31. To the Empire (2)
A warm wind caresses my cheek. The flowers lining the roadside were waving their leaves as if welcoming the wind, and the sun was shining warmly as if it were a blessing.
Yes, it’s spring.
It’s late spring, close to summer.
The gatekeeper guarding the front of a huge mansion yawned lazily due to drowsiness and lifted one of his eyebrows as if he had discovered something.
In the distance, someone wearing a traveler’s robe was walking straight towards us.
“…hey.”
“huh?”
“Isn’t that guy suspicious?”
“What is the prize… Oh, I see.”
Even though it may seem like this, it is a job that takes pride in its own way. In an instant, my colleague, who revealed his sword-like prayer, adjusted his spear and grabbed it.
The gatekeeper also held his weapon tightly and clearly showed caution towards the stranger approaching.
And the moment he got close to me, I put out my window, signaled to stop, and said,
“This is Count Hart’s residence. The Count is currently out of town, and outsiders are not permitted to enter. “If you have something important to say, please leave a message.”
A phrase that has been repeated to guests over and over again.
Usually, there was no benefit to be gained by turning Count Hart into an enemy, so most people just returned, but this customer seemed to be different.
He just stood there proudly, without retreating even an inch, as if he hadn’t heard those words at all.
No, it actually went one step further.
“Open the door.”
“…under?”
Open the door. How can you be so shameless?
The moment I was about to say something out of embarrassment, he took off the hood of his robe.
And the doorkeeper was momentarily dazed by the exposed white hair, and was then frightened by the red eyes he met and put away the window.
“Isn’t it ridiculous that I can’t go into my mansion?”
“Count Bae!”
Honorary Count Deonhardt.
He left the mansion for the purpose of subjugating monsters and returned after a long 6 months.
***
“Deonhardt is back?”
The man who was leaning on a chair raised his upper body. Purple eyes sparkled with interest.
Purple eyes and purple hair. Just as gold is a symbol of the imperial family, purple is a symbol of a family in the empire.
Duke Illuster.
Starbe Illuster, who stood as the opposite of the emperor, the only duke in the empire and the head of the noble faction, raised his eyebrows at the news that had just arrived.
Who is Deon Hart? Wasn’t it clearly the emperor’s dog? As the head of the aristocratic faction, he is the very ‘hero’ who must be eliminated.
Even though it disappeared suddenly and came back suddenly, it is nothing new. If you think about it, it was almost time to come back.
“Okay then.”
I turned my gaze and looked at the person who had been standing next to me the whole time.
Green eyes that don’t show any signs of agitation and a deadpan expression that leaves you unable to tell what’s inside.
A strange look appears in Starve’s eyes as he looks at Cruel Hart, who has claimed to be his subordinate, but then he bends as if trying to hide it.
Next, an incredibly kind voice came out.
“What should I do?”
I heard your brother is back.
This news may not have been widely known yet. Because the information network that the operatives are building is particularly tight.
At most, the only person who knows other than himself is the emperor.
In such a situation, what Cruel, the servant of the head of the noble faction, would say was decided.
“I will place a murder request.”
“Wrong. “There must be a card that is more cost-effective.”
The Duke looked away, waving his finger as if teaching a child.
As if responding to this, a woman who had been holding documents in the corner and waiting for her turn to report, as if she were there or not, raised her head and met his gaze.
“Saerin, you answer. “What should I do?”
“…Are you talking about the revolutionary army?”
“you’re right.”
There is no way they would refuse a request to kill the emperor’s dog as they were hell-bent on getting rid of the emperor.
They will participate in this more passionately than those who murder for money.
Therefore, the Duke smiled and gave an order to Cruel.
“Contact the Revolutionary Army.”
***
Patter. Hurry up.
I don’t know what it is, but it looks quite busy.
Do I feel like I’ve become a huge uninvited guest? It looks like he was away for too long.
But they said there was nothing they could do because of the devil.
As I was scratching my head for no reason, an old man with gray hair came out from among the busy workers, walking at a pace that was neither fast nor slow.
“Are you here, Count?”
“Ah yes. “It’s been a while, Remember.”
Remember, the butler who has been with me since I received this mansion, welcomed me with a kind smile.
Seeing his unchanging and calm demeanor, I had the feeling that he had returned, so I tried to take a step closer, but the greeting that I thought was over continued.
“Did you finish subjugating the monster safely?”
“…yes?”
Subjugating monsters?
…That’s right, externally, I was away to subdue monsters under the emperor’s orders.
“Ah ah yes.”
After nodding roughly, Remember took a step to the side with a profound smile on his face.
He acted as if he was saying, ‘Please come in,’ so I naturally went inside and told him who was following me.
“I am going to see His Majesty. Please get ready.”
“You must have been tired from the long journey, so it would be best to get some rest…”
“No, I will wash and change clothes and then go right away.”
Wouldn’t I want to rest? There’s nothing we can do about it because it’s a bigger problem to be out of the emperor’s eyes.
The current emperor, Edoardo Desert, is a bloody emperor who ascended to the position of monarch with the sword.
The scene when he, the 9th prince, killed all of his older brothers and sisters, dragged his sword across the palace, picked up the crown with bloody hands, and put it on himself, is so terrifying that it is still talked about among his subjects even 10 years later. It was a scene.
What would happen if it got out of his sight?
Of course, he is not a tyrant who would kill someone just for not coming to report right away, but it would be safer to not do anything that would draw attention if possible… ‘…But why is the atmosphere like this?
‘
Somehow, people who would have moved immediately before have stopped moving.
Looking at the workers who were fidgeting and just lowering their heads with puzzled faces, Remember naturally spoke.
“I will prepare right away.”
And the action that followed was quick and quick enough to remind me of Ed.
