"What's wrong with you all?! I'm a wandering poet!"
Carlex and William quietly crept up to the podium and grabbed the man who claimed to be a wandering poet by the shoulders.
William confiscated the mandolin, while Carlex dragged the Crown Prince as if to drive him.
Because of their sudden intrusion, they created an atmosphere of tension, and the musicians and customers froze in panic.
The bar, which was completely silent, only heard the desperate cries of the Crown Prince as he was being forcibly led away.
"Wait! This is unfair, let me sing just one song! It's my lifelong dream!"
Crown Prince Ludwig fidgeted, trying to resist, but Carlex and William's gaze was firm.
“Have you not thought for a moment about the suffering people suffer from listening to your singing, Your Highness?”
Carlex looked at the Crown Prince with a cold look.
William exhaled a deep sigh, in which he seemed relieved that an imminent disaster had been avoided.
“Have you forgotten how much the servants in the palace suffered in those days when you kept playing the mandolin, pretending to be a poet? Even the officials would avoid entering the palace to escape the discordant sounds of the mandolin.”
Ludving frowned as he sat down, pursed his lips in dissatisfaction.
“Cacophonous sounds? Don’t you dare insult my music, which expresses my free spirit!”
Erica felt like she had a duty to comfort the Crown Prince whose dream had been ignored.
She stood as the party organizer and greeted him with a slight bow.
“I will consider myself listening to your singing and playing, Your Highness. This is enough to make me feel amazed.”
“Is this from your heart, Erica?”
Ludving looked at her with staring eyes, full of suspicion.
Erica replied with a slight smile.
She says: Haven't you learned yet that people can deceive you with a compliment?
The Shadow Knights who met the Crown Prince in her office greeted him politely.
Lloyd added with social fluency:
“We look forward to hearing you play the mandolin next time, Your Highness.”
He's really good at social niceties.
As for Lady Marianne and Rose, they seemed uncomfortable with the Crown Prince's joining, showing signs of anxiety.
Was it because it was their first time sitting closely with the Crown Prince in a private place?
Despite the Crown Prince's prestige and elegant appearance, his inner essence is nothing more than that of a spoiled little brother!
Rose whispered in Erica's ear with an embarrassed expression: “Erica, you didn't tell us that His Highness would come too.”
“It happened spontaneously. I was afraid that if I did not let him, he would get angry and refuse to speak.”
Honestly, Erica didn't want to invite the Crown Prince.
It was clear that Ludving's presence would make the session formal and uncomfortable.
All she wanted was a simple promotion party.
Lady Marianne adjusted her seat with a serious face, and formally greeted the Crown Prince: “This is the first time I have the honor of meeting you in a private place, Your Highness. I am honored to see you. I am Marianne Lewis, responsible for the affairs of the Royal Library.”
The Crown Prince smiled with satisfaction, and winked at her with one eye. “Shh. Today I am not a crown prince, but a wandering poet singing for love. Let us drink and enjoy in peace.”
Rose's face reddened under the influence of the Crown Prince's attractive smile.
Erica was silent and said to herself: “Tut, Tut, don’t be attracted only by outward appearance, Rose.”
New cups were added, and four plates of appetizers were served.
A rich feast was spread on the table, and everyone raised their glasses to clink cheerfully.
“To promote Librarian Erica!”
Ludwig came forward and shouted the name of her toast, but everyone emptied their glasses in one gulp and without breathing.
Erica was enjoying the single shot, but surprisingly Lady Marian and Rose were also strong drinkers, really they are!
After a few rounds of glasses, the atmosphere at the table became pleasant and cheerful.
The strange thing is that people from completely different positions and classes gathered at one table, without the slightest feeling of disharmony.
Lady Marian and Gilbert were having a heated discussion about how to knit.
During which Erica discovered that Gilbert loved knitting as a hobby in his spare time.
Lloyd and Rose had not known each other for more than five minutes until they became good friends, and began exchanging the latest gossip in social circles.
Ludving and William were hugging each other, clinking each other's cup in turn.
William was showing an amazing ability to drink alcohol, as if he was trying to compensate for his deprivation of going to bars.
The glass of wine was cold and refreshing, and those around her were laughing sincerely, and Erica felt an overwhelming warmth.
She felt a pleasant tingling in her heart and an overwhelming warmth embraced her, so she couldn't help but smile for no reason.
“Erica, you look happy.”
Carlex was watching her, as if he didn't want to miss any expression on her face.
“Your Highness, I know I’m beautiful, but stop staring at me, otherwise I’ll make a hole in my face.”
She said this affectionately while hiding her face with the cup.
The corners of Carlex's mouth rose gently.
“Really, I applaud this confidence in you.”
“Yes, yes. I just live on that trust.”
Erica snorted jokingly, an arrogant hero couldn't change his character.
Carlex's low, clear laughter reached her ear.
It was rare to see him so cheerful.
"Huh? What's so funny? I want to join in too."
Ludving, who had caught the conversation with his ears, asked in a stammering tongue as he hugged Carlex's shoulder.
As for William, who was drinking with them, he seemed completely healthy, without any color on his face changing.
Then, from the next table, they heard loud cheers and loud laughter.
