Chapter 101: Eternal Angel

As if she’d expected as much, this bold girl wore a disappointed expression, so it was time to explain Hilda’s magnificence and endless charm. Starting from how she’d earned the nickname Valkyrie for wiping the floor with nobles in riding at the royal ranch, I told Angela about learning mounted combat too.

Maybe because it was about Hilda, I got too carried away talking.

Fortunately, Angela’s eyes lit up as she showed interest in Hilda.

"Sir Streit’s fiancée sounds truly amazing!"

"She’s an amazing and beautiful woman. My soul’s companion."

Angela wanted to meet Hilda someday. She was particularly intrigued by the Valkyrie nickname. She showed strong confidence in her own riding too. But the Hilda I’d seen had truly exceptional horsemanship. I didn’t compare her to the Mongols for nothing. Still, the two would definitely find common ground.

A devoted, obedient woman who serves her husband like heaven—that’s the typical medieval female ideal. It’s not that there were no women active in society, but the stark fact remained that they faced discrimination from men. Hilda, however, was a proactive and progressive woman, so she was far from typical.

To my eyes she was a charming and beautiful woman, but to most nobles she was someone to avoid. Unless it was a forced political marriage, it was difficult for her to find a match at banquets. Then she fatefully met me at Count Mainhof’s banquet, and we became engaged.

Angela really liked that story. To think I’d share all this with a lady I’d just met. It seems I unconsciously felt a sense of kinship because she reminded me of Hilda in some ways. Plus, she was Fried’s younger sister too. This might be a chance for Hilda to make a new friend.

But someone had been hovering behind the rose bushes for a while now.

It seemed they’d been hiding for quite some time, but who could it be?

From the glimpse of a dress hem, it appeared to be a noblewoman.

"Who’s that hiding back there?"

"Ah! I forgot! Actually, there’s someone I wanted to introduce to Sir Streit!"

"It seems she’s been waiting quite a while?"

"I’m sorry, sister!"

Angela rushed over and brought out the woman who’d been hiding behind the rose bushes. It turned out to be Fried’s wife. Her pale skin and melancholy appearance made her look fragile. If Angela was the picture of a healthy girl, Fried’s wife was the image of a sickly woman, making for a stark contrast.

"Daughter-in-law of the Euznirk family, Ingrid von Glesia."

"Wolfgang Ritter von Streit. Pleased to meet you, madam."

Oh dear. She was swaying on her feet from waiting so long.

But I’m clearly an unrelated man—was it proper to meet like this?

Fried’s wife, sensing my concern, said:

"You don’t need to worry. My husband gave his permission."

"I see. I’m glad to have Sir Fried’s trust."

"I just wanted to convey my thanks, so I took the liberty."

The reason Ingrid wanted to thank me could be surmised from how the long conflict between Baron Valent and Fried had entered a lull. A shift in power had occurred, actually putting Valent at a disadvantage. So Valent could no longer easily attack Fried politically.

I couldn’t hear the full inside story, but I managed to get the gist from her. She was the last of the Glesia bloodline. Her family had started as merchants but had been elevated to nobility for their achievements in a local conflict with Épinay.

Merchant-born families were usually looked down upon, but the Glesia family was quite wealthy, famous for their jewelry craftsmanship. So they had become entangled with various Euz nobles. One of them was Baron Valent, and the problem was that Valent had coveted their wealth and pressured Ingrid into marriage.

However, Ingrid chose Fried of the Euznirk family.

And because of that, the greedy Valent turned hostile toward Fried. To me, it seemed there was a missing piece to this story. No matter what, it didn’t seem like sufficient reason to pursue an heir this aggressively. The reason they withheld the full details was probably because I was a central noble.

"When I chose the Euznirk eldest son, Baron Valent formed a faction and constantly pressured us. But with this war as a turning point, Baron Valent’s faction shrank while the nobles supporting my husband grew. When I asked why, they said it was thanks to Sir Streit’s help."

