Chapter 129. Which of the two? 2021.04.27.
“What is this…!”
The entire Langard delegation jumped in amazement. Even if this place was within the Imperial Castle of Ermano and the opponent was the emperor, it was extremely rude to tear up the treaty agreement.
“No matter how much I tell you, you can’t do this. You’re tearing up state documents. I will formally protest against this.”
The atmosphere turned grim. If he had a weapon, he would have picked it up right away. Ermano’s servants were also nervous, but Mabel was just carefree.
“Lord Tristan.”
“yes.”
“Didn’t you say that the document was not forged?”
“That’s right.”
“But in Jim’s eyes, it looks like a forged document. uhh look at this part here Give it to Daddy!”
Taking the document from Esteban’s hand, Mabel pointed to a certain area. Ermano’s servants saw that part, but most of them could not read it. Because Ermano was used as the official language of the continent, few people knew Langard.
“…Your Majesty, do you know Langard?”
“You thought you wouldn’t know, but you brought me a document written in Langard?”
“…”
Mabel’s every word was like an awl. Duke Tristan cleared his throat and looked at Mabel’s point.
“Article 4 The Langard Empire receives the possession of the Cartoem region, including the Montpil Islands, from the Kingdom of Orphe in return for aggression. right?”
Mabel, who had read the treaty like flowing water as if reading her mother tongue, raised her head innocently. Ermano’s servants murmured.
“Now, did you know that Your Majesty learned Langard?”
“I had no idea.”
Esteban didn’t know either.
“Mabel. When did you study Langard?”
“I studied on my own.”
“…”
“….”
There was silence. To be able to read the texts of other countries at the age of only nine. Today, Mabel’s dream of dethronement was a hundred steps away. Unaware of that, Mabel stared at Tristan Ball with a serious expression.
“Don’t you feel anything about this treaty?”
“What’s the problem?”
Whew. Mabel sighed.
“This is the ‘received’ part. It is written that the notation was changed when the Langard Dictionary was compiled 35 years ago.”
“…!”
“So it’s manipulation.”
At Mabel’s insistence, Prince Tristan had to work hard not to show embarrassment.
‘Why on earth do I know the notation changed 35 years ago! A foreigner too!’
It was a fact that even Tristan himself did not know. If it is true, there is no more claim. Duke Tristan, driven into danger, made a hole through which to escape.
“It must have been used even before compilation because the notation changes to the way people use it often.”
“hmm.”
“First of all, why don’t you check the documents at the time of compilation 35 years ago and then proceed with the negotiations again?”
“What if I manipulate it again?”
“It won’t happen, so don’t worry, Your Majesty.”
“But as long as the issue is whether or not it’s a fabrication, the Langard Empire has lost trust in me.”
No matter what he said, he left no room for escape. Contrary to his soft appearance, his speech was an iron wall.
‘It’s worth studying with the new dictionary and the old one.’
In addition, Mabel knew about this negotiation first. In any case, it was my own territory, so I had a sense of responsibility. Mabel’s confirmation kill followed like a flame.
“Isn’t the treaty concluded between Langard and the Kingdom of Orphe in the first place an unequal treaty that threatened the crown prince’s life? At that time, there would have been no content about disputed territories. It was probably added later.”
“….”
“Besides, it is the territory of the Langard Empire, so can you explain to me why the tribute is paid to the Kingdom of Orphe?”
“Hehehe.”
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
“…”
Duke Tristan, who led the delegation, shut his mouth. Day 1 attending the Mabel negotiations meeting. Negotiations are concluded at the same time as the meeting begins.
***
Although he dared to covet territory with fabricated documents, he decided to turn a blind eye to the fact that he readily admitted the truth and that he had entered into a marriage alliance with Langard.
“I will not hold you accountable for manipulating the documents. However, there should be no claiming sovereignty over disputed territories in the future. At the next negotiating meeting, we will conclude a treaty on this. Do you have any objections?”
