Conflicts Of Interest Often Begin From Trivial Matters.

After finishing the arduous paperwork, the process was completed with the exchange of official documents and the final signatures, when Onellia asked subtly.

“I would like to invite you to the royal castle sometime; would you be able to come?”

“The circumstances of the domain are unfavorable. I cannot say when I might be able to go.”

Unlike Onellia, who had a relaxed expression upon hearing my words, several nobles behind her showed signs of discomfort.

I thought to myself that it must be difficult to engage in politics with people who complain about every little thing, and I spoke to Onellia.

“If the Princess visits Ingrad, I am willing to treat you hospitably, so if you have the time, it would be good to come for a trip.”

“Will that time ever come?”

“If luck permits, won’t an opportunity arise someday?”

I did not know when that ‘someday’ would be, but it was not my concern. After exchanging appropriate greetings, we were able to set out on our return journey using the excuse of being busy, and I had to break a sweat refusing Onellia’s proposal to stay and rest for a day.

Eventually, on the way back after boarding the train, I asked the exhausted women.

“It would be a shame to return just like this, so shall we go see the sea before we head back?”

At my words, everyone nodded their heads vigorously.

To be honest, I was curious because no one other than the beastkin had seen the sea at the edge of the Forest of the Demon Dragon until now.

So, I stopped the train and began to create a path that allowed us to descend toward the seaside.

Seeing this, the women suggested we just go, likely thinking I was overworking myself, but through an action bordering on stubbornness, we eventually reached a cliff overlooking the sea.

“It’s wonderful…”

It was a sincere sentiment. It was wonderful.

The way old trees grew between the cliffs had a certain charm, and the cliffs themselves, shaped as if they had been carved, had a distinct feel.

Furthermore, the transparent green sea and the sight of various creatures living and moving beneath it were quite magnificent.

“But if it looks that large even from here… just how big is that thing?”

I asked the question out of curiosity, and Lucia, who was looking down at it, tilted her head and opened her mouth.

“It doesn’t look like a whale or a shark… I’ve never seen such a large fish…. Ah!”

It was a short exclamation as if she had remembered something, so I looked at Lucia, and she spoke to me.

“I think it might be the Phantom Fish that appears in ancient literature.”

“Phantom Fish?”

“Yes. It’s a fish, but it grows up to 20 meters, and I’ve read in ancient records that it is a creature that went extinct long ago because its meat and flavor were exquisite. They say its shape is exactly like that. It has a habit of not living in deep waters despite its massive size. Could that be… the Phantom Fish?”

Perhaps because the topic of ‘flavor’ came up, I suddenly felt like trying it, but just as I was about to keep it as mere curiosity due to the fact it was an endangered species, I saw something.

I saw something on top of the Phantom Fish that had risen close to the surface.

“A person…? No, it wouldn’t be a person. Is it a beastkin?”

At my question, everyone looked down with blank expressions as if they had seen it too, and Demina spoke up.

“It is an Eoin.”

“Ah, you mean the Merfolk?”

Demina nodded her head and spoke to me.

“Eoin are a quite rare race. They are ‘beastkin,’ not monsters, and are distinct from Mermen or Mermaids. However, they are a timid and weak race that lives in hiding, but they possess a special power, so many beastkin often seek them out.”

“What kind of power?”

“They free one from the Berserk state. Although it is only once in a lifetime…”

It was a fascinating story. So, I looked down again to find the Eoin, but the Phantom Fish had sunk deep and was no longer visible.

“I’d like to see one someday.”

“If they are whale beastkin, they likely interact with the Eoin, so if you speak to them, they might be able to have them visit the Lord.”

“I have no intention of dragging them here by force. I was just curious because you said they have a special power. They are an interesting race.”

As we rested while gazing at the sea for a long time, the distant sky began to darken and the sun began to set.

So, after discussing that we should rest here for a day rather than traveling through the darkness, I began to build a stylish villa near the cliff.

“It would be nice to come here and play with the vassals occasionally. Our own place… isn’t it wonderful?”

The women showed smiles at my words.

The Empress was living with a constant headache recently due to increasing worries.

“Mother! Why on earth did you make such a decision?!”

Today, Princess Riana visited and was throwing a fit unlike her usual self, and as a mother, the Empress could not decide whether to scold her or accept it.

This was because she was not ignorant of the feelings her daughter harbored for Viscount Ingrad. However, she believed it was a relationship that could not be realized, and the Empress’s life had not been smooth enough to entrust her daughter to a person whose past was unknown.

“Stop it, Riana. If the nobles find out you are acting like this toward me, they will laugh at us.”

“Was the gaze of others that important to you? You are the Mother who has conducted an iron-fisted rule with absolute power and authority. What were you afraid of?”

“I am the heart of this country, with the duty to grow the Empire, which is akin to a massive living organism. It is only natural to look after the blood so that it flows evenly. Therefore, my decision was made after careful consideration, and even if that decision was wrong, I do not regret it. Did I not tell you that you must live such a life as well?”

