Chapter 123
A large meeting room in the Pontier Residence.
The door to that room was flung open as Charles and Cox entered the room.
After sweeping her gaze across her vassals, Charles said, “Specifics. Now.”
“M-my lady...” muttered a middle-aged man. He was Count Troi, one of the Pontier Family’s vassals. “They… they have begun hitting the family’s remaining convoys, and taking actions on our customers… Well, the customers' dissatisfaction is not our only problem…”
Count Troi seemed to be hesitating, but he eventually continued. “The most serious issue is that our supply lines have been cut off. At this rate, we will eventually run out of food and starve along with our people.”
“...!” Charles bit her lips.
Cox stepped forward and roared angrily, “We have an unspoken rule not to attack each other’s supply lines! What are they even doing? Are they tired of pretending that they aren’t mere bandits?! We have to lodge an official complaint to the Imperial Palace! They shouldn’t touch what they shouldn’t, and innocent people are part of that!”
“At this rate, we will be completely isolated, my lady,” Count Troi stated.
Charles held her forehead with her palm as she said, “In addition to other trade products... Is it really impossible to produce the percentage of food required to feed the population currently inside our territory?”
“It is feasible to some degree based on our previous year’s yield, but we can only feed about seventy percent of our people. The remaining thirty percent will have nothing to eat.”
“Does anyone else have any other opinions?”
“...”
The meeting room was deafeningly quiet.
Charles seemed sad when no one spoke to answer her inquiry, but then she suddenly recalled someone.
“Where is Icarus?”
“My lady, that person is an outsider. An outsider should not participate in our family’s matters—”
“Stop yapping!” Charles screamed.
Charles’ scream felt like a bucket of cold water that was poured over everyone else.
“Are we really going to put our pride first in this situation? Our family is in jeopardy, and anyone who has the heart to help is welcome, so stop saying outsider here, outsider there! We need their help, and we need it now!”
“My lady...”
The vassals' eyes widened in surprise to see this side of Charles.
This was the first meeting of the vassals since the fall of the Pontier Family patriarch. Charles seemed to have matured a little bit, but she still couldn’t help but feel embarrassed by her outburst. After all, these people had watched her grow up. She felt bad for lashing out.
“As the proxy family head, I decide to go forward with the proposition,” said Charles with glowing eyes. She swept her gaze across her vassals and said sternly, “Bring Icarus to me, now.”
***
‘Every inn here is connected with the Haiburi Family, so it should be easy for me to send a message.’?Joshua muttered inwardly as he walked along the main square.
He had to depart as soon as possible, but it was impolite to depart without informing the others. He could ignore a mere count like Count Haiburi, but he couldn’t ignore that young lady.
‘And because of Refenberg’s daughter...’
Count Haiburi’s request was burdensome, but Joshua accepted it for one reason.
Torsen lu Refenberg.
Torsen was just the Battalion Commander of the 7th Battalion. He was in a position that couldn’t be considered high or low. However, in the not-so-distant future, Torsen would follow Rod’s footsteps and lead the Imperial Knights Order.
Joshua’s regressions could have altered Torsen’s fate, but that wasn’t the point.
‘It’s not only because of his future that I want to drag him to my side. It’s also because he is an incredibly great person, although he just looks like an easygoing guy. I have left the Imperial Knights, but I don’t want to discard our friendship just like that.’
Joshua revealed a gentle smile as he recalled the folks he had met in the past five years.
Honestly, their relationship didn’t start five years ago.
Several individuals, including Viper, were his followers before his regression.
‘It wouldn’t be bad for us to be friends in this life…’
Joshua shook his head to clear his mind before fixing his gaze on a particular location near the road. After finding the building he had been looking for, Joshua walked directly toward it.
Creak.
An energetic voice greeted Joshua as he opened the door.
“Welcome! Welcome to Blue Shelter!”
“...” Joshua turned and saw a ten-year-old kid. A kid who looked docile and kind.
Joshua's chest throbbed for some reason upon seeing the kid behind the counter.
