Having just finished his last report, Lucas Lebrick rested his pen on his desk. He brought his hand to his face and massaged his forehead, closing his eyes.
He then sipped black tea, hoping to get over his tiredness.
Lucas sighed and said, “I can finally go home.”
As a viscount, I had to serve as an ambassador to my country in the Kingdom of Haldoria. My homeland, the Yutear Empire, was a young nation founded only a century ago. Nevertheless, it had successfully expanded far beyond its original borders and had several nations under its control.
The Kingdom of Haldoria was the only nation on this continent that could rival the Yutear Empire with military power.
Our nations had been at odds for a while, though a distressing war led to the signing of a truce five years ago. The Kingdom of Haldoria and the Yutear Empire were now on friendly terms—publicly, at least.
My father, the previous head of the family, had suddenly passed away in an accident. This situation forced me to succeed him at the young age of sixteen. At the time, I was but a noble of the robe—a measly baron with no land.
After I turned twenty, the emperor summoned me and granted me the title of viscount along with a territory. The land was bigger than any other viscounty and located on the border with Haldoria. He said it was a reward for my hard work.
While it might sound like a dream come true for a young aristocrat, the truth differed. Tensions with Haldoria were rising, so the emperor used me, a young and insignificant noble with no backing, as a shield. Despite my inexperience, I understood that my newly gained territory was but a buffer zone in the eyes of the emperor.
This time, I received orders to attend the celebration of the founding of the Kingdom of Haldoria.
After traveling through the wasteland that was an actual buffer zone inside a carriage until my arse started hurting, I’d reached the royal capital. I’d proceeded to make small talk with the detestable nobles of the kingdom at the party. Though our words were refined and cultured, our exchanges resembled children’s petty arguments.
I’d dreamed of becoming a proud nobleman like my father, but my ideals had long deserted me. All I ever did as a viscount was bicker or offer empty flattery.
A sigh escaped my lips as I was bored to death by the emptiness of my function. Suddenly, a commotion attracted my attention. It shocked me to hear the crown prince of the Kingdom of Haldoria publicly condemn his fiancée, the daughter of the prime minister.
Good grief. Is the prince an idiot? Who airs their dirty laundry in public like this? I thought.
A glance was enough to notice how foreign guests mocked him quietly.
The duke’s daughter tried to give the prince a chance to stop, yet he failed to take it. Instead, he ordered her imprisonment before announcing that a baron’s daughter I’d never heard about would become his new fiancée.
Even when taken away, the duke’s daughter didn’t bat an eye and marched gracefully. The kingdom’s nobles had diverse reactions, as some looked pissed while others were concerned. A few noblemen and women seemed pleased.
Among the foreigners, only two reactions unfolded: shock or mockery. I was among the surprised ones.
I never thought the prince would do something like this. After all, the young lady he’d dismissed was quite famous.
She’d been behind most of the kingdom’s recent advances. At the tender age of ten, she’d led troops into battle to inflict considerable damage on the empire in the previous war. As an imperial subject, I couldn’t be more pleased to see that foolish prince willingly discard the kingdom’s trump card.
After the commotion, I went to the embassy to write a report detailing the events that had transpired during the party.
A month had passed since then, and I had finished the rest of my duties in the kingdom. Tomorrow, I’d finally be free to return home.
“L-Lord Lucas!” expounded the servant I had brought from the Yutear Empire, storming into my office.
“It’s late. What is it?” I asked.
“Y-You have a visitor...”
“A visitor? I don’t believe I had any appointments tonight. Who are they?”
“W-Well...”
As soon as I heard the name of my mysterious visitor, I jumped from my chair and rushed to the drawing room.
I took a deep breath before opening the door.
“I apologize for the wait, King Bulat.”
The king of Haldoria was sitting in my drawing room, looking at me as I entered. He hadn’t brought an escort, and only a maid accompanied him.
I couldn’t help but think something was strange. The king was supposed to be out of the country attending a conference regarding a monster attack. Though I heard he’d return soon, I couldn’t imagine why he would stop at my residence first.
While I was pondering the reason behind his sudden visit, the king stood up and bowed to me.
“Huh?” I blurted, utterly confused.
His show of deference made absolutely no sense. In fact, the king should have avoided showing me any sign of weakness because I was the ambassador of the Yutear Empire.
“First of all, allow me to apologize for tricking you like this.” The voice that had come out from King Bulat sounded oddly soft and melodic.
“Huh?” I repeated, most eloquently.
“Mireille,” said King Bulat with that strangely mismatched voice.
The maid reacted by bowing deeply before clapping her hands. Was she casting a spell? Or was she banishing one, perhaps? She didn’t need to clap but was most likely doing so to demonstrate that she was using magic and meant no harm.
Having concluded that I wasn’t in danger, I stopped looking at the maid and directed my sights at the king. But I found a beautiful young woman in his place.
I barely stopped myself from letting out a surprised yelp.
“L-Lady Elizabeth...” I whispered.
Elizabeth Leiston, the backbone of the kingdom, stood in front of me. The only issue was that this young lady was supposed to be in jail at this very moment.
✦ ✦ ✦
I bowed down to Lucas Lebrick, the ambassador of the Yutear Empire, again to apologize for my impoliteness. Meanwhile, he remained staring at me with his mouth agape.