Chapter 182. Childhood Friend – Fish
Confusion. Bewilderment.
A short nobleman in his early forties, the ‘Marquis Ebeny Drageen,’ pulled away the unexpected visitor.
Leaving the prince and princess inside, the Marquis Drageen rebuked the Marquis Guidan Harvey’s recklessness outside the reception room.
“Are you insane? I am truly sorry about what happened to your daughter, but how could you make such a choice just because the engagement with the Duke of Tartan fell through? What do you intend to do?”
His tone was blunt. However, the Marquis Guidan, realizing how worried his friend was, responded.
“I only followed your advice.”
“Advice? What do you mean? How did you interpret my words to bring in the prince and princess from another country…”
“You said to wait for the future sage king, didn’t you?”
“What…?”
The Marquis Ebny Drageen was at a loss for words. He did say that it would be wise to form a faction against the princes and wait for the sage king who would appear someday.
But he didn’t mean to involve royal members from other nations. Despite the fact that the kingdoms of Conrad and Orun originated from the same root, the Yeriel royal family, which had no blood relations with the Lognum royal family, could not serve as a substitute.
“Are you planning to start a rebellion? Is that why you brought these people here?”
“Indeed.”
“Ha-!”
The Marquis Ebeny Drageen couldn’t help but chuckle sarcastically. He shot his friend a somewhat icy look.
“Then speak up. Surely you didn’t think I would obediently join you. If so, I am very disappointed.”
“Let’s discuss it inside. The prince and princess are waiting.”
“Goodness… you’ve become quite the loyalist. Fine. Let me hear how great this sage king is.”
And a moment later,
[ Quest: Traitors 10/10 – The ability {Blood of the King} has leveled up. ]
[ Achievement: Met Aeton de Lognum – Gained slight favor from all nobles serving the Lognum royal family. Gained slight favor from Aeton de Lognum. ]
[ Achievement: Met Algeoe de Lognum – Gained slight favor from all nobles serving the Lognum royal family. Gained slight favor from Algeoe de Lognum. ]
After exchanging light greetings and small talk, the Marquis Drageen couldn’t help but admit that he liked this prince quite a bit. The prince possessed the impeccable dignity befitting royalty and seemed to be someone not to be missed, making it understandable why his distressed friend had made such a choice.
“Please help me. With the aid of the border marquises, we have a good chance.”
“…I don’t know.”
Although feeling inclined, the Marquis Drageen feigned indifference, probing cautiously while concealing his true intentions as a careful nobleman would.
“But how could I betray the kingdom? Although the princes have conducted disgraceful actions that have thrown the political situation into chaos, I don’t believe it merits demanding the deposition of the Lognum royal family.”
Leo nodded, recognizing it was a matter of justification.
“The Lognum royal family contravened the orders of the Cross Church. Despite the church’s advice not to persecute the converted ‘natives,’ they took no measures. Instead, they encouraged plundering.”
The Marquis Ebeny Drageen remained silent, neither affirming nor denying Leo’s words, allowing him to continue.
“While nobles of the north and east, like the Marquis Drageen and the Marquis Guidan, have generously tried to protect them, the kingdom’s tyranny has reached its limit. Soon, the natives will rise and hold the Lognum royal family and southwestern nobles accountable.”
Leo redefined foes and allies, shifting the narrative from a mere factional conflict against the prince’s supporters to a moral stance between nobles who mistreat barbarians and those who do not.
In reality, not all northern and eastern nobles abstained from using barbarians as slaves. When manpower was needed, they also purchased slaves whose lives were equally miserable.
However, compared to the southwestern part of the kingdom, mainly managing mines due to mountainous terrain, their actions were minimal.
“An uprising?”
“Yes. A large-scale uprising akin to when the northern kingdom gained independence from the empire will occur. I came to the kingdom of Orun to support the hero leading this movement, and I hope the Marquis Drageen will join in purifying the kingdom.”
“Hmmm…”
The Marquis Drageen stroked his chin.
Honestly, even if the barbarians all revolted, it was unlikely they could impact the modern kingdom significantly.
Too much time had passed, making it different from the era of the Archean Empire, which lacked a system for training knights.
In those days, only rare prodigies could become knights, unlike now when those with a talent for swordsmanship first become junior knights and are given time to hone their skills.
