Iron Blood Earl Riccianne

“Haha, I finally meet my Frost ball. Welcome. Caith Gronstra. ”

Broken shoulders, at least 10 cm taller than Ricaien, broad face, thick eyebrows, puffy eyes, and a big mouth that feels stubborn and fuzzy. Earl Caith Gronst was a man of the impression of seeing a brave longevity on the battlefield. The voice is also loud, but does not give objection to those who hear it well.

Lycaen greeted him strangely for his appearance.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Lycaen Prokers. ”

“Actually, I've been waiting since the State Assembly last winter, and it was a shame I didn't attend. That's why I'm more than happy to say. ”

“Thank you for taking such good care of me. ”

“Hahaha, no thanks. Thank you for accepting my invitation. I've prepared a room for you, so you should rest first and unwind. The butler will visit you at lunchtime. ”

“I see.”

“Thank you. Goodbye... ”

As Caith left, the butler stepped forward and said,

“I will guide you. We also have a room for your escort knights, so come with us. ”

Lycaen follows the butler, and then the knights, including Julia, move on. At that moment, something strange appeared in Julia's eyes. Elisha was looking at Lycaen with suspicious eyes.

“Yeah, what's wrong? ”

In Yulia's words, Elisha whispers in a small voice.

“Have you ever seen Yulia like that? ”

“Yeah, what's that look like? ”

“How polite and respectful of her. ”

“Huh? I've never seen anyone do that to anyone but the Earl or the Earl's wife. ”

I couldn't help but say "grandma" to Tehaz, one of the top wizards. However, he was being very polite to Earl Gronst, who looked about the same age.

“Is it because he's the same noble and has the same title? ”

“Well?”

“That said, you've shown quite a kindness, as well as when you were invited and when you first greeted. ”

“Yes. Is it because of that fox... you were talking about on the way here?" ”

Elisha considers the bear for a moment and shakes her head.

“That's weird, too. The Earl didn't seem particularly hostile to that person. I mean, you just seem to think you have to be careful, because you're just going to get in trouble from there. ”

After considering for a long time, Julia shrugs.

“Hehe, I must not know the inside of the Earl. Maybe he just seemed okay. Anyway, let's get some rest today. ”

Chapter 3. Towards the Capital City (1)

"Hmm?! ’

Lycaen's expression, when he walked into the banquet room under the steward's guidance, was instantly stiff. However, knowing that it was an excuse, I opened my mouth with a smiling face.

“Thank you for your hospitality. ”

Lycaen, who was on his way to his seat with the steward's guidance, nods his head.

‘There's a reason. ’

Lycaen looked around for resistance to Gronst backwriting and found many things unusual.

For example, every door had two handles. One at average height, and one at a pretty low position. And the two handles were connected so that if I turned one, the other could move together to open the door.

In addition, there is a ramp next to every staircase, or a rail-like rod attached to every wall at a low location.

And Lycaen was able to find the cause of those unusual parts. It was another person who was sitting at the table in the banquet room besides Caith.

A little boy with a wheelchair.

All the unusual found in the immunity was made for this boy. The wheelchair made an incline so that it was easy for each floor to go up and down, and set up a railing in case it was necessary to move the wall, and made two handles for all the doors to open comfortably while sitting in the chair.

The butler led Lycaen across from the boy.

As the butler pulls the chair out of the back, Caith says to Lycaen,

“Have you recovered your strength? ”

“You gave me a good rest. But this is...? ”

Likkien pointed to the boy sitting across from him and asked carefully. At that, the boy smiled and said.

“I'm Shylon Gronst. ”

And Caith added an explanation.

“This is my brother. Just in case... Shylon is eighteen this year. ”

“Hmm?! ”

Lycaen looks surprised. It's because he looked 10 years old to me.

And it wasn't until a moment later that I realized that this reaction was an excuse.

“Oh, I offended you.... ”

However, Shylon shakes his head, not erasing the smile he was building.

“That's okay. It's even weirder not to look surprised when I'm surprised. When I was 10 years old, I suddenly got a fever, and then suddenly my growth stopped. That's when I stopped using my legs. However, you don't have to worry too much because you are living without great discomfort because of your brother's consideration. ”

It turned out that the doorknobs, ramps, handrails, etc. were not that old.

He glances back and sees that Caith is smiling without a care.

“Have a seat. We'll have food in no time. ”

Then Lycaen sat down, remembering that she was still standing. And he said with a curious look on his face.

“I've never heard of a brother by the way. ”

Caith replies with a slightly darker expression.

“Until now, I've liked being alone and hated being out in the open. But from now on, it's a little different. ”

“What do you mean different? ”

“I'm going to the capital with you to the State Conference. In fact, I'm not saying this because I'm my brother, but the political senses of the dizzy old people are good enough to stick their tongues out. And now that you're going to help me figure out what you think, there's no need for me to leave a great talent alone. ”

Lycaen nods.

“Rotting talent is definitely a loss. ”

“Anyway, since we're going to be doing quite well at the State Conference, I'd like to ask you to do the same for me. ”

“Haha, I'll do anything I can to help. ”

So while the two men were talking, the servants brought in the food.

“I was told to pay special attention, but I don't know if it'll fit you. ”

“Food doesn't go unnoticed. And these foods look great, too. But……. ”

Lycaen turns to look at the vacancy beside Caith and the maid standing next to her, blurring her words. Caith, who realized the meaning of that look, said with a face that was nothing.

“Neither I nor Shylon usually like to be eaten by others, so don't mind me. ”

Lycaen nods and replies.

“I see. Will you pass it on to me, then? My father doesn't like that either, but it's uncomfortable when someone's watching. ”

“Haha, by the way, I don't think there were any acolytes among Earl Prokers' group. ”

“That's what family customs are. ”

“Well, the father of the Frost ball was a great man who ruled the people to the brink. Then……. ”

For a moment, Caith thought of something and said to the butler in the banquet hall.

“Get them all out of here. ”

“I understand.”

The butlers, servants, and maids leave the banquet room in a frightening way. And Caith said to Lycaen,

“I was going to talk quietly after dinner...... Now is the time. ”

“I'd like that. My family talks a lot during meals, too. ”

“Haha, I see. ”

Riccianne slashed her throat with the wine in front of her, and asked with a serious look.

“I think I need to know something before I talk... Let me ask you this directly. Earl Gronst and Earl Prokers didn't have much of an interaction. Of course Gronst Ball and I are the same. But I heard you wanted to see me since last year... Is there a special reason? ”

“There must be a lot of reasons to talk long, but in short, I asked you to be my friend. ”

“Friend?”

Lycaen pauses for an unexpected moment. It's not that long ago, but it reminded me of someone in my memory.

‘Licagien……. ’

It is because it reminds me of the second life, as well as another "Likeyen Procures," who gave everything to the dead.

Then I came to this world and met a lot of people and made a lot of connections, but no one could unexpectedly call me "friend." Of course, most good relationships are not that strange, even if they are "friends," but they don't exactly fit together.

Lycaen nods, smiling bloody.

“Friends... good. ”

It was Caith who was surprised to hear that. Of course, it was a favor, but I never thought I would nod so easily.

In fact, this decision seemed a bit urgent to Lycaen. However, Riccianne could not nod her head for no reason unless she was a fool.

Lycaen, who had lived a short but extremely intense life, had an intuition based on that experience. Caith, who glanced at Ricaien like that, at least didn't look at himself with 'selfishness’.

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