The Protagonists Of The Novel Escaped – Chapter 9

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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If someone asked the citizens to name the most hot-tempered man in the Valtarian Empire, people would undoubtedly say the 17th Emperor of the Valtarian Empire.

Barbarossa Imperator Valtaria.

He was an object of terror to the ministers and officials.

The knights and citizens praised him as an object of respect and prestige.

Thick golden hair grew like a mane.

A long mustache flaunting his arrogant pride.

And a grim impression, showing that he had a short-tempered personality.

-It’s like engraving a stone with a chisel.

Those were the words left by a foreign diplomat who had faced the Emperor.

If that was the case for a foreign diplomat,

Then what about the ministers who assisted the Emperor up close?

The ministers who assisted the Emperor sighed in resignation every time they attended the council.

It was because as soon as they attended the council, they were met with the wrath of the hot-tempered Emperor.

Therefore, the ministers continued their precarious bureaucratic life with a resignation letter in their desk drawers.

“The reports have already been submitted by the Public Security Department and the Internal Affairs Department… Why hasn’t the Foreign Affairs Department sent theirs? I must have told them to submit it before the council begins!”

“Isn’t the Foreign Affairs Minister dispatched to the north? That’s why it’s being delayed.”

“How dare they make the Emperor wait? The Foreign Affairs Department is indeed arrogant.”

“W-We are terribly sorry.”

Barbarossa often expressed his anger over trivial matters. But recently, his rough temperament had become even more tyrannical.

It was because of the discord that began with his youngest daughter’s annulment of her engagement.

Didn’t he gather all the ministers a few days ago and make a scene?

He even had a verbal altercation with his youngest daughter, Elizaveta, over a new engagement, and his temper had worsened.

A wise and virtuous ruler never reveals personal emotions in official affairs. Still, unfortunately, Barbarossa did not fall into that category.

He led the empire to its golden age with excellent governance and overwhelming prestige. Still, to the ministers and officials, he was nothing short of a nightmare.

“Your Majesty, a handwritten letter has arrived from the Holy Kingdom.”

“A handwritten letter? That cunning wheat bread is sending a letter to us.”

The term “wheat bread” must be a derogatory term referring to the current Holy King, Boehren I.

Boehren I was from the south, so he had darker skin than others.

Barbarossa used to joke that he looked like the wheat bread commonly eaten by commoners.

The Holy Kingdom would be scared to hear that.

The ministers shrank their shoulders at the Emperor’s reckless remark.

“They want to send an envoy to the imperial territory? It seems they are also in a hurry.”

The notice was written in elegant handwriting, stating that they would dispatch an envoy to track the whereabouts of the missing saintess in the territory of the Valtarian Empire.

Surprisingly, the representative of the envoy was the First Saintess.

Seeing that, Barbarossa frowned fiercely.

The disappearance of the Hero’s Party.

It must have also been a bolt from the blue for the Holy Kingdom.

Moreover, Saintess Beatrice, who had vanished without a trace, was not only the saintess representing the Holy Kingdom but also the adopted daughter of the Holy King, making it even more shocking.

Even the blunt-natured bishops must have shouted that they needed to find the saintess as soon as they received the news.

“Those damn scoundrels are causing trouble for many.”

Barbarossa muttered as he placed the handwritten letter with a thud on the table.

“I will approve the Holy Kingdom’s proposal. And tell the other kingdoms related to the Hero’s Party to send their representatives as well.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

It was more than just a problem for the Valtarian Empire.

The Gael Holy Kingdom.

The Gisterd Kingdom.

The Alonde Kingdom.

The Savoia Duchy.

All the related countries were keeping a close eye on the situation.

That’s why Barbarossa accepted the Holy King’s request.

It was when all the countries related to the Hero’s Party were cooperating.

Close collaboration was necessary to respond to the numerous threats arising from the disappearance of the Hero’s Party.

“Your Majesty.”

“What is it again? You won’t leave me alone.”

The minister who had been waiting for the report spoke.

In response, Barbarossa answered in an irritated voice.

“The princess who had gone to the east for a while is said to be returning now.”

“You mean Ludmilla is coming back!”

True to his nickname of being stubborn and a doting father, as soon as Barbarossa heard the news that his daughter, who had gone to the east, was returning, he grinned from ear to ear.

It was indeed an extreme change.

To switch his attitude like flipping a coin at the news of his daughter’s return.

Thanks to the good news from the East, the ministers could temporarily put aside their worries.

“And… it is said that the second son of the Hohenberc family is accompanying her.”

“What? Hohenberc…?”

If it were the son of another family, he would have joked with his subjects, saying, “Our daughter is finally bringing a man home!” and ordered them to prepare a grand banquet.

He sincerely hoped that Ludmilla would get married before she turned thirty.

Unfortunately, the guest accompanying his daughter was from the “Hohenberc family.”

The damn bastards who made his youngest daughter, with eyes as clear as a doe, shed tears of blood.

A fierce killing intent surged at the mention of the son of the enemy family, whom he wanted to crush immediately.

With what face did he come to the capital?

The enraged Emperor let out a roar and overturned all the documents on the table.

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If asked what the quintessence of the perfect fusion of magic and technology is, eight or nine out of ten people would choose the steam engine powered by a mana engine.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the mana engine, powered by the highest-grade mana stones, is a masterpiece created by magicians and inventors.

The steam engine train, which moved using the mana engine as its power source, was the best means of transportation and ran all over the Valtarian Empire from east to west and north to south.

