episode_0103

The Pierre family,

Along with the Oblean, Medici, and Bayern families, it is a great noble family belonging to the Cottehand Five Great Families.

However, unlike the Obrean and Bayern families, the Pierre family had not produced a Sword Master, nor was it a family that had produced a saintess for generations like the Medici.

Nevertheless, they had been among the Five Great Families for a long time.

“Shouldn’t we consider Duke Alexis as the next emperor?”

Alexis Saint-Pierre, the head of the Pierre Ducal family,

He is the father of Vivian Saint-Pierre and the half-sibling cousin of the current Emperor Louis XV.

Mentioning him, the noble ladies connected him with absolute future power as the next emperor.

That’s right.

The Pierre family is a family that inherited the legitimate imperial bloodline to the extent that it is always mentioned when the next emperor is required.

In other words, if good fortune coincides at some point, it is a family that can produce the Overlord of the Paedon Continent, the Emperor of the Thousand-Year Empire Elysium.

Because the Ducal family possessed such latent potential, the Pierre family was known as Cottehand in any era of the empire.

“That’s how it should be viewed. As a matter of fact, our Count also said that Duke Alexis is more suitable as the monarch that the era wants. Even a cautious person like him says that, so even I, a woman, have no choice but to agree.”

Meanwhile, the situation was imminent for that baby dragon to grow into an adult.

Approximately 16 years ago, Louis XIV, the 39th Emperor of the Imperium Empire, was fighting a serious illness.

His life was running out.

So, as a matter of course, the story about the succession matured.

In the meantime, the next emperor that Emperor Louis XIV and most of the nobles wanted was Alexis Saint-Pierre, the head of the Saint-Pierre family.

“It has a radical feel, but the general consensus is that the empire must be reborn at this point in time, having lasted for over a thousand years? I just wish things would stay the way they are now, but that’s just men.”

In the age of the Thousand-Year Empire and the peace without war, the world began to desire progress.

They desire greater prosperity, not only militarily but also economically and culturally.

Therefore, a more variable and dynamic monarch emerged,

And the person who best fit that was Alexis Saint-Pierre, the head of the Pierre family.

Alexis was a politically, socially, and economically quite enlightened and open person.

And he tried to establish that as a trend in the Imperium Imperial Family and noble society.

Those long endeavors had firmly taken root in the hearts of the current emperor and influential nobles, so this trend was being created.

However, as history was already determined,

Louis XV became emperor, and Alexis Saint-Pierre suddenly passed away a few years after Louis XV’s enthronement.

“I think I cried the most in the world at that time. I think I cried more than Vivian. I was that close to Vivian, and I wanted to be someone who could give strength to Vivian, who was grieving and empty after losing her father.”

Jeanne was the one who stayed by Vivian’s side in her collapsed childhood.

Jeanne, who sincerely wanted to be helpful to someone,

So, she did her best to treat Vivian well and empathize with her at the time.

She did her best not only at gatherings of women from high-ranking noble families at the time, but also by visiting Vivian’s house separately.

However, the result later returned to Jeanne as a cold dagger.

“I still can’t forget that look in her eyes. Vivian’s eyes when I asked if it was you, Vivian, who ordered me to be ostracized.”

So, at some point, Vivian began to avoid and turn away from Jeanne.

And what rushed into that gap were the noble young ladies who usually followed Vivian.

They suddenly started to ostracize and isolate Jeanne.

Jeanne, who was only under 10 years old at the time, was severely embarrassed by the sudden change in the atmosphere.

But even then, Jeanne believed in Vivian.

She just thought that Vivian was avoiding her for some reason,

And that Vivian would not have ordered the young ladies to harass her.

However, as time went on, young Jeanne became exhausted and eventually couldn’t stand it anymore and directly confirmed with Vivian.

“A look filled with hatred. A look that treated me like a demon.”

After hesitating for a moment to Jeanne’s demand for the truth, Vivian replied that she had ordered it.

However, Vivian’s gaze when she gave that answer came to Jeanne as a more certain answer than the answer itself.

This was because it was the face filled with the most anger and hatred among the faces Jeanne had ever seen.

“Did…did you hate me that much…”

Even though Jeanne prided herself on being much stronger than she was back then,

When she recalled Vivian’s eyes looking at her like a demon, she became slightly depressed and muttered quietly.

“…..”

Eugene watched Jeanne silently from the side.

“But I love you like this and I’m always by your side.”

Then, he chimed in as if throwing it out.

“Why is that? It’s nothing different. That’s because I know that you, Jeanne, are not only very kind but also angelic and lovely. It’s a very simple reason.”

Since he was aware of Jeanne’s self-esteem situation, which was starting to drop rapidly, he was starting to fill it.

“But to be honest, yes. The thing that made me very sure of that was, when you think about it, it was only recently, right? I’ve been by your side for 12 years. Considering that, I have this thought. I think being able to share deep sincerity with someone is a culmination of various relationships and mixed emotions.”

In Eugene’s view, Jeanne is the type who blames herself a lot.

Because I’m not good enough, because I’m doing something wrong, because I’m hopeless,

Even now.

Jeanne truly regarded Vivian as a friend, so she seems to be thinking that such a result was created because her heart was lacking.

