The Protagonists Of The Novel Escaped – Chapter 8

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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The Red Dragon did not roar and roast the ill-mannered little one to a crisp.

Fortunately, things turned out differently.

“Young companion of the Hero’s Party. You know where the Saintess and the Hero went?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

The little one, trembling and sweating profusely, raised her hand and shouted.

Auntie.

A chilling aura surged throughout the room as soon as that word was uttered.

Rue looked meek, like a rabbit overwhelmed by a beast’s roar.

She seemed to have shrunk back significantly due to the murderous aura emitted by Princess Ludmilla.

She instinctively realized that the princess was definitely a challenging opponent to deal with.

Fierce red eyes.

An expression that had turned grim for a moment.

It must have touched a nerve with the princess’s spinster hysteria.

Rue, who had been startled, immediately hid behind me as soon as she finished answering.

“Then the Hero’s Party went to the Gisterd Kingdom…”

“By now, they might have gone further east.”

Ludmilla muttered while biting her fingernail.

I chimed in.

East of the Gisterd Kingdom.

They might have gone to the “Powder Keg Peninsula,” where war and massacres repeated endlessly.

I cautiously shared my speculation with the princess.

“The Powder Keg Peninsula… Isn’t that region a hell on earth where even the Demon King’s army gave up on intervening?”

“Of course, it’s just a speculation.”

The Powder Keg Peninsula.

It was a battlefield where numerous small and medium-sized kingdoms had repeatedly waged total war.

The history of war spanned over a hundred years.

Therefore, the small and medium-sized kingdoms on the peninsula engaged in a hell that arose from hatred.

If they had fought so many wars, one kingdom should have gained control of the peninsula.

However, no victor emerged since all the small and medium-sized kingdoms engaged in war had similar national strengths.

Moreover, as hatred accumulated over the years of war, only antagonism and division continued forever due to their long-standing hostility towards each other.

“They couldn’t have taken a young child to a dangerous battlefield.”

Ludmilla muttered while glancing at the trembling Rue.

“You.”

“Please speak.”

After pondering for a while upon hearing the story, Ludmilla spoke in a heavy voice.

What could she want to say?

She stared at me with her lips tightly sealed.

Ludmilla, who had been anxiously hesitating, finally mustered up the courage after much deliberation. She opened her hesitant mouth as soon as she put down the teacup.

“Liza’s… No, Princess Elizaveta’s sorrow is immense.”

“Pardon?”

“She had received a heartless notice from the one she had loved for a long time, so how could her sorrow not be great? Although she has somewhat improved now, until a few days ago, she had locked herself in her bedroom, crying without eating or drinking.”

“……”

I have committed a grave sin.

I will atone for my sins right here and now.

My heart sank at Ludmilla’s words, which betrayed regret.

‘Could it be that she’s thinking of drastically increasing the compensation she had notified us of? Or maybe she’s going to hold the Hohenberc family responsible again… This spinster has come to take revenge for her youngest sister!’

Searching for the Hero’s Party might be just a pretense.

It must be a ploy to squeeze the Hohenberc family dry somehow.

I questioned Ludmilla’s actions as she repeatedly brought up Princess Elizaveta’s annulment. And with an anxious heart, I waited for her following words.

“I have a request for you.”

“I will bear it all. So please, with your great magnanimity, spare the Hohenberc family from destruction.”

“N-No, that’s not it…! I just want you to persuade my younger sister.”

“You mean me?”

It was a request with an unknown reason.

She wanted me to “persuade” her younger sister, Princess Elizaveta?

Why was she asking me?

Just as she hated my brother, who had announced the annulment, she would naturally hate me, too.

Even if she didn’t openly hate me, it was natural for her to feel awkward about the brother of her damn fiancé.

“Aren’t you Maximilian’s brother? Surely Liza will listen to your words as well. Moreover, you are an excellent orator. I have no doubt that you will persuade Liza.”

“……”

Why was she trusting me like a close friend for some reason?

I had never tried to gain her favor.

I looked at Ludmilla with distrust.

However, as I met her red eyes filled with trust, I realized that Ludmilla spoke sincerely.

At that, the cold sweat dripping down increased even more.

