Aureo.
It is said that the surname, which perfectly matches the color of Vlad's hair, was conceived by the Pope himself while contemplating the golden tree perched atop the ruins.
"It will be a very precious castle, one that I hope will remain in the North for a long time. Even if you look at the empire's history, there are only a few castles directly bestowed by the Pope."
"I am honored as well."
Vlad quietly observed Timur, who was pouring alcohol into his teacup.
Though his hair had turned white with age, the muscles around his neck still bulged. His stature, about a head taller than Vlad, intimidated those who saw him.
If Peter Bayezid had the aura of a precisely forged sword, Timur the Iron Lord had the aura of a solid axe capable of breaking anything.
"Well, even if that's the case, the imperial family won't recognize it."
Timur, who had put down his cup of alcohol, made eye contact with Vlad and began to smile.
"It may be a precious honor for you, but in the end, it's only peripheral."
"…Is that so."
Vlad understood some of what Timur was trying to say.
Since it wasn't granted directly by the emperor, it wouldn't be included in the imperial record, and since it was granted by the Antipope, it wouldn't be recognized by the Vatican.
"But at least here in the North, it will be a noble name."
Even so, the value of the name Aureo would not diminish here in the North.
"Drink."
Timur pushed the alcohol-filled teacup with his fingertip towards Vlad, who was still lost in thought.
A cup personally served by the noble duke, one of only four in the empire.
The young noble sitting at the end of his cup still didn't know what this action signified.
"Come to the Northern meeting that will be held this time. Although it won't be a place on the same level as the lords, at least a seat will be prepared for you."
"…Thank you for the consideration."
A man born in the North, raised by Bayezid, and recognized as valuable by the Orthodox Church. Vlad.
Timur, who said he would support him through the cup he handed over, was looking at the small flag of Vlad hanging behind the black horse.
'You have gathered well.'
A small flag fluttering in the wind.
The flag, which bore the emblems of various families according to ancient traditions, still seemed to have room to engrave at least one more phrase.
***
"Mmm."
Vlad stepped out of Timur's tent and noticed a man approaching him hesitantly.
"Maxim! Were you here?"
"Hehe, yes, by chance."
A man with a long scar on his shaved head.
The man, now laughing sheepishly, was Maxim, the knight who had protected the Rose's Smile from the Vatican soldiers.
"By the way, I no longer dare to call you my apprentice. Should I call you Lord Vlad?"
"Just call me Vlad. I don't have much to boast about."
Though he was a noble given a castle, the current Vlad didn't even have a mansion, let alone a fief.
All the money he had saved was used to buy a ship for Harven, and the only place he invested in was the Rose's Smile in Soara.
However, being qualified to hold something, even with empty hands, is probably the greatest honor and reward a knight can have.
"Still, you're a noble by name, so can I call you by your name carelessly?"
"Call me whatever you like, then."
As Maxim, sensing the relaxed atmosphere, laughed heartily, the knights of Bayezid began to gather around him.
"Ah, my noble lord. I knew you ran well since the time of the Death Worm."
"Even if things go well for you in the future, you must remember me. I taught you the secret technique to defeat that damn Stephen, didn't I?"
"Wouldn't it be fairer to also remember the times I was beaten while you taught me that?"
Vlad laughed as he saw the veteran knights rubbing their hands exaggeratedly.
It was one of the few smiles Vlad showed since Justia's death had plunged him into sadness.
"I was born in Soara from the beginning! I am of pure Bayezid blood!"
"Unlike other families that recruit promising youngsters from outside, we raise them from within."
However, contrary to Vlad's intentions, the voices grew louder.
Although the actions of the shouting knights were fierce, they were not thoughtless.
The Bayezid family had been criticized for not changing generations, so there would be few opportunities to showcase Bayezid's vitality as now, with so many knights from the seven families gathered.
[Don't waste time here, go quickly and catch that guy first. There's an old saying that a useful cat is very valuable.]
'I understand.'
Vlad, who had tried to ignore his elders, began to be busier.
As the knights still spoke, Vlad, who had become the pride of Bayezid, had many things to prepare for.
***
It was difficult to find something worthy of entertainment in the ruined city.
So now, all that was in front of Vlad and Nibelun was a glass of water in a slightly cracked wooden cup.
But that alone was enough to start a conversation between the two.
"Are you already leaving?"
"Yes, because I've finished my work."
Vlad looked at Nibelun's backpack placed in a corner of the room and clicked his tongue in disappointment.
He really wanted to keep him, but as a wanderer, Nibelun's actions seemed unrestrained.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't have any specific place to go, but aren't there many places one can reach?"
When Nibelun said there was no other place to go, Vlad nodded silently.
Beastmen mages who wander their entire lives chasing mysteries.
Vlad, who had already heard about their harsh life through Kihano, set down the glass of water he was holding and said:
"Are you searching for a mystery? Something strange and incomprehensible."
"That's right. The interpretation of mysteries is not only for my personal improvement but also for the aspiration of my entire race."
"...Is that so?"
Vlad's eyes lit up after hearing Nibelun's response.
Joseph said:
The most important thing in a negotiation is to know what the other party wants.
"Then how about something like this? A ship without sails or something like that."
"Yes?"
And now Vlad knew very well what Nibelun wanted.
"No sails, but it moves. They say if you boil the water, it moves on its own."
Cats are naturally curious animals.
If you add the word mage, there's no need to explain further.
Nibelun began to prick up his ears as if he was interested in Vlad's hand gestures describing the ship's wheels.
"I think I'll be invited to the island of the dwarves soon. Did you know that the place where the dwarves gather is still unknown? It's the island that Gaidar couldn't find despite his desperate search."
