Chapter 85: The Duke Who Came to Play

Rumors about the surprise hearing that took place in the imperial assembly spread at an astonishing speed.

In just a single day, they turned all of Perias upside down.

“Hah! Duke Carius is popularity farming so he can stage a rebellion?”

“The old pigs in the imperial assembly must’ve gone collectively insane.”

“No, seriously. He doesn’t even have his own knight order. What rebellion?”

“They’re just mad he won’t dance to their tune, so they’re trying to frame him however they can.”

“Think about how much better our lives have gotten thanks to Duke Carius. Guess that really rubbed them the wrong way.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Shameless, the lot of them.”

The commoners’ reactions were fierce.

They couldn’t normally even make eye contact with nobles, but cursing them behind their backs was another matter entirely.

Whenever an assembly member’s carriage happened to appear on the street, hostile glares poured in.

Still, no one dared to shout outright.

What if stirring up trouble in the city led to the court getting involved?

They might end up dragged before Duke Carius himself.

As defendants, no less.

Naturally, the imperial assembly members brazenly ignored public opinion.

They likely thought it was just a passing breeze.

But the criticism refused to die down.

Even the knights were looking at them with unease.

“Madness. Did something like that really happen?”

“Yes, Vice-Commander.”

Trevor was meeting with one of his former subordinates, hearing the news firsthand.

“I’m not a vice-commander anymore. Just… call me senior.”

“But you’ll return someday, won’t you?”

“Who knows.”

A bitter smile drifted across his lips.

In ten years, the power structure of the imperial military would be completely overturned.

The faction that had once trusted and followed him would have been torn apart long ago.

Gathering subordinates who had moved on to new lives?

That wouldn’t be easy.

The entrenched powers of the military at that time would never allow it.

More than that, the desire to return was slowly fading.

“We’re all waiting for you, Vice—no, senior.”

“That’s enough. Don’t do anything pointless. Just do your best where you are.”

“Sir?”

“Your loyalty is to His Majesty the Emperor, not to me.”

The knight who had come to see Trevor looked choked up.

The image of his once-proud superior now existed only in memory.

Before him stood a man in plain clothes, carrying an axe.

That confident expression was nowhere to be found.

A heavy sense of regret filled his chest.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m satisfied enough.”

“If Duke Carius crosses the line, please let us know. You’re not being punished, senior—you’re just doing community service.”

“Exactly. So don’t worry too much. You don’t need to come visit so often anymore.”

“What do you—”

“Live your life.”

Clatter!

With that, Trevor rose from his seat.

It was a clear sign that he had nothing more to say.

Soon after, he quietly left the reception room.

“Looks like I shouldn’t have come for a visit.”

Midias wasn’t a place just anyone could enter, but visitors weren’t outright forbidden either.

If someone came calling like this, meetings were allowed.

Work schedules were flexible enough to make time, and taking leave was always an option.

No one would give you grief over it.

But Trevor didn’t want to do that anymore.

He’d recently found a new interest.

“I hope work wraps up soon.”

He was hurrying toward the logging site when someone suddenly called out.

“Excuse me, just a moment.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Are you a logging worker, by any chance?”

“I am.”

“Could you spare a little time?”

“I’m just back from a visit, so that would be difficult.”

“Ah! You’re Trevor, aren’t you?”

“You know me?”

“Yes. I heard about you from Bernard. He said you’re free this afternoon.”

Trevor looked at the man with suspicion.

His brown hair was tied tightly back—hardly the look of an ordinary man.

Imperial men usually kept their hair short.

“I’ll need to confirm with the supervisor.”

“That won’t be necessary. He’s right here as well.”

“Oh? Is he?”

“Please, come inside for now.”

The brown-haired man led him to a newly constructed building.

Just what was going on with this duchy?

Something new seemed to appear every single day.

Inside, all manner of clothing filled his view.

Yet the styles were unlike anything he had ever seen.

“Which country’s attire is this?”

“The Empire’s.”

“That can’t be right. I’ve never seen this, not in the capital or the provinces.”

“Of course not. Only Duke Carius wears these.”

“Hm.”

Trevor let out an uneasy hum.

By now, he had more or less come to terms with his situation.

You could say he was adapting to the life he’d been given.

Still, the knot in his heart hadn’t fully disappeared.

After all, things had turned out this way because of Duke Carius.

Though his own mistakes played a part.

“Would you like to try one on?”

“Why are you offering this to me? Did Duke Carius put you up to it?”

“No. I just thought it would suit you well. You have a good build.”

Even with praise mixed in, Trevor’s expression didn’t change.

He wasn’t particularly inclined.

The clothes were far too different from what he usually wore.

Seeing this, the brown-haired man spoke awkwardly.

“I suppose I should’ve introduced myself first. I’m Martin. I work as a tailor at the Midias textile factory.”

“What do you think of these?”

“They’re revolutionary. You won’t find anything more comfortable and formal at the same time.”

