Supporting Characters Also Need Some Love

CHAPTER 4: EACH TRUTH AND EACH HAPPINESS (XXVI)

Part 092

 

It was quite late at night, and the sous-chef was busy cooking in the kitchen of Duke Bigor’s residence, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Franz, who was smashing two plates of steak the size of a pot lid, smiled with satisfaction when he saw the mountain of fried rice piled up in front of him. Jenny, with sweat on her forehead, looked at the sous chef with pitiful eyes and asked if he wanted to prepare something else, and asked in an awkward voice.

 

“Didn’t we have dinner together earlier?”

 

Franz, who munched on his thick steak and swallowed it, answered with a bright smile.

 

“Do you want a small sandwich for dinner? Would you like some, too?”

 

Jenny, who was sipping a fairly good quality brandy over neatly cut fruit, took one look at the mountain of fried rice and shook her head with a bored look on her face.

 

“Why am I not gaining weight when I eat like this?”

 

Franz looked down at himself while holding the fork and shrugged his shoulders.

 

“Because you eat like normal and move like normal? She has lost a lot of weight these days. Please eat some of this.”

 

“No, this is enough for me. Just watching you eat makes me full.”

 

Jenny laughed, holding up a half-full glass of brandy, and Franz, who had finished his plate of steak, held up a spoon and laughed along.

 

“You seem a little thin these days, and are you also having a hard time?”

 

“In times like these, it’s my fault that I’ve gained weight and my arms are sagging. But it’s almost over now, so as long as the Duke comes back safely, everything will be okay.”

 

On the third day after Adrian ran toward the Jezero Plain, the residents of the outer castle who had taken refuge returned to their places, and grain sales, which had been suspended, resumed, and Midok quickly found stability. It was a result of the hard work of all administrators regardless of department, and Damien, who had spent the busiest three days among them, was stretched out early today as well.

 

“My lord said he would return within this week, so the news of victory will be announced soon. Don’t worry.”

 

“Did the Duke go on a picnic? Even if he went there and just came back, it would take another week.”

 

“You said you would come, so you will come.”

 

“Will the war end in a day or two? No, that’s right, the duke is the kind of person who can live with that. I hope you come back as soon as you said. When it’s over, my lady will be able to get some rest too.”

 

“When you come back, shall we have a wedding?”

 

“What?”

 

In response to Franz’s bright question, Jenny loudly put down the glass of brandy she was holding. What kind of wedding is this to my flower-like young lady who was only eighteen years old? As Franz was watching Jenny’s sparkling gaze, Jenny’s mood gradually eased. She was told that Count Clean had already sent the marriage vows. I was dumbfounded when I heard it, but I couldn’t even express my admiration for it because it was a decision the head of the family made that I could guess how she must have felt. It seems like they are openly sharing the same bed now, but it is also strange that they are now insisting that they will not get married. Jenny emptied her glass with an empty look on her face and refilled it with her brandy. She tried to have just one drink, but she got drunk. As Jenny passed around her glass and lost herself in her thoughts, Franz, who carefully set down her spoon, rolled his eyes at her. If Jenny’s reaction is like this, it is only a matter of time before the Duke and our lady get married. Then, after that,

 

“If you two get married, will we get married too, sister?”

 

“Huh? What? What?”

 

Jenny asked back in bewilderment, but it was Franz who had a mountain of fried rice under her chin and had an extremely serious face. Jenny was startled for a moment, but soon her laughter was captivating and she giggled and laughed in earnest for a while.

 

“Young Nomu, where are you going? 10 years is too early, baby.”

 

“I can’t wait 10 years, sister.”

 

Franz whined with a downcast face. He took Jenny’s refusal literally as a reprieve, calculated his age in 10 years after her, and became depressed again.

 

“No, Franz, why is he acting like this all of a sudden? What kind of marriage are you and me? I’m going to live next to you for the rest of my life.”

 

“You can marry me and do that. I will follow my lord’s footsteps for the rest of my life, so why not commute to the duke’s residence together? There are a lot of empty mansions in Midok right now. I saw a fairly nice mansion near the Duke’s residence also vacant.”

 

She tried to take it lightly, but Franz was quite serious. When did you even look at the new home? Jenny responded in a daze.

 

“No, I have no intention of marrying you?”

 

This time Franz made an absurd face.

 

“Sister, then have you been playing with me all this time?”

 

“This guy, this guy. If anyone hears it, it’s going to be a big problem. Who will play with you, when will I?”

 

“During this time, you held my hand, stroked my head, meowed, patted my back, hugged my shoulder, and even kissed me! Isn’t that why you’re arguing that you won’t marry me!”

 

Jenny was startled and jumped up from her seat at the words of Franz, whose eyes were wide and he raised his voice to protest.

 

“Hey, hey, lower your voice! Are you going to wake up everyone in the mansion? And that, that’s not a kiss.”

 

“Obviously, your lips touched here. It’s a kiss!”

 

Franz also jumped up and pointed his right cheek with his finger. Late at night not long ago, she sat next to Jenny, who was organizing documents, and stroked the hair of Franz, who was neatly organizing the documents Jenny had sorted with his bear-paw-like hands. Jenny, who had always treated Franz like a puppy, stroked the head of Franz, who was smiling brightly, and gave him a pout. Then, without realizing it, her lips. Yes, they kissed. She did it. She did it.

 

“Hey, you’re going to get married just because I kissed you!”

