Chapter 266: Mothers and Daughters
The war situation would change again soon.
Evenapis Merly sealed the letter her addressed to her parents 'home her with such anxiety.
'I would like to have tea outside today. May I ask Fanny to say something?'
Saying so, Merly handed the letter to the middle-aged maid who was waiting by her side of her.
Yes, sir.
The middle-aged maid is Merly's first and foremost servant Her.She is of Evenapis origin, and she was one of those who accompanied Merly when she married.
The middle-aged maid checked the wax seal on the letter she received and instructed the other servants waiting outside the room to prepare for the tea party.
Merly had been in a state of tension ever since Operation Snake Jaw began. And so was Fanny, who had been put in charge of New Nelly by Wilk.
She wanted to have a tea break to give her daughter a rest from her work and to think about the future.
Not long after Merry left the castle garden, Fanny appeared.
'I am so glad you invited me, Mother.
The daughter entered the pavilion where the tea ceremony was being prepared, and peeked at her mother with her concern.The reality that she was going to be labored over, Merly chuckled.
The girl's mother looked at her worriedly. Fanny has worked very hard on this matter. Let's relax a little for now and enjoy the tea.
It was only two weeks ago that Quardenze Lukuse returned to New Nellie from her trip to King's Landing. Although tensions are still high at New Nellie Castle, the burden that had fallen on Merly and Fanny has been somewhat lifted.
Is your father going to be all right?”
Fanny, who was sitting on a chair, asked with her eyes on the castle.
Lukuse has been moving without a break since his return to Newnery Castle. He had to move. Almost as soon as he returned to the castle, he received a report from the front line that they had launched an urban offensive against Othelloia.
Lukuse was not the only one surprised by this news. Everyone in New Nellie Castle was astonished.
It was true that they had heard of the plan to attack Othelloria, but no one had expected that they would be able to march so quickly. The logic of riding the momentum of victory to the city of Othelloria is understandable. Be a major offensive that would take weeks or months.
A panicked Lukuse said in great haste, “We are preparing reinforcements. But the reply he received a few days later was, “We've already raided the city center. We are in control of the city now. Merry saw her husband's exhausted face.” For the first time.
It seems that the capture of Othelloia Castle is proving difficult, so I guess it's a little easier for you, too, Luke-sama.
As she said it, Merly felt strange.The most important thing to remember is that the best way to get the most out of your own home is to be a good friend.
The jaw operation seems to have progressed beyond our imagination.
There was a big gap between the awareness of New Nelly and that of the field. This is not simply a matter of distance.
On the continent of Eluo, commoners, in short, slave ancestors, are insignificant. They are weak people who are merely subservient to their masters and followers, and their wills and actions are rarely considered to have any impact on the population at large.
The Snake Jaw operation led by Wilk was a critical hit at a critical point because the movement of the commoners was ideal. Those on the receiving end of the reports could not fully understand.
However, the successes of the powerful in overcoming Arcunoa, defeating the current and previous heads of the family, and attacking the enemy's stronghold were a kind of distraction and a factor that hindered understanding. The fact that they were able to achieve such spectacular results must have been due to the will and actions of Wilk, the general and the main ancestor.
Reports were coming in from the front lines, but they did not convey the passion of the people on the ground.
……This is the reality, isn't it?”
Merly laughed quietly as she gently set down her cup.
'Mother?
'Hmm, I had a few thoughts. The first time I went to the beach, I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night,” She said. The battles over Hartinos, the invasion of the surrounding noble territories, and the subsequent pacification, etc…….”
The aristocratic Evenapis family was founded about 100 years ago. The first head of the family was a blessed child born in the city of Hartinos.
The story of the first generation was a favorite of my late brother. Just when you think you have defeated a city, you challenge another noble family to a battle, defeat them, and then swallow them up. It was interesting to listen to the story as the situation changed one after another, but when you are actually thrown into the middle of it,…… There is no time to have fun. It was a strong reminder of the difference between story and reality.
The Evenapis family has had a succession of martial heads, the first, second, and third generations.