“Is that so?”

“I guarantee it.”

“Then hand one over.”

Still looking unconvinced, Trevor nodded.

Lately, he had begun to enjoy forming new human connections.

This, too, was one of his new interests.

Knowing a tailor or two didn’t seem like a bad idea.

Once he shed his work clothes, Martin immediately helped him dress.

The zipper and belt gave him a bit of trouble, but adapting wasn’t hard.

You just pulled them up, and with the belt, all you had to do was slot the metal pin into a hole.

Once he had the jacket on as well, Trevor stood before the mirror.

“A full-length mirror like this must be expensive. Impressive that you found one.”

“I didn’t buy it. Duke Carius gifted it to us.”

“He’s a generous lord.”

“He really is. You have no idea how remarkable he is.”

In truth, Trevor’s words carried a faint hint of sarcasm.

But Martin took them at face value.

He truly believed them.

Feeling awkward, Trevor smacked his lips.

“It’s not… bad.”

The reflection staring back at him was surprisingly striking.

And it wasn’t uncomfortable like leggings or doublets.

Still, it felt like it might be cold outside like this.

Spring hadn’t arrived yet.

“Now then, you can put this coat on.”

Dark navy trousers and jacket, an even darker tie.

With a black coat draped over it all, he looked every bit the refined gentleman.

Martin promptly helped him into leather shoes and even slicked back his hair with oil.

Trevor stared at the mirror in a daze.

“What in the world…?”

“Looks good, doesn’t it?”

The suit shop fell into silence for a while.

Even after time passed, Trevor looked unconvinced.

No matter how he thought about it, this felt far ahead of its era.

Only now did he understand why Martin had spoken the way he did.

“It’s real. Comfortable, yet formal. At this level, it must cost quite a bit.”

“Of course. It hasn’t even been released to the market yet, and the fabric is top-grade.”

Trevor shook his head and hurried to take the clothes off.

No matter how decent a logger’s pay was, he couldn’t walk around in something this expensive.

He was no longer the heir of House Warren, nor the commander of the First Western Legion.

“Ah, you can keep it on.”

“Why?”

“Think of it as a modeling fee. Wear it whenever you come to the capital.”

“Is that really fine?”

“Yes. Duke Carius specifically asked us to take care of you.”

“…I see.”

That name again—Carius.

Here, you heard it dozens of times a day.

Always followed by endless praise.

Perhaps because he heard it so often, it didn’t even make him angry anymore.

Just a hollow chuckle lingered on his lips.

“Anyway, thank you.”

“Yes. Take care.”

After leaving the suit shop, Trevor headed straight back to the dormitory.

He’d skipped his morning shift anyway.

He decided to indulge in a hobby he’d recently taken up.

Board games.

They were provided free of charge as part of employee welfare, so he could enjoy the latest versions to his heart’s content.

As soon as he changed clothes, Trevor rushed to the game hall.

“Oh, you’re early today, Trevor.”

“I skipped my morning shift because of a visit. Why are you out so early, Marcel?”

“I’m off today.”

“Must be nice being security. A full day off every other day.”

“Yeah, but we have night shifts.”

“That’s easy. Haven’t I told you? Back in the First Western Legion—”

“Please, spare me the tall tales.”

“I’m serious.”

“Ugh. Here we go again.”

Trevor greeted the young man named Marcel without reserve.

After a few rounds of idle chatter, the game began.

“Game choice: Abel’s Journey. Sound good?”

“Heh. Already forgotten yesterday’s humiliation?”

“Damn it, my stomach hurts. Forget it and put the money down.”

Trevor pulled silver coins from his pocket and dropped them into the container at the corner of the table.

“Going all in from the start? I can’t lose, then.”

Marcel confidently tossed in 1 silon as well.

The board game created by Duke Carius was fundamentally quite gambling-oriented.

Its original purpose was simple entertainment, but nothing was more fun than a wager.

Putting money on the line came naturally.

Still, this was the Midias game hall.

Each person was limited to a maximum bet of 1 silon per day.

It was Duke Carius’s decree, and no one dared violate it.

No matter who won, no further bets would be allowed.

“Let’s begin.”

It was then—

Clink!

A silver coin flew in from somewhere and landed neatly in the betting container.

Moments later, a handsome young man approached and took a seat.

“I’ll join as well.”

“New heroes are always welcome.”

At that moment, Trevor looked up—and lost the ability to speak.

The man who had appeared so suddenly was far too important.

“Y-you are…?”

Sitting at the table was the master of this land himself.

Abel Carius.

Yet Trevor was the only one who seemed startled.

Marcel casually shuffled cards and distributed tiles.

Abel naturally arranged his tokens.

Stunned, Trevor asked,

“W-what brings you here… Your Grace?”

He nearly slipped into casual speech, but held it back with superhuman restraint.

The reply came back, utterly unconcerned.

“I came to play a game.”