Episode 165
EPISODE.83
The Princess’s Outing.
It was also an outing, not an outing within the royal capital.
If it was an ordinary event, it wouldn’t be strange if there was a commotion. however, contrary to what was expected.
There was no fuss.
Since it was not an official state event, the princess herself wanted to minimize the disturbance as much as possible.
So, the preparation has to be simple.
Of course, even if it was simple, it was an expression from the royal family’s point of view.
Hwaaak-.
A bright halo of light illuminated the hall, and Hecate, dressed like any other noblewoman, drool.
“Hmm…”
He stared back with a slightly uncomfortable expression.
“…The pretext of escorting me is good, but this way you will stand out too much wherever you go.”
He opened his mouth while looking at the dozens of Royal Guards following him.
“Since today is not an official event for the royal family, why don’t the gentlemen change into their everyday clothes and follow them more than dozens of paces?”
“Haona, Your Highness the Princess. That’s…”
At that, a high-ranking member of the Royal Guard opened his mouth. He must be talking about the safety of the royal family and all.
Shuk-.
Hecate moved a step and cut him off.
“I am fully aware that the sutras are saying that out of concern for my safety. But isn’t today different from usual?”
With his thumb and forefinger, he grabbed the hem of Russell’s clothes standing next to him and gave a small smile.
“Count Russell Raymond, a 6th Circle mage, is right next to me. In order to threaten my safety in such a situation… at least a superhuman-level strongman would have to come.”
Sending a superman to assassinate the princess of Endymion in the middle of the city in broad daylight?
“Even if it’s an empire, I don’t think it’s going to do something crazy like that… What do the Lords think?”
At the princess’s question, the eyes of the royal guards all turned to Russell.
As their eyes turned, a tired young man with black hair and red eyes cleared his throat with an embarrassed expression.
“Hmmmm…”
The Royal Guard, who had previously spoken out against it, sighed lightly.
If he denied the princess’ words here, that would be like ignoring Count Raymond’s ability.
The achievements of a man named Russell Raymond were too much for that.
‘Isn’t this the man who blew off one of the arms of a superman even when he was in the 5th circle?’
Of course, the detailed inside story was a little more complicated than that. Anyway.
Even that was not enough, and Russell accumulated countless feats and even reached the 6th circle.
There wouldn’t be many people who could threaten the safety of the princess while she was with such a man.
That’s why the Royal Guard man sighed and took a step back.
“All right. We will also disguise ourselves in plain clothes and follow suit. majesty.”
“Thank you for accepting my insistence.”
“Instead of…”
“…?”
“Can I increase the number of knights following me a little more?”
It means that I want to make the formation of the escort wall a little tighter as much as I increase the distance.
“As much as the Lords listened to my insistence, I should also take a step back.”
Hecate smiled and nodded.
“Let it be.”
.
.
It was about thirty minutes after Russell and Hecate exited the space where the warp gate was.
It was after the reinforcements requested by the Royal Guard arrived.
The number of Royal Guards increased in that way, doubling from the beginning to thirty.
‘From the moment I leave this place, they will follow me at a certain distance.’
If they focus their senses, they should be able to easily catch the presence of those following them.
With that thought in mind, I was on my way to the first floor where there was an entrance.
creak-.
The creak of the old stairs.
Hecate, who was walking in step with Russell, pursed his lips.
“My dear.”
“yes. Hecate.”
“Did I say that the meeting with the mayor was scheduled for this evening?”
Whatever the case may be, the reason Russell wanted to tour the estate was because of his official duties.
He needed to meet the mayor who was managing the three cities that currently occupied the majority of the land area.
A smile spreads across Hecate’s mouth as Russell touches the tip of his chin.
“Then, until then, I can look around the city with you.”
I’m not even a child, but why is my heart beating so fast as if I had a favorite toy in front of me.
“Hmmmm.”
Concerned that the sound of her chest might be leaking out, Hecate cleared her throat slightly.
In the meantime, the new model of the two escapes the building with the warp gate.
Hwaaak-.
A cool wind blew.
The sound of people living is heard from everywhere, as the wind blows and the hair moves here and there.
“Come over here! This is what is popular in the royal capital…!!”
“We have honey cookies! They even have candy!”
“This pork should be enough, but could you get some more alcohol? They say tangerine beer is so popular in the southern region these days…”
From merchants who open stalls to sell goods, to restaurant owners preparing lunch.
Various people were adding vitality to the street by continuing their daily lives.
This is one of the three cities that Russell was bestowed by the king.
