CH 145

Celia mother and daughter

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Camilla was in the living room of the floor where Count Gleisner was staying.

Hey, this was the floor Takayama used, wasn't it.

Since one floor was occupied, it seemed that Zephalos and Walter were staying here.

After dinner, the two seemed to be discussing their future plans while drinking tea.

"Good evening, can I have some tea, please?"

"Maou-sama, yes, right away. Erna, tea ..."

"Yes, as you wish."

The maid who Camilla ordered to make the tea was the maid who was assigned to the chairman.

As I sat down on the sofa, Count Gleisner asked impatiently.

"Maou-dono, how is it going with Barshania?"

"They're still in Chowsk."

"Oh, they're not ready to leave yet, are they?"

"No, it seems that they were planning to leave early this morning, but I had them cancel it."

Camilla immediately reacted to my speech.

"Maou-sama, from what you just said, it seems that you have negotiated with Barshania ..."

"Yeah, I negotiated with Emperor Constant and received a grace period of five days."

"What, you negotiated directly with the Emperor ..."

"As expected of Maou-sama, you are far beyond our imagination."

Count Gleisner opened his eyes wide in surprise as if he had forgotten that I suddenly appeared at his place, and Camilla nodded repeatedly as if it was only natural.

"But, Maou-sama, what will happen after five days have passed?"

"It doesn't matter. I'll have the iron ready to trade tomorrow, and if I deliver it, Barshania promises to stop the invasion."

"What's that, Maou-dono, are you planning to supply iron to Barshania?"

"Yes, about 50 corads ..."

"50 corads! What do you plan to do if they use that iron to forge weapons and attack?"

"If they say that they will fight in vain, I will stop them, but it seems that Barshania has no intention of doing so."

"Can you trust such a story? The other party is that Barshania."

The face of Count Gleisner, who raised his voice, showed suspicion towards Barshania.

"Excuse me, Count Gleisner, have you ever met Emperor Constant?"

"What's that ... it's not ... but, what is it."

"How can you say you can't trust someone you've never met?"

"Maou-dono doesn't know. To what extent has the country of Barshania used palliative means to seize the opportunity to invade?"

"Then, do you know that Barshania has repeatedly sent personal letters?"

"What ... Personal letters? From Barshania?"

"Yes, he said that he had sent personal letters many times, but he hadn't received a decent reply."

"Fumu ..."

I thought he would deny it immediately, but both Camilla and Count Gleisner both thought about it.

In other words, in the Kingdom of Resenburg, even personal letters from other countries could be crushed.

"What do you think Camilla-sama?'

"There can't be any lies in Maou-sama's story. Probably the Prime Minister is crushing them."

It seemed that Camilla, who had been crushed to the end, couldn't help but feel resentment when she asked for help even by using a fast horse.

"Maou-dono, is Barshania's purpose to obtain iron?"

"That's right. Emperor Constant is worried about the war between the Republic of Kilia and the Jogesen Empire."

It seemed that Count Gleisner was convinced when I told him about the situation of Kilia and Jogesen that I heard from Constant and Barshania's thoughts on it.

"However, if Barshania obtains a large amount of iron ..."

"In the case of Resenburg, we have to do something about the domestic situation instead of worrying about iron and so on."

"Kuh, Maou-dono can tell me a story that hurts the ears ..."

"I have already arranged for the iron, so if I can deliver it to Barshania tomorrow, I will be able to finish it, but what about this situation?"

Count Gleisner turned the paper spread out on the table so that I could easily read it.

The family names of those who were thought to be nobles of Resenburg were listed there.

"We have just sent letters to the thirty-six noble families of Resenburg and one hundred and twenty-four first-generation noble families. From the royal castle and the early horse sent to Alphonse-sama, the nobles on their way should receive news, but not all nobles will receive it. Therefore, I will send a letter to all the nobles to let them know Camilla-sama's determination."

"Speaking of the thirty-six families, the nobles of the First Prince faction are also included, aren't they?"

"Indeed. Even among those who weighed Alphonse-sama and Bernst-sama on the scales, if the other party changed to Camilla-sama, there might be someone who would change their policy."

"Also, this is what you were talking about last time."

"Right. Perhaps Havre Calvine is already working with some of the nobles. However, if those people read Camilla-sama's letter, there should be some among them who will have their hearts shaken."

Count Gleisner said it with a lot of confidence, but when I thought about it, I couldn't deny that he depended on Camilla's popularity.

I felt like Havre Calvine, who was in charge of the mines, was taking a more realistic approach.

"Isn't Havre Calvine making more lucrative promises, such as territories and tax rates?'

"Just as Maou-dono says, if it's Havre, he will probably make that kind of promise. However, unlike Camilla-sama, there is no guarantee that he will be able to fulfill his promise. If Alphonse-sama and the others crushed each other ... If they could cooperate with Barshania and seize the real power of the country ... Since it's a story based on an uncertain future, they probably won't be able to keep their promises or make a promise that can be left in writing."

