It was at the time when Kyrie had such a thought in her feverish head. One of the communication stones, which were placed categorically on her desk, began to glow. Kyrie immediately returned to her expressionless appearance and stroked the communication stone.
âI thought I was going to lose my neck while waiting.â
ăIt is better to keep it well so that it does not fall off.ă
Leshaux answered in a low-pitched voice from beyond the communication seat. Kyrie laughed bitterly.
âWhat about the information I asked for?â
ăIt is as I thought. The Emperor is behind the Marquis of Vermont.ă
âOf course.â
Kyrie muttered.
âIs there something wrong with central politics? I canât understand why she suddenly became interested in the West.â
ăAs you may know, I do not have subordinates. Thatâs all the information Iâve found.ă
Leshaux cut Kyrieâs doubts with a single blow. That said, there was nothing to say, Kyrie shook her head.
âAnything else?â
ăLaura FortDucane and Maria OldCiudad returned to their respective families.ă
ââŠâŠWhen did it happen?â
ăImmediately after you were caught.ă
Kyrieâs finger tapped the desk. She had many thoughts, but Kyrie forcibly blocked them. She shook her head. It was then that Leshaux, who seldom spoke, said something else.
ăI have a question for you, Kyrie Buchanan.ă
âPlease speak.â
Leshaux was silent for a moment.
ăDo you know anything about magic?ă
âI know bloodlines come first, talent second, and third is passing the tradition down.â
Kyrieâs answer probably came out more seamlessly than he would have thought. Because she wasnât the type of person easily surprised, she was unfazed by the sudden change in topic. Just as Kyrie was calm, Leshaux was also calm.
ăIs that all?ă
âI know that will, skill, and mediation are necessary, but I have never learned more than that. As you know, Buchanan was of a wizarding family, but there is no magic left in my generation.â
ăThatâs all I need to know.ă
It was a rare expression of emotion. Kyrieâs eyes narrowed as she bit her lip.
âThat was a relief just now. But why?â
To be honest, she had a hard time with Leshaux. No, itâs more than hard. She couldnât understand him. Unlike Nathaniel, he saw her as a stranger.
Before Nathaniel imprisoned Kyrie, Leshaux knew about it, but didnât stop it. He only moves for Nathaniel.
âIs there anything I need to know about magic to benefit Nathaniel?â
She thought about it for a while, but it was something she could never imagine. And she didnât even have to imagine.
He is Nathaniel.
âForget it, Kyrie Buchanan.â
Kyrie slowly tapped her fingers simultaneously.
âThere are a few more things Iâd like to ask you to do. I was going to tell you this morning, so shall we take care of it while weâre at it?â
ăWhat?ă
Kyrie smiled dryly.
âWhat the Lord just said.â
***
The Marquis of Vermontâs soldiers reached the plains near Pronoia without much difficulty.
âLord. All troops are on standby.â
The Lieutenant came and saluted the Marquis of Vermont. The Marquis came out of the barracks and looked at Pronoia, a blur from the distance. Even from this distance, the white marble and glass windows of the Pronoia Grand Library sparkled in the light.
âNo contact?â
âThere is none.â
The Marquisâ eyes narrowed.
âThey didnât raid at night, the people were evacuated, and there were no other trapsâŠ.â
Thanks to this, he was able to get to Pronoia at a much faster rate than he had expected. The Marquis thought it was the command of the Legendary Lord.
âItâs just a regular army without any magic users.â
His eyes went wild. The cold-frozen hatred was revealed. It was when he flapped his cloak and tried to return to the barracks. The voice increased in volume with magic, as if it were reverberating off a nearby wall.
ăItâs been a while, Marquis of Vermont.ă
The Marquis of Vermontâs body stiffened. He turned his head and looked at Pronoia.
ââŠâŠ.Kyrie Buchanan?â
He heard that the Legendary Lord caught her again. Of course, like before, he thought she was being kept somewhere unknown to anyone, but it seems that wasnât the case.
âI guess youâre finally thinking of sticking together, arenât you?â
(T/N: joining hands)
The Marquis smiled, revealing this. He strode towards the front of the unitâs camp. After his Lieutenant handed him a mana stone to amplify his voice, at first glance, his tone seemed friendly.
âWho is this, isnât this Miss Buchanan?â
The disguised kindness was to have Kyrie Buchanan, who would hate the Legendary Lord, on his side. But Kyrie noticed it subtlety and responded softly.
ăWhat are you doing, Marquis? Scholars are afraid.ă
âThere will be no harm to them. Only if you give me the Legendary Lord.â
ăWell. I can hear the clamor of the armor clashing all the way up here. It would be unacceptable to bring such an armed force into the city.ă
âHa?â
The Marquis stroked the tip of his beard and clicked his tongue.
âMiss Buchanan. Iâve been listening quietly, but youâre talking as if something happened. As far as I know, Miss Buchanan wasnât that ignorant of the subject, was she?â
A laughter was heard from afar.
