Taming The Villainesses

(EP-329.2) Time Problem #2
329 – Time Problem #2

“Your Majesty, you must be weary from your long journey.”

“I am Redni Arachne, the lord of Sandora.”

Aira lightly shook her head at the polite greeting.

“Hm, enough of that. I’d like to go inside and hear the reports. Everything is prepared, I assume?”

“Of course, please follow me into the city hall.”

Clamor-.

A large group of people began making their way inside. At that moment, my gaze met Elga’s, who had been looking around restlessly. With a frown, she asked me.

“Why didn’t you come to greet us at the gates? I was looking for you.”

“I did go out to greet you. Though, I just observed.”

“What? Why? Also, you seem a bit… different? You look more serious. Like you’ve become more mature or something….”

Elga circled around me.

“Did you get taller too?”

She placed her hand on my head as if trying to measure me, and I responded lightly.

“You’ve changed too, Elga-nim. You’ve got a new hairstyle. I used to like your hair tied back.”

At my words, Elga touched her wavy blonde hair.

“Should I tie it back again? I thought letting it down might look better.”

I wanted to tell her she looked good as she was, but with so many eyes watching and waiting, I simply placed my hand on her waist.

“You must be tired from traveling such a long way in the carriage. Let me escort you inside.”

“Okay, show me around.”

Although various welcome banquets had been planned, Aira’s whims shortened the festivities. She was more interested in reports on what was happening in Sandora and its vicinity.

Thus, we found ourselves seated in the lord’s office, discussing the winding map and nearby terrain models.

“To summarize, Professor Stella and I ventured beyond the wall to this area and returned after a struggle. We encountered many challenges, but we also managed to gather some useful information.”

The monsters beyond the wall have retreated further north.

I also briefly reported that something unusual was happening up north.

After hearing everything, Aira let out a curious hum, crossing her arms as she lightly asked.

“Then, what do you think about the reclamation of Gargata fortress beyond the wall? Is it progressing well?”

“Well…”

Honestly, I had no idea.

I hadn’t paid much attention to the military actions advancing north. If anything, I had been opposed to the idea.

But now I understood.

Aira seemed quite determined to reclaim the lands beyond the wall. Who had planted such ideas in her head while I was away?

Reinhardt?

No, Reinhardt, busy with the capital’s defense, wouldn’t suddenly advocate for a northern campaign. Then… Elga?

Elga was bold and combative, so it wouldn’t be strange if she whispered to Aira, “Now’s the time to advance north.”

But that was months ago.

Ever since Elga became pregnant, she had grown strangely cautious. She wouldn’t bring turmoil to her life now by pushing for such plans.

At that moment, Lord Redni spoke up.

“We are doing our best to gather forces up north, Your Majesty. However, even now, it’s a challenge just to maintain the garrison troops protecting the fortresses.”

She explained, her tone almost as if scolding a young niece.

In fact, Count Redni and Aira were distant cousins, so it’s probably right to call Aira her niece. She was saying that there was no need for a reckless expedition.

However, Aira’s expression grew visibly displeased.

“Hmm, we don’t have enough troops…?”

To that, Redni responded skillfully.

“The last northern expedition was during the time of Her Majesty’s grandmother, the heroic Lady Isabelle. With 30,000 soldiers, 200 knights on horseback, and Rank 3 mages or higher in attendance…”

The countess trailed off, and it was Professor Stella who cut in.

“Not even a tenth of them returned. I know that story well—I saw it with my own eyes. That reckless campaign shook all of Angmar, and even now, we haven’t fully recovered from it.”

Did that really happen?

I vaguely remembered reading about it in history books and court records I’d browsed through. The repeated failures of northern expeditions, the opportunistic invasion of the southern barbarians, and the resulting decline of the kingdom.

It was the chain of events that led to Angmar’s downfall and, eventually, the collapse of human civilization—culminating in the infamous Tyrant Ayra and the Sorcerer of the Fallen Kingdom sealing the kingdom’s fate.

And then, like a final nail to the coffin, the tyrant Aira and evil witch appeared, leading to the eventual collapse of Angmar and human civilization. That was the story that was supposed to unfold.

At that moment, I felt someone’s hand slide around my waist.

“Of course, things will be different now. The Bellhawk family and I will support Theo-kun’s plans.”

Touching my waist in front of everyone?

I was startled by Stella’s sudden gesture.

Elves were known for their tendency to engage in physical affection with friends and companions. But someone as perceptive as Elga wouldn’t miss that this wasn’t just ‘friendliness.’

Elga narrowed her eyes and said.

“I didn’t know Lady Bellhawk and our court mage had grown so close. Did a lot happen on your trip up north?”

“What happened was—”

Before Stella could say anything further.

Clap!

I quickly clapped my hands and interrupted.

“First, let’s have a meal. You must be tired from your long journey. Countess Redni has prepared a variety of things for Her Majesty and Elga-nim.”

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[T/N: Changed Redney to Redni]