Chapter 352 - 352: Older Sister and Self-Proclaimed Fiancée

Daughter of the Blade count house and a girl holding the alias "Silver Holy Knight."

She was also the woman who as soon as she entered the battlefield one year ago had given Rigel a passionate kiss.

Furthermore she had declared not to get close with women other than herself and that she would not permit side consorts or mistresses either.

No official engagement had been established.

Even discussion between the fathers had not progressed properly.

Despite that she herself seemed to have completely taken it that she had become Rigel's fiancée.

"Seems like bad compatibility with older sister."

Mesterica doted on her little brother Rigel.

She herself might intend to hide it but from the surroundings it was obvious.

She was wary of women approaching Rigel, investigated their origins, and suspected whether they were scheming something.

Calling it training she tormented them to the limit.

That attachment was a bit too much to call mere sibling love.

On the other hand Cynthia did not doubt that she herself was the future wife.

She thought Rigel's side was her place.

If another woman stood there even if it were his real older sister she should not think well of it.

An older sister trying to protect her little brother and a woman already treating Rigel as her husband.

One used the position of family as a weapon and the other arbitrarily confirmed the position of future wife.

Neither had much connection with the word concession.

Even if they recognized each other as obstacles there was nothing strange.

"Well, even if the two are on bad terms it's none of my business. They shouldn't be children enough to openly quarrel during occupied territory work."

Rigel muttered easily.

The attendant sitting opposite for an instant moved his lips as if wanting to say something.

However in the end he said nothing.

Rigel did not think deeply about what that silence meant.

However women fought it was none of his concern as long as there was no damage to himself.

Rather if he clumsily entered arbitration there was a high possibility of having dissatisfaction thrown at him from both sides.

Then he should just let them do as they liked.

If two beautiful girls fought over him it might become a somewhat pleasant spectacle.

Until that sweet thought was smashed there was only a little left.

—-

Several days later Rigel's party arrived at a hill overlooking the former Valstine royal capital.

Beyond the huge walls dense streets spread.

What towered in the center was the royal castle where the Valstine royalty had once lived.

On the walls instead of the flag of the perished kingdom the flag of the Kingdom of Wistaria fluttered in the wind.

"Nostalgic."

Rigel got down from the carriage and looked at the royal capital visible in the distance.

One year ago from those walls he had been showered with countless arrows and attack magic.

The castle gate was firmly shut and soldiers had tried with all their power to obstruct his invasion.

Now the gate was wide open trying to welcome him.

"Last time I came it wasn't welcome, they all came out to kill me."

"This time you will be welcomed as a hero."

"To the residents here I'm the invader who destroyed the country."

Rigel laughed without feeling guilty and boarded the carriage again.

They descended the hill and approached the castle gate.

On both sides of the gate soldiers of the Wistaria Kingdom army were lined up.

"Lord Rigel von Gousel has arrived!"

Together with a ringing voice the soldiers all corrected their posture at once.

In those gazes not only respect but also awe they could not hide mixed.

There were probably also those who had seen Rigel's figure in the war one year ago.

When the carriage passed through the castle gate many residents had gathered along the highway.

However there were no cheers.

Everyone stared at the carriage from the edge of the road at a distance.

There were also mothers hiding children on their backs and old people who kept their heads deeply lowered and would not try to raise their faces.

"Seems still early to be welcomed."

Many of the buildings that had burned down had been repaired and rubble blocking the road had also been removed.

Goods lined the eaves of shops and the sound of craftsmen swinging hammers could also be heard.

If only appearance reconstruction was proceeding smoothly.

Even so the air covering the town was heavy.

Even if buildings could be fixed the wounds and hatred carved in people's hearts would not vanish easily.

Distortion invisible to the eye still remained deeply inside this land.

"I see. Looks like there will be work."

Just looking at land with no problems he could not show his own ability.

But if troublesome matters remained it was convenient.

Find problems, search for causes, lead to solutions.

If he could prove power besides martial force that way moving academy graduation forward and appointment as frontier count should both gain more reality.

Eventually the carriage arrived in front of the main gate of the former royal castle.

Beyond the heavy gate doors a wide front garden and a white castle could be seen.

Rigel opened the door before the attendants moved and alighted on the cobblestones.

"Now then, where is older sister?"

Originally it would not have been strange for Mesterica or Count Blade to come to greet him.

However in front of the main gate there were only perplexed soldiers.

Everyone while minding the inside of the castle swam their gazes restlessly.

"What's wrong?"

When he called out one of the soldiers made his shoulders jump large.

"C-Count Blade-kakka is waiting in the inner conference room."

"Older sister?"

"That's…"

When the soldier faltered it was then.

From inside the castle a roar as if something had slammed into a wall rang.

Immediately after the window frames trembled in small increments and the soldiers in front of the main gate all shrank their bodies.

"Stop clinging to Rigel, you thief cat!"

"The thief cat is you! Just because you're the older sister don't keep clinging to Lord Rigel forever!"

Two familiar voices that rang from inside the castle.

Rigel blinked.

"…What are those two doing."

Again a dull impact sound rang.

This time closer than a moment ago.

The window frames trembled and fine stone powder fell from the wall.

"Only this much? 'Silver Holy Knight' seems name only!"

"Not yet! From here!"

Something large fell and then the sound of pottery shattering.

The soldiers in front of the main gate all looked down looking awkward.

"You didn't stop them?"

"We did try to stop them but…"

"But?"

"The other day there was a similar quarrel… Three soldiers who entered arbitration were carried to the infirmary."

"I see."

Both Mesterica and Cynthia held combat ability that ranked high inside the kingdom.

If ordinary soldiers cut into the two's brawl they would not get off unharmed.

Rather it was lucky there were no dead.

"Lady Mesterica, please stop!"

"Lady Cynthia! Please don't pour mana into the holy sword! The castle will break!"

From inside the castle desperate restraint of maids and soldiers could be heard.

However there was no sign of the quarrel settling.

"I decide Rigel's fiancée!"

"It's already decided as me!"

"Who recognized that!"

"Me and Father!"

"The crucial Rigel and Father haven't recognized it!"

"That's a matter of time!"

"Then I'll make it so that time never comes!"

Immediately after a roar rang as if the whole castle had shaken.

The ground shook and the castle windows trembled all at once.

A metal shield decorated beside the main gate came off the wall and rolled onto the cobblestones making a high sound.

Not a single soldier tried to move.

Rigel too for a while silently stared at the front entrance.

He had come to rebuild the former royal capital and surrounding region where scars of war remained.

But before that he apparently had to stop the royal castle being destroyed by his older sister and self-proclaimed fiancée.

"…Can I go home?"

There was not a single person who answered Rigel's voice muttered to no one in particular.