Chapter 15

Dududukk! Dududukk!

The wheel of the carriage scraped the ground and moved forward.

It is not the huge black carriage with the Imperial seal, but the white one with the lilies used by Count Scherzer.

“Mother, look over there.”

Rohan sat across from the 3rd Prince, looking softly at him. The 3rd Prince was trying to look calm, but he always tried to call the 2nd Empress to show her whenever he saw something out of the carriage window.

“Is there anything interesting?”

When she was still, she looked supremely cold. However, whenever her gaze touched the 3rd Prince, her sky-blue eyes softened and the warmth spread.

He had only heard it from here and there before, and he had never been able to properly witness the truth of these words…

He didn’t know how much the woman in front of him now has changed from that time.

No matter how much someone changes, their roots will stay the same.

As much as the heart of a mother who loves her child.

At that time, the 2nd Empress, who had been resting her forehead against the window with her child, tilted her head.

Rohan wondered what was going on, so he looked out the window as well.

They ran quite a bit out of the Imperial Palace Barossa.

It was expected that they would have entered Midlin, where the commoners lived, passing through the large mansions used by the nobles who left their estates to stay in the capital.

“Hmm.”

Rohan let out a small sigh.

One can see the children playing games and the beggars wandering here and there in shabby clothes, even from the central street.

“Isn’t the capital the most prosperous place in Atien? So why is it like this?”

At Elisha’s question, Rohan opened his mouth.

“That’s exactly why. The past few years have been exceptionally dry. Among those who found that life has become too difficult where they came from, there are quite a few who moved to the capital thinking it would be a little better.”

“…”

“Still, there are many signs of rain this year, so everyone quickly warmed up and waited for the rainy season.”

Even if she didn’t listen to the end, she seemed to know what Rohan was saying.

She forgot about it because there was no reason to worry about it, but the rainy season usually started shortly after Leon’s birthday.

But this time after Leon’s birthday, it hasn’t rained even until now.

“It’s strange.”

“There are many stories, but none of them are particularly worth listening to.”

Rohan drew a line in advance in case the 2nd Empress might be interested in the superstitions floating around in the capital, but…

What popped into Elisha’s mind wasn’t anything like that.

In the past, before Elisha returned, it rained heavily on Leon’s birthday, marking the beginning of the rainy season.

It completely ruined Leon’s 6th birthday as rain continued to pour in a depressing mood, making the 2nd Empress Palace even more gloomy. She did not need to make any effort to remember it.

But not this time.

The day was as good as the pleasant memory of the day.

Under the twinkling sun, Elisa was spending precious time with her children.

Since Elisha had returned to the past, it is an unavoidable reality that the history and cause and effect that should have flowed are twisted.

But even the weather has changed?

It might be due to Elisha’s return, but it would be right to also look for a completely different cause.

‘Why is it?’

A sudden voice came to Elisha’s, who was frowning as she was drowned in her thoughts, ear.

“Mother, don’t be upset.”

‘Hmm?’

Elisha, not understanding, looked down at her child.

“Are you going to cry again?”

The child made close eye contact with Elisha and checked her face.

As Elisha rolled her sky-blue eyes, Rohan, who was coughing lightly, tapped on the window with his fingertips.

Elisha realized that he misunderstood her child only then.

She shook her head as she contemplated whether she should correct Rohan or not.

As she thought she didn’t have to, Elisha immediately asked.

“Leon, do you feel sorry for them?”

“…Yes.”

“Do you want to help them?”

Leon knew how impoverished the 2nd Empress Palace was.

If there was anything in Barossa that needed help from other places, it was the 2nd Empress Palace.

Contrary to one’s mind, it was not easy to affirm.

He didn’t have anything, but he wanted to help others. The child had thought a lot.

How many things has he given up on?

Did he even live?

The left side of her chest throbbed.

“When we get back, let’s see if we can do it.”

“After that we can do something?”

“If we can do it, we will do it, but it’s okay if we can’t. We will bring someone else and ask them if they have any good ideas. Still, if they don’t have any, it doesn’t matter. The time we spent thinking about it together remains. Don’t forget to keep it, so later when you spread your wings, when you can do whatever you want, don’t forget to give it to them. There is nothing in the world that is meaningless.”

Especially my children.

Leon, even more so for you.

The two hugged each other, faced each other, and smiled.

Rohan rested his chin on the back of his hand, his arm supporting him by the window.

It was a beautiful sight to be seen for a long time.

In the capital, with the exception of those directly under the emperor, no more than a certain number of armed groups for each aristocratic family can stay.

He was trying to protect the emperor’s safety, and at the same time to prevent strife between the various nobles who always resided to participate in political affairs.

Therefore, the major armed forces in the capital could be divided into three groups: the Imperial Knights Order to protect the Imperial family and the Imperial Guard to protect the Imperial Palace.

Finally, the Capital Guard, which was in charge of the interior of the capital.

The scale of what needs to be protected by the latter was larger than the former two, but the position was the opposite.