Princess Riana bit her lip. She knew the Empress’s hardships. To be honest, Princess Riana understood all the actions taken against Viscount Ingrad with her head, but she could not understand them with her heart.

Because he was like a needle in a pocket, she admired his rapid growth and prominent excellence, but she also felt concern.

From a ruler’s perspective, they want the country to be prosperous and strong, not for the nobles to become powerful.

“Could you not have embraced him in another way?”

“Why? Did you want to marry him?”

Princess Riana was at a loss for words, and seeing her daughter’s reaction, the Empress let out a sigh and spoke.

“You know that we cannot simply enter into a marriage contract with anyone. The blood of the Imperial family must be carried on by the descendants of the Imperial family. You, who shouldn’t be ignorant of why that is… have fallen into a puppy love.”

Princess Riana dropped her head at the Empress’s words, and in the end, she could not let many words out of her mouth and swallowed them in silence.

Meanwhile, at that time, deep within the castle of Count Ishtain.

Branne de Ishtain, standing before a mirror while trailing a beautiful dress unlike her usual self, turned to the maids and asked.

“Is this appearance… truly beautiful?”

“It is, Count.”

The maid thought the near-white hair and the pure white dress suited her perfectly, but Branne de Ishtain was sighing and shifting the hem of the dress here and there.

“I cannot understand why men say such uncomfortable clothes are beautiful.”

“I find it even more incomprehensible that the Count cannot see the beauty in this appearance.”

It was the escort and knight commander of the county, and at her words, Branne turned back with a surprised face and asked.

“Galea, do you know how to wear a dress?”

“I am also a woman and someone who wishes to be beautiful. I am not a fool who only thinks about ‘martial arts’ like the Count.”

It was not something one would usually say to their lord, but Branne tilted her head with a face that suggested she did not mind.

“It is only natural for a knight to focus on martial arts.”

“That may be why you became a Master… but have you not lost your life as a woman?”

Branne had an expression as if she could not understand Galea’s words. In fact, Galea and Branne were like friends who had grown up together since childhood.

They went through similar growth processes to the point where it was no exaggeration to say they spent almost all their time together, but Galea was blocked by the wall of talent and remained at the level of a top-tier Expert, while Branne was a case where she broke that wall and soared.

“I am living the life of a woman. I just think it is always uncomfortable. If enduring this cumbersome thing… is the life of a woman, then I suppose I am already a lost cause.”

Galea and the maids burst into laughter at Branne’s words, and if someone else had seen Branne not saying anything even after seeing this, they would have been forced to be surprised.

However, this was the usual appearance of the noble Branne, and everyone was newly surprised by the fact that Branne, who was also a lord loved by the entire Ishtain Domain, was preparing for a change.

Branne, receiving the affectionate gazes of those actively participating in their lord’s transformation, flapped the dress once more, let out a sigh, and spoke.

“It’s hot, walking is uncomfortable, and my chest and waist feel suffocated. How on earth do women endure such pain… It would be more comfortable to swing a sword ten thousand times…”

Branne was tossing out a comment that sounded like a total gym addict.

And at the same time.

The Demon King, looking at the chocolate piled up like a mountain, felt dizzy as she looked at the Demon Duke who showed loyalty to her.

“You have brought enough to eat ‘Black Gold’ for eternity?”

“There was a good opportunity. And I was able to find their stronghold through ‘marking.’”

“Oho…”

The Demon King, Jin So-hee, having heard unexpected news, praised the Demon Duke Kaldrian and spoke.

“You have brought pleasant news, Kaldrian. I could feel your loyalty. So, where is the land the marking pointed to? Is it the Western Continent? The Northern Continent? Or is it those vermin in the south?”

“It was not such a distant land.”

“Where is it?”

“It was the Forest of the Demon Dragon, the Ingrad Domain, which has been causing trouble lately.”

It was also a region the Demon King had considered.

However, the Demon King had not thought that all these waves could be caused by one place, and as she realized her prediction was wrong, laughter began to flow.

Kaldrian, watching the Demon King enjoy his report, asked cautiously.

“I believe the owner of the Ingrad Domain is behind the Black Gold Merchant Company. And I was able to hear an interesting story while trading with the beastkin.”

“What kind of news?”

“It was the story that the Lord there is a Divine Messenger and that their god, ‘Artemisia,’ has bestowed blessings and protection upon him.”

“….Is that deity not one who dislikes humans…?”

Was it because she heard a story that went beyond her common sense?

The Demon King had a face as if she could not believe it, but the demon also continued speaking with a similar expression.

“I also hesitated to report it due to it being unbelievable information, but I came to report after hearing one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“They say the beastkin overcame the Curse of Mana bestowed by the Demon God this year. I was able to hear the story from a beastkin who said it was all thanks to the medicine he made.”

The Demon King thought the situation was flowing in an interesting direction. And thinking that an interesting human had appeared after a long time and was shaking the world, the Demon King stood up from her seat.

“Kaldrian, I suppose I should have a messy romp with the Empire after a long time.”