Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 706: 329 Ines X2

Chapter 706: Chapter 329 Ines X2

The knights in blue robes and silver armor guarded the carriage on the Kingdom Road.

The procession traveled from Westral County towards Haven County to the northeast.

It was now another royal city in the land of Orland during the Dual Queen Era—”Audoruk.”

… Ever since being found by the Sea Eagle Knights, Leon learned that Orland was currently in a divided southern and northern stance, and had to give up on his original plan to infiltrate Oran Palace with the Athias Mission.

In the south of the kingdom, the commoners hadn’t seen him, so no one recognized him as “Leon Zangson” along the way.

But among the upper echelons of the “Golden Lion Dynasty” at Oran, how could they not recognize the military and political leader of the North’s “Hecha Dynasty.”

Seeing Miss Treya and the Sea Eagle Knights firmly convinced that he was indeed Leon himself, he knew it was highly likely that this world’s version of him had undergone a strange and mysterious transformation when mastering magic power, making his appearance and physique almost identical to his current state.

Whenever he thought about this, Leon was thankful that he went to Westral first, instead of rushing to Oran and falling into a trap.

Otherwise, he feared he would have been captured on the spot by the “Big Lion” and thrown into the royal palace dungeon to operate a sewing machine.

According to the Sea Eagle Knights, during the period when “he” was missing, the North mobilized forces across its entire territory desperately searching for him.

A few days ago, just as he landed at Fjord Port, patrolling West Territory Knights recognized him from within the Athiasian group.

But the local lord, fearing he might be abducted by those people in black, did not act rashly. Instead, they urgently reported to the Sea Eagle Knights that night, allowing the stationed knights to quickly trace him.

Although Leon repeatedly explained that he was not the “Prince Leon” they were seeking, faced with the kneeling Sea Eagle Knights persistently begging him to return to Audoruk to preside over the situation… after much contemplation, Leon compromised and agreed to make the journey.

Although revealing Ines’s veil in person might have made his clarification and words more convincing, for Ines’s safety, Leon did not act rashly in public.

Since the original plan to impersonate an Athias envoy won’t work, he thought it might be more helpful for the future efforts to find other ways home to now go and meet “Queen Ines” who rules the North, to understand the current situation and explain the circumstances of the two.

So he entrusted Kovis to have the treasures transported back to the Athias warship first; Leon temporarily shelved his envoy mission, taking Ines, and under the escort of the Sea Eagle Knights, set off for Audoruk.

…The name Audoruk, Leon immediately knew he must have come up with it.

In the original timeline, there was no city named this in all of Orland.

Using the surname “Zangson,” and adapting the name of Caliban’s Knight Alliance fortress, it seems this world’s version of him didn’t play on the “King Arthur” trope but instead thoroughly adhered to the gag from a former money-trapping tabletop game.

Could it be due to different experiences?

Not having met Olivia, so this world’s version of him when choosing a surname, leaned towards other interests.

…Looking at the scenery slowly passing by outside the window, Leon was wordlessly admiring the autumn scenery along the way.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was somewhat silent.

Of course, he wasn’t really looking at the scenery outside… he was just a bit embarrassed and didn’t know what to say.

“Lord Leon~ am I perhaps very scary?” Ines, seated across with legs crossed, holding her face with an arm, asked meaningfully: “It’s been an entire day, why won’t you speak while looking at me?”

“You… better call me Leon… Your Highness.”

Avoiding the playful gaze of Ines, Leon sheepishly stared at the distant mountainous outline, embarrassingly answering: “My mind’s a bit jumbled right now.”

As he spoke, he mentally sorted through the unexpectedly gathered information…

Since there wasn’t any sign of him in the abandoned Selva Village, this world’s version of him must not have met Olivia.

So was it Ines that he met and got to know six years ago in this world?

Asking himself… does he dislike her? Certainly not.

He’s not someone who’s slow on the uptake, and if in this world he fled to Orland and received Ines’s affections,

It wouldn’t be strange for there to be this… drastically different fate.

Yet, if only he knew about this other possible fate it would be one thing, but now, both he and the Ines in front of him know this fact… At this moment, he found it difficult to meet her peculiar gaze.

…With a somewhat inexplicably complex mood, traveling day and night, they finally came into view of the current royal city of Orland under the Northern regime the next day.

The carriage passed through bustling and prosperous streets, revealing a city, although smaller in scale compared to the ancient and grand Oran City, reportedly still being a major northern city with a population close to a hundred thousand.

The overall construction style of Audoruk was more akin to a fortress, with tighter streets, and walls and spire high buildings visible everywhere, solemn and serious defensive installations made the entire northern royal city seem like a massive military fortress.

And the palace castle of the Queen of the North, Ines, stood in the city center.

The towering fortress inner-city wasn’t as vast and grand as Oran Palace, yet it gave an impression of simple solemn security.

The carriage smoothly reached the gate of the palace’s inner hall.

Treya dismounted her warhorse and stepped forward to open the carriage door.

“Master, Her Majesty Ines is waiting for you in the palace…” she said, glancing at the hooded and veiled huntress sitting silently: “Are you sure… you want to take this lady along to meet Her Majesty?”

The Lord never introduced the identity of the girl who is constantly protected by his side.

But no matter what, to Treya, the husband who has been missing for a long time, bringing a stranger back to meet his beloved seems not a wise behavior.

“She must go with me to meet ‘Ines’.” Leon didn’t elaborate, still taking Ines out of the carriage and following the Sea Eagle Knights’ lead into the palace.

Walking down the corridor full of blue-robed forbidden guards.

As they were about to step into the hall lined with columns, without seeing her, Leon already heard the now-familiar voice.

“….Li Ang, Li Ang!”

The urgent call was clear in enunciation.

It was not a rendition of the name “Leon,” but precisely enunciated in Mandarin, which was undoubtedly his real name being called.

Stepping into the hall, he saw a petite figure in a magnificent palace gown; the snow-white skirt fluttered with her eager steps, and the ornate lovely crown on her head tilted slightly due to her anxious impropriety.

Seeing this Ines, whose demeanor and figure were only slightly more mature, yet still identical in appearance… Leon couldn’t help feeling dazed at the eagerness and longing in her eyes.

Turning to glance at the veiled Princess Ines beside him, he happened to meet the young girl’s gaze.

“…Li Ang? Leon? Leon?… How many names do you have?” Ines curiously teased in a low voice.