Chapter 194: (Self Edited) Conference in Andal (2)

“Understood, Aniue.” (Angelica)Angelica, disguised to avoid underestimation, headed to Alfred’s office as instructed. She had not bound her chest but wore slacks instead of a skirt.

“What was the meaning of your earlier statement?” (Alfred)

Alfred was irritated. It was nothing new. He simply didn’t like Angie presence. He couldn’t openly assassinate her either because Angie refrained from consuming any food or drink within the castle, and Alfred couldn’t publicly execute her.

Alfred feared the rumors of assassinating his sister, who was a decade younger than him. Being perceived as afraid or a brother who killed his own sister was simply a bad image. If an assassination were to happen, it had to appear as an unrelated death with no connections to him.

In that sense, the previous Crusade had been the perfect opportunity. The battlefield was far from their territory, and anything could happen on the battlefield. However, things hadn’t gone as planned.

“Indeed. While it’s true they attempted subversion and incited internal conflict, I doubt how successful they were.” (Angelica)

“Is that a significant issue? No, it isn’t.” (Alfred)

‘Was it his boastful reasoning based on overwhelming military power? However, what about the Tyrellme during the change of era? Despite having a seventy percent increase in military strength against the Kalghinion Empire, they were still overwhelmed. “Overwhelming military power” was a magical phrase that deceived fools unfamiliar with war and made them complacent. Those who observed closely could understand.

A robust worker who has eaten a hearty breakfast swings an axe forcefully to fall a tree. But a hungry laborer without food just swings the axe weakly. Both are technically one person, but numerical and military discrepancies couldn’t be directly proportional.’

“It’s an issue. At the very least, there’s someone notable over there. Such figures emerge when a country is in turmoil. Foolish minds can change drastically. We can’t assert they’re weakened.” (Angelica)

In Shaalta, there was a man named Yuri Hou. Since the previous war, Angelica had extensively researched him. Among the Catholic-affiliated countries, the Euphos Federation was the most knowledgeable about Yuri Hou. Yuri Hou, unrelated to the Hou Household, owns his own unique trading fleet and conducts trade with the Albio Republic using it.

The Euphos Federation was in a hostile relationship with the Albio Republic and naturally has several spies hidden in his country. Through the Albio Republic, information about Yuri Hou’s persona was relayed.

Angelica often visits the Euphos Federation due to wine trading relations and exchanges information at social gatherings. With the tax revenue from Ultima, it would be impossible to send out spies on their own and create an intelligence network, so they obtained information through social interaction.’

“Exceptional individuals exist in every country. Ultimately, aren’t they just the army of tardy Shanti? No matter how much they strategize, there are no elements for the Crusaders to lose.” (Alfred)

“How about that? In the last Crusade, it was done by that person. It was him who burned the Pope’s supplies and killed the dragon.” (Angelica)

“That’s why…” (Alfred)

Alfred said irritably.

“It’s a bad habit of women. They fixate on one thing and don’t see the big picture. Let’s say there was such a person who had the potential to control the rebellion and claim supremacy. But the Crusaders won’t wait leisurely for that. They’ll likely start a war in less than half a year. What you’re saying isn’t a significant problem.” (Alfred)

That might be true. Perhaps Angélica was overly conscious of Yuri Hou due to the defeat. However, Alfred had never fought Yuri Hou.

Epitaph Palazzo had gone to that battle, experienced a bitter defeat, and staged a slow retreat. As a result, Alfred gained the royal capital city, Reform, and its Queen, achieving the best possible outcome. It was a splendid success. However, he hadn’t fought Yuri Hou. If he had witnessed that magical military strategy, his thoughts might have changed similarly.

“Just be careful.”(Angelica)

However, there was no need to sincerely convey that suspicion. As Alfred said, the rise of Yuri Hou is merely one of Angélica’s assumptions. No matter how talented or brilliant, humans were not omnipotent. How one dies was fleeting, taught by her father’s death, which was one of Angelica’s life lessons.

