Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 16 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue

A few days had passed since Ryoma’s secret meeting with Viscount Gelhart. With the evening party concluded, Ryoma and his group had moved to Count Salzberg’s other estate in the capital’s noble district.

It was just past noon, and Ryoma was in the office located on the second floor of the estate. Looking at the group gathered there, he announced, “Tomorrow’s the day.”

Everyone nodded; they all knew what he meant. Standing in the room were the Malfist sisters, Laura and Sara; Lione; Gennou Igasaki; and Gennou’s granddaughter, Sakuya. Also in attendance were Yulia Salzberg, heir to her deceased husband’s title; Robert Bertrand and Signus Galveria, Count Salzberg’s Twin Blades; the Counts Bergstone and Zeleph, the newest additions to this council; and Helena Steiner.

The only members absent were Boltz, who was charged with the development and security of the Mikoshiba barony and the city of Sirius; Simone Christof, who was engaged in trade and mercantile activities to secure the barony’s financial stability; and the other elders of the Igasaki clan, who were speedily building an intelligence network across Ryoma’s newly acquired domain in northern Rhoadseria.

Some of the people present had officially become Ryoma’s retainers, while others were acting as cooperators, but everyone gathered had one thing in common: they all supported Ryoma Mikoshiba in their respective field, be it military, internal affairs, or intelligence. Being fully aware of their roles, they knew perfectly well what was going to happen the next day. Everything they’d done in the capital since arriving in Pireas was to prepare for tomorrow.

I’d have liked Nelcius to be here too, but given his position, that’s not possible. The problem is...

Ryoma glanced at Dilphina and the five women working under her, who were standing against the wall. Armor covered their bodies, and helmets hid their faces. Nelcius was a powerful ally of the Mikoshiba barony and had a right to attend this council, but due to his position as the chief representing the demi-humans living in Wortenia, he couldn’t easily leave the peninsula.

Things would have been different if the demi-humans all cooperated with Ryoma, but there were still those who remained prejudiced against mankind. Nelcius spent his days sharing the goods from Sirius with those naysayers in an attempt to sway their opinion, so he’d sent these women led by Dilphina to serve as representatives of the demi-human population in his place, though they all came from Nelcius’s dark elf clan.

Nevertheless, the fact remained that Nelcius was trading with Ryoma, so since he couldn’t leave Wortenia, he sent them instead, granting them his rights and authority by proxy. They were essentially like goodwill ambassadors or diplomatic representatives, and as their partner of sorts, neither Ryoma nor his associates could treat them poorly. Being picked for this task was a great honor, and they had considerable authority in their respective field and the right to speak their mind.

Yet, in the end, they didn’t have a say in Ryoma’s decisions. This had placed these six demi-human women in a peculiar position, so it had been decided that they would work under the Malfist sisters as Ryoma’s personal guard.

And what an extravagant personal guard they made. As daughter to the Mad Demon Nelcius, Dilphina’s combat prowess matched that of the Twin Blades, Robert and Signus. During the campaign in Xarooda, Dilphina had served in Lione’s unit and proved her might. She had single-handedly raided an O’ltormean supply unit and slew their captain.

The five warriors serving as her subordinates were all handpicked by Nelcius from his warrior clan. Their skills were guaranteed. If this were a chess game, they would be the knights and rooks.

That wasn’t to say that there were no problems whatsoever. Their skills were without question, but the fact that they were demi-humans limited how much Ryoma could utilize them. He didn’t regard them with any prejudice, of course. Neither did Boltz, who was running affairs in Sirius; Simone, who was in charge of trade operations; nor Simone’s representative, Alejandro, who was dispatched as her contact person. But this only applied to relations within Ryoma’s sphere of influence and, more to the point, the Wortenia Peninsula and its center of operations in Sirius.

True, Rhoadseria lay in the continent’s east, where the Church of Meneos didn’t have as much influence, but the dark elves still couldn’t act out in the open. If humans of this country were to see them, it would cause a panic, so Ryoma had avoided revealing Dilphina and her unit to the people, even after winning the war with Count Salzberg and occupying Epirus.