“Train! It’s hu-u-uge! And I can’t see the end of it!”

A girl with green hair, wearing a backpack like an elementary school student, shouted.

It must have looked like a different world.

The numerous trains parked on the platform were indeed magnificent.

*Woooong-*

A strange vibrating sound emanated as a vast amount of mana flowed from the engine compartment.

They must be charging mana into the engine compartment. I am still determining the exact operating principles. In my previous and current life, I was a liberal arts major.

“I’m glad you’re so delighted.”

Ludmilla smiled with a look of satisfaction at Rue, who was bouncing around like a puppy.

Perhaps she had shed the initial awkwardness.

The princess with golden hair flowing down treated the brazen fairy like a younger sister.

On the other hand, Rue still seemed to find Ludmilla intimidating.

When Ludmilla reached out her hand, Rue cautiously stepped aside like a crab.

“Do you also use a sword? Of course, as a member of a prestigious family, you must have learned swordsmanship for self-defense.”

“Well… it’s just an imitation.”

Ludmilla, who had been giving an awkward smile at Rue’s continued fearful demeanor, asked me as we walked side by side.

The sword hilt was wrapped in purple silk.

She seemed to have taken an interest in seeing it worn on my waist.

“It’s a treasured sword that my brother forcibly handed down to me. Since I’m leaving the Hohenberc family… I have to at least carry it around and pretend to be a knight, no matter how poorly.”

“It suits you very well.”

The protruding sword hilt boasted an elegant artistic beauty like a decorative piece.

Of course, it would be.

This is one of the Four Star Swords of Demon Extermination.

The Yellow Star Aldebaran.

It is the armament that the hero Maximilian, who had been bestowed four holy swords from the Holy Kingdom, forcibly handed down to his younger brother.

I had no choice but to bear the burden of Aldebaran because my damn brother arbitrarily recognized me as its owner. If the distance becomes too great, the holy sword follows its owner.

‘If I meet a priest from the Holy Kingdom, I should return it immediately. Who knows what kind of trouble I might face later.’

If its identity is revealed, there will surely be a noisy commotion.

Why do I always have to bear the hardships?

I wanted to shoot bullets into that blunt face of his.

“When was the last time you went to the capital?”

“Hmm… probably about six months ago.”

Although far away, the Hohenberc County was connected to the capital in the central part of the empire by railroad tracks.

It takes about five days to reach the capital.

Therefore, it was easy to go to the capital as long as one used the steam engine train.

While heading towards the train parked on the platform, I talked with Ludmilla.

Fortunately, I could satisfy the princess, as her beautiful lips were filled with a crescent-shaped bright smile.

My face turned slightly red at the sight of a beauty known as the most beautiful woman in the world smiling.

“This time, I specially rented an entire train. It will be a comfortable journey to the capital.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s about treating an honored guest. I can’t be stingy like a miser. The Valtarian Imperial Family never shows frugality towards guests.”

“……”

I’ve heard of renting a private jet for a trip, but it’s my first time renting an entire 20-car train.

As expected of the imperial family.

Does their spending transcend common sense from the start?

Even the Hohenberc family, which boasts of being the most prestigious family in the East, couldn’t dare to do such a thing.

Ludmilla, who had a calm personality, was unexpectedly extreme regarding spending.

If a man were to marry her, he would probably have to deal with a tremendous expenditure chart first. How pitiful.

“When we arrive at the capital, numerous people will welcome the guest from the east. Just as the Hohenberc family welcomed the guest from the capital.”

“…I’ll be grateful if I don’t get beaten up instead.”

We had become enemies with the imperial family.

The central nobles would also look down on the Hohenberc family for tarnishing the honor of the imperial family.

A treacherous, thorny path was expected.

As soon as I arrived at the capital, I would be greeted with numerous malicious intentions.

For now, I had no choice but to rely on Ludmilla’s protection.

She was the benefactor who had protected the Hohenberc family against the Valtarian Imperial Family, who wanted to hold us responsible for the annulment.

That’s why I decided to trust her.

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The steam engine train, an exclusive possession of the upper class, boasted comfort and convenience. Still, long journeys bestowed hardships upon the passengers.

Five whole days.

Being confined to a limited space was inevitably suffocating.

But to me, five days were just a fleeting moment.

It was because I spent the time worrying about surviving in the capital filled with hostility.

“Please take care!”

As the train finally arrived at the platform in the capital, the staff opened the doors and announced the final destination.

We had arrived.

As I stepped out of the train, I saw a large crowd.

It must be a procession welcoming the princess who had gone to the east.

Naturally, most of them had nothing to do with the Hohenberc family. The gazes of the crowd were solely focused on Ludmilla.

“It’s been a really long time. I think I last saw you at the formal introduction about six months ago?”

Thinking that no one would welcome a country bumpkin,

-When I silently stepped onto the platform with the cheeky fairy.

A woman with dazzling golden hair approached with a businesslike smile.

As I met her sharp gaze, like a sly cat, I froze. It was because I had encountered a relationship that had become a lousy connection.

“Edanant.”

A sharp and haughty voice gripped my mind.

I felt momentarily dizzy at her beautiful appearance, as if noble platinum had been forged into a human.

How could I not know her?

The Third Imperial Princess.

Elizaveta von Valtaria.

The former fiancée of the hero Maximilian.

The villainous princess who appears in ‘The Lady of the White Blessing.’

I was face to face with the villainous princess who hated the Hohenberc family more than anyone else.

I was utterly unprepared at that moment, so I stiffened as soon as I saw the princess.

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