I Picked Up a Witch With Amnesia

9. Vengeance Disapproval – 05

A thousand years ago from now, in the work of the first emperor to pacify the chaotic continent and establish an empire on this land, there were four people who made the biggest contribution under his command.

Estelle, Tournizen, Decraznan, Crusell. Not only did they become the origins of the four major dukes representing the empire, Estelle was located in the north, Tournigen in the west, Crusell in the south, and Dekaraznan in the east, so over a period of a thousand years, the losers of each region became the losers. He had reigned as a ruler.

In other words, except for the Duke of Estelle, who has gone through many downfalls and declines over the course of a thousand years because there is no money, no farming, and only abandoned mines are everywhere, the other dukes are each in their own area. It was a truly sad story of how they ate well and lived well.

Just by looking at Lucian, it was easy to see how enormous the wealth the other dukes possessed. Everything Lucian wore on his body from head to toe was nothing but luxury goods, and the amount he gave me every month to stay at the Duke of Estelle was me who had to live with thrift and frugality as my motto. That said, it was a huge sum that would make your mouth drop open.

And among the four major dukes, the richest family in the empire was the Dekaraznan dukes, our destination. Their territory had the most fertile grain belt on the continent, and there were rock salt mines along the coast of the territory, and they were earning a huge amount of income from the salt they collected through it.

In a word, it meant that, unlike the Duke of Estelle, who only had a pattern and could not properly show its status in reality, the Duke of Dekaraznan was a family that showed the dignity of the only four dukes in the empire better than anyone else.

And that wasn’t the end. The direct blood relatives leading the Duke of Dekaraznan, who could be called the best in the continent, were also not ordinary people. Although it is only a nominal title, as he is of the same ducal rank, he has met Perzel von Decraznan, the heir to the Duke of Decraznan, several times at public events. It was a guy.

First of all, the guy’s face was really handsome. No, it wasn’t just good looking. Perzel von Dekaraznan’s face was so beautiful that when I first saw him, I instantly mistook him for a woman. To put it in one word, he was an unlucky looking guy.

Lucian was also a guy who looked like a parasitic brother, so every time the female servants of the Duke of Estelle stared at his face in awe, I felt like my insides were turned upside down, but he walked the world with a face that was even more handsome than Lucian. It made me wonder what it would feel like to do it.

In addition, according to rumors, Perzel von Dekaraznan has mastered various studies, including imperial studies and business administration, and, as a descendant of a military family, his swordsmanship skills have also reached a considerable level. To put it all together, he was born from the womb of his mother with all the talents suitable for ruling over others, and was nothing short of a perfect human being.

“Well, I think those are just exaggerated rumors. The ladies-in-waiting made a fuss about Lucian-sama being so handsome, but to be honest, Cain-nim was more handsome in my eyes. So, isn’t it possible that Duke Dekaraznan is actually a person who is far less than Cain-sama?”

“…That’s right, thank you for the compliment. aria.”

“it’s nothing. And above all, it’s not a word of mouth, it’s a fact?”

Arya threw such warm words of consolation at me, but unfortunately, Aria’s consolation did not reach me. No, on the contrary, it only brought a little misery.

‘It’s like a mother praising her son for being the most handsome in the world.’

After a long and tedious carriage trip, with countless nonsensical stories like this, Arya and I were finally able to enter the Duke of Dekaraznan.

‘…I’m trembling.’

To be honest, I was a bit nervous. Although nominally they have the same status as dukes, the actual status is so great that it is not an exaggeration to say that it is the difference between heaven and earth. Will the Duke of Dekaraznan really welcome Duke Estelle from the northern village? Will they think that they and the Duke of Estelle are on the same level?

“The Blade of the North carrying the dragon that runs through the heavens on its back, the Duke of Estelle’s duchess and his companions have taken a really long step. My name is Gordon, and I am the one who oversees the internal affairs of the Duke of Decaraznan. It is a great honor to meet the famous Duke Estelle in person.”

In conclusion, my worries were close to unfounded. The scene I saw as soon as I got off the carriage was the sight of the knights standing in line beyond the huge gate, perhaps to welcome Arya and I to the Duke of Dekaraznan. I received this kind of hospitality when I visited the Castana Marquis family, but at that time I visited the Marquis family as Bianca’s prospective fiancée, and this time I visited the Decaraznan duchy as a pure guest, but why did they receive such hospitality? I didn’t even understand why they were doing it.

“Yes, because the Duke of Estelle has such qualifications.”

“Are you saying your qualifications?”

“Yes that’s right.”

As Arya and I were walking among the knights, the general next to me explained in a low voice.

“We, Dekaraznan, did not forget our best friend Estelle, who was with us under His Majesty the First Emperor a thousand years ago. In particular, His Excellency the Duke has asked us to make sure that there is not an inch of confusion in the service of Prince Estelle.”

I couldn’t help but nod my head in admiration at the appearance of the commander-in-chief nodding politely to me once again as he said that. As expected, the distribution of the families competing for the top position on the continent must have been extraordinary. It was a bold mindset that was incomparable to that of the ugly kid of the Duke of Tournigen, who was defeated and beaten in a duel after arguing with me, innocent and innocent, for the sake of a single woman in the capital.

