My Villains Episode 187
43. Struggling (7)
Baron Mallory is alive? Hey
,
what the hell is this situation…
“…I heard that he disguised himself as a merchant and revealed his identity at the gateway.”
“He came with mercenaries.”
“Why did you show up at Inje…
Passing past the whispering soldiers and busy maids, I opened the large door wide and stood in front of the reclined hall. Unlike the outside where there was an uproar, the hall was completely silent.
I walked slowly and looked around the hall.
Herald Tolamy and steward Edita, as well as the vassals of the Anig family, were gathered on the left side of the hall. On the other side, mercenaries with fiercely armed and fierce faces occupied their seats.
Then, as I was looking up at the seat of the ringed cross on the low platform, I heard someone from behind.
Turning around, it was Sir Langboldt and Sir Ariad who appeared.
“To think there are three Ulkar knights.”
I turned my head following the hoarse voice.
“Not anywhere else, but to this Longville spirit’s dominion.”
An old man, no, an old middle-aged man with hazy eyes, white hair and a wrinkled face with an impatient expression. It was Baron Mallory.
He was dressed in rough leather, his right leg was bare below the knee, and his left hand had only the thumb and forefinger attached. He must have been wounded in the battle with Anupad.
“Okay.”
Baron Mallory sat on the throne with the support of Wen Zhanghan.
Dionea, originally guarding the spot, had taken four or five steps back with her left cheek dyed crimson… While I was trying to calm myself down by looking at her dark green eyes, the old knight, Sir Ariad, took a step forward.
“It is an honor to meet you, Baron.”
“…Old viper. I’ve met you before.”
“yes. It was already three years ago.”
Baron Mallory let out a sneer as he ran his hand through the armrest.
“okay. Even then, Prince Ulkar caused trouble. Even though he was a prisoner, the lively atmosphere of the royal capital was transmitted through his skin.”
“…that’s what happened.”
Sir Ariad smiled and slightly lowered his head.
“I sincerely congratulate the baron on his return. The Lord of Light must be looking after Longville as it has regained its true master.”
…What is that stupid word?
I glanced back at Sir Ariad, but the senile knight’s expression did not change and he was smiling.
Baron Mallory, who was leaning back against the backrest, was silent for a moment, then twitched his lips.
“If you’re trying to buy favors with your tongue, stop right now. I already know that you have brought calamity to Longville.”
“…Baron, what is that?”
Sir Ariad hardened his face, realizing that the baron’s old, hoarse voice was full of hostility. While he was choosing his words, Sir Langboldt opened his mouth with a slightly angry face.
“We risked our lives to protect the baron’s estate. But how can you say such a thing?” Baron Mallory replied with a deep wrinkle between his brows.
“You too remember, the first knight of the silver prince.”
The grayish-white blurred eyes gave off a distinct light.
“Van and Whipston Candalosa. All of them were excellent knights, but they lost their lives to your sword.”
Sir Langboldt tried to say something, but the baron didn’t give him a moment’s pause before pouring out his words.
“You said you risked your life to protect my land? under!” The baron, who had gradually raised his voice, started shouting like a madman.
“Hundreds of villagers died in the fights you forced! The majestic gateway on which my ancestors laid a rock long ago has become a heap of stones!”
“It’s unreasonable to force a fight! We-”
“If it were not for you, my cowardly vassals would have dared stand against the Highlord! My empty wife would have done such a nonsense! Because of you, a war has come to Longville!”
“Nonsense!”
As Sir Langbolt, his face flushed with anger, took a step forward, the mercenaries guarding the throne placed their hands on their weapons nervously.
“If we hadn’t fought, this territory would have already fallen into Doyle’s hands!”
“Sir Langboldt!”
Sir Ariad threw himself in to dissuade him, but Sir Langboldt did not budge and continued talking.
“Under that circumstance, the baron could have recovered the lord’s throne! It’s good if you live or not!”
“Awful! A mere knight trying to undermine the dignity of the lord!”
Baron Mallory slammed the armrest and stood up. Without one leg, he staggered for a moment, leaning back in his chair and pointing at us.
“Nothing to say! There is no place for you knights of Ulkar to rest here, I-”
“Fix it, baron! We,” interrupted Sir Ariad, the baron shouted as if vomiting blood.
“I command you as the lord of Longville! Get off my land right now!”
In an instant, the atmosphere in the hall turned cold. In the midst of the silence, only Baron Mallory’s breathing continued, but no one opened his mouth.
How long did the silence last? A familiar voice came from behind.
“Phoenix.”
I turned around and saw Utequai, arms folded, leaning against the doorpost.
