Chapter : 125

“I am sorry. I thought this was a place with no one around, so I entered rudely.”

“Not at all. It is not mine anyway, Madam. The terrace belongs to everyone attending the banquet.”

I answered with a bitter smile. The woman smiled with a coy yet mischievous expression.

“Hmm…? Then I suppose I can come in?”

“……?”

I was taken aback by her unexpected words.

Well, coming in was her freedom, but… people usually do not try to stay in the same space with a complete stranger of the opposite sex out of the blue, do they?

However, the woman did not care and strode over to lean against the terrace railing next to me.

‘Ha… She is bold.’

Even if the Elang Kingdom had a somewhat free-spirited culture within the banquet hall, this was a type of woman rarely seen.

To think she would be this unconcerned. Then, looking at the woman’s face, I tilted my head at a sense of familiarity.

‘Have I seen her somewhere? Why does she look so familiar?’

If I remembered her, it meant she was a character I would have seen once when playing [Pangea Universalise]. However, nothing specific came to mind.

“Why? Is something on my face?”

“Ah-! No. Excuse me, Madam. I apologize. I ended up staring because you seemed like someone I had seen before.”

“That is too cliché for a pickup line, isn’t it?”

“Oh my. It is a misunderstanding, Madam. Well… if you do not believe me, there is nothing I can do, but anyway, excuse me. Have a good time.”

I spoke and tried to leave the terrace. But at that moment, the woman casually threw a word out.

“It is Marie.”

“Yes?”

“I said it is Marie. Not Madam. I have not even married yet.”

“Ah…?”

“To turn an unmarried maiden into a married woman… Aren’t you being too mischievous?”

“Kuh, khem. I had no such intention.”

Flustered, I waved my hand and spoke. The woman who called herself Marie approached right up to my chin and looked at me with half-closed eyes.

“Hmmmmm….”

“W-What is it?”

“Not bad. This is a passing grade.”

“?”

What did that mean?

Why was she suddenly talking about a passing grade?

Indeed, women were difficult to understand, whether in reality or in the world of [Pangea Universalise].

“Your face is too close, Marie.”

Before I knew it, the tips of our noses were almost touching. Marie’s two eyes were smiling as she looked at me.

“Why? This is a banquet hall. In our stifling and repressed lives, isn’t a deviation of this magnitude just like a passing breeze?”

Saying that, Marie glanced to the side.

On other terraces, court romances were already unfolding. In [Pangea Universalise], free-spirited behavior in banquet halls was a culture permitted to some extent. It was like that in the actual Middle Ages too.

Of course.

“We are meeting for the first time right now, are we not?”

I did not think that way, though. Since I was playing a survival game immersed in this [Pangea Universalise] world, there was no way I could have such soft sentiments.

“And while you are beautiful, I am not a person whose heart is swayed by beauty alone. I consider relationships between people more important.”

I looked at Marie and spoke in a calm tone.

At that, Marie smirked and stepped back slightly as if the fun was spoiled.

“You are a boring man.”

Leaning against the terrace railing again, Marie shook her luscious hair. Her beautiful golden hair sparkled like gold under the lighting.

“Valuing relationships… That sounds like something church clergy would say? But that makes it somewhat unique.”

Then Marie laughed, “Kya-reuk.”

“What is your name? If you have heard a lady’s name, isn’t it etiquette to tell yours as well?”

‘Oh my.’

Who was the one shooting words without giving me time to speak! She was quite a self-centered tomboy of a lady.

“It is Johan.”

“Heh-heung. Johan… You have the same name as the much-talked-about Margrave of Bellua?”

“It is a common name. St. John is a very popular figure, after all.”

To the question that came in sharply, I shrugged and answered nonchalantly.

“Well, that is true. Sir Johan.”

Marie nodded at my words.

“Still, since you share the name with the Margrave of Bellua… I would like to hear Sir Johan’s opinion as well.”

“……?”

“It is nothing special. Rumors are widespread these days, aren’t they? Even now, the biggest topic of interest in the banquet hall is the story of the marriage between the King’s daughter and the Margrave of Bellua.”

“Ah… You mean that.”

“Yes, what does Sir Johan think of this marriage?”

Marie looked at me with sparkling eyes. Within her mischievous pupils, a quite calm seriousness was visible. Looking into Marie’s eyes, I slowly opened my mouth.

“The marriage… It is highly likely that it will not happen.”

“Why? Is the King’s proposal not attractive? Being united with a noble bloodline is a great honor. On top of that, he would be gaining a beautiful and young princess.”

Well, one could think like that woman.

Connecting with a noble bloodline.

Conversely, this meant something similar to opening up possibilities as a new royal family member.

If the lineage of the Elang Kingdom’s royal family were to be cut off, the opportunity could eventually come around to me as well.

Of course, to do that, I would have to beat numerous families who had married in before me.

“Things like that are not important to the Margrave of Bellua.”

“Then what is?”

“If you look at the things the Margrave of Bellua has done so far, he will not bother to move on a board set by others. Hasn’t that Margrave always acted according to the beliefs he thought were right?”

“Hmm… A board set by others… So you mean he will choose and judge for himself?”

“That is correct. Lady Marie.”