Ryoma did intend to eventually have them interact with the commoners around Epirus, little by little, but he couldn’t do it right away. Carelessness could lead to another holy war. If that applied to northern Rhoadseria, which was under Ryoma’s influence, it stood to reason that Pireas would be even less accommodating of the demi-humans.

In addition, since the House of Lords had summoned Ryoma to discuss his war with Count Salzberg, revealing his involvement with the demi-humans would just give his opponents a weakness to exploit. In that regard, bringing Dilphina’s unit with him to the capital was a mistake.

Still, these women were handpicked by Nelcius to improve relations with Ryoma. If Ryoma had left them in Sirius while he went to Pireas, it would not have gone over well. It would have damaged their friendly relations with the demi-humans. That was why Ryoma had assigned them as his guards after they’d finished delivering supplies for the evening party.

From their perspective, I’m sure that’s obvious.

From where Nelcius was standing, it made sense he’d want to improve his unstable position. Plus, Dilphina’s Black Serpent unit was made up of women so beautiful they were considered living gemstones. The fact that Nelcius had deployed only women warriors to aid Ryoma made his intent quite clear.

As that thought crossed his mind, Ryoma suddenly felt the Malfist sisters, who were sitting on either side of him, look directly at him. He glanced around while trying to look as unassuming as possible and spotted Laura and Sara grinning. They didn’t look particularly displeased, and, on the surface, their smiles were cheerful, but something was definitely different about their expressions. If Ryoma had to say, their stares had a menacing pressure to them. He wasn’t so dense as to miss the nuance of their smiles either. It had irked the twins that his eyes had wandered over to Dilphina and her group.

On the bright side, their emotions weren’t from bigoted hatred for another race. Instead, it was envious enmity a woman held for another woman.

Jeez... How are women so intuitive?

All of these women, including Dilphina, were both warriors and beautiful dark elves. Unlike normal elves, dark elves were well-endowed, looking less demure and more alluring. This was something the Malfist sisters lacked.

Those two seem to view them as rivals. Heck, it’s almost hostility. But why? They’re plenty pretty.

Ryoma was honestly baffled. Laura and Sara were beautiful girls, and few women could match their looks. If one searched this entire world, one could possibly find women who outmatched them, but still, their appearances were far above average.

I guess Dilphina and her group have the twins beat when it comes to the size of their busts and asses. They have this mature charm going for them.

A woman’s appeal wasn’t dictated strictly by her proportions. Her facial features, the overall balance of her body compared to her height, her personality... All of those factors made a woman attractive.

To begin with, a man expected something different from his lover or mistress than his spouse. The same could be said of a woman’s expectations for a man. Many variables affected a person’s appeal to the opposite sex, like their goals for the relationship, their position in life, and their age.

To Ryoma, the twins were already well-endowed. Given their height and weight, they looked perfect as they were. Dilphina and her group were voluptuous, to be sure, but Ryoma got the feeling that many would prefer the twins with their demure appearance. Still, people always envied that which they lacked, and to the twins, Dilphina’s blessings must have seemed much more important than they truly were. The grass was always greener on the other side, as they said.

But, if that’s the case, it’s kind of strange how they get along with Lione, then. I don’t get it...

The redheaded mercenary known as the Crimson Lioness was graced with neither the mature allure nor the ardent demurity of the other women in Ryoma’s circle. She was an attractive woman, but she didn’t accentuate her looks. Also, her vivacious personality came across as somewhat masculine. She’d called Ryoma “boy” since the very beginning of their relationship, and she took pleasure in poking fun and teasing him. In that regard, she and the twins were as different as oil and water.

Despite that, the Malfist twins didn’t display any sense of rivalry toward her. They would argue with her at times, but overall, they seemed to get along well together.

Well, we’ve got tomorrow to think about, and we’ll need countermeasures in place so we can protect against that one issue. There’s no need to handle this right now, but someday...

