Episode 105: The nobles who were supposed to unite as one under the banner of the Phoenix soaring toward the sky were divided into two gangs, as if they were divided into east and west around the coffin, and showed disparate movements.
According to the ritual of the director, the nobles of the territory were assigned seats by region, but since most of the factions were divided into East and West, the arrangement of seats was as if they were clearly divided according to faction.
In addition, the 1st and 2nd princes, who were supposed to show a sad appearance at least for formality, were busy glaring at each other in the center of the nobles.
Only the few remaining wives of the late king and the three princes appeared to be paying their respects with gloomy expressions.
However, that appearance was probably closer to concern about his future than sadness.
In many ways, the noisy and bustling atmosphere felt like an insult to the deceased rather than a memorial, so Logan was able to sum up the atmosphere in one word.
‘That’s bullshit.’
Since Logan, a fellow nobleman, was on the verge of burning, it did not seem strange that the archbishop hesitated for a moment while he was about to read the speech he had written.
The chaotic atmosphere reached its peak when the archbishop began to read the late king’s achievements.
– The late King Samuel von Grandia has been writing since he was crown prince 40 years ago…
Even Logan had been writing such long congratulatory messages that he wondered if he was reciting them from 40 years ago. The expressions of many of the nobles who were already showing distracted movements were distorted and they spoke one by one. I started to take my eyes off the podium.
If it had ended with just chatting with each other like that, it would have ended up just like the embarrassing behavior of the kingdom’s nobles.
As it turned out, there were people among them who were annoying Logan.
And right next to it.
“There’s only one week left, Macline. I’m telling you to enjoy it while you’re at it. It would be a waste to spend the rest of your life depressed.”
Laughter mixed with a low voice.
Count Roger Bypros taunted himself and his father with a wicked smile.
There was no need to react like my expressionless father did.
‘What a hell of a gate.’
Since the story from 39 years ago has finally started to come out, Logan decided to join in on this mess for a while to kill time.
“Oh my. I guess you haven’t heard me yet.”
“I understand your desire to live…”
“I received a recruitment offer from that faction.”
“what…?”
“Maybe we’ll be on the same side, but please be careful about what you say, Count.”
“What nonsense…!”
“If you think it’s nonsense, go ask Marquis Luther Kyle over there and ask him directly.”
Roger Bipros’ complexion visibly hardened as he looked at the huge man who was visible even from afar.
Eat.
“It’s a joke.”
“You bastard…!”
“Maybe not, depending on you.”
“Huh.”
It was quite fun to see their ever-changing expressions, wondering what they were thinking.
however.
“Your Excellency. How could the Marquis do that? Your Excellency has such weight in the faction.”
An annoying mustache suddenly stuck out from behind.
Max Ferretta The one who went under Bipros to avoid McLane.
He was rubbing his hands in front of the count, as if he were a decades-old loyalist.
“The dog is just barking because it’s scared…”
“Stop!”
A soft voice interrupted Max Perretta’s excessive flattery.
Roger Bipros was suddenly lost in thought with a stern expression on his face.
‘It would have been more fun if I just got angry.’
When Logan, who was no longer having fun, turned his gaze back to the podium, he saw his father secretly raising his thumb next to him.
– 38 years ago….
A small incident that occurred between congratulatory messages that I don’t know when it would end ended like that.
* * *
– This concludes the ceremony for the first day of the state funeral.
The sun was already setting when the calm voice of the guard knight rang out.
No matter what anyone says, what took up the most time of the ceremony that started in the morning was the archbishop’s congratulatory message.
While reading that lengthy speech, the only person who cried, laughed, and was moved was the swordsman Felix Esperanza, who was bowing his head at the head of the party and nobles.
Therefore, as soon as the ceremony was over, sounds similar to moaning could not be heard from various parts of the palace square.
While most of the nobles were moving to leave the place.
Logan and Padric once again had to deal with some not-so-welcome guests.
“This is Viscount Jeremy Parlson, who is entrusted to the Duke of Waltermime. Lord Padric McLane, please speak with me…” “This
is Gino Revanson, vassal of the Duke of Douglas. Baron, please speak for a moment…”
It’s definitely Logan. A completely different reaction from when I came to the capital before.
There was a series of recruitment offers from factions targeting McLane, who was not a swordsman’s disciple.
And Roger Bipros’ complexion, who had no choice but to watch the scene clearly because he was right next to him, became more and more frightening.
That was the case even after Padrick and Logan left, rejecting most of the suggestions.
And only after a while did Lieutenant Rentor speak carefully.
“Count. You have to go back now….”
“I have to go see His Excellency the Duke.”
“Yes? Oh yes. I will send you my message.”
Even after Rentor disappeared, Roger Bipros’ eyes were fixed on the spot where father and son McLane disappeared.
and.
“There has never been a person who touched mine and got away with it. And in the future…” His
eerie gaze, as if he was prepared for something, was particularly bright even in the darkening center of the royal castle.
* * *
“Are you not planning on using the faction?”
After barely sending away numerous envoys from both factions, Padric spoke in a serious voice as he was leaving the palace.
“Are you worried?”
“Honestly, if things continue like this, the family is in danger. Wouldn’t the top priority of any faction be to use its power to prevent the upcoming invasion of Bipros?”
“Father, which faction do you think would be best?”
“The relationship between us and Bipros is the same, and if I were to look for a justification, the 1st prince, who is first in line to succeed, is… um. I guess you have no intention of joining the faction.”
