Chapter 75
The Pope Who Burst Into the Meeting
The moment I expressed my desire to meet, the second son of the Kölnhausen family visited the baron’s residence.
In other words, the meeting was arranged in just a single day.
Even considering the proximity of the neighboring territories, I hadn’t expected him to arrive so quickly.
With a slightly awkward expression, I descended to the baron’s garden, and finally came face to face with this so-called second son of the Kölnhausen family.
“Oh, Lady Julia von Schnestern!”
Although it was our first meeting, he greeted me with a big laugh, as if he were meeting an old friend he hadn’t seen in years.
I took a quick glance at his appearance.
He looked like the type to enjoy drinking and gambling.
That was my initial judgment based solely on his outward appearance.
Blond hair styled messily with pomade.
Green eyes that gave off a careless impression.
A smile that also seemed reckless.
Everything about him suggested that diligence was far from his character.
And his clothes… so flashy and ostentatious…
Already from his attire alone, it was clear that he was not the type who would match my preference for neat and composed styles.
Still, judging someone solely by appearance at first meeting is a bad habit, so I thought I’d leave it at that.
…But barely had I thought that when the second son of the Kölnhausen family opened his mouth with a greeting so flamboyant it was almost ridiculous.
“You are as beautiful as a sculpture carved from the moon, just as the rumors say. To see you in person brings tears of admiration to my eyes. I am Rolf von Kölnhausen, second son of the Count von Kölnhausen.”
“….”
A sculpture carved from the moon…
Was that something he prepared at home?
If he had come up with that praise on the spot, I had to admit, it was quite a talent.
It’s not easy to instantly produce such a grandiose compliment.
I let out a quiet sigh, just enough not to be noticed, and replied:
“I am Julia von Schnestern. Nice to meet you.”
He seemed a bit taken aback by my brief and concise greeting, but quickly recovered and smiled smoothly as he pulled out a chair at the tea table for me.
I plopped down into the chair and said to him:
“Thank you for providing the oil.”
“Haha, we cannot ignore the difficulties of our neighbors. My family just lent a bit of effort.”
“Yes, truly, thank you. Otherwise, this territory might have turned into a land of death. The Count’s family would have suffered significant losses as well.”
His expression stiffened slightly.
Had he understood the hidden meaning behind my words?
In truth, telling him that the Kölnhausen family would also have suffered was a kind of warning.
A warning: “If you don’t handle the crack, you’ll be in trouble too, so don’t think of taking credit just for lending some oil.”
Seeing Rolf’s expression tighten as if he understood my meaning, I forced a small polite smile.
“Thanks to the Count’s family, both territories will remain safe. Isn’t that fortunate?”
“Haha, yes, indeed fortunate… heh heh…”
Rolf drank the cold water on the table, seemingly trying to calm his flushed face.
He looked slightly flustered, but only for a moment. Soon, he opened his mouth again, his tone excited:
“By the way, the weather is really nice today, isn’t it? I hope my wedding will be held on a day like this…”
“It feels a bit hot, though.”
“Ah… yes… now that you mention it, it is a bit warm. Ahem.”
If conversation means exchanging words on the same topic, then what we were doing could hardly be called a conversation.
It was more like Rolf’s one-sided mumbling.
At least, I had no intention of talking with him about marriage.
Unfortunately, Rolf’s one-sided rambling continued for quite some time.
Almost three hours, in fact, he spoke alone without tiring.
I was starting to want to leave…
Just then, he posed another boring question.
“Lady, you must soon be seeking a partner, right?”
“….”
I did not respond, exhausted as I already was.
Rolf, as if accustomed, continued his lonely muttering.
“Of course, fighting for the Empire is admirable.”
“….”
“But true happiness only comes when you form a family.”
I had forced myself to listen to him this long, but it seemed the time of suffering was about to end.
Clearly, he was finishing his tedious preamble and was about to reveal his true intentions.
As expected, Rolf soon spoke the words revealing his true feelings:
“Have you found a suitable partner?”
“Hmm….”
“If not, perhaps you don’t need to look far. There is a fairly decent man right in front of you.”
I smiled inwardly with satisfaction.
Since he had revealed his true intentions, I could now finally reject him.
But, unfortunately, I did not get the chance.
Bang!
Suddenly, a loud noise shook the first-floor window of the baron’s residence.
Our garden table was near the window, so we could see the person who had opened it.
“Your Highness…?”
It was Frit who had suddenly appeared, leaning out from the first-floor window.
He rested his elbows on the sill, looking at Rolf with a comfortably poised stance.
He smiled, yet there was a strangely cold edge to his expression.
“Rolf von Kölnhausen. Did you come to express your thanks for the oil?”
“…Yes?”
Rolf looked bewildered.
During my conversation, Frit had suddenly appeared and asked a confusing question.
Naturally, I was equally stunned, frozen in place. Yet Frit continued speaking, unfazed.
“As a token of gratitude, the Main Temple will cover the cost of the oil.”
“…? But that oil was supposed to be our gift—”
“No, do not hesitate to accept it.”
Frit continued with a faint smile.
“It’s trivial for the Main Temple.”
“….”
“Surely we are not so poor as to be unable to offer such a trivial amount. So—”
He took a deep, tired breath and exhaled a long sigh.
“I would appreciate it if you would leave now, after receiving the thanks. Or… do you wish to claim more over the oil?”
“W-what….”
Rolf’s face flushed with anger.
He glared directly at Frit and shot back:
“Your Highness, light of the Empire. It is an honor to see you, but your statement must be explained. Our family provided the oil purely out of goodwill. What do you mean by wanting to take more?”
“Am I wrong? You already gained a private opportunity to meet Lord Schnestern in exchange for the oil, didn’t you?”
“….”
“So, are you sitting here hoping to extract more?”
The situation grew increasingly interesting. I held my breath and watched the two men’s exchange.
A silence followed.
Rolf seemed at a loss for words, stammering, while Frit stared coldly at him.
The first to move in the frozen moment was Frit.
He leaped from the first-floor window into the garden.
His flowing white robe fluttered as he approached us without hesitation.
Then—
Bang!
He slammed the table with one hand, fixing his gaze on Rolf.
The sheer presence of a man, usually a symbol of gentleness, exuding such force… it was stunning, a moment that made one pause in thought.
Rolf, too, froze, seemingly struck dumb.
Frit spoke to Rolf in a low voice.
“If you helped purely out of goodwill, leave now. The Lord does not favor those who disguise selfish motives as goodwill.”
Rolf, who had earlier been so smooth with words, could not respond at all.
He stood abruptly, his face red, and left without a single glance back.
Left alone with Frit, I quenched my thirst with tea.
Then, I summed up Frit’s actions in a single comment.
“Your presence was as commanding as knights on the battlefield.”
“Did I intervene unnecessarily? I acted because Julia seemed troubled…”
“You did not intervene in vain. Thanks to you, I did not have to continue talking with that man. However… I was a little surprised. You appeared suddenly. Were you listening inside that window all along?”
Unable to ask directly if he had been eavesdropping, I simply asked if he had been listening.
Frit shook his head, smiling his usual gentle and warm smile.
“No, I just happened to overhear as I passed by.”