Additionally, it was an era before the emergence of ‘mages’ as strategic weapons, allowing heroes like Maunin and Reticia to orchestrate significant deeds through military strategy.
Therefore, it was hard to see the effectiveness of the prince’s words. Nonetheless, the Marquis Drageen pretended to agree for a reason.
It provided immediate justification.
The fact that the princes divided the factions and identified the friend from the foe anew also pleased him.
“That’s a serious matter. What’s going to happen to the country… It’s also my fault for not paying attention to domestic affairs.”
Marquis Ebeny Drageen sighed.
Of course, it was just a formality, but Leo forgave him.
“It’s not something you should blame yourself for, Marquis. As a marquis guarding the border, it would have been difficult to care about internal affairs of the kingdom. However, now that you have realized it, you will need to show a change in actions.”
“That is correct. I want to help with my limited power. But… I’m worried the kingdom will fall into chaos without a ruler. Do you have any plans?”
The scent of spices was plausible. Now, it was a matter of how many pieces of meat were in the dish.
Leo bowed his head.
“I’m very worried too. I am insufficient, but I want to overcome this with the help of the marquises. To soothe the public’s discontent after the war… we need to convene the council.”
It was a proposal to grant him the power to convene a council, implying sharing the royal authority with the participating nobles, and this satisfied Marquis Drageen.
He wanted to help his friend anyway. Even if he didn’t, the situation where he might be the next target required some alternative, and if that alternative came with compensation… it was no longer the time to lie low.
“You are absolutely right. But there is one more thing to worry about.”
“…What is it?”
Leo asked with a slightly displeased look. He wondered why, after offering so much, the marquis still wanted something more. Fortunately, the following words relieved his worries.
“We need the help of Count Ogerton. Without his support, we won’t succeed.”
Leo nodded.
Even if the two border guards controlling the northern and eastern military power joined forces, it was unlikely to beat the king.
It was because of the Royal Knights.
A third of the knights in this country belonged to the Royal Knights, and no matter how much they tried, the Royal Knights would never support a rebel.
Moreover, the nobles who supported the princes also had knights, so to make up for the absolute lack in knightly power, dominance in magic power was necessary.
Count Soarel Demetri Ogerton.
A noble who is also a wizard. Whether nobility or wizardry came first did not matter. The important thing was that he was from the ‘Bolinu Magic Tower’ in the right kingdom and wielded strong influence among wizards.
At that moment, Princess Lena de Yeliel, who had been silently watching, smiled.
“Don’t worry. Count Ogerton will help us.”
“…Have you received a definite answer?”
“Not yet.”
What confidence was this—Leo thought, but the princess’s expression as she sipped her tea earnestly was not a lie. Or perhaps, he couldn’t recognize it.
“If you’re really worried, would you like to come with me? I have an appointment with Count Ogerton. If we leave now… it’s a bit early but it will be fine.”
The princess stood up. Following her, Marquis Drageen asked, bewildered.
“Did you know that Count Ogerton had returned?”
Lena answered with a smile instead of words. Following her lead, Marquis Drageen got into the carriage, and Leo looked at his sister with a complicated expression.
A fish in water.
Recently, Leo was repeatedly amazed by Lena’s behavior.
As soon as she set foot in noble society, his sister changed. Whatever she learned from the Marquis of Guidan’s wife beyond etiquette, it seemed to be her true nature, it was natural.
It was the same when they met Count Safia earlier. As the operator of a gemstone mine, Count Safia showed displeasure at the barbarian uprising.
Then his sister said,
“The value of skilled workers will rise. That would improve the quality and price of gemstones, so I should buy them in advance! Right, brother? So, I ~”
She pestered him.
It goes without saying that Count Safia’s displeasure vanished like the ebbing tide, and after that, Lena subtly led the conversation.
A scary talent.
Leo always thought his sister Lena had talent for anything she did. But that assumption was only half correct.
Lena possessed talents befitting negotiations, the moments when all abilities had to be mobilized diversely, suitable for the life of a noble or ruler.
Leo thought he needed to tell this to Lev. He had to let him know that their sister, who loved to sleep in late and seemed to have no specific goal, was actually not just a cute hindrance…
Since my memory won’t be preserved.
