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Frontier Lord Chapter 024: A visit from Casdekus, part 1

Chapter 024: A visit from Casdekus, part 1

I woke up to the feeling of sunlight on my face as usual. Realising that something was off, I used both hands to grab at the air around me. The fluffiness around me had all but disappeared. Wondering where the Meias could have gone, I sat upright and looked around as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

My gaze fell onto the neighbouring bed, and…

Oh, right. I remember now.

On the bed were Francis and Francois with their wool being hugged tightly by the still-asleep Senai and Aihan. This arrangement had been in place ever since the twins moved in with us — it was already the eleventh day. I smiled bitterly.

It’s time I get used to sleeping alone, I thought to myself.

As I watched the twins sleeping peacefully, the events of the past ten days — ten chaotic, hectic days — resurfaced in my mind. Senai and Aihan had cried in the middle of the night, wet the bed, engaged in typical sibling rivalry as a result of being placed in an unfamiliar environment, pulled pranks on us to see how far they could go and even gotten high fevers. The moment we settled one thing, another came, and most of our time was spent attending to their needs.

Though the usually-quiet Iruk village became much noisier and we were always tied down, nobody uttered a single word of complaint. With each time we overcame a particular difficulty, not only did the twins’ attitude towards us soften, but they looked happier as well.

It had taken five days for them to show us the innocent smiles typical of children. After another couple of days, they were frolicking around the village. They had gotten a fever on the eighth day and spent the ninth resting — but still wanted to talk to us while doing so. On the tenth, they had recovered and began frolicking around with even more energy than before.

I had been considerably moved as I watched them do so.

Even though they had not fully gotten over the loss of their parents, we had at least succeeded in driving the shadows from their smiles. I personally believed that by the tenth day, they had adopted such a cheerful demeanour that anyone in the village would think they were my flesh-and-blood daughters.

Francis and Francois, who loved the twins as if they were their own, were especially close to them. The twins were also very fond of them in return. Not only did their wool make for a comfortable bed, but it could also comfort them when they cried and accompany them when they were lonely. They may be pets, but to the twins, they were close friends too.

When they learnt that Francois was pregnant, they had been momentarily stunned and unsure of how to interact with her. However, Aruna and the old ladies had encouraged them not to worry. Under their guidance, the twins learned to help out in taking care of Francois through activities such as brushing her wool.

Coming second in terms of closeness was Aruna, though what the twins felt toward her was not purely adoration — there was a bit of fear as well. The strict discipline that Aruna instilled was one of the reasons why. She scolded them everytime they caused trouble, which, despite being a form of tough love, was nevertheless still tough. Though she did not raise her voice unnecessarily or lay a finger on them, her long lectures delivered in a calm, but cold, voice was still enough to strike fear into their hearts.

Another reason was the herbal soup she brewed. She made Senai and Aihan down copious amounts of the pungent and bitter dark green liquid every day without fail. It was common knowledge for the monsterfolk to let a child whose teeth had just begun to grow drink a small amount of the diluted stuff at a time. According to ancient wisdom, it was essential for developing resistance to diseases.

Not being one of the monsterfolk, of course, the twins had never drunk anything like it before. They seemed to have not been given any substitutes either. For that reason, Aruna had feared that they would fall sick and, to make up for lost time, started feeding them an extra-concentrated form of the concoction. On top of that, Aruna also washed their bodies with the stuff to prevent skin diseases. The overpowering smell that lingered afterward made them rather sad.

In spite of this, the twins were still close to Aruna thanks to her natural disposition towards kindness. They enjoyed the songs that she sang while braiding their hair and tucking them away for their afternoon nap. Aruna looking troubled as they begged for more singing became a common sight. As the one who fed and clothed them, she was also the first choice when they needed someone to whine to.

Next in line was either old lady Maya or Klaus — I wasn’t entirely sure. The old ladies, old lady Maya included, showered the twins with endless praises. Klaus, on the other hand, insisted on referring to them by the honorific ojou-sama since they were effectively my daughters. Both parties interacted normally with the twins, and they got along quite well.

Then, there was myself. I honestly had no idea just how close I was to them. We spoke to each other frequently, did some of the chores together and went on walks, so we surely weren’t on bad terms. Yet… I still couldn’t say that we were close.

Though they did whine to me at times, they also rarely threw a tantrum around me. They had, on occasion, actively resisted my attempts to take care of them. I was unable to express the sense of distance I felt, and wondered if my overbearing attempt to find out their names had caused it. Still… it would be nice if they warmed up to me a little more. I felt kind of lonely.

I can’t sit here and mope forever, I thought. I have to attend to their needs anyway.

I stood up, tapping my cheek to wake myself up fully. After greeting Aruna, I gently shook the Meias and the twins awake and did the same. I headed outside, bade old lady Maya and Klaus a good morning, then headed to the well.

Using a towel soaked in cold water from the well, I rubbed the sleepy-eyed Senai and Aihan down. I also brushed the Meias’ wool. Once we were done washing up, it was time for breakfast. We had gradually come to eat outside, all together, without anyone suggesting it in particular. Aruna and the old ladies would prepare the food and bring it to wherever we were eating. We dined at the ‘plaza’ (a spot in the middle of Iruk village) when the weather permitted it, and in the old ladies’ meeting yurt when the weather did not.

We decided to eat in the yurt today as there were many clouds in the sky. I entered with Senai and Aihan in tow to see many dishes already laid out on the large table placed right in the middle. Walnut-based dishes occupied a large percentage of them not only because we had received tonnes of walnuts from Peijin, but also because the twins had absolutely loved them the previous day.

A walnut-and-medicinal herb soup, grilled meat sprinkled with crushed walnuts, walnuts mixed in with pureed yam…

You know what? Scrap that… they’re all walnut dishes.

