My villains episode 503
interlude. The crown prince
, the grandson of the Ariaga family, headed for the inner castle with an escort and a dozen or so others.
Ossu climbed the gentle slope and looked up at the stronghold towering in the middle of the city. The majesty of the central castle tower, tall and grand enough to pierce the sky, made him indulge in a brief reminiscence.
Enemies gathered like clouds under the castle. The silver prince and his knights sang of victory. Fighters who worked day and night only for victory. Comrades sweating, shoulder to shoulder, blood-stained, holding hands.
Oddly enough, the boy who hid his trembling hands under the table had no recollection of the tension or fear. All that remained in his mind was the enthusiasm, fighting spirit, and hope that had been transmitted from Ulkar.
Osu passed through the gate, feeling an unknown sense of emptiness at the flags filling the walls.
“dismissal.”
“Oh Lord Garwin.”
Joson met Marshal Garwin in the open corridor leading to the inside of the castle.
The young lord gave off a strong and wild atmosphere while being gentle and friendly. The earlier tenderness would be due to the loving discipline of the late father, and the manliness that followed would be due to harsh trials.
The lively young man lost most of his words and facial expressions instead of earning the nickname ‘Hwangyabaek’. He bowed silently to Eavon as usual and greeted Os, who followed. Osho smiled gladly at his close friend who happened to be with him at the moment he was reminiscing.
“Are you on your way to the crown prince?”
“yes. Even the Marquis?”
“Same thing.”
The Marquis looked at Garwin’s party while stroking his well-groomed beard. Axo Dbruk’s loyal vassals, including the knight Zeppard and the Arbecon captain, were following the young Byeon Baek.
‘…It’s a pity.’
Eavon secretly smiled bitterly. I couldn’t help but laugh at the young man who was the lord of High Castle and the great lord of the highland, acting like a customer.
The commander of the border, the Marquis, would ask for admission every time he went in and out of my castle tower. What a humiliating thing to say.
However, if this place had been Li Anwell rather than High Castle, the Marquis would have been in a similar situation. Zacharys, who occupied the deepest element (要所) of the city, was acting as the lord with the authority of the crown prince and the military force he had. It may not have made much of a difference who the opponent was.
“Go away.”
“The Marquess of Friggs and the Earl of Coburn?”
“Looks like you’re already having an audience.”
“It must be so. Is there any time to get away from Your Highness? You must be busy licking the noble chieftain for about a month.” When Eavon made a sarcasm in a nonchalant tone, Garwin quietly nodded and Oss made an awkward expression.
As the Marquis said, he had clearly witnessed the two great lords acting like pet dogs in front of Zacharis. However, the Marquis also secretly flattered each other to please the crown prince. Even so, Gunios was so brazen that he was at a loss for words.
The crowd of over twenty was cut in half as they entered the castle tower, and then cut in half as they passed through the corridor leading to the synagogue. This is because the guards and guards stationed throughout the castle tower stopped them.
“You’ve put in a lot of hard work. Thank you for coming.”
“Your Excellency, Marquis.”
The Marquis greeted a royal knight in front of the hall that was used as an audience room. The lieutenant commander of the royal guard, ‘transformed’ Ogiye politely bowed.
“May the light guide you, high lords. His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for you, so if you don’t mind, go straight to the audience room.”
Under his guidance, Eavon and Os Garwin entered the synagogue, leaving their closest aides and escorts with them until the end.
Marquis Eavon looked back at the table in the middle of the spacious room and the dozen people sitting around it, then smiled broadly.
“I heard that you have found your conviction, Your Highness.”
He slightly pulled his right foot back and bowed his head toward the seat of honor. The smile that clung to the corner of his wrinkled mouth cooled down in an instant. It was because of discovering the vassals without an escort and the king’s riders sitting around them.
‘Because he seems childish and cheap.’
“You’re late, Marquis Eavon.”
A low, booming voice filled the synagogue. A man sitting on a dark chair made of stone with a yellow silk spread was looking down at the three young and old.
“After receiving the message, I immediately set out on the road, but it took quite a while to bring the old man back. Please forgive the old servant for his rudeness.”
“Huh” that’.
The man sitting in the top seat boasted a fairly bloated figure with a rare tall stature. Because he sat on a large seat on a platform a few feet high, the people sitting at the table below him were at eye level with his knees.
He made a confused sound as to whether it was a snort or a snort, then offered a seat to the three newcomers.
Os, who was holding his breath behind Eabon, moved slowly and looked at the crowd.