ăMore than that, since it is the seat of a Lord versus a Lord, would you treat me with respect?ă
âLord?â
ăAfter all, it will be received in five years, so I asked for it in advance.ă
Kyrie Buchanan answered languidly. The Marquisâs head jerked to the Lieutenant beside him.
âIs that true now?â
âWe are receiving calls from the capital twice a day, but no ceremonies have been held!â
âThen you mean that Cesar Buchananâs daughter said something like that without anything? Check back right now!â
The Marquis of Vermont kicked one of the lieutenants on the back. He clicked his tongue and furrowed his eyebrows. He sent someone to check, but itâs probably true. Although the nobles make a living by bluffing and showing off, theyâd never lie about it since it could be discovered. Strength entered the fist of the Marquis holding the communication stone.
âI admit that you are Lord, Miss Buchanan. But, unfortunately, I have no respect for a mere young lady who only knows how to manage a family and has never done politics.â
The Marquis smirked. Under the blue sky, Kyrie Buchananâs sullen laughter echoed.
ăYes. I didnât even expect it.ă
The Marquisâs mood deteriorated strangely at the overly casual attitude.
âKyrie Buchanan! Are you really going to fight me in order to defend the wicked Legendary Lord?â
ăWould this have happened if you were polite and formal?ă
âItâs okay! Donât go out of your way to disgrace the Duke of Buchanan and step back!â
The Marquis of Vermont muttered in a low-pitched voice. But Kyrie Buchanan was relaxed.
ăItâs a nice day. A good day to read a book. I like classical literature. It may be a little boring, but it contains a lot of things.ă
âHa. Did that classic even teach you how to win a war?â
ăOh, of course.ă
At that moment, the tone changed. The playfulness was gone, and a solemn and ferocious spirit lingered.
ăIâm asking for an one-on-one confrontation, Vermont.ă
The Marquis of Vermontâs forehead narrowed. The reason he couldnât answer right away was because he needed time to trace his memory.
Although it is an ancient style of written law, knights that the Lord trusted most traditionally fought one-on-one to determine the outcome of the battle. It was a measure to reduce innocent sacrifices.
âThatâs what you believed in. Youâre thinking of sending out the Legendary Lord, arenât you?â
ăIâm sorry for disappointing you, but thatâs not the case at all. How about this? Letâs stop our unnecessary fights. The time is now, winter is over and spring is coming. Your territories are the ones who fighting for the land, not my people, right?ă
At the sharp point, the Marquis of Vermont clenched his teeth. It was true that he moved his soldiers by force. It was because he thought that if it wasnât now, he wouldnât have another chance.
âBut what do you mean?â
Kyrie Buchanan had no power in Pronoia. Nor does she have any local mercenaries to lend her a hand. To put it bluntly, among all the cities of Trevereum, the average age of Pronoia was the highest.
âIt must be a bluff.â
The Marquisâs narrowed eyes shone. Looking around, the knights he had carefully nurtured were also smirking. The Marquis laughed out loud.
âGreat! I accept your application for a challenge. Iâll send out five knights instead! Letâs play the tournament, and the last one remaining wins!â
The Marquis of Vermont, who exclaimed proudly, added at the end.
âBecause if it ends too quickly, I would feel sorry for Buchanan.â
ăOkay, Marquis of Vermont. Letâs start right away without waiting.ă
âI will make you regret it!â
There was no need to order. When he turned around, the Marquis of Vermontâs five most trusted knights were lined up in front of him.
âI will bring the honor of winning, my Lord!â
Well-made weapons and sturdy shiny armor. And elite knights nurtured by the swordsmanship of the Marquis of Vermont. Confident in his odds of attaining an easy victory, he spread his arms towards his knights. The red cloak flapped like the wings of an eagle.
âI hope you have found some useful talent among those old people who are sitting with books everywhere!â
As if waiting for that moment, at the border of the city of Pronoia, someone began to walk out. The Marquis of Vermontâs eyes narrowed.
âA knight?â
But it was strange. The shadow is exceptionallyâŠ. small.
ăThis is unfortunate.ă
Kyrie Buchananâs voice resounded with a roar of laughter.
ăWhat we are going to send out from our camp is a very small, cute, tender and a lovely girl.ă
***
âOuch!â
âAww!â
âArgh!â
âKhuek!â
Every time MarryAnne raised her fist, the knights fell like leaves in the fall. The third time the knight went to the showdown, his mustache twitched when he saw the two stunned knights.
âIf you are careless about knocking her down, you will get a big nose injury!â
MarryAnne, who gently lifted the two fallen knights and moved them to the corner, widened her eyes.
âMarryAnneâs nose is not big. But I think you have a big nose!â
âWhatâŠ..! This cheekyâŠâŠ.!â
The knight on horseback shouted, pounding his chest in full plate armor.
âMy name is Richard Hyland! A proud knight of Vermont, unlike the lowly maid, Iâm a true vassal of the Marquis of Vermont!â
âOh.â
MarryAnne looked surprised. Richard Hyland finally realized her compliant response, and raised his chin in pride. But MarryAnne grabbed her head and began to groan.
âThatâs right, the Lady told me that knights shouldnât be called unclesâŠ. Is that right, uncle?â