"Oh oh."
Vlad, who was about to propose a contract to Nibelun, tried to recall the memories of that time as much as possible.
Joseph, who knew what he wanted and shook me while keeping the secret I was trying to hide.
Although he couldn't grasp the weight Joseph had, the streetwise ways in which he was born and raised began to spill from Vlad's mouth.
"I wasn't going to say this, but I actually know some elves. I even exchange letters with the elders there."
"Oooh."
An island of dwarves whose location is still unknown and the existence of a ship he had never heard of before.
And even the mysterious elf forest that rejects all visitors.
For Nibelun, who found it difficult to even enter human cities, it was like a place that could only be seen in dreams.
"If I introduce you, we can enter together. Are you looking for a mystery? Isn't that place full of mystery?"
"Yes. It is."
Nibelun's eyes shone as he watched Vlad talk about uncharted lands.
For a mage who sought mysteries, they were an irresistible lure.
"Well, mages are valuable, but if you're good enough, there's no reason they can't be introduced. Still, I thought it would be easier to do it with someone who has worked together before."
Vlad, leaning back deeply as if he had said all he wanted to say, seemed relaxed despite his internal feelings.
The tricks and false composure of back-alley thugs made even Kihano bite his tongue.
"I think we can give each other what we want. What do you think about that?"
Next to Peter is the advisor Ragmus.
Next to Rutiger is the mage Dorothea.
Even Joseph, who didn't have enough power, somehow managed to find a mage and keep them by his side.
And now it was time for Vlad to have at least one mage with him.
"…Will you really let me in?"
"Of course."
"Elves and dwarves..."
"Is that all? Barbarian lands, Orthodox lands, and Northern nobles."
Seeing Nibelun leaning heavily, Vlad gave a firm nudge.
"Everything is set. If you'll just be my mage for a while."
"I will. Please, let me."
Looking at Vlad who was smiling brightly, Nibelun nodded unconsciously.
A noble and knight who can wander from place to place because he doesn't have lands yet.
However, Vlad, who had a clear reputation, was definitely someone Nibelun found difficult to refuse.
Konock konock.
"Come in!"
"This is not your room."
"I said it for you. I'll take care of this kind of work from now on."
Nibelun called the owner back in, but Vlad didn't particularly reprimand him.
Because he realized from his earlier attitude that their contract had been signed.
"Long time no see, Sir Vlad Aureo."
"Ah, back then we..."
"Do you remember me? I am Vastro, knight of House Hainal. Sir Vlad and I fought together in the battle against Gaidar."
Standing at the door in a respectful posture, he was one of the few knights belonging to House Hainal.
"I see Hainal is here too."
"We are now a Northern house. We have a duty to respond to the call."
The knight who introduced himself as Vastro couldn't hide his excitement at seeing Vlad, now a noble.
"Congratulations on receiving your title from the Pope. Lady Alicia will be very pleased to hear it."
"I have many debts to her. I must visit her soon."
Seeing Vlad say that his relationship with Hainal remained strong despite his changed position, Vastro smiled cautiously and opened his mouth.
"In that regard, if possible... would you be willing to escort our Baron during the upcoming Northern Conference?"
"Hmm?"
Vlad was surprised to see Vastro suddenly bow his head.
"Why should I treat Lady Alicia, a proud noble...?"
"The world of the North is a world of rough knights. But as you know, Vlad..."
Vastro laughs awkwardly.
The knight, who spoke of the house to which he belonged and his own shortcomings, laughed as if embarrassed and cleared his throat loudly.
"We need Lady Alicia's knight more than ever. Sir Vlad."
"…"
Among the seven families that will enter the Northern Council, Hainal will inevitably have the least weight.
Although we had just started interacting with the elves, Hainal was a place without noteworthy businesses or items.
'Alicia probably has already arrived in Soara.'
[The baron Alicia is in Soara... This somehow unsettles me.]
As Kihano said, Vlad, feeling somewhat anxious, began rummaging in his arms without even realizing it.
Two handkerchiefs deeply tucked into my arms.
Vlad, feeling the texture of the still-attached handkerchiefs, began to think deeply.
***
"It looks like it's here."
It was not yet night, but there was a woman standing in the dark alley of Soara.
An elegant appearance that did not match the dirty alley.
The woman, guarded by the old knight, looked at the building directly in front of her, eyes wide open in amazement.
"Even though it's in such a remote place, they've built up to four floors."
"Soara is a city that's practically the logistics center of the North. Everything here will be big."
Unlike the calm Deirmar, Alicia's expression began to turn subtle as she looked at the bustling Soara.
The pride she had as the owner of a territory was slowly starting to irritate her.
"Would you like to go back now? This is not a place fit for a noble lady."
"Is that so?"
The old knight Duncan looked at Alicia with somewhat tense eyes.
There was a look in his eyes that made Alicia want to leave immediately, if possible.
However, contrary to what Duncan said, the building in front of Alicia was older and more magnificent than any other place around.
"Still, I'd like to see it. They say it's like Lord Vlad's home."
"…Really?"
If you passed through Soara anyway, there was a place you definitely wanted to see.
It is said that the Smile of the Rose is the place that Knight Vlad cherishes the most.
Alicia's eyes began to shine as she tried to recall old memories of Vlad.
Creeeeek-
However, the owner of this place was not Vlad, but another lady.
To welcome the noble visitor, the Smile of the Rose began to open slowly.
"Welcome to our inn, Baroness Alicia."
A woman was slowly descending the stairs towards Alicia, who was standing at the entrance.
The innkeeper had hair as red as fire, in contrast to Alicia.
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