Chapter 161. A person supported by His Majesty the Emperor2021.08.17.
One hot summer day. Cumulus clouds floated across the blue sky, and as the ground surface heated up, haze rose. People were anxious to avoid the scorching sun by walking only under the shade cast by the old trees. Sitting in my office, looking at the scenery outside the window with my chin on my chin, I muttered involuntarily.
“Refrigerator air conditioner…”
“What did you say?”
“Supply…”
“Cold… What?”
Gustav said, ‘What? Are you cold?’ I asked, but instead of answering, I fell into deep anguish.
‘Dad is self-centered.’
My name was coldly omitted from the final list of swordsmanship contestants I had written and submitted only a few months earlier. This was entirely due to my father’s objection. No matter how much it was, I was very opposed to sending me to the sword competition, and I eventually succumbed to my dad’s opposition and dreamed of a rebellion pretending to be stubborn.
‘joy. Do you think I’ll give up easily?’
This year’s competition was also open to any citizen, as long as they had a seat, and anyone could participate. However, since it was a tournament that was usually considered the gateway to young siks, the majority of the participants were noble apprentice knights or new knights. It was also considered to be the exclusive property of the aristocrats, so commoners rarely participated.
‘But there’s no law telling me not to participate.’
A former Korean of will, the current Ermano, Yoon Mabel.
***
Emily Javier. The girl, now called Duke Javier, attended the regular government meeting today as well. Still, every time I came to the meeting place, the memories of the shocking first meeting came to my mind. Isn’t a government meeting usually a fierce meeting in which people with political differences confront each other? Emily imagined the scene too. However, the actual meeting was far from what Emily expected. It was too far.
‘Let’s stay calm.’
It should not be overlooked that parliamentary aristocrats who act like they are stupid are actually figures who roll and roll in the political arena. In fact, among them, there were political opponents who fought with each other and were stabbed with swords. Although now they are strange men who pay tribute to the emperor with snacks and are happy whenever they are chosen… I even saw them secretly sharing snack information with each other. As Emily sat down in her reserved seat, a nobleman from the House of Representatives, who had packed snacks today, greeted her warmly.
“Welcome, Lord Javier. This is a dessert made with overseas special fruits that came into the family this time. Would you like to try it? I don’t know if you’ll like it hehehe.”
“I’m fine-.”
“Is that so? From dawn… the chef worked hard to make it…”
“Then I’ll eat well.”
This country is really strange. Whenever I met them at banquets, I felt strange whenever the big men of the political world, who had a sense of weight, acted as if they were playing house every day. During this time, they were intoxicated with playing house, put down their regrets for each other, and created an innocent atmosphere with the character Mabel as the focal point. It was like a play.
‘This must also be a time of temporary peace created by Mabel.’
Every time like this, Emily used to feel awe at Mabel. While there was still a little time left before the start of the meeting, the nobles who had arrived earlier had a small chat. The topic of conversation was the swordsmanship competition to be held this year. It was held every year, but it was a topic of discussion for everyone because it was a large-scale national event and an opportunity for the family to pay attention to an exceptional prosecutor. Just today, the list of participants in the swordsmanship competition was revealed, which was a particularly good story.
“By the way, the participants in this swordsmanship competition were also very competitive. I can’t wait to see who will win.”
“There was one commoner participant this time. It’s a special day.”
“If you are a commoner, wouldn’t you have a sponsor?”
“That’s right. The sponsor was… an unfamiliar family. Was it a Maya family? Have you heard of the Count?”
“Mei-do, Mei-do. Hmmm I’m hearing this for the first time. It must be a family from a distant province.”
Two aristocrats famous for their feuds talked peacefully, then focused their attention on Emily.
“There is also Sir Enrique Javier on the list this year, Prince Javier.”
“I think Prince Javier will bet on his brother’s victory, right?”
It was related to a bet on the victor of a swordsmanship competition that ran rampant among nobles. Emily smiled sweetly and shook her head.
“no. I don’t make losing bets.”
“haha. Even if it’s your brother?”
“What does family have to do with winning or losing?”
At Emily’s plaintive words, everyone chuckled like a neighborhood uncle.
“Wouldn’t Prince Enrique be heartbroken if he heard that story?”
“Do you have any spirits in mind? Are you trying to flirt with him, Lord Javier?”
Emily smiled brightly at Count Torrik M’s mischievous question.
“Can I interpret the logic that the person you bet money on is the Youngshik you like?
Responding to a naughty question with a naughty answer. Faced with the danger of becoming sodomy, he shyly smiled and took a step back. As the atmosphere suddenly cooled, Emily asked Duke Donovan, who had been silent all along, to ventilate herself.
“Who do you intend to live with, Duke Donovan?”
All eyes turned to Duke Donovan at Emily’s question.
“I do not participate in such bets.”
The blunt answer made everyone think so. Wasn’t it Duke Donovan, who hadn’t even attended the regular meeting until just a few months ago? However, unexpectedly, Duke Donovan added a word.
“But if I have to bet, I will bet Count Aserad. Wouldn’t the count have the highest win rate?”
To say that he would bet on Count Asherad even though his son Oscar Alle Donovan’s name was all over the list. Everyone was surprised, but admitted it inwardly. That’s also true, because the person with the largest bet in this year’s tournament was Count Aserad. Everyone had a common thought that they would have easily won the championship if they hadn’t suffered an out-of-field loss due to an unfortunate incident in last year’s tournament. After chatting like that, it was noon.
“Your Majesty is here!”
Mabel, who appeared not too late, not too soon, took the seat of honor. Now, the big chair has become a trademark, and it looks quite comfortable.
“What were you talking about so much fun? Please let Jim know too.”
