Chapter 78, Let’s Trust That Loyalty

Translator: Lizz

Beffa asked Edward in a low voice.

“…Shall we investigate?”

Edward thought for a moment, then asked Sylvia.

“Lady Sylvia, what should we do? The knights have sworn loyalty, but their families have not. They might let others live here without permission.”

Sylvia looked puzzled.

“Hm? They wouldn’t do that. They won’t act without permission.”

Sylvia declared firmly, and the Narciso tribe members and their families present were left speechless.

“…Yes, that’s right. That’s how it is, Beffa. Let’s trust the knights’ loyalty.”

“…Understood. I was thoughtless to suggest something unnecessary. I apologize.”

Moved, Beffa bowed deeply and apologized.

“It’s fine. I briefly thought of it too, but I’ll trust the loyalty of those who accepted Lady Sylvia and swore allegiance. After all, you yourself are a precedent.”

When Edward hinted at how Beffa had first tried to deceive Sylvia, failed, was rejected, and then redeemed himself, Beffa looked terribly ashamed.

“That was the greatest failure of my life… Yes, at first Lady Sylvia rejected me and Mr. Edward suspected me, but ever since being accepted, I’ve always thought: I will never betray you, so please trust me.”

Then the knights and their families all spoke up.

“Of course, I too have sworn loyalty, and I would never secretly let someone whom Lady Sylvia has not accepted live here. And anyone who tried, no matter who, I would drive them out.”

“I feel the same. We’ve even been given homes—there’s no way we’d do something treacherous.”

“Me too!”

Sylvia nodded in agreement, and Edward gently patted her head.

＊

Nomani gagged Mariano, who was struggling to break free and tied him up. He carried him on his shoulder, and at the checkpoint processed Mariano’s refusal of entry, then left himself as well.

“…I’ll go settle this. I might not be back today, but I’ll re-enter first thing in the morning and head into the fortress.”

“…Please be careful.”

He gave a wry smile to the other guards, who looked uneasy.

“Raising children doesn’t always turn out as one wishes. …But I’m the chief. My family isn’t just this one. It’s the entire Narciso tribe. I know I can’t sacrifice everyone for the sake of one delinquent.”

One of the guards spoke cautiously.

“…Beffa said that even though he was rejected once, he asked again and was accepted. So perhaps—”

“No, impossible. I can’t imagine Beffa, who is flawless in everything, ever speaking ill of Lady Sylvia. This one, however, went so far as to hurl insults at our Lord and tried to press her. I endured it because he’s of our blood, but if he were a stranger, I would have taken his head, not just Beffa.”

“…”

His men fell silent.

Indeed, if he hadn’t been the chief’s son, they wouldn’t have tolerated it.

Nomani glanced at his wife, who had followed after him.

She doted on Mariano.

Part of Mariano’s rebellious attitude came from her—always apologizing instead of scolding or guiding him when he complained endlessly about his father’s work and their poverty.

Nomani had never intended to make Mariano inherit the intelligence work he despised, and he often told him to go work elsewhere if he hated this poor life that much. But despite all his complaints, Mariano never left home.

When Nomani himself was Mariano’s age, he already had the self-awareness of being the chief’s son, training his body and studying alongside his father. Looking at Mariano’s frail frame, Nomani reflected on that difference.