The Invitation Letter (2)
Translator: V
I"ll be picking this up since it was dropped by the previous translator. I might update once a week if I have time. This is my first time translating something, so please correct me if I get something wrong. Some parts don"t make sense but I tried my best. My goal is to provide a general idea of what"s going on. Thank you ^^
The next day.
Vio visited the Commercial and Industrial Guild and solved the problem easily.
When Vio told them about the situation with the Kingdom of Ruslan, the Guild"s supervisors, who were concerned about the defense of the town consulted him.
There was no problem with the material of the bricks, which were sand and earth. It"s easy to get by calling it with spirit magic.
In the neighborhood there was news of a stone cutter, so the problem with the hardest piece of limestone was solved.
It seems that there is a limestone quarry in the village of Amande which used to be used. It"s not well known because of the long winter which covers it in snow, but it"s said that it"s used to make houses. They say they can get enough of the walls to repair.
That"s why they say if they have to pay for the firewood to make bricks they will make the Commercial Guild do the rest on a low budget.
He was told in a most curious way that he should"ve consulted him from the beginning, so he smiled.
Next time he decided to ask him properly.
“The castle walls are likely to be well repaired. I"m relieved the biggest problem has been resolved.”
When Vio left the Hall of the Commercial Guild, he naturally smiled at Legion who was waiting for him. Legion"s eyes softened while he stood holding the horse"s bridle.
“If you like, Lord Violant.”
“Ahh.”
As he said that, women in the street waved towards him. When Vio raised his hand lightly, they went “Kyaaー!”, nodded and walked away. Some people fell over because they looked behind them to see Vio too many times and b.u.mped into something.
Today Vio is wearing a white shirt with a blue vest, black pants and a cloak with a hood. He was using the hood to avoid the strong summer sun, but the townspeople recognized him as Vio.
When Vio walked into the town for the first time, it was bigger than what he expected. The shrine for the Great Spirit was especially big.
He also went to the office, and was happy when he spoke to the group of 10 officials. The 3 tax supervisors, though they often work at the office when they are on duty, were all out.
“I"m done with today"s work. Let"s go home.”
“Haa. ―Excuse me.”
When Vio mounted the horse, Legion said nothing and sat behind him.
Vio thought it would be bad to have a carriage pulled out of the way for a short ride, so he might as well try to ride a horse, but he forgot the last time he went riding was two years ago. He was frightened but Legion said that he would take the reins and walk with him.
But Vio"s residence is on a hill some distance away from the town. It takes about half an hour on foot to arrive.
He felt sorry for Legion, so he got a horse that could fit two people.
"I"m sorry, Legi. You can come back on once I"ve gotten the hang of it.”
"Please call for me to practice. It"s dangerous for you to be alone."
“Ahh, okay.”
I could ask the stable boy Hausel, but Legi insists on being my teacher.
He tried getting through the gate of the town, but the pa.s.sing townspeople greeted him. Vio greeted them once more. “You answered meー!” an old man shouted as he walked down the road to his house.
I wonder if everyone"s response is exaggerated.
“By the way, Legi, I was wondering why I"m in the front and you"re at the back? The latter seems more stable.”
“On the contrary, Lord Violant. Since the horse is swinging in the back, if you aren"t used to it, sitting in the front would be better.”
“Heh, is that so? I didn"t know that.”
Riding a horse is a n.o.ble thing, but Vio has never done it except for when he was training in Canada. Both his father and brother didn"t take him to distant destinations, so they ended up house-sitting the mansion. He had happily been growing up in his room, because it was true his body wasn"t strong even before he feared going outside.
Especially when he was young, he was always feverish which made his mother worry. His mother"s sweet love for Vio is partly due to this.
He rode leisurely along the gentle slope, but when he reached his house he found a strange grey horse lying next to the gate.
As soon as Vio entered the premises, he glanced sideways at the visitor with black hair rushing towards them. He was a middle-aged man with an eyepatch on his right eye which gave a suspicious atmosphere. He was in charge of the stables, a stable officer.
“Welcome home.”
“I"m back, Hausel.”
When Vio and Legion got off the horse, Hausel quickly took the bridle and guided the horses.
“There is a messenger from the Royal Palace. The Lord"s butler told me to come at once.”
“From the Royal Palace? I see, thank you.”
He called to Hausel, who bowed, and Vio, with his head tilted slightly, entered the house.
As soon as he entered the house, Jill appeared and took care of Vio"s cloak. While he washes his hands in water-filled tray that Lil brought, he heads over to the reception room.
In the room was a fair-haired knight wearing a dark blue uniform. A green leaf and a silver sword is sewn onto the left breast pocket. It seems to be a messenger from the Ryokko[1] Knights belonging to the Prince.
