Starting a Reversal in Life From the Time of Release

11 – A World Where Women Create Big Things (2)

[Next, come in!]

A soldier wearing armor and holding a long spear shouted loudly in front of the castle gate.

In dramas, movies, animations, or other media with a medieval background.

Most of the guards that appear in all those works are usually men.

To say it’s an exaggeration would not be an overstatement.

However, now the one demanding our identity in front of us is none other than a woman.

A woman with short brown hair, giving off a somehow dignified feeling.

[What brings you here?]

[Ahem. Actually…]

Alberto cleared his throat and took out something small from his pocket.

The material seemed to be made of platinum, and it looked like a name tag used in the Joseon Dynasty.

[A platinum name tag…!]

The guard who was about to speak swallowed his words.

I don’t know what he’s saying, but at least one form of identification seems legitimate.

Thanks to that, we were able to pass through the castle gate quickly and smoothly.

“You had something like that too?”

I asked as we passed through the gate, and Alberto nodded his head in response.

“It’s something I had with me when I fell into a crack. I always kept it on me except when I slept.”

“Does that serve as identification…right?”

“Yes.”

“Then why not show it to the nobles living here and borrow their talk? Without the need for a commotion?”

Alberto’s status is that of a nobleman.

By today’s standards, he would be considered a first lady, and by past standards, an empress.

With such proof of identity, it could be used anywhere he went.

So I asked, and Alberto replied with a smirk.

“If I meet the lord of this place, it will surely cause a stir. Don’t you know? When someone important comes, there will be formalities and annoyances.”

“Ah…!”

Only now did I understand why I insisted on going on a trip.

I could also understand why Mr. Alberto was so confident.

I wanted the journey to be quiet, peaceful, and swift, but when I receive medical treatment, my ankles will ache.

Beautiful stone paths and low buildings.

A sky untainted by blemishes.

Streets made of well-polished cobblestones.

And women wandering the streets, raising their voices.

I was completely captivated by this fantastical scenery when Mr. Alberto patted my shoulder and laughed.

“I’ll take care of carrying the luggage to the palace, so relax and follow along.”

Carry. That word was so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly.

“Do you still… not trust us?”

“Of course not. How long has it been?”

As I lightly complained, Seoha Nuri gave me a light scolding. Of course.

“But, is it really alright? If it was just me and Yoo Sihu, I wouldn’t know, but we also have to protect that strange old man.”

“Mr. Sihu is not someone who can’t handle that level of difficulty. He has a strong body as well.”

That is true.

I nodded, feeling that Seoha Nuri’s words made sense.

Since then, several days have passed, but there have been no reports of disappearances or injuries… They are probably safe.

Although it’s strange that I can’t contact them on my cellphone.

Ring. I was sitting in the living room, complaining for a while, when the cellphone I had left on the floor rang.

There was a ringing sound indicating an incoming call.

So I looked at it, and Bora Nam’s name was clearly displayed on the screen.

—

It has been a few days since I jumped onto the carriage with a thumping sound.

The bewildered face of the store owner, whom I had gone to borrow a horse from, was still lingering in my mind.

I was worried about what would happen if I borrowed a horse, but the carriage and the driver were given to me without hesitation, with some simple provisions as well.

Moreover, since I was introduced as an escort from a migrant ethnicity who cannot speak, there was no need to open my mouth or explain the vibrating needle.

Just as when I passed through the castle gate.

“Look, I can see the Count’s residence.”

While quietly contemplating his seasickness, Alberto glanced out the window and murmured.

Carriages with glass windows are said to be quite expensive, and this particular carriage had them.

Thanks to that, it was convenient to see the outside view.

Although it was called a port city, the city walls in front diminished the impression.

The city walls were of a similar style to what I had seen before.

However, as I passed through the city walls and looked outside, the picturesque view of the port captivated my eyes.

A harbor with a nostalgic atmosphere.

Seagulls crying out.

Even the people with sunburned skin from hard labor.

The carriage passed through such a beautiful landscape and finally arrived at the well-built entrance of the inner city.

The iron fence surrounding it made the inside appear even more spacious.

“What is your business here?”

“The master has arrived. Please deliver the letter inside.”

When I slightly opened the door and peeked inside, a woman dressed lightly blocked the front of the carriage, and the driver responded.

Though still unable to understand, it was a strict atmosphere of inspection.

“Oh, what, what?! I will open it soon, so please wait a moment!”

Startled, the woman rushed to open the door, and the driver nodded lightly and waited for the time to come.

Meanwhile, I closed the slightly opened door.

As soon as the firmly closed door opened, the driver lightly pushed the horse and entered the estate.

“It’s really magnificent…”

As I peered through the window, I was astonished by the grandeur of the estate.

There was a significant difference in the forcefulness felt when viewed from a distance and up close.

“It is big. Having a harbor in one’s territory means having the ability to engage in trade by ship, which means money flows in. That’s why even within the empire, they tend to be quite wealthy. If we rank them by wealth, they will be at the front.”

“That seems reasonable.”

While listening to Alberto’s explanation, the carriage reached the stables behind the estate.

“We have arrived. Please disembark.”

Clunk. The driver opened the door and respectfully bowed, and Alberto gestured at me.

It was already frustrating to stand quietly as if deaf, knowing that Alberto can communicate with the owner of this place.

However, the grandeur of the exterior was matched by the splendor of the interior, which made the atmosphere quite stifling.

Even the individual bricks were fascinating, to say the least.

“People who work in the castle don’t discriminate based on gender. So the ratio is almost evenly split, with slightly more women,” Mr. Alberto explained as he observed the people around him nodding.

He was walking through the castle following the back of a male servant who was bustling about, and his demeanor appeared remarkably composed, unlike me, who was glancing around with wide eyes like a country bumpkin.

