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Chapter 30. House of Henry
–Our train will soon arrive at Henry Lord’s Castle Station. Please make sure you have not left behind any of your belongings when disembarking. Thank you.
Zeppelin retrieved his duffel bag from the overhead rack.
The train came to a stop with a harsh screech.
He picked up his luggage and stepped off the train.
“Hoo.”
E̊ nům а . i d
After walking a short distance out of the station, golden wheat fields greeted him.
Farmers were gathered in the fields, harvesting wheat.
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Smiling, Zeppelin passed by the fields and headed toward the city entrance.
“Next.”
Perhaps because it was near the border, or perhaps because of the tense atmosphere of looming war.
The inspections were severe.
Eňu mа̊ . і d
After waiting for about an hour, it was finally Zeppelin’s turn.
A guard extended his hand.
Zeppelin handed over the crafted item he had received from Count Henry.
The guard frowned.
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A heavy sensation of solid silver rested in his palm.
Mistaking it for a bribe, the guard snapped irritably.
Е ñ u̇m̆а̌
“Not this. I asked for identification—hm?”
The guard examined the item more closely.
It was not a simple silver craft.
A sword and a wand crossed in an X-shaped emblem.
At the exact center of the intersection was someone’s signature.
‘This is…’
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The emblem of the House of Henry.
“…Please wait a moment.”
The guard hurried into the city.
Shortly afterward, a knight clad in silver armor appeared and stopped in front of Zeppelin.
After glancing around, the knight spoke in a low voice meant only for him.
“I will guide you.”
Е̂ n̈ u̇m̆a. і̀d
Zeppelin nodded.
There were many eyes watching.
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If excessive courtesy were shown in a situation like this, it would spread rumors.
That someone important enough to receive knightly escort had arrived in Henry County.
Neither Zeppelin nor Count Henry wanted that.
Guided by the knight, Zeppelin proceeded deeper into the city.
Еn ümа̊
***
The knight stopped.
“The lord is inside.”
“You have my thanks.”
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The knight bowed respectfully.
Zeppelin knocked on the door.
Е n̊ u m а̇ .іd̂
“Come in.”
Count Lloyd’s voice came from inside.
Apparently already informed, he did not ask who it was and granted entry immediately.
Zeppelin opened the door.
Two men were inside.
One was Count Lloyd, whom Zeppelin knew well.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The other was a middle-aged man with streaks of white scattered through his black hair.
Judging by his attire and neatly slicked-back short hair, the man appeared to be Count Lloyd’s butler.
Count Lloyd rose from his seat and raised a wine glass toward Zeppelin.
“Welcome to the lord’s castle, Henry Zeppelin.”
Zeppelin blinked.
As he stood there in confusion, the man presumed to be the butler approached him.
É ń ūm̀а̀
“Here is your glass.”
He handed Zeppelin a glass half-filled with wine.
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Zeppelin accepted it reflexively.
Count Lloyd stepped closer.
He gently clinked his glass against Zeppelin’s.
“To the inauguration of the new lord.”
Е ńû m а̂
Count Lloyd lifted his glass.
The middle-aged man followed suit in response to the toast.
Zeppelin raised his glass as well, matching their mood.
“Cheers!”
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“…Cheers.”
Count Lloyd drained his glass in one go.
Ẽnu mа̂. іd
Then he handed the empty glass to the middle-aged man.
The man accepted it.
Count Lloyd smiled at him.
“Well then, I shall be leaving work for the day.”
“You still have duties remaining.”
The butler grabbed Count Lloyd’s shoulder.
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Count Lloyd’s expression stiffened.
“Baron Ron, the lord is over there.”
“I am aware.”
“Then why are you stopping me?”
“Should you not complete the handover before leaving?”
“If it is the handover, would you not handle it better than I?”
Enǔ m а̇
“There are matters that require the lord’s seal.”
“Ah! The seal.”
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Count Lloyd approached Zeppelin.
“Zeppelin.”