While Leo contemplated various things, the carriage arrived at Count Ogerton’s mansion.
There was a yard with green grass despite it being winter, as if magic had been cast. There, Count Ogerton, his wife, Viscount Bakari, and a five-year-old boy were having a leisurely afternoon.
“Your Highness, Princess. Please come in.”
Viscount Bakari greeted the princess in person. Count Ogerton had a somewhat cold expression, but when introduced by the viscount who was his father-in-law, he reluctantly stood up.
Lena greeted him lightly. She gave the minimum courtesy to the count and then greeted the boy next to him.
“Hello?”
“…Hello.”
The boy looked uncomfortable in this place, awkwardly perched on the edge of the chair, but he straightened up as Lena approached.
“You’re five years old, right?”
“…I’m six.”
“Really? Then you’re all grown up. I really like this garden; it’s so cool. I wish someone would show me around… Should I call the knight? Or maybe I should ask the gentleman over there?”
The boy looked around. Realizing that the ‘gentleman over there’ referred to him, he dropped his indifferent expression.
“Shall I guide you?”
“I would gladly be guided.”
The boy laughed at Lena’s exaggerated manners. Holding the princess’s hand, he led her away somewhere in the garden, avoiding his awkward father.
Count Ogerton snorted silently. He understood what that princess was up to.
She’s trying to get close to me by getting close to my son.
Ever since his father-in-law asked him to assist the princess and made the arrangement, his mood had been sour.
As expected, the conversation was full of insinuations. While he was a noble, as a wizard, he didn’t appreciate such indirect exchanges.
‘If it weren’t for my father-in-law.’
Nevertheless, Soarel maintained his courtesy. Though he was internally preparing to reject the request, he nodded occasionally, keeping an eye on the prince with strangely endearing deep pink eyes.
“Grandpa!”
Just then, his son came running. Having roamed around looking for Swordmasters and visiting magic towers all over, the son he barely knew clutched his grandfather’s hand and disappeared somewhere.
With the subtle pressure from his father-in-law gone, Soarel calmly spoke up.
“Excuse me, Your Highness.”
“Yes. Please, go ahead.”
“I have no intention of assisting Your Highness…”
“Countess! Could you come over here for a moment?”
Soarel closed his mouth. From a distance, the princess called out, and his six-year-old wife said, “Excuse me for a moment,” and followed the princess.
Count Ogerton, now thoroughly displeased, began to speak.
“I have no intention of assisting Your Highness. I have been traveling for years and only recently returned home. I do not wish to be involved in anything that may happen. I hope you understand.”
“Of course, I understand.”
The prince nodded.
Ogerton was surprised at the prince’s straightforward withdrawal, having expected a lengthy persuasion.
Feeling somewhat sorry at the sight of Marquis Drageen’s incredulous expression, he said, “Thank you for understanding. I shall take my leave now.”
The count stood to leave, but his wife approached him.
“Honey, come here for a moment.”
“Sure. Where is the princess?”
“She is playing with our son.”
Well, that’s expected.
He wasn’t surprised.
But when he followed his wife into a shadowy corner of the yard, he couldn’t help but smile a little.
There was a path through the undergrowth, partially hidden, making it hard to see if it was indeed a path or if there was a space beyond. It was his son’s playground.
It seemed to be a secret base of sorts, with odds and ends secretly brought from the mansion piled against the wall, and the princess was kneeling, playing with their son.
“Dad is here. You should show him.”
“…”
“Hurry. You showed it to your sister and grandpa, but were you not going to tell Dad?”
“…No.”
Hesitantly, the boy approached. Glancing back to gauge the mood,
“This is my ‘magic tower,’” he said.
Soarel found it hard to suppress his smile.
Even though he anticipated this.
“I will be going back.”
The princess said, gathering the family in the narrow space and stepping out, she whispered to the count.
Count thought, now she must be asking for his assistance herself – but the princess said, “I’m sorry, but because of me, your son lost his secret base. I believe you’ll need to create a new one for him.”
“What a needless concern.”
“I know. But you know, don’t you?”
The count’s dry eyes widened. He looked back at the princess, whose light steps brushed past him, then turned away.
He thought about what to do, even though he had no intention of helping, wondering how to handle this.
