◈ 162. [Side Story]
It takes three days from the New Terra Cross Road to the Ecliptic New Terra.
In terms of flight time, it takes less than a day, but it is because you have to periodically land on the ground and check the aircraft and recharge it with horsepower.
I had to spend most of these three days sitting in my seat.
The officers took care of me like an attendant, so I didn’t feel any discomfort, but at this point, my back started to hurt.
“Huaam… When are you arriving?”
It was the first time I had been nervous, and now I wanted to arrive as soon as possible and bump into the high-ranking officials of the ecliptic. Put it down for a moment!
How senselessly was I wasting time like that?
I thought the altitude of the airship was lowered, and the panoramic view of the huge city began to be reflected through the window.
“oh!”
I clung to the window with a small admiration.
finally seen
center of this world. largest city in the world.
New Terra, the capital of the Everblack Empire, was appearing with overwhelming majesty.
***
New Terra.
This is a port city on the continent’s inland sea.
As the center of world trade and logistics, the size of the city, which is expanding without knowing the end, is already equivalent to the territory of a small country.
‘I don’t know, but it seems to be tens or even hundreds of times wider than the Cross Road.’
Of course, it was a city that had nothing to see in the game. Because the stage of the game was strictly limited to Crossroads.
Even though I was watching from afar, the city was not usually pretty.
The turquoise waters washed over and crashed into the city’s harbor on the shores of the Inland Sea.
The clear sun shone on the water droplets that scattered and scattered them.
Fishing boats and merchant ships rushed in and out of the port, and from there, carts carried their cargo nonstop into the city.
The neatly organized roads stretched all over the city, and countless people were moving along them.
‘Since the country’s name is Everblack, I thought the capital would be dark too.’
It wasn’t. On the contrary, it was a dazzling white and splendid city.
but.
“… !”
The Imperial Palace, located right in the center of the city, was black, befitting the name of the country.
The appearance of the palace, lined with black spires as if sucking in the light, caught my eye.
The flying ship I was on was flying towards the imperial palace. I quietly muttered the nickname of the palace.
“The palace of thorns… .”
Other non-empty ships that were guarding the sky over the imperial capital slowly moved out of the way.
The Imperial Special Task Force Alcatraz and its two frigates, which I was on, slowly slowed down and landed toward the Imperial Palace.
***
thump… … !
The hatch opened and I slowly pulled myself out of the nostril.
“Hmm~!”
The first air of the ecliptic was warm.
Come to think of it, summer is slowly approaching. Is it natural for the day to be full like this?
An old man dressed in a neat butler’s attire was waiting for him at the landing pad of the flying ship in the imperial palace.
The old man politely bowed as I approached.
“Welcome, Your Highness the Prince. I was waiting.”
“Uh, so… .”
“This is Alberto, the chief chamberlain of the imperial palace. long time no see.”
Alberto.
One of the people Lucas talked about.
He is a strict grandfather who manages the imperial palace. Did I mention that I have been doing this since before I was born?
‘I have to say hello… … How can I do it like the original Ash… … .’
After hesitating for a while, I finally screamed because I didn’t know.
“Aye~! Kkondae! It’s been a long time! Are you still active at that age? Don’t strain your joints and retire quickly!”
“… .”
Silence passed.
Alberto, as well as the other servants who were waiting with me, looked at me in fright.
I was frozen in a cold sweat with my arms raised.
Are you too temperamental? Can’t it be that cheap is not like this? Should have been a bit more polite trash?!
“Your Highness… .”
But no.
“You have worked hard in a far away place, and you have matured a lot… To be able to receive such a gentle greeting from His Highness… … .”
“Ughhhh… ?”
“Seeing Your Highness mature like this, Alberto is just thrilled.”
Alberto took a handkerchief from his bosom and wiped away his tears. What is he saying now?!
‘No, Kim Ash, how did this bastard usually greet you? I shuddered at this shit, but now that I’ve matured, I’m sane, so I’m mature, are you listening?’
It seems that there is a gap that can’t be bridged between Ash, who was a natural fool, and me, who is a jerk.
Is this the difference in talent… … ?
“Come here, Your Highness! Since you have been home for a long time, I will guide you personally.”
Anyway, unintentionally showing a polite (?) appearance, I was guided into the palace amidst Alberto’s hospitality.
The place where Alberto guided me was a detached palace located on the outskirts of the imperial palace. It was quite a distance from the main palace, so we had to go for a long time.
Alberto, who had been walking in the lead with my luggage, opened the front door of the villa with his own hands.
As I entered the detached palace building, I involuntarily shed an exclamation.
“Wow, is this my house?!”
Then Alberto turned pale and lowered his head.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Upon hearing the news of Your Highness’ arrival, I cleaned up diligently and put on new decorations, but it didn’t seem to meet Your Highness’s high aesthetic standards… … .”
no what are you saying! It’s so damn gorgeous! I was genuinely amazed! Don’t be twisted!
Anyway, the detached palace was magnificent.
The Manor House of Crossroads was too large for me, a petit bourgeois of the earth, but it seemed three times larger and ten times more splendid than that manor house.
I groaned at the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and the jewelry hanging on the walls.
Even if you sell only this royal villa, you will get a few months worth of military funds from Cross Road!
“Then rest in peace. It’s dinner soon, so I’ll prepare a meal.”
“Wait a minute, Alberto.”
I hurriedly grabbed the old butler who was about to leave. Alberto looked back, puzzled.