“Yes.”
“Here, take it.”
Ĕ.n̆_u m̈ ȧ . і̂d́
He handed over an artifact shaped like a seal.
Zeppelin examined the base.
The emblem of the House of Lloyd and Count Lloyd’s signature were engraved there.
“It is my seal.”
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“…Is this necessary for the work?”
“It will not be needed for future duties, but the handover process requires my seal. As for the details, Baron Ron—”
Еǹ um̆ а̇. і̀ d̊
Baron Ron shook his head.
“Whatever else the case may be, matters involving the lord’s seal must be explained directly by the lord himself.”
“…Is that really necessary?”
“Yes, it is.”
“…How troublesome.”
At the grumbling count, Baron Ron smiled.
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“You have done this for over forty years. Endure it for a few more days.”
“…Very well.”
Reading the situation, Zeppelin offered the seal back to Count Lloyd.
Count Lloyd shook his head.
“Keep it with you.”
“Is that acceptable?”
Ё.n̂ ŭ.m.а̄
“Hm… Normally, the former lord manages the seal until a new one is issued, but…”
Count Lloyd frowned.
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“We do not have much time left. Let us proceed with you handling things directly from the start. Of course, I will assist you from the side.”
“…”
Zeppelin parted his lips slightly.
Not much time left.
Ẇ е̃ b̄nо̀ v̆ е̂l Е́ n ŭḿа̌
Was that directed at Count Lloyd himself?
Or did it mean that the situation on the Southern Continent was deteriorating, so they needed to act quickly?
He could not tell.
Baron Ron seemed to hear the words in both senses as well, as his face stiffened for a moment.
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Count Lloyd patted Zeppelin on the back.
“Haha, there is no need to be so frightened. You will grow accustomed to it as you go.”
E n ú m ă
“…Yes.”
Thinking Zeppelin’s stiff expression was due to anxiety about his new duties as lord, Count Lloyd smiled to reassure him.
“For today, you have traveled a long way, so get some proper rest. We will begin the formal handover tomorrow. …Ah!”
Count Lloyd stroked his chin in thought.
“Should we hold the lord appointment ceremony and welcome banquet first?”
Baron Ron shook his head.
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“Normally, that would be appropriate, but under the current circumstances, it would be better not to.”
“Hm… I thought so. My apologies to you, Zeppelin.”
Zeppelin shook his head.
“Not at all. A welcome banquet can be held later without any issue.”
“I appreciate you saying that, but… we should still hold a grand banquet someday.”
To avoid being betrayed, after all.
Е̂ṅum̆ ӓ .і̇ḋ
Count Lloyd’s final words struck deeply in Zeppelin’s mind.
Zeppelin nodded.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Count Lloyd smiled.
“For now, return and rest. Baron Ron.”
“Yes. Please wait a moment.”
Baron Ron stepped outside.
Е nümȧ
Count Lloyd guided Zeppelin.
“Let us have some tea here while we wait for Baron Ron.”
“Understood.”
The two sat down on the sofa.
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A table stood between them.
A tea set was placed atop it.
Ѐń ü m̊ а ._і d
Zeppelin poured tea into cups and set them before Count Lloyd and himself.
The count said, “Thank you,” and took a sip.
Zeppelin asked,
“Could you tell me, even briefly, what I will need to learn going forward?”
Count Lloyd smiled.
“Why? Are you anxious?”
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“…Yes.”
Zeppelin observed Count Lloyd’s expression.
Count Lloyd nodded with a satisfied look.
“There is no need to be ashamed. It is only natural to feel anxious. Even a child born into a noble family feels uneasy when inheriting the position of head. And you came from commoner status into nobility. If you were not anxious, that would be strange.”
If one felt no anxiety at all, that would not be boldness but a lack of responsibility.
Count Lloyd set down his teacup.
Еǹu_m̈ а́
“You have much more to learn than the heirs of other noble houses. The duties of a family head, the duties of a lord, and the duties of a noble… The amount is enormous. Especially the duties of a noble will weigh heavily on you. Things that noble heirs learn from childhood and absorb naturally, you will have to learn from now on.”
