Chapter 62 : A Brief Lull (2)

Chapter 62: A Brief Lull (2)

“It is smaller in scale than I expected.”

“Castles of the nobility are not usually that large. They start small like that, then once the fief prospers, they use that as an inner keep, build outer walls around it, and little by little it grows larger and becomes an outer fortress.”

“Aha, I see.”

Their destination was a stone castle on top of a hill. It was the lord’s manor, its stone walls only a little higher than a regular courtyard wall, and a modestly sized village wrapped around it. Unlike Loren, there were no outer stone walls defending the outskirts. Just as Captain Mordo said, only the lord’s castle itself stood aloof, in the shape of a lone fortress.

“Is that the manor of Count Franz, who just surrendered to us this time?”

Captain Mordo asked the retainer walking ahead.

“Correct.”

“Is there anything we should be wary of when it comes to Count Franz?”

“To be honest, I am not sure. All I know is that even His Excellency Count Bellua does not fully trust him yet.”

“Fair, he was an enemy until just recently, so that makes sense.”

Listening quietly from the side, Shatien could more or less guess the story behind this banquet. Count Bellua might be the one hosting it, but the venue and cost were all probably coming out of Count Franz’s purse.

Most likely, this was meant to celebrate their victory in the preliminary battle and to confirm the loyalty of the newly joined Count Franz.

‘Well, it probably won’t matter to me.’

Since it had come to this, he only had to enjoy it. Everything else was something for the noble lords to worry about. There was no way back until the banquet ended, so he might as well relax and enjoy some good food.

Shatien and Captain Mordo passed through the village and headed toward the manor. Before long, they handed their horses to the servants and were shown inside the castle.

‘This interior is pretty good.’

In contrast to the rough exterior, the inside was cozy and splendid, enough that the chill in the air could not be felt at all. It seemed he had not become a count for nothing. The care Count Franz had put into the banquet hall could be felt as it was.

On the tables placed here and there, silver tableware and candlesticks were set out. Roasts of all kinds of game and dishes rich with spices lined the boards. While the servants bustled about carrying food, on another side bards and jesters were putting on a lively performance.

When Shatien roughly calculated how much money had been poured into the place, he could only click his tongue inwardly.

‘Nobles really have a hard time keeping up appearances.’

An average lord would hold a grand banquet like this and practically blow through the assets he had been hoarding.

The status of a noble was certainly powerful, but on the other hand, maintaining the honor and face that came with it was difficult in all sorts of ways.

Among the nobles who filled the dazzling banquet hall, there was one whom everyone could hear laughing loudly over the others.

Count Franz.

“Glory to Count Bellua!”

“Glory to the Count!”

The nobles raised their cups in answer. Between them, talk of marriages and politics flowed back and forth.

“Come here, Captain Mordo.”

“You are one of the main contributors to the victory in this preliminary battle, yes? I want to hear how you defeated the Imperial Army.”

Captain Mordo blended in fairly well, but Shatien did not. Among the nobles, there were very few who knew Shatien, and because of his youthful appearance, they seemed to think he was a mercenary guard that Captain Mordo had taken along.

‘That is a relief.’

Shatien actually liked that part. He had no desire to join in their discussions about politics or marriage.

What a rich life they spoke of.

It was important to fill his own stomach first.

Shatien simply enjoyed the banquet. He sat at a place set near the end of the hall and enjoyed the food and drinks the attendants brought him. The wine, said to be made at a nearby monastery, was especially excellent. For the first time in a while, Shatien enjoyed unexpected luxury and filled his stomach.

Just about the time he was really getting into it, Count Bellua appeared.

“Enter, His Excellency Count Bellua, Count of the Kingdom of Ellang and Protector of the Eastern and Western Regions!”

The murmur in the hall died in an instant. Count Bellua, wearing stately old-fashioned garments, took in the nobles’ gazes with satisfaction and sat at the head seat.

“Everyone has worked hard to come all this way. Let us then enjoy to the fullest the feast our Count Franz has prepared.”

“Hahaha!”

“Very well, my lord.”

At Count Bellua’s single sentence, the atmosphere rose again.

Shatien tried to melt into that mood in his own way. Quietly, from a seat set a little apart from the center, alone.

At that moment, his eyes met Count Bellua’s.

He thought it was a coincidence, but it was not.

“Who sat you all the way at the end?”

“...?”

At Count Bellua’s curt words, the once merry banquet hall turned cold in an instant.

“A-About that,”

Count Franz stammered.

He had clearly prepared a seat befitting status, who could have guessed something like this would happen? How could he possibly know that the young mercenary who had come along with Captain Mordo was someone important? As Shatien watched Count Franz flounder, he quickly stepped forward to explain.

“It’s because I arrived late. By the time I got here, this was the only empty seat left. Haha.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Count Bellua paused for a moment, then nodded and made a suggestion to Shatien.

“In that case, come sit by my side. Should the main contributor to this preliminary victory really be sitting in such a place, Shatien?”

At those thunderous words, the nobles’ eyes grew wide.

* * *

Shatien hesitated for a moment.