“Of course, I would gladly follow Your Imperial Highness’s orders… but I am worried that the groups holding grudges against the Hero’s Party might target the county again. I have a duty to protect the county and its people. I sincerely regret that I cannot follow Your Highness’s orders.”

If I went to the capital with Ludmilla, I would likely experience extraordinary situations.

Like becoming the target of Princess Elizaveta’s venting,

Or being wrapped up and handed over to the Emperor, who would view the Hohenberc family as mortal enemies.

Either way, I wanted to decline.

I just wanted to live quietly in the Hohenberc County.

Therefore, I had to escape the wicked princess’s scheme to avoid the terrible disaster.

‘If nothing had happened, I would have been helplessly caught. But I have a perfect excuse.’

I used the defense of the county as an excuse.

The attack on the Hohenberc County.

It became an excellent justification for me instead.

Since I had anticipated Princess Ludmilla’s actions to some extent, I acted as if I genuinely cared about the safety of the family and the citizens.

In response, Ludmilla nodded her head, showing an understanding reaction.

“Of course. How could I overlook that?”

“Then…”

I answered with a hint of expectation.

Then, the princess smiled kindly.

“Don’t worry, I brought the Central Knights, renowned as the elite warriors worth a hundred men each, to alleviate your concerns.”

“…?”

“As soon as you leave with me, the Central Knights will be deployed to defend the Hohenberc County. With the might of the Central Knights who guard the capital, even the assailants wouldn’t dare to cause trouble.”

“I-I see.”

I was caught.

I was completely caught.

Was this why she brought the Central Knights?

What a fearsome spinster.

I clearly saw through her intention to lure me into a trap under the guise of goodwill.

It was indeed a clever and ruthless scheme.

Entirely fooled by Ludmilla from beginning to end, I could only shed tears of blood inwardly while showing a relieved expression.

The humiliation of being tricked by a cunning spinster swept over my mind.

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Ludmilla was a person who valued honor and pride more than anyone else.

To her, Edanant von Hohenberc was like an “object of respect” and a “symbol of example.”

His brother, the hero, had disappeared.

He had become enemies with the Valtarian Imperial Family due to the annulment.

He even had to bear an astronomical amount of compensation that was difficult to pay off at once.

Disasters close to force majeure had struck one after another.

Nevertheless, Edanant did not run away from his position.

He did his utmost to somehow protect the Hohenberc family.

Even in a desperate situation where everyone would cry out in despair, as a member of a prestigious family, he did his best to protect the family and the people of the territory.

‘Edanant von Hohenberc…’

Gray hair.

Sharp, golden eyes.

His handsome physique and features proved he was a member of a prestigious family.

Although not as much as Maximilian, who was called the “peerless nobleman” by the empire’s noble ladies and young ladies and received adoration and praise, Edanant also had quite a decent appearance.

He would have received much more positive evaluations if it weren’t for his characteristic sharp gaze.

– Of course, I would gladly follow Your Imperial Highness’s orders… but I am worried that the groups holding grudges against the Hero’s Party might target the county again. I must protect the county and its people. I sincerely regret that I cannot follow Your Highness’s orders.

It was a sincere plea.

And it was a voice that carried a sense of unwavering pride and dignity.

Recalling Edanant’s appearance as he spoke without a hint of hesitation, a smile formed on her lips.

‘He is indeed a perfect person. He possesses both excellent character and ability. Moreover, he is someone who values pride and honor. Such a person cannot be confined to the Hohenberc County alone. Even to prepare for the upcoming crisis, we need talented individuals like Edanant.’

It was a hasty thought, but Ludmilla briefly considered recommending Edanant as her younger sister Elizaveta’s new fiancé.

If Edanant were to be engaged to Elizaveta, it could restore the relationship between the Valtarian Imperial Family and the Hohenberc family, which had reached the point of estrangement.

And with Edanant’s outstanding character, ability, and handsome appearance, she expected that her younger sister would not entirely dislike him.

If, even then, her younger sister showed a strong reaction,

Ahem.

Then, I would have no choice but to step in myself.

‘But Edanant always has the scent of gunpowder…’

She had heard that he had engaged in a gunfight with the assailants who had attacked Hohenberc Castle.

It must be the gunpowder that had stuck to him at that time.

But it wasn’t just that.

Even when they first met, Edanant always had a strong scent of gunpowder on him.

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