I nodded and answered.

“Ah, and there is another reason. This time, it might not be an issue with the Margrave of Bellua.”

“Another reason other than the Margrave?”

“Yes, Lady Marie. I heard that Princess Maceania is truly… free-spirited, is she not? Like a foal with a horn on its rump.”

“…I heard she is free-spirited, but not that lacking in formality.”

Marie answered while slightly furrowing her fine forehead. At her reaction, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Well, let’s say that is so. But isn’t it true that she will not follow obediently? Since she inherited the spirit of the free Aquitaine region.”

“I suppose that is true. But why does that matter?”

“If she does not like it, wouldn’t she run away saying she hates the marriage?”

I wasn’t just saying this for no reason.

Actually, when playing as the King of the Elang Kingdom in [Pangea Universalise], this was an event that popped up occasionally.

The Princess’s Great Escape commotion the day before the wedding!

This was a terrible, malicious event that sometimes caused a major falling out with the faction intended for the marriage alliance.

“…That is quite an interesting story. Sir. Jo. Han.”

‘Hmm?’

It felt like she was emphasizing each word… Was it my imagination?

Still, as the atmosphere turned strangely chilly, I gave a dry cough and stepped back slightly.

I was thinking of leaving the terrace now. Since I had been away for quite a long time, it was highly likely that my vassals were anxiously looking for me.

However, it was Marie, not me, who made the first move.

“Oh my, my servant has arrived. It is time to part ways. It was short but… an interesting encounter. Sir Johan.”

“Please go back safely. Lady Marie.”

The terrace door opened, and Marie’s servant had come to find her. Marie headed slowly out of the terrace, guided by the servant.

Then she held the terrace door for a moment.

“Ah! No.”

“?”

“Are you the Margrave of Bellua?”

“???”

“I hope I can see you again later. Truly.”

Leaving those words behind, she disappeared.

* * *

“BAAAA! Lord. Where on earth did you go. Baaa.”

“Shouldn’t you say your piece and step aside? Do you know how much everyone searched?”

“Ah, I am sorry. Magician Agpiel. I was resting on the terrace and ended up meeting a strange woman…”

“MAA?”

“Hmm?”

At that moment, the two who transcended species looked at me simultaneously. Their eyes were clearly full of… irreverent and somewhat lewd intent.

“BAAA-HE-HE. Right. Our Lord was a man too. BAAAA.”

“Ho ho ho. I thought you were a quiet cat. Turns out you are more vigorous than anyone.”

“…It is not like that. We just talked.”

What kind of misunderstanding was this?

My head throbbed for a moment.

But there was no way my words would work.

“Uh-huh-huh. Right, you must have just talked. I believe you. I believe. Isn’t that right? Bishop Marco.”

“BAAA-HE-HE-HE. Correct. Our Magician old man. For the first time, our minds match. BAAAA.”

“Groan…”

Better to die than to suffer.

Since when did those two hit it off so well?

I shook my head from side to side and turned toward the banquet hall.

The banquet hall was in full swing. Everyone’s faces were reddish from drinking heavily, and their voices were raised as if they were all in high spirits.

Somewhere, someone shouted ‘Duel!’ causing a commotion, and in another corner, clowns were performing exciting tricks. I wondered what kind of chaos this was, but the people were rather clapping and cheering as if it were fun.

Indeed… It was the fantastic grand banquet of [Pangea Universalise].

“You were here.”

At that moment, people parted to the left and right, and a man appeared.

It was the host of this grand banquet, the Duke of Bourgogne. The Duke of Bourgogne, accompanied by his married first son Charles and second son Lord Gertman, had an expression that was slightly not good for some reason.

“Did you look for me? Your Excellency the Duke.”

“I did. There is someone who insisted on seeing you. I could not refuse. Since her status is quite high.”

Even while speaking, the Duke of Bourgogne’s mood was still not good. Rather, he seemed slightly displeased.

“Well, if you do not wish it, I have no intention of meeting them necessarily. Your Excellency the Duke. I do not know who that person is, but on this good day, surely they are not more important than my friendship with Your Excellency.”

“Ha ha ha.”

Only then did the Duke of Bourgogne laugh heartily as if his mood had lifted.

Beside him, Magician Agpiel had a look of astonishment on his face, wondering what kind of dazzling tongue-lashing this was.

I shrugged nonchalantly.

“Well, that could be the case. I have my dignity too. Still, since you care for me this much… I feel good.”

Saying that, the Duke of Bourgogne gestured to the back.

Attendants moved busily, and a buzzing sound was heard from the rear for a moment. I wondered if it was the appearance of a noble with quite formidable authority.

But then…

“Princess Maceania has come in person. I could not bear to send her away. Here, Princess. This friend is the Bellua Margrave.”

“……?”

The woman appearing from behind.

She was someone extremely familiar. Wasn’t she Marie, whom I met on the terrace just a moment ago?

“Nice to meet you. Margrave of Bellua. I am Princess Maceania. You may comfortably call me Princess Marie.”

“I-I am also pleased to meet you. Princess Marie.”

Cold sweat broke out on my back for a moment.

I didn’t… make a slip of the tongue earlier, did I?

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