Armand Region.
Northern Border Wall
High atop the battlents, an Armand elite guard squinted into the distance, watching as a group approached from the far road.
"Hm? Isn’t that...?" He frowned, reaching for his binoculars and raising them to his eyes.
He tapped the mana talkie in his ear. "Post, post... this is Rejum here."
A faint crackle, then a response: "What is it now, Rejum?"
Rejum kept his eyes on the group. "Do we have any ssage from the estate, or any word that royal officers from the capital are coming?"
"Huh? No... hang on. I’ll double-check with the estate."
"Alright... so, what should we do? Because... umm... Young Master’s knights are already aiming their mana rifles."
"Ah... damn. I’ll notify the captain right away. Just hold position and don’t make any sudden moves."
Rejum lowered the binoculars, watching as the group drew closer.
He tapped his mana talkie again, voice cautious. "Umm... post?"
A mont later, the reply crackled in his ear.
"We’ve confird with estate command. There’s no notice of any guests coming. Command post says they’ll check directly with Lord Garius and advise us if anything changes. For now, we’re to handle it as usual until further instruction."
"Oh, uh... so..."
"Just continue your patrol and enjoy your day. Anyway, that sort of thing’s for the captain to handle. ahaha~ OUCH! Oh... captain! Sorry."
A new, firr voice ca through the mana talkie. "Rejum, Rejum... this is the captain."
"Ah...yes, captain?"
"Just stay where you are. Don’t raise weapons or make a fuss. If it’s an enemy, Young Master Javier’s knights will handle them long before we even have to react. Go back to your patrol and keep the battlents secure."
"Yes, sir," Rejum replied quickly.
anwhile, at the Armand Estate.
Garius sat at his usual spot in his private office, reviewing docunts. Alf was nearby, seated at a side table and sorting through a stack of paperwork. While Erinnette served tea to both Garius and her husband.
There was a sharp knock at the door.
Garius looked up, calm and collected. Alf imdiately rose, one hand slipping into his pocket, ready to draw a weapon if needed. Erinnette, equally alert, reached behind her uniform for her concealed blade.
Garius rely raised his hand in a small gesture, signaling Alf and Erinnette to relax and stand by.
"My Lord... it’s ," ca the voice from the other side.
"Co in."
The door opened, and the command post officer stepped in, bowing politely.
"My Lord, we have news."
Garius nodded. "Go ahead."
"The border post contacted us a mont ago. There’s a group approaching our border."
"How far away?"
"Around thirty minutes by horse, maybe less."
Garius’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Strange... No one could confirm who it is?"
"No information from our scout units yet, sir."
Alf finished tapping a ssage into his mana talkie and moved closer, leaning in to quietly whisper sothing to Garius. Garius listened, then nodded, a faint smirk on his lips.
He turned to the command post officer. "Tell the border guard captain... chase them away."
"As you command, my lord."
The officer bowed and withdrew, leaving the room quiet once more.
Garius leaned back, glancing at Alf. "So, Alf... our shadow unit confird it?"
"Yes, my lord. Thanks to the holo screen and live panel from Young Master’s Sky Eye, our shadow unit confird it’s just that nobody, definitely not soone on your list of talents, like Jarman, Gilmon, or Savran."
"Ah, that one?" Garius smirked, uninterested. "Probably here for the announcent, I suppose?"
"Yes, my lord," Alf replied, bowing slightly, a knowing smirk on his face. "Just as you predicted, the regions under the Human Kingdom have already spread the news about your so-called stripped rank and title."
Garius burst into a hearty laugh. "That greedy, pitiful Kimar... He actually believes that just because he’s king, stripping of title and rank could remove my power? On my own land? Land the Human Kingdom has no authority over, no law, no claim at all."
He shook his head, amusent in his eyes.
"Well... maybe those royals could take my land if I were just another weak noble, or if our army wasn’t what it is. That’s the fate of regions that can’t match the power of the royal armies, or stand up to the pressure from the other great houses."
Garius smirk.
"But to think that greedy ’Duke’ Kimar believes he can intimidate , or take Armand by force? Even the late King Edmund would never have dared such a thing. If not for that so-called celestial corruption twisting Edmund’s mind... Well, that’s old news."
Garius leaned in, a rare smile crossing his lips.
"And now, his last heir, Kliatana, is pregnant by Heres, my only son with Phenelopie. And not just that..." Garius paused, letting out a slow sigh. "Even Marcellus and Cedric aren’t holding back. Each of them racing to see who can make their partner pregnant first, all in these month while Javier was away conquering Arjam. It’s like a competition at this point."
He exhaled, half amused, half resigned. "It’s all because I gave them my blessing, promised they could marry after my own wedding with Mylezra."
Before he could continue, the door opened quietly. Alf and Erinnette turned in an instant, but stopped when they saw who it was.
Francesca entered, her presence serene and graceful, a gentle smile on her lips.
"Dear~"
Garius’s features softened at once. "Ah, my love... What brings you here?"
"Hm? Is it so strange for a wife to visit her own husband during her turn?" she teased, a knowing look in her eyes.
"A-ah, no, not at all..." Garius smiled, opening his arms as Francesca crossed the room, settling comfortably on his lap. She leaned in, kissing him deeply.
When she finally drew back, she whispered, "Dear, about your wedding," Francesca produced her notebook, flipping it open with practiced ease. "Here’s the the, and here’s the security plan for each section. I’ve already spoken with Alf, Hesbeirn, and Erinnette, they’ll assist with everything."
"But, Francesca..." Garius started, "even if the date is set for my wedding with Mylezra, isn’t it risky? My title has been stripped. No one knows what might happen."
She brushed it aside with a smile. "So what? The first two recognition letters, from Veldrac and Lioness, have already arrived, haven’t they? And with Mylezra’s support, since you’ll be marrying her, her interim ruler from the Sylvaris family will send a formal letter too. No more excuses, dear. You have to fulfill your promise to her. If you don’t, she’ll just keep calling on the mana talkie and crying about it."
Garius let out a defeated sigh, smiling despite himself. "Alright, alright... You’re the one planning it all. I’ll go along with whatever you choose."
"That’s my husband~" Francesca bead, standing up and giving him one more kiss before gliding toward the door. She paused, turning back with a soft smile.
"Dear... our honey bun is coming ho today, right?"
"Yes, yes... our youngest son is coming ho today."
( End Of Chapter )
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