To Mabel’s question, the nobles of the Council competed to answer first. It was like kindergarten students trying to impress their teacher.
“Isn’t there a bet on who will win this swordsmanship competition? We were talking about who to bet on.”
“Duke Javier said he would not bet on Prince Enrique.”
“If Duke Donovan bets, he bets on Earl Aserad…”
“Earl Torik M is indigo blue. And that’s because I only chose the young Youngshik-.”
“yes? Misunderstanding!”
The meeting hall, which should have been solemn, suddenly became a venue for friendly chatter. All of this was entirely influenced by Esteban’s absence from the meeting. Everyone is excited like a fish in water as the existence staring at them with twin wicks in their eyes disappears. Earl Torrik M, who protested earnestly with a blushing face, asked Mabel insinuatingly.
“Large. I wonder who your Majesty the Emperor sees as the winner of this swordsmanship competition. Are you also Count Aserad?”
“You mean Jim?”
Mabel pulled out a list of participants in the swordsmanship competition among the piles of paperwork and skimmed through them. There were many names of Youngsik, but the names of three people stood out. Oscar Alle Donovan. Enrique Javier. And Aidan Aserad. It’s only been a year, but a lot has changed. Oscar now took the Donovan family surname. Aidan, who had no family name, was given the title of Earl of Aserad. Enrique was now officially knighted and became a full-fledged knight.
‘Fuckers. They’re growing very well.’
Mabel smiled happily and put down the list of participants. Then he made a shocking declaration.
“I will not bet on Count Aserad.”
Unlike his bright face, the words he uttered were shocking enough to overturn everyone’s expectations.
“Then to whom…”
“Hmm. Jim is Zeke here? I think Lee will win!”
Mabel pointed out the person named Zeke at the end of the list of participants.
“huh. Are you saying you’re talking to a commoner participant?”
“yes. Any problem?”
“Oh no…”
The Emperor predicts the victory of a commoner contestant, not Count Aserad, who is his confidant and a strong candidate for the championship?! The nobles exchanged glances with each other and had a quiet conversation. Some of the people who like to move words looked forward to the meeting ending quickly with their eyes shining. In the midst of everyone’s interest, the curtain on the swordsmanship competition rose.
***
“What? Mabel is sick?”
“Your Majesty. He has a very high body temperature and is breaking out in a cold sweat.”
“A member of parliament?”
“It’s a cold, so he said it’s good to rest for a while.”
At the words of Nanny Lupe, Esteban stopped by Mabel’s bedroom with a worried face. As I got closer to the bed, I heard a really heavy breathing sound. I couldn’t see her face because she was wearing the blanket all the way to her head, but she looked pretty sick.
“It’s a swordsmanship tournament I’ve been looking forward to so much, but I guess I won’t be able to attend.”
Esteban didn’t like the fact that although Mabel could heal others, she couldn’t heal herself. Patting on the blanket, Esteban slipped out of the bedroom to avoid disturbing Mabel’s sound sleep. It’s a pity for those who expect that a girl emperor will appear in front of the people of the empire this year following last year, but Mabel will not be able to fill the position.
“Larimar Xavier. You guys take good care of Mabel.”
“Your Majesty.”
Esteban, who had reached out to the attendant and maid, headed to the arena where the swordsmanship competition was being held. The curtain rises for the swordsmanship competition with the reaction of people who are puzzled by Mabel’s absence. This year’s swordsmanship competition was conducted in a different way from last year. Unlike previous years, which were tournament-style from the beginning, this year, a free match was held on one stadium. The number of participants is all participants. Weapons cannot be used. If the Dan Ermano badge is stolen from the left chest, you will be disqualified. The deadline is until the final 8 people remain. The person with the most badges will be given the benefit of being able to point out the opponent for the next match. There was someone who stood out at the moment when the interest of the audience was aroused by the unusual confrontation method.
“Oh who is that?”
“Is it huge? It’s small and nimble!”
It was a small boy wearing a helmet that covered his entire face. Because of his small body, the contestants around him tried to eliminate him first, but he avoided each time and endured until the end. It seemed to be a strategy to pass the first round by running away without a single attack.
“I think that person is Zeke, a commoner contestant!”
Someone’s shout left everyone in the arena who didn’t know who the boy was. Stay out of the middle of the aristocrats. A small commoner boy, Zeke, who only runs away hard. Its existence set fire to the hearts of the commoners who watched.
“Zeek, do your best!”
“Slap that guy’s face in front of him!”
People enthusiastically cheered for Zeke, who was barely running away. Zeke seemed to be about to lose the badge, but he overcame the crisis every time.
“What is this bastard…”
“Why am I thinning?”
The oppressed aristocrats ran hard to steal Zeke’s insignia, but it was not enough.
‘Why so fast?!’
It clearly doesn’t show any signs of training, but strangely, I couldn’t catch it. On the pitch where all sorts of shouting were rampant, the three leading candidates for the championship were very leisurely. The participants around them noticed and avoided it on their own. It seemed that three islands had formed between the people. There was no need for the three of them to attack nearby contestants in order to get one, since they would avoid pointing at them anyway, even if they didn’t have any insignia.
“Oscar. May I take your insignia?”
“If you want to drop out of this game, do it.”
While Enrique and Oscar were joking, the first match was over before anyone knew it.
“Zeke, this guy. great job!”
“At this point, we’re on our way to winning!”
Contestant Zeke, who did not win a single badge, was also proudly included in the list of survivors. Esteban was looking at the stadium with an insensitive face because he would wipe out anyone who made a ridiculous wish, such as a marriage proposal this year. But Zeke, that commoner boy, was very annoying.
‘What the hell is that guy?’
Why is this body cheering for that commoner boy?
