Episode 40
Episode 21. Sense of incongruity (2)
Varys was living in a separate mansion near the imperial castle, not the Cannon family’s main house.
Yuma visited Barris’s mansion dressed less flashy and neat than usual. Of course, he didn’t even bring a sword.
Yuma was guided by servants and waited for Baris in the drawing room.
Shortly thereafter, there was a rattling sound of the golden armor, like the symbol of the imperial guard. It was Barris.
Yuma stood up and bowed to him as he came down the stairs.
“…It’s hard to see your face, man. sit down.”
Varys said as she sat on the sofa in the drawing room.
“It’s been a while, Sir Barris.”
“For the third time. I never expected to see you at the banquet.”
It was said with the encounter in the mountain behind the imperial castle in mind. Yuma was unfamiliar with the way Varys spoke to her softly, calling her ‘you’.
Even when he was a eunuch, on the mountain behind the imperial castle, or on the day of the purge, the only titles Barris called Yuma were ‘you bastard’ or ‘traitor’, or other hostile expressions.
Even in the banquet hall, he pointed a knife.
“I didn’t even know I would be there.”
“You are too humble. It’s worth it if you fought Lord Tenchu of Haseo and won. Feha is watching you too. This time, Lord Hayes also talked about you.”
It was not a waste to come to Heize just by mentioning his name.
Yuma drank the tea served by the servants and pretended to listen to Baris.
“Is it possible that you didn’t see the shape of my lips at the banquet hall? I was sure I would wait.”
It was the moment when he pointed a knife at Yuma at the banquet hall. Of course, Yuma clearly understood the words of his mouth.
“sorry. At the time, it was difficult to fathom Mr. Baris’s message because he was so carefree.”
Yuma skillfully lied. Varys grinned and replied that it was okay.
“I never imagined that there would be a day when I would dress up and go to the upper house to meet a commoner.”
“I was also very surprised to hear that Mr. Varys had come to visit me.
Is there anything you would like me to do…?”
“Haha, what a name. Aren’t I your boss? More than anything else, it seems that Prince Duran won’t let me go if I treat you carelessly.”
He was laughing, but his words had bones.
“Master is Master and I am me. I don’t want to create a situation that is out of proportion.”
Yuma felt like making fun of Baris.
Yuma knew very well that even though raw meat was the Imperial Guard, he could not treat himself carelessly as long as Duran was there.
‘Someday, I’ll have to kill that guy with my own hands…
Yuma thought while examining Varys’ armor.
In Yuma’s eyes, Varys was an insignificant man except for the confidence of being a close friend of the imperial family.
It wasn’t that his military strength was far superior, and he didn’t even have a 3 family level background.
His skills were nothing more than a good opportunist.
There were a total of four knights in the imperial capital. The 1st Knights, 2nd Knights, and 3rd Knights of the Imperial Family Guard.
The latter three knights were collectively referred to as the Order of the Mighty Knights. And the captains of each order of knights also served as royal knights.
Varys was not a knight in danger who was a close friend of the imperial family. Heize was also the one who recommended Varis, who had been serving as an ordinary knight, to become an Imperial Guard Knight.
“May I ask why you were looking for me?”
“There is no particular reason. I was just wondering what kind of person you are. Aren’t we pretty close?
If I had killed you on the mountain behind the imperial castle, bards wouldn’t have been able to sing about you now.”
It was a laughable story for the current Yuma.
Yuma had the confidence to kill Varys within 10 minutes if he fought immediately.
However, on the day they just left Ferol and climbed the hill behind the imperial castle, Zishka and Varis were clearly holding their own lives.
“The first princess saved my life.”
It was an answer to stimulate Varis and at the same time test his relationship with Zishka.
Varys nodded without changing a single expression.
He was also a person who raised several snakes in his stomach.
“yes. Which of the two do you support?”
“yes?”
“That Zishka who saved your life and the lower Hella who entrusted the honor to you.”
It was a random question.
“I prefer the lower Hellas.”
Yuma replied coolly.
Naturally, Baris was perplexed.
He intended to ask questions that were difficult to answer, and then proceed slowly on his own terms.
Above all.
“Every time I see you, you talk very wildly and interestingly.”
It was the voice of the first princess, Jischka Rose.
She was eavesdropping on their conversation from the wall in the hallway leading to the drawing room.
Varys’ question was a joke suggested by Zishka.
She had been talking at Barris’ mansion before Yuma came.
Zishka entered the parlor with footsteps clattering.
Yuma stood up and naturally bowed to Zishka.
“Meet the deterioration.”
“Wake up. You are not embarrassed this time either.”
“Hey, I’ll go to the imperial castle then. It’s office time soon.”
“Please do so, Lord Varys. You can’t talk to a commoner’s hero again this time.”
Varys waved to Yuma once and went to work at the imperial castle.
‘I should have checked the working hours before coming.’
Suddenly, it was Yuma who was left alone with Zishka.