Defeating enemy armies, defeating enemy generals, and cutting and seizing territory are all praised with open arms in the Evenapis family. The family has a long history of developing itself through victories over its enemies. In fact, Merly was brought up in such a dangerous environment that when he hears the word “Enemy,” He thinks of nobles before magical beasts.
As for Evenapis Merly, she should probably be praising this victory.However, she was simply worried about her son, who continued to fight in the middle of enemy territory.
'He seems to have the upper hand now, but he is surrounded by Spierzeig territory,' she said. I hope …… Wilk is not injured. He's a little boy who gets carried away in the strangest places. ….
The first thing to do is to make sure that you have a good understanding of what is going on in the world.
Because he is her first child, Merly is particularly concerned about her distorted son, There is no saying on the continent of Eluo that the more difficult a child is to handle, the cuter he is, but a similar emotional dynamic exists .
Fanny smiled softly at her mother's troubled expression as she thought of Wilk, who was far away in enemy territory.
She smiled softly at her mother, who was thinking of Wilk in the distance.My brother is my brother.
Then, a strong light shone in her blue eyes her.
I'll wait here, trusting you.
This is neither an optimistic statement nor a thoughtless statement of blind faith in her brother Her.They were the words of a proud princess who protects the backs of those who go into battle.
She said, “…… I think I was feeling a little vulnerable. I shouldn't be, even though Fanny is so uptight.”
Merly's spirit was unexpectedly exhausted because of so many things that had happened.However, one of the purposes of today's tea party is to make Fanny work hard.If she is not being worked on, she is not worth talking about.
Merly thought so and stood up suddenly and approached Fanny.
Fanny, you have worked hard enough. It must have been very hard for you to bear the name of Quardenze in the absence of both Lukuse and Wilk, isn't it? The battle is not over yet, but you should relax a little. If you do not rest when you rest, you will not be able to fight when you fight. That is what we are taught in Evenapis.”
Merly gently held Fanny, who was still sitting in her chair, as if wrapping her in her arms, Her daughter's body was much stronger than she had imagined.
'We are worried about you, too, my dear.
Mother……”
The more she stroked her daughter's curly hair, the more the tension loosened.
I wonder if I would have been as prepared when I was her age her.I wonder if I would have been able to be as prepared when I was her age her.
I am really proud of you,……
The child of a blessing cannot become a noble when it overpowers a noble.It is because they do not have the wisdom to carry on and protect the blood of the main ancestors.It is only a native noble, a great lord.To transform a mere overlord into a nobleman, he needed the help of his predecessors.
The first generation of Evenapis was discovered by the then head of the Kuordentse family, Kuordentse Ilmesca, and given a princess to be his rightful wife. She is indispensable to keep the blood of the main ancestor alive for future generations. Marry alone, and her companions included many knights and officials. This group of brides who came from Quordenze transformed a mere lord into a nobleman.
Therefore, the Evenapis family is very strongly influenced by the Quordenze family. Or, to be more precise, the ideas of the Quordenze Ilmeska.
Perhaps because of this background, Merly was somewhat reserved toward Fanny.
From Merly's point of view, Fanny is a perfect princess.
From an early age, she has acquired the graceful manners and etiquette befitting a princess of Quordenze, and she behaves naturally and elegantly. She is not arrogant, and she is able to respond to those who love her, like Wilk, with openness and without mockery.
Even before she married into the family, Merly had a high opinion of the Quardenze family's educational abilities, and her opinion was further strengthened through Fanny's growth. Technical skills of those under its control who are actually responsible for that education.
Perhaps because of this, he often wondered whether he, as a member of the Evenapis family, should interfere in Fanny's education her.In modern Japanese parlance, I would often look at her as if she were “Someone else's child.
Compared to this, Wilk was easy to deal with. He was well educated, but when he started something, he tended to get everyone involved and make a big deal out of it. Because of this, everyone had to put their heads together and think About the educational policy by hand, so Merli was able to interfere easily.
