Chapter 28

"Even so, I can't expose you to danger. I will definitely protect you."

"I want to protect you too!"

Melfiela, who said this with determination, had a straightforward gaze.

"Although my methods may differ from Aristide-sama's, I want to protect everyone, including you."

"Melfi..."

"Please don't say it's impossible. I will do what I can in my own way. 'The greatest duty of the Duchess of Galbreath is to comfort and heal her husband, the Duke,' as you said yesterday, didn't you?"

"But I don't want you to get hurt."

I could only answer that. Melfiela's eyes, like green jewels, glistened with moisture. She looked as if she was about to cry and pressed her cheek against my hand. I was genuinely happy that she was considering living together in the Galbreath territory, but I didn't know how to accept the words "consider living together."

"Don't cry, Melfi."

"I'm not crying!"

"I'm sorry. I don't want to make you sad, but I've always taken it for granted."

"Even if you die, it's just a matter of course?"

The way I think like this is related to my unusual upbringing. Should I explain it to Melfiela here and now? I wrapped her in my cloak and pulled her close. Despite the cold being blocked by magic, her small body was trembling. I tried to speak as gently as possible without looking into her eyes.

"Melfi. It's just an old story, but do you want to hear it?"

"Even the smallest things are fine. Please tell me about Aristide-sama."

In truth, I was terribly worried about how Melfiela would react. We had just become engaged, but the strong desire not to disappoint her welled up inside me. The conflicting feelings of not wanting her to know my pitiful side and wanting her to know everything were struggling within me.

"It's a past that can't be changed, but I want you to know about me."

Melfiela, who was trembling, nodded slightly. Ah, if you are willing to be by my side like this, I want to respond to your feelings.

"I was born as the second son of the former King of Langdias. My brother is the current King. Now, I can no longer call him my brother."

The current King Maximus is six years older than me and has inherited the blood of Langdias strongly. His deep golden hair and deep purple eyes, the same as the seventh King and sage Maximus, were said to be the return of the sage. In fact, the King is very wise and is respected by other countries even in his eighth year of reign. The famous story of how he, as the Crown Prince, restored the country's strength, which had declined due to the great drought and famine seventeen years ago, is well known.

"You were a prince, Aristide-sama?"

"Hehe, I'm no longer a prince since I'm now a subject."

While stroking Melfiela's fluffy hair, I continued my story. Her hair is so soft that my hand naturally reaches out to touch it. Since she doesn't show any signs of disliking it, I decided to enjoy it a little longer.

"King Maximus is a wise and excellent ruler. Unlike him, I was clumsy and not a very praised prince. My magic power was too strong to control, and I often caused the castle to be destroyed by accidental magic releases when I was young."

For a while after I was born, I was physically weak. When it was discovered that I had the 'magic eye,' which houses magic power, the castle was in a great uproar. Generally, those with the 'magic eye' have strong magic power. I was no exception, and the amount of magic power I contained far exceeded that of the castle's mages. My father, the King, assigned me excellent mages, but they gave up one after another due to my clumsiness. I don't remember much because the excessive magic power caused me to be bedridden due to physical discomfort.

"My health often deteriorated. The cause was the instability of my magic power, and I often suffered from high fevers, almost to the point of death... as my nursemaid said."

"Did your magic power condense? Was the magic poison okay?"

"Fortunately, the castle mages were there. I remember being told to release any magic while in a daze. Well, that's how the castle was destroyed many times."

"I'm glad you're safe. A 'magic power surge' is very dangerous. If the abnormal fever continues, it can be fatal."

Hearing Melfiela's firm voice, I realized something. When my magic control failed yesterday, she had a similar tone. Melfi... did you lose someone close to you because of this? Probably, your mother, who accepted her fate, died due to a 'magic power surge.' I'm not sure if I should wait for her to tell me herself.

"My method of dispersing magic power is to use magic continuously. It's a waste to just recklessly cast powerful spells, so hunting monsters is just right."

To reassure Melfiela, I held her small hand. I felt relieved when she squeezed back.

"My magic is a bit rough, which is often criticized as a flaw, but I learned it more from the kingdom's knights than the castle mages."

By the time I was seven, I had finally developed the physical strength to withstand my magic, and my place had moved from the castle to the knights' quarters. The reason was simple: I could only practice magic in the knights' training grounds. I was feared not only by the mages but also by the castle's civil servants and servants, and it was there that I met Chaos. Chaos is the son of the former Eastern Commander of the Kingdom Knights. We fought a lot when we were young.

"You've known Chaos-san since you were so young. I felt a strong bond between the two of you."

"Is that so? He acts like an older brother just because he's two years older than me."

"Hehe, I see. I don't have anyone like that, so I'm a bit envious."

Indeed, Chaos is talkative, but he is the first knight to swear loyalty to me. He could have succeeded his father's position in the Kingdom Knights but chose to follow me to Galbreath. I still admire his decisiveness, which he showed when I was ten and he was twelve.

"Are you cold?"

"No, I'm very warm."

