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Chapter 368: ????-????? (12)
Chapter 368: ????-????? (12)
“I will go myself.”
“. . .!”
The merchants were honestly surprised when the Count said he would go in person. They thought he would be a bit more stubborn. He was so adamant about not sending any troops that they thought he would either hold out until the end or hide inside the castle walls and pick them off.
‘?? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ? ????
‘?? ??????? ??’? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?
“You people from the republic need to help me!”
“What power do we have. . .”
“This won’t do, that won’t do! If you’re going to do business on my land, you have to pay a fair price. You all act so selfish and shameless!”
‘?????? ????? ????? ??? ????’? ??????? ????? ??
It was ridiculous to get angry at the harmless republic merchants after taking all their taxes.However, a cornered rat is the most dangerous. The merchants decided to avoid provoking the Count unnecessarily.
“We understand, Count. We will do our best to help you.”
“That’s it. That’s what I wanted to hear. I’ll leave the task of explaining this misunderstanding to His Highness, the Duke.”
“Yes, I understand. I will do my best, as my connection with the Count runs deep.”
After the conversation ended, the servant asked the merchant who was walking out, sounding worried.
“Master, His Highness the Duke was apparently quite angry. If you defend the Count for nothing and end up suffering great losses. . .”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of defending him.”
“. . .!”
The Count was still mistaken. Of course, it was a special privilege for the merchants to be able to travel around the fiefdom, but compared to the Duke, they were expendable.
It was better to just abandon the Count rather than make an enemy of the Duke.
??
Johan was puzzled when not only republic ships, but also ships flying Count Oldor’s flag appeared in the harbor.
“Did the republic people go and capture him?”
“Were the republic mercenaries that conscientious?”
“Well no, not really.”
Johan replied immediately to Mackald’s question. The dwarf smiled wryly.
“After interrogating the noblemen who rebelled, we heard that they gathered people under the Count’s flag. At the very least, he must have supported them to some extent, don’t you think?”
“Well, it’s a bit much to hold him accountable for that.”
When the exact situation in the empire was unknown, they had no choice but to assume the worst and respond accordingly. Johan had thought that the Count might have landed and led an army.
However, it turned out that the rebels were a ragtag bunch (even the reason they gathered was due to absurd rumors), and the Count’s army was nowhere to be seen.
It was a little suspicious, but Johan was willing to let it go. He was quite lenient when it came to things that didn’t benefit him.
But then the Count came sailing in on a ship.
“Do you think he’s trying to attack the harbor again in cahoots with the republic mercenaries?”
“That’s a bit too far-fetched.”
“Or maybe he captured the republic ships and is planning to disguise himself and launch a surprise attack?”
“If that were the case, he would have taken down the Count’s flag.”
Johan said that, but he didn’t let his guard down. The eyes of the soldiers patrolling the fiefdom were sharp and focused, as the rebellion had only just occurred.
The dwarves aimed their ballistae, and the centaurs prepared to charge in case of an emergency. They were confident that they could repel anyone who tried to land.
?
The ship came to a stop, and a man who appeared to be the Count disembarked with his attendants. The Count had a thick beard and slightly sunken eyes. Johan was even more surprised by the fact that the Count had come all the way here himself.
‘. . .?????? ??’? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ?
“Just in case, take their weapons.”
“Yes, sir.”
The dwarves rushed forward. The attendants cried out in alarm as the heavily armed dwarven soldiers approached.
“Your Highness! It is not customary to detain an envoy as a prisoner! Please, hear us out!”
“. . .I’m just here to collect his weapons.”
“. . .Oh. Yes. Here you go.”
The attendants turned red and handed over the weapons as the dwarf looked at them incredulously. The Count, who was standing behind them, averted his gaze, looking embarrassed.
“Count Oldor.”
“Your Highness! This is an outrage!”
‘? ????? ??’? ??? ? ?????????????
