Chapter 126 – Count Schönheim’s Estate (1)

Count Schönheim’s estate was located deep within the capital’s high-end residential district.

The mansion was enormous.

A tall, long main gate, a vast garden, a training ground, and a lush backyard.

Even excluding the large, four-story main building with its antique charm, it seemed larger than most manors.

Despite being located in the heart of the imperial capital, the Count’s mansion appeared larger than any manor I had imagined.

The soldiers guarding the main gate let me through as soon as I mentioned my name.

Although the security didn’t seem lax, the fact that they let me pass suggested that the Count had informed them in advance.

After passing through the large gate and walking alongside a well-maintained, maze-like garden, I arrived at the front of the mansion, where an elderly head butler and servants were waiting for us.

Somehow, it seemed they had been notified in advance from the main gate.

“Welcome. I am Dietrich, the head butler. Welcome to Count Schönheim’s estate.”

At the old head butler’s words, the lined-up servants bowed their heads.

Although I had stayed at noble estates several times during my life as a free knight, I had never been received so formally.

Was this what it was like to be a high-ranking noble of the empire?

In response to the head butler’s greeting, I gave a knight’s salute, as I had done when visiting other noble houses.

Following my lead, Zahina also slightly bowed her head.

I had never seen other nobles bow their heads, but Zahina was clearly different from them.

Or had she changed?

After greeting us, the head butler apologized.

“I’m sorry. Unfortunately, the Count is not currently in the capital.”

Oh no, had our timing been off?

The Count was really something.

He invited me to his home but left it empty.

With the Count absent, I felt a bit awkward.

I hadn’t arranged for a place to stay elsewhere.

Should I look for an inn now?

“Before leaving, the Count mentioned that you would be visiting. He instructed us to contact him when you arrived, so if you wait here, he should return soon.”

The head butler eased my concerns and guided us inside.

Passing through a large hall filled with decorations and murals, we were led to a guest room in a separate wing.

The guest room we were given was a very large and splendid room with two bedrooms and a sitting room in between.

“We heard you were a party, so we prepared a shared space. Please, put your belongings in the bedrooms and rest. We will prepare a meal.”

As I listened to the head butler, I looked out the window and noticed it was getting dark.

“How would you like to have your meal? You can dine in the dining hall, or we can set up a private dining area for just the two of you. We can also bring the meal to your room.”

Since the Count wasn’t here, there was no need to dine in the dining hall.

After getting Zahina’s agreement, I told the head butler.

“Please prepare a private meal for us.”

“Then, we will set up the meal in this sitting room.”

The head butler gave instructions to the servants and left the room.

Following him, the other servants also left, leaving four maids in the sitting room to assist us.

“We will help you change clothes and bathe.”

At the maid’s words, I nodded, but Zahina declined the offer.

“I’m fine.”

At Zahina’s refusal, two maids bowed their heads and remained in the sitting room.

That evening, I was able to bathe with the help of others for the first time in a long while.

After the bath, the dinner we had in the sitting room next to the bedroom was also very satisfying.

Indeed, nothing could beat the life of a noble in a manor.

Though the modern mindset from my past life pricked at my conscience, the satisfaction of living as a noble in this magical world was unparalleled.

I once again resolved to build a manor.

And I felt a bit sorry for the party members who weren’t here.

Yerim and Hofmann had to spend their time at the temple instead of enjoying this wonderful place.

* * *

After a good night’s sleep and a decent breakfast, I left the room in light attire.

Since I was staying in such a mansion, I couldn’t spend all my time in the room until the Count returned.

This mansion was a good example for the manor I planned to build.

Although the manor I would build couldn’t compare to the mansion of a high-ranking noble who had settled in the imperial capital generations ago,

I hadn’t seen a better house to gauge how to build and decorate my own manor.

With a maid leading the way, I slowly toured the mansion.

Walking down a long corridor, I admired the sculptures lining the walls, ran my hand along the second-floor railing made of juniper wood, and appreciated the large mural on the hall ceiling.

The mural depicted the emperor who rebuilt the empire and the exploits of a swordsman from generations ago who fought alongside him against monsters, filling the hall ceiling.

After admiring the impressive painting, I headed to the backyard.

The maze-like garden in front of the mansion was quite a sight, but seeing the vivid battle scenes in the mural made me want to stretch my body, even if just for a moment.

The training ground in the backyard was much larger than I had expected.

I picked up a practice sword from one side and began swinging it in a corner of the training ground.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

I repeated the knightly swordsmanship I had learned since childhood and then demonstrated various techniques I had experienced in real battles.