The bigger the organization, the harder it was for all of its members to get along. That depended on how one defined “getting along,” though, and there were exceptions in small numbers. Ryoma saw it as if it were a school. Just because someone went to the same school, that didn’t mean they’d remember each other’s names and faces. Some people couldn’t even recall their own classmates’ names. But if the list was narrowed down to schoolmates they considered friends, then there was a much higher chance they’d get along.

One could befriend some people, but they couldn’t befriend their entire school. It was said that a clique only needed three people, which spoke to the way the human heart worked. Appearing to get along with everyone might seem respectable, but realistically, it was impossible to befriend everyone.

If people couldn’t get along with their fellow man, how could they befriend the demi-humans? Ryoma’s ideal was for humans to coexist with the demi-humans, but he knew getting there would be a long and arduous journey. Besides, before he could even start working on such idealistic aspirations, he needed to resolve his mountain of tasks first.

The biggest concern is what happens tomorrow.

Ryoma looked around at the people surrounding the round table and began speaking gravely.

“First, Signus and Robert. You know what your plans for tomorrow are, right?”

Signus and Robert exchanged looks, then turned to Ryoma. After handling security for the evening party the other night, they’d been given two major duties. First, they were to appear as witnesses alongside Lady Yulia to discuss the war between the Salzberg county and the Mikoshiba barony. Second, they were to guard Ryoma’s entourage as they returned to Sirius once the trial had concluded.

I guess there isn’t much to worry about with the questioning part. They’ll just state the facts.

The fact of the matter was that the ten houses of the north had sent spies into Ryoma’s land, though the Igasaki clan’s counterintelligence had thwarted their attempts. In addition, Ryoma’s stated cause for the war—that he did it in the name of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria—was difficult to disprove.

Ryoma’s demand that the northern houses transfer command of their troops to him was an unusual request from a Rhoadserian noble, so it would’ve been easy to interpret that as intentional provocation on his part. However, his claim that Count Salzberg and the ten houses didn’t shift any troops away from the north was also true.

They’d had an excuse—they couldn’t afford to weaken the north’s garrisons—so no one had demanded they take responsibility for not participating in the civil war. Their inaction wasn’t a problem so long as Count Salzberg, one of the mightiest warriors in Rhoadseria, was still at large.

Defending the northern border was important, but even if it hadn’t been able to send any soldiers to help, the Salzberg county had still boasted significant military might. Count Salzberg could have deployed a small force of knights to help, or he could have sent his famous Twin Blades, Signus and Robert, to assist with the civil war.

Despite this, Count Salzberg didn’t move a single soldier to help during the civil war, so it came as no surprise that his loyalty to the kingdom had been called into question. It made Ryoma’s claim that Count Salzberg and the rest of the ten houses were neglecting their noble duty that much more credible.

Theoretically, Ryoma’s argument was consistent enough, but it was merely his side of the story. Thankfully, there was no one left alive to testify against this. After all, the ten houses’ heirs had either been killed in the war or forced to shoulder their defeat and, on paper, end their own lives. Saying they were executed was closer to the truth, but it honestly didn’t matter much.

The few who’d survived among the ten houses, starting with Lady Yulia, had all sworn loyalty to Ryoma by now. All of them, like Signus and Robert, had been on bad terms with their families. Their fathers and siblings had hated them, and they’d never been given a chance to exhibit their true worth. Ryoma had been the one to free them from the shackles of their sorrowful circumstances, and they felt no desire to betray him.

The problem is what comes next. If Queen Lupis and Meltina really are behind the other night’s attack, I wish I could bring more soldiers with me. Breaking out of the palace with such a limited number feels like a gamble.

Signus and Robert were both powerful warriors, and they’d served as Count Salzberg’s personal guards many times. Ryoma had chosen the best in terms of ability and merit, and he had absolute trust in them, but he couldn’t shake his anxiety. At the evening party, they weren’t sure if they’d be attacked, but this time they knew that combat was unavoidable. Plus, the Mikoshiba barony had very few allies in Pireas, so if fighting were to break out in earnest, it was highly unlikely any reinforcements would come to their aid.