Colorful tapestries were hung on the walls instead of the current state of border arrangements and topographical maps of the neighborhood, and the rugged tables were filled with tin cups and silverware dripping with wine instead of reports and orders.
From the seat closest to the throne, the middle-aged high lord’s subordinates, who were like the arms of two crown princes, were six horsemen of the king and eight
…. Even though he was seated, his attitude was far from dignified.
Priggs, famous as the tyrannical head of the Drysir family, had his languid gaze fixed somewhere on the table.
The Marquis and his family had a history of rebellion against the royal family following ‘Seorigong’ Webelter during the Thousand and One Days War, and were brutally broken. Maybe that’s why the current situation, when the king’s riders, whom he had met as enemies at the time, were lined up around him, seemed burdensome to him.
Count Coburn, who was sitting across from him, was no different. The middle-aged man with a small body was gazing at the surroundings with anxious eyes.
Odenlock, the domain of the Boyd family, was small and poor to be called a county, so it was threatened by powerful families around it, such as Arya and Mullin Milgester. The reason why the land was maintained and maintained was because the royal family acted as a mediator and defended the rights of the Boyd family.
However, a few months ago, the royal family abolished the Nevillow family, which was considered a prestigious family in its own right, and made Gistol, the feudal lord, its direct jurisdiction. It was an incident where the head of the family, Count Mattianver, had touched a taboo and became a vampire, so there was no room for resistance.
Whatever the reason, the Earl of Coburn and the Boyd family felt threatened by their existence. So it was only natural that the timid lord with weak powers was intimidated in front of the crown prince, who would become his lord within a few years.
‘Would it have been a little better if Sir Daylessid was by my side?’
What Os came up with was Daylace, the ‘Champion of Oden Rock’.
A brave soldier who stood shoulder to shoulder with the knights of the silver prince, and a vassal whom Count Coburn trusted enough to entrust him with the heirloom ‘Vidain’…. may be Seated next to the high lords were Zacharis’ henchmen.
Council of Dawns Representative Siannan Ibaleus Chief Court Officer Miriam Shazar Expeditionary Forces Deputy Commander Overseer Krause Gedo Matiariot Cathedral Priest Shboban High Judge Kingsley…. Excluding Sianan the Wizard and Shubo Van the
Priest All four occupied important positions in the kingdom. When Zacharis ascends the throne in the future, they will occupy the front row in the power hierarchy of the royal capital.
The eight people who filled the bottom of the table were also people who could never be ignored. Because they are the heads of families who have assisted Zeore for 23 centuries, that is, they are the king’s riders.
The most notable among the riders was, of course, their seat.
The King’s First Horseman and Most Exalted Baron. Geisel from Free Fire.
‘Aka thunderbolt sword.’
It was so young that it was hard to believe that the man Osu glanced past was thirty-seven years old. If he only shaved his short mustache, he would look like he was in his early twenties at best.
What was even more unbelievable was the fact that the man rubbing his eyes with a look of drowsiness was counted as one of the best knights in the kingdom along with Sword Demon Calliola and Frost Lord Webelter.
Os secretly took a look at the legendary magic sword ‘Zeronos’ attached to Geisel’s waist and fell into his imagination for a while.
If that carefree man and the red knight bursting with madness cross swords, what will be the match?
The Marquis of Eavon and the two young Counts passed the King’s riders and the Crown Prince’s men in turn, filling the empty chairs. Osu, who was sitting in the last seat of the great lords, cautiously turned his eyes to the upper left.
“So, have you eaten?”
A heavy voice echoed through the synagogue. The Marquis replied with a round face.
“Yes, Your Highness. Thanks to your consideration, I was able to set the time exactly.”
“I’m glad.”
The giant in the upper seat stared at the three young and old without a word. Eavon pretended to be a benevolent old man and only laughed, while Garwin looked at him with a calm face. Oss maintained a resolute posture, struggling to suppress the desire to be distracted.
Geohan smiled as he looked at Os.
“You are cute.”
At the words that didn’t match the atmosphere at all, the eyes of the audience focused on the boy Count. Osu immediately stiffened at the sudden attention.
“I feel it every time I see him, but he looks exactly like Aglas.”
The gigantic Crown Prince Zacharys, who was sitting on the throne, gave off the impression of a bear about to hibernate because of his long body and thick flesh attached to it. Mentioning his eldest son, he leaned his chin and turned his gaze to Eavon.
“Come to think of it, Kyung also seems to resemble his father.”
“It is natural. As your Highness knows, our ancestors were the brothers of His Majesty Zeot, King of Conquerors.”
“flaw. Is that what you were talking about?”