Merly regrets that he should have loved Fanny more honestly. Perhaps it was her heavy responsibility in Operation Snake Jaw, but in the past few weeks, Fanny has grown up a lot. Her embrace.
Mugu…… Mother, you are in pain.”
Oh, I'm sorry.”
The first thing that comes to mind is that the mother's eyesHer are always filled with regret when she sees her daughterHer look of regret on her faceHer as if she regretted what she had said brought out a teasing feeling in Merry.
'I am very happy that your mother praised me, but …… I have n't learned enough yet.I did n't understand much about what your brother was doing when I heard his report of her.'
The Quardenze family once suffered from infighting between the main and branch families. Thanks to the efforts of the previous head of the family, Kasia, all of these were purged and centralized power was established, but the trauma of that period still remains in the blood of the Quardenzes.
However, the trauma is still in the blood of the Quordenze.In order not to cause a situation like the independence of the branch families again, Fanny's education was especially careful of her.
If Fanny is to remain in the territory, she should not be given unnecessary knowledge. This is why Fanny rarely left the castle and was not given much knowledge of the outside world.
It is undeniable that she is more sensitive than she should be, partly because her memories of the purge by Cassia are still fresh. However, it was a clear fact that so much blood and tears had been shed in the past.
Lukuse's goal was to be like an old woman who was a branch of the Spiaseik family, which had been holding down the western mountainous region in Shikinaon City. All she needed was the grace of an aristocrat and the mental strength to carry out her idea of self-defense.
She was a woman of noble birth, and she had all the mental strength to carry out her ideas of self-defense. You should be proud of that.”
Not everyone stands up to defend their homes. The children of nobles who surrender without showing the will to fight as a result of being cornered are by no means a minority. Merly, who has watched the war unfold next to Luke, is well aware of this.
Besides, it is only recently that you have begun to learn about the outside world in earnest, isn't it? There's no need to rush.
Fanny's educational policy has changed dramatically since the Elsinian disaster. With the reduction of nobles from all over the continent, diplomacy has reached a major turning point. Lukuse, who thought that depending on the situation, he should consider giving Fanny to another family as a bride, instructed him to give her outside knowledge as well, just to be safe.
I want to know as much as you do,” He said. I want to know as much as you do, about the castle, about the territory, and about other territories. Then I will be able to talk to you more, won' t I?”
When Wilke returns from Othellia, I will tell him how much work Fanny has done.
I'm really looking forward to it.
But even if we win this, I don't know if they will come back soon,” She said. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the “Jaw Operation” Will be a good thing for the youngsters.
Merly's view is that this will be the case first of all. The actuality that Galfis, who has developed magic insufficiency, is dangerous to remain in Othellia, and Lukuse, the head of the family, cannot be absent from New Nellie City for a long period of time. It is also unrealistic to assign an old man from a branch of the family. At the very least, Wilk would not be able to leave Oceloria until the defeat of the Spierzeig knights and the destruction of the tribe were almost complete.
And that was very bad for Merly.
Fanny loves Wilk, “He said. She will miss him, won't she?
It may be inevitable, but I will miss him.
If it goes on too long, I may have a word with Mr. Rouxse.
We must act with an eye toward the postwar period.
'Does your mother think that the battle against Spierzeig will be prolonged?
'It depends on how the attack on Othellia goes and how it is settled, but I think the postwar process will be protracted.
Considering the movements of the Kingdom and the Empire, we will be moving into a very difficult phase. Merly thinks that it might have been easier to stop the march in Shikinaon City and negotiate a ceasefire. Othellorian City is like a beehive. To be touched easily, chaos would spring up all over the Voestra Plain.
But with the city of Othelloia in sight, they couldn't stop, could they?
……After all, the grudge is deep-rooted.”
Quardenze and Silopea. Merly did not speak until the end.
In her frank opinion, she would have liked to see the Spiaseik family be dealt with at some point if it was possible to contain them.
The fact that the Evenapis family is anti-Spierzeik is basically due to the influence of the Quardenze and Silopea families. Although they are regarded as the Quardenze side and have suffered various disadvantages from the Spiaseik family, they have the worst impression of the Spiaseik family , but they do not have a deep hatred that could be called an ancestral grudge.