Now that he was face to face with the Count, Johan became certain that he was somewhat involved. Someone who was truly upright and honest would not have made that kind of expression.
While Johan was lost in thought, the Count kept making excuses.
He said that he never would have thought the nobles here would use his name, that they must have misunderstood something after he invited them to a few banquets, and that he would never dare to make light of His Highness the Duke’s fiefdom. . .
‘???? ?? ????? ?? ??, ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????’? ???? ????? ? ????????? ????? ?? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ??? ?
Johan didn’t think the Count was that stupid. However, surprisingly, many people in the world deliberately believed the rumors they wanted to believe.
Johan turned his head. The republic nobles who had come with him were standing nearby.
“What do you all think?”
The Count’s face lit up. Judging from the Duke’s attitude, it was clear that he intended to ask the republic’s people and leave the judgment to them.
‘?’? ?????
Wasn’t that why he had brought the republic people with him? The Count breathed a sigh of relief.
“We will abide by His Highness the Duke’s judgment. We would never dare to interfere.”
“. . .?!??”
The Count looked at the republic’s people with an expression as if he had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer. However, the nobles from the republic didn’t even glance at him.
“H. . .Hey, guys.”
“Well, do you have anything to say? Is there anything you can guess?”
“The Count did hire additional mercenaries and gather weapons.”
“Bastard!”
The Count tried to grab the republic people by the collar out of anger, but before he could move, the dwarf’s blade was pointed at him. The dwarven mercenary said curtly.
“Your Excellency, if you make any sudden movements, you may get hurt.”
“. . . . . .”
The Count glared at him fiercely, but that didn’t change anything. Johan took advantage of the opportunity to speak up.
“Take the Count into custody. We will hold a trial in court.”
“Your Highness!! Your Highness!!! No! This is an outrage!!”
Johan turned away, his expression filled with anguish. As the Count was dragged away by the dwarves, the centaur next to him said.
“You can relax now that he’s been taken away.”
“Thank you.”
Johan returned to his usual expression. He didn’t particularly hate the Count enough to want to cut off his head at this opportunity, and he had planned to take him hostage and ransom him off while he was at it.
??
“This lamp is truly a mysterious lamp.”
“Is there a genie inside that grants wishes?”
“Where would you find a lamp like that?”
“. . . . . .”
When Jyanina’s face fell slightly, Johan quickly changed the subject.
“Well, I suppose there could be such a genie. Your imagination is truly amazing.”
“. . . . . .”
Jyanina’s face turned even paler when Johan complimented her. Johan was starting to get annoyed.
‘? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ?
She gets scared if I don’t compliment her, and she gets scared if I do. . .
Johan was currently touring the warehouse of the ship that had arrived from the East with a wizard.
The ships were entering the harbor one after another after the expedition, and each time, they drew cheers from the people gathered at the harbor.
When they saw the mercenaries and expedition members disembarking with all sorts of exotic treasures hanging from their bodies, even the merchants who held high positions in their guilds would rush out to greet them and try to entertain them.
And Johan kept aside the magical items that contained an aura of mystery from among those treasures. He planned to give one of them to Jyanina as a gift for her contributions.
“This lamp emits a light that is only visible to the person holding it, so it would be quite useful when you are staying at the palace.”
“Wow. . . That must be very expensive. . . I mean, it’s a beautiful item.”
‘????? ? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ????
Johan decided to just look around separately instead of explaining it to Jyanina. In fact, there were quite a few treasures that even Johan didn’t recognize. Since they had gathered so many, Johan had taken a look at them once.
‘???? ?? ????? ?? ??, ? ?????? ???? ? ??? ?????? ??? ???
It would make a good gift not only for the wizards, but also for Amien, Amien’s friend, and Ardolata, the third daughter of Viscount Ginolen.
“This is interesting. Do you know what this is?”
Johan took out a candle that was carefully wrapped in silk. It was an item that the eastern wizards had diligently written an explanation on in the ancient empire language. Jyanina cursed the wizards inwardly.
