The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

38 – Viscount Hohenberg (3)

The Red Dragon of the Empire.

Ludmila Dragvaltaria.

The White Dragon of the Prosperous Kingdom.

Jéblinne Albion Russell.

As the doors of the locomotive opened, two dragons descended.

Upon this, countless crowds kneeled in unison, offering salutations. The solemn atmosphere flowed as if welcoming a deity who had descended to the earth.

“W-We are truly honored that the saint and princess have graced us with their precious presence… It is, it is truly humbling!”

A middle-aged man stammered nervously as he spoke.

A bluish-purplish complexion.

Faces filled with tension and awkwardness.

It was an unexpected reaction, as if they had been struck by lightning, despite having sent a letter in advance to inform them. Even in the midst of embarrassment, a sense of desolation crept in.

I apologize.

Please don’t forgive this unfilial son, Father.

The second son was weak and couldn’t stop the Red Dragon and the White Dragon.

“Raise your heads, Viscount Hohenberg. We are merely guests. How can the host bow his head?”

“Yes… Yes.”

Ludmila spoke to her father with a faint smile. Upon this, her father, seeing his son return after a long absence, sent consecutive winks and stood up.

Confusion was evident in her gaze.

As if pleading, “Explain the current situation, Edan!” with her eyes.

Her father’s precarious appearance, as if he could collapse at any moment, was truly pitiful. One might liken it to a scarecrow afraid of being carried away by a strong wind. The trembling, fragile shoulders confirmed it.

“Nice to meet you for the first time. I am Jevlin Albyon Russell, the First Saint of the Prosperous Kingdom. May the protection of the earth goddess be with you, Marquis.”

“Oh, Saint… Pleasure to meet you. Marquis Hohenberg… No, Viscount Hohenberg.”

Following this, Jevlin extended both hands, accompanied by a compassionate smile. At that moment, her father’s complexion, previously overwhelmed by confusion, brightened slightly.

Dealing with her seemed somewhat easier compared to the overwhelming charisma of Rudmila, who could captivate crowds in an instant. Of course, only a little easier, but still.

“Edan!”

“Father.”

He approached with faltering steps, and as they shook hands, a strong force was felt.

His grip was quite firm… It seems her father secretly exercises. Exercise is indeed the key to overcoming menopause.

“What on earth is happening…! What’s going on…!”

“Well, it happened.”

She whispered urgently in a voice filled with desperation.

At the same time, she felt an elbow rudely jabbing her side.

“The Second Princess, and even the Saint! Moreover…”

“Princess Elizabeth has also arrived.”

With her father, she raised her head to look at the approaching locomotive.

Then, she locked eyes with Elizabeth, who was holding the sleeping Rua.

The atmosphere reached its climax.

Her father’s pale expression, like that of a drowned corpse, seemed to convey it all.

The relationship that almost became a father-in-law and daughter-in-law…

A fateful connection that ended in a crisis was coincidentally reunited. It was a scene that could only be found in a soap opera.

“Hope you’ve been well, Viscount Hohenberg.”

Elizabeth politely greeted her father while handing the sleeping Rua to Rudmila.

She slightly raised the corners of her lips.

A calmness unsuitable for a villainess famous for her insolence was felt.

Although it ended sadly, during the formal introduction, Elizabeth never faced her father-in-law as a daughter-in-law. Now, their relationship meant nothing, yet Elizabeth treated him with utmost respect.

“Lady Elizabeth, I, as the father, apologize for the rude actions of my insensitive and unfaithful son.”

“I-it’s… it’s alright. Please, raise your head, Lord Marquis.”

As her father bowed in apology, Elizabeth, bewildered, gestured for him to rise.

The atmosphere was far from harmonious.

A scene of apologies and regrets unfolded on the uncomfortable seating.

Even the guests, gathered to welcome and host, discreetly observed, fearing they might offend the guests who had come to visit the territory.

“Father, let us proceed to the lord’s residence first.”

“Y-yes, of course, that’s what we should do.”

Outside the platform, numerous carriages awaited.

The holy ladies and princesses.

And the dedicated troops for their escort.

Transporting such a large group of over 200 people required all the carriages the Hohenberg family could muster, causing the soldiers involved in the reception to endure considerable hardships.

“Edan, there are many things I want to say, but…!”

Father, in an official setting with numerous nobles in attendance, yielded the grand and splendid carriage to the holy ladies and princesses.

Afterward, he grabbed me and headed towards the second carriage.

Hmm,

It was the carriage the Countess often used.

A vehicle favored by my father.

“To what noble beings do we owe the honor of this visit, Edan?!”

Thud.

As the door closed, my father urgently shouted.

I sighed and replied.

“The princesses are here for a journey, and the holy ladies have come for missionary purposes.”

“A journey? There is nothing to boast about in our territory, and missionary work like beggars! Aren’t the residents of the Hohenberg family’s territory all devout followers baptized in the cathedral!”

That’s exactly it.

Father, understanding my sentiments, shrugged his shoulders, and as he shook his head, a glint of frustration appeared in his eyes.

* * *

The news of the arrival of the noble and beautiful princesses and holy ladies at Hohenberg Manor spread like a wave.

The second young master, who had visited the Hwangdo region, brought as many as three prospective daughters-in-law. The Lord’s residence, which had been serene, was now abuzz with the arrival of women boasting extraordinary beauty.

“I thought you had no interest in love at all, so naturally I assumed you would choose that path…”

“To be honest, maintaining a life of abstinence was for the sake of gaining momentum.”

The maidservants tidying up the Lord’s residence each began to murmur.

Of course, it was inevitable.

With such an exciting topic at hand.

