Chapter 416 - Chapter 399: Entering the Country
The week after Gabriel returned to the Kingdom of Revelant, the day arrived for Noein and Helga's party to depart for the Kingdom of Lancel.
The destination was Saint-Frere, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Lancel. Since this city is located slightly east of the center of the Kingdom of Lancel's territory, they were expected to arrive in about ten days one way, provided the journey proceeded without incident.
From the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, Noein, Matilda, and Eleos would travel. In command of the escort were Sir Pence Schoenberg and Sir Radley Nordheim. As Radley's adjutant was the squire Jeremy. The driver was the squire Henrik. Along with them were about twenty soldiers in total, consisting of Guard soldiers and general territorial army soldiers. Furthermore, two puppet mages including Cecilia from the Claymore. Including servant slaves and others, the total number reached over thirty people.
Even though they were friendly nations, this many people were gathered as a precaution against venturing deep into a foreign land, and because the party of the ruler of a nation, however small, required a certain level of prestige.
If possible, it would have been better for the Grand Duchess Clara to accompany them, but it was difficult to leave only the young Philia behind at the mansion, and if Philia were to accompany them, there would be a risk that the entire ruling family could be lost in the event of an accident or similar, so she would remain to guard the country.
On Helga's side, she was accompanied by over twenty attendants, including the assisting knight Beverstamm and Marquis Hakkarainen, who was the person responsible for the escort, making the combined parties of both nations a large group exceeding fifty people.
"Princess Helga, once we leave this fortress city of Aspida, we will finally enter the territory of the Kingdom of Lancel in less than two hours... but you don't have to be so nervous."
"Y-yes. I am sorry, despite having volunteered to accompany you to the Kingdom of Lancel."
Aspida was a small city located to the west of the ducal capital Noeina, serving as both a trade hub and a defensive outpost against the Kingdom of Lancel. While taking a temporary break there, Noein exchanged these words with Helga.
At the midpoint of the Bezel Highway, which connects the Grand Duchy of Arqvist and the Kingdom of Lancel, there was a camping base for those traveling between the two countries, and today they aimed for that location.
Territorially, that was already the land of the Kingdom of Lancel, and for Helga, a single night there would be her first night in a country unfriendly to beastmen. Furthermore, tomorrow they would pass through the Bezel Highway and come into full contact with the nobles of the Kingdom of Lancel.
"Are you still afraid?"
"...To be honest, a little. I must not be so timid. The Revelant royal family will be looked down upon."
As a member of the royalty of the Kingdom of Revelant, a beastman nation, she would be the first to visit the Kingdom of Lancel. Even if Helga approached this visit believing it was the work she had to do, whether she felt nervous or not was a separate matter. Imagining her inner thoughts, Noein gave a wry smile.
"As I mentioned before, at least regarding Viscount Clovis Bartholomew, whom we will contact first, it will be fine. He is a person capable of thinking with reason. The Viscount will accompany us until Saint-Frere, so as long as you are with him, there should be no problem."
Viscount Bartholomew was a man who, despite having been dealt a painful blow by Noein during the Great War in the southwest, had sought a handshake with a smile upon their reunion. If it was the Viscount, who valued his own profit regardless of whether it was for better or worse, then by virtue of his position, he would not slight Helga, the guest of the Queen, even if she were a beastman.
And Noein believed that if he, who had been entrusted by the Queen as the governor of her direct territory, accompanied them, there would be no nobles of the Kingdom of Lancel to cause unnecessary trouble at the lodging stops along the way.
"Your Excellency Arqvist, preparations for departure are complete."
At that moment, Pence came to report that the travel column had been organized and the supplies to be consumed on the way had been loaded into the carriages.
"Understood, good work... Well then, Princess, shall we go? If anything happens along the way, please let me know immediately."
Saying so, Noein parted ways for a moment with Helga, who was boarding the Revelant royal carriage, and headed toward the Arqvist family's private carriage together with Matilda and Eleos.
.....
After spending a night at the camping base located halfway along the Bezel Highway, the following day, the parties of the Arqvist Grand Ducal House and the Revelant Royal House successfully passed through the highway.