The brightest and highest ranking knights is the Imperial Knights Order, and the next one is the Imperial Guard.

The Capital Guard was a place where soldiers managed by the emperor’s direct officials did everything they could to keep the capital safe.

Due to the nature of the Capital Guard, which is in charge of various responsibilities, including the wall surrounding the capital, there were knights and military officers in the ranks in charge, but there were also a few people belonging to civil servants.

It means that there are many factions, and it is not a very good place to live.

In such a dirty place, a luxurious aristocratic carriage rushed by, making the eyes of those who were around the security building wary.

“We’re here.”

The command post of the Capital Guard was located on the inside facing the wall that surrounded the capital.

Two training grounds are attached to the three floor building. Although it was unprecedented in the history of the Empire, the wall has to be closed in preparation to deal with the enemies at all times.

When the carriage stopped and Rohan opened the door, Elisha and Leon got out.

The three people who were not suited to be in this place at all caused gossip.

“Mother.”

Leon was a little surprised, so when he grabbed the edge of Elisha’s dress, Elisha held the child in her arms.

“Don’t worry, Mother is here. And Count Rohan here is the best knight in the country. He will protect you no matter what.”

Elisha looked at Rohan as if urging him.

A bit late, but a clear answer came back.

“I will do the best I can. Don’t worry, you two.”

Elisha patted Leon to reassure him, and then went past Rohan.

This is the capital city wall, and although it must have been an unfamiliar place to the 2nd Empress, who had only been to the Western Tower and the Imperial Palace, she did not hesitate even in the slightest.

As if she had been here before and knew this place well.

Miraculous.

Rohan silently followed her.

Baron Thomas, head of the Capital Guard, was a middle-aged man with long, wavy brown hair and a thick, bulging belly.

Elisha told him that she was going to take some guards, with the approval of Emperor Kaiden, and Thomas smiled broadly, as if he had turned ten years younger.

He seemed like a pain in the neck.

He wanted to stick with Rohan, saying that he was also a known knight in his old days, but left on his own to join the Capital Guard.

Elisha and Rohan headed to the guard station.

The guards used the entire third floor, the top of the building.

On the third floor, the entire interior was immediately visible as soon as they went up, as the rest of the third floor was completely open except for the two spaces that were roughly closed with partitions in the corner.

As much as that, one would be able to immediately hear the squeaks of the guards belonging to the Capital Guard.

Alcohol bottles scattered all over the place.

Half of the guards were dazed and it was not clear whether they were awake or drunk.

“I want you to win this time too, Lety! You’ve got all of my paycheck this month!”

In the center, two people face each other with their elbows on a shabby table and hold hands.

“Don’t be silly! Tito is going to win this time. Lety has already played three matches, his legs are supposed to be shakin’!”

The other half of the guards made a ruckus.

As Elisha climbed the stairs and stopped at the entrance, Rohan looked over his shoulder with a stiff face.

“Are they really useful?”

“If not those people, then who else still remains for the Crown Prince’s share?”

Elisha was rather calm.

‘And what’s wrong with that?’

‘Even five years later, they’re all still here and they’re still guards.’

By that time, she had to go through the cumbersome process of bringing branches, throwing them in the ground, and reminding these people over and over that they are not worth living if they couldn’t even be wild dogs.

So what’s wrong with being able to attract them without doing that?

Elisha was not at all swept away by the atmosphere around her, and she moved her gaze to and fro as if she was looking for something.

In her calm flow, only the place where she stood felt like a deserted lake shore.

But the moment she took her first step with her eyes twinkling and shining.

Pong-dang!

The ripples centered on her push the surrounding air and spread in all directions.

All of the guards near her stopped moving, and all at once their attention shifted to her.

“Hwii!”

“Who are you?!”

There were those who are belatedly surprised, those who are distant, and those who are wary.

Among those people, one of the partitions in the inner corner pushed aside, and a middle-aged man appeared.

“What is going on here?”

“Sir Dell.”

Elisha called him and confirmed his identity.

“Did I ever know such a beautiful woman?”

Dell Pyrion’s murmur accompanied the whistling sounds and the vulgar words coming out of the guards towards Elisha.

“If anyone defiles the 3rd Prince’s ears, regardless of the fact that you are needed…”

Elisha, who was speechless, pressed her cheek to the left ear of the child she was holding in her arms, and covered his right ear with the hand that was supporting his back before opening her mouth again.

“…if you want that head to stay attached to your body, you’d better behave.”

Even the roughest guards couldn’t help but be surprised by the cruel words that the slender beauty with an indifferent expression spit out in front of dozens of men.

Besides. That is the 3rd Prince?

When the middle-aged guard gaptain Dell blinked, Elisha observed him.

Slowly, from top to bottom.

Dell, without realizing it, moved his head following her gaze.

When he came to his senses, he was bowing his head in front of the silver-haired woman.

“Now the atmosphere is set for a talk. I’m Elisha de Rappelcia. Do you guys want to do business with me?”

Elisha’s voice echoed through the third floor.