Dream Life

The night of January 23rd.

When the Dukes of Ezarrington and others were discussing it, Sharon and Melissa were also talking in the fine bedroom they were given. They were Zacharias' fiancée, so they were given a room on the top floor of Ezarrington Castle.

"It's about tomorrow, I wonder if you'll be okay..."

Melissa cut it out about her stroll tomorrow.

"What do you mean, it's okay? It's a safe city, and we should get an escort out of the Duke's house."

When Sharon returns it like that, Melissa worries about what to say and mumbles slightly.

"Uh... I'm talking about Zach... with the Duke's maid..."

Sharon instantly understood what his best friend wanted to say.

"You know what? Yeah, it's okay," he said.

"Really? Lawrencia is beautiful, and Primrose was a quiet and cute person..."

I feel that Melissa is not convinced and Sharon will explain why.

"This time, as I explained earlier, you two will be together to keep your hands off the Grand Duke of Langton and Lord Ingolslop. You know that."

Before dinner began, Sharon was telling Melissa why Melissa had the Laurencians.

"Yeah. So you said you had to make it look grand at dinner. Don't give the Duke a gap to get in."

"That's right. Because if I had odood in front of the Duke, they would think that Zach might need the stately wife he deserved. That's why I asked Lydia and Beatrice to drink."

It was Sharon's recommendation that the Lydianes were drinking before dinner.

The Lydianes with the liquor show their usual audacity, whether they are queens or dukes, but they don't care.

Sharon took advantage of that and made the Duke think that Zacharias' wives would have no problem dealing not only with the battle, but also with the highly-identified upper class. This way, I expected the Duke to think there was no room for a woman of her own.

Melissa was still unconvinced. She makes an immediate decision on the battlefield, but this time she rarely toured and asked why again.

"I can see that. But I don't know why it's okay."

Sharon, in contrast, grins and answers confidently.

"Master Zach already knows what I think. So we know what purpose the Duke is going to give the Lawrencians guidance."

"I mean, Master Zach knows what the Duke thinks, so you're okay? But if Lawrencia and the others like Zach..."

"You'll be fine with that," Sharon said, showing even more confidence.

"If Master Zach were to marry Lawrencia, he would be on edge with the Duke of Ezarrington family. In that case, Master Zach will have to be in the Imperial Capital or Ezarrington (here). In other words, it makes it harder to fulfill the mission that God has given us. As much as I can think of, Master Zach must have noticed that too. So, just in case Lawrencia and the others like Zach and Zach are less than full, they're gonna say no."

Melissa finally loosened her expression to Sharon's explanation and smiled, "Right."

"So what we do is make it look like the Lawrencians are getting along with Zach. Don't get in the way if you're wrong."

"Yeah," Melissa nodded, but with a slightly darker look.

"That's a complicated feeling. I'm going to help Master Zach and another woman get along."

"Right. I wouldn't want to do it if I could," Sharon nodded, too.

"But this is what I need to do to protect Master Zach. The Duke of Ezarrington seems like he understands the story, but if the Grand Duke of Langton or Lord Ingolthrop gets his hands on it, it'll be a hassle. At worst, it can be harmful to the Lockhart family. We need to get on the Duke of Ezarrington's measures so that it doesn't. So we have to hang in there."

"Okay. Definitely something if you say so much. If there's anything I can do, say it."

Melissa took Sharon's hand when she said so.

After that, the two discussed what would happen after tomorrow.

■ ■ ■

Around the same time Zacharias was drinking wine in his bedroom with Lydiane.

Lydiane, a drunken addition and subtraction, foams (sparkling) wine into Zacharias with one hand.

"What did you think of the Duke's Lady? He was beautiful, and he didn't seem to have a bad personality?

Zacharias was bewildered for a moment by a sudden inquiry. But soon I laugh that I'm just drunk and tangled.

"I don't care what you think. The other lady is a famous lady who leads you to the Imperial Family. No matter how wrong you are, you have no contact with me, so you don't even have to think about it, do you?

Lydiane leaks a mild sigh of "ha" to the answer.

"If you make one of those warrants, you can be an Earl. I will be the son-in-law of the next Chancellor. Still don't find it appealing?

Zacharias sighs in the same way as "ha".

"Um. You know I don't want a title."

Lydiane returns the body she had kept and becomes a serious look.

"Of course I do. But when I think about what's ahead, I feel like I can take it seriously."

"Earlier? What's this all about?," Zacharias tilts his neck. He had no idea what Lydiane intended.

"It's about that kid. About Luna."

"You mean Luna? How does that relate to the countenance?

Turn your body upright and stare firmly into his eyes.

"I think it's safer to stay in this castle than in the village. It's safe here, no matter how long the undead arrive, and the distance from the land of the demons (Kwaedam Tenebre) makes it difficult for the demons to strike..."

Having listened so far, Zacharias has figured out what she wants to say.

"That is. If you marry one of the two warrants and live in this Ezarrington, you'll be able to protect Luna with this fortress and 20,000 soldiers from the Fourth Legion... that's what you're trying to say."