Is that the case with your brother?”
When asked that question, Merly himself had his own doubts.
'I don't know ……. There are parts of Wilk that I don't understand.'
He seems to think that Spierzeig is an enemy, but it seems to be based on a decision of reason, not emotion.
Perhaps she resembles Lord Cassia.
Is she your grandmother?”
Yes. Before I came to Quardenze, a knight from Evenapis told me about her. She did not have strong feelings of hatred for them until she lost her eldest son, Master Gardacre.
In that sense, Merly wondered if Wilk had similar thoughts to Cassia. Older members of the Quardenze family described Wilk and Kasia as similar in terms of eccentricity.
They also say that your brother resembles your grandfather.
The valiant and daring march he showed in Operation Serpent's Fang is often compared to Gulfis, the symbol of Quordenze's military prowess. Merly had heard this rumor as well.
It seems so,” He said. But among the nobles of the kingdom, there is an increasing number of people who say that he resembles Wilkse. I believe that the person Wilke resembles most is Master Lukuse.
This is the result of the fact that he has been recognized for his tactful behavior at the royal social gatherings. And since Wilke imitates Lukuse as a role model, there are many similarities in their words and actions. Many people found similarities between them.
Grandmother, grandfather, and father: ……
It was strange that they were connected through Wilk, even though they were completely different people. Fanny twisted her head and read off the names.
'I remember that when Evenapis' grandfather learned of Operation Jaw, he exclaimed that Wilk was like Lord Ilmesca.
Is that you, Mr…….Inner-City?”
Grandfather of Evenapis is the current Count of Evenapis, and “Lord of the Interior” Is one of the honorary titles of Quardenze Ilmeska.
'Yes. Lord Ilmeska reached out to the Blessed Child, the First Lady. Wilk also employed the Blessed Son in warfare. Although there is a difference in the treatment of the Blessed Son, indirect or direct, it is similar in that he used the Blessed Son in his service. The Blessed Son's male children would normally have been anathema to the nobility.
There are plenty of such cases in the age of warfare, in which people think they are using a stray ancestor as a soldier, but before they know it, they have been turned in their sleep. In particular, it is no exaggeration to say that a male ancestor who can create a large number of follower soldiers is a potential enemy.
'Lord Ilmesca unified the interior and laid the foundation for the great noble house of Quordenze. If Wilk continues to carve out a large swath of the Vojstra Plain, his achievements will be even greater. No wonder my grandfather saw the resemblance.'
'Does your mother feel the same way?'
“I don't know. I have never met Prince Ilmeska, and I cannot judge his character.
Count Evenapis's comparison was a kind of riddle.
Irmesca unified the interior, but it was also an impossible expansion. Soon after the unification of the interior, the Quordenze branch of the family was instigated by the Spiaseik family to plan its independence from the main family. As a result, the territory of Kuordenze It was Irmesca's great-grandson, Kasia, who succeeded in smashing this division and reuniting the interior.
Irmesca is considered one of the great heads of the Quordenze and is highly respected as the first patron of the Evenapis family.However, his merits and demerits are both good and bad.
Count Evenapis' likening of Wilk to Ilmesca was an instruction to Merly to encourage him to think carefully about his postwar rule. If we are going to annex a large part of Spiaseik territory, at the very least, we want to kill as many Spiaseik knights and squire soldiers as possible in the battle for the Ocelorian castle and hold the head of the family, Romilie, as a prisoner of war.
'Wilk is very good at copying other people's ways, you know. Perhaps he was following the example of Lord Ilmesca in appointing the Blessed Child. He likes new things, but on the other hand, he is cautious and prefers precedent.
It is a principle that is typical of Wilk, who lived in Japan in his previous life. He is able to do as much as he likes in areas that have never existed before, such as pioneer associations, but he has a tendency to hesitate when it comes to systems that are already operating in the style of the Eluo continent for fear of making mistakes based on his shallow knowledge.