"Is that so... Do you still want to hear more? The story from here isn't a good one."

"Seventeen years ago, right? I would like to hear it, but isn't it a state secret?"

Melfiela looked up at me with concern. Her eyes no longer held tears, but her face still showed unease.

"It's fine with you. Melfi, our engagement was conducted according to proper noble etiquette, and the King is aware of it. The engagement is valid."

"To have come this far in such a short time... Aristide-sama, I am a fortunate person."

"I'm surprised myself. I never intended to marry anyone, but everything changed when I met you."

It's truly mysterious. I've never proposed marriage before, and I don't know how other nobles reach marriage, but perhaps others face similar situations. I don't know, but I feel that my engagement to Melfiela is the right thing for me.

My story continued. The disaster seventeen years ago. The former Duke of Galbreath was severely injured and was not expected to live long. To prevent a civil war, an agreement was made between the former King, the then Prime Minister, and Galbreath.

Melfiela, who listened to my calm narration, sometimes hugged me gently and sometimes comforted me. When she learned that I was made the next Duke of Galbreath to control the succession issue and that I had to become a subject to my brother, she was indignant on my behalf.

The country was weakened by the great famine caused by the great drought, and without other methods, it was necessary to control the nobles who might go out of control. Honestly, the country had no personnel to spare for the Galbreath territory, which had suffered greatly from the madification of monsters. This was not just a problem for Galbreath; Melfiela's hometown, the Marchalraid territory, and other territories were also exhausted.

Some nobles even proposed using me to attack other countries. The idea was to make me, a prince with the 'magic eye,' the Crown Prince and lead a war to expand the territory. What would have been dismissed as a delusion in normal times was supported at that time. Indeed, a civil war had already broken out between the war proponents and the moderates. Everyone was in an extreme state. The long peace of the Kingdom of Langdias had made it lose its resilience in times of crisis.

"At that time, Chaos's father died in a dispute between territories over water and food. I immediately went to my brother and made an unreasonable request: 'I will take the name of Duke of Galbreath, so please become King and prevent such tragedies from happening again.'"

"You were still a child, yet you were made to say such things."

"The King said the same thing to me. But it was the path I chose. We discussed and formalized the role of 'Duke of Galbreath.'"

The role of the Duke of Galbreath is not just to hunt monsters. We also established a proper guarantee system for the knights. Knights who serve the Duke of Galbreath can join the Kingdom Knights after five years of service. Those with special achievements receive recommendations. This also aims to expand the country's military strength, and many Galbreath-born knights are now in the Kingdom Knights. For example, Beigard, the knight of Littlewood Fort, is from Galbreath. He and Mullan are contemporaries, but while Mullan stayed in Galbreath, Beigard chose the path of a Kingdom Knight.

Moreover, the resources obtained from monsters can be sold to the country at a high price (since the monsters in the Elzenie Great Forest have a lot of rare resources), and the proceeds can cover all the expenses of the Galbreath territory. This might have been possible only because the King and I are real brothers. If the 'honor' of the previous Duke was enough to live on, there would have been no disputes in the first place. The world is harsh.

I thought this might be a bit difficult for Melfiela, but she seemed to understand my story correctly. "This is a system unique to the Galbreath territory. It would be difficult to implement in the Marchalraid territory," she commented. Indeed, the Galbreath territory has a special environment, and it might be difficult to apply it to other territories.

"That's why we continue to hunt monsters. It's to protect the country. And if we are ever faced with a disaster again—"

"Instead of accepting it and risking our lives, we should think of a way to prevent the disaster itself."

Melfiela interrupted me and declared clearly. I was taken aback and speechless. Prevent the disaster itself?

"Monsters keep increasing. There's a limit to how much we can hunt."

"But someone has to do it."

"By sacrificing Aristide-sama? I don't want that. I reject it."

Melfiela took off her leather gloves. Then, she took off my leather gloves and touched my hand gently, as if to comfort me. She treated my scarred hand with great affection. Upon closer inspection, her white hands also had several small scars.

"This is my new research. If we can establish a method to extract the magic poison from madified monsters, we won't have to risk our lives, right?"

I almost said it was an idealistic theory, but looking into Melfiela's clear eyes, I felt it might be possible. She added, "And if we can extract the magic poison, we might even be able to enjoy the madified monsters," but I felt it was a cover-up and couldn't help but kiss her forehead.

"Aaaah, Aristide-sama?!"

"You've given me such passionate thoughts. I can't hold back."

"St-stop it, I'm being serious."

"I'll think seriously too... Melfiela, the meaning of living together with you."

Melfiela, who had her face turned red and was looking down, showed the top of her head. She said, "Don't tease me!" in an angry voice, but her ears were red, ruining the effect. Why is my fiancée so cute in her reactions?

The lined-up dragon riders, following their homing instinct, were heading for the Galbreath territory. The territory, in the midst of autumn, should be in full bloom soon. We have a little more time before we are welcomed by the monsters of the Elzenie Great Forest.