Chapter 77
This joint conference proceeded by hearing testimonies from Charlotte and Ash regarding the four monster attacks that occurred in Nostri, and the attendees, including Marquis Blanche, deliberated on the corresponding countermeasures and plans. Since Marquis Blanche was an attendee, he headed to the second floor of the main hall, while Charlotte went to the first floor.
From the moment Aria entered the palace until she reached the conference hall, she couldn’t keep her eyes still for even a moment. She craned her neck to take in the seemingly endless grandeur of the castle, the knights patrolling with disciplined precision, and the flower beds brimming with colorful blooms that never withered, regardless of the season. Aria stomped her feet in delight, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“Mom, Mom! Sparkly people!”
Sparkly people? Charlotte turned to see the direction Aria was pointing. The paladins were returning from Nostri after disposing of the monster corpses they had slain, heading back to the training grounds. Among them was Mark. As soon as Charlotte recognized them as paladins, and that Mark—whom they had received help from in Nostri—was among them, she instinctively scanned the crowd for Theodore.
But Theodore wasn’t there. Just as a twinge of disappointment crept in, her eyes met Mark’s.
“Huh?”
“Ah…”
Charlotte smiled and nodded politely to greet him. Mark squinted his eyes slightly, then widened them again, and soon started walking briskly toward her. Charlotte had intended only a brief greeting, but she widened her eyes in surprise.
“Lady Blanche, it’s been a while.”
“It’s been a while, Sir Molly. Are you on your way back after completing a mission?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Mark forced a small, awkward smile. He couldn’t exactly say he had just dissected monster corpses in the temple basement and incinerated them, so he naturally diverted the conversation. He had never imagined meeting Charlotte in the palace.
“And what brings you here?”
“I’m attending today’s joint conference as a witness.”
“Oh! I heard there was a joint conference today. Shall I guide you there?”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m not busy!”
In truth, he did have other tasks, but if he told Theodore, “I was late because I escorted Lady Blanche to the conference hall,” he was sure he would be praised. Above all, Mark, despite occasionally grumbling at Theodore, respected him as a paladin and valued him as a comrade, so he intended to make way between them.
On the way to the hall, he planned to casually mention Theodore. At that moment, Aria seemed to remember meeting him in the north, tilting her head and spreading her arms wide.
“Sir Molly!”
“Well, if it isn’t Aria! Hello, Aria. Are you all healed?”
“Yes!”
Aria proudly rolled up her sleeve to reveal the wrist that had been bandaged. Mark, in a knightly manner, gently patted her head. At that moment, someone called out to him from behind.
“Hey, Mark! Slacking off again?”
It was Sieberon. Mark clicked his tongue and stepped aside. Charlotte and Aria, who had been hidden behind his large frame, became visible, and Sieberon squinted, then widened his eyes in recognition. Though he didn’t immediately recognize her, he would soon. Snow-white hair, eyes like the night sky—Lady Blanche, whom Theodore had wanted to meet so desperately!
At that moment, Mark and Sieberon exchanged a peculiar glance. Then, Sieberon, who had just scolded Mark, immediately greeted Charlotte politely and ran toward the training grounds at a brisk pace.
“Shall we go?”
Mark, putting on his most impressive expression, guided Charlotte to the conference hall with slightly exaggerated but courteous gestures. Charlotte laughed softly. She felt a little pleased that Theodore had such capable subordinates. Smiling, she accepted Mark’s courtesy.
Meanwhile, Sieberon ran toward the training grounds faster than when he had encountered monsters unarmed and fled. Bursting through the doors as if to smash them, he met Theodore, who was polishing his sword in the center of the hall.
Usually, the one who made such a commotion was Mark, so Theodore was about to scold him, but seeing it was Sieberon, he looked slightly flustered. However, as Sieberon approached with a serious expression, Theodore unconsciously gripped the sword handle tightly.
“Captain, did you know?”
“Know what?”
Had a monster invaded the temple? Had a black mage appeared in the palace without fear?
“Lady Blanche is attending today’s joint conference as a witness.”
“What?”
“Mark just escorted her to the conference hall.”
Theodore dropped his carefully polished sword to the floor in shock.