Since we would soon run out of walnuts at this rate, I wondered if there was a way to acquire more of them. Thoughts like these ran through my mind as we ate, and when I was done, I started aimlessly watching the twins who were eating sloppily.

They held a spoon in an awkward manner and drank the soup with considerable effort. The way their cheeks puffed up when they ate was very cute — it was, in fact, a guilty pleasure of the adults in the village to watch them eat. They would notice and show their displeasure if we were too obvious, so we had to do it in moderation…

What’s the matter, Senai and Aihan? Did something outside catch your attention…?

「It looks like we have another bunch of visitors, Dias,」 said Aruna as her horn glowed. 「We have one person and one animal coming from due east. Their speed tells me that it could be a person on horseback.」

Due east? Again? What now?

「How quickly is the horse moving, Aruna?」

「It’s… not going at full gallop, but they’re coming straight for us at a good pace. It’s only a matter of time before they arrive.」

Then I’d better get going immediately, I thought. I had to go, of course, while Senai, Aihan and the old ladies should stay put. I think Klaus should be staying with them too…

Aruna, Francis and Francois will be coming with me, I guess?

Me-eh.

「Francis and Francois want to remain here, Dias. They don’t like being away from you, but I think they want to be by the twins’ side.」

I decided to allow it.

「Take good care of Senai and Aihan,」 I said, patting the Meias.

Francis told us that we could rely on him. Tears of worry welled up in Francois’s eyes, but she nevertheless nodded. As I was about to leave the yurt to prepare for combat, I found Klaus, who must have exited without me noticing, running in my direction. He had my armour, breastplate, gauntlets and boots and other equipment that could be put on easily in his arms.

「Thank you, Klaus,」 I said. 「I’m surprised you went to fetch my stuff without being asked to.」

That put a smile on Klaus’s face. He and Aruna helped me to don my equipment. I then grabbed my battleaxe, and I was all ready. Just as I was about to step outside, though, Senai and Aihan darted in front of me and began to fidget. Looking at the ground, they seemed like they had something to say.

Right, I thought. That won’t do. I have to say goodbye to them too.

I kneeled on the ground to bring myself to their level.

「I’ll be back in no time.」

「Please return quickly!」

「…We’ll be waiting.」

They had grins on their faces.

I felt a sudden surge of motivation upon seeing them. Aruna, who had grabbed a bow and secured a quiver around her waist, kneeled as I had done and told the twins that we would be back soon.

With that, we hurried outside and ran in the visitor’s direction.

As long as we knew nothing about the person or their intentions, I did not want them to go near Iruk village at all. Intending to meet them as far away from the village as possible, we ran as fast as we could, supported by Aruna’s magic.

Once we neared the visitor’s presence, Aruna used her concealment magic and stood waiting with her bow from a distance away… supposedly. I struck the ground with the handle of my battleaxe, held it upright and stood there at the ready while looking in the direction specified by Aruna. Fully prepared for a surprise attack, I waited for the visitor to come into view.

I did not have long to wait.

When I caught sight of the visitor, though… it was difficult to tell whether they were an enemy or a friend. It was an old man with gelled, white hair. He was wearing a black overcoat, white trousers and black leather boots — what I believe people from the royal capital wore when they were riding a horse.

A dagger with a decorated handle glinted by his waist, resting in an equally ornate sheath. The horse he rode was brown and muscular… no doubt a top-percentage stallion. All in all, he was very well dressed.

So what business could he possibly have on the grassland, I wondered.

「He’s white,」 I heard Aruna whisper nearby.

After the last time, I had asked her to tell me the result of ‘Soul Appraisal’ earlier the next time, which she did.

White, huh?

If a person was blue, I could relax. If they were red, I could keep my guard up. White… could go both ways. Seemingly having noticed me, the old man looked at me and acknowledged my gaze. He brought his horse to a trot and approached slowly, stopping when he was right in front of me.

He dismounted gracefully.

「I apologise for the sudden visit,」 he said. 「Could I be in the presence of Dias-sama?」

Placing a hand over his chest, he bowed.

「Yes… I am Dias. May I ask who you are, and what brings you here?」

「Again, my apologies,」 replied the old man, 「for failing to introduce myself. I am Camarotts. I was in a hurry to execute my lord’s orders… to notify you of his imminent arrival. That is the reason for my intrusion. My lord, Elden Casdekus-sama, wishes to meet you, Dias-sama, and he is making his way here as we speak. He wishes to meet at your residence, if you –」

「I will receive him here,」 I declared without waiting for Camarotts to finish his sentence.

Old lady Maya had told me a few days ago that Elden was the second-eldest son of the Casdekus family. I recalled the names of his father, Enkaas Casdekus, and his elder brother and heir to the Casdekus fiefdom, Djaani Casdekus.

Elden Casdekus, who had turned against his father and elder brother and started a civil war, was said to have a penchant for slaves and women. I glared at Camarotts as I wondered if Elden was someone I wanted anywhere near Iruk village.

Whether Elden had emerged victorious or otherwise, we did not know. If he had won the civil war, then this could be a greeting from him. If he had lost, he was probably on the run and trying to lie low in my fiefdom.

Camarotts had lowered his head and stiffened. When he relaxed and looked up, he realised that I was glaring at him and assumed his previous pose.

「I… I understand,」 he stuttered in a strangled-sounding voice. 「I will let my lord know.」

After bowing once more, he clambered onto his horse — devoid of the elegance he had exhibited when dismounting — and hurried off in the direction he had come from. I stared at him until he disappeared from view, then sighed.

I have to prepare for combat, I thought.

I tightened my grip on my battleaxe.