Chapter 123 - What kind of a person is he?

For a moment, we stared at the dragon suffering from untimely growth pain.

The little dragon, who was shaking its huge tail violently and snorting, stared right back at us.

“I don’t think it looks relieved.”

“I want you to get rid of the habit of doubting every single person. Do you think I’ve seen a dragon only once or twice?”

“Even so, what does this have to do with the dragon growing up safely?”

“Why are you asking me that? I’m not the one who discovered dragons. Well, it’s just that emotional stability is more important than anything else for monsters suffering from growing pains. It eats the weeds that sprout here occasionally…… No, but Duchess, what do they have to do with this situation?”

‘They’ were Popo and Griffin, rolling excitedly in a pile of jewels.

They seemed to have dragged me to the dragon baby because it was sick, but they didn’t even look at the dragon baby, whether it was because it was moaning or because they were distracted by playing.

Izek, who looked at my monster friends one by one with disapproving eyes, now let out a bitter sigh.

“I don’t think this is right.”

“What?”

“No matter how you look at it, it’s obvious that it is pretending to be sick. While I pat it, it’ll sit there and prey on you. Damn it, why do monsters these days commit the crime of coveting another’s wife like it’s nothing?”

The best Paladin of the north seemed to be in a state of mental confusion after coming to a strange conclusion that I could not understand.

I gently raised my hand and patted him on his limp shoulders.

“Nobody told you to pat it.”

“It is protesting with its whole body, even if it can’t say it! And who else would do it if it wasn’t me? There’s no one else who has managed to land a hit on this b*stard! Damn, I won’t leave anyone alone who comes near this j*rk, even if they’re priests, I’ll give them punishment as the Holy Paladin of the North! There is no point in repenting later.”

I didn’t know how this logic came out, but anyway, this seemed to be a sincere concern.

I stopped laughing because I liked this version of him, who was lost in the terrible reality of being a nanny for an advanced-growth baby dragon.

“I think I’ll be very proud if it grows up safely because the two of us took good care of him. It’s like acting as parents.”

“……is that so?”

I didn’t have to mention with what kind of eyes the legendary Knight Commander, who said he had faced two small dragons, began to stare at Izek.

Sir Barons soon turned his disapproving gaze away and opened his mouth solemnly to the other side.

“Did you all come here to play?”

Oops, I forgot the existence of those three.

I didn’t know why they were quiet all this time.

“C-Commander. Do you know how worried we were?”

“Stop the nonsense and take out the jewels that you stuffed in there. Is it exciting to steal snacks from a child with a snotty nose? How can you still call yourself a Paladin!”

The Commander of the Northern Knights called Satan’s son a child with a snotty nose.

The standards of faith of the nobles here got more and more confusing.

“I didn’t mean to steal them, they just rolled down…… W-We thought you were going to die because of the dragon! Wouldn’t you also have tried to follow that bird-head and pig-raccoon even though they’d block you? We didn’t even know what the dragon was up to.”

“How dare you spout bullsh*t in front of the Duchess? Where’d you sell your chivalry and manners? Young people these days think that everyone who wields a sword, becomes a knight!”

* * *

Snow was pouring outside the window, curtains half-drawn.

As we entered the middle of winter in earnest, heavy snow fell all the time.

My father-in-law started talking.

At the end of his speech, he spoke in a meaningful tone that left a strange lingering impression.

“The Gonfalonier will be sent.”

(T/N: gonfalonier: one who bears the gonfalon : specifically : a papal official at Rome who bears the standard of the church)

“…….”

“Officially, it would be a motion to convey His Holiness’s consolation to Elendale, who suffered a bout, but informally, the purpose in the end is to negotiate the issue that took place here. We still don’t know what we’re going to do with Gonfalonier in this situation, but we’ll know after we meet.”

In other words, it meant that Enzo, who was in charge of the Pope’s army and the second son of the Pope, will come to Elendale under the Papal States’ order.

It was natural for the Pope to send some people over.

“Can you tell me what kind of a person he is?”