Looking back, there were 10 mercenaries outside the hall with cold eyes. They were ready to jump into the hall at any moment, but Utequai’s large size was blocking the passage, so they seemed to be unable to move.
“Act carefully.”
At Utequai’s advice, I suddenly looked down. Before I knew it, my big, rough grip was gripping the handle of the Hrunting.
What are you going to do?
To throw all the mercenaries here and cut the baron’s head?
haha nonsense.
“…Have you not heard the baron’s orders? Get out of here!”
It was the middle-aged man who shouted so loudly.
He must be someone I remember seeing his face coming and going during the hunting festival. Did you say your name is Edwin? I don’t remember having a conversation, but somehow the voice is familiar. Looking at it now, he seems to resemble Baron Mallory at first glance….
A cold sweat ran down Edwin’s chin at my staring gaze. His subordinates were also swallowing dry saliva while fixing their eyes on me.
I quietly turned my head.
Dionea was standing near the throne with a face that looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment. The drooping eyes shook miserably, the hands clasped around the navel trembled slightly, and the reddened left cheek was slightly puffy.
I took a step closer to her. At the same time,
“Stop there!”
Chae-chaeng-!
Metallic sounds exploded everywhere.
As the mercenaries raised their weapons along with Edwin’s shout, Sir Langboldt drew his sword as if he had been waiting.
Mana fluctuated according to Ellen’s murmur, and before I knew it, the bundle of flesh on the crossbow retreated silently.
The courtyard was visible through the window. The Amias gang was confronting Edwin’s men.
“Lord Phoenix-”
My keen hearing caught the small scream whispered into my mouth. Dionea looked at me and shook her head quietly.
I stood there and looked at Baron Mallory.
As his face turned white, I turned around and left the hall.
“Come on, don’t be nice.”
After stroking the purrling spot a couple of times, I raised the saddle. Then, as I tightened the reins, I heard Cole’s voice from the side.
“Phoenix-sama.”
Cole held the reins of Heila’s black warhorse. He caught my gaze and glanced toward the entrance of the stable.
“o”
There stood Dionea.
Just like when we first met, he was wearing a well-groomed kerchief and a wide-sleeved white kirtle light green tunic.
I handed Cole the speckled reins.
“I go first.”
“…Yes, I’ll load my luggage.”
As Cole left the stable with two horses, Dionea, who had been stepping aside for a while, approached slowly.
“Why did you come out? I don’t think the baron will like it.”
Her face twisted strangely at the words mixed with concern.
“Do you resent me?”
“…resentment.” “Did you want me to reach out to you?”
When I shut my mouth, Dionea bit her lower lip.
“…I wanted to, I really wanted to, but I couldn’t.”
“Dionea.”
“I didn’t want to see the blood. I didn’t want to see you commit a sin.” I tried to smile.
“I understand.”
“…I guess it was meant to be like this from the beginning. Destined to bloom forever like a daisy.”
“It’s not Dionea.”
As soon as I finished my words, Dionea jumped into my arms. I hugged her and kissed her on the lips.
After a moment of kissing, Dionea staggered back. Then he untied the reins of the horse that was tied to one side of the stable and held it out to me.
“……This?”
“It’s ‘Heoard. It means ‘spring wind’ in the northern language.”
It was a brown horse with red aura. A famous horse with long legs, lively muscles and a rich mane.
“This is the horse I rode when I came here from Northernshire. Please take me with you.”
“Dionea.”
“Please.”
The dark green eyes were watery. While watching the shimmering motion, I suddenly remembered a story I had seen on Earth.
“It’s not possible.”
He put Heoard’s reins back into her hands. Dionea whispered with a face that looked like it would collapse at any moment.
“Sir Phoenix.”
“If I leave with this horse, Baron Mallory will go mad. I don’t want that.”
“Please, just accept this.”
“no. Please give me something else.”
“…what if it’s something else?” Like the tall knight in one story did in front of the Red Widow, I drew a dagger from my waistband.
Then he cut off a little of her hair and gave it to Dionea, then cut off a little of her hair and held it in his hand.
Dionea blankly looked up at me while holding her black hair.
“…Sir Phoenix.”
“This is enough.”
I tucked my reddish hair into my bosom and smiled.
“Someday, when the spring wind blows and the flowers start to bloom.”
Dionea shed tears while holding my hair tightly with both hands.
“I will come back.”
I wiped the tears running down her cheeks and kissed her briefly.
A large number of people gathered on both sides of the stone road extending from the Yeongju Hall.
They knew that the old lord had returned, so they did not dare to cheer. I just silently closed my eyes and prayed or threw three or four flowers in front of the road.
After a calm but warm farewell, we left Longville.
It was the last day of September, when autumn was ripe.