‘??? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????
“Apparently, it’s a candle that detects evil. It says that the flame will go out if an evil person approaches. Should we try it out?”
“N-No, that’s fine. It seems like an item that would be more useful for Your Highness than for me.”
“Maybe I’ll give it to Amien as a gift. . .”
Johan lit the evil-detecting candle. The green flame burned with a strange fragrance. Johan held it for a while before extinguishing it with his fingers.
Just then, Jyanina took a step towards Johan. Jyanina was startled to see that the candle’s flame had gone out. The dwarves who were with them stared at Jyanina intently.
“I put it out.”
“. . .R-Really. . .! Is that so?!”
Jyanina took a few steps back in a hurry. The dwarves asked suspiciously.
“Are you sure it was Your Highness who put it out?”
“. . . . . .”
??
In the jade box, there is an ointment that heals wounds; a silver bell whose flimsy lock could be broken with a shake; an assassination weapon that looks like an ordinary bottle, but releases a deadly poison if broken. . .
‘? ????? ? ???’? ???? ????????????? ????
In the past, he would have taken them thinking, ‘??’?? ?? ???????????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?? ? ??? ???? ? ??????’. But now, he honestly believed that his trained fingers were more reliable than those things.
????? ????????. ? ???? ????????? ?? ???.
????? ??. ????????.
Johan had a conversation with Countess Abner before he came. It was before the news of the rebellion had arrived.
?? ????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ???? ??? ????.
???’? ? ?????? ???????????? ?? ??? ??, ??? ? ???’? ???? ??.
??’? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ?????????.
Johan’s expression darkened. It was as though she were appealing, ‘???? ?? ??’?? ?????, ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ??? ?????’ Countess Abner continued speaking as though she were slightly taken aback.
?. . .?? ??????, ?’?? ??? ??? ?????? ?????.
???. ?? ????’? ??? ????.
The Countess was taken aback at the sight of the Duke softening his stance. Whenever she saw something like that, she couldn’t believe that it was the same person that she knew.
He’s clearly an up-and-coming young man with no equal among the Empire’s nobles. . .
????? ?? ??? ?
?? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ????????’? ????.
????. ???’?? ?????? ?? ?????? ? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???????.
?. . .??.
Johan looked puzzled.
????? ? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??
?? ??????’? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ????????????? ?? ????.
The Countess replied with a smirk. To nobles, lovers were not treated equally. They were beings that could be thrown away whenever they grew tired of them.
?? ???? ??? ??????-????.
???. . . ????’? ? ???? ???? ????.
Johan actively agreed. Ulrike, who would insult the Countess whenever she opened her mouth, wouldn’t insult her for at least a week if she received an expensive gift.
If she still doesn’t calm down after that, then it can’t be helped, but shouldn’t she at least try something?
?????????, ? ???? ? ??? ???? ??????-????, ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????????????? ?????????. . .
??
????? ????????. ??????? ? ???? ??????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????. ‘? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ????, ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ??????. ??? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ????????. ???????, ????? ??? ?? ????????, ??? ??? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??????. ???? ??????? ???? ????, ??? ?????? ???? ?????????. . .’ ???? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ?? ???? ?????, ???? ?????
???’? ? ??? ?? ? ??????? ?????, ??? ? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ????????.
?????’? ?????! ??? ??????-???? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ????????. ?? ???? ??? ? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????????, ?? ? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?? ???.
?? ???’? ???? ???? ???’?? ??????? ?????, ??? ? ????? ???’?? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ? ???????? ???? ????? ??????-????. ???’? ????? ????? ??.
The Countess smiled at Johan’s cool acceptance. In fact, someone of the Duke’s stature could have refused to be bothered with such a bothersome and trivial matter.
The fact that he was accepting it without much thought was a symbol in itself.
???? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ??. . . ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????-???? ???’? ?? ???? ???
?. . .??. ? ????? ?? ?? ?????.
At Johan’s expression, which was becoming generous again, Countess Abner seriously wondered why God favored this man so much.