He didn’t seem to be asking about Enzo’s objective reputation.

My father-in-law, who stood with his arms folded by the window and stared at me, looked somewhat cautious and serious. It was not unreasonable.

Let’s see, Enzo, when he was with me.… I didn’t have any particular feelings.

“He was just an older brother.”

“Just an older brother…?”

“Yes, just a common ordinary brother. He’s a selfish thinker, but he’s not like my father or brother. Maybe that’s why he’s coming.”

The Pope’s plot seemed obvious.

Enzo was lucky enough to not get into an accident, let alone involve diplomatic negotiations, but it was true that the Pope had a biased view of him.

There must be some reason as to why he sent Enzo over the problem caused by Cesare this time, but before that, it was clear he wanted Enzo to persuade me.

In other words, persuade me to appease the Omertas.

To negotiate nicely for what Cesare had done, and to clear up the suspicions behind the attack.

Aside from whether Enzo was likely to persuade or coax me, he was the only person in my family who doesn’t seem to have any resentment for me.

I never imagined that my father, who was worse than Cesare, would try to negotiate with me in this way. As expected, one has to live long to see it all.

“……I see, I understand. Then can you tell me what his usual tendency is in an objective way this time?”

Huh? Why is he talking like he’s already heard of him before?

My father-in-law scratched his beard at my puzzled expression.

Why was he going back and forth all of all of a sudden?

“Did something happen?”

“Well, apparently he had already arrived in Elendale three days ago. There is no way to know where the Gonfalonier disappeared off to.”

“…….”

“It is certain that they all arrived at Elmos Port together, but it seemed that he sneaked out in the middle. The delegation was also busy back then, so he was left alone…. So, do you have any idea where he might have gone first, and what he might be doing by now? Any acquaintances he can find in Elendale.”

Now it was my turn to look perplexed.

Because it was too obvious!

No matter how much he usually did that, I wondered if even with a serious mission, he’d act the same… Then again, it would definitely be memorable for Enzo.

“Ruby?”

“I-I think he might be near the entertainment area.”

Oh, why am I suddenly so embarrassed?

No matter if he’s a stranger, there was no one in this family who didn’t have a quirk.

My father-in-law didn’t respond for a moment.

I didn’t think he heard it right.

“What…?”

“He says if you look for gambling houses and bars, he will experience the city’s true face, so every time we visit somewhere new..”

My reasoning faded with a sense of shame.

Oh, you idiot! My face is burning because of you! Even though it’s winter!

Father-in-law’s face, which looked shocked, slowly began to distort.

It was a really creepy view.

“So, the Gonfalonier of Romagna, as soon as he arrived in the city of his in-laws, the first place he ran to like an arrow, is that area?”

Nod.

“He was playing around in such a place for three days? Even in these situations… You think he’s a good person?”

Nod.

What can I do, it’s true.

Damn, I feel like crying all of a sudden.

He said it in such a good way back then.

Whether I looked pitiful, nodding my head in tears or not, my father-in-law soon rubbed his throbbing temples and growled.

“For now, I understand. We might as well ask the city guard for help if we want to go through those areas. Damn it, both brothers just take turns annoying Elendale’s security.”

To be exact, all three siblings.

I didn’t mean to, but when I ran away from home the other day…… Let’s just not think about that.

“But the more I think about it, the more disgusting it is. How little does he think of us ….”

“No, Father-in-law. It’s not that he looks down on you, it’s just that he doesn’t have the presence of mind! He doesn’t have any logical thoughts. Not too long ago, even during the Rimini march, he almost lost the battle we won because he got too drunk.”

“… That’s not a very comforting fact, but I’d rather consider it that way. I’d rather not mention this to my son.”

“Ah…”

“If my son hears what kind of unmentionable things he has been doing, forget running around worried as soon as you appear, he will hunt down your brother. Tsk tsk, if he were my child, even I would have beat him up ….”

The Pope had already done that several times.

The problem was that it didn’t work.

Nevertheless, it was amazing that he was always weak against his foolish second son.