Ehm.. This chapter was something… What did I do for 2-3 hours…
(´・ω・`)
Ch 11 The Fate of the Canossa Duke Family
Fioria's was an office lady in her previous life, nicknamed the 'Accountant Queen'.
Extraordinarily skilled in maths, and quickly finds mistakes.
"Here, here and here. It's definitely made up. Please bring over the past 10 years' worth of the 1st platoon's accounting book."
"R-right away!"
The person who discovered the wrong doings of the Canossa's, Natalle Miriano rushed towards the storage room.
Natal being a serious person was a great combination with Fioria. As if a combo of superior-subordinate who can keep working nonstop for years, they cooperate best.
… Without a say, it is obvious who the superior is and who the subordinate is, though Natalle is 24 which is older than Fioria.
"Lex, have you finished the report I asked of?"
"Yes, the particulars have been completed." The servant in the back who was like a shadow, spoke up.
"Briliant as usual, though your tea is… well, it has a distinctive taste."
A cup of Darjeeling tea was left on top of the desk but somehow it tasted sweet, as if made to drink a cup of undiluted syrup. Perhaps this butler of mine is trying to kill me by diabetes?
"Regarding the report, looks like the Canossas' are using the inflow of goods to the 1st platoon to mask the flow of funds."
More than half of the 1st platoon consists of nobles. Without a say, their budget is far more lustrous and the cycle of flow of goods are quicker as well. If their swords are even just slightly chipped, a new one would be made to replace it immediately.
The Canossas' then uses that as a camouflage for their wrong doings. Though there are merchants specifically for the 1st platoon but most likely they too are in cohorts.
… With the reported findings, Natalle showed a shocked expression.
"Fiorisama is such a brilliant person, to be able to expose the deepest of their doings so quickly…"
"I did not do much, Lex was the one who did it. To start with, the one who discovered their wrong doings was none other than you, be prouder of it. With more serious persons like you working, the country's knights would be more at ease."
"Y-you flatter me too much. I am just a plain person and others always told me that my presence is weak."
Truthfully, Natalle is far from what you call an extravagant person.
With thin makeup, and she does not equip accessories, her glasses too are normal silver framed ones.
But those who looks at her would realize. Her work uniform is straight without creases, clean to the sleeves. Her shoes polished and sparkling, her steadiness is unwavering.
A neat person with no flaws. One of the types that Fioria takes a liking to.
"Looks like all the males in the office has no eyes for woman. An obsidian would be perfect to illustrate you. If the world is cladded in darkness, those who knows of it would definitely know. The radiance of the woman called Natalle Miriano. However…"
"However…?"
"If possible, try looking up more and cut your front bangs shorter. I'm sure, with just that, the reactions from the males would definitely change." Fioria who extended her hand and scooped up Natalle's front bangs, laughing in a giggle. Natalle's face then reddened in embarrassment.
Back then, Duke Canossa was Fioria's colleague.
Conrad di Canossa, a candidate in 'The Deep Sleep of Amnesia' and one of Annerose's cohorts in this world.
Though he too had leaked information to Annerose 20 years ago, but with the influence of the Canossa family backing him up, he was able to avoid being disposed of.
"Damn it! To think that it will come to this!"
Conrad is currently in a rush to run away from the capiral.
With the failure of the assassination of Natalle, and the proofs of his wrong doings discovered by Fioria.
It's finished. It's the end…
Now that it has come to this, taking refuge away ovreseas is the only way.
But meeting up with the first son and going back to the Canossa fief comes first.
The second son?
As if I would care about that useless Heinrich. To add, look like he sparked up a trouble with the 4th platoon. What a shame to the Canossa name.
As he disses within his heart, he went up the carriage.
One with a back seat and roof, an open type which can view the surroundings.
He then left the capital, a wide plains spreading in front of him.
"It's been a while since I rode a horse… Though it would be impossible with this body."
20 years ago, he was a handsome and fine noble son where many woman would fight for, but now no more.
His body is alike an orc, flabby with fats and obesity.
