The Returnee Wants Peace

At this point, nearly 4 years have passed since the unprecedented calamity called trials struck.

The Marcia Empire, which had endured most of the trials due to its vast territory, had suffered considerable damage but was still surprisingly robust.

This was probably due to the still strong presence of the imperial family and the current Emperor who was beloved by the God of Prophecy.

Cedric must also have a share in maintaining this precarious peace.

Cedric Aper, also called a once-in-a-century genius.

Rumors about him were circulating and spreading wildly.

The main culprit who betrayed and rebelled after being the loyal confidant of the previous Emperor.

The lover and fiancé of the current Emperor Illien.

Even the biological older brother of Roshanak Aper, who had performed all sorts of miracles after the trials started.

'Indeed... it's too many epithets for one person to bear.'

Rosha thought to herself.

Of course, Rosha had more epithets, but unlike her who had experience from another world, Cedric was just an ordinary person.

However, when she actually met Cedric after the trial ended, he was focusing on work without much agitation.

Examining the imperial map on the wall, he swept back his deep blonde hair and asked:

"I heard the news that a new rift has appeared by the lake. Is it true that it can't be seen with ordinary people's eyes?"

"Yes. It's surrounded by a concealment curtain."

"A concealment curtain... Anyway, don't approach the lake carelessly for now. Her Majesty has entered the Temple of Prophecy to find out where that rift connects to, so results should come out soon. Understood?"

"But the magicians guarding the lake asked me to lend them a hand."

"...That's that. I mean don't get dangerously close to the rift."

Rosha readily agreed to Cedric's eye signal to just nod obediently.

She wasn't planning to enter the rift immediately anyway because of the 'promotion quest'. She intended to prepare thoroughly for the quest first.

Reassured by her behavior, Cedric continued:

"And regarding the Barcel Duchy, I've already taken measures. We've received a confession from Count Ainbert, who was the commander, and it seems the duchy has given up on defending him."

As it turned out, Count Ainbert immediately surrendered when things went wrong.

He seemed to have aimed for leniency by confessing after blowing the flute had the opposite effect, but...

"I heard he made the water dragon calm with the flute, but his intention was actually to make it rampage more. Is it true that you changed the function of the flute in the middle?"

"Yes, that's right. More precisely, I restored it to its original state from being distorted."

"Hmm... I see. Anyway, it's ambiguous since it was an attempt and confession, so we're trying to create a special law to tie him up somehow. The duchy is cooperating too, so we just need to put him in now..."

Cedric, blinking his light green eyes, sighed while rummaging through the documents on the desk.

Fatigue was briefly visible in his expression.

Perhaps because of his siblings active on the front lines, he didn't spare himself despite the heavy workload.

She wanted to tell him to rest a bit, but if she said so, the answer would be 'That's my line', so it was better not to say anything.

'...Is this my karma?'

Rosha, who had been mumbling her lips, soon pretended not to notice and looked around the room.

Cedric's office in the imperial palace.

'This is my first time here.'

The first impression of this place with large windows, as if telling him to work while getting some sunlight, was that it was neat.

Amidst the furniture with deep and elegant silhouettes placed as if measured with a ruler.

The large imperial map attached to one wall particularly caught the eye.

About a quarter of it was painted red, which seemed to mark the areas taken by demonic beasts.

The writing in the middle of it was...

"...Belice Territory."

"Ah, you were looking at the map."

Cedric, who had approached without notice, said while lightly stroking Rosha's round back of the head.

"The Belice Marquisate is a strategic stronghold in the east, and if we could reclaim it, many things would be resolved... But there are so many rifts in that area that we're struggling. Come to think of it, it was the territory of Miss Lysithea, who also had a connection with you, Rosha."

"...When did it become like that?"

"About 2 years ago. There was a day when rifts opened on a large scale suddenly, and the situation was really bad."

The Belice Marquisate was particularly vulnerable as it was not long after trials had opened nearby.

They held out well considering the circumstances, but in the end, it fell with the Marquis losing his life.

"..."

She felt uneasy. Probably because she recalled Lysithea's face.

Although she hadn't talked much with Lysithea since returning from the 'Sacred Relic Trial', it was true that her complexion had become much darker than before.

'Belice Marquisate... is it a difficult place to recapture?'

At that moment, Cedric reacted sensitively as if he sensed something from Rosha's expression.

"Rosha, your expression looks suspicious."

"W-what? I didn't do anything."

"Promise me you'll stay quietly in the capital for a while. It hasn't been long since this trial ended, and you need to start preparing soon, right?"

"...Preparing?"

Of course, she had to prepare for the promotion quest. Because she didn't know what would happen inside the rift.

But Cedric's meaning wasn't that.

"I mean preparing for the engagement. Duke Echerzen said he would proceed quickly since he got your consent, is that right?"

"Huh? Yeah... that's right."

"It's a fake engagement, right? I approve. Just the marriage proposals pouring in for you every day are enormous. It would be better to hurry the process before grandfather knows."

"Why grandfather?"

"Do you have to ask? Because Duke Echerzen is known to the world as a sinister and dangerous man."

There's already a wholesome young man like Cedric in the family, so the comparison would be even more stark.

'But Froy... isn't that bad.'

His outward image was at a level that made people reluctant to approach him, but when actually seeing him up close, it wasn't like that.

If you look closely, Froy tends to deliberately create that kind of image.

It was at that moment.

"You..."

When she raised her head at Cedric's quiet voice, she saw him looking closely at her face.

His brow was gradually furrowing as if he had noticed something.

Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of crisis arose.

But just as he was about to say something.

Knock knock-

Along with the sound of knocking on the door, aides came to his office carrying a bundle of documents.

Rosha quickly opened the door and slipped out in the meantime.

The knights in black armor waiting outside the office straightened their backs when they saw her.

"Are you finished with your business, Lady Roshanak?"

"Yes. Let's go back now."

To mention it now, the first thing Froy did when he heard about the engagement was to assign knights to her.

It wasn't because he was anxious about her being ambushed, but purely...

"Oh, there she is! Lady Roshanak!"

"Why don't you ever reply to our letters! We came to see you in person because there was no answer no matter how long we waited."

"Finally seeing your face. It's quite expensive too."

It was to deal with people like this.

"Uh..."

"Ahem..."

When the knights with their already intimidating gazes glared all at once, people closed their mouths as if by agreement.

But then, a young lady with light pink hair peeked her face out from among them.

"Lady Roshanak."

When she beckoned her to come over, seeing her cautiously waving her hand, she approached quietly.

They say even a dragon comes when you call it.

It was Lysithea.

"It's been a while since we've had a conversation like this, hasn't it, Lady?"

"How did you know I was here?"

"There were loud rumors that you're in the imperial palace right now."

Lysithea was wearing a plain black dress.

It felt more like she had thrown it on roughly to enter the imperial palace rather than wearing it to dress up.

Joel, her childhood friend and guard knight, gave a deep bow to Rosha.

'...It's fortunate that Joel is still alive.'

Lysithea, seen up close, didn't look too bad even though her mood had settled a bit.

But just as she was about to leave to have a quiet conversation with her.

A sneering voice was heard from behind.

"How did that woman know to come here?"

"If her family has fallen to that state, she should live quietly, but she shows up for no reason."

Lysithea's fist clenched tightly. Her tightly closed lips could be seen trembling.

But Lysithea soon raised her lips upwards, and as if to show off, she raised her chin and said:

"I hear a dog barking somewhere."

"W-what? A dog?"

"Can't you hear? It's still barking now."