THE country annexed by the crown lies between where the joint exercise is staged and Longhurst. Besieged by disaster after disaster, its ruler abandoned his people, fleeing for his life. Our kingdom annexed the land after that and gathered as many records concerning the region as they could. Prince Dominic discovered those documents locked in an archive of forbidden texts and is secretly studying them.
The prince thinks more must be out there but is currently shorthanded with most of his aides busy handling the calamities in Longhurst. Since I am fully aware of his research, he has therefore tasked me with a clandestine mission: to break into the former country’s sealed castle to investigate.
On the second day of the return march to the capital, General Whittington approaches the tent I share with Rodney. “I know His Highness is keen to rebuild Longhurst, but I doubt documents from over two hundred years ago are going to be helpful. That said, it’s near impossible to refuse a royal, and I’m sure you’re also doing this for the lady, aren’t you? …Wait, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”
He waves his hand, emphasizing his disinterest, then takes a whiff of the aromatic coffee Rodney has brewed. “Remember the major general—though he’s just a baron now that he’s retired—who first suggested a marital engagement to you? He’s the type who finds factions a nuisance but is still wise enough to know that such conflict is inevitable in an organization like our military… That’s why he suggested a match between you and my distant relative. It would both solidify our faction’s position as well as boost my reputation.”
“…Considering the military, I understand it was the right decision,” I answer carefully. I had no interest in getting married back then, that’s true, but I don’t understand why he’s broached the topic.
The general gives me a genial smile. “It was. I wanted to strengthen the connection between you and me and had known the baron for a long time. But I think there must be another reason why he recommended Longhurst’s second daughter for the match. He held a high rank in the military for many years, and I heard that he’s embraced a luxurious lifestyle since retiring. I was curious, so I paid him a visit the other day.”
“…I heard that the initial plan was for me to marry the stepdaughter, Nadia, and she rejected the offer, so my wife was suggested instead.”
That was what Abigail had told me. Though Nadia resembled Earl Longhurst in appearance, Abigail is his only legal descendant. Under normal circumstances, a stepdaughter who dared reject a marriage proposal would have been kicked out of the house, but Nadia managed to do just that, likely because the family viewed and treated Abigail as less than dirt.
“I don’t know how Earl Longhurst ran his household, but it seems that he called upon the baron, his old friend from magic school, to help arrange a secret match for his second daughter. He apparently paid a significant amount of money for it, too.”
“…He did?”
“That was why the baron had no qualms proposing you as the match, despite your notoriety as a man who dislikes social convention and women in general. And as mentioned, the match would prove advantageous for many of us. The baron gained some aristocratic clout alongside extra funds for his retirement. I suppose retirement has dulled his senses; he didn’t even question why I was bringing this all up during my visit.”
“But why would the earl do that…?” I asked.
Earl Longhurst has never featured prominently in Abigail’s accounts of her old life. Maybe because she doesn’t really care about the family, apathetic to their behavior but for the fact that they didn’t give her food. She doesn’t talk about her past voluntarily unless I ask, and even then, she shares more about her stepmother and stepsister than her biological father, which indicates she seldom interacted with him.
He was a useless man who neglected his daughter and forced her to manage the entire territory on her own. I’m sure her wellbeing or happiness wasn’t a priority when he arranged her marriage.
“The most crucial point was that the exchange had to be made in secret, so he probably saw it as banishment or ridding himself of a nuisance,” huffs the general. “From what I’ve seen of your wife, she can be a handful at times, but she definitely didn’t deserve such treatment from her own father.”
He seems upset—and I’ve not even told him just how much she contributed to the functioning of Longhurst.
“Well, at least she’s doted upon in your household, so I’d say it’s a good ending,” he concludes with a sly grin.
“…Hmm, y-yes, that’s right.”
“The earl paid for his decision with his life, but I’m still not pleased with the baron for proposing the match. He may not have broken any laws, but he used us both to make some money. I don’t wish for others to think that he’s safe from consequences just because he’s retired… I hope you’ll allow me to deal with him?”
I can only reply, “Yes, please go ahead.”
The general nods in satisfaction and smirks. “By the way, I heard that your wife toured our medical center. I trust everything went well?”
“Yes. It was just a tour to see the place.”
“So it wasn’t an attempt to prove to your wife that you’re not having an affair with Haydn?”
“What?! Rodney—” I swivel toward him for confirmation.
“I-It’s just a harmless little rumor that’s been circulating,” he admits.
The general laughs. “I thought it uncharacteristic of your wife… So it’s really false, then!” Abruptly, his tone turns serious with a hint of warning. “She can’t wield healing or recovery magic now, can she?”
He hasn’t forgotten that she possesses extraordinary magical prowess. If she can really use healing magic, a highly sought ability, should I inform him?
“She hasn’t tried and doesn’t seem eager to,” I finally settle on saying.
Which is true. Normally, she’s eager to show off what she’s learned, yet when I asked about healing magic, she just tilted her head to the side, mumbling about how “the rules for humans are different.” I assumed that she’d lost interest. And perhaps her lack of enthusiasm is also because she knows that she doesn’t qualify to join the military anyway…
Abigail follows her own code. Sometimes she’ll enter Monster King mode, golden eyes shining as she tells me about rules she must obey, and I often fail to understand. She once said that monsters and humans couldn’t coexist. I’d sensed that the topic wasn’t something I should know about, so I’ve never asked her to elaborate. I mean, she’d probably try to explain if I did ask and does sometimes on her own…but that’s not the point.
“Hmm… I’m getting along in years, so you’ll need more allies if you wish to keep your wife from the public eye. His Highness is someone you can trust. Make sure you collect on all the favors he owes you. Now, hurry and finish here so you can make it back to the capital before us.”
Early the following morning, Rodney and I will split from the troops and head to the castle of the annexed country’s former king. It’s a long detour, but since we’ll be on horseback, we should move much faster than a contingent of over six hundred soldiers.
The general pats me on the shoulder, tells me to do my best, and returns to his tent.