With that in mind, the Twin Blades would be paramount to the success of Ryoma’s ploy tomorrow, and they knew it too. All the same, their attitude toward this important role was the polar opposite of Ryoma’s.

“Yes, we understand perfectly, my lord,” Signus said, his voice full of respect and politeness.

“Everything’s gonna go according to your instructions, boss,” Robert added. He didn’t talk like a vassal, but rather an employee addressing his superior at work.

Robert’s tone would have been acceptable in some back-alley tavern, but it was unexpected in a noble’s mansion. Depending on the place and the people involved, he could be sentenced to death for his disrespect. Ryoma wasn’t stupid enough to reprimand Robert over ill manners, though. If outsiders had been watching this exchange, it might have been worth a remark, but everyone present was in Ryoma’s inner circle. Either way, Robert’s value was too great to be tarnished by just his attitude.

Some people, on the other hand, weren’t satisfied with that.

“Robert, what’s wrong with you?!” Signus cried.

Signus had gotten to his feet and was shouting at Robert, who sat opposite of him, but it was clear that he wasn’t seriously mad at Robert. This was mostly a performance specifically for Ryoma and his comrades. He probably assumed that speaking out would have fewer repercussions than Ryoma scolding Robert for his behavior. Moreover, as newcomers, they needed to make a good impression with the long-standing members of the group. Robert was one of Signus’s few friends, and Signus didn’t want to see him expelled over a minor misunderstanding.

Ryoma raised a hand, stopping Signus. “Aah, it’s all good. Really. I know we’re in the middle of a war council, but everyone here is in my inner circle. You can be at ease too, Signus.”

Signus bowed his head slightly and settled back into his seat.

Ryoma didn’t much mind how Robert spoke to him—within reason and good taste, and depending on the time and place. If they were in the palace or at a party with guests, one of his retainers calling him “boss” would have reflected poorly on Ryoma. But otherwise, Robert’s calling him by that name was an inconsequential quirk. As a matter of fact, Lione still called him “boy,” and Boltz called him “lad.”

Although Robert is a bit eccentric and contrarian, he’s still an educated noble. He knows how to read the room.

If Robert wanted to, he could be perfectly polite. Ryoma and a commoner like Lione could even benefit from his instruction on decorum and etiquette. Nonetheless, that wasn’t to say there were no problems whatsoever.

Friction between newcomers and seniors, eh? It’s not much of a problem right now, but...

Lione was one of the Mikoshiba barony’s highest-ranking leaders, and of the people in this room, she was second only to the Malfist sisters in terms of how long she’d served under Ryoma. She was a senior member of his inner circle. Her position was by no means similar to Robert’s—she’d fought against him in the last war—even if they were both Ryoma’s retainers.

Signus is the voice of reason, while Robert’s more quirky. Their skills are exceptional, and looking at everyone’s reactions, Lione’s included, no one seems to mind them too much. All that’s left is for me to put them to good use.

Clashes between newcomers and senior members have been known to break up a group. One of a leader’s most important duties was properly handling this friction.

Having finished all the arrangements, Ryoma declared the meeting adjourned, and everyone began leaving the room one by one. They had to attend to their final preparations for tomorrow. One person, however, remained in her seat.

Ryoma turned to Helena, who silently gazed back at him. She let the silence hang between them for a few moments before she spoke.

“You’ve gone with quite the extreme play here,” she said, her voice full of conflict and sorrow.

As far as Rhoadseria’s Ivory Goddess of War was concerned, she didn’t fully agree with Ryoma’s plan for tomorrow. Her tone wasn’t critical, though, indicating that she understood Ryoma was acting out of necessity.

“You don’t like it?” Ryoma asked. “Slaying Lupis Rhoadserians... Even if you realize that’s the best way to protect this country’s people?”

There was no guilt or doubt in his eyes; Ryoma was speaking with clarity. He’d all but decided on his future course, and he wasn’t acting out of pretense.