Camilla was still a member of the royal family, but Havre was just a member of the nobility at this point.

In other words, he was not in a position to decide on matters such as territories and tax rates.

"Most of the first-generation aristocrats are those who have made a fortune through business, so they are quick to profit. However, those who are simply preoccupied with short-term profits will not be able to make enough money to obtain the status of a generation of nobles."

"It means that they won't be moved by so much as dangling an empty promise from Havre."

"Exactly. After that, look at the reaction after the swift horse arrives."

A group of three Kobolds were attached to the fast horse to act as a marker to inform me of its position, and to act as a liaison in case something happened.

If the First Prince faction comes into contact with Havre Calvine's forces, they will contact me so that I can monitor the reaction.

As for the power struggle in Resenburg, this is fine.

So, I decided to talk to Camilla about another matter.

"Camilla, changing the subject, how are Celia-san and her mother doing?"

"Yes, I've given her a room to spend time with her, but ... her mother's health isn't very good."

"You showed her to the doctor, right?"

"Yes, of course. However, there aren't many skilled healers in Lastock right now ..."(TN:Since you took our Saint ... Oh wait ...)

"Okay, please guide me to where the two of them are. ICount Gleisner, I'll let you know when Alphonse and Havre's movements are known."

"I'm begging you, Maou-dono."

I shook hands with Count Gleisner and left the room with Camilla.

As we made our way to the room where Celia-san and her mother were staying together, she told a story about them.

The fourth queen of the Resenburg royal family, Flosche, was originally a farmer's daughter.

It was said that when King Alexis Resenburg went out hunting, he was caught in a storm, saw her for the first time in a village where he stopped by to take shelter from the rain, and she was brought along to the royal castle.

What kind of hunting was he doing, he's a completely outrageous King.

For Alexis, who had grown tired of being around the daughters of nobles who grew up sheltered, the rustic Flosche was new to him, for a while, he began to visit the dormitory frequently, and it seemed that they had a child, Celia.

When Flosche came to the royal castle, the Queens thought it was a whim of Alexis, and even sympathized with her, but as soon as they heard that she was pregnant, they exposed their hostility.

Flosche felt that her life was in danger, and appealed to Alexis, who hid her outside the royal castle. After giving birth to Celia, she returned to the royal castle.

From Flosche's point of view, her child was a girl, and there were already three Princes, so she thought she wouldn't be disliked so much. However, her expectations weren't met.

Until she gave birth, she hid herself in some influential aristocratic mansion.

Wasn't it possible that a marriage promise had already been exchanged with a noble's son.

Wouldn't that nobleman harm their own son and aim for the throne.

The Princes' parents, the three Queens, were frightened by the unfounded suspicion and treated her coldly because of her low status.

Even so, the reason Celia was able to grow up without being assassinated was because she had promised to obtain the consent of the three Queens before the marriage, and because she was recognized as a tool for political marriage.

Flosche and Celia spent their stifling days in the royal castle under the watchful eyes of the three Queens.

It seemed that the clothes they wore were shabbier than the castle maids, and their meals were on the same level as the servants.

Still, a life that seemed humiliating for the three Queens, was rather blessed for Flosche, who was born and raised in a farming village and lived in poverty.

The only thing Flosche felt sorry for was that Celia had no children to play with.

Since she was a member of the royal family, she couldn't attend an outside school, and although her tutor taught her about her studies, it seemed that she was forbidden to associate with the children of the other Queens and the sons of nobles.

The mother and daughter continued to live just waiting for the day when a political marriage was decided, and it seemed that she was ordered to conceive a child with Takayama.

"It's kind of like Cinderella ..."

"Shin ... What is it? Maou-sama."

"It's the story of a girl who is bullied by half-sisters in my world."

"Is there such a story?"

"Yeah, she's bullied, bullied, but in the end she's happy."

Camilla stopped her feet and after a moment of silence she started talking.

"I couldn't interfere in their lives in the royal castle, and since she was born into the royal family, I wouldn't be able to raise any objection to the person who was chosen."

"Then why didn't you deal with Takayama yourself?"

"That is ..."

"It was Camilla who ordered Celia-san to be Takayama's partner, wasn't it?"

"Yes ..."

"Calling him a monkey, and a Snot-nosed Hero, commanding the one who makes a fool of you, there's no way to say that you're not responsible, is there?"

"Yes ... I'm sorry."

Camilla guided me to a dormitory for the female staff working at the garrison.

"Is this a residence suitable for royalty?"

"No, I prepared a larger room, but the two of them said this one would be better ..."

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm not lying."

Camilla took the lead and walked down the corridor, knocking on the door of the innermost room.

