Ch.119To North (4)

The explanation about the Windsor Duchy didn’t continue for long. Though there was more to explain than the snow piled in the Great Northern Forest, Ruide wasn’t particularly active to begin with.

Ruide sat on the straw. Damon examined a hand warmer while adding comments like “Impressive” and “Hmm.” The people of the North had devised various ways to overcome the cold, and hand warmers were one of them.

As they were passing time, a commotion broke out nearby.

“I said no!”

“What year are you from?”

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

“Please, I’m begging you…! If I don’t process all this inventory today, I’ll be disciplined!”

“That’s not my problem. Just put it all back!”

This was the food warehouse located in the plaza.

Knights had been carrying provisions outside, apparently intending to distribute them.

The problem was the bizarre phenomenon of people refusing the food rations they were supposed to receive.

“What’s that?”

“It’s like a regular event. They’re distributing food, but everyone refuses to take it.”

“…Isn’t the North supposed to be quite impoverished?”

“They’re all too kind.”

Ruide watched with an amused smile as people protested.

The Windsor knight was sweating profusely despite the cold weather.

“Please, take it all!”

“You fool! If you distribute it now, we won’t have anything to eat when we really need it!”

“That’s right, we’re still managing fine. We can have at least one meal a day.”

“And isn’t this food that the Duke himself has provided!”

There were two reasons why the territory’s residents refused the food.

First, they were still managing well enough.

The weather in the North was divided into two types:

Cold or extremely cold.

During the latter, not even a speck of food was produced.

Even monsters wouldn’t invade because of the cold.

In other words, their logic was that it wasn’t cold enough yet, and opening the warehouse now would mean they couldn’t use it when they really needed to.

Second was their concern for the Windsor Duchy.

It was common knowledge that the Windsor Duchy lived an extremely frugal life.

…This was a perception he had created. Such a perception already existed, but once, when he was too lazy to eat and just slept, he ended up getting a meal at a resident’s home.

Naturally, having starved for a week in his young body, he forgot his dignity as a young lord and ate the food with great relish.

Since then, rumors spread that “the Duke gives even the food meant for his only son to the people.”

‘Ahem.’

…He still felt sorry about that incident.

When he sees his father later, he should make it up to him for how sorry he feels.

‘Anyway, I should resolve this. I am the young lord after all.’

The fierce battle between the knight trying to distribute food and the people refusing to accept it was still ongoing.

Ruide took off his robe and walked into their midst.

The people recognized him at a glance.

“Oh my! Isn’t it the young lord!”

“I heard you went to the Academy, when did you…”

The Windsor knight hastily showed his respect. Ruide grabbed his arm and helped him up.

“It’s vacation.”

“Ha ha, time flies. It feels like the farewell ceremony was just half a year ago.”

…It was indeed half a year ago.

Ruide turned toward the territory residents.

“Oh my, look how thin our young lord is.”

“You should have gained some weight at the Academy.”

“…”

Concerned voices from the residents could be heard.

‘…Is it structurally correct for residents to worry about the lord’s son?’

Ruide was slightly suspicious.

“Did you say the young lord is here?”

“Hey, move aside.”

“How adorable.”

“How well he’s grown.”

What was initially just three or four people gathered in front of the food warehouse suddenly became a crowd.

Thinking that enough people had gathered, Ruide put his hands on his waist and said:

“Everyone, take this food.”

“Oh no, we’re fine. The young lord should eat more.”

“Have you been eating well these days?”

He didn’t expect this level of resistance even after he spoke.

No, it felt like the residents’ opposition had grown stronger because Ruide had spoken.

Where had the authority of the Windsor Duchy gone…!

It seemed necessary to set things straight.

“Everyone, listen to me.”

Ruide spoke very seriously.

“Our family isn’t that poor.”

“We’re managing fine too.”

“What will be left if you give everything away…”

‘Why on earth are you all worried about that…!’

Ruide was dumbfounded.

With a long sigh, he said:

“The Larden Territory has been added to the Windsor Duchy.”

“Larden Territory? The place we always import from?”

Ruide spoke with subtle pride.

“Yes. It’s a reward from His Majesty. And… it’s my personal property.”

“Ohhh!”

“From now on, we’ll bring food directly from Larden Territory. That means it costs less. This food is also from Larden Territory, so please take it.”

“But still.”

Even after saying this much, people were reluctant to take the food.

“It’s an order. Everyone, without exception, take it.”

Seizing the opportunity, the Windsor knight shouted loudly.

“It’s the young lord’s order! If you don’t take this, you’ll be punished!”

Only then did the residents begin to take the food.

“Thank you, young lord.”

“With this amount, we can eat well for a month.”

They didn’t forget to express their gratitude with a few words each.

The people of the North truly are kind.

Ruide felt proud. There wouldn’t be another territory in the world with such high civic consciousness.

‘Come to think of it, I completely forgot. I should have visited on my way here.’

The prime territory he had received in the past as a condition for becoming an Academy professor.

He had forgotten about it for a while but remembered it now.

After all, distributing sufficient food at this timing was something that couldn’t happen under normal circumstances for the duchy.

“Huh?”

Ruide looked somewhere as he felt a familiar presence.

Whoosh-!

A silver eagle descended and stopped in front of Ruide.

“Hello, Jeperd.”

The eagle fluttered and approached Ruide.

Damon asked with a puzzled look.