He really believes he has the qualifications and the right to commit regicide, thought Helena. He said it with resolve, determination, and confidence.

Ever since Lupis Rhoadserians had tried to trap Ryoma in the Wortenia Peninsula, Helena had the feeling that this day would eventually come, yet she couldn’t deny that some part of her had thought it wouldn’t ever come to this.

“Yes, well, ever since it was decided that I’d attend the evening party, I was prepared for this to happen. It’s just that...honestly speaking, I still have my misgivings...”

With that said, Helena gazed out the window. A cloudless blue sky stretched as far as she could see. It was so vast and boundless that just looking up at it gave one the impression they were a bird, flying freely through its expanse.

“Such fine weather... And it’s so different from how I feel,” Helena muttered, her voice feeble.

Ryoma nodded. “Yeah, indeed.”

He could understand the conflict and doubt gripping Helena’s heart, and he knew his choices were what had planted those misgivings in her, but no matter how Helena felt about this, Ryoma had his position to consider.

I wish I could avoid this, but I can’t.

Ryoma was acting to protect himself and his comrades. He’d have avoided stooping to these measures if he could, but if that wasn’t an option, he wasn’t going to shy away from doing what had to be done. Besides, this situation wasn’t Ryoma’s fault. This all started when Lupis Rhoadserians gave in to her weakness and broke her promise to Ryoma.

That would just sound like an excuse to Helena, though. She’d devoted her very life to the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, and Ryoma couldn’t say anything else. He got the feeling that trying to placate her with some kind of excuse would just come across as an insult, so he simply bowed his head to Helena and left the room. 

Seeing him off, Helena heaved a sigh as she remained all alone in the room.

“To protect this country’s people, he says... Yes, I know. I know what’s the best path, the path we have to take...but what will become of Queen Lupis as a result of that?”

Helena understood Ryoma’s ideals, as well as the severe, realistic, and novel means with which he made them a reality. That was why she’d acted as per Ryoma’s request and added her signature to the note included with the evening party’s invitations, alongside the Counts Bergstone and Zeleph. She was prepared to see this through to the bitter end.

At least, she was...until a few days ago.

When I got this...

She took out an envelope from her pocket. The letter and silver locket contained within it were what shook her resolve. Helena undid the locket’s fastener and opened the charm. Inside was a small portrait of Helena Steiner, drawn over a decade ago by the famed Rhoadserian palace painter. She’d gone to great lengths to have this portrait made, and only two copies of it existed in this world.

Helena’s heart tightened as she thought of the name of the man who’d sent this letter.

Akitake Sudou... Just who is he? 

Originally, Helena knew Sudou as one of Princess Radine’s personal attendants, but now she knew him as a mysterious man with relations to both Mikhail Vanash and Viscount Gelhart. She was also aware that he was suspected of being involved with the organization Julianus I had warned Ryoma about when he was in the Kingdom of Xarooda.

That man had sent her a letter. Normally, she would have ignored it and discarded it right away, but she couldn’t do this time, because the pendant it contained was a birthday present she’d given to her beloved daughter, Saria Steiner.

At the time, Saria always kept the locket on her person, praying for her mother’s safety on the battlefield. She always had it on...until the day she was abducted.

I’m sorry...

To whom did Helena direct that apology? To Ryoma Mikoshiba, the man she once acknowledged as her lord? Or to her daughter, who’d died a gruesome death because of her mother’s political struggles?

Helena couldn’t answer that question right now. She remained seated and looked up at the clear sky outside the window. She prayed that come tonight, when she met with Akitake Sudou, she would have her answer.

♱

The following day, a few carriages passed through the gates of Count Salzberg’s estate, accompanied by fifty knights in full armor. It looked like they were marching out to battle. The carriages were all painted a refined black, and the horses towing them were healthy steeds with sleek manes, implying that they were well-bred and looked after.