"Yes, who is it?"

"It's me ..."

"Yes, right away ..."

Celia's reply to the knock was soft, but when she realized it was Camilla, her voice sounded stiffer.

"Do you need something?"

"I guided Maou-sama. It seems like he has something to say ..."

"Good evening, hello ... I would like to talk to your mother, is that okay?"

"You, Shuuichi's friend ..."

"It's Maou, Kokubu Kent-sama, don't be rude ..."

"Oh, I don't care about something like that."

"Excuse me ..."

Celia-san's eyes widened as she watched Camilla shrink from being scolded by me, but after taking a deep breath, she declined my visit.

"I'm sorry, but my mother is lying down since her body is injured."

"Could you let me examine her?"

"Eh, is it you ...?"

"Maou-sama is also an excellent user of healing magic."

"But you used dark-attribute magic, right?"

"Yeah, I can also use light-attribute magic, so for the time being, can I do a medical examination?"

"Understood, please ..."

After some hesitation, Celia-san invited me into her room.

The interior of the room felt like a double room in a single dormitory, with a bed and shelf on each side of the room, plus a small table and two chairs.

On the bed on one side, Celia's mother, Flosche, was lying alone.

Her complexion was not good and she looked haggard.

"Oh ... Camilla-sama, I'm sorry for showing you such an unsightly appearance. Right now ... Ah ..."

"Mother!"

Celia hurriedly rushed over to support Flosche-san, who was on the verge of falling while trying to get out of bed.

"This person here is Maou Kokubu Kent-sama. He's going to examine you, so be grateful ..."

"Yes, yes, Camilla can go back now."

"M, Maou-sama?"

"If Camilla is here, Flosche-san won't be able to relax, so you can go."

"Maou-sama ... I understand ..."

When I waved my hand away, Camilla puffed up her cheeks and showed a dissatisfied expression, but when I waved my hand away again, she looked back twice with tears in her eyes as if she wanted to say something, then left the room.

"Then let's treat ... What's wrong?"

I was thinking about starting the treatment, but both Flosche-san and Celia-san were staring at me with their eyes wide open as if their eyeballs were about to fall out.

"Ah, umm ... To treat Camilla-sama like that ..."

"It's okay. She's caused me a lot of trouble, so I won't let her complain about that."

Well, it's uncomfortable to be looked at with such eyes that even a Maou could see.

I asked Flosche-san to lie face down on the bed and put my hand on her back to try treatment.

"Uuh, this is ..."

"What's wrong? Umm, how is my mother ..."

"I'm sorry. I'm going to get a little serious about using healing magic, so can I explain later?"

"Yes, I'm counting on you."

I noticed it immediately after casting healing magic.

Flosche-san's internal organs were in a state worse than those of Diethelm.

Not only in the liver and kidneys, but also in the bone marrow, substances that should not exist in the body were accumulated, and tumors could be felt all over the body.

Flosche-san must have been poisoned by someone.

Also, it felt like it was piled up little by little over a much longer period of time than Diethelm.

I changed my hand to Flosche-san's flank and spread healing magic all over her body.

It restored the functions of the liver and kidneys and encouraged the discharge of toxic substances flowing in the blood to the outside of the body.

Thanks to the earth-attribute magic, I was able to control the harmful substances and collect them in the kidneys, but it became a cat-and-mouse game where the concentration increased and the burden on her kidneys increased.

In other words, is it a miner-derived poison that could be collected with earth attributes.

The amount of harmful substances remaining in the body was much higher than it was with Diethelm, and her physical condition had deteriorated, so it would take time to heal.

The work of collecting harmful substances and the work of discharging them were being done in parallel, so delicate control of magic was necessary, and sweat was dripping down.

"Celia-san, I'm sorry, but could you bring me some water?"

"Yes, right away."

Celia-san, who had trotted out of her room, came back with a jug and a cup.

After I quenched my parched throat, I offered water to Flosche-san.

"Flosche-san, could you drink some water, since it will help your body expel the toxins?"

"Yes, I was just feeling thirsty, thank you."

After finishing drinking water with Celia-san's help, I asked Flosche-san to lie down again and continued the treatment.

It looked like her complexion was getting better, but she was still far from healthy.

Healing, collecting, and discharging ... Did I continue the steady work for over an hour.

"Umm ... I'm sorry. Could you let me go to the bathroom?"

"Ah ... I'm sorry. I didn't notice ..."

When Flosche-san called out to me, it was not good for me to temporarily stop the treatment and let my guard down.

I suddenly lost all my strength and collapsed on my knees on the bed.

When I thought about it, I had been on the move from Barshania, Volzard, and Japan since early morning.

Lately, I felt like the days were a little too long ... If they found out that I've collapsed again, I'll get preached to by the chairman ... I let go of my consciousness.