If he did went up a horse, nine out of ten the horse would be unable to stand up anymore.
…A normal carriage would only require 2 to pull, while his would require 8 of them.
"Oh my, Conrad-kun. What a coincidence."
"Wha, whaaaa!?"
An unexpected situation had happened along the way.
Right beside the carriage, Fioria's figure can be seen riding on the back of a huge white wolf.
Is that a Fenrir?
Then why is its fur not black? A new species? Possible
Anything can happen with Fioria, that has been so since the past.
Illogical things happen like nothing when it's about her.
"It's been 20 years and you look like you have aged quite a lot?"
"In contrast, you, Fioria, did not change a bit." Conrad as he replied while hiding that he is flustered.
"W-what matters do you have with me?"
"Oh my? Are you over conscious? I was just taking a walk with my pet dog, right Mofumofu?"
"Umu, my deepest gratitudes for your care, master."
"The, the dog spoke…?"
Conrad is currently on the verge of a mental breakdown. He was already in a disarray, to add, an illogical happening such as a dog talking really took its toll.
"Were you surprised? Speaking of which, Conrad-kun. You were one of Annerose's cohorts during our time in the academy right?"
"Y-yes, true. But I had given up on her while the others was still dreaming of her. I kept my distance while being near her. I definitely did not leak out information about our country or house. It's true."
"The members of the reverse harem, or so to speak, the cohorts of the princess all say the same thing. That they were different from the others, that they was the special one for her, but not himself. Or so… Though it makes no difference that they were all still her cohorts. You all was just being played around."
Conrad who wanted to refute, but unable to speak a word.
The guess was right.
Just like what Fioria said, he was just a mere one of the few cohorts of Annerose. That is why he wanted to attract her to him, and leaked out information about the country and his own family to capture her affection.
… Or so to say, but the truth should have buried in darkness, even Fioria can't do anything about it.
"Did you know about the dissolution of the Izolte kingdom?"
"O-of course."
What is she talking about right now. It was none other than you who had destroyed the Izolte Kingdom.
"King Braja, the Izolte Baron was holding onto the darkness of the nobles of this country. He got them through Annerose who was in the academy then. Well then, now a question for you. I wonder what this 'secret' that he had a hold of?"
"Impossible…"
"Looks like you realized. Yes, all of it are in the palm of my hands. All of the information that Conrad-kun had leaked to Annerose. … Though those were the sins made 20 years ago, I suppose I could look over what happened when you were young."
That is something grateful. Conrad then let out a sigh of relief. But he had let his guard down.
The fearsomeness of the person called Fioria di Florence is not just this.
"So then,"
As she swept her golden yellow hair, Fioria giggles and let out a silent smile.
"The sins that you made now would be all that I would report. That should be enough to bring you to the gallons without taking in consideration all of that happened 20 years ago."
In truth, the wrong doings of Conrad did not stop with just meddling with the knight's budget.
According to Lex's additional research, Conrad was selling out information about the Tristan kingdom through illegal routes. Literally selling out the country, he is a threat to the kingdom.
"Conrad di Canossa. If you repent and accept your sins now, I will plead for the Canossa family to remain to an extent. A mercy for the sake of my old classmate."
"Kuhh.. It seems my execution cannot be avoided."
If that is so!
Conrad then opened his eyes wide. Shouting towards the direction of his guards.
"Then I would make my last stand befitting of a villain! Guards, capture Fioria di Florence! If you do so, I shall think of handsomely reward you!"
Of course it is just a thought of his to give out a reward.
Since he believes that they cannot win against Fioria.
Conrad's intentions were to make the guards buy some time to enable him to run away.
But his expectations were greatly betrayed.
"Fioria, you say?!"
"Against the Gale Empress?! As if I would fight against that person who can destroy a whole country!"
"I ain't doing this! I'm going home!"
As the guards heard of Fioria's name, they immediately lost the will to fight.
In addition,
"AWUOOOOOOOOO!"
The howl from Mofumofu.
The ground shook, the vibration was enough to break the land. The rest of the guards then lost all of their will.