"Sir Fried spared no support and cooperation for me, so I simply returned the favor."

Ingrid expressed her desire to give me a reward. I was about to refuse, saying it was absurd to accept a reward for something so minor, but she earnestly persuaded me that it was nothing compared to being freed from Baron Valent’s pressure.

Had Valent really hassled her that much?

I had no choice but to accept.

What Ingrid gave me was a palm-sized box with ornate patterns and fine craftsmanship. At first I didn’t know what it was. A small jewelry box? When I opened it, inside was a rose-shaped piece of jewelry. I could see Angela gasp in shock beside me.

"Is this a brooch?"

"It’s a brooch crafted from topaz. It was one of our family’s masterpieces, called the Eternal Angel (Engel der Ewing)."

"Is it really all right for me to receive something so precious?"

A brooch crafted from topaz. This yellowish topaz was cherished by ancient peoples as the light of the sun god. Though I’m not well-versed in gemstones, even an untrained eye could tell this brooch was worth a considerable sum.

"I heard you have a fiancée, so you can give it to her."

"Thank you. Brünhilt (Hilda) will be absolutely delighted."

Hilda was a woman more interested in horses than jewels, but she’d certainly be happy. I’d been thinking I should prepare a gift since it felt awkward to return empty-handed, so I gratefully accepted, thinking of it as Fried’s wife having prepared a gift on my behalf. Ingrid returned to the banquet hall with Angela.

I’d been annoyed at having half of Count Épinay’s ransom taken by those Euz noble bastards, but not everyone in Euz was that greedy. So my mood improved considerably. I returned to the banquet hall in good spirits. I chatted with Fiel and heard stories about Feuzen from August.

"Feuzen is my hometown, and it’s truly beautiful. The windmills and the streams flowing below hold a storybook charm from fond childhood memories."

"Just hearing about it sounds lovely. If I get the chance, I’d like to visit with my wife."

Fiel and August had grown quite close too. Having served as lieutenants under me and shared life-and-death moments, camaraderie was bound to develop. I was also curious about life outside Breisburg’s walls, so I was planning to stop by on the way back. I hadn’t been able to sightsee last time since I’d been stationed at the garrison.

"Sir Streit. The Count is looking for you. Please come this way."

Count Euz’s attendant approached me.

The host was finally looking for me.

So I followed him, but instead of going to the banquet hall, we came out into a corridor inside the castle.

The attendant led me to Count Euz’s private chambers.

In other words, this was personal business.

"Come in. Are you enjoying the banquet?"

"I’m spending it peacefully enough."

"I heard my daughter and daughter-in-law met you—nothing untoward happened, I hope?"

"I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to die young."

A light joke but also a warning.

Count Euz silently observed me for quite a while, finally opening his mouth only when the candlelight flickered and shadows danced across the walls. I couldn’t fathom why he kept studying me.

"What do you think of Euz?"

"In what sense are you asking?"

"I just want to hear your honest impression."

Honest impression? I think it’s a town full of greedy pigs. How much money did I get cheated out of here? But as things stood, making enemies of provincial nobles would be troublesome in many ways, so I had no choice but to make concessions for the greater good. So of course I was in a foul mood.

However, the Euznirk family was an exception.

I’d formed a friendship with Fried and received a brooch for Hilda from his wife as a gift. They had been friendly toward me and shown sincerity, so I’d placed them in a separate category from the other Euz nobles.

"Everything shows on your face."

"I should wear a mask."

Was my expression that easy to read?

Maintaining a poker face is truly difficult.

Count Euz gestured to the attendant standing behind him.

The attendant then brought forward a luxurious red cushion bearing a small silk pouch. It was clearly a money pouch. Wondering what this was about, I looked at Count Euz, who gestured graciously as if inviting me to check. The moment I opened the pouch, the contents seemed to gleam with a brilliant golden light.

Inside were gold coins.