Some of the employees prepare bath water while others wait with towels.
And after being dragged by the hands of several others, I came to my senses and found myself soaking in a warm bathtub.
It’s been a while since I’ve been sober, but it’s not the first time either, so I’m not that embarrassed.
As I began to droop down my tired body, which had become accustomed to it, the door opened and servants came in, cleaned my body, put me in a gown, and led me somewhere.
‘Now wait… just a minute.’
Are you really crazy at this point? It’s not because it’s been a while, but I’m really out of it.
You guys didn’t go this far. What on earth happened while I was away?
As if they couldn’t see my expression, the maids sat me down on the sofa, took out my uniform, and started talking among themselves.
“If you’re going to the imperial palace, wouldn’t this uniform be a good idea? “It has appropriate decorations, so I think it will highlight the count’s beauty.”
“No, the trend is to be ascetic! In that sense, don’t you think this uniform with only embroidery without any decorations would be good?”
“Considering the Count’s well-known image, don’t you think this would be better? It feels kind of elegant. I think this will soften the Count’s image a bit… How about going with the concept of a sickly nobleman?”
I don’t know why I’m worried about white uniforms and white uniforms and white uniforms.
The uniforms are all white. Even the uniforms hanging on the remaining hangers are all white.
What on earth are we going to do?
“What do you think, Count?”
“….”
To me, they all look the same.
Damn it, it just so happened that my symbol became a white uniform.
I sighed and buried my back on the sofa. After half-closing my eyes, I roughly point to something with my hand, and I hear two clicking sounds and a small scream of joy.
‘I can hear you clicking your tongue. Guys….’
My eyes opened at the absurdity, and when I glanced up to check what I had chosen, the maid who had shouted ‘sick nobleman’ was standing in front of me holding a uniform.
‘Uh… sick?’
I think I picked something wrong.
No, I think the intention of softening the image is good, but seeing that maid snoring makes me very uneasy.
Should I step down now?
With that in mind, I straightened my upper body, and the maid handed the uniform over to the servant waiting next to me and quickly walked away.
‘No, over there…!’
I’ll just choose something else…
Tak. The door was closed.
“….”
“….”
“…Um… The Count…. The gown….”
“Ah.”
There is one thing I learned while living in the Demon King’s Castle. A very useful thing to use in times like this.
Resignation.
That’s right, you won’t die just because of what you wear. The uniform doesn’t look that strange, so there shouldn’t be any problem.
The look in the maid’s eyes bothers me a bit, but…
‘Let’s ignore it.’
I obediently took off my gown and handed it to the attendant.
He was bandaged from wrist to fingertips and wore white gloves. Once I put on my uniform, the rest was easy.
The maids who had left came rushing in again, straightening their clothes and casually combing their disheveled hair.
‘Even if it were true, it would become disheveled again over time.’
I didn’t have to say that thought out loud.
Even my eyes are bloodshot and I’m concentrating hard, so I can’t even imagine what kind of criticism I’ll get if I say something rude.
As she puts on the white cloak that was specially provided during the war and finally puts on a white mask to block out the sunlight, the maids let out a sigh of disappointment, but also touch each other’s palms.
What is that behavior? Ah, seeing as there are people covering their mouths while looking at me, I don’t think it means anything particularly good.
Doesn’t covering your mouth mean you feel nauseous?
Do I look that bad? To the point of nausea?
“As expected, changing clothes…”
“No!”
“Absolutely not!”
“What are you saying?”
It’s a surprise! I was just saying this to myself, but why are you being so sensitive…
…Are you sure they’re trying to screw me over?
As I was looking at the fussing maids with suspicious eyes, I heard a knock on the door and Remember’s voice.
“The carriage is waiting. “You can leave as soon as preparations are complete.”
It seemed like there was nothing more to prepare, so I just grabbed a portable dagger and opened the door.
I made eye contact with Remember, who seemed to be standing right in front of the door, wearing a neat tailcoat.
From his perspective, the door may have been opened suddenly, but Remembert did not show any signs of embarrassment as he stepped to the side and lowered his head.
He must have seen my clothes, but judging by the fact that he didn’t say anything, it doesn’t seem like there was any problem…
“Oh, just a moment before I leave…” I
turned around to head to the first floor and headed towards my room.
After letting Remember wait outside, he looked around the room and saw the belongings he had brought with him when he arrived on the desk.
‘Luckily it’s still there.’
Taken to wash… It seems like he somehow listened to what I had barely told him to do before going in, telling me not to mess with it because I would take care of it myself.
I picked up a food bag from among the things that were lying there as if I had never even touched them.
‘Because magic is the exclusive property of the demons.’
I can’t just leave this alone.
Although there are few people who are well versed in magic, any idiot who opens it even once will immediately realize that this is an enchanted bag.
So we should burn it.
Because it was late spring, the fireplace was off, so I just lit a candle and burned the bag.
The food inside will also burn, but I have no regrets. Now I can eat delicious food freely.
I waved my hand to roughly blow away the ashes flying in the air and picked up another bag.
‘If I just burn this, it’ll be a big problem.’
A bag full of gold coins.
I searched the room, took out several regular leather pouches, moved the contents into them, and then I was able to burn them without any hesitation.
After organizing my bag of gold coins, I picked up two of them and opened the door.
“Please use the money you earned on this trip to add to the count’s finances.”
In fact, the count’s family already has a lot of money, so there is no need to add more.
Remember took the bag, checked its contents, and then raised his head.
Unique silver-blue eyes that are difficult to see contained me with an unknown light.
“These days, monsters seem to spit out gold coins when you catch them.”
“…ah.”
That’s right, I went to subdue monsters.
I was so distracted that I forgot about it for a while.