The carriages did look like high-class vehicles, but overall, they were sturdy, imposing, and menacing. If nothing else, they weren’t what a noble would take on a pleasure ride. It stood to reason they would be so imposing, though, since the House of Lords had sent them exclusively for “transporting the nobility.” In other words, they were a convoy to transport prisoners.

The sky fit the carriages’ austere appearance. In stark contrast to the previous day’s weather, it looked like it could rain at any second. It was like the sky was hinting at what was to come.

Ryoma looked up at the heavens.

These clouds look pretty bad. Looks like it’ll rain soon. I just hope it’s a good omen.

Of course, no matter what the weather was, Ryoma’s plans wouldn’t change. Be it cloudy or sunny, he would do what he had to as scheduled. Still, it was human nature to believe in superstition, and the only question Ryoma considered was whether this rain would be a good omen for him.

In Japan’s Warring States period, Motonari Mori, who laid the foundation for the Mori clan’s future supremacy, made the leap from a mere local ruler to a warlord by winning the Battle of Itsukushima. He fought in the midst of a typhoon and, in so doing, defeated the armies of Harukata Sue despite his numerical disadvantage.

Likewise, Gyuichi Ota’s record of the life of Nobunaga Oda, the Shincho Koki, describes the Battle of Okehazama, when overwhelming rain obstructed the soldiers’ line of sight. This description was the basis for the theory of Nobunaga Oda’s successful surprise attack against Yoshimoto Imagawa.

In those two examples, rain was a favorable omen before a battle. However, it was just a theory. It was hard to tell what really happened. History was written by the victorious, and winners tended to twist the facts in a way that painted them in a positive light.

Even if there was no malicious fabrication involved, human memory could be faulty. People were prone to forgetfulness and misunderstanding even in the most mundane matters. Moreover, the means of passing down information during the Warring States period were lacking. From a modern perspective, those means were mostly unreliable, be it letters or recitation.

With those considerations in mind, it was hard to tell if it really did rain during the Battles of Itsukushima and Okehazama. And even if it did, there was no way of knowing if it influenced or hinted at anything. One could only make assumptions.

In the end, what kind of omen this is will be up to personal interpretation. Well, I say that, but here I am, worrying about it...

As he thought about that, Ryoma walked along the red carpet spread in the entrance hall of Count Salzberg’s estate. Laura and Sara followed a few steps behind him, clad in maid’s outfits, and Lady Yulia, Robert, and the others followed behind them.

Much like the evening party, they were all dressed in formal attire. Even Lione was dressed in an outfit that made her look like a knight. After all, in modern Japan, a subpoena from the House of Lords was like a call from the company’s main office requesting an employee’s presence. Though the House of Lords stated that they wished to confirm the details of the incident, it was more like Ryoma was being called to court, so they couldn’t very well show up in casual clothes.

Ryoma too, as their leader, was dressed differently than usual. Instead of his regular all-black outfit, he was dressed in a lacy shirt, similar to the one he wore to the evening party, with a jacket and coat over it. That said, this outfit was also all black, owing to Ryoma’s tastes.

To a noble, this outfit would seem plain, but silvery and golden threads were embroidered on the sleeve cuffs, giving the ensemble a subdued but dignified feel. The lack of ornaments, coupled with Kikoku’s black sheath hanging at his waist, made him look more refined. He appeared unaffected and sincere, but also strong.

Ryoma’s guards and the estate’s servants regarded him with an excitement they rarely displayed. Ryoma, on the other hand, felt very uncomfortable and out of his element in this attire.

This is a baron’s outfit, huh? With this and what I wore to the evening party, I can tell those two didn’t cut corners with the clothes they got me...but I still feel out of place.

Ryoma had never cared much for clothes to begin with. He wouldn’t walk around in dirty or holey garments, but he wasn’t the kind to care for brands or browse fashion magazines for the newest trends. If he had the time and money to waste on clothes and decorations, he’d much rather spend them on training or a nice meal.

