Volume 8 Chapter 1 Part 4

In rare cases, the relationship between a Lord and their female contracted Mage progressed just like the one between Deadri and Eugen Niklae, where Deadri went from being Eugen’s contracted Mage to being his queen. However, so far, there were no documented cases of any contracted Mage marrying a Lord with a title higher than that of a Viscount.

「What I wanted to say is that I cannot think about anyone else but you being my queen, and I wanted you to know that. 」

Theo said as he put his hands on Siluca’s shoulders.

「Y-You’re drunk now, aren’t you? 」

Siluca thought that that much was obvious, but she still asked him that in order to confirm it.

「Of course I’m drunk, but I’m not drunk enough to lose my memory because of it. 」

「Then… if that is really your wish, then I shall become your queen, Lord Theo. 」

Siluca tried to smile, but she was overwhelmed with too much emotion, and she could only feel the tears rolling down her cheeks.

「However, if we were to announce It now we would only face various inconveniences, so can I ask you to only present this information to the public after we’ll fulfill our purpose? 」

Siluca asked Theo in a hoarse voice as she tried to wipe the tears away with her fingers.

「It doesn’t matter. What’s important is how we feel about it. 」

Theo took a deep breath in relief. He must have been nervous about it the entire time.

「Alright, but , I still have one request I’d like to make of you. 」

Siluca said, leaning towards Theo.

「Whats’s that? 」

「Please don’t die before me. 」

The image of Theo fighting Milza in a duel and almost dying in it will probably never be erased from Siluca’s mind. She was sure that she’s going to see that scene haunting her in her nightmares for many nights to come.

「Even though the world is full of Chaos, the continent is still in turmoil because of the Great War, I am a Lord, and we are about to fight what might well be the most powerful enemy that we’ll need to face yet? 」

「Yes. But even so, I still want to ask you to promise me that. 」

「What if I can’t protect you because of it? 」

「Then I’m going to die together with you. 」

Siluca said with her head downcast.

「…That’s certainly a big responsibility. 」

Theo sighed.

「I understand. I swear on my Crest… actually, no, if it’s something that important, then I need to swear on something bigger… I swear on my life that I won’t die before you. 」

「Then I guess this brings that argument to a close. 」
Siluca said, after which she simply collapsed onto Theo’s chest. Theo simply wrapped his arms around her and allowed her to stay like that for a while longer.

And the two of them shared this intimate moment until it was already getting bright outside of the window.

* * *

Kurt Gallas, the Earl of Leclerc was stationed at a castle on the outskirts of the city of Vanberg, where he was leading a group of knights under his direct command and a group of contracted mercenaries. When he looked outside the castle from the window, he saw countless tents pitched on the fields outside of the city and smoke from cooking wafting down. He could see mercenaries, armed as they pleased, gambling here and there. In some places, brawls were even breaking out.

「What are the movements of the Heavy Knights of Waldrind? 」
Kurt looked back at Benedict Romeo, his contracted Mage, with a disgusted look on his face.

He is about thirty years old. He is muscular for a Mage, and his bright blonde hair is flowing behind his back. Perhaps because of that his forehead looked unproportionally wide. His eyes are pale blue, and he wore tinted glasses when the sun was shining bright.

When he inherited the title from his father, he went to Elam and signed a contract with a Mage. He has two other contracted Mages aside from him, but one is in charge of his home territory during his period of absence, and the other acts as a liaison for his cousin, who has been given the title of Baron. His cousin was entrusted with the leadership of the detachment squad of his army.

「Two thousand knights remain barricaded in Sandrumia’s fortress. 」

「It was indeed shocking to hear that the Heavy Knights of Waldrind, who are said to be the strongest on the continent, ran around and locked themselves in the castle like cowards. 」

Kurt clicked his tongue in displeasure.

「Also, when will the funds from the Fantasia Union arrive? The deadline for repayment to Elam is approaching, and hasn’t the payment to the mercenary groups also been delayed? 」

As a result, the discipline of the mercenaries has loosened, and an increasing number of them have started committing acts of violence and plundering against the people of the territories they controlled.

「I have been urging them to hurry up with it through the contracted Mages of the other Lords, but they have been postponed for various reasons. Apparently, there seem to be certain rumors circulating around that say that even when the funds will finally get here, you’ll be the only one who’s going to receive them, Lord Kurt. 」

Benedict looked at Kurt with a bitter expression of his own.

「I can’t believe you don’t have any wisdom to share with me, you don’t even try to fight, and now you even refuse to give me money that I rightfully deserve! 」

Kurt was furious and swept away the tea set which was on the table with his hand. Ceramic cups and plates fell onto the stone floor, shattering with a loud noise.
An old chamberlain who had served Klute for many years immediately entered the room and began cleaning up.

「In the first place, why is the Marquis of Halusia not making any moves of his own?! Does he plan to abandon me too, the same way he abandoned Lord Vilar?! 」

If things continue like this, then they are just going to be waiting for their destruction, but it seems that the Lords of the Fantasia Union, who are despondent about peace, still don’t understand that.
「…I’m sorry. If I sold that, then maybe I would have had enough money on me right now. 」

After watching the old chamberlain finish cleaning up and leaving the room, Klute looked back at Benedict and said that. It was an expensive set of items made by Elam, after all.

「This is probably my Nord blood speaking through me. 」

He continued as if he wanted to make an excuses for himself. The Garrus family is originally a family of the Norse people. About a hundred years ago, a chieftain led his clan and seized the port city of Leclerc and its surrounding area, turning it into a colony. After several generations, the family became influenced by western culture of Lordship, adopted the family name as for themselves, and broke away from their homeland and its traditions.

After joining the Fantasia Union, they actively supported and intervened in the north-central region of the continent and Bretland, countering the expansion of the Factory Alliance. However, to the prestigious Lords of the Fantasia Union, the family of Earl Garrus was considered little more than a barbaric newcomer.

That’s why they could never achieve anything substantial, and the only allies that Kurt had in the Fantasia Union were his father and the late Earl of Artuk, Vilar Constance.

「I am sorry that I was unable to resolve the current situation or raising funds. 」

Benedict said with a somber expression.

Kurt thought that he must also of Northern descent because of his appearance. However, to a Mage, where they were born had no meaning. This is because when they are taken in by the Magesd Association, their ties with their biological families are severed.

「It was only because of your plan that we were able to drive Eric from this land. After all, Waldrind made sure to support him quite well. 」

The strategy of hiring a large number of mercenaries and invading the country all at once was devised by this contracted Mage. What’s more, he successfully persuaded the Lords of the Union, who had been shaken by the death of Count Vilar of Artuk in battle, and collected a huge amount of funds for the purpose of this operation.

「Aubest Meletes is also in Waldrind. 」

「Who is that supposed to be? 」

「The head contracted Mage of Marine Kraische. He enrolled at the same time as me at the Magic University. He has some personality issues, but his talent is unparalleled. He is expected to become the next head of the Meletes Mage family in the future. 」