LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 73: The Banished Young Girl Talks with the Envoys (Part 1)
One afternoon, as I was leisurely doing embroidery in the courtyard for the first time in a while, Wil came rushing in with a flustered look.
“Baroness! There’s trouble!”
“What happened? Is something wrong?”
“Yes, um, some armored guys came from the direction of Clarinton. They’re probably knights! What should we do? Maybe they’ve come to attack us…”
“Wil, calm down. How many of them are there?”
“There are three in armor. And two others look like merchants.”
“I see. Hmm… so the merchants must be acting as guides? Ah! Wait a second. Hmm, this one is number bi 61. Bi-61, contact the other monitoring skeletons and count how many non-villagers are within three kilometers of the village.”
**Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter.**
Bi-61 immediately flew outside and returned in a few minutes.
“Bow your head once per person.”
**Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter.**
“Five people, huh? That means they’re envoys.”
“Envoys?”
“Probably. Judging by the direction, they’re likely from the Marquis of Southberry.”
“The Marquis of Southberry? That’s… your…?”
“Yes.”
“… Why now, after all this time?”
“Who knows? But if we send them away without hearing them out, we might end up in a war. So, I’ll meet them. And since they have merchant guides, I bet it’s those guys, right?”
“Huh? Oh… yeah, probably?”
“Got it. We can’t send Wil and the others out, so call Patrick for me.”
“Understood.”
“Thank you.”
I packed up my half-finished embroidery and headed to see Marie.
“Who’s there?!”
Standing on the bank of the moat, Theodric called out alone. After a while, the gate set in the city wall slowly opened, and Patrick emerged alone, with a bow on his back.
Patrick boarded the boat moored there and slowly made his way towards Theodric.
When he reached the middle of the moat, he stopped the boat and stood up.
“This is the domain of Baroness of Scarletford! Entry is forbidden without the Baroness’s permission!”
Hearing this, Theodric placed his sword on the ground and stepped as close to the moat as possible, standing upright with his right hand over his chest.
“My name is Theodric Dawson, a knight baronet of the Marquis of Southberry! I have come as the Marquis’s representative and request an audience with Baroness Olivia Ainsley of Scarletford!”
Patrick’s gaze wavered slightly upon hearing this but quickly replied.
“My… my name is Patrick of the Scarletford Vigilante Corps! We welcome the envoy of Marquis Southberry!”
With that, Patrick rowed over to Theodric.
“Please, get aboard.”
“Indeed.”
Theodric boarded, followed by Montague and Richard. When the merchants tried to board, Patrick stopped them.
“You two are banned from entering! You’ve got some nerve coming back after what you did.”
“What?!”
“But this place is…”
“Silence! If you’ve offended the Baroness of Scarletford, then it’s your own fault. You’ll wait here for our return.”
“B-but…”
The merchants let out pitiful sounds.
“Alright, we’re moving.”
“Yes.”
With that, Patrick began rowing.
As I was getting dressed, I received word that Patrick had brought in three knights.
Apparently, they knew my name.
In short, they knew I was a woman and still came without an appointment.
How incredibly rude!
Whether they look down on me as a small-town baroness or what, visiting a lady without prior notice is just not proper etiquette. What’s going on?
Are the knights of my biological father’s house just like him?
I was so outraged that I decided to keep them waiting while I finished getting ready.
Marie took her time dressing me, and after making them wait for about two hours, I finally headed to the parlor where the knights were being received.
Today’s dress is the black one I bought for funerals. Of course, a subtle jab.
“Announcing the arrival of Baroness of Scarletford!”
Patrick said, uncharacteristically formal, as he opened the door to the parlor. Entering with Marie, I saw three knights standing at attention to greet me.
“I am Olivia Ainsley, Baroness of Scarletford. Knights of the Marquis of Southberry, welcome. I hope the roads were not too difficult for you.”
“Thank you!”
The three knights knelt before me.
“I am honored to meet you, Baroness. My name is Theodore Dawson, a knight baronet of the Marquis of Southberry. I have come as the representative of Marquis Southberry.”
“Well, I hope you’ll do well.”
I smiled, but inside, I was so shocked I thought my heart would leap out of my chest.
This Theodore knight… he’s the one who served as the hands and feet of the villainess Olivia in *Magical Beauty*, committing all sorts of evil deeds.
He’s from some baronial family and a die-hard aristocrat supremacist who views commoners as nothing more than insects. In *Mahoi-ke*, he swore absolute loyalty to the villainess Olivia and even after death, willingly became a zombie to continue carrying out her orders.
Why is such an important character here!?
“Baroness, may I introduce the others?”
“Yes, please.”
I somehow managed to hide my surprise and gave permission with a composed tone.
“First, this is Richard Russ, and this is Montague Percival. Both are also knight baronets.”
“I see. Well then, please have a seat, everyone.”
I barely managed to say this, but my head was already spinning from all the information.
Three knight baronets, meaning noble-born knights who could use magic, were here. And this Montague Percival guy…
I glanced at Marie, who, though looking troubled, gave me a small nod.
Ah, as I suspected. This guy is connected to Marie.
Suppressing my emotions, I sat down in front of Theodric.
“So, Sir Theodric, what brings you here today?”
“First, I have a letter from my lord, the Marquis of Southberry, addressed to you, Baroness.”
Theodric handed me an envelope. It indeed bore the wax seal of the Marquis of Southberry.
“I was also ordered to convey the contents of the letter verbally. May I have your permission to proceed?”
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you. My lord, the Marquis of Southberry, wishes to take you under his protection and invite you to the main house. Therefore, he asks that you accompany us to Southberry.”
What? After everything he’s done, and now this!?