Whenever he hung out with Asuka, who was interested in fashion as girls her age often were, they’d always ended up arguing. But that was just when he was a high school student in Japan. After he was summoned to this world and received a baron’s title, Ryoma realized the importance of dressing properly. This was why he’d asked Lady Yulia to have clothes custom made for him in Epirus.

It should be fine. This outfit’s quality matches its price.

Ryoma had paid a hefty price for the tailoring—more than a commoner’s yearly income, for sure, and a sum that would make even a viscount or a count hesitate—but it was very much worth its price.

Ryoma arrived at the carriage that had stopped in front of the estate’s entrance. A man walked toward him, the knights parting to allow him to pass. He looked to be in his midforties, and he was wearing a judge’s gown. He was apparently a staff member of the House of Lords deployed to bring Ryoma along.

The man bowed respectfully. “You are Baron Ryoma Mikoshiba, yes? I am Douglas Hamilton. I have the privilege of serving as your guide today.”

Ryoma narrowed his eyes and scrutinized the man.

He’s probably a bailiff. What a nasty expression, though.

At first glance, the man’s smile was cordial, and his attitude was respectable. He didn’t openly show any enmity toward Ryoma, at least. But there was something else, something foreign in his pleasant smile. It was very light, a nearly indiscernible sense of unease. Douglas was probably hiding it well, but it seeped out into his expression—a nasty one that was perhaps a reflection of his true nature.

Ryoma couldn’t completely discern a person’s nature just by looking at them, but he’d experienced a lot since coming to this world. Douglas was the kind of man Ryoma wanted nothing to do with. Still, the House of Lords had sent him, so Ryoma was in no position to ignore him.

In which case...

If he couldn’t reject this man’s involvement, his only recourse was to greet him cordially.

“I see. I leave myself in your capable hands, then,” Ryoma said, putting his right hand into his inner pocket. He then took it out and extended it to Douglas.

For a moment, Douglas seemed cautious. He was a bailiff dispatched by the House of Lords, but his social status was by no means high. He was part of the nobility, and it was possible he’d eventually inherit a title, but his position was far below that of a baron. What’s more, in Rhoadseria, bailiffs were responsible for maintaining law and order within the court itself, and they were also charged with escorting prisoners and other miscellaneous matters. While he was in a position that administered justice, his station was significantly lower compared to that of a judge.

Douglas had gone through many unpleasant experiences in the past, so Ryoma’s positive attitude came as a surprise. Regardless, he couldn’t ignore Ryoma’s extended hand; Ryoma wasn’t officially a criminal yet.

Catching on to Ryoma’s intent, Douglas silently extended his hand. “Yes. Now, if you could make your way to the carriages...they’ll take you to the House of Lords.”

A few seconds later, Douglas retracted his hand and opened the door to a nearby carriage so as to usher Ryoma inside. He seemed to be feigning composure, but based on how his right hand was fidgeting restlessly, it seemed he was confirming the contents of the pouch Ryoma left in his palm.

Good, Ryoma thought to himself. I don’t know who sent this man or what he’s planning, but this should make him a bit more careless. And if I’m wrong and this guy really is just a corrupt official, this isn’t too bad either. But his last name, Hamilton, does bother me a little.

Bribing officials was immoral, yet money was the lubricating oil that enabled smooth negotiations in this world. If upholding justice placed one at a disadvantage, then knowing when to offer a little bribe could be seen as savvy. Nevertheless, Ryoma wasn’t under the slightest impression that bribing Douglas would soften him up or make him steer things in Ryoma’s favor. Even if it did, there wasn’t much a mere bailiff could do to help him.

No, the important part was that he’d given Douglas a false impression. The bribe would convince Douglas that Ryoma thought he had Douglas in his pocket. Thinking that Ryoma had the wrong idea about him could cause Douglas to slip up and reveal something.

Ryoma got into the carriage and closed his eyes. He then ran his fingers over Kikoku’s sheath, caressing it. As he did, a gust of wind billowed through the carriage—though its windows were closed—as if answering Ryoma.

The sound of the wind was like that of a wailing woman.