As if she’d expected as much, this bold girl wore a disappointed expression, so it was ti to explain Hilda’s magnificence and endless charm. Starting from how she’d earned the nickna Valkyrie for wiping the floor with nobles in riding at the royal ranch, I told Angela about learning mounted combat too.
Maybe because it was about Hilda, I got too carried away talking.
Fortunately, Angela’s eyes lit up as she showed interest in Hilda.
"Sir Streit’s fiancée sounds truly amazing!"
"She’s an amazing and beautiful woman. My soul’s companion."
Angela wanted to et Hilda soday. She was particularly intrigued by the Valkyrie nickna. She showed strong confidence in her own riding too. But the Hilda I’d seen had truly exceptional horsemanship. I didn’t compare her to the Mongols for nothing. Still, the two would definitely find common ground.
A devoted, obedient woman who serves her husband like heaven—that’s the typical dieval female ideal. It’s not that there were no won active in society, but the stark fact remained that they faced discrimination from n. Hilda, however, was a proactive and progressive woman, so she was far from typical.
To my eyes she was a charming and beautiful woman, but to most nobles she was soone to avoid. Unless it was a forced political marriage, it was difficult for her to find a match at banquets. Then she fatefully t at Count Mainhof’s banquet, and we beca engaged.
Angela really liked that story. To think I’d share all this with a lady I’d just t. It seems I unconsciously felt a sense of kinship because she reminded of Hilda in so ways. Plus, she was Fried’s younger sister too. This might be a chance for Hilda to make a new friend.
But soone had been hovering behind the rose bushes for a while now.
It seed they’d been hiding for quite so ti, but who could it be?
From the glimpse of a dress hem, it appeared to be a noblewoman.
"Who’s that hiding back there?"
"Ah! I forgot! Actually, there’s soone I wanted to introduce to Sir Streit!"
"It seems she’s been waiting quite a while?"
"I’m sorry, sister!"
Angela rushed over and brought out the woman who’d been hiding behind the rose bushes. It turned out to be Fried’s wife. Her pale skin and lancholy appearance made her look fragile. If Angela was the picture of a healthy girl, Fried’s wife was the image of a sickly woman, making for a stark contrast.
"Daughter-in-law of the Euznirk family, Ingrid von Glesia."
"Wolfgang Ritter von Streit. Pleased to et you, madam."
Oh dear. She was swaying on her feet from waiting so long.
But I’m clearly an unrelated man—was it proper to et like this?
Fried’s wife, sensing my concern, said:
"You don’t need to worry. My husband gave his permission."
"I see. I’m glad to have Sir Fried’s trust."
"I just wanted to convey my thanks, so I took the liberty."
The reason Ingrid wanted to thank could be surmised from how the long conflict between Baron Valent and Fried had entered a lull. A shift in power had occurred, actually putting Valent at a disadvantage. So Valent could no longer easily attack Fried politically.
I couldn’t hear the full inside story, but I managed to get the gist from her. She was the last of the Glesia bloodline. Her family had started as rchants but had been elevated to nobility for their achievents in a local conflict with Épinay.
rchant-born families were usually looked down upon, but the Glesia family was quite wealthy, famous for their jewelry craftsmanship. So they had beco entangled with various Euz nobles. One of them was Baron Valent, and the problem was that Valent had coveted their wealth and pressured Ingrid into marriage.
However, Ingrid chose Fried of the Euznirk family.
And because of that, the greedy Valent turned hostile toward Fried. To , it seed there was a missing piece to this story. No matter what, it didn’t seem like sufficient reason to pursue an heir this aggressively. The reason they withheld the full details was probably because I was a central noble.
"When I chose the Euznirk eldest son, Baron Valent ford a faction and constantly pressured us. But with this war as a turning point, Baron Valent’s faction shrank while the nobles supporting my husband grew. When I asked why, they said it was thanks to Sir Streit’s help."
"Sir Fried spared no support and cooperation for , so I simply returned the favor."
Ingrid expressed her desire to give a reward. I was about to refuse, saying it was absurd to accept a reward for sothing so minor, but she earnestly persuaded that it was nothing compared to being freed from Baron Valent’s pressure.
Had Valent really hassled her that much?
I had no choice but to accept.
What Ingrid gave was a palm-sized box with ornate patterns and fine craftsmanship. At first I didn’t know what it was. A small jewelry box? When I opened it, inside was a rose-shaped piece of jewelry. I could see Angela gasp in shock beside .
"Is this a brooch?"
"It’s a brooch crafted from topaz. It was one of our family’s masterpieces, called the Eternal Angel (Engel der Ewing)."
"Is it really all right for to receive sothing so precious?"
A brooch crafted from topaz. This yellowish topaz was cherished by ancient peoples as the light of the sun god. Though I’m not well-versed in gemstones, even an untrained eye could tell this brooch was worth a considerable sum.
"I heard you have a fiancée, so you can give it to her."
"Thank you. Brünhilt (Hilda) will be absolutely delighted."
Hilda was a woman more interested in horses than jewels, but she’d certainly be happy. I’d been thinking I should prepare a gift since it felt awkward to return empty-handed, so I gratefully accepted, thinking of it as Fried’s wife having prepared a gift on my behalf. Ingrid returned to the banquet hall with Angela.
I’d been annoyed at having half of Count Épinay’s ransom taken by those Euz noble bastards, but not everyone in Euz was that greedy. So my mood improved considerably. I returned to the banquet hall in good spirits. I chatted with Fiel and heard stories about Feuzen from August.
"Feuzen is my hotown, and it’s truly beautiful. The windmills and the streams flowing below hold a storybook charm from fond childhood mories."
"Just hearing about it sounds lovely. If I get the chance, I’d like to visit with my wife."
Fiel and August had grown quite close too. Having served as lieutenants under and shared life-and-death monts, camaraderie was bound to develop. I was also curious about life outside Breisburg’s walls, so I was planning to stop by on the way back. I hadn’t been able to sightsee last ti since I’d been stationed at the garrison.
"Sir Streit. The Count is looking for you. Please co this way."
Count Euz’s attendant approached .
The host was finally looking for .
So I followed him, but instead of going to the banquet hall, we ca out into a corridor inside the castle.
The attendant led to Count Euz’s private chambers.
In other words, this was personal business.
"Co in. Are you enjoying the banquet?"
"I’m spending it peacefully enough."
"I heard my daughter and daughter-in-law t you—nothing untoward happened, I hope?"
"I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to die young."
A light joke but also a warning.
Count Euz silently observed for quite a while, finally opening his mouth only when the candlelight flickered and shadows danced across the walls. I couldn’t fathom why he kept studying .
"What do you think of Euz?"
"In what sense are you asking?"
"I just want to hear your honest impression."
Honest impression? I think it’s a town full of greedy pigs. How much money did I get cheated out of here? But as things stood, making enemies of provincial nobles would be troubleso in many ways, so I had no choice but to make concessions for the greater good. So of course I was in a foul mood.
However, the Euznirk family was an exception.
I’d ford a friendship with Fried and received a brooch for Hilda from his wife as a gift. They had been friendly toward and shown sincerity, so I’d placed them in a separate category from the other Euz nobles.
"Everything shows on your face."
"I should wear a mask."
Was my expression that easy to read?
Maintaining a poker face is truly difficult.
Count Euz gestured to the attendant standing behind him.
The attendant then brought forward a luxurious red cushion bearing a small silk pouch. It was clearly a money pouch. Wondering what this was about, I looked at Count Euz, who gestured graciously as if inviting to check. The mont I opened the pouch, the contents seed to gleam with a brilliant golden light.
Inside were gold coins.
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