“Yes, Your Highness. Anything you want me to do?”
“Nothing else… Didn’t you say something from your dad or brother? see you when… … Or something?”
“yes. You didn’t have any special words. Her Majesty and the rest of His Highnesses are always busy, but they seem to be even busier these days as they are preparing for a big event.”
big event? What else is that?
“Perhaps the word will come sooner or later? Please wait.”
“Um… do it Thanks for letting me know, Alberto.”
I said hello without thinking, and Alberto looked at me with frightened eyes. Suddenly coming to my senses, I screamed.
“It’s okay, hurry up and get some food!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Only then did Alberto bow again with a clear face and go outside.
Great Ash Kim! Even such a grandfather has been teaching (?) like this!
Shrugging my shoulders, I entered the palace. Okay, let’s take a tour of my house.
Every time the servants who were cleaning inside or doing their own work ran into me, they were startled, backed up, or screamed and ran away(…).
I decided not to care too much. It’s all achievements that Ash has accomplished, what can I do?
I looked into every room in the villa one by one.
It was because I felt the need to figure out the structure since it was where I would be staying while I was in the ecliptic.
‘I was worried that I would be put in jail as soon as I arrived, but that’s not the case.’
It feels like they are treated properly for what they brought in, creating a tough atmosphere.
Even if it rots, it’s Junchi, is it because it’s the royal family anyway? It was the first time I appreciated Ash’s background.
Past the wine cellar lined with a kitchen and wine cellar, a closet full of luxurious silk clothes, a large bath and a small library.
I entered a room with a luxurious bed. It must have been a bedroom.
‘The bed… … scary big… … .’
When I put my hips on it, the entire bed swayed as if it had been filled with water.
Frightened, I quickly got up. I-ssi, the royal family’s taste!
There was a small desk in the bedroom, and on it was a row of framed portraits.
Most of them were portraits of Ash. Maybe it’s because he’s from the royal family, so he drew a lot.
One of the frames was tipped over, so I picked it up without thinking and set it right away.
‘hmm?’
Inside the frame was a portrait of a young Ash in the arms of a woman.
The woman’s face is quite similar to Ash’s. Maybe Ash’s mother?
‘They said Ash’s mother had already passed away.’
Lucas was reluctant to comment further. I’m afraid there must be something deep that I can’t tell you, but… … .
“… .”
Looking at the portrait even though she wasn’t my real mother, I felt strangely emotional.
I carefully put the portrait face down on the desk again.
***
Restaurant. dinner time.
Alberto served the meals himself, and almost scooped them up for me one by one, like a child.
Do the royal family eat like this? Or is Ash a special case?
Anyway, I couldn’t do this the entire time I was in the imperial city, so I just said that I would eat it myself, and Alberto wiped away tears with a handkerchief with a moved face.
“To be able to see Your Highness so grown up… … You are truly great. Bulcho Alberto did well to be alive until today… … .”
No, no matter how young the prince is! If you are old enough, of course you should eat with your own hands! How can you be moved by something so obvious? I’m all grown up, so stop verse 2 and verse 3!
The meal was delicious.
My chef at Crossroads isn’t bad, but the skill level of the chef in the imperial family was different. Umm Mimi~ Yeomi~.
And while I was eating, I was able to talk about this and that with Alberto, and among them, I was able to hear an unexpected story.
“It’s a victory party… … ?!”
“yes. It is an event to commemorate the end of the war with the Principality of Bringer.”
Alberto looked at me with a slightly puzzled look.
“Your Highness didn’t come back for this event either… … ?”
no i didn’t know I had no idea. I was only half-forced.
The big event that the imperial family was preparing was none other than a victory party for the war against the Principality of Bringer.
The official reason I was summoned to the ecliptic was to attend this party.
I was dumbfounded and ran my hand over my chin.
The war isn’t over yet, is it? I couldn’t catch any dukes, and guerrillas are happening sporadically. Is this a victory party?
‘In short, that’s it.’
Externally, there must be a reason to declare that the war is over.
There is also a need to rectify the atmosphere that has been disturbed by the war with a long-time ally.
So, I was advertising everywhere and preparing for the event, but I immediately started trolling and declared that I would apply for the Principality of Bringer.
From the perspective of the 2nd Prince Fernandez, who is the Minister of Administration, he urgently calmed me down and sent reinforcements, while at the same time arresting me from doing anything else until the event was over.
‘Now I can see how things are going… … .’
Grumpy, I nodded at Alberto.
“So when is the party?”
“It’s a week from now. We set the schedule for the return date of 1st Prince Lark.”
1st Prince L’Arc ‘Avalanche’ Everblack.
The commander-in-chief of the empire, the commander of the western front, and the undefeated knight who spearheaded the operation to destroy the Principality of Bringer.
‘Will I see the first prince this time?’
Unexpectedly, all members of the imperial family gathered together to have a discussion.
I swallowed, feeling that the plate was getting bigger than I thought.
I had no intention of doing it this far. If possible, I wanted to go back after only seeing the 2nd Prince Fernandez.
‘Let’s think positively.’
If a lot of people gather, the number of people who will send support to the southern front will increase.
Whether money, soldiers, or heroes, Crossroads always desperately needs support.
‘It’s a party after all… … .’
I thought to myself as I held up the teacup Alberto had brought and savored the scent.
‘I don’t know a thing about party manners, am I okay… … ?!’
What can I do? In a situation like this, I have no choice but to trust Ash’s asshole and break through!