If Epitaph Palazzo orchestrated the conspiracy, he would hate Yuri Hou and would naturally prioritize eliminating him. He might already be dead.

“How old is this exceptional individual you speak of?” (Alfred)

“About twenty.” (Angelica)

“Hah, what can a mere 20-year-old do? Unfortunately, he was born too late.” (Alfred)

Angie wondered if this was directed at her. It was because she was born later, she was left out of the struggle for the throne. With a ten-year age gap, even her desire to inherit the throne with Alfred’s senility would never come to fruition.

“I suppose so. Well, I only mentioned it as a loyal subject’s duty, so please don’t take offense.” (Angelica)

“I never asked for your opinion from the start.” (Alfred)

‘Who was it that said, “Angelica, do you have something to say?” in the previous meeting?’

Angie remembered every word.

“That’s rude.” (Angelica)

But arguing back was pointless. Angie bowed graciously.

“You have another marriage proposal from the Eufpos Federation. Again. Hurry up and get married.” (Alfred)

That was the price for obtaining information. Angie, modest as she was, knew she was attractive. It was common for young men at social gatherings to misunderstand and propose.

“I decline.” (Angelica)

“Tch… Then just disappear. You’re a nuisance.” (Alfred)

“Very well, I apologize for the intrusion.” (Angelica)

Angie bowed her head and turned on her heel.

“Wait.” (Alfred)

A voice called out from behind. Turning around, Alfred threw a piece of paper from behind his desk. It fluttered in the air and landed nearby.

“Write your refusal yourself. I don’t want to be bothered.” (Alfred)

“Understood, I will do so.” (Angelica)

Angie bent down to pick up the parchment. As she stood up, something touched her shoulder. A sword was resting on her shoulder.

“Aniue, enough games.” (Angelica)

Angie stood up with the sword’s blade against her shoulder. Her brother held out the drawn sword.

“…” (Alfred)

If Alfred were to slide the sword sideways, its sharp edge would cut Angie’s neck. That would be the end of this chapter. However, she anticipated that Alfred wouldn’t do it. Alfred was already infamous due to the stain of the struggle for the throne. The assassination of his younger brother was somewhat understood, as he had been a formidable rival in the struggle for the throne. However, killing his still immature younger brother was a misstep.

His brother, five years younger than Angie, was only twelve when he was killed. Naturally, he had no ambitions or intentions of seeking the throne. The disgraceful title of a cowardly king who killed his brother out of fear still lingered. In addition, Angie, without boasting, was renowned as a benevolent lord and enjoyed popularity among the common people. There was no rumor suggesting she had hidden ambitions for the throne. At least, it shouldn’t be feasible for Alfred to kill her in his office.

“Hmph.” (Alfred)

Ultimately, Alfred did not draw his sword.

“Very well, excuse me.” (Angelica)

Angie turned on her heel and left the room. She closed the door, passed by the knight guards, and walked down the corridor for a while. Gustav, her trusted subordinate who had been waiting a short distance away, joined her.

“Are you alright, Angie-sama?” (Gustav)

He asked with concern. For him, this place was akin to a den of enemies.

“I’m fine. It was just a threat.” (Angelica)

Angie believed Alfred suffered from a mental illness. It was likely a specific illness that afflicted those who ascended to the throne by murdering their family. In simple terms, Alfred was constantly worried about when she might kill him. He probably thought Angie would do the same because he had done it himself. Although she had never sent assassins to Alfred, from Alfred’s perspective, it seemed like a continuous exchange of assassination attempts and conspiracies.

While she didn’t know the exact symptoms, it was evident he was unusually concerned about being poisoned in his meals. He had been eating only cold food for several years now. Despite nearly three years since Alfred’s ascension, there had never been a case of a food taster being poisoned.

“How shall we proceed? Shall we return?” (Gustav)

“Let’s tour the town before heading back. This place feels uncomfortable.” (Angelica) Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ N0vᴇlFire(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

She wanted to leave quickly.