But he soon stood and walked to sit on Count Bellua’s left.

Thankfully, the seat was empty, so he did not have to earn the resentment of some noble who had already been seated there.

‘Hmm, I have no idea why Count Bellua is doing this… but I guess there is no downside for me.’

At a banquet, the seat to the host’s left was originally reserved only for those the host personally designated. Since sharp knives meant for cutting meat were used at close range, one could not simply let anyone sit at arm’s reach. In other words, Shatien sitting in this place was the same as Count Bellua declaring that he trusted Shatien that much.

Because of that, the nobles filling the hall began to mutter in low voices.

“That one?”

“So that is Shatien, the noble slayer?”

“They say the soldiers call him the Sword Breaker.”

“They say he handles a sword like a ghost… He looks younger than I thought huh?”

“I heard even decent knights do not dare challenge him easily.”

“Then should I perhaps offer him a title?”

Everyone had heard Shatien’s name at least once, but this was their first time seeing his face in person. Listening to the murmurs, Shatien bowed his head to Count Bellua.

“It is an honor, my lord.”

“Honor, what honor?”

Count Bellua ordered a servant to pour Shatien a drink.

Shatien clinked cups with Count Bellua.

-Clink.

The goblets filled with fresh wine rang with a clear note.

“I want to hear your story. I heard the Imperial Army outnumbered us by quite a bit, yes?”

“They did have superior numbers, but we had the palisades. Fortunately, we managed to use them well and hold the line.”

“Hahaha. How modest. I already heard the story of how you defeated Baron Ludwig. To have beaten him, the champion of the southeastern region, is an astonishing feat.”

“I did not defeat him. I only barely managed to end the fight.”

“That is the same thing. If you want, I could have a bard compose a ballad celebrating your deeds right away you know?”

“...I will just be grateful for the thought.”

Shatien refused with his whole being. He would rather go out to the battlefield and swing his sword one more time than sit and listen to a bard’s song like that.

Count Bellua laughed heartily, as if Shatien’s reaction was exactly what he expected, and seemed quite pleased.

As they exchanged small talk and the atmosphere ripened, Count Bellua stood up.

It looked as if he was about to make some important announcement.

“As you all know, the victory in this preliminary battle is largely thanks to Shatien here. Since long ago, he has continued to accomplish great feats as a mercenary under my command. Is that not so?”

“Y-Yes.”

“So I intend to bestow knighthood upon Shatien here myself. What do you all think?”

“...?!”

It was a bombshell declaration.

The nobles were all greatly shocked.

Count Bellua himself offering knighthood personally? Not in private, but publicly, in front of the other nobles. This was no different from Count Bellua declaring that he would stand as a powerful patron behind Shatien. It was an incredible honor. A few nobles felt envious, but none were foolish enough to show it on their faces.

‘How enviable.’

‘Does this mean we should start building ties with this Shatien fellow?’

‘But is he not under Captain Mordo’s command? In that case, we will need to stay close to Captain Mordo as well huh?’

‘I truly do not understand His Lordship’s thinking. At the end of the day, is he not just a mercenary at the level of a knight? Knights like that are not exactly rare...’

On the other hand, Shatien was even more confused than they were. A title of knighthood was certainly tempting, but the moment he accepted, he would have to serve under Count Bellua as a vassal.

That would mean parting ways with Captain Mordo and the Black Raven Mercenary Company.

‘But If I refuse outright, won’t that be extremely rude…?’

He glanced over, wondering if Captain Mordo might help him somehow, but the man was instead smiling warmly. He clearly meant it as sincere congratulations.

‘I’m gonna go insane.’

If he refused bluntly, it would be no different from causing a huge disaster that gravely damaged Count Bellua’s honor. He needed some sort of excuse, anything at all…

“I really like that about you, Shatien.”

However, Count Bellua solved it for him, reading the situation on his own.

“You once refused to serve under my banner.”

“Huh?”

“Is that true?”

“How could he pass on such an opportunity…!”

The nobles shouted in surprise at Count Bellua’s words. They had never heard of a mere commoner refusing such an offer.

“Haha... That was only an offer to serve as a squire under a senior knight...”

Seeing the mood starting to twist, Shatien hurriedly waved his hands. Count Bellua chuckled as if he found it amusing and replied.

“That is why I can talk about it while laughing like this. Otherwise, you would have suffered an entirely different kind of trouble.”

At that, Shatien could only sweat even more.

“In any case, I understood your thoughts back then. And I very much agree with them. So, Shatien, let me make you a very special offer.”

“...?”

Offering knighthood to a mercenary was already unusual, so what could be more special than that?

The answer came in Count Bellua’s next words, which cleared the nobles’ curiosity.

“I will grant you an exemption from the usual vassalage contract. All you need to do is carry out your duties in my name as a knight, protect the weak, uphold justice, and further, strive to protect the honor of me, Bellua, who gives you this charge. How does that sound? Is that not special enough?”

“?!?!?!?”

“!!!!!!!!!!”

There was nothing more to say.

It was so special that no one could answer, they could only stare in amazement.