episode_0151

Episode 151

Gerrard family.

Although they belong to the 6th generation of the Lustier family, their existence is heterogeneous compared to other noble families.

A family of guardians who protect the Magic Library in accordance with the will of the Tree of Knowledge. These are people who focus only on that work and have little involvement in the secular world.

When I first came to this world, I tried to enter the Magic Library to obtain the Book of Enekra before Carmel.

But at that time, I was denied entry because the Tree of Knowledge did not allow me.

What happened to the Gerrard family?

I immediately opened the envelope.

Only extremely concise information was written inside.

To Princess Sarah Lustier.

The Tree of Knowledge is calling to the Princess.

Tree of Knowledge…?

Among the knowledge she learned as a princess, there was very little about the Tree of Knowledge. The only thing that can be said is that it is a mysterious being that existed before the creation of the Lustier Kingdom.

I get interested. What fate awaits me?

But the priority for me now is to unlock Mystilia. We have prepared well for that.

It is after that that we visit the Gerrard family. Judging from the content, it doesn’t feel particularly urgent, so it’s probably okay.

I saved the letter from the Gerrard family and went to bed.

* * *

The next morning, I went straight to Fehat and said hello.

“You’re finally back, Sarah. I’m glad you arrived safely. Laurencia’s work has been completed well, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. With the cooperation of Luna Laurentia, the new head of Laurentia, we took a thorough tour of the land that was incorporated into the royal family. The inhabitants of the land did not seem to be particularly disturbed.”

“Hmm, it was a lot of work. Carmel, you did a great job too.”

“Thank you for your hard work…”

Carmel still looks a little tired. Well, there is no way that all the fatigue from that hard week of humiliation can be shaken off in one night.

I said to Fehat with a smile.

“No, my mother had a very important role. My mother governed the residents of Laurentia with kind words and a smile. The reason they quickly complied was probably because the queen showed her face in person.”

Fehat smiled in satisfaction and looked back and forth between me and Carmel.

“Hmm, Hmm. That’s right.”

Well, that’s it for now. In fact, I barely stepped out of the basement of Senain Castle.

Carmel looks like she wants to erase all her memories of the past week. No matter how much I praise fake achievements, it will only bring back unpleasant memories for Carmel.

Judging from that reaction, it looks like Mystilia hasn’t activated yet. If the term really lasts a week, it will probably be activated this evening.

“Then I will take a step back, Your Majesty.”

“Umm, make sure you get rid of your travel fatigue sufficiently.”

I bowed politely and withdrew from the king’s presence.

The next place I headed was the Knights Templar. I instructed Philgret to gather together the knights who had seen Carmel that day.

The assembled knights had faces that seemed to have a general intuition of what would be said.

“I fully know what you are thinking. As a proud knight of the kingdom, you probably want to hold your mother accountable for her sins. But I have to tell you this first. Make sure you never reveal anything you saw or heard that day to anyone. This is an order.”

“Why?”

One of the knights asked with a look of disapproval on his face. Philgret tried to say something, but I stopped him.

“It looked like my mother, but it wasn’t my mother.”

“Yes?”

“It is said that the Northerners’ magic involves a method of taking on the appearance and voice of another person. I think one of the traitors used it. After checking, it turned out that my mother was at the palace at that time.”

“Well, something like that…? Is that really possible?”

“It may be hard to believe, but it’s true. If you research the Knights’ past subjugation records, you will probably come across similar cases. The story goes that the traitors prepared so meticulously and using every possible method.”

Each of the knights began to murmur. He cleared his throat to calm the atmosphere that was about to become noisy, and said something to end the conversation.

“I was the one who was more angry about that than anyone else. However, if you fall for such a trick and a division occurs within the royal family, that is exactly what the traitors want. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, I ask that you please keep your mouth shut about what you saw that day.”

Shape-changing magic is a magic that actually exists in this world. Even if you question it now, you will have no choice but to nod your head once you know that it exists.