“Jeperd?”

“Irene’s familiar.”

He took out the letter held in the eagle’s beak.

After reading the letter, Ruide nodded.

“She says everything’s been taken care of. Let’s go to Windsor Castle.”

**

Sometimes I think:

‘Do I deserve to enjoy all of this?’

A spacious home, abundant wealth, good looks, and even strong power.

I’ve possessed “lazy Ruide,” who has everything that others find difficult to obtain even one of.

Unlike my previous life, I have a harmonious family.

And I’m even deeply loved.

‘I had a family in my previous life too. It was quite harmonious until things went wrong. But…’

The sensation of possession is peculiar to describe.

Clearly, I am a different being, but from the moment I possessed “lazy Ruide,” it felt so natural.

It’s like the feeling of waking up from a long dream.

Sometimes I wonder if my previous life itself was just a creative dream I had briefly, and if “lazy Ruide” might actually be my true self.

It’s absurd, of course.

“Son!”

Even in this emotional reunion between mother and son, that faint thought wouldn’t leave.

But what was clear was that the thought that came to mind while being embraced by Victoria was “precious.”

Whether it was “lazy Ruide’s” inherent emotion or not, Ruide decided to be honest with his feelings.

With the most loving smile he could muster, he said:

“I missed you, Mom.”

“…!”

Victoria’s eyes trembled.

“You… don’t call me Mama anymore.”

“…I’m 12 years old.”

Seeing her expression of extreme disappointment, he hastily waved his hands.

“Ah, alright. I’ll call you Mama.”

Victoria’s expression brightened again. She hugged Ruide tightly once more.

Through Victoria’s shoulder, a familiar scenery was visible through the window.

‘I’m back.’

Only now did it feel real.

The Academy, and his life that would be much longer than the end of this original story.

He had returned to Windsor Castle, where he would spend most of that time.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Victoria put her hands under Ruide’s armpits and lifted him high.

Ruide nodded. Victoria, still not reassured, put him down and examined various parts of her youngest son’s body.

“I heard you went through hardships. I was worried you might have scars… I’m glad you seem fine. Did you eat well? You look a bit thin.”

“I haven’t gained or lost even a gram.”

Victoria stroked Ruide with a warm smile.

Having his head stroked was something he experienced very often, but Victoria’s touch felt strangely better.

Much more careful and gentle.

‘This is where I’ll live. I think I’ve been forgetting something important.’

Come to think of it, aren’t the events in the original story completely unrelated to him?

Even if the original story flows to the worst situation—

With the strength of the Windsor Duchy, they could handle it sufficiently.

‘Maybe I should stay here. There’s no merit in being at the Academy anyway.’

The only concern was Amelia and the various connections.

It wouldn’t feel good if they got hurt.

But fortunately, they were in the North now.

If he taught them well and enhanced their abilities before sending them back, wouldn’t they be able to protect themselves sufficiently?

‘I’ll have to consider it. Right now, I just want to stay put here.’

At that moment, Victoria opened her arms.

Ruide embraced Victoria without hesitation.

Victoria fully embraced Ruide’s small body and whispered in his ear.

“Welcome home.”

Ruide stopped his various thoughts, and with a quiet smile, he answered.

“I’m back.”

**

“I heard the signs of monsters were suspicious, but it’s not just that.”

Irene muttered from atop the 4th defense line.

She could see far beyond what normal human vision could perceive.

Monsters were gathering.

Like soldiers, in formation.

Their numbers were too many to be considered a normal wave.

Rosalie, one of the twin maids, bowed her head and answered.

“It wasn’t this bad when we reported to the head of the family.”

“I know that too. It seems the monsters are just beginning to gather.”

Irene stroked her chin.

“A catastrophe, is it… I’d prefer if it came after Rui went back to the Academy.”

A Mein came into Irene’s view.

A Mein with dark skin and eyes that were black even in the whites.

As if knowing it was being watched, it stared directly in this direction.

It had a name, probably a quite strong Mein.

“It won’t go as I wish.”

“I’ll go report.”

Irene grabbed Rosalie’s arm as she was about to disappear. Her gaze was still directed toward the Mein.

With a smile, she said softly:

“By now, they should be having a good time with Rui. Don’t disturb them unnecessarily.”

“…”

Rosalie stared intently at Irene, then bowed her head and answered.

“Yes.”

“By the way, when did Ruby say she’d arrive?”

“She’s arrived now.”

Just as Rosalie spoke, a gate appeared beside them.

From the purple space emerged Ruby. But Damon was also with her.

Damon approached Irene with a calm face.

“Why did you call me?”

“Nothing special. I just didn’t want to disturb the mother and son who haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

“Hmph, I had no intention of disturbing them. I was curious about the territory, and I’ve satisfied that curiosity.”

“That’s good then.”

Irene didn’t particularly dislike Damon.

Compared to the Emperor, she had a much more favorable impression of Damon.

The reason was simple. Ruide had mentioned that he had received quite a bit of help from Damon.

So what she was about to do now was a small token of gratitude.

How he would use it was up to Damon himself.

Irene looked at Damon and asked:

“Does our prince enjoy hunting?”

Damon naturally raised the corner of his mouth.

“Of course. Hunting is the proper quality that a ruler should possess.”

Irene smiled deeply.

“That’s fortunate. I was thinking of teaching you a bit about the Windsor way of hunting.”