,“I will go myself.”
“. . .!”
The merchants were honestly surprised when the Count said he would go in person. They thought he would be a bit more stubborn. He was so adamant about not sending any troops that they thought he would either hold out until the end or hide inside the castle walls and pick them off.
‘?? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ? ????
‘?? ??????? ??’? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?
“You people from the republic need to help me!”
“What power do we have. . .”
“This won’t do, that won’t do! If you’re going to do business on my land, you have to pay a fair price. You all act so selfish and shameless!”
‘?????? ????? ????? ??? ????’? ??????? ????? ??
It was ridiculous to get angry at the harmless republic merchants after taking all their taxes.
However, a cornered rat is the most dangerous. The merchants decided to avoid provoking the Count unnecessarily.
“We understand, Count. We will do our best to help you.”
“That’s it. That’s what I wanted to hear. I’ll leave the task of explaining this misunderstanding to His Highness, the Duke.”
“Yes, I understand. I will do my best, as my connection with the Count runs deep.”
After the conversation ended, the servant asked the merchant who was walking out, sounding worried.
“Master, His Highness the Duke was apparently quite angry. If you defend the Count for nothing and end up suffering great losses. . .”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of defending him.”
“. . .!”
The Count was still mistaken. Of course, it was a special privilege for the merchants to be able to travel around the fiefdom, but compared to the Duke, they were expendable.
It was better to just abandon the Count rather than make an enemy of the Duke.
??
Johan was puzzled when not only republic ships, but also ships flying Count Oldor’s flag appeared in the harbor.
“Did the republic people go and capture him?”
“Were the republic mercenaries that conscientious?”
“Well no, not really.”
Johan replied immediately to Mackald’s question. The dwarf smiled wryly.
“After interrogating the noblemen who rebelled, we heard that they gathered people under the Count’s flag. At the very least, he must have supported them to some extent, don’t you think?”
“Well, it’s a bit much to hold him accountable for that.”
When the exact situation in the empire was unknown, they had no choice but to assume the worst and respond accordingly. Johan had thought that the Count might have landed and led an army.
However, it turned out that the rebels were a ragtag bunch (even the reason they gathered was due to absurd rumors), and the Count’s army was nowhere to be seen.
It was a little suspicious, but Johan was willing to let it go. He was quite lenient when it came to things that didn’t benefit him.
But then the Count came sailing in on a ship.
“Do you think he’s trying to attack the harbor again in cahoots with the republic mercenaries?”
“That’s a bit too far-fetched.”
“Or maybe he captured the republic ships and is planning to disguise himself and launch a surprise attack?”
“If that were the case, he would have taken down the Count’s flag.”
Johan said that, but he didn’t let his guard down. The eyes of the soldiers patrolling the fiefdom were sharp and focused, as the rebellion had only just occurred.
The dwarves aimed their ballistae, and the centaurs prepared to charge in case of an emergency. They were confident that they could repel anyone who tried to land.
?
The ship came to a stop, and a man who appeared to be the Count disembarked with his attendants. The Count had a thick beard and slightly sunken eyes. Johan was even more surprised by the fact that the Count had come all the way here himself.
‘. . .?????? ??’? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ?
“Just in case, take their weapons.”
“Yes, sir.”
The dwarves rushed forward. The attendants cried out in alarm as the heavily armed dwarven soldiers approached.
“Your Highness! It is not customary to detain an envoy as a prisoner! Please, hear us out!”
“. . .I’m just here to collect his weapons.”
“. . .Oh. Yes. Here you go.”
The attendants turned red and handed over the weapons as the dwarf looked at them incredulously. The Count, who was standing behind them, averted his gaze, looking embarrassed.
“Count Oldor.”
“Your Highness! This is an outrage!”
‘? ????? ??’? ??? ? ?????????????
Now that he was face to face with the Count, Johan became certain that he was somewhat involved. Someone who was truly upright and honest would not have made that kind of expression.