It was the city of Westel.
Only three cities were enough to raise Russell to the ranks of quasi-great lords at once.
As such, the size of each city was also considerable.
Westel was a particularly large city.
‘It’s not classified as a big city for nothing.’
There was no large farmland that yielded a good harvest every year like the Earldom of Reinkel.
Nevertheless, Westel was able to grow into a large city for two reasons.
‘The first of them is the waterway.’
In carrying goods, waterways were as important as land routes.
By the way, there were as many as three rivers flowing through the city of Westel.
As many merchants flocked to it, it was only natural for the city to develop.
‘And the second…’
-!
Without continuing his thoughts, Russell reached out his hand.
He gently embraces Hecate’s shoulder dance and at the same time pulls her body into his arms.
As if water is flowing, a series of movements continue smoothly.
Squeak chin-.
Suddenly, Hecate buried her face in Russell’s chest and muttered in embarrassment.
“That you…!?”
Half a beat later, a cart loaded with goods passes by Hecate.
Even if it was left alone, it wouldn’t have been a big accident, and Hecate would have been able to avoid it on its own, but still, just in case.
“are you okay?”
“I am fine.”
Hecate stammered and corrected the disheveled shape. Then, he slowly turned his head.
It was because he was worried that Russell would find out about his flushed face.
‘This… looks similar to the scene in the novel I saw then.’
Before getting engaged to Russell.
A love story on the market that one day borrowed from a lady-in-waiting.
[Tame a younger man]
Part of the content came to my mind.
‘I thought it would be a normal day for a man and a woman to spend a day, but I never thought it would be reproduced like this.’
Originally, it would not be a big deal, but the scene in the novel comes to mind and I become conscious of Russell for no reason.
Hecate cleared his throat and fanned his hands at the feeling that his face was burning.
“Hmmmm.”
Leaving the bewildered Russell behind, he looked around to find a place to change the subject.
Fortunately, there was one nearby that was perfect for a conversation topic-.
“More than that, the Westel Academy is starting to come into sight.”
A huge academy building with a red dome roof spreading out at the center.
That academy was the second reason Westel was able to establish itself as a big city.
It is a perfect match for Walkerhill Academy.
‘A prestigious school that produced an excellent wizard named Niccolo Machiavelli…’
Westel Academy.
Of course, as of now, the window tower and salt tower stock were not enough, so there was a tendency to fall behind Walkerhill Academy, which produced Russell and Allen.
Even so, the fact that Westel Academy is one of the best in Endymion cannot be denied.
“hmm.”
After staring at the unique roof of the academy for a while, Hecate opened her mouth. He said, calming the red color on his face.
“Have you thought about why His Majesty gave you the city that includes the academy as your territory? Are you?”
Unlike Walkerhill, Westel City has been governed by the direct involvement of the royal family.
In fact, it is safe to say that it is under direct control of the royal family.
‘The fact that the city I was directly managing until now was included in my territory-.’
It’s just that it’s too late to notice because it’s a problem I’ve never thought about before.
Russell’s thoughts, which have begun to open, begin to converge toward one direction at a rapid pace.
The sharp reason and rational intuition he accumulated as a wizard.
“No way…”
The two came together and Russell quickly came to a conclusion that could be called the correct answer.
“Are you a person?”
What is the reason why great nobles can maintain their title for a long time and maintain that much power?
Money, personal connections, or military force.
There must have been several reasons.
And people… Talent was one of the reasons.
No matter how much money and connections you have, it won’t be easy to maintain him if there is no one to support you from below.
It was not for no reason that many aristocrats put in effort to recruit even one more talented person.
And the academy was one of the right places to recruit such talent.
“I thought you would notice.”
Hecate nodded with a satisfied smile.
“It is said that a lot of wealthy merchants and sons of nobles enter the academy, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be said to be all of the academy.”
Poor but talented.
Or, those who had the passion to surpass that talent were also able to enter the academy.
“Isn’t it the academy in my estate? It shouldn’t be that difficult to get a report on such students.”
With one more word, she concluded.
“Perhaps His Majesty wanted the Raymond family to reestablish themselves as strong allies of the royal family even before you became friends with me.”
The conversation I had with King Alfonso Ratmos the day before came to mind.
Although the royal family was not directly involved in the case, the report was fabricated.
Did I say that the Raymonds felt sorry for the situation they were in?
Proof that the words weren’t lying.
‘…Westel Academy.’
There was a goose there that might ‘lay’ a golden egg.
dragon-swallowed wizard