“doesn’t exist.”
“From now on, I hope you will spend comfortably until Jim’s birthday.”
“Yes…”
Like Mabel’s Hahae, the negotiations ended without holding the Langard Empire accountable. The meeting ended, and the Langard delegation returned to the villa torn in tatters like the treaty documents that Mabel had split in half. The nobles of the council left first, and Esteban was sitting with a serious expression on his face.
“dad. Aren’t you going?”
“Dad has something to think about, so I’ll go later.”
“okay? Then I’ll go first. It’s snack time!”
Mabel waved her hand and left the conference room. Esteban touched his forehead and groaned. Then Pacifica approached him.
“Are you old-fashioned?”
“no. Okay.”
“Do you have any concerns?”
“It’s a concern…”
“Is it a concern about the Emperor?”
“yes.”
Esteban nodded seriously, and Pacifica’s expression hardened even more. After a while, Esteban sang Pacifica in a low voice.
“Long Donovan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Mabel…”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t you grow up too well?”
“…”
“It’s a true feeling of emperor. I can’t be this proud. He will become a great emperor in the future.”
Esteban spoke in an admiring voice, and Pasifika replied firmly.
“no.”
“what?”
Esteban’s expression turned bloody. Pacifica continued unfazed.
“You are already a great emperor.”
“ah.”
Esteban, who hadn’t even thought of that, nodded in self-reflection.
“My thoughts were short.”
“You just need not repeat the same mistakes.”
“okay. Heed my duke’s words.”
Gustav was the only one listening to their conversation in the conference room where everyone had left.
‘I think I know how those two lived as a couple.’
Gustaf kept silent, thinking that he was the only one listening. Since silence was the only means to protect Duke Donovan’s honor…
***
[As the lady said, I approached Duke Tristan of the Langard delegation. You don’t know how much I suffered because I didn’t come out of the castle.]
“I’ll give you a bonus.”
[Loyalty! After all, Duke Tristan was also skeptical of trading in magical materials. Since you can trade with the Devlin Empire, you don’t need to venture.]
“Devlin’s fucking empire.”
The plan for Devlin’s slow downfall was still in the works, but no noticeable progress was made.
[The Devlin Empire is still quiet. According to the report from Sejak, who planted it, the emperor of Devlin was in critical condition and was bedridden and went into confinement
.
[haha. He also speaks very nicely.]
“Are you being sarcastic, Casey?”
[It can’t be. Can you die from being hit by the master?]
“Anyway, if anything happens, call me.”
[Nep-nep.]
Communication cut off. Time flies by and November is already over. Full winter has come. Now that there are only two months left until my birthday, I have not been able to properly enjoy the continuous peace.
‘Veron is too quiet.’
It was really strangely quiet. Is it the night before the storm or is it really peace? Was it so frightening not knowing what was to come? I knew very well why I was so anxious.
‘Because I’m happy now.’
I hoped that this daily life with precious people would not be broken. I looked at Aidan, who was standing guard by my side. In the meantime, Aidan was firmly attached to me and protected by my barrier.
“Aidan. How about a ban?”
“Nothing has changed yet.”
“hmm. okay.”
Veron did not use his hands anymore even with Aidan’s ban.
‘I wouldn’t give up on Aidan with that personality.’
To make matters worse, finding the essence of the tree of creation was also sluggish.
“It’s a tough nine years.”
Giving up on thinking, I stretched out on the bed and lay down. It was then. The nanny came over and told me.
“your majesty. Her Highness Renesmee has arrived.”
“huh. I will go down.”
The Langard delegation came to celebrate my birthday as well as negotiations, so I was still living in the villa even after the negotiations were over. Because of that, it was embarrassing to see Duke Tristan’s face. Of course, the Duke treats me with the utmost courtesy. In particular, Renesmee often came to visit me to see if Hwangseong was bored. When I went down to the drawing room, Renesmee, accompanied by Enrique, greeted me with a wide smile.