—

Even though they were touring the town, they didn’t really have any urgent business to attend to. The domain’s main industry being wine. Angie went to a liquor store to purchase several renowned wines and loaded them onto the carriage. Since Altima Ultima a formal clothing shop, any necessary attire would have to be obtained from a tailor if needed, though it wasn’t necessary this time.

Afterwards, there were only a few errands left, such as visiting the familiar bookstore. Upon entering the bookstore, an elderly man with cracked reading glasses greeted her.

“Ah, Angelica-san, it’s been a while.” (??)

Relaxing upon hearing the old man’s raspy voice, whether he knew Angie’s birth or not, he treated her as just another customer. For Angie, it was a casual encounter.

“It’s been a while. Any good books?” (Angelica)

“Some books in Shan language. I’ve kept some popular ones for you.” (??)

Saying so, the shopkeeper went into the back room and returned soon after.

“Here and here.” (??)

Two bundles of five books each were placed on the counter in front of Angie. Glancing at the titles on the back cover, they seemed quite intriguing.

“Will a gold coin be acceptable?” (Angelica)

“Oh yes, of course.” (??)

Angie placed a gold coin on the counter.

‘Shan language books typically ended up in the hands of specialized dealers who would dismantle them down. Parchment can be reused by scraping the letters off it, so there are companies that recruit poor people who are nimble with their fingers and have them scrape it. While it couldn’t be used for holy scriptures due to the faint traces of the original writing, it could serve as merchant ledgers. Ten books for a gold coin is a bargain compared to books in the Telor language, but still, it is quite expensive compared to what the dealers paid.’

“Thank you. I’ll be back.” (Angelica)

Raising her hand to call a subordinate, a knight waiting outside the shop came over and swiftly took the two bundles of books.

“Any other good books?” (Angelica)

“Ah, does Angelica-san’s house have any holy scriptures?” (??)

“Of course, we have some.” (Angelica)

Even in Ultima’s poverty, there was at least one sacred text in the castle. After all, they were still regional lords.

“Well then, although I can’t recommend it very highly…recently, there’s been this kind of book.” (??)

The shopkeeper pulled out a single book from behind the counter. The book had an unadorned cover in subdued colors with “Holy Scriptures” written prominently, followed by “Telor Translation with Commentary” beneath.

“It’s made of plant paper, so we’re able to sell it at a lower price, and I highly recommend it.” (??)

“Hmm.”

Angie wondered if its simplicity was the reason for the lower price. She wasn’t a collector of holy scriptures, and this unremarkable appearance wouldn’t stand out on her bookshelf, so her purchasing desire was dampened. However, having holy scriptures at home was a testament of faith, and it seemed positive that they were available at an affordable price for common households.

“How much is it?” (Angelica)

“We’re offering it for seven silver coins.” (??)

Seven silver coins. Considering that parchments of holy scripture could cost up to a hundred coins, this was indeed a bargain.

“Isn’t it too cheap? Is it second-hand?” (??)

“No, it’s brand new. Look.” (??)

The shopkeeper casually flipped through the middle of the book. It was indeed pristine, without fading or fingerprints. It was new.

The initial letters on each page were ornate, but the rest of the text was neatly arranged. Compared to ordinary sacred texts, it was plain. However, the uniformity of the non-initial letters was unusual, almost as if they were stamped. Although it wasn’t messy and was rather easy to read, the repeated identical characters gave it an eerie quality.

Each page was divided by a line at the bottom third, with commentary written below. Holy scriptures with commentary was something Angie had never seen before. Usually, commentary was provided orally by clergy. This was also a new attempt.

“May I read a bit?” (Angelica)

“Of course, go ahead.” (??)

Angie skimmed the pages while leaving the book on the counter. Soon, she realized that this translation was completely different from the scriptures in her library. The parchment scriptures in Ultima were certainly the Authorized Version, and the translation was not lacking in quality.