 

Even Jenny raised her voice and raised her voice. The kitchen creaked loudly. Hegel, who entered the open kitchen and found a couple arguing over kissing and marriage, made a noise as he was about to close the kitchen and leave, clutching his empty stomach. As Franz and Jenny looked at each other, Hegel smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

 

“Haha. This is true. I didn’t overhear on purpose, Jenny.”

 

“Brother, are you coming now? Would you like to have some of this with me?”

 

Franz discovered Hegel and smiled brightly. Jenny, who very rarely had a slight blush on her face, quickly hid her expression and bowed her head to greet Hegel.

 

“I was just about to leave. Please enjoy your meal.”

 

“Oh, no, Jenny. What if I come later? How about we eat together?”

 

“No. Then.”

 

Jenny bowed politely again and left the kitchen, passing by Hegel. Hegel scratched the back of his head and said, looking at his back as he disappeared while trying to say something.

 

“Why does Jenny seem to hate me?”

 

Franz, who was placing Hegel’s spoon on a mountain of fried rice, smiled heartily and answered.

 

“Oh, is that possible? It’s because you’re a bit shy.”

 

“I guess it’s just your opinion that Jenny is shy.”

 

Hegel grumbled, but Franz, who was quite satisfied that Jenny was not as friendly with Hegel as she was with him, just laughed hahaha.

 

“Brother, are you here to clean up after the militia?”

 

“Uh, okay, now the clearing of the outer castle area is complete.”

 

“Militia and Mr. Hennessy were very helpful. Thank you for your hard work, too. Please eat the fried rice. It’s still warm.”

 

“Okay. Let’s eat. What about you?”

 

When Hegel sat down and asked while taking a spoonful of fried rice, Franz grinned. He answered, brushing off Hegel’s words.

 

“Don’t I have somewhere to go?”

 

Then he turned around and chased after Jenny. Hegel looked at Franz who was disappearing and put down his spoon.

 

* * *

 

The Laurentian Capital Army, advancing to the Jezero Plain, increased its speed again. This is because Adrian, who was running first, started to run. Bigor’s knights and cavalry, accustomed to Adrian’s crazy speed, followed closely behind, but the infantry units began to sag. ale ran up to Adrian and shouted.

 

“Master! At this rate, the difference between us and the infantry is widening!”

 

“The cavalry moves around the plain to block the rebels. The infantry must maintain speed and arrive.”

 

“Are you planning on dividing your forces from the beginning?”

 

“If he escapes to the northwest, it will be difficult to catch him. I have no intention of prolonging this war.”

 

There was no time for a proper strategy meeting with Kayla, who was supposed to lead the infantry-centered main force. Ethan, who had already heard the tactics from Adrian, lagged behind with Cale and explained the tactics that Adrian had set up.

 

“You are planning to end everything with a single battle. We will be blocking the retreat, so just follow us and push up the plains! The battle will be in three days, at dawn! Just get the timing right!”

 

And Ethan also picked up speed, following Adrian. The knights of the noble family pursued Adrian with all their might, and Cale slowed down to join Ban and convey the strategy instructed by Adrian.

 

“It’s a one-shot battle. I was getting tired of this war, but it seems like the duke is very anxious.”

 

Ban answered with a grin. The rumor that Adrian used magic because he was worried about his lover spread throughout the capital military camp last night. Ban shook his head happily, thinking that his love had come to Midok after four days from the Great Territory, so he would want to go back as soon as possible. While Ban was intoxicated by the miraculous power of love, Cale remembered the hideous Adrian she had seen yesterday and responded with his body trembling.

 

“Your Majesty, did you think that the way you saw your master yesterday was just anxious?” 

 

“He must have been angry because he kept the Golden Jade Leaf at home, but some scoundrels were making a fuss at his door.”

 

“If we don’t get there by sunrise on Wednesday morning, the woe will be on us.”

 

As Cale spoke, still trembling, the usual smile on Ban’s face disappeared. You should arrive nearby on Tuesday night to replenish your stamina before going into battle. Excluding Adrian and the troops ahead of him, the capital army led by Cale and Ban totaled 12,000. It was time for them to run too.

 

* * *

 

Wednesday, the 68th day of fall. The sun rose into the eastern sky. Dozern was preparing for the final battle on the Jezero Plain. If you get pushed back even here, it will be difficult to get a chance to attack Midoc again. The defense forces sent to the southeast and reinforcements from each noble family will also flock in. Marquis Luther, who had been Dozern’s most reliable ally, had already lost the head of the family and heir. The capital army appeared on the Jezero Plain, where Dozern, who had nowhere to retreat, was gnashing his teeth. From the eastern end of the Jezero Plain, the capital army pushed into the plain at a calm pace. Compared to the capital army, which was supporting the entire kingdom except for the northwest area, the supply of the rebels was limited. In Midok, there was a significant loss of power, and with the death of Boromi Le Luthor, who was holding the center of the army, the unity within the rebel army was significantly weakened. As the battle continued on the plains, and as time passed, voices of division began to emerge from many of the noble families who had participated in the rebellion after contact with Marquis Luther and the director. Eventually, some forces retreated and encountered Adrian, who had returned from the plains. Bigor’s knights followed Adrian, who rushed out as soon as he encountered the enemy. The cavalry of the Capital Army, who had fainted in the barracks that opened only one night after the Midok water defense battle and had to run again as soon as they left Midok, complained in unison as they watched the backs of the Bigor Knights retreating away. In front of the clattering cavalry, Ethan stepped forward with a grin on his face.

 

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