Zishka smiled and looked at Yuma.
“Come over here and rub your shoulders.”
“I dare not put my hands on the lower body.”
“The owner of the jade body told me to knead it myself. My body is still sore after sleeping in the servants’ bed because of you.”
Yuma had no choice but to stand behind Zishka.
Zishka was wearing clothes that exposed her shoulders and collarbone. Yuma slowly moved his hand and began to touch her shoulder.
“Because he is a commoner or a military man, his hands are rough. The sharp calluses seem to be scratching the skin.”
“I will try to knead it more carefully.”
“no. Sometimes being rough like this isn’t bad.”
For a long time the two did not speak.
The servants bowed their heads and waited outside the drawing room.
Zishka then ordered a servant to bring water for washing feet.
Immediately the servants brought out a silver vessel in which spices were poured and mixed.
“Wash your feet.”
Yuma got down on one knee and started washing Zishka’s feet. Indeed, the princess’s feet were smooth and clean without a single callus.
Zishka closed her eyes as if she was satisfied with Yuma washing her feet.
“You are probably the first commoner to have been kissed by the princess and touched her body.”
“I don’t think I’m touching the jade body, I’m just carrying out my lowly orders.”
Yuma carefully passed the water between the princess’s toes.
‘It’s difficult to gauge the eccentricities of the first princess.’
There was the sound of splashing water in the silver bowl. Zishka slowly opened her eyes and looked down at Yuma.
“Yuma.”
“Yes lower.”
“Why do you like my brother more than me?”
“Your Majesty, I am a mere commoner and commoner. People follow those who treat them better. It has nothing to do with profit or loss.”
It was an act that could lead to being beaten for blaspheming the princess.
Even without the name of contempt, the princess was in a position where she was not subject to any sanctions even if she just harassed commoners.
However, Yuma was also not an ordinary commoner.
“I have a place to write you. Be mine.”
A strong smell of spices rose from the silver bowl. The yellow sunlight pouring through the window was reflecting on the silverware.
Yuma didn’t answer and got on his horse.
Zishka was a princess who was dethroned after plotting rebellion a year later. It was clear that he would face dog death if he became her person. Even Duran said ‘I will not stop treason’.
Zishka was a princess who was less supported than the second princess, Hella Rose, due to her eccentric and capricious personality and sharp temper.
Someone evaluated Zishka as a true next empress with charisma.
It was said that she was the one who inherited Asuka Rose’s ruling power.
However, both before the return and in this life, Yuma evaluated Jishuka as a woman who was not good enough to be a woman.
In fact, when Asuka passed away and Hela ascended the throne, the Kyle Empire prospered and reached a new heyday.
“Sorry low.”
Yuma didn’t look in Zishka’s direction and said while only washing her feet.
Zishka’s pupils widened at the completely unexpected answer.
He was not an ordinary nobleman, and it was the commoner’s duty to disapprove of the princess. It was only natural to show at least a sign of apology.
“Can I refuse the princess’s request by cutting it like a knife like this?”
“I can’t dare to serve you.”
Yuma made eye contact with Jishuka and replied.
Zishka Rose. I remembered the image of her neck hanging at the entrance to the imperial castle.
Empress Asuka Rose dethroned and executed all of the state affairs the next day.
To Hella, her sister was an object of love and hatred. Hella was able to commemorate Zishka only after Asuka passed away.
“If Hella had asked, not me, would you have answered like this?”
“Yes, low.”
Yuma carefully wiped the water from Zishka’s feet with a towel placed next to the silver bowl. Zishka’s claws were shining.
“Now, even insignificant commoners treat me like an idiot. I have a lot of fun. Is there nothing to be afraid of with Prince Duran on your back?”
“Perhaps Master will scold me when he hears this.”
“Looking at you, you can see how low the authority of the imperial family has fallen. In my era, all those fallen statuses will be restored.”
The problem with Zishka was this.
In fact, it was true that the first princess succeeded to the throne, but there were ears everywhere in the imperial castle.
Even though the empress had not yet expressed her intention to step down from the throne and Zishka had not yet ascended the throne, it was rash to speak of ‘my era’.
In addition, it even subtly disregards the authority of the current empress.
Even with this remark alone, political opponents could easily accuse Zishka of treason.
Zishka glared at Yuma for a moment before turning around and leaving Varys’ mansion.
She certainly had charisma, but she was more suited to a warrior than a ruler.
‘Before the return, the two certainly weren’t close enough to talk at Varys’ mansion. Could it be that Varys was involved in the rebellion? However, it was Varys who punished the first princess. It’s frustrating.’
At that time, it was unreasonable to say that Zishka’s rebellion was in earnest.
If the target he was aiming at was not the Empress, it would have been almost as big as an incident occurring in the course of a conflict.
Above all, it was a treason that failed because the heads of the three families, such as Duran Jacques and Hayes Rollmandy Adol Povian, did not participate.
Feeling a strange feeling, Yuma left Barris’ mansion.
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