Zeppelin cleared his throat.
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“I have spoken with nobles before, in my capacity as a unit commander.”
“Dealing with nobles as a general and dealing with nobles as a noble are different matters. If you insist on remaining who you were as a general, I will not stop you, but it will not be good for your reputation.”
For nobles, reputation was important.
It mattered for expanding one’s influence and for forming alliances.
Ẁ е̇ b̈ ñо̄v̈ ẽ ľ Е̄ n̂ü m̀а
Reputation was crucial.
Zeppelin let out a sigh.
He had only heard the outline, yet the end already felt far beyond sight.
Count Lloyd continued.
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“Of course, that applies to ordinary noble houses. Military houses have their own shortcuts.”
Shortcuts?
Е nu m̂ а. іd
“What are they?”
“Become strong.”
“Become strong…”
The corner of Zeppelin’s lips lifted.
“That is…”
A simple and reliable method.
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Count Lloyd nodded.
Knock, knock.
“This is Baron Ron.”
“Come in.”
The door opened, and two men entered.
Baron Ron and a man who looked remarkably like him.
Е̌ nu ṁа . i̊ d
Baron Ron gestured to the man beside him.
“This is Sir Morgado Gale, who will attend to Lord Zeppelin on my behalf until the handover is complete.”
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“My name is Morgado Gale.”
Gale bowed.
His greeting was marked by deep courtesy.
Count Lloyd added from the side,
Е̌ ñu̇m̆а̃
“He is Baron Ron’s son.”
So that was why they resembled each other. Father and son.
Zeppelin extended his hand.
“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
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Gale’s eyes trembled.
Count Lloyd spoke.
Ẃ ẽb̄ n̈ öṽе̂ĺ Е̃ǹ u.m а
“When a noble extends a hand to someone beneath them, it carries the meaning of respect. It is rare to offer one’s hand to someone you have only just met.”
Zeppelin tilted his head.
“But the headmaster of Calis International Military Academy—”
“The meaning does not change. Marquis Husan Alberto likely knew that when he extended his hand to you.”
“…I see.”
Thinking back, there had not been many nobles who had extended their hands to him.
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Zeppelin looked at Gale.
Gale cautiously watched Zeppelin’s expression.
Zeppelin said,
“I did not realize that extending a hand carried such meaning.”
Gale bowed his head.
Zeppelin spoke again.
Е́n̊ u m̀a
“Sir Gale.”
“Yes, yes.”
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Zeppelin extended his hand a little farther.
Gale blinked.
Baron Ron frowned.
“What are you doing? How long do you intend to leave the lord’s hand hanging?”
Ẁ е̄ b̂ n̆о v̈е̄l̇ Е̊ n̆ü m̆ å
“Ah. Yes.”
Gale grasped Zeppelin’s hand.
Zeppelin smiled.
“I look forward to working with you, Sir Gale.”
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Gale nodded stiffly.
“Yes! I will serve you with utmost dedication.”
Е n̈umа . i d
Baron Ron patted Gale’s shoulder.
“He is still lacking in many ways, but I humbly ask for your guidance.”
Count Lloyd gave a bitter smile.
“Gale lacks experience as a butler for his age. As a valet, he is flawless, but that is as far as it goes.”
He lamented that it was all because he had no children.
Normally, a butler’s child gains practical experience by assisting the lord’s children.
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But since the House of Henry had no heirs, the butler’s child also had few opportunities to gain such experience.
Zeppelin nodded.
“I understand. I will keep that in mind and observe.”
“Thank you.”
Count Lloyd rose from his seat.
“Then, since it is late, return and get some rest.”
Еñuḿа́
“Yes.”
Baron Ron looked at Gale.
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Gale opened the door and stepped forward.
“Lord Zeppelin, I will guide you.”
Zeppelin followed behind him.
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