People tend to prefer thrilling excitement over dull peace. The maids and servants appeared more lively than ever. Laughter never seemed to cease ever since Edanant brought in noble ladies as prospective daughters-in-law.

“However, Princess Ludmilla and her knights have been busy since dawn… What on earth could it be?”

“It’s said she directly proposed to Lord Edanant about training the soldiers.”

The House of Hohenberg was a prestigious family representing the East, but unfortunately, their military power lagged significantly compared to other houses.

Due to the mild temperament of the previous lords, military spending had been drastically reduced. Moreover, during the outbreak of the racial war, the eldest son, Maximilian, who was supposed to be a warrior, was excluded from the Empire’s general mobilization order, further weakening their military strength.

This cannot continue.

There is an urgent need to augment military strength.

Was there not a precedent of attacks from bandits bearing grudges against the saintly party?

Ludmilla took responsibility for her father’s safety and sought to resolve grievances by engaging in military training.

“It seems as though Main and his companions are plotting against the Hohenberg Lordship as they did when they attacked the capital! To prepare for that time, I want to turn our courtiers into a force of a hundred elites! I hope everyone willingly follows suit!”

They gathered the knights of the House of Hohenberg in a grand military ceremony.

Afterward—

Emphasizing the responsibility of military discipline, they commenced military training.

The royal knights who guarded Ludmilla and Elizaveta were deployed as instructors. With their rich experience from the racial war, they lacked nothing as trainers.

“Huff, huff…!”

“Get up immediately, you incompetent lot!”

The knights of the Hohenberg Lordship, who had been languishing in peace, were struck by lightning.

Their enchantment with Ludmilla’s beautiful appearance was short-lived. The knights had to endure basic physical training, including drills and rigorous exercises.

Unforgiving.

Truly, immensely strict.

The knights covered in dust were provoked by Ludmilla’s commanding presence, demanding high-intensity training.

“Even if Edanant becomes the son-in-law of the royal family… It wouldn’t be bad to become the lord of the Hohenberg Lordship.”

With the disappearance of the eldest son Maximilian, the right to succeed the Lordship passed to the second son, Edanant.

Even if Maximilian were to return later, it wouldn’t change anything. The Valtaria Royal Family would naturally wholeheartedly support Edanant.

Rudmila imagined a blissful newlywed life with Edanant, amid the screams of the knights echoing through the halls of Count Hohenberg’s residence.

“Madness…! She’s giggling like a lunatic!”

From Noble mtl dot com

“She enjoys tormenting us. Now I understand why she remained a maiden until now!”

Rudmila chuckled sweetly, weaving delightful fantasies. The knights, on the brink of exhaustion, groaned, disheartened by her laughter.

“It seems the training is over! Knights of Count Hohenberg, gather at the cathedral!”

“The Lady calls. No exceptions!”

As the intense military training that began at 9 in the morning came to an end, the Holy Order escorting the Lady infiltrated the training ground and led the weary knights to the cathedral.

The day was not over.

The knights of Count Hohenberg had to assemble near the castle to march to the cathedral.

The knights, filling the cathedral, listened to a lecture hosted by the First Lady, who stood on the pulpit in pristine robes, her clear voice resounding.

“Today, let us pray for the bountiful provisions bestowed upon us by the Earth Mother. May her mercy reach Count Hohenberg, and may we cleanse ourselves of the sins committed thus far.”

Javelin’s noble figure seemed to illuminate the darkness, and as the knights witnessed the Lady praying with joined hands, their faith surged.

But resisting sleep was no easy feat.

Listening to a lecture in their fatigued state was akin to torture. Despite their efforts to stay awake, eyelids weighed heavy like lead, even crushing their resolute will.

The knights, like sickly chicks, began to nod off, one by one.

Javelin laughed heartily and remarked, “The beautiful Lady of the Prosperous Kingdom speaks, and they’re nodding off. It seems the knights of Count Hohenberg are in need of a wake-up call. The Earth Mother also said foolish ones require a spanking.”

The First Lady gave a subtle nod.

At that moment, the Holy Knights standing on either side produced paddles with “Love’s Whip” inscribed on them.

It wasn’t going to end with mere intimidation.

As Javelin, a renowned Lady even in the Prosperous Kingdom, smiled, the cathedral resounded with desperate screams, echoing forcefully through the sacred space.

* * *

Unbeknownst to the knights, derogatorily called “parasites living off salaries,” shedding tears of repentance through the rigorous military training and spiritual education organized by the beautiful princess and the Lady,

Edanant observed the spectacle with Rue and Elizabeth by his side.

It unfolded as anticipated.

As the red and white dragons descended, chaos erupted.

Though the knights’ screams were agonizing, Edanant ignored them. The knights of Count Hohenberg, who had become complacent in the tranquility like drunkards, needed a profound transformation through rigorous training.

“Unni is working really hard. The Holy Maiden, too… As expected, the power of love, right?”

“To package it as the power of love seems too exaggerated.”

“Both of them have no experience in dating, so they don’t know how to express it. That’s why it can get exaggerated.”

“…Isn’t that the same for Her Highness the Princess?”

Elisabetha giggled and asked Edanant.

Upon which, Edanant showed discomfort.

“Yikes! Y-you shouldn’t send me there!”

“I won’t send you if you continue to be a good listener.”

Contemplating whether to send the fairy who had recently become lazy to the military camp, Elisabetha threatened the petite fairy.

Lue dropped the licorice candy that she had been munching on, but she wasn’t disappointed. After all, there were a whopping 499 licorice candies neatly arranged in the wrapping.

“Hmm… We need new personnel to assist in managing the expanded viscount’s territory.”

Muttering so, Edanant stared at Lue, who had put a licorice candy in her mouth.