"That's right. The fence you built certainly helped. But if more enemies attacked than that undead... I think that battle was lucky. Because the enemy insulted us. If you had attacked me with all your might from the start, I don't think I could have protected you. That's what you think, isn't it?

She thought the death fight against the undead was just lucky to win, and there were as many elements to lose. She was right, if Vlad Varonos, king of the undead, had been on the front line from the beginning, the undead, reinforced by his abilities, would have pushed over and Kanga Hill would have fallen in less than a day.

"Sure, but no matter how many enemies of the gods, you shouldn't be able to easily align all that power. If I can do that, I have it all from the beginning. That it hasn't happened is more natural to assume that the enemy has some limitations as well. Then we can intercept them in the village."

"But that's your idea, and no one knows if it really is? Then I think we should evacuate to a safer place. You'll be safe here as long as the dragon herd doesn't attack you."

"Sure it is...... but I can't say enough that this place is safe"

Though I agree with her thoughts, I did not change my opposite attitude.

"Why? There are high walls and great rivers. Even if there are demons flying in the sky, I think we can protect them here, and if it's dangerous, we can escape. Unless you've got enough enemies to fill both shores."

She's right, the river width of the Fannell River, a natural moat, is about a km (Kimmel) long and needs to cross the bridge except for aquatic and flying demons. It can be prevented by high walls against aquatic demons, and can be shot down by massively deployed bows for flying types, and safety can be ensured by escaping into buildings with sturdy walls.

"Sure, this place is strong for attacks from the outside. But I've forgotten something. That the enemy isn't just from the outside."

Lydiane is silent in his words.

"There are many people here. That's just strangers, too. If there were an enemy of the gods lurking in it, I wouldn't be sure to protect Luna enough. In that regard, there are few people in the village of Rasmore who do not know, and there are only trustworthy companions, especially in Kanga Hill. So the village is safer."

"Sure it is, but if we keep our eyes open, we should still be fine here"

I find it uncomfortable with her to argue intransigently.

"Why do you say that so far? I think it's easier in the village."

Lydiane exposes her emotions to the word.

"I don't want to lose you! I couldn't be beside you then when you challenged the King of the Undead to battle. Even in the battle until then. You know how worried I was when I was fighting you elsewhere?

She was constantly frightened that he might die in circumstances where she could not fight together.

"That's the same for me. Liddy, Beatrice, Mel, Sharon, Dan... my father, uncles, Walt... I couldn't help but worry that my loved ones would die. But that would be a different story. Is it good for that? Even if I marry my new wife."

Lydiane nods with perseverance at the last inquiry.

"I don't mind. If you're going to be a little safer," he says without feeling it.

"I'm sorry. I can't believe I'm marrying my wife for safety..."

Zacharias had Sharon's face on his mind.

"Maybe this is what Sharon thought?

In contrast, Lydiane shakes her head "wearing it" loudly.

"Sharon won't tell you this, even if he comes up with it, and he won't. That kid only thinks in the direction you want. You never do what you really don't want. Because I know you love the village."

"Then why would Liddy say that?

"I'm not like that kid. If it's enough to lose you, I want to do something with disregard for your will. If I were to lose your love with it, I wouldn't regret it!

Zacharias had lost his words to the strength of Lydiane's thoughts.

"But Sharon isn't. That girl doesn't want you to hate her. Sometimes, it seems like you're in trouble, but in the end, you only do things to the extent that you admit it. No, I can't. But if I'm going to lose you... so be it."

When Zacharias tried to say something, he heard a knock through the door.

"It's me. Can you hear me for a second" and when I opened the door, I saw Beatrice.

"When I went out in the hallway, you heard me arguing. I thought it was unusual for you. So, what happened?

Lydiane briefly tells her stories so far when Zacharias is cramped with answers.

Beatrice was baffled because she didn't think we were talking about that.

"... that is. Do you mean to marry that young lady and become an Earl and have her hidden here..."

"That's right. I think this is the most certain way to protect this person. How about you?

Lydiane asks Beatrice, ignoring the silent Zacharias.

"Whatever you say... I'm retarded. The only thing I can think of is protecting you from dying. But hey..."

Zacharias stands up in front of his two wives.

"I know what Liddy's trying to say. But I'm not going to be an Imperial nobleman. If that makes you safer, I'm not willing to stick my foot in politics. Besides, just because you became a nobleman and lived here doesn't mean you'll be safe. Then I'll do what I want."

"Right. It's best if you do what you want. I think that's a good idea."

Lydiane sighs loudly when Beatrice says so.

"I knew this would happen when Beatrice arrived. But just think about this. For me, for us, live. Whatever you do..."

That's all I'm saying, "Come on, let's get back to drinking. Beatrice is here, so I'd like you to serve me some red wine," he says with a rusty look.

Zacharias says, "You know..." but says, "I'll remember. Whatever you do, make an effort to survive," he replies.

"First, I don't think the ladies want to marry me. Do you ever drink hypothetical stories?"

That's what I said. I took the bottle and glass out of the storage magic.