Besides, if you think about it normally, there is no reason to lie and protect Carmel, who tried to kill me or something close to it. The knights looked somewhat convinced by my words.

“Sir Pilgret, please share it.”

“Yes.”

Pilgret opened the box lying at his feet. Then he took out a heavy bag from inside and handed it over to the knights.

The knights familiarly passed the bags they received to the side and back. It was distributed to everyone through a smooth process.

“This is…?”

“It’s a gold coin. This is my sincere thanks to all of you who took the long journey to Laurencia.”

Even if you are a loyal knight, there is no way you hate money. Especially if it is given in return for loyalty.

The tense atmosphere I had when I first called them quickly disappeared. The knights’ expressions became very generous at the sudden amount of money given to them.

“Hey, hey, princess…”

Someone raised their hand. Even though he received the money, his expression was somehow not good.

“Yes?”

“Well, can you give this money to Kisk’s family instead of me?”

Kisk… It was clearly the name of a knight who lost his life while escaping Laurentia.

I shook my head heavily.

“There is no need for that. We have already ordered him to provide sufficient compensation to his family. That’s up to you.”

The driver nodded as if he was glad.

So the story was roughly summarized. I guess this is enough to keep my promise to Carmel.

Even after the gathered people left, Philgret did not go with them and remained where he was.

“Princess, may I ask you one thing?”

“Yes.”

“At that time… was it really not the queen?”

After all, aren’t they easily fooled like regular knights?

Or maybe he is saying this with some basis. For example, smell.

I said with a light smile.

“No. It was definitely my mother.”

Pilgret nodded as if he had expected that to happen. And he was waiting for my next words.

“Let’s hear your thoughts. Why do you think I protected my mother?”

“It won’t be the affection between mother and daughter. Do I dare to guess the princess’s intentions?”

“Tell me.”

“Because he colluded with the queen, Elrond Laurencea showed his ambition. It is clear that Queen Carmel is hostile to you, but that is why she serves as a light to reveal nobles who have secret ambitions for the royal family. Didn’t the princess release Queen Carmel for that effect?”

Um… that’s okay. Should I leave it that way?

I spoke to Philgret with an elegant smile.

“It will be a dangerous road. It was quite close this time too. But thanks to this, Laurentia’s yolk land could become the royal family. I plan to continue walking this tightrope, Philgret.”

Philgret nodded firmly and got down on one knee.

“The path the princess is going to take is the path I must take. No matter how thorny the road may be, I and the knights will become the princess’s sword and open the way.”

You’re serious. I smiled gracefully and said.

“Thank you, Pilgret. I will cancel the pay cut.”

“Old!”

“…No, I’m just kidding. Oh, of course the pay cut is cancelled. Is there anything else you want?”

“What I want… Nothing in particular… Ah.”

“Did something come to mind?”

“It’s about Rika, are you okay?”

This guy isn’t talking nonsense like asking for Rika to be his, right? On the topic of having a wife and children…

“…Let’s hear the story first.”

“How about having her join the Knights? Of course, this is only if the princess and the person concerned are willing to do so.”

Rika… as a knight?

It was an unexpected suggestion.

“Why? I understand that female knights are not impossible in principle, but extremely rare.”

“Yes. Because in the end, you have to compete with men. But with Rika, it would be possible. Considering Rika’s skills, I think it will be a good stimulus for the knights.”

“Hmm…”

Certainly, the pride of a kingdom knight would not allow it to fall behind a woman. Even more so if you are from an ethnic group. I think it will have a positive effect on improving overall skills.

“Moreover, it would be desirable for the Knights to have that level of talent come in. How are you?”

Pilgret’s words certainly seemed plausible. But there were also parts of hesitation. Once you join the Knights Templar, your actions may be restricted by rules and procedures. As we can see from this incident, hiding the cards you have has greater benefits than you might think.

If Rika moves as a member of the knights, I will lose a card that I can use flexibly. Considering the effect Philgret mentioned, it will be offset to some extent…

“Well, I’ll ask myself first.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Female Knight Rikara…

It doesn’t seem like a bad sound…