Chapter 68 - Lady Zemina (3)

"We have come to see Master Vlad."

"..."

Marcella's eyes went round as she looked at the men who had flocked to the inn before it had even opened.

The former prostitutes, now employees, who had been busy fixing up Rose's Smiles, were the same.

Having lived their entire lives as prostitutes, they had never seen such proper guests before.

"Uh, Master Vlad... just stepped out on business."

There was no real need to add the honorific, but Marcella realized that, if possible, now was the time to raise Vlad's standing.

That was what the instincts she had honed over a lifetime of dealing with people were telling her.

"He has been terribly busy lately. I suppose that is only natural, since he is someone the mayor values."

"Ohhh. Of course. I am sure he would be."

The men who had crowded into the inn kept nodding as they watched Marcella explain the situation with a gentle smile.

Marcella's refined manner of receiving guests gave the men trust with nothing more than her smile.

"Then when might he return?"

"I am not sure of that myself. Shall I leave your names for him?"

During the standoff with the barbarians that had lasted more than a day, the old knight had threatened them with his sword, and the young squire had held them back with sheer force.

The merchants heading for Varna and the people there had clearly witnessed the two of them fighting desperately, and this was the result.

The rumors about Vlad that had been flowing around until then were now spreading among the people of Soara as something with substance behind it.

"Zemina."

The men left behind gifts along with their names to pass on to Vlad.

Once they had gone, Marcella called out the girl who had been watching the situation from the second floor.

"Yes, Madam."

Zemina answered Marcella's call, looking slightly dispirited.

The more the boy shone, the more Zemina could not help but lose heart.

Because she could not be certain whether someone as unimpressive as herself was allowed to keep staying at Vlad's side.

"From now on, you will handle all the guests who come for Vlad."

"What?"

And Marcella, who knew very well why Zemina was losing heart, decided to give the girl a chance.

Because Marcella was one of the people who sincerely cheered the girl on, and she firmly believed Zemina had every right to it.

"But..."

Zemina was flustered by Marcella's words.

Not only were her words unconventional, but Zemina herself knew it all too well.

"From the look of them, they all seemed like people of some standing... I think it would be better if you handled them, Madam."

It was certainly a fine opportunity, but Zemina shrank back and refused Marcella's offer.

Part of it was that she could not trust her own abilities, but the biggest reason was that she was afraid she might make a mistake and cause trouble for Vlad.

"Zemina."

Looking at the dejected Zemina, Marcella spoke in a firm tone.

"If anyone here has the right to receive Vlad's guests, no one has more right than you. Isn't that so?"

"..."

At Marcella's question, the women around them silently agreed.

If the red-haired girl had not been there, the Vlad of today might not have existed.

So Zemina needed to stand a little prouder about Vlad's success.

"I... should do it?"

"Yes. Do it."

"I am sure I will make mistakes. I do not really know how, either."

Seeing Zemina look up at her with wide eyes, Marcella nodded.

Of course, being told to do it would not make her able to perform the work excellently right away.

To receive important guests, she would have to build up a certain amount of experience and knowledge, and Zemina was not yet used to such things.

"So what if you make a few mistakes? Vlad should shoulder at least that much."

But there was no need to worry.

Because here, right now, there was a woman with the finest skill when it came to receiving guests.

"And this time, I hear he even asked you to help lead the horse? Look. Vlad still needs you."

At Marcella's words, quietly ringing beside her ear, Zemina nodded silently.

The boy certainly owed the girl a debt.

Even if she demanded repayment for it now, it would not be an unreasonable thing to do at all.

And if the reason was a struggle to stand beside the boy, then all the more so.

Marcella gently lifted Zemina's hair as she was deep in thought and tried shaping it.

As expected, it seemed to suit her well.

"Come to my room later."

"What?"

Zemina looked puzzled at Marcella's words, but Marcella only smiled.

Men are not the only ones who go out to the battlefield.

Women have battlefields of their own.

And today, Marcella intended to place a woman's weapon in Zemina's hands.

Just as Jorge had put a dagger in Vlad's.

* * *

"Count Gaidar's house will not come straight to the North."

Lamund sipped the tea Joseph had served him as he shared the judgment he had built up through experience.

"Expansion requires stability. Though the force of their advance is fierce, remnants of the Romanov Family, the previous overlord, still remain throughout the West."

Joseph was listening closely to Lamund's words.

Because although Lamund was a knight of the North, when he had served in the lowest position, he had been active in the West.

"Moreover, behind them stands the dwarf liberation front. If there is an order to things, would they not settle the concerns behind them first rather than advance into the North or the central region?"

"... I was thinking the same."

In front of Joseph as he said that lay a letter someone had sent.

It was a letter stamped with the seal of the Heinal Family.

"But I am worried."

Lamund had reassured Joseph that there was nothing to worry about for the time being, yet he himself leaned deep into his chair and let out a sigh.

"About what?"

At Joseph's question, Lamund turned his head with a weak smile.

"I had a reason for thinking that the only ducat left to me now, that one final coin, should be spent on Bayezid's squires."

It was meant to be a retirement ceremony to be freed from honor and duty and return to being a simple man, yet the pitiable knight ended up thinking of Bayezid even at the very last moment.

Because it was the place he had been loyal to, had protected all his life, and loved as well.

"The knights of the West have already surpassed the North."

"... Is that so?"

But no matter how dear the place was to him, his assessment had to be cold.

Lamund firmly believed that doing so was truly for Bayezid's sake.

"I wonder if we have been too complacent all this time. The moment I saw the knights of the West, I felt that I had not finished all I was meant to do."

With those words, Lamund quietly closed his eyes and recalled the North of old.