“For the Lady of War who protects Ruberia!”
“Glory to the Lady!”
Three knights wearing armor and carrying swords were clinking their tin cups excitedly.
Erica was surprised: Huh? These faces are familiar.
Ah, I remembered them.
They are the knights who were at the forefront while fighting monsters in the equestrian arena.
One by one, the others started paying attention with their loud cheers.
A drunk-faced middle-aged man asked: “Master Knights, have you seen the War Lady for yourselves?”
The young knight nodded vigorously.
He looked emotional as he recalled those days. “And more! I fought alongside the Lady myself in that place. The sight of her running like the wind and shooting her fiery arrows! How beautiful and powerful it was! I still will not forget it.”
Erica screamed internally: Ouch! Please forget that. I'm about to collapse from embarrassment.
She held her head tightly, screaming without a sound.
I overlooked! I thought “War Lady” was a passing fad!
As if they had thrown a spark on oil, the bar was filled with shouts of joy and intense enthusiasm.
People raised their glasses high and started cheering.
“To the Lady of War!”
As if the enthusiasm burning like fire attracted him, Ludving tried to get up from his place.
Erica clung to him with all her might, grabbing his arm.
Then she conveyed to him honestly through her eyes:
“Please, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Control yourself.”
Did her sincerity reach him? The Crown Prince stopped moving.
Yes, if you have a conscience, you will stay calm.
William was also staring at him nervously, while Carlex was giving him a threatening look.
There was a strong will in their eyes that they would not remain silent if he took one step.
But as soon as Erika saw Ludving's crooked smile, she blamed her stupidity.
Even in the original novel, Ludving was a villain who always did the opposite.
How did you forget that?
Ludwig jumped on the chair like the wind, and suddenly began playing the mandolin.
With each pluck of the mandolin's strings, a transparent, resonant sound filled the bar.
The mouths suddenly stopped cheering.
Ludving closed his eyes and began to sing in his beautiful, sonorous voice.
You shoot fiery arrows
You destroy enemies in every battle
The lady of war is strong and beautiful
Her strength guides my fate, Tanila
My sweet lady, lead me to heaven
And always protect me, you in whom I hope.
Everyone was as if enchanted, lost in Ludving's voice.
Even Erica forgot the seriousness of the situation and was swept away by his beautiful playing and resonant voice.
"wow!"
“Great playing!”
At the end of the performance, the bar was filled with thunderous applause, cheers and whistles.
Some even threw their hats in the air.
Carlex and William were also expressing their amazement at the Crown Prince's singing skill, while Lady Marianne and Rose had tears in their eyes.
Lloyd and Gilbert were celebrating, arm in arm with the other knights.
Ludving looked at Erika with deep eyes.
“This song is for you.”
Before Erica could finish her speech: “Your Highness, you sang wonderfully...”
Ludving shouted at the top of his voice, pointing at her: “Here comes War Master!”
Has Erica ever felt darker in her life?
At this very moment, I deeply understood why Franz was so agitated.
Surely Crown Prince Franz had really pissed off one day, just like he was doing now!
She suddenly stood up to grab the Crown Prince's neck, but that was the wrong move.
The knights who recognized her face surrounded her, chanting: “The Lady of War has arrived!”
“Oh, what an honor!”
People followed them with a loud scream that almost shook the corners of the bar.
They were about to raise it and cheer it on.
Then, a black cloak fluttered before her eyes.
A large, strong hand encircled her shoulders and pulled her to his chest.
“Back off.”
Carlex's warning was colder than a sharp sword blade, and the knights instinctively retreated.
The smiles disappeared from the faces of the revelers and were replaced by horror.
Whoever faced his bright blue eyes lowered his head in fear or averted his gaze.
Carlex turned his cold gaze to the Crown Prince.
“The air is polluted here, I will go out and breathe a little.”
His words were like a declaration that could not be discussed, and the Crown Prince's face darkened.
His gaze stopped at Erica, who was trapped in Carlex's arms.
Carlix issued a firm order to the Shadow Knights: “Guard the entrance. Don’t let an ant get out.”
The Shadow Knights saluted with military enthusiasm, then escorted them to the entrance.
As soon as they left the bar, the doors closed tightly behind them.
What? Did they close the bar completely? Is this allowed?
Carlex hugged her and they went out.
The cool air touched her cheeks, and the dizziness cleared her mind.
Just then her heart, which had stopped beating, began to beat violently.
The stopped playing began to flow again, and the sounds of people toasting and laughing continued.
Erica turned her head and looked up at Carlex.
The sharp features of his nose, the deep shadow under his long eyelashes, and his prominent, clearly defined pursed lips beneath that shadow.
These lips touched me.
Why do you remember now the feeling you felt in the tent during the equestrian competition?
That feeling of her lips meeting his lips out of a desire to survive only came back, making her heart beat violently.
Did he with these lips pronounce the knight's oath?
She wanted to grab his wrist and drag him into a dark alley.
She would like to push him against the wall, what would be the expression of that arrogant knight?
She would like to see that arrogant, cold face blush, lose control of his breathing because of her, burn with passion and collapse.
“Grand Duke...”
She started leaning towards him slowly.
Loving translation