Chapter 229

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the world of [Pangea Universalise], nobles were often strikingly indifferent to the opinion of commoners.

It ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the attitude of blue blood that could not be bothered to listen to the petty voices of red blood. But in the end, that attitude was not wise.

Was ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍there not an old Western proverb?

Vox ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍populi, vox Dei.

(The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍voice of the people is the voice of God.)

When ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the nobles sat atop the world and ruled, it all seemed like nothing. But when the world fell into chaos, it was different. The voices of countless commoners would be called upon by the age itself.

And now was an age of turmoil.

I had to find a way to use the reputation I had built to the fullest. All the more so now, when a collision with the Duke of Bourgogne had become a foregone conclusion.

“Even if I shout for peace, he will not believe me easily.”

The Duke of Bourgogne was not the sort of man who would take my words at face value just because I claimed to have no interest in the throne.

“That crafty old fox…”

He would smile and laugh in front of me, but behind my back he would surely stand with his arms folded, plotting any way he could to drag me down.

“So I need to set the mood in advance.”

So that it would be difficult for him to lay hands on me carelessly. If he moved rashly, he would be branded as someone driven mad by lust for power, and that would return to him as political burden.

With that in mind, I spoke to those around me.

“Lower the guard! If they come to me, I will gladly receive them.”

---

My decision seemed to shock people more than a little.

“Ooh—pious Your Grace….”

“To labor like this for us, who are so feeble. This is surely devotion worthy of God.”

“Even if I die today, I will have no regrets!”

The poor and the ordinary commoners who had approached me “just in case” were now crying streams of tears as I took their hands myself.

A threadlike hope had become reality.

They sobbed as though even the hand I clasped—no, even the fleeting brush of contact—were more than they could bear.

And it was not only commoners.

“He truly came down in person, that man of such lofty renown.”

“I can hardly believe it, even with my own eyes. I heard he treats merchants without prejudice as well—so it seems it is true!”

Merchants, too, had come from afar with money pouches in hand, wondering whether they might find some way to meet me.

And—

“Hmph. To treat even such lowly creatures like that—Your Grace is far too generous.”

“But think on it. Is that not the very qualification of a king? Holy kings have always comforted the sick and performed miracles of healing.”

“Well, if he even grants an audience to low nobles like us, he truly is honorable.”

Even nobles who disliked being treated as the same as commoners were looking around and whispering approvingly.

It matched, with uncanny precision, the image of kings that had been passed down in old family tales.

And on top of that, this Margrave of Bellua had married a princess!

The nobles here were being moved, without even realizing it, by the people’s fervor.

But there were those even more zealous than them.

“Praise him!”

“This beautiful sight! This is proof that God has not abandoned us!”

They were the clergy and scholars who had flooded in from nearby.

“What noble would soil his own body for the sake of those so lowly?”

“Ah—how beautiful! We must learn! The true guardian of faith! Let us all pray. Fold your hands and praise!”

The scholars—who had grown disgusted with overbearing nobles—and the clergy—who had become weary of nobles living violently with no regard for God’s word—went wild at the sight of a true noble.

What noble could be so humble and pious?

No one would dare question the Margrave of Bellua’s holiness.

And meanwhile, I—caught in the flood of people, responding to cheers and touching hands without end—

“I am going to die.”

It was truly unbearable.

A crowd alone was complicated enough, but these people all came with their own purposes.

They wanted to meet me once.

Or at least clasp my hand.

Or to have an illness cured (why they wanted me to cure their illness, I could not say).

With so many different aims, it was inevitable that trouble would erupt.

“Move!”

“You bastard! You already saw His Grace earlier!”

“You beggars! Out of the way. How dare you block a noble’s path!”

“Booo—! To say something so insolent before His Grace!”

“Boooooo—! Drag him out and beat him soundly!”

“That is right!”

It was like a marketplace riot. At the slightest spark, they tangled together and fought. Sir Biden and the soldiers, who had stepped forward to guard me, were sweating as they tried to calm them down.

“Keukkeuk. What a delightful spectacle.”

“…Should you not stop this, Magician Agpiel? Please use magic to calm them.”

“Hm? Why should I? Is it not all proceeding as it should? Huhahaha. Should you really block people who are this passionate just because they want to see you?”

Magician Agpiel laughed as if amused. He had dealt with nothing but exhausting, complicated affairs for so long—this kind of noisy chaos must have felt like novel entertainment.

Except my insides were burning.

“Magician Agpiel…”

“Fine, fine. I understand. How boring.”

At my earnest plea, Magician Agpiel grumbled, but accepted it at once.

The old sage gestured into the air, then struck the ground with the staff he carried.

Then—

WOOOOONG!

FLASH!

In an instant, a clear, bluish aura spread outward in concentric circles from where Magician Agpiel and I stood.

When it washed over me—this mystery of magic, thick with the scent of the forest—my mind became lucid at once.

It seemed like a blessing-type spell that dampened excitement and soothed the heart…

“Ooooh?!”

“What is that!”

“Such purity… and what was that light just now?”