While Johan was lost in thought, the Count kept making excuses.
He said that he never would have thought the nobles here would use his name, that they must have misunderstood something after he invited them to a few banquets, and that he would never dare to make light of His Highness the Duke’s fiefdom. . .
‘???? ?? ????? ?? ??, ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????’? ???? ????? ? ????????? ????? ?? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ??? ?
Johan didn’t think the Count was that stupid. However, surprisingly, many people in the world deliberately believed the rumors they wanted to believe.
Johan turned his head. The republic nobles who had come with him were standing nearby.
“What do you all think?”
The Count’s face lit up. Judging from the Duke’s attitude, it was clear that he intended to ask the republic’s people and leave the judgment to them.
‘?’? ?????
Wasn’t that why he had brought the republic people with him? The Count breathed a sigh of relief.
“We will abide by His Highness the Duke’s judgment. We would never dare to interfere.”
“. . .?!??”
The Count looked at the republic’s people with an expression as if he had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer. However, the nobles from the republic didn’t even glance at him.
“H. . .Hey, guys.”
“Well, do you have anything to say? Is there anything you can guess?”
“The Count did hire additional mercenaries and gather weapons.”
“Bastard!”
The Count tried to grab the republic people by the collar out of anger, but before he could move, the dwarf’s blade was pointed at him. The dwarven mercenary said curtly.
“Your Excellency, if you make any sudden movements, you may get hurt.”
“. . . . . .”
The Count glared at him fiercely, but that didn’t change anything. Johan took advantage of the opportunity to speak up.
“Take the Count into custody. We will hold a trial in court.”
“Your Highness!! Your Highness!!! No! This is an outrage!!”
Johan turned away, his expression filled with anguish. As the Count was dragged away by the dwarves, the centaur next to him said.
“You can relax now that he’s been taken away.”
“Thank you.”
Johan returned to his usual expression. He didn’t particularly hate the Count enough to want to cut off his head at this opportunity, and he had planned to take him hostage and ransom him off while he was at it.
??
“This lamp is truly a mysterious lamp.”
“Is there a genie inside that grants wishes?”
“Where would you find a lamp like that?”
“. . . . . .”
When Jyanina’s face fell slightly, Johan quickly changed the subject.
“Well, I suppose there could be such a genie. Your imagination is truly amazing.”
“. . . . . .”
Jyanina’s face turned even paler when Johan complimented her. Johan was starting to get annoyed.
‘? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ?
She gets scared if I don’t compliment her, and she gets scared if I do. . .
Johan was currently touring the warehouse of the ship that had arrived from the East with a wizard.
The ships were entering the harbor one after another after the expedition, and each time, they drew cheers from the people gathered at the harbor.
When they saw the mercenaries and expedition members disembarking with all sorts of exotic treasures hanging from their bodies, even the merchants who held high positions in their guilds would rush out to greet them and try to entertain them.
And Johan kept aside the magical items that contained an aura of mystery from among those treasures. He planned to give one of them to Jyanina as a gift for her contributions.
“This lamp emits a light that is only visible to the person holding it, so it would be quite useful when you are staying at the palace.”
“Wow. . . That must be very expensive. . . I mean, it’s a beautiful item.”
‘????? ? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ????
Johan decided to just look around separately instead of explaining it to Jyanina. In fact, there were quite a few treasures that even Johan didn’t recognize. Since they had gathered so many, Johan had taken a look at them once.
‘???? ?? ????? ?? ??, ? ?????? ???? ? ??? ?????? ??? ???
It would make a good gift not only for the wizards, but also for Amien, Amien’s friend, and Ardolata, the third daughter of Viscount Ginolen.
“This is interesting. Do you know what this is?”
Johan took out a candle that was carefully wrapped in silk. It was an item that the eastern wizards had diligently written an explanation on in the ancient empire language. Jyanina cursed the wizards inwardly.
‘??? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????
