inspection schedule. It was today. It takes several days for a letter to come from Baldia territory to the imperial capital. Normally, it should have been mailed at an earlier stage. The reason they deliberately didn’t do so… Reiner, realizing this, sighed again.
“Hah… They probably sent it to arrive today on purpose, thinking I would object if I heard that [Mother is accompanying the inspection]. Mother… such a childish thing to do…”
After finishing reading the letter, Reiner shook his head with an exasperated face.
Surprisingly, it’s Trett who tends to do such childish things. Trett, Reiner’s mother, has an unexpectedly mischievous side. Reiner and Esther have fallen victim to Trett’s pranks several times.
When Nunnaly comes to Baldia territory, will she also fall victim to these pranks? No, she might unexpectedly hit it off with Trett, and the two of them might come up with pranks together. Reiner’s cheeks relaxed unconsciously as he imagined their interactions after marriage, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
Several days after receiving letters from Trett and Esther…
That day too, Reiner was assisting Arwin as usual in the office within the imperial palace. Arwin was sitting at the office desk, going through documents, when he suddenly shifted his gaze to Reiner with a meaningful smile.
“Reiner, I hear you’ve successfully gotten engaged to Nunnaly Ronamis, known as the ‘Crimson Lady’. I saw the marriage application documents for you two the other day.”
Hearing his words, Reiner replied with an exasperated look.
“That’s right, but… isn’t it an abuse of authority to know that from the application documents?”
“Haha, don’t say that. Given my position, it inevitably catches my eye. Well, she seemed to have taken a liking to you from the moment you saved her from those villains. It’s a joyous occasion, isn’t it?”
At that moment, Reiner felt something odd about his words. Reiner hadn’t been aware that Nunnaly had been attacked by villains until he heard it from her directly. And he hadn’t told Arwin the details of the marriage arrangement. Reiner gave him a suspicious look with a puzzled expression.
“Arwin… you knew that lady from that time was Nunnaly Ronamis, didn’t you?”
“Oh? Didn’t I mention it? My wife Matilda and Nunnaly are friends. I’ve occasionally met her in the palace too.”
He continued talking to Reiner with a grin, in a slightly playful manner.
“I’ve seen Lady Nunnaly in that appearance several times in the palace. You should have been present on some of those occasions too. I put two and two together immediately. Rather, didn’t you notice? If not, your observational skills are lacking.”
Reiner, suddenly realizing this, put his hand to his mouth as he recalled the occasions. Indeed, while assisting with his duties, there were times when he attended social gatherings hosted by Matilda. Reiner looked up and muttered thoughtfully.
“Indeed… now that you mention it, I think there was a red-haired lady when I attended Lady Matilda’s tea party.”
“Hehe, see? From now on, make sure to hone your observational skills. Especially, be able to notice subtle changes in your wife. Attentiveness and mutual understanding are the keys to a harmonious marriage. Be mindful of that from now on.”
He grinned mischievously at Reiner’s bewildered look.
Reiner remembered what Nunnaly had said to him on the day of their marriage arrangement. She had indeed said, “I’ve seen you several times at the palace.” He had completely forgotten about it until Arwin pointed it out. Reiner, putting his hand to his forehead and exasperated by his own dullness, replied.
“I appreciate your advice…”
Seeing Reiner’s unusually dejected appearance, he smiled with satisfaction. He was clearly enjoying teasing Reiner. Just then, there was a knock on the office door, and a soldier’s voice was heard.
“Lord Arwin, Sir Reiner’s guard knight Dinas is here with an urgent matter. May he enter?”
Arwin and Reiner exchanged glances, their playful expressions from earlier vanishing, replaced by stern looks. He immediately responded, allowing Dinas to enter. Soon, the door opened and Dinas knelt before the two with a grave expression and spoke.
“Crown Prince Arwin, I thank you for allowing me to enter.”
“It’s fine. More importantly, what’s this urgent matter for Reiner?”
Arwin’s demeanor was different from usual, exuding a strict atmosphere that filled the office with tension. Dinas nodded at his words, swiftly took out a letter from his pocket, and turned his gaze to Reiner.
“With all due respect, the details are in this letter. Sir Reiner, please check it.”
“…Understood.”
Reiner took the letter Dinas offered, opened the seal, and examined its contents. As he read through the letter, he muttered with a shocked expression.
“The inspection team was attacked… What!?”
“…!? Reiner, the inspection team was attacked? What does this mean!?”
Reiner had already reported to him about the information suggesting that a large bandit group might be organizing near the border of Baldia territory. Therefore, when Reiner uttered the words “The inspection team was attacked,” Arwin also understood the gravity of the situation and showed a shocked expression.
Reiner read through the letter and then swiftly handed it to him. The letter was from Galun, the butler of the Baldia family.
On the evening of the day Esther and Trett departed for the inspection near the border with Barst, urgent news was delivered to the Baldia house. The news was that the inspection team had been attacked by a large bandit group and a battle had ensued. The one who delivered the news to the Baldia house was a knight who had been selected for the inspection team.
He had returned alone to the mansion under Vice Commander Gregory’s orders, despite being wounded, to request reinforcements and bring back the information that the inspection team had been attacked. Even though it was an inspection team, it was composed of the elite of the Baldia Knight Order. Despite this, was the bandit group an opponent that necessitated reinforcements? Galun had doubts, but the reason was demonstrated by the knight who brought back the information.
The knight showed Galun and the others the wound he had received from the bandit group. The wound was discolored to an unnaturally deep purple, clearly symptoms of “poison” to anyone’s eyes. After reporting that the inspection team had been attacked by a large bandit group using poison, the knight breathed his last.
At this point, Galun recognized the gravity of the situation. He organized and dispatched a rescue team for the inspection team. At the same time, he sent a letter to Reiner in the imperial capital, asking him to return to the territory urgently as a precaution. That was the letter Reiner and Arwin were reading. Galun’s handwriting in the letter was uncharacteristically a bit messy with some scribbles and shaky letters.
While Arwin was reading the letter, Reiner took a deep breath to compose himself.
“Arwin, I’m returning to Baldia territory immediately.”
“Understood. Until we know about Esther’s safety, I’ll proceed with the paperwork to recognize you as the acting lord. It will be tough, but act while considering various possibilities and even the worst-case scenarios.”
“Understood.”
The various possibilities he mentioned included attacks by other countries disguised as bandit groups, and even invasions against Baldia territory.
Reiner nodded in response and then left the office in the palace with Dinas to prepare for his return to the territory.
As they were walking briskly through the palace, a noble exuding refinement and dignity approached from the front and spoke to Reiner with a friendly face.
“Well, if it isn’t Sir Reiner. Are you not with Crown Prince Arwin today?”
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