“Oh, you must be a guest of the lord…!” A woman ran up to Mr. Alberto as we ascended to the third floor of the castle, wearing a dress that made her look like a noble.

Mr. Alberto greeted her warmly as he held the woman’s hand. “It’s been a long time. Haven’t you been well?”

“Lord, you didn’t go through any difficulties? You fell into a crack and disappeared for a whole seven years…!”

“hahahaha! When you put it that way, it sounds like it. The word ‘crack’ I heard just now seems to be related to some old story. I understood that it refers to a gate in this place.”

“But who is the man standing behind you? He’s quite tall and dignified, and his gaze is unusually calm. He doesn’t seem like an ordinary person…”

The woman stared at me for a moment, perplexed. “He’s my escort. We met during my long journey through the crack, and he offered to accompany me.”

“Wow, what a connection…! He’s even acting as an escort with a man’s body. He must be quite skilled, right?”

“He’s more than capable. I doubt even the Galia Knights can match him.”

“That much, huh?!”

I couldn’t tell if the woman was amazed or shocked as she looked at me. Her reaction was either out of surprise or sheer disbelief.

“Oh, I know it might be impolite to make such a request right after arriving, but could you please inform the lord of my arrival immediately? Given the long absence, I’m sure his wife is more than a little worried.”

“Impolite? Not at all. Your words are more than justified.”

The woman quickly raised her voice, and a nearby male servant immediately rushed over. After the woman conveyed her message to the servant, he nodded vigorously and hurried off.

It seemed like there was some urgent matter at hand.

[You must be tired from coming all the way here. First, let me prepare the bathwater. But what about the room?]

[I’ll share a room with that friend. Thank you for your consideration.]

[Alright. Follow me, then.]

As the woman turned her back and took a step forward, Mr. Alberto followed behind her.

Of course, I followed behind them like the luggage I had carried.

[You can use this room. Well then.]

As the woman opened the door to one of the rooms and stepped aside, the room was truly astonishing.

It was as luxurious as a 4 or 5-star hotel, as commonly referred to.

First of all, everything in the room seemed to be made of high-quality materials, and the decor was also impressive.

To put it bluntly, there was a distinct feeling of wealth.

“For now, I plan to stay here for a few days before boarding a ship and leaving. They told me to rest in this room during that time.”

“Really?”

As the door closed, Mr. Alberto smirked at me.

It seemed that my childish behavior still amused him.

“But don’t women usually wear skirts comfortably? Just by listening to your words, it seems like they would wear pants.”

Thinking of the ordinary women I had seen wearing pants, I asked, and Mr. Alberto nodded.

“Only noble women wear dresses like skirts. They are considered luxury items because they are inconvenient for work.”

“Oh…”

“And when it comes to war, hunting, or punishing, they wear pants.”

Listening to Mr. Alberto’s history lesson, I sat at the table in front of the window.

As I unpacked my backpack and sighed, it felt like my body was relaxing.

“I’ll set up a tent here and sleep. Mr. Alberto, you can sleep in the bed.”

“Does that make sense? A benefactor should sleep in a good bed.”

Mr. Alberto shouted, saying it didn’t make sense, but my perspective was different.

In a class-divided society, the Emperor’s companion sleeps on the floor while ordinary commoners sleep in a bed?

That seemed a bit odd.

“Mr. Alberto is wealthy. If you were to sleep on the floor, how much criticism do you think you would receive from the people here? Not to mention, if you don’t know proper etiquette, you might cause a commotion.”

“Ugh…”

He seemed to think I was right, as he made a groaning sound.

In a different world, it was only natural for the law to be different as well.

In the end, Mr. Alberto sighed as if he couldn’t do anything.

“I’m sorry. When I return to my palace, I will treat you well, combining it with today’s events.”

“Please don’t do that. I appreciate your concern for me, but it’s not necessary to be so repaying. It seems like you’re just weighing the benefits.”

“You…”

I just said what I thought, but the middle-aged man’s gaze was too burdensome as he looked at me.

So I pretended to cough unnecessarily and turned my gaze away.

“Your Majesty.”

Galija Empire.

A huge country that divides this vast land into two.

The leader of this deep-rooted country, dressed in military uniform, narrowed his eyes.

Sitting on a throne prepared for the audience, he pondered with a sigh, but the voice of the female chief made him look away.

The leader, the emperor, touched the end of his white hair that touched his neck and opened his mouth.

“What’s the matter? Judging by what you hold in your hand… is it another complaint?”

When the Emperor let out a deep sigh, the chief nodded silently.

“Yes, it seems so. This time, it’s a letter from the White Viscount.”

The chief, dressed neatly in a black suit, inhaled sharply and took out a folded sheet from his bosom.

It seemed as if he was gasping for breath so loudly that he might lose his breath.

“From the Viscount? That’s… really…”

Could it be that this time, even this person is urging him to welcome a new wealthy person?

Remembering the face of the man he still loved ardently, the Emperor grasped the letter handed to him by the chief.

There was no reason to welcome a new wealthy person because the successor was already firm in this life.

It was with a heart full of regret that he untied the knot because the Emperor had only one companion in this life.

He was frustrated by the absurdity of proposing to marry into the royal family.

As the letter unfolded, a red stamp representing the White Viscount was printed at the bottom.

“Hoo…”

As the Emperor sighed deeply and skimmed through the contents of the letter, his eyes reading the letter grew larger.

The chief, who had been silently holding his breath, watched his every move while holding his breath.

He thought to himself, ‘He must be furious today too.’

However, something completely different from his thoughts happened.

The Emperor suddenly rose from his throne and issued an unexpected command.

“Prepare for the White Marquess’ visit! Immediately!”