"N-no more! I don't want to die!"
"As if I can do thissss! Nooooo!"
"Help me! Help meeeeee!"
The knights fled away like spiders dispersing. Even the horses dragging the carriage went into a panic and ran away in all directions.
"How-how could this…"
All that was left was the pitiful man, Conrad, only.
The carriage fell to the sides and he had fallen out of it and in the grounds.
"How unsightly of you, Conrad-kun."
Fioria was looking down on him scornfully.
"To me, you have no worth for me to personally judge on. …. So, to pay for the debt towards this one here…"
"Gawr! Gawr GAWRR!"
As Conrad did not see the camouflage, behind Mofumofu was a white puppy.
The last of the 99 siblings, Hobhob.
Few days before, it was slashed the Daiv's knife but had now healed.
"Hobhob, this guy here is Daiv's mastermind. ….Pay back 3 times worth of what he had done to you, that is what is needed to keep up your pride."
"Gawr!"
Hobhob then jumped up forcefully towards Conrad and bit his butt.
A scream of a lost soul can be heard then, beneath the blue sky.
And so, Conrad is now captured and sent to the prison along with Bruno and Heinrich.
It looks like the whole Canossa family was cohering different wrong doings and the dissolution of the family is inevitable.
"A progress, I guess."
Fioria nodded full of satisfaction.
Using the route which Conrad used to sell information. If she can reach it, then she may very well reach Annerose as well.
This is interesting.
Aah, how I look forward to this.
A litte more to checkmate, Annerose.
Even you knew that I had came back right?
Noww, what do you do?
Stand up to me? Run away? Or perhaps poison me again like 20 years back?
Anything is fine, do your best to please me.
And so, the incident came to an end, or so it looks like, but.
One day, a certain officer went to visit the villa of the Florences.
"Pardon my rudeness, I have come from the adventurer guild."
"Thank you for your hard work, may I enquire your needs with our family?"
"We have a matter to discuss with Fiorisama, more like a favor…"
"What's wrong?"
"Currently, possession of a magic beast without the permission of the guild is not permissible. We apologize for the trouble but, would you kindly come over to the adventurer's guild?"
Fioria is currently keeping 101 Fenrirs (specifically Mofumofu+ 100 fenrirs).
And there was enough space for everyone.
The Florences' villa boasts of its space, and the inner garden was wide enough for all the Fenrirs to live in.
But the problem lies elsewhere. According to law, only adventurers with the qualifications of a tamer is allowed to keep magic beasts.
"… I have forgotten all about it."
A mistake unlike Fioria. To her, Mofumofu is no other than a pet dog and to that fact, she had thought that his wife and the other 99 kids were dogs as well.
"M-my apologies, Fiorisama! Please pardon my rudeness but, this is a regulation…"
The officer from the adventurer guild was shivering pitifully. As it was known the person regarding the matter is none other than the Gale Empress, he had resolved to his death for the visit.
"Please be at ease. Even I understand how important it is to follow the rules. I am not angry, and I thank you for have come by."
The smiling Fioria. The officer was a young lad and a greenhorn it seems. As he turned bashful, faced to the side.
"With that courage, adding in hard work would definitely help you well. Do your best, I expect much from you."
Pat pat, as Fioria patted the young lad's head.
"Speakng of which, it has been a while since I visited the adventurer guild. Since I was always the one who made requests. …Taking the tamer's qualification would mean I will need to join a course and a quest then? I look forward to it, looks interesting."
She then left the mansion light heartedly as usual.
Speaking of which, Fioria's friend Cathya who spoke of 'When Fioria says something is interesting, most of the time it will turn into a catastrophe', and truthfully it is as said.
On that day, Fioria who was in a cheerful mood and went to the adventurer guild, and in another meaning they are in front of a great danger…
__
I wonder how the other 99 Fenrir’s names are..
considering the dad’s mofumofu and the last one is hobhob.
Thank you for your support as usual :3
Ko-fi is always much appreciated.
Regards,
shirori