The Protagonists Of The Novel Escaped – Chapter 12

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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Rumors spread from mouth to mouth travel further than the early spring pollen.

Especially the aristocratic class, whose specialties were “gossip” and “reciting lineages,” put endless effort into not falling behind new rumors and trends, so rumors spread even more quickly.

The Red Dragon.

Ludmilla Dreg Valtaria.

She had found a man.

Even the nobles who initially dismissed it as a mere rumor began to react individually, as the scandal related to Princess Ludmilla had already swept through the capital.

“W-Who on earth is the partner of the Red Dragon?!”

“I heard it’s the second son of the Hohenberc family! They say it’s Young Master Edanant!”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard that name… Wait, Hohenberc?! If it’s Hohenberc, then surely…!”

The Hero Maximilian, who had annulled his engagement with the Third Imperial Princess Elizaveta, was none other than from the Hohenberc family.

In other words,

The princess and the young master, who were about to become in-laws, were seeing each other.

As the nobles preferred scandalous and dramatic romances more than anything else, Princess Ludmilla’s scandal spread as if it had wings.

It became famous enough to be mentioned every time banquets and tea parties were held.

“……”

The capital was in an uproar.

Because the hotly triggered scandal had finally reached the ears of the citizens.

Worrying that it might appear in the newspapers,

I nervously watched the newspaper reporters.

Princess Ludmilla’s scandal… Wouldn’t it be an unexpected scoop that could be splashed on the front page tomorrow?

Undoubtedly, various newspaper companies would rush to prepare special features about the scandal.

“I’m happy that Edan has become as famous as Max! Everyone is talking about Edan!”

“……”

If even the cheeky little one had heard of it, it must be known to all the capital’s citizens.

I had made a mistake.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime mistake, and I had not anticipated the consequences.

Perhaps it was because my dating experience in my previous life was relatively short.

Or was it a disaster brought about by the complacency of thinking that Ludmilla couldn’t possibly take me seriously?

The scandal of equivalent exchange, where the third daughter of the Valtarian Imperial Family and the eldest son of the Hohenberc family broke up, and the meeting between the second daughter and the second son began, spread extensively.

On top of that, exaggerated fake news was gradually added, leading to a situation like pouring oil on a burning house.

“Come on in. I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Thank you for inviting me.”

I stayed at a villa provided by the imperial family.

The next day, I arrived at an outdoor café inside the palace after receiving a message from a maid.

As Rue and I arrived, Ludmilla raised her hand and greeted us. It was a friendly gesture as if meeting a classmate from the academy.

“I’m thinking of ordering batch-brew coffee… What beverage will you order?”

“I’ll have the same coffee.”

Pour-over coffee, which brews several cups at once, was naturally preferred by nobles and officials who had to process a mountain of work.

It seemed the same for Ludmilla, as she preferred batch-brew coffee.

What a coincidence; our tastes match.

I also can’t live without batch-brew coffee.

“Have you been reading the newspapers?”

“I always read the day’s newspapers every morning. His Majesty does the same. One must know about the events happening in the world, mustn’t they?”

If the “Princess Ludmilla’s Scandal” was splashed on the front page of my favorite newspaper, what kind of reaction would she show?

Hmm…

She would indeed show an incredible reaction.

I imagined the might of the Red Dragon turning the newspaper company that distributed the outrageous news into ashes.

The reporters and I, who were involved in the scandal, would undoubtedly be burned at the stake.

Because she would find it highly unpleasant to be talked about in a scandal.

“How is the guest room provided by the imperial family? Is it comfortable?”

“I’m just grateful for your kindness.”

Ludmilla was wearing a simple outfit.

A white blouse.

Black dress pants.

And a luxurious tailored jacket draped over her shoulders.

Should I say it was an outfit that emphasized the mature charm of an older woman?

Combined with the enchanting smile that Ludmilla occasionally showed, it exuded a mature allure.

Moreover, when I saw her large breasts stretching the buttons of her blouse to the sides, it felt suffocating.

My face turned slightly red as I watched Ludmilla sipping her coffee and reviewing documents.

“Incidents and accidents have been increasing since the disappearance of the Hero’s Party. The imperial embassies in various countries, including the one in the Ruga Duchy, have all been attacked.”

Ludmilla handed over a document.

It was a black-and-white photograph of buildings that had been completely burned down.

The damage caused by the attack was recorded in detail.

It was no different from a declaration of war.

It was a declaration of revenge against the Valtarian Empire, which had fully supported the Hero’s Party, just like the Gael Holy Kingdom.

The attack that burned down foreign embassies would soon reach the mainland of the empire.

Ludmilla frowned, expressing vital concern.

“As time passes, the enemy’s offensive will become bolder. We need a countermeasure for this.”

“It would be great if we could at least find out their base.”

A sigh filled with worry was heard.

I nodded heavily with a severe expression.

“This is really delicious. It melts in the mouth. Edan, have one too.”

“Should I?”

I turned away from the violent tragedy and looked at the green-haired girl.

Nom-.

Nom-. Nom-.

She was busily eating the dish with her petite mouth.

Her appearance reminded me of a sparrow pecking at breadcrumbs.