The problem was that the people—who had halted their commotion for a moment—seemed to interpret what had just happened in a very different way.

“A-a miracle!”

“His Grace has bestowed another miracle!”

“Ooooo! O Performer of Miracles—my eyes behold a miracle with my own sight!”

“Cry out! This is proof of one beloved by God, pious and chosen! UOOOOOO!”

Truly…

“…….”

“…….”

They said that an unlucky man could break his nose even falling backward.

I was unlucky.

Truly.

---

-Ddiriring!

[You have performed another miracle(?) once again. The people will grow fervent for you. However, it may become troublesome if they learn that the miracle you performed was actually magic. Be cautious.]

[Notification: Your Stratagem increases due to an outstanding scheme.]

[Caution: Your Infamy may rise dramatically. Manage your Infamy.]

“…….”

I… I… used a scheme?

You damned system window! Is that not too much? This was not something I did!

But regardless of my complaint, what had happened had already happened.

“Uhehehehe. My apologies. Did I know it would turn out like that?”

“Ugh…”

“Now, now. Why sigh so much? In the end, did it not work out well? Another miracle! Uwahaha!”

Magician Agpiel laughed until he clutched his belly. Even he had never imagined that his magic would be mistaken for a miracle. And the clergy who were supposed to mediate the situation were beside me, weeping and declaring they had witnessed a miracle—so what more was there to say?

“Damn it…”

What had been meant as a simple act of comforting the people had become a testimony meeting for miracles.

“Ahem, ahem. I am sorry. I did not think it would become this.”

Magician Agpiel cleared his throat, perhaps feeling guilty because he understood my displeasure.

But my head was pounding too much to accept his apology graciously.

“Still…”

Then Magician Agpiel glanced sideways, pointing as he spoke quietly.

“Is it not better than before? It seems their attention has dispersed a little.”

“Y-yes. Thank you very much. Truly, thanks to you.”

I answered with a sigh.

Where he pointed—

Our adorable goat beastman Bishop Marco was there.

“Meee! Did you see this miracle! You clergy! You ignored my words, did you not? Look. This is a true miracle. So hurry and show your gratitude, Mehrrr!”

As always, he seized the moment, leaping out to sway the crowd while collecting voluntary offerings(?).

If the Holy See or nearby clergy saw it, they might have been horrified enough to hang him as a heretic, but…

“Oooo! Yes, Bishop Marco. It truly is a miracle!”

“That is right, you lot! After seeing a miracle, how can you not show gratitude? Show your sincerity and devotion at once!”

“…….”

Even the clergy who should have stopped Bishop Marco had become his accomplices, running a donation spectacle.

“My head…”

“Keukkeuk. Your vassal is remarkably consistent. I do not know how he stays so unwavering.”

“At this point, I do not even know whether that is good or bad, Magician Agpiel.”

“Why? He is not hated, and he is praised while doing it. What could be bad? That, too, is a talent. Huhahaha. A bishop who should be poor, yet has talent for gathering money—if that is not a miracle, what is?”

Magician Agpiel marveled.

Truly, the goat beastman’s ability to sniff out money felt close to miraculous.

“Wh-what? Why are you looking like that, looord-nim? And why is our human sage laughing like that too? Meee.”

Just then, the sharp-witted goat beastman Bishop Marco came running over, rolling his eyes.

Honestly… this wretched goat beastman.

He was smiling, those square eyes glistening as if he might tear up—it made it impossible to curse him properly.

In the end, I sighed.

“I was saying… that you are very excellent.”

“Meee? Meheheh. Looord-nim, what is wrong with you again. How embarrassing. Meee.”

As he wriggled and twisted his body in bashful delight, my words caught in my throat.

Even if you spoke nonsense, he always took it as praise—his mental resilience, at least, was admirable.

“Meheheh. Understood. I will make sure to secure your share too, looord-nim. Mehr!”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

Yes.

Thank you. Thank you so much I could die.

All I could do was pray that this troublemaker, Bishop Marco, would not get greedier and cause an even bigger accident.

Good heavens.

---

After noon, when everyone was beginning to sag beneath the blazing sun—

“Y-Your Grace!”

A messenger rushed into the tent I had entered to rest briefly.

At the sight, I sprang up in alarm, thinking that goat beastman had caused trouble.

“Do not tell me—was it him?”

“Pardon? Ah—th-that… yes. Yes, it is, Your Grace.”

“Aaaah! Damn it. What am I going to do with this goat beastman? I told him to be a little less greedy…”

The messenger tilted his head.

“Pardon? Goat… beastman? Do you mean Bishop Marco?”

“Hm…?”

Something felt off, and I tilted my head along with him. It was not about Bishop Marco?

“Ah, then it was different news?”

“Y-yes. That is correct, Your Grace.”

“Ahem… cough. Ahem, ahem. Very well. What is it?”

I coughed awkwardly, embarrassed.

The messenger watched my face and spoke cautiously.

“A guest has come from the royal castle. It is the second son of the House of Bourgogne—Lord Gertman.”

Ah!

The royal castle’s welcoming envoy I had been waiting for had finally arrived.

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