“Good morning, Your Majesty. Good morning?”
“huh. The effect of the balm I gave you last time was good.”
“If you say anything, I will make it for you. It’s a pity that the flowers in the garden are gone, but you can always get the petals with the preservation magic.”
“Thanks Renesmee.”
Renesmee’s balm was only allowed to be used after an imperial councilor took it and tested it for toxicity, confirming that there was no problem. I wondered if I had to go that far, but it was one of my father’s guidelines that I couldn’t yield, so I silently followed it.
“Enrique. It’s only one day.”
At my greeting, Enrique smiled and bowed his head.
“It is just an honor to be able to see Your Majesty often.”
Since Renesmee often stopped by, the time to meet Enrique naturally increased. Emily would grumble that she hadn’t been able to get enough sleep to find time during the day, even though she was still busy with work.
‘Enrique’s complexion is still bad.’
Looking for an opportunity to order Enrique’s dismissal, I cautiously took my luck.
“Renesmee. Now the escort is-”
“your majesty. Did you hear that?”
“Yes?”
I cut off my words and Renesmee asked. I was a bit embarrassed, but I thought it was a coincidence, so I just let it go.
“They say a night market festival will be held outside the imperial castle today.”
“Oh, that’s the day.”
Although not an official event, there were times when festivals were held among the people. One of them, today, was ‘the day of creation’ when God created the world. However, that religious meaning has long since disappeared and has changed to just a late-night festival.
“Your Majesty, have you ever been to a night market festival?”
“No, I’ve never been to a night market.”
“Then… would you like to go out with me today?”
“Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”
Day and night were clearly different in level of vigilance to explain only because darkness had fallen. Moreover, if it was a festival with dense crowds of people, the risk increased even more.
“How about going to Ricabelli Street later in the day instead of the night market?”
“But… the night market is only open today…”
Renesmee’s round eyes drooped in pity. My heart of refusal was not so comfortable.
“You should be aware of your identity, Renesmee.”
“Then can I go out with Prince Javier?”
Enrique put on a puzzled expression at Renesmee’s question. If something happened after leaving the imperial castle, it would be difficult for Enrique to deal with it.
“I really wanted to see you…”
The more I did, the weaker my heart got. It was because it was the first time Renesmee had been so stubborn other than the first tea time. As I was silent, Renesmee, who had noticed, lowered her head sullenly.
“I will not be stubborn. I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
He said so, but it seemed that the lingering feelings were dripping. Eventually, weakened, I surrendered.
“no. let’s go Instead, we’ll be taking out a lot of disguised escorts. is that okay?”
“…yes!”
***
“Take Lisa. … Earl Aserad too.”
“huh!”
I got my father’s permission to take out the 20 elite knights directly under the emperor, Lisandro, and Aidan as an escort, and I changed into commoner’s clothes that Larima had brought me. In the late evening when the night began to fall, I climbed into a simple carriage with no imperial patterns and left the imperial castle.
“Has Enrique ever visited the night market?”
“yes. Emily and I would often come out to watch.”
“Shouldn’t Emily have come along too…”
Excluding Lisandro and the elite knights, there were only me, Renesmee, Enrique, and Aidan. It was only then that I realized that I had left without speaking to Oscar.
‘I’m going to get angry again later…’
Now I was worried because I couldn’t solve my anger in any way. This time, as I was thinking of giving him a gift and releasing it, the carriage stopped. As soon as the door of the carriage was opened, a roaring sound poured in. Even though the carriage was built on the outskirts of the main street where the festival took place, I couldn’t imagine how many people the festival street would have. Aidan and Enrique got off the wagon in turn. Next, Enrique escorted Renesmee down, and now I’m about to get off.
“huh?”
Two hands were in front of me. Aidan and Enrique held out their hands at the same time.
‘What kind of situation is this…?’
