Ch.164164. First Impression (1)

After receiving Friel Arielt’s rather serious advice, we headed toward the Marquisate beyond the cleared path.

Though the distance to the center of the Marquisate wasn’t particularly far in a straight line, the surrounding mountainous terrain and frequent slopes made the path into the Marquisate relatively uneven.

Naturally, this slowed our carriage’s progress. We were at the final hill, with just one more slope to climb before entering the Marquisate.

“Finally, once we cross this hill, we’re done. I’m so bored of seeing nothing but mountains I could die.”

“You’ve been looking at mountains? Weren’t you lying down staring at the ceiling without even looking outside?”

“…It’s just a figure of speech. And I did look outside sometimes, even if not as much as Ray.”

Sione glared up at me with sharp eyes.

Really… even as she said this, she was comfortably lying on a blanket spread on the floor.

I received her full glare. The small ball of fluff rolling around on my shoulder also looked down at Sione.

As I continued to stare at her without saying anything, Sione soon began to look uncomfortable.

“…Want me to spread the blanket next to me? Want to lie down together?”

“There’s no need to go to the trouble… I’m fine.”

“Then… how about… here?”

Sione lifted her blanket, creating space for someone to join her.

The blanket was quite small for two people. If we were to share it, we’d definitely have to be pressed close together…

As expected. Sione seemed embarrassed by her own suggestion, her ears turning red as she avoided my gaze.

“……”

“……”

As I continued to meet her gaze with a steady, neutral expression.

Just as she was slowly trying to cover herself with the blanket again, as if wishing she could hide in a mouse hole—

—Myeong!

The ball of fluff leaped up and slipped under the blanket.

Then the blanket began to move as the fluffy ball started moving around underneath.

“Hey, wait!”

—Myeong?

“Where do you think you’re going…! Stay still…!”

Sione reached under the blanket and rummaged around.

However, it seemed difficult to catch the fluffy ball that was enthusiastically moving around.

She lifted the blanket with her hand to check the ball’s position.

—Kyeong!

“Wait, that’s… this is ridiculous!”

Swoosh!

Having successfully grabbed the fluffy ball by the scruff of its neck, Sione looked at it with a flushed face and a thoroughly annoyed expression.

“I told you to stop!”

—Kyeong!

“You want me to tell Ray to deal with you?”

—Haeng.

“Hah…”

Once again, Sione and the fluffy ball started bickering on their own.

It had become almost routine by now. Despite pretending to be angry, I knew that Sione would actually feel a bit disappointed if the fluffy ball didn’t initiate playfulness first.

As usual, I ignored their friendly quarrel and continued looking out the window.

By the time Sione and the fluffy ball had finished fighting and made up, then started sharing cookies from a snack pouch together.

As we climbed the slope, our previously obstructed view suddenly opened up when we reached the top.

Taking in the panoramic view of the innermost part of the Marquisate of Kallia, I called out to Sione.

“Sione, I think we’re almost there.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, come take a look through the window.”

At my words, Sione hurried over and pressed herself right next to me to look outside.

Perhaps because she had been playing with the fluffy ball, her pupils, which had been relaxed from sleep and laziness under the blanket, were now bright and full of energy.

“The city that the Marquisate boasts—”

As our carriage began to descend the gentle downward slope, Sione spoke.

“It’s like a natural fortress.”

I couldn’t help but nod at Sione’s words.

The Marquisate of Kallia was perfectly shaped to block external enemies, specifically Imperial troops invading the Kingdom.

The Marquisate was positioned like a fortress at a relatively high altitude. To the west, toward the Kingdom, many mountains blocked enemy advances. As if the numerous western mountains weren’t enough, rugged and steep mountains also rose prominently to the north and south, their ridges extending to gradually encircle the Marquisate.

It would be difficult for enemies to disperse north and south to bypass the Marquisate and easily invade the Kingdom.

“They say the Marquisate of Kallia is the Kingdom’s impenetrable iron fortress against foreign invasions. That description seems perfect.”

With slopes to the east as well, enemies would have to climb uphill in armor to attack the high-altitude city center.

There couldn’t be a better place for defense, nor a more troublesome place for siege.

In the worst case.

‘…If the Great Forest becomes irreparably pushed back.’

Retreating to the Marquisate of Kallia to plan for the future wouldn’t be a bad choice.

If the Great Forest, teeming with ancient spirits proficient in elemental powers, were to be completely pushed back, it would be nearly impossible rather than possible for the Marquisate to hold out.