The sword cut through the air, and dust rose.

Since this was someone else’s house, I didn’t use mana, but simply moving the sword made me feel my body loosening up.

After moving around for a while, I stopped and noticed that people had gathered in the previously empty training ground.

Although I had sensed people arriving while I was swinging the sword, I hadn’t expected that they would all be knights and that they would all be watching me.

“I’m sorry. It seems I’ve caused a disturbance.”

I sheathed my sword and apologized to the knights, who seemed to have come for morning training.

At my apology, the knights exchanged glances, and the oldest-looking knight stepped forward and asked me.

“It’s not yet formal training time, so there’s no need to apologize. But I don’t recognize you. Are you a guest of the family?”

No need to apologize, but this wasn’t a place to just show up, huh?

Fortunately, I was the Count’s guest.

“I am the free knight Jansen Eger. I’ve come to Count Schönheim’s estate at the Count’s invitation.”

At my words, the knights’ expressions changed several times.

Some stiffened at the mention of a free knight, while others frowned at the mention of the Count’s invitation.

Since the Count’s knights couldn’t dislike the Count, was it the fact that a free knight had been invited that bothered them?

“I see. If you’re the Count’s guest, then it’s fine. However, morning training will start soon, so it might be difficult for you to continue practicing.”

Fortunately, the oldest-looking knight, who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, kept his emotions in check and politely suggested that I leave.

Although it was a bit disappointing, I had loosened up enough, so I decided to comply.

“Understood. Then, I’ll take my leave…”

But before I could turn away, a knight stepped in front of me.

“It seems you haven’t fully warmed up yet. How about a spar with me?”

At the sudden suggestion, I looked at the older knight, who was already shaking his head.

“Knight William, I request a duel.”

Regardless of the older knight’s reaction, the young knight in front of me challenged me to a duel.

At the young knight’s words, the older knight shouted angrily.

“William! What if the guest gets hurt?”

“It’s just a spar. Do you think I can’t control myself?”

Both the young knight’s request for a duel and the older knight’s attempt to stop it were equally displeasing to me.

In any case, both were underestimating my skills.

I glanced toward the mansion.

‘Aren’t they going to stop this?’

Thinking this, I looked at the second-floor window of the mansion, but there was no reaction from that side.

In truth, requesting a duel in a training ground wasn’t against etiquette and was even encouraged among knights.

However, that was between ordinary knights, and while I was a free knight, I was currently a guest of the Count.

As the older knight had said, the young knight’s challenge was a bit unreasonable.

‘Since they’re not stopping it, there must be some reason.’

I could have backed down, but looking at the mansion, it seemed I had to earn my keep.

I sighed and raised my sword.

“Knight Eger, I accept your challenge.”

At my words, the knights quickly stepped back, forming a circular space in the center of the training ground.

Seeing how quickly they all moved, it seemed they were all eager to watch this duel, even if they didn’t say it.

Amusingly, the older knight who had tried to stop the duel volunteered to be the referee.

In the quickly prepared dueling area, I and the young knight faced each other.

Before crossing swords, the young knight bowed his head.

“I apologize. I know this is against etiquette, but I had no choice but to test the skills of the free knight the Count has invited.”

Amusingly, the young knight in front of me properly apologized.

I had thought he was a rude knight, but that wasn’t the case.

However, this only made the current situation more confusing.

“I’m just a guest.”

Why would they challenge a free knight invited by the Count to a duel?

At my question, the young knight looked embarrassed.

“Well, there’s a rumor that the Count plans to make a free knight his successor…”

What kind of nonsense was this?

At the knight’s words, I couldn’t help but make a bewildered expression.

It was a ridiculous story, but if they believed the rumor, then the knight in front of me wasn’t an ordinary knight either.

“Don’t tell me, are you the Count’s successor?”

At my question, the young knight looked even more embarrassed, but the older knight who had volunteered as the referee explained the situation.

“Ahem, ahem. William is the fiancé of the eldest daughter. The Count personally decided on the engagement after seeing his skills.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

So, this duel was between the fiancé of the daughter and the potential new successor?

Now I understood why the polite young knight had unreasonably challenged me to a duel and why the other knights were eagerly watching us.

I frowned and glared toward the mansion.

From the second-floor window, an old man was waving at me with a smile.

He was the head of the family, Count Schönheim.

What on earth was he doing, bringing a prospective son-in-law here?

Before the duel, I raised my middle finger toward the mansion.