If that wasn’t the case, she would have been more angry, furious, and appealed.

Therefore, Eugene comforted her by saying that it could never be her fault because of Jeanne’s character.

“In other words, it’s not your fault. It’s just that the connection wasn’t enough. From my experience, the prejudice and wrong judgment of the people looking at you are failing to accept your pure heart. So don’t blame yourself like that.”

And it was because of such Jeanne that Eugene was able to be saved by her.

Unconditional devotion and love that is not calculated.

Eugene Schneider knows very well how great the value of that is,

Also, Eugene knows very well how few people can recognize that value.

Therefore, Eugene rather made her realize that Jeanne is that unique and valuable of a person.

“Hmm…What blame? I’m just feeling a little down, that’s all.”

Blush…

As she received Eugene’s sincere consolation, tsundere female Jeanne was filled with self-esteem and happiness.

But it’s the tsundere nature that can’t be helped,

So she blushed, avoided Eugene’s gaze, and then mumbled.

“Come here, I’ll hug you with my arm around your shoulder.”

Cling!

“Yo, you son of a bitch…if you do this here, people will think it’s weird…”

“This is just friendship between colleagues in the mercenary group.”

However, Eugene, who now knows Jeanne’s inner self better than anyone else, casually hugged her shoulder and expressed his affection even more.

And as Eugene actually said, the Knights of the Iron Cross and the Red Fox Mercenary Corps people passing by the area didn’t care much.

On the other hand,

‘Hmm…’

The highest building in the Knights of the Iron Cross camp, in the highest zone,

The feeling of the person looking at the two people through the bizarrely shaped telescope through the window there was different.

‘Jeanne d’Arc and that assault captain are too close.’

It was Vivian, the young lady of the Pierre Ducal family and the head of the Pieta Merchant Group.

She held her back straight with elegance, made a subtle expression, and continued to look at the place through the telescope.

“Ah, has it been detected that the Tyrannos camp may be responsible for the damage to Merchant Group Leader Vivian’s carriage?”

Then, two days later, another strategy meeting between the Knights of the Iron Cross and the Red Fox Mercenary Corps was held.

The two days after the first day were mainly spent on the Red Fox Mercenary Corps adapting to the area and setting up camp in the assigned location.

Once that is done, the Pieta Merchant Group’s secret trade will begin in earnest.

At a time when such a foundation was being laid,

At that point, a highly sensitive danger alarm went off.

“That’s right. As a result of entrusting the detailed investigation of the carriage to the master blacksmith here, the materials of swords and armor used in Tyrannos were found. It seems that spies worked on it before our people joined and then left. It must be a kind of warning.”

Antonio answered with a serious expression to Jeanne’s question.

Vivian’s local merchant group finished the final work of the secret trade and entered Antonio’s camp to check the trade route.

They encountered the Knights of the Iron Cross at that middle point,

However, it seems that the work of the Tyrannos spies was carried out before the encounter was formed.

“What kind of warning should we see it as?”

“They will also know that Merchant Group Leader Vivian will not back down with this kind of warning, and it is presumed that they are trying to intimidate other merchant group leaders and the people around them who are currently involved in the deal.”

Even if it is Tyrannos, it is difficult to target the young lady of a ducal family, especially someone who is a relative of the imperial family. This is because it could lead to an all-out war with the imperial family.

However, in the case of the subordinate merchant groups under it, it will have a very big impact.

“Does the other merchant groups wavering mean that they will withdraw, Advisor Ivan? Then what happens?”

“This secret trade, which only happens four times a year, will be cancelled, and from our point of view, we will suffer financial losses as a quest failure as well as dishonor.”

Eugene, who couldn’t grasp the picture at once because the scale was large and complex, asked Ivan next to him slightly.

Then, Ivan, who was also from the Hwangdong Scale Mercenary Corps, organized it in an easy-to-understand manner as he had various quest experiences.

‘That means the situation will be greatly influenced by Vivian’s future actions.’

The Knights of the Iron Cross or the Red Fox Mercenary Corps cannot directly do anything about the internal problems of the merchant group.

In other words, Vivian’s role has become bigger as Eugene organized.

“Merchant Group Leader Vivian, who is already predicting the wavering of other merchant groups, is planning to have a meeting with them. She should be coming to this conference room for that reason.”

And Vivian has already started moving to fulfill that role.

“What is she doing in this conference room for…”

Then, Jeanne asked Antonio with a slightly awkward tone for the specific reason why Vivian was trying to come here.

After the first meeting, there was no need for Jeanne to face Vivian directly right in front of her.

That uncomfortable situation was about to be created again.

“It’s because she needs a bodyguard. Since there are spies, shouldn’t I naturally protect my safety?”

Step, step, step, step,

At that moment, Vivian answered Jeanne’s question directly and walked into the main tent of the Knights of the Iron Cross.

“I am thinking of entrusting that bodyguard request to Assault Captain Eugene Caesar of the Red Fox Mercenary Corps.”

Then, she immediately pointed to Eugene Schneider and revealed the reason why she had personally descended on this place.

‘What????’

Vivian is going to use Eugene Schneider as a bodyguard,

So, of course, Jeanne’s eyes widened.

‘Huh…’

Eugene also had round eyes.