The brunch served at the outdoor café was Eggs Benedict. It consisted of a buttered muffin topped with bacon and a soft-boiled fried egg generously drizzled with Hollandaise sauce.

Indeed, it boasted a supreme flavor befitting a brunch served at a luxurious outdoor café.

“I’m trying to expand the investigative power of the intelligence department to the maximum to find a person.”

“If it’s someone who can resolve this situation… of course, I will help.”

I answered while patting the head of the fairy, eating brunch as happily as a country dog.

The person who can resolve the situation.

She said they were mobilizing the entire intelligence department of the Valtarian Empire to find them.

It must be the strongest person who had become one of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States or someone close to that level.

Obviously, tremendous power would be needed to clean up the vicious minions preparing for the ascension of evil all at once.

“The sixth member of the Hero’s Party… We’ll be looking for the Warmonger, the Hero of the Fourth Continental War.”

“Keuk!”

At Ludmilla’s declaration, I unconsciously put strength into my hand, patting Rue’s head.

Rue spat out the orange juice she was gulping down at that moment.

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The Gael Holy Kingdom was preoccupied with handling the chaos that began with the disappearance of Saintess Beatrice.

What kind of existence was a saintess?

The saintesses born with innate holiness were incarnations of the Earth mother goddess, Gael.

As Beatrice, who had an unrivaled position among the saints of the Holy Kingdom, went missing, the faith of the believers began to waver.

It was because the Second Saintess’ faction, which had supported Beatrice as the center of faith since she was chosen as the new saintess, was facing the crisis of downfall.

“Why did you accept the Holy King’s proposal? This is clearly a ploy to remove Her Holiness from the political situation of the Holy Kingdom!”

Bishop Rohan expressed vital concern.

Nevertheless, the woman kneeling on the floor and praying paid no heed.

She clasped her slender hands together.

She maintained her posture with her slender waist straightened.

Her silver hair, covered with a veil, flowed down, exuding a pious beauty.

It was as if facing pure white without a trace of impurity.

It was a noble appearance granted only to the incarnation of the earth mother who had inherited innate holiness. At that, Rohan stopped his outburst and closed his mouth.

“Well, to be honest, I had no intention of going along with the Holy King’s scheme either, but…”

I changed my mind.

The woman with silver hair flowing down muttered in a low voice.

“Why did our cute junior disappear? Her beloved lovers, whom the Holy King had doted on and cherished like his adopted daughter, went missing along with her. It piqued my interest a bit, so to speak. Moreover….”

Beautiful silver hair that reached down to her calves.

Brightly shining blue eyes.

A slender and petite frame with pale white skin and grace, as if embodying the snowflakes of early winter.

A divine beauty seemed to overflow from her elegant appearance.

She was undoubtedly the incarnation of the Earth mother.

It was natural for numerous seekers to fanatically praise her.

“With the disappearance of the Hero’s Party, the ascension of evil has begun again… Wouldn’t that person, who suddenly vanished during the Continental War, break his silence and reveal himself?”

The successor of the White Dragon who protected the goddess Gael.

The First Saintess.

Zebeline Albion Russell.

Delight shimmered on her noble face.

Rohan discerned that Zebeline accepted the Holy King’s obvious scheme and even wanted to participate as an envoy of the Valtarian Empire to find “that person.”

As someone who had assisted the saintess for a long time, Rohan knew better than anyone what she wanted.

“But the Warmonger is a person of unknown identity. Some even treat him as a fictional character artificially created by the Valtarian Empire. There are only groundless rumors… How do you plan to find him?”

“I have a clue.”

Even though numerous kingdoms, led by the Valtarian Empire, had tracked his traces, it ultimately remained an eternal unsolved mystery.

That’s why Rohan shook his head, expressing the difficulty.

The sixth member of the Hero’s Party, The Warmonger.

His very existence was uncertain. How would they find him?

Nevertheless, Zebeline had a hint of certainty about the challenge.

“In the scene of the racial war, which was the site of a hellish inferno… I was once protected by the Warmonger. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see his face, but I obtained an important clue in his vicinity.”

“I-Is that true?!”

An important clue to find the Warmonger. She had that clue.

Although Rohan had expressed impossibility, he seemed to start feeling persuaded by Zebeline’s answer as he gradually became more excited.

“There was a scent of gunpowder.”

“Pardon?”

“There was always a strong scent of gunpowder emanating from him.”

“……”

What kind of clue is that?!

Of course, there would be a scent of gunpowder on a battlefield where shells and bullets were raining down!

It was absurd.

Clutching his head, he sank to the ground.

Like a believer facing a philosopher advocating atheism, he let out a scream close to a wail.

“Anyway, I will definitely find him. Because I have been striving to repay the benefactor who saved my life. So, Bishop Rohan, finish preparing the priests to depart for the Valtarian Empire.”

“…Yes.”

Zebeline showed strong motivation, leaving behind the bishop’s exasperated sigh.

The benefactor who saved her life.

The person who would solve the current situation that was getting worse.

The White Dragon of the Holy Kingdom, which had joined as a latecomer, declared that it would find the person who remained an eternal mystery, just like the Red Dragon of the empire.

“There was always a scent of gunpowder emanating from him.”

It was a genuinely meager clue, but Zebeline vowed to not falter.

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