“I"m sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. I"m Violant Lesserhain.”
When Vio takes his salute, the knight who was drinking tea stood up.
“I am Seyval[2] Leyston of the Ryokko Knights. The Crown Prince has sent an invitation to Lord Violant Lesserhain and Sir Legion Salt.”
Vio and Legion received the letter in a puzzled manner.
"For me too? Messengers Hall.[3]"
“Ehh. But don"t call the Lord"s messengers putrid, Sir Legion.”
“No, but the Prince"s messenger was too impolite……”
Vio glanced at the frustrated Legion.
“Do you two know each other?”
“Yes. We both joined the Royal Knights and stayed in the same dormitory room.”
From Legion"s answer Vio guessed right. Perhaps Seyval came here as an envoy to check on Legion.
“Is that so…… excuse me sir. Legi, you must sit here too.”
“Haa, excuse me.”
Sitting next to the couch, Vio rang the bell. Lil and Jill appeared. Jill holds out a paper knife to Vio beside Lil"s tea utensils.
“Thank you both. You can go now.”
After they bow and leave, Vio looks at Seyval.
“Do you want me to read you the letter?”
“No.” Vio opens the envelope and gave the letter opener to Legion. Vio skimmed through the contents.
"Would you like to attend my birthday banquet, which will be held in a month?"
It"s an invitation directly from the Crown Prince, so I can"t refuse.
Seeing Vio wearing a reluctant expression, Seyval grew nervous and says, "We have heard that Young Master Violant has been ill and is being taken care of. I have a message for Sir Legion alone.”
“Legion, do you remember the Prince?”
I might as well give him an invitation and look rather favorable. Legion"s face lights up upon hearing that.
“I don"t want to be auspicious…… I was encouraged when I won the Martial Arts Championship, and got invited many times to talk to you.”
It was enough, and Vio said to himself, "I wish I could remember."
Now, when Vio was wondering how he should reply, Jill arrived.
“Excuse me. Young Master, this is a hurried letter from Mistress.”
“From Mother?”
He quickly read the letter to see if something happened.
In her timely manner, she asked him to attend the Prince"s birthday banquet.
It was written that he couldn"t refuse the request, because it was a direct invitation from the Prince. Because the Prince called Vio so suddenly, he prepared everything. Vio would stay it the royal guest room, a different room than what Rupheus would be staying in. It was also written that Flora should also come.
(I can"t refuse at this rate……)
He looked solemnly into the distance.
“What is the matter with the d.u.c.h.ess?”
When Legion asks anxiously, Vio shakes his head and hands the letter to him. “Excuse me.” Legion, who had read the contents of the letter, looked at Vio with surprise.
“I am very much obliged to you in this manner. Legi?”
“Of course I will join you. I can"t be so rude to refuse.”
Seyval nodded in relief.
“So please answer me. I"m ready for the Densho[4] Dragon.”
“A Densho Dragon?”
Vio blinked.
Usually people use a carrier pigeon. Apart from that there"s a falcon. Faster than that and it"s the Densho dragon, but only the royal family can use it, so Vio has never seen it before.
But what made him more curious was that he thought the messenger would give him an answer.
"I have been ordered to return with Sir Legion."
When Seyval replied uncomfortably, Vio was convinced he was right.
Seeing that Vio had just been recently attacked, Legion seemed ready to commit piety. Going out with Seyval would be the best way to deal with it.
The Prince—or rather the Knights" Quarters— seems to have a good understanding of the nature of Legion"s master.
“Is that so? Well, please stay here until you leave. However, the cabin is being used now… I think it will be too cramped. Would you mind if I were there? If you don"t mind I"ll have a lodging in the town.”
“I don"t mind.”
“Good. Now that I have the room ready, please be patient until then. There"s an old friend of mine who knows a lot of stories. —Legi, here"s a customer.[4] You can listen to them if you go into the town. Be free.”
When Vio spoke, Legion sat while nodding.
“Yes, thank you for your consideration.”
Vio bowed to Seyval.
“Then I"ll do this. If there is any inconvenience, I will take care of it if you tell Legi.”
“Haa, thank you for your kindness.”
When Vio left stood up, Seyval followed suit and bowed.
Translator Notes:
[1] – (緑光/りょっこう) meaning so I kept it in romanji.
[2] – (セヴァル) could be Seval or Sevval, but I used Seyval because of the wine
[3] – (「私にもですか？ 使者殿」) maybe the author made a mistake?? The next sentence kinda gives clues
[4] – (伝書竜) meaning carrier pigeon dragon? I thought it could be to do with the kiryuu dragon, but the kanji is different. In the next paragraph it has carrier pigeon but no dragon.
[5] – (――レジ、お客様のお相手を頼みたい) probably made some mistakes on this one
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