Kays Translations

Chapter 26: Since it got cold [before].

Some time has passed since Licia's birthday.

It was around this time that winter began to appear in most parts of the Leomel Empire.

Even in Eupheim, the White Crown, a large city far from Clausel where Ren lives, the leaves had fallen from the roadside trees and the branches were beginning to be lightly covered with snow.

A guest was visiting Marquis Ignat's mansion, a grand mansion that sits on a hillside in Eupheim.

“Please wait.”

The guest was stopped by a knight standing in front of the main gate.

“Excuse me, do you have an appointment?"

The knight in the service of the Marquis Ignat carefully assesses the visitor, because if he disrespects the visitor here, he’ll disgrace his lord Ignat.

That’s why the knight tried to respond politely even if the other party didn’t show their face.

The other party was covered in a robe and deep hoods.

“...... Oh, I'm sorry."

The visitor removed their hood in a panic.

Then she shows it to the knight. The face is filled with breathtaking beauty and a somewhat fairy-like loveliness. And her golden hair, which was as shiny as silk.

“It's me. I don't have an appointment, but I hope you don't mind."

The knight caught sight of the guest's ---- figure and bowed his head in shock.

“I beg your pardon. I had no idea it was you.”

“No, it’s fine. I'm the one who hid my figure, so don't worry about it.”

“Thank you for your kind words. Now, please come in. The Lord is at work, but if he hears that you’re here, he will be sure to see you.”

The knight then leads the unexpected guest into the mansion.

As they walk across the well-appointed and beautifully landscaped gardens, the other servants notice their appearance and bow their heads.

Some stopped to salute, others scrambled to prepare tea.

The guest smiled apologetically, but everyone's appearance remained the same.

The two ---- made their way through the ornate mansion.

It was spacious inside, and it was large enough to be called a small castle, but the Marquis de Ignat placed the rooms he used immediately after entering the mansion, so his office was not far away.

When they arrived at his office, Edgar was waiting for them at the door.

“It's been a long time, Edgar.”

“It's been a long time, too. I saw you earlier and was waiting for you here.”

As soon as Edgar finished with the pleasantries, he took over from the knight.

He knocked on the door of the lord's office and was immediately answered.

“Come in."

Edgar then opened the door and invited his guest to enter.

The jet-black carpet that covered the entire floor filled the entire field of vision. However, the room did not seem too dark with the silver furnishings.

The room gave the impression of being somewhat cold, but it was elegant without being gaudy.

"Good afternoon, Marquis Ignat.”

As soon as the guest entered his office, she said.

“It’s been a long time, Klonoa.” (TN: Changed Chronois Highland to Klonoa because it was changed in the raws)

Marquis Ignat says, leaving his desk at the far end of the office, in front of the window.

The guest, Klonoa, smiling apologetically, walked to the sofa where Marquis Ignat urged her to sit down.

“I'm sorry for coming on such short notice.”

“No! If it’s Klonoa-sama, you are welcome! Oh, look, Edgar! Can you arrange tea and something sweet!”

“No, no need to worry about that. Actually, I'd like Edgar to join us.”

“Alright ----, Edgar, would you please direct the other servants?”

"Yes, sir. Please wait a moment.”

Edgar then leaves the room at once, following the instructions of his master.

After giving light instructions to his subordinates, he returned to the office within a few dozen seconds.

He then took his place behind the lord, who was seated opposite Klonoa.

“What is the matter today? I heard that Klonoa-sama had left the imperial capital on urgent business.”

“Oh, you knew about that?”

“Well, I don't even know the nature of your business.”

“Fufufu ......, that's a Secret."

Seeing Klonoa laughing proudly, Ignat shrugged.

“I thought it was. By the way, what can I do for you today?”

“I don't have any business. I was just passing by and thought I'd drop by.”

Ah, but you know….

Klonoa continued.

“I'm not really on an errand, but I had a question I wanted to ask Edgar.”

“Oh? For me?”

“Yes. That’s why I asked you to join us.”

“Hmmm...... what is it that you want to ask our Edgar?”

The two men questioned Klonoa, and she gave her reasons without pause.

“I want to ask you about the work Edgar did in the spring.”

“...... I see, was it about the time I went out to Clausel?”