“Apparently, it’s a candle that detects evil. It says that the flame will go out if an evil person approaches. Should we try it out?”
“N-No, that’s fine. It seems like an item that would be more useful for Your Highness than for me.”
“Maybe I’ll give it to Amien as a gift. . .”
Johan lit the evil-detecting candle. The green flame burned with a strange fragrance. Johan held it for a while before extinguishing it with his fingers.
Just then, Jyanina took a step towards Johan. Jyanina was startled to see that the candle’s flame had gone out. The dwarves who were with them stared at Jyanina intently.
“I put it out.”
“. . .R-Really. . .! Is that so?!”
Jyanina took a few steps back in a hurry. The dwarves asked suspiciously.
“Are you sure it was Your Highness who put it out?”
“. . . . . .”
??
In the jade box, there is an ointment that heals wounds; a silver bell whose flimsy lock could be broken with a shake; an assassination weapon that looks like an ordinary bottle, but releases a deadly poison if broken. . .
‘? ????? ? ???’? ???? ????????????? ????
In the past, he would have taken them thinking, ‘??’?? ?? ???????????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?? ? ??? ???? ? ??????’. But now, he honestly believed that his trained fingers were more reliable than those things.
????? ????????. ? ???? ????????? ?? ???.
????? ??. ????????.
Johan had a conversation with Countess Abner before he came. It was before the news of the rebellion had arrived.
?? ????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ???? ??? ????.
???’? ? ?????? ???????????? ?? ??? ??, ??? ? ???’? ???? ??.
??’? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ?????????.
Johan’s expression darkened. It was as though she were appealing, ‘???? ?? ??’?? ?????, ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ??? ?????’ Countess Abner continued speaking as though she were slightly taken aback.
?. . .?? ??????, ?’?? ??? ??? ?????? ?????.
???. ?? ????’? ??? ????.
The Countess was taken aback at the sight of the Duke softening his stance. Whenever she saw something like that, she couldn’t believe that it was the same person that she knew.
He’s clearly an up-and-coming young man with no equal among the Empire’s nobles. . .
????? ?? ??? ?
?? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ????????’? ????.
????. ???’?? ?????? ?? ?????? ? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???????.
?. . .??.
Johan looked puzzled.
????? ? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??
?? ??????’? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ????????????? ?? ????.
The Countess replied with a smirk. To nobles, lovers were not treated equally. They were beings that could be thrown away whenever they grew tired of them.
?? ???? ??? ??????-????.
???. . . ????’? ? ???? ???? ????.
Johan actively agreed. Ulrike, who would insult the Countess whenever she opened her mouth, wouldn’t insult her for at least a week if she received an expensive gift.
If she still doesn’t calm down after that, then it can’t be helped, but shouldn’t she at least try something?
?????????, ? ???? ? ??? ???? ??????-????, ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????????????? ?????????. . .
??
????? ????????. ??????? ? ???? ??????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????. ‘? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ????, ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ??????. ??? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ????????. ???????, ????? ??? ?? ????????, ??? ??? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??????. ???? ??????? ???? ????, ??? ?????? ???? ?????????. . .’ ???? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ?? ???? ?????, ???? ?????
???’? ? ??? ?? ? ??????? ?????, ??? ? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ????????.
?????’? ?????! ??? ??????-???? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ????????. ?? ???? ??? ? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????????, ?? ? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?? ???.
?? ???’? ???? ???? ???’?? ??????? ?????, ??? ? ????? ???’?? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ? ???????? ???? ????? ??????-????. ???’? ????? ????? ??.
The Countess smiled at Johan’s cool acceptance. In fact, someone of the Duke’s stature could have refused to be bothered with such a bothersome and trivial matter.
The fact that he was accepting it without much thought was a symbol in itself.
???? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ??. . . ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????-???? ???’? ?? ???? ???
?. . .??. ? ????? ?? ?? ?????.
At Johan’s expression, which was becoming generous again, Countess Abner seriously wondered why God favored this man so much.