Emerging from the highway sandwiched between forests into the plains, the first thing that came into view was Luvignon, the central city of this border region which was the direct territory of the Lancel royal family. It was the Lancel Kingdom's hub for trade via the Bezel Highway, and the city governed by Viscount Clovis Bartholomew as governor.
"...Heh. I'd heard about it from Bart's reports, but the level of development is remarkable, Matilda."
"Yes, Lord Noein. It looks as if it has completely changed compared to when we came before."
Looking at the city's exterior, Noein exchanged these impressions with Matilda.
The last time Noein had come here was when the Kingdom of Lancel was still in the midst of internal strife, to deliver a personal letter from Oscar Lordberg III.
Luvignon, which at the time had been nothing more than an unremarkable frontier city surrounded by log fences, was now protected by city walls made of stone, and the scale of the city had visibly expanded. It was evidence that the importance of this city had increased for the Kingdom of Lancel economically, politically, and militarily.
A knight of lower nobility, said to be a subordinate of Viscount Bartholomew, had come to welcome them at the city gate, and under the knight's guidance, Noein and the others entered the city area of Luvignon.
Upon arriving at the governor's mansion, which also served as the administrative office, Viscount Bartholomew had come out in front of the entrance himself to welcome them.
"Grand Duke Arqvist! It has been a long time! I welcome your visit to the Kingdom of Lancel from the bottom of my heart!"
"Thank you for the welcome, Lord Bartholomew. I am glad to see you are doing well."
Seeing Noein step down from the carriage, Viscount Bartholomew called out with a smile that was almost refreshingly bright. While receiving that smile, which was clearly for social purposes but strangely did not feel unpleasant, Noein replied with a slight, mixed wry smile.
While they exchanged casual greetings, Helga also stepped down from the Revelant royal carriage, accompanied by Marquis Hakkarainen and Knight Beverstamm.
"Lord Bartholomew, I believe you have heard, but I shall introduce her again. This is Her Highness Princess Helga Revelant, who has come from the Kingdom of Revelant in the north of the Adleon continent."
Helga, whom Noein indicated with his hand, was pretending to maintain a calm expression, but she appeared nervous in front of a high-ranking noble of the Kingdom of Lancel, where persecution of beastmen was severe. Since it was apparent even to Noein, Viscount Bartholomew likely noticed as well.
On the other hand, Viscount Bartholomew, maintaining his favorable fake smile, walked toward Helga.
It was clear from the air that Helga's tension had increased, and the presence of Marquis Hakkarainen and Knight Beverstamm, who stood by her side, became sharp.
Paying no heed to such reactions, Viscount Bartholomew, having reached Helga—placed his right hand on his left chest and bowed politely.
"Princess Helga Revelant, welcome to the Kingdom of Lancel. As a royal noble serving Her Majesty Queen Anrietta Lancel, I welcome Your Highness from the bottom of my heart."
"...I thank you for the welcome, Viscount Bartholomew. It is a great joy for the Revelant royal family that I, as a princess, have been able to visit the Kingdom of Lancel upon the invitation of Her Majesty Anrietta Lancel."
Seeing Viscount Bartholomew's words and actions, Helga's expression became relieved, and she recited a greeting she seemed to have prepared in advance. Beside her, Marquis Hakkarainen and Knight Beverstamm looked somewhat deflated.
"Your Excellency Arqvist. Princess Helga. I imagine you are tired from traveling over several days. I shall prepare a modest banquet tonight, so please, make yourselves at home and relax."
The Viscount said this and ordered the mansion's servants to guide Noein and the other guests.
While being guided to their respective guest rooms, Noein turned his gaze toward Helga as they parted for a moment.
Then, he smiled and nodded as if to say it turned out fine.
Helga returned this with a smile and a nod.
Viscount Bartholomew had a simple personality. If it meant gaining favor from his liege and leading to his own promotion or stability of position, he would show no resistance to bowing, even if the opponent were a beastman. He was that kind of man.
Confirming that the worries had ended up being unfounded and that Helga seemed relieved, Noein entered his guest room, bringing Matilda and Eleos with him.