On the way to the conference hall, Charlotte taught Aria the etiquette she needed to observe. Being only five years old and not born into a noble family, some mistakes would be forgiven, but Charlotte hoped Aria would appear clever and intelligent rather than a pitiable, abandoned child during the conference.
“You mustn’t run or speak loudly in the hall. They probably won’t ask you anything, but if you’re given a chance to speak, use polite words and honorifics. Can you do that?”
“Aria can do it!”
“My daughter, you’re just too cute.”
Charlotte planted a kiss on Aria’s cheek, and the girl laughed, tickled. They didn’t share blood, but anyone could see they were mother and daughter. Mark noticed this too. Having been involved in Kenis’ capture and the monster slaying operation in the north, he had a rough idea of Charlotte and Aria’s relationship. Back then, they looked close, and meeting them again, they looked even more like mother and daughter.
It looked good, but would others see it that way? He doubted it. There would surely be disapproving eyes, which made him feel slightly sad.
If only Aria were truly Lady Blanche’s daughter… Even if not married, couldn’t she be adopted somehow?
Thinking this, Mark climbed the conference hall stairs with quiet support. Since high-ranking nobles were gathered, palace guards stood at the entrance, verifying identities.
“They say Charlotte Blanche is attending today’s conference as a witness.”
The palace guard, flipping through the list of attendees, suddenly pointed at Aria. Charlotte frowned slightly and tucked Aria’s hair.
“And who is this child?”
“She is also attending the conference, so let her in.”
“What is the relationship between the child and the lady?”
Charlotte immediately understood the guard’s intentions. There was no need to guess—it was a lowly curiosity disguised as identity verification.
The ominous lady who had returned from the north, Charlotte Blanche, brought along a child resembling her while attending the conference as a witness? Who is this child? The thought was obvious. Extremely rude. Charlotte wanted to warn the guard but didn’t want to cause trouble immediately.
Yet she couldn’t tolerate the guard pointing at her precious daughter as if she were an object. And she wasn’t the only one thinking this way.
“Your eyes are bad, huh?”
“!”
“Who do you think you are, staring like that?”
Mark growled, threatening the palace guard. Charlotte stiffened for a moment. Though cheerful and easygoing in the north and when they met again in the palace, the way he now muttered curses at the guard was fierce, almost like an untamed beast.
“Just guarding the conference hall entrance, and you ask such private questions? Who do you think you are, committing this rudeness?”
Mark, nearly twice the size of the guard, pressed him without giving a chance for explanation or apology. As a paladin who had faced monsters, his presence was terrifying.
“Damn it, who appointed you? I’ve never seen such foolishness before.”
“I-I-I…”
“Try acting arrogantly one more time. I’ll crush you. I’ve buried monsters; don’t think I can’t bury you too.”
Mark grabbed the guard’s face firmly. The veins on his hand stood out prominently.
“I’ll remember your face clearly. Get out of Lady Blanche’s sight immediately.”
As he swung the guard away, the man nearly flew across the floor. Mark glared at the remaining guards.
“Hey.”
“Y-yes?”
“Aren’t you going to report this?”
“I-I’ll report it immediately!”
The guard rushed into the conference hall to announce Charlotte’s arrival. Charlotte finally exhaled in relief and thanked Mark. His fierce expression softened.
“Thank you for your help, Sir Molly.”
“No problem. I’ll make sure to keep these guys in line.”
Mark chuckled, though it was nearly a forced smile. Charlotte didn’t seem offended; she was calm as if used to such treatment. From his time in the empire and abroad, he had heard rumors about Charlotte.
Even from a brief meeting, he realized most of the rumors were false and exaggerated.
If she were truly a cursed villain, she’d be cowering at my feet, not dealing with fools like this.
Mark clicked his tongue quietly. Sometimes humans were more cowardly and cruel than monsters.
“Well, I shall take my leave now.”
“Thank you. I’ll repay your kindness someday.”
“No need. Really.”
“Still…”
“If you insist on repaying me, drop by the training grounds sometime.”
“The training grounds?” Charlotte tilted her head. Mark spoke in a quiet voice:
“The captain really wants to see you, Lady.”