Logan revealed what he was thinking.
“Yes. In the current situation, if the worst happens, there is a very high chance that our family will be used as an excuse.”
Of course, my father was not easily persuaded.
“But that’s just a problem for later. If we can’t stop Bipros right now, we can’t guarantee the future even a month from now.”
“If you think about it to the extreme, in the worst case, there is a way to rely on your teacher. Of course, you can solve it on your own before that.”
“You can solve it on your own?”
“yes.”
At Logan’s short and concise answer, Padric paused for a moment, looked at his son, and continued speaking with a long sigh.
“What is your plan? If you have something in mind, I have to listen to it this time.”
“You will find out after the director’s period is over.”
“…If you are thinking of doing something, be sure to discuss it in advance. By all means!”
“…yes.”
It was bittersweet that the Tomodo occupation war had damaged trust, but it was something that could be built again.
But as for this incident….
‘I can never say that.’
It was obvious that if his father knew about this, he would definitely be against it.
* * *
“This is Philippe Claude. Long time no see, my lord.”
“Oh, it’s Philip. It’s been a while since we met in town the other day. I heard you’re really busy?”
“That’s what the Archduke requested…”
At the time when Philip, who had come to the capital under the order of Logan, who had returned to the mansion, exchanged an awkward greeting with Padric.
Logan, who found him, approached him with a happy expression.
“Philip! You’re here!”
“Hello, Confucius. It’s late.”
“No, it’s not too late. This is enough. Now this way…”
Logan called Philip, avoiding his father’s gaze as naturally as possible.
“Here’s what you asked for… but may I ask what you plan to use it for?”
“No, no.”
“….”
Logan added with a chuckle at Philip’s helpless expression.
“It’s the same reason as when I was Imporik, you know what I mean?”
“Ah…”
“The less people know about it, the better it is. Well, I guess I’ll tell you later.”
“Please leave the sales to me. By all means!”
“Hmm. I saw it.”
Logan smiled and played with the object in his hand.
‘It’s not something worth selling, though.’
An object that was infinitely unfamiliar at this point, but was very familiar to Logan from another point of view, aroused complex emotions.
‘I never thought I’d use this again.’
Anyway, I had the supplies ready, so now was the time to wait.
* * * The funeral proceedings continued according to the promised protocol.
Day 2 Day 3 Day 4.
As the ritual continued for several days, forcing most of those present to endure abject boredom, the mood in Logan’s Macline was changing little by little.
Proposals from factions that continued after the visit of the big names on the first day of the funeral.
It was still going on, just with the people changing, but the content was changing little by little.
To be exact, the reaction of the humans who refer to them as the lions of the faction.
“He’s so arrogant that he got lucky in a rural corner of the country.”
“That’s right. I don’t know why you’re getting so worked up on a topic that just happens to be the right time. Let’s just talk about it and get it over with. He’s a tightrope walker anyway.”
The voices of Viscount Klopfer and Baron Pederson, from different factions, reached Logan’s ears from a distance beyond the two doors.
Although it was said to be a lion, its attitude was strange, so I watched it for a while and found out that it had something different on its mind.
‘I thought I was doing it roughly.’
The will of the superior and the will of the executor cannot be exactly the same.
It was natural that it was difficult for those who were suddenly pushed into the role of envoys to be active.
But in these times, such a conversation between different factions?
‘It’s a tightrope walk… Well, it’s a tightrope walk.’
If it looked like he was doing something unintentionally, he could have become a public enemy.
It was a little uncomfortable, but in a way, it was a natural phenomenon, so I was going to ignore it.
“As expected, Count Bipros was right. In the first place…”
A story that could not be overlooked once again caught Logan’s ears.
“Roger Bipros….”
Pisik.
He himself had no interest in factions, but the enemy was struggling alone.
I feel like a child who is worried that his/her share of the pie may be taken away.
I laughed at the sight of an enemy that seemed the biggest until recently using a trick to make itself appear smaller.
“I’m trying. I’m trying.”
Even so, nothing will change.
There was something else that bothered me more than that useless trick.
“Hey, son-in-law. It’s been a while.”
“It’s been a while. See you, father-in-law.”
“Things are not good, but I asked to see you when I heard you came up with your in-laws. How could you have come alone? Don’t you think we need to set a date, whether it’s an engagement ceremony or a wedding?”
“Ah. Hahaha. It looks like you haven’t heard from Eileen… there’s been a big problem in our territory recently…” ”
I’ve heard from you. I’m fine. But given the situation, shouldn’t we hurry even more? Our two families Wouldn’t it be helpful to keep Bipros in check by announcing the union?”
It’s not very helpful. That person’s eyes rolled back.
Logan had to hide his true feelings and sweat hard to persuade Count Roberts Floyd.
And he had no choice but to make every effort to avoid meeting his father by chance.
Anyway, it’s not like I can’t get married in order to take Eilen with me.
But not now.
‘I can’t waste time getting married now.’
Fortunately, Eilen seemed to have spoken well and Count Floyd’s urging did not continue.
And, perhaps because of Bipros’s trick or Logan’s firm attitude, no more messengers from the faction came to visit during the funeral.
As the funeral period came to an end, Padrick’s anxiety grew.
– We will hold a Grand Noblesse for the future of this country.
Grand Noblesse. A grand meeting of all the nobles of Grandia was held.
Two weeks earlier than in the previous life when the swordsman did not declare neutrality.
The time Logan had been waiting for had finally arrived.