Feeling much more at ease, I was able to take a closer look inside the mansion of the Duke of Dekaraznan with a calmer gaze. My first impression was that the site of the mansion was very large. Not only was it bigger than the Duchy of Estel, but it boasted a grander area than the castle of the Marquis of Castana. Indeed, it should be said that it is the appearance of a mansion of a family that boasts one of the top five wealth on the continent.

The same was true of the beautiful garden built on the way from the gate to the mansion. Unlike the Duke of Estelle, who planted only seasonal flowers, or the Marquis Castana, who planted only coniferous trees while ignoring the scenery lightly, befitting the den of mentally ill people who lack empathy for others, the colorful and beautiful flowers are harmonious. The blooming flowerbeds of the Duke of Dekaraznan boasted a beauty that made the viewer exclaim with admiration.

‘You’ve done a lot with money.’

It was felt that the flowers were layered with protection and preservation magic in order to maintain their apparent beauty, but at least the fact that they hired expensive magicians to maintain the flower beds and put magic on them was the Duke of Dekaraznan’s family. It was to the point where I couldn’t imagine how much wealth was.

“Duke Estelle. Then, would you like to hear from the Duke right away? His Excellency is currently waiting for the Duke in his office.”

“I will do that.”

I nodded obediently at the general’s words and followed his guidance to enter the mansion. As I was walking through the maze-like interior of the mansion, the general looked in my direction and asked a question in a low tone.

“Duke Estelle, if you’re not rude, would it be all right if I ask you one thing?”

“You can ask anything.”

After my permission was granted, the commander quietly opened his mouth to me, glancing at Arya, who had been chasing after me without saying anything.

“Maybe it’s because my knowledge is shallow, so I can’t figure out who the party who visited the Duke of Dekaraznan with Duke Sok is. By any chance, could that lady tell me what kind of relationship she has with Duke Estelle?”

“…umm.”

To the general’s question, I momentarily wondered how to answer. To be honest, it wasn’t difficult at all to answer the general’s questions. It was only a matter of telling the truth, that Aria came here as my exclusive maid.

…but somehow I didn’t like it. It was clear that Aria was staying at the Duke of Estelle as my exclusive maid, but at the same time, I didn’t want her to be treated as just a lady-in-waiting by others. will be.

I know very well. That I was the one who kept Arya close to me as an exclusive handmaid, and that I had no qualifications to harbor such sentiments. However, I couldn’t help but feel awkward. Just before I lost consciousness, I couldn’t stand something tickling coming up from a corner of my heart, probably because I faced Aria who whispered ‘thank you’ to me.

But that was the time. Perhaps it was because she was wondering that I couldn’t answer the general’s question easily, but Arya tilted her head and answered the general’s question without hesitation.

“Are you saying that? That’s right, I came here with you to wait on Duke Estelle’s…”

“aria.”

I hurriedly raised my hand to cover Arya’s mouth, sighed softly, and spoke softly to the commander-in-chief.

“…She is the exclusive magician of the Duke of Estelle and is an honored guest. So, I would like you to treat me accordingly.”

…Damn it. I had no choice but to tell lies to the general, firmly determined that if I went back to the Estel family, I would have Arya immediately removed from the title of my exclusive maid. But what can I do? The time to stay at the Duke of Dekaraznan might be quite long, but thinking that during that time Arya might be discriminated against just because she is my maid of honor and staying here, I felt a sense of discomfort.

However, as soon as he heard my answer, the commander-in-chief smiled as if he understood everything.

“okay. I understand, little duke. I don’t think you need to explain further.”

“…yes?”

“Everything will turn out just as the Duke hoped, so don’t worry.”

The commander-in-chief gave me a meaningful smile that I couldn’t understand his intentions, and then led me to the splendid room in the deepest part of the mansion.

“This is it. Inside, His Excellency is waiting for you.”

At the words of the general, I nodded softly and opened the door to the office.

kiik-

When I entered the room, Reinfort von Decraznan, the head of the Duke of Decraznan and the current duke, jumped up from his seat to welcome me.

“Welcome. Little Duke Estelle. We sincerely welcome you to the Duke of Dekaraznan.”

“thank you. Duke.”

When I politely bowed my head in response to his hospitality, he apologized to me with an apologetic face.

“…Hmm, but you arrived much sooner than I expected. Not expecting that you would arrive so quickly, I was in the middle of having a snack with young people. forgive my rudeness Little Duke Estelle.”

“no. Rather, my responsibility for visiting this place suddenly without any other message is greater, so please do not humble yourself.”

“Huh, thank you so much for thinking that way.”

Saying that, Reinfault gestured to the people sitting across from him and made them stand up. And, the moment they got up and turned their faces toward me, my face had no choice but to harden. Both the man and woman who were sitting in the housekeeper’s office were faces I knew well.

The male side was the Duke of Dekaraznan, Perzel von Dekaraznan, and the identity of the beauty with dazzling blonde hair next to him was-

“…Sarah?”

It was Sarah Cernard, my first love, the woman I was once engaged to but no longer in any relationship with.