Volume 9 Chapter 5 Rumor
In the early afternoon, Al was in his room analyzing a spellbook after returning from the market. Iris came upstairs to inform him of a visitor. It was an adult woman named Joanna, a female knight who had escaped the Tempest Kingdom with Patricia. Al was confused as he went downstairs, and Joanna bowed to him. She was the eldest daughter of the Baron family, which made her unexpected visit concerning. The atmosphere felt heavy.
Unable to take her to his room, Al asked Iris for a spare room and led Joanna there.
"What brings you here?"
When Al asked, Joanna seemed a bit hesitant at first, but then she gathered her courage and began to speak.
"I heard from Lady Ruella that Sir Al has returned. I was unsure, but since the princess is feeling so down, I thought I should consult with you, so I sneaked out of the mansion."
Al tilted his head. What on earth had happened?
"There's a rumor at the lord's mansion. Margrave Rain plans to attend the mushroom festival at the end of October with Viscount Eugene and his daughter, Lady Serena. However, many believe their visit has another purpose beyond the festival."
Al heard from Ruella at a tea party, where he also met Lady Patricia, that Lady Serena might be visiting to see Sanjay, the heir of Viscount Lester, whom she is set to marry.
Additionally, there are rumors that His Excellency Margrave Rain wants to arrange a marriage between his second son, Sir Stroud, and Lady Patricia. He has sent Viscount Eugene to help with this plan.
Joanna mentioned that the Margrave's family proposed sending troops from the Sylvester royal family to the Tempest Kingdom. Sir Naresh has started accepting refugees from Tempest at the border city of Parker, suggesting they might be preparing a volunteer army. The Tempest Kingdom is currently facing internal conflict. The plan could involve marrying Patricia, who has royal blood, to Sir Stroud to help restore order in the Tempest Kingdom.
The reason the marriage partner isn't the Margrave Rain's first son is that he has already married a high-ranking noblewoman, which is why Stroud, the second son, became the focus of attention.
"Hmm, well, I think it's a possible story."
Al nodded. In conflicts between nations, the reasons behind them matter. The Count Senet family, which borders Margrave Rain, was attacked by knights from the Tempest Kingdom and wiped out. If they use the banners of Naresh or Patricia──whose mother came from the Count Senet family──they could expect support from the volunteer army. This makes sense to those who understand the situation.
"Are you really saying that?! The princess is so troubled!"
Joanna slammed her hand on the desk, looking furious with red cheeks.
"Uh, um... I'm sorry. Lady Patricia has a fiancé, the heir of the Marquis Taggart family. Isn't it inappropriate to discuss this when we don't even know if he's alive or dead? Plus, I've heard that Sir Stroud is 31 now. There are rumors he's a playboy and hasn't picked a proper wife yet."
Al remembered how Patricia looked at him with downcast eyes when she offered him an embroidered handkerchief. She was only 13. He understood Joanna's worries and thought Patricia was cute. But isn't that just normal for someone from a high-ranking noble family? He didn't fully agree with sending troops just because the neighboring country was in chaos. However, if the second son were to marry, the Margrave would likely take it seriously.
"What does Viscountess Tara say?"
"Viscountess Tara is happy about it. Mrs. Agnes, the mother of the heir Sanjay and the second wife, is too."
'Patricia, poor thing. Ally, should you give her that ring!?'
Al scratched his head. What could he do? Glee had said it was better not to give that ring. Had her feelings changed?
"Still, it's all just rumors, right? Besides, even if everything is true from her position, it would be hard to refuse."
"That's true, but..."
The two fell into silence.
"Lady Patricia sneaking out... that's probably impossible, right?"
At Al's words, Joanna nodded. Now that she thought about it, the second wife, Agnes, had given her a magic tool disguised as a hairpin, which was probably for tracking or eavesdropping.
"The plan for the Mushroom Festival to go to the Levy merchant guild was promised by Ms. Ruella a while ago, so it should be fine. The rumors should be clear by then, and I can only talk about it at that time..."
Joanna nodded, looking dejected.
"Actually, just the other day, I went to Clarence Village, where I met you two. There, a traveling merchant who had been to the border city Parker was holding a market. He was selling items that a knight related to the Count Senet family must have let go. I bought something for you two."
Al told Joanna to wait a moment and hurried back to his room, bringing back a package containing the two rings.
"I think they are probably art crafts; the wave patterns are beautiful..."
Saying that, Al handed the package to Joanna. She received it with a gloomy expression. Then she tilted the package to take out its contents. A pair of rings rolled onto her palm. Seeing them, she gasped in surprise.
"Eh? Is this the Baron Tremaine family's treasure, the Ring of Pact...?"
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