Grandmother, Grandfather, Father, and the inner city-sama …….”
Fanny again raised the list of people who were said to resemble Wilk. Merly added one more person, although he was not sure whether he should say it or not.
There is one more person. There is the other one, Emperor Jingkaen.
He is the man who conquered the western part of the continent, which was suffering from turbulent times, and built a powerful nation.His heroic story is still told throughout the continent.
The flashy episodes produced by Wilke's actions, such as the splitting of the great shield of Vojstra and the defeat of the magical beasts in the royal capital, inevitably reminded us of Emperor Zinkaen. The position of the Quordenze family probably had a lot to do with it.
Depending on the spread of public opinion, the Quordenzes could find themselves in a difficult position.”
If the Spierzeig family were to fall, the Kingdom's aristocracy would look at the Kuordenze family differently. If many see Wilk as the second coming of Emperor Zinkaen, they will be forced into a very difficult position.
The royal aristocracy had once been terrorized by the rapid progress of the Jinkaen Empire. Depending on the outcome of this war, it could lead to a repeat of that trauma.
It will be important to show the Kingdom that we are solidifying our position on the inside.
The Quardenze family has no further ambition, and Wilk has not inherited the will of Emperor Zinkaen. If he did not show this to the outside world, the nobles of the Kingdom would be unnecessarily fearful of the Quardenzes.
……And I think that's enough. Master Luke has suffered all this time.
Merly believes that it is necessary to actively discuss with Luke about how to drop the matter with the Spierzeik family.
The biggest problem facing the Evenapis family at the moment is the issue of succession. The Evenapis family, which suffered tremendous damage as a result of Elsinia's disaster, is facing the worst possible situation for the aristocratic family: if things continue as they are, there will be no one left to succeed the family's founder.
This is a situation that Merly cannot overlook. Of course, the disappearance of the Evenapis family would not be something the Quardenze family would wish for either. The great project of annexing the territory of Spierzeig.
Merly was thinking of taking a seed from Wilk in some cases, but he would have preferred to leave it to Fanny if he could. It would be better for the number of children to be born that way, and more importantly, it would be good luck.
Merly wanted to receive two or more children born to his brother and sister, preferably in Evenapis. Of course, the Quardenze would have to show a reasonable interest. The blood of the ancestors cannot be bought with money.
In any case, the situation surrounding Kuordenze will become more difficult from now on. I will support Mr. Lukuse. So, Fanny, please support Wilk.
Of course. I am also a nobleman of Kuordenze.
Without hesitation, Fanny responded with a big smile on her face.
As expected, he could not discuss anything more graphic than that under the current circumstances.
'…… Oh, come to think of it, I didn't hear Fanny's opinion of her.'
Because of the strange pause, Merly created a flow in the conversation by returning to the subject.
'My own?
'Yes. I think that Wilk is a lot like Luke. I think he looks a lot like his father-in-law, Lord Cassia, and Emperor Zinkaen, according to public opinion. So what do you think, Fanny?”
“Your brother is……”
After saying that much, Fanny turns her gaze away from the castle.
The young master has a new report for you!
The civil official who rushed to the pavilion was empty-handed. The report is in Luke's hands. He only announced the result in a loud voice: “The Spiaseiks have surrendered.
The Spiaseiks have surrendered!
Had n't Romilie risen up to defend Othellia and shown her resistance Her?Why did Wilk make his move before the reinforcements arrived?How many troops were left on Spierzeig's side?
Various factors were spinning around in his head, and Merli was unable to stand up immediately.
“Mother, is your body……
'……Yes. Yes, I'm fine.”
For now, Merly decided to think positively.
'If Othellia has fallen, there will be no more surprises.
The letter to his parents 'house her had not yet been sent out, so corrections would be easy.Merly's spirit had reached a certain state of resignation as she thought of this.
I am sorry, but the tea party has to be suspended. Let's go and support Mr. Lukuse.
Yes, Mother.
In order to confirm the details, Merly returned to the castle.
There, they were told the details of Spierzeig's surrender, and the couple was left scratching their heads.