“But, Klonoa-sama. I believe that the lord reported the matter to the imperial capital at that time.”

“I’ve read the report of Marquis Ignat, too. I'm not really interested in what Viscount Givens himself has to say. I think it would be better for me to stay out of political matters.”

Then why did she ask?

To the newly questioning pair, Klonoa finally tells them the truth.

“Can you tell me about Ren-kun?”

Then, Marquis Ignat and Edgar's eyebrows twitched.

They were unsure of the significance of Ren's name coming out of Klonoa's mouth, and a slight sense of caution settled in their hearts.

But they soon found out.

“Hahaha… I’m not surprised if two of you are being very cautious.”

And this fast-paced reply took their breath away.

“May I ask you a question?”

“What? What’s it?”

“Why are you seeking information about Ren Ashton?”

Ignat asked, and Klonoa was at a loss for an answer.

Ignat asked the reason sincerely and mysteriously, but under the influence of this, Klonoa swallowed her lighthearted reply, "I'm very fond of Ren-kun”.

“As you may know, only a few have been informed of my daughter Fiona's illness, but I have shared with you that Fiona was taken care of by the Clausel family because I asked you for help when I was looking for materials from Thief Wolfen."

“......Yes. I'm sorry I couldn't help you then.”

“The Thief Wolfen is a monster that’s rare.”

“Let's take a break from the conversation.”

The two who had been conversing sipped the tea that had arrived and moistened their thirsts.

“I owe a great debt of gratitude to Ren Ashton, to the Ashtons, and to the Clausels. So I don't feel comfortable giving information about them without knowing why."

Marquis Ignat is a great nobleman who has won many political battles through his belly game at the center of the great nation of Leomel.

In the eyes of Marquis Ignat, there was a breathtaking pressure that was different from his military might.

But Klonoa is also one of a handful of powerful people.

If she wanted to, she could turn all of Eupheim into scorched earth.

She wasn’t going to back down.

The problem is that the reason she wanted to ask about Ren was personal......

“I've met Ren-kun.”

There was no point in hiding it anymore.

She decided to be honest and tell them the reason why she wanted to talk about him.

“You’ve met Ren Ashton...?"

Marquis Ignat, who had been exuding pressure earlier, was instantly stunned.

"Yes. It was a coincidence, really."

“Oh, oh.... you mean you went to Clausel?”

“Yes, on business. So it was just a coincidence that I met him.”

She told them the story.

She told them about the first time she met Ren, how they met again in the forest, and how he killed two steel-eating gargoyles by himself.

And how they met again in a village near the Baldor Mountains, and how he protected her.

“I've only ever had my father protect me. That was great! It made me so happy!”

At this point, Edgar and Marquis Ignat got the gist of the situation.

The woman didn’t want anything in particular to do with Ren Ashton, but simply wanted to talk about him because she liked him.

Therefore, with Marquis Ignat's permission, Edgar began to tell his story.

He told of the miraculous act that Ren Ashton had performed during that riot in Clausel.

“It's really amazing......... not only is he that pretty and strong, but he's also very smart.”

“I'm sorry I couldn't give you a better description of Ren-dono.”

"Yes? Why?”

“Because he was covered in wounds.”

The last word came from the mouth of Marquis Ignat.

Ren, who had returned to Clausel after the battle with Jerukku, was riding the same horse, supported by Licia.

Edgar still remembers the sight of Ren uttering those sharp words.

But Ren was soon quarantined for recuperation, so he only got to see Ren's appearance for a short time.

The three of them talked about Ren for a while.

The sky outside the window was soon covered by the night sky.

“I should get going.”

Klonoa said and got up from the sofa.

“Why don't you stay the night? Fiona would love it.”

“Ummm ...... as much as I'd like to, I have to get back to the Imperial City on the magic ship tonight. But I think I'll go see Fiona-chan.”

“Lord. I will guide Klonoa-sama.”

“He'll take you to her. Then I'll just go and get ready to see you off.”

After everyone had thus left the office, Edgar took Klonoa and went to Fiona's. 

“Where’s Fiona?”

“She is in her room today, studying until the evening.”

He was afraid that Klonoa might disturb her, but she wanted to check on Fiona's physical condition just in case, so they proceeded for a little while.

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