Volume 6 Chapter 18 Second Visit 3️⃣
The heavy silence in the carriage clung to the air like a fog, all thanks to the bomb Margrave Shield had just dropped. Luke opened his mouth to speak more than once, but each time, the words faltered and he closed it again. Meanwhile, Zain silently trembled with laughter, his shoulders shaking, but not a sound escaping his lips.
"Grandfather, um... His Majesty is—"
"Wait, Cain. Say no more."
Cain had just started to speak when Margrave Shield raised a hand to stop him.
"If you speak further, Cain, it would be considered disrespectful. You're a noble now as well. You must never voice such thoughts aloud, even if they stir in your heart. Do you understand?"
His tone was firm, like iron drawn across stone. But when Cain bowed his head, looking small and regretful, the margrave softened and gave him a gentle pat on the head.
"Zain, if you're done laughing, perhaps you should say something useful?" Margrave Shield said, turning his eyes toward the still-quivering man beside him. "You heard everything too, didn't you?"
Zain gave a small shrug, but the margrave continued, turning to Luke and Cain.
"Don't worry, both of you. His Majesty isn't wandering the land without reason. Our kingdom is vast. Messages from the capital take time to reach the far-flung lands of nobles like myself, especially those near foreign borders. His Majesty has long been concerned about this. This journey is a personal effort to see how information flows across the realm."
"But... couldn't that have been done before the abdication...?"
Luke's voice held a note of hesitation as he voiced the question lingering in his heart.
"There's a clear reason," Margrave Shield answered calmly. "If something were to happen during an inspection while His Majesty still sat the throne, the consequences would be dire. But after abdication, even if an incident occurs, the impact on governance is minimal. That's how His Majesty sees it. Of course, there's still risk, but far less than before."
At this, both Luke and Cain slowly nodded. "I see," they murmured, the explanation settling in their minds like a puzzle piece finally falling into place.
Watching their expressions shift in understanding, Zain, who had been holding it in all this time, suddenly burst into laughter. Once it started, it was impossible to stop. The three of them simply watched, letting him laugh it out.
After some time, Zain finally wiped a tear from his eye and let out a long breath.
"Whew... Sorry, everyone. It's not that King Floral's statement was funny. I just remembered the old days when we adventured together. He was wild back then... and honestly, he hasn't changed at all. That thought just hit me all at once. My apologies."
With a formal air, Zain straightened his back and gave a deep bow.
Margrave Shield gave a small chuckle and leaned back.
"As for me," he said, "I want to support His Majesty however I can. He's spent years tied to the capital, never once stepping beyond it. Now that he's free, he wishes to see the world he governed with his own eyes. However... I can't use the Teleportation Staff. Zain, Cain, I'd like to ask for your assistance."
"Hm? You're asking me?" Zain tilted his head, then offered a half-smile. "Well, since it's an old friend's request, I'll help however I can. But keep in mind, as ambassador of the World Tree Village, I can't drop everything. Cain will probably be taking on the bigger share of the work."
Zain's reply came with an air of relaxed honesty.
Cain nodded with determination. "I'll help too, Grandfather. But like Mr. Zain said, I can't be there all the time... There's still so much I want to do for the village. So many dreams left to fulfill."
"Thank you, Cain," Margrave Shield said, his voice warm. "I'll make sure His Majesty understands your position. Leave that to me."
He smiled gently and gave Cain's head another affectionate pat.
Just as their discussion reached a natural pause, there came a knock at the carriage door.
"Enter," Margrave Shield called out.
A voice responded from outside, "Margrave Shield, Viscount Sanroze. We apologize for the wait. Everything is ready."
Notes:
• Margrave Shield - Cain's grandfather. An elderly man, robust, with white hair.
• Luke - Cain's father.
• Zain - A man in his 30s with long ears, possibly an elf or a similar race. He works in the basement of Ms. Merida's shop and is highly perceptive, noticing Cain's incredible mana from a distance.
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