‘They’re similar. Not in the face department, but the air they’re giving off is similar…’
Joshua exhaled upon recalling another individual before his regression.
He was a kid who followed Joshua everywhere. He had no parents, so he considered Joshua as his own father. In addition, he had lived a life that was as harsh as Joshua’s life.
‘I’ll be seeing you soon...’
“Are you ordering something? Are you staying? It doesn’t matter, I can give you a discount with my authority as in the owner’s son.”
Joshua let go of his thoughts as he removed his robe.
When Joshua’s face was revealed, the kid exclaimed, “Wow!”
After a while, the kid leaned over the counter with bright eyes. “Brother, I swear by my parent’s name… I have never seen a guy as handsome as you before! I promise!”
In response, Joshua smiled and said, “I’m flattered. You sure know how to capture your customers’ hearts. That’s a good business technique, by the way.”
“I’m not flattering you, though.” the kid pounded his chest and exclaimed, “I’m serious!”
Joshua's smile widened as he asked, “What is your name?”
“Aden!”
“Aden?” Joshua almost laughed at that extremely familiar name.
However, the kid was already laughing, albeit in a prideful manner as he said, “Hehe… my father named me after the empire’s pride—Duke Aden von Agnus! He wants be to become like him. It’s embarrassing, but…”
“I see…” Joshua nodded. His mood seemed to have improved.
Naming one’s children after idols and great figures. It was an uncommon thing in the aristocratic society. Nobles, who were freaks when it comes to self-respect, viewed this as a disrespect towards the great figure.
‘The people have their own culture and practices and should be respected. It cannot be said that what they’re doing is wrong, but it is certainly unique.’
Joshua knew that the first step toward appreciating people was acknowledging differences.
‘I see myself in the most unexpected places. Not just in these children but from other living beings and even inanimate objects as well. It seems that I still have so much to learn.’
If someone heard Joshua’s thoughts, they would probably call him an old man.
“However, I have a new idol now!”
“Really?” Joshua tilted his head. “You have a new idol?”
“Yes! Duke Agnus is so great I’m afraid to even talk about him, but it’s okay because I have a new idol now!”
“That’s… good?”
“Have you heard?” The kid leaned over the counter once more, and his eyes were so bright they could dazzle anyone as he said, “Duke Agnus’ son—Lord Joshua Sanders—is apparently more magnificent than His Grace Agnus! Lord Joshua is the empire’s youngest baron, youngest mana knight, and the youngest battalion commander of the Imperial Knights Order!”
Upon seeing that Joshua wasn’t saying anything, the kid continued.
“When I was even younger, I have heard about how Lord Joshua dominated the Reinhardt Martial Arts Competition for over a hundred times now, and my heart still throbs whenever I recall those tales! He apparently had a miserable childhood, but he grew up splendidly indeed!”
The kid’s voice suddenly became filled with longing. “What do you think? Can I become a cool knight like him? Like me, a lot of children look up to Lord Joshua!”
“Hmm—” Joshua was about to reply.
However, the kid interrupted him and continued in a ravenous voice. “I will probably be ready to die if I could meet him just once! I’d brag about my encounter with him to Rooney and Tom for days on end. I still remember how they kept on bragging to me about how they encountered His Grace Agnus’ knights, and even now, they’re still doing it, which has become pretty annoying!”
“...” Joshua didn’t know what to say.
“I have heard the rumors about Lord Joshua. Apparently, he’s so handsome that even elves would fall in love with him. He’s as handsome as you, bro!”
The kid stared at Joshua with admiration, but Joshua furtively avoided the kid’s eyes.
“He’s got dark blue eyes that are seemingly as deep as the abyss, and his hair was the same shade of blue, close to black…” Aden stared blankly at Joshua as he continued muttering, "His skin is fairer than a woman’s, and he has a thin, lean frame towering over a hundred and eighty centimeters tall as well as a mysterious black earring on one ear…”
Aden trailed off until he eventually shut his mouth.
Eventually, he called out in disbelief, “Lord… Joshua?”
Joshua scratched his head in embarrassment at the sight of Aden’s dumbfounded look.
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