“Even though the years have passed, where will that noble lineage go?”
“Well…
Zacharys
smirked with a twisted lip.
“As Kyeong-do knows, most of our ancestors were not bound by morality or order.”
“It’s a heroic look.”
“It’s also the look of a municipal janitor.”
A cold wind seemed to blow through the already quiet synagogue. Hehe, what can the servants say when the most powerful person in the kingdom openly criticizes his ancestors?
“Actually, it is. There are already more than five illegitimate children whose father, who is called the single king, has been revealed. A plunderer who ate 30% of the continent or a slayer who stained half the kingdom with blood would have been much worse than that. It’s obvious.”
The crown prince, who had cursed the King of Conquest, the King of Dogan, and the King of Knights in turn, burst into laughter as he looked back at his servants who were silent as if they hadn’t heard anything.
“Uh ha! Perhaps because I saw young people with bright futures, nonsense came out without my knowledge. Don’t mind everyone.” “Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.” When the king’s riders and the crown prince’s henchmen answered in unison as if they had been waiting for them, Osho sighed and licked his lips. Seeing that, the crown prince smiled and changed the topic.
“Come to think of it, lately there have been many cases where younger or younger children inherited the title. Isn’t that right, Miriam?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Just as great lords appoint those who are proficient in writing and well-informed in matters of the world as heralds, the royal family led ceremonial officers. Miriam, the representative of such wise men, immediately brought out the information Zacharys wanted.
“A total of eight people, including the two of you here, are in their teens and hold the title of count.”
“A total of eight. Who are the other six?”
“I am Earl of Shay of Northernshire, Earl of Pasitea of Perwright, Earl of Ines of Abiden, Earl of Gedun of Onwter, Earl Godwyn of Sayvern, Earl of Olaz of the Northern Shore, Your Highness.”
“There are a lot of them… Wait a minute, Crescent-kun Dowa and Eiland? And it seems that the new lord of Marva was also young.”
Despite repeated questions from the crown prince, the chief officer answered without hesitation.
“The Marquis of Asen is 31 years old, Duke Caisis is 26 years old, and Countess Clarissa is 24 years old.”
“is it. After all, they are all fresh young people.”
As Miriam quietly bowed her head, Zacharys brushed her beard with the back of her hand, contemplating. The eldest son of Zeore boasted a pretty handsome appearance despite the thick fat and early middle age. It was thanks to her distinct features and bright, vivid blonde hair.
After a brief thought, he opened his mouth.
“The situation is such that the young men are under such great obligations that I cannot help but worry as I am the one who will be in charge of the kingdom in the future. I need to come up with something.”
“How about a countermeasure?”
“I’ll have to think about the details slowly, but I’ll have to put my heads together with the lords.”
The Crown Prince smiled at Marquis Eabon, who expressed his doubts.
“How about the young great lords, their heirs, and the nobles who will become the pillars of the country
gather at the Royal College for about 23 years to study?”
“……yes?”
“It is basic to learn the advanced learning of the royal capital, and it will be a good opportunity to communicate with fellow aristocrats. Networking is as useful as force or money, and perhaps more useful than that, so it will be a good asset for the ordeal you face at a young age.”
“Your Highness, those words.”
“The Margrave Garwin and Earl Oss here have gone through a tough war at a young age and built great reputations, so maybe they can share their experiences with fellow vassals or future peers.”
The crown prince nodded happily as if he liked it even as he continued to speak himself.
“In addition, if this is regularized, it will be a good channel for communication between the central and local nobles.”
Eavon, who instantly saw through Zachary’s intentions, made a stunned expression.
“His Highness, Crown Prince Haona, if the owner of the territory and the people are away for several years, the confusion caused by that-” “It will be something that vassals with ability and prestige can represent for a while.”
“In trying to help the young lords, it might be like shaking their authority.”
The crown prince snorted.
“Huh dare? While the lord was invited by the king and headed to the capital, if there is anyone who seeks the vacant seat, I will give my honor a ruthless revenge.”
Eabon opened his mouth slightly at the sight of Zacharys proudly proclaiming it.
‘This madman is going to take hostages from the whole kingdom? Do what the King of Conquerors used to do-‘ The moment the Marquis was about to say something, the Crown Prince quickly raised his hand.
“Oh stop. We’ll talk about this later. We have a problem to deal with right away.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
“Then- come on. Tell me, Kingsley.”
Zacharys’s wide eyes turned to High Judge Kingsley.
“Why can’t I see any of Ulkar’s illegitimate men?”
Kingsley swallowed dryly at his crooked smile.