However, this translation was exceptionally beautiful. It was poetic yet coherent, progressing with a unique rhythm without losing its meaning. It expressed the allure of scenes and narratives smoothly without imposing grandeur. Although it didn’t deviate from the content of the Authorized Version, its smoothness was such that one could sing it if read aloud.

It seemed to Angie that perhaps a woman had translated this text.

“It’s not the Authorized Version, is it?” (Angelica)

“No, it isn’t. Well, they say that the Authorized Version can only be produced in monasteries, so perhaps they were trying to avoid that.” (??)

That might be the case. Almost all the scriptures circulating in the world were produced as part of the duties of monks. One of the duties of a monk was transcribing scriptures. Since they transcribed while reading, it was a task that allowed them to work and learn simultaneously, also generating income for the monastery. It was a job that killed three birds with one stone.

In rural monasteries, monks could also work in vineyards to make wine or liqueurs, but in urban monasteries without fields, transcription was often their only task. Some monks became renowned for their skill in transcription, and scriptures produced by such monks gained value due to the monk’s reputation. When the value of the scripture reached a certain point, not only were the initials of the pages ornate, but paintings were often applied using paint, not just ink.

“No, but this doesn’t seem like something an uneducated person would write.” (Angelica)

“It seems to have a good reputation. I can’t judge the quality of the translation since I don’t understand the Telor language.” (??)

“Neither do I.” (Angelica)

The Telor language was the ancient language used in the original scriptures, and its grammar was extremely complex and difficult to understand. Since it was considered too burdensome, even among clergy, it stopped being recommended for study several decades ago. It was such a difficult language.

“Well, this commentary is also educational, so if you have the budget, I don’t think you’ll regret buying it. It’s much easier to understand than the sermons in church.” (??)

“I see… Well, I’ll take it for about seven silver coins.” (Angelica)

Angie took out seven silver coins from her purse and placed them on the counter.

“Thank you as always.” (??)

The shopkeeper said.

Angie thought she’d better check the cover, so she flipped the cover of the book she had closed. There was an immediate table of contents, with no mention of the year or place of binding. Thoughtfully, there was a column under the table of contents labeled “Thief’s Curse,” so she chuckled.

A “Thief’s Curse” (Book Curse) was usually written on the page after the cover to curse the one who stole the book. If it was a fairy tale, having it from the beginning would make it feel brutal, so it would be written on the last page. In a way, it was like teasing a thief.

Ordinarily, it would say something like “Whoever steals this book, whoever borrows it and does not return it, and whoever knowingly buys stolen property shall be cursed. They shall be struck by a thousand nails, bleed from a thousand holes, and die.” Certainly, with a stamped text, the curse would not be effective. The curse was clearly meant to be handwritten, so one could write it themselves if necessary. The fact that there was a designated space for it was amusing.

Thinking it might be the flip side, Angélica turned the page and found what she was looking for.

Publication Year: 2020

Publisher: Helett Monastery, Largolanco Island

Translation Director: Catholic Patella Wichita

It was amusing as well. It was likely an illegal publication, so they couldn’t be entirely truthful, but the irony was palpable.

Largolanco was deeply related to Catholic Wichita. In ancient times, there was a school-like institution called Largolanco Monastery, but now there was a famous church called Largolanco Church, associated with a saint. It was a church that exists in the northern part of the Kursul Peninsula, unrelated to any island.

Angie didn’t know that Catholic Wichita’s baptismal name was Patella, which was also interesting. Saint Patella the Explorer was a saint who tried to preach on the Southern Continent during the great disciple-drifting period. He was considered the patron saint of sailors and political refugees. While fitting for many who received infant baptism, it wasn’t quite suitable for Catholic Wichita’s life.

“This looks like it’ll be an interesting read. Well then, if you come across any more books in Shan, please set them aside for me.” (Angelica)

Angie closed the book and held it under her arm. She had no more business here. It was time to return to Ultima.

“Of course, I’ll keep an eye out for you. Please come again.” (??)

The shopkeeper replied casually from his chair.