Even if it’s just a nickname, being called an impenetrable iron fortress.

It would be enough to buy time for Sione and me to escape.

As our carriage began to enter the city, I turned my gaze to Sione, with the scenery of houses and shops gradually appearing outside.

“You haven’t forgotten the advice Lord Friel Arielt gave, have you?”

Allen Kallia, the second son of the Marquisate, whom even thick-skinned elves avoid.

When I mentioned this, Sione naturally stiffened her expression and nodded.

“Of course not. Don’t fall for sweet talk. And—”

Sione said, shrugging her shoulders.

“We’re only staying for three days before rushing back to the Great Forest. What could possibly happen in just three sunrises?”

The man in question had used his sweet talk and physical advances to win over the captain of the 1st Division and a steadfast female knight of the 2nd Division.

Moreover, the elves themselves described him as hiding a snake inside, and their experienced eyes rarely make mistakes.

Unlike me, who was forcibly entangled, to avoid troublesome situations, one should avoid contact with such a scoundrel and be wary of his approaches.

Just as I was thinking I should pinch her cheek for such a careless attitude.

Sione smiled slightly, subtly emanating the unique atmosphere of a woman in this world who had fallen into a bit of obsession and passion.

“Don’t worry. No man catches my eye except you.”

And what immediately responded to Sione’s words was.

Not me, but.

—Haeng.

The fluffy ball that had flown over and landed softly on my head, looking down at Sione with a contemptuous expression.

* * *

After passing through the town of the Marquisate, we entered the lord’s mansion surrounded by walls.

The citizens we saw through the window on our way to the mansion were smiling brightly, but most were living with shadows cast over one part of their lives. Well, in these times when the Empire has been creating political and military tensions for several years, this place is the first to be affected by their mischief.

Their worried concerns will only be erased after the Imperial army, excessively concentrated at the border, withdraws.

Both the County that went through war and the people of the Marquisate who have to continue living with this tension—they both have it tough.

‘Fortunately, the entry procedures went well.’

The eldest daughter of the Marquisate, Eunice Kallia, was stationed in the Great Forest.

Perhaps there was a pre-arranged connection with the Marquisate of Kallia, as the head of the family, after speaking separately with Friel, fortunately welcomed us who had come from the County.

Separate rooms were assigned for Diolia and the other knights, the servants who had traveled with us in the carriage, and Sione. And he promised to ensure our comfort during our stay.

We just needed to rest from the journey fatigue for three days, look around a bit, and wait for Friel Arielt to quickly finish his business in the Marquisate.

In this adequately concluded situation, I was alone in the room assigned to Sione.

I was waiting for her there.

‘She said she was going to meet the head of the family. The conversation is taking longer than expected.’

The County of Sianella, prestigious enough to have an opportunity for promotion to a marquisate.

As the second daughter of that County, it made sense for Sione to meet and talk with the head of the family.

She had gone out with Diolia, who was assigned as her guard knight, to have a brief conversation with the family head.

There was no need to draw attention by revealing herself as a spirit mage even in the Marquisate.

I had dismissed the fluffy ball, and I was alone, looking around the room or lost in thought to pass the time.

‘The head of the Marquisate—’

The family head I briefly saw appeared quite aged, as Friel Arielt had said.

The current head’s eyes weren’t shining with intelligence, but they weren’t clouded with dullness either.

Sione, accompanied by Diolia, should be able to converse with him without much difficulty.

‘Hmm…’

The head of the family, being a knight, would have mana in his body.

Since those with mana age more slowly than ordinary people, if he appeared noticeably old, his actual age must be even greater than his appearance suggested.

Yet, compared to that, the eldest daughter Eunice Kallia and the second son seemed quite young.

It seemed like there might be some family circumstances, and as I was pondering this.

Creeeeak…

Finally, Sione entered the room.

“Sione—”

As I called her name and went to greet her.

“……”

Sione’s expression was uncharacteristically cold, as if something had happened.

Bang.

The door of the room closed.

The room was well soundproofed, befitting accommodations for noble guests.

Sione, who had carefully entered the center of the room, had a small wrinkle between her fine brows.

“…Lady Sione?”

“Ray. Arielt was right.”

Her narrowed eyes held a question.

“The second son, Allen Kallia… there’s something strange about him.”

“……”

No, I need some information before I can respond.

I was just staring at her blankly.