ANGSD 36

Chapter 36

Seeing Floan smile faintly, Eileen finally felt a bit of relief.

Perhaps it was the release of tension.

Without realizing it, her legs had gone weak.

Eileen hunched over slightly, placing her hands on her thighs, and let out a small, quiet laugh.

“Eileen?”

“My goodness, why did you even bring an axe…? It’s hilarious, really…”

“Well, Eileen, didn’t you also slam that man to the ground?”

The sight Floan had witnessed as soon as the door opened was Eileen throwing a man at least twice her size to the floor.

Her momentum, following a perfect arc and using her strength to overpower him, had Floan unconsciously gaping in awe.

“Oh? You saw that? Maybe I should have gone easier.”

“No, you did well. I don’t know who taught you that technique, but your posture was perfect.”

“Really?”

Given her small frame, he had assumed she was someone to simply protect… that had been his arrogance.

This woman seemed like an onion—you peeled back one layer, and yet another would appear. How could someone be so multifaceted?

Leg sweeps, using arms over the shoulder, leveraging core strength to redirect the opponent’s power—things ordinary noblewomen couldn’t even do.

Who exactly is she?

Just when Floan thought he had an understanding of her, she revealed yet another unexpected facet.

He felt a slight unease at how he was beginning to anticipate and want to see each new side of her.

Even if it was merely curiosity—was it really just that?

Lost in these thoughts, a sudden exclamation broke through.

“Oh, Your Grace!”

The servants of the administrator’s mansion, who had been hiding and observing, timidly crawled out.

They prostrated themselves flat before Eileen and Floan.

“So… the administrator has been caught…? He won’t come back here…?”

Floan glanced at Eileen beside him before answering.

“He won’t come back—not because he chooses not to, but because he can’t.”

At his words, the servants exchanged anxious glances.

Normally, people would be pleased if a corrupt official was caught, but the administrator’s servants were in a different situation—they were more afraid of losing their jobs.

“Please, take us in. We’ll work like dogs! Just give us something to do!”

One of the servants knelt before the duke and duchess, pleading.

The others followed suit, bowing and begging for mercy.

“Don’t worry,” Eileen said confidently.

Floan looked at her. She gave a nod, as if asking him to trust her.

That evening, the entire village gathered in one place.

Not only the village chief, but the vineyard farmers and the administrator’s servants also attended.

Those who had not yet understood the events of the day looked around with bewildered expressions, wondering what had happened.

“Alright, is everyone here?” Dalton asked.

The village chief counted heads and replied that most of the necessary people were present.

He then briefly explained the day’s events to the villagers.

“This afternoon, the southern administrator was apprehended. He had been disrespectful to the Duke and Duchess of the South, and since Her Grace wishes to address you personally, we are all gathered here.”

At the chief’s words, Dalton looked up the stairs.

Others followed his gaze.

Eileen, dressed neatly, descended halfway down the stairs with Floan escorting her.

Everyone was clearly astonished by the immaculate appearance of the two.

“Show proper respect to His Grace, Duke Floan Helios, and Her Grace, Duchess Eileen Helios!”

At Dalton’s command, the villagers awkwardly bowed and prostrated themselves.

“Everyone, rise,” Eileen said.

The villagers hesitated, unsure if she would punish them for some transgression. After all, they had first been told to regard the southern duke and duchess as lunatics.

“My deepest apologies! We, simpletons, did not recognize your high status and were disrespectful. Please, we will accept any punishment, but spare our lives!”

A farmer, trembling, presented grapes to Eileen while lying flat on the ground.

Others began pleading similarly, begging for mercy.

Eileen stepped down the stairs alone. She lifted the farmer from the floor and spoke.

“Everyone, raise your heads and stand. I am not here to blame or threaten you.”

Despite her gentle words, the villagers only exchanged glances, reluctant to rise first.

Finally, as Eileen personally assisted the village chief and the farmer to stand, the others gradually followed suit.

“This unexpected situation and visit have taught me exactly what I must do first,” Eileen continued.

She felt fortunate that she had arrived in such tattered condition, chased by a bear, as it allowed her to be seen not as a duchess to be honored, but merely as a poor girl with a flower in her hair. This gave her insight into the south.

“Honestly, I even owe that bear my thanks…” she muttered, smiling faintly.

“I cannot guarantee your lives will immediately improve, but one thing is certain: this place will change greatly. No one will starve, no one will face unjust taxation, and no one will feel abandoned.”

Eileen turned to Floan and shared a warm smile.

Meanwhile, at Café <Kawa>:

“Hm, the view is certainly stunning. Mountains right ahead and the sea just beyond the ridgeline—it’s beautiful. And to have a cup of coffee here, what a charm. Very elegant,” Crown Prince Eden said, setting down his cup with satisfaction and nodding at his advisor, Philip.

“…”

“No news yet?”

“No, Your Highness.”

“I thought the letter indicated arrival around the 18th. Could it have run off somehow?”

“Your Highness, letters do not suddenly come to life, so that’s unlikely.”

“Yes, I know. Still, our Floan wouldn’t do something even an ancient alchemist couldn’t manage.”

“Our Floan, Your Highness?”

“Well, considering my relationship with the Duke of the South, we are on brotherly terms. It’s not wrong to call him ‘our Floan.’”

“But I don’t see the Duke at all.”

“….”

Philip’s remark left Eden silent, staring off into the distance while sipping his coffee.

Indeed, he had arrived at Eileen’s Café <Kawa>.

Others nearby were whispering among themselves, watching the crown prince from afar.

“Philip, you can tell exactly what everyone is thinking, right?”

“Yes, all eyes are on Your Highness’s back.”

“Exactly. They don’t know the deep bond between Floan and me, so it must look peculiar. Right?”

“…Deep bond, Your Highness?”

“Philip, must you question me? I didn’t expect Floan to ignore my letter. But if I want to pretend we’re close, I should flaunt it—yes?”

“I… don’t quite understand, Your Highness…”

At that moment, Eden abruptly stood from his seat, cutting Philip off.