Barbarians and monsters that surged in without rest.

And discrimination from the central region, colder than the bitter snow of the north wind.

The knights of the North were people who had fought against all of it.

That was why they were stronger and more honorable than the knights of any other region.

"Perhaps because of the temperament of the frontier, the knights there are always hungry and eager to take. Young master, you must prepare for them."

But time flows, and people cannot always greet the next era in the same form.

The empire had loosened, the once-rough North had stabilized, and by contrast, the West was expanding.

Now was an era when the balance of power was changing.

"..."

Along with Lamund's words, Joseph rose from his seat and walked to the window.

The splendid view of Soara always drew his steps to the window.

"... Even so, does the North not still bear hardy fruit?"

And the scenery beyond the window would soothe Joseph's stifled heart.

Lamund nodded at Joseph's quiet murmur.

"Of course."

Far off beyond the window, people were gathering at the gates of Soara.

Though the old man's era had set, a new era would rise again.

* * *

"Why are so many people crowding here?"

["A fun spectacle has arrived, so of course they would come out to see."]

Vlad, who had been pulling the pitch-black one along by the reins he had barely managed to put on it, was left speechless by the Voice's answer.

"Fun?"

["Of course it is fun. Think about what you have done until now."]

"..."

When he carefully thought over his actions over the past few days at the Voice's words, he could indeed understand.

All this time, Vlad had been making desperate attempts to drag the pitch-black one into Soara.

He had tried blindfolding it, pulling it by force, luring it with food, and even bowing his head as he begged it to please cooperate.

He had even, following Got's suggestion, tried to tempt it using a mare, but the pitch-black one had not budged an inch.

Since a boy whose name was rising so fast had been carrying out ridiculous antics that did not work at all against a horse, it was only natural that people's eyes would gather.

"... Still, this is not something they need to crowd around for this much."

And today was the final moment that would mark the end of those attempts.

Biting his lip at the people's twisted curiosity, Vlad nevertheless convinced himself that this time would be different and pulled the pitch-black one before the city gate.

"How long are you going to make me wait!"

A sharp voice rang in Vlad's ears as he firmed his resolve.

When he turned his head, Zemina was standing before the gate in a red dress, her hair and face covered with cloth.

"Why on earth are you wearing a dress?"

["A dress is a woman's battle attire. I am impressed by how fully prepared she is."]

Though he was the one who had asked her, Vlad grumbled, then turned his head and shouted loudly that he was ready now.

"Zemina! Ready!"

"..."

At Vlad's words, not only Zemina but also the onlookers held their breath.

"Good."

Taking a deep breath and steadying herself, Zemina nodded at Vlad's signal as if she understood.

The people's gazes felt burdensome, and the pitch-black horse was much bigger than she had expected, but Zemina bit her lip hard and pulled off the cloth she had been wearing over herself.

Because if all she did was hesitate in fear, she would have no right to stand beside the boy.

"... Ohhh."

"Wow. No wonder she hid herself so tightly."

Along with the girl's resolve and the people's admiration, a brilliant red flower bloomed beneath the pouring sunlight.

Zemina's red hair, finally revealed, was indeed drawing the pitch-black one's gaze just as intended.

"... Why are you wearing earrings?"

"They are part of the dress!"

The girl, dressed in a splendid dress together with sparkling earrings, looked completely different from the Zemina Vlad had seen until now.

Even Vlad was left speechless at Zemina's gorgeous appearance and stared blankly for a moment.

"Here. Over here."

But Zemina ignored Vlad's criticism and only glared at the pitch-black one in front of her.

Vlad did not know it, but Zemina had come out with a resolve of her own.

"Good boy. Come here."

The red-haired girl waved the bouquet of roses she had been hiding behind her back with solemn resolve.

Seeing the girl whose small body seemed filled with red roses, the pitch-black one began to move.

"It is moving!"

"It actually worked!"

The people around them clapped their hands and marveled at the situation.

The boy, a prospect Bayezid had its eye on.

The pitch-black horse that looked dignified to anyone.

And even the girl of such brilliant color that no one would dare believe she had been born in the back alleys.

At the procession of three, filled with dazzling sights, the gathered people found their gazes drawn without even realizing it.

NEEEEIGH!

When the pitch-black one finally stepped inside the gate along with the boy holding its reins, the people began to shout.

"You people really have nothing better to do!"

Vlad glared with his blue eyes and yelled at the sight of himself becoming a spectacle, but the situation had already left the boy's hands.

"Yes, keep drawing it in!"

"You are doing great!"

The people were going wild over this bizarre sight.

Because a small girl was drawing in a huge horse without retreating an inch.

The girl glared fiercely, clutching the hem of her skirt in one hand and raising the red bouquet in the other.

Her figure, which looked proud to anyone, called to mind a knight who had drawn her sword.

"Zemina! Lady Zemina!"

Among the people going wild over the girl's proud appearance, someone began to shout loudly.

"She is the lady in red! The rose of Soara!"

A brown-haired young man walking with a limp and a crutch was shouting loudly as if for everyone to hear.

"Lady Zemina!"

"Zemina! The lady in red!"

With Haven leading the chant, the people who had gathered around began to shout loudly.

Watching the sight, Haven laughed so loudly his voice nearly gave out.

When had the back alley brats ever drawn people's attention like this?

When had they ever received applause and the fervor of the people like this?

But for today, Soara was looking at the boy and the girl.

The gate of Soara.

This place was the girl's battlefield.

Having broken through the boundary of the world with a bouquet as her weapon, Lady Zemina smiled brightly as she looked at the pitch-black one following her.

It was a smile that shone even brighter than her sparkling earrings.