Chapter 193. Between kidnapping and fishing (3)
“Your Highness’ Special Envoy’s Lloyd Frontera and company have arrived.”
“Stop by.”
This is the royal palace of Magentano.
A majestic voice resounded from the training ground in that luxurious center.
Soon, the door to the training ground opened.
“….”
Termez, the rebel leader of the Sultanate, unknowingly swallowed dry saliva.
He couldn’t come to his senses at all.
It was confusing.
The door that opens right in front of my eyes.
A view of the wide-open training ground.
The image of a red-haired woman standing tall in the center.
Everything felt so unreal.
The image of himself suddenly following Lloyd and kneeling down on one knee toward the woman was also terribly unrealistic.
“Lloyd Frontera, the son of Arcos Frontera, would like to see His Highness the King.”
“Damietta Thermes of the Sultanate of Sud welcomes the King of Magentano.”
Could I have stuttered?
Or maybe I misspelled the greeting.
I’ve been practicing dozens of times since I arrived at the palace. I was not the only one who was worried that I would make a mistake.
However, his mouth moved wildly and he brought out a greeting.
I couldn’t check myself to see if I was wrong or if I didn’t stutter.
Termez just took a deep breath and tried to calm the tension.
Then, suddenly, I remembered what had happened in the past few days.
‘I didn’t know that I would really come here.’
Was it the night five days ago?
It was he and his comrades who had kidnapped Lloyd Frontera.
Lloyd, who appears to be the Sultan’s nemesis.
They said they kidnapped him and interrogated him.
To uncover the intention of doing good to the people of Kandara.
To find out what the Sultan is up to.
They said he had a strong heart and kidnapped him.
‘But I never dreamed that I would receive such an outrageous offer on the spot.’
Lloyd Frontera.
He said that he had made a proposal to the kidnapped subject as if he had been waiting for it.
Hand over all the tunnels the rebels use as hideouts. Only then can the drought be solved by constructing an underground waterway.
What if you accept it?
He offered to accept asylum in his domain so that he could avoid harm from the Sultan.
does not make sense.
never imagined.
I have been making such an offer.
Naturally, I snorted at first.
‘Because I didn’t have faith.’
It was the point at which there was no evidence that Lloyd was not the Sultan’s helper.
so i didn’t believe it
How can you trust that offer?
How would you prove the veracity of that proposal?
asked harshly.
Then Lloyd’s answer was a masterpiece.
‘I asked King Alicia to get an asylum permit.’
Of course I thought it was crazy.
The comrades next to him thought so too.
But what did Lloyd say then?
‘If you don’t believe me, you’ll continue to suffer from drought in this city from now on.’
Those eyes that looked this way with a pathetic look.
It was because of those eyes.
What reminded him of the drought that covered his hometown.
What reminded him of his young son who was dying of thirst.
The self who was completely helpless in front of him.
The resentment, despair, and sadness of that day revived and cut my heart.
Maybe that was it.
‘…good night. let’s go check it out together Just don’t even think about surviving if there’s even the slightest lie in that offer.’
Glaring at Lloyd as if he were going to chew on it, he accepted the offer.
That’s how I set out on a journey with Lloyd.
I wasn’t worried about being beaten by Lloyd.
Because I was confident in swordsmanship.
They rode such a bizarre and big bird and flew together.
moved diligently towards the west.
In the meantime, the thoughts in my heart have changed little by little.
Crossing the desert, still doubts.
I was curious as I crossed the mountain range.
I was surprised inside as I crossed the border in Magentano.
And today I was finally shocked.
It is like this now that he is facing the King of Magentano.
“Are you the rebel leader of the Sultanate who came with Lloyd Frontera?”
flinch!
A low voice awakened Termez’s consciousness, which had been locked in thought.
Thermes shook his shoulders involuntarily.
“Yes yes! That’s right!”
I answered in a loud voice without even realizing it.
A bitter smile formed on King Alicia’s lips.
“Okay. Jim has no intention of harming you, so you need not be overly nervous.”
It doesn’t hurt.
A word that is low but powerful and trustworthy.
At last, the excessive tension on Termez’s shoulders was slightly relieved.
He dared to raise his head slightly.
I glanced at King Alicia’s figure for a moment.
‘That woman is the real king….’
Alicia Terrmina Magentano.
The king of the Magentano royal family and a sword master.
Rumors had been heard countless times.
It is said that he achieved the status of a sword master at a relatively young age.
It was also said that he overcame numerous political conspiracies and struggles and seized the throne.
Truly ignorant.
Wasn’t there a lot of political power there as well?
‘But I didn’t expect it to look like that.’
I thought I would greet myself sitting on a luxurious throne with a look full of authority.
But did you actually come?
It wasn’t.
King Alicia had a muddy appearance.
Dressed in plain training clothes.
The boots and knee pads were covered in sand and mud.
There was nothing different about a top.
Although it wasn’t mud, it was sweaty instead.
His shirt, which was originally brown, was so sweaty that it looked black.
Besides, what about the towel hanging around your neck?
What about the long sword in your hand?
The handle was full of hand grime.
All of them were much closer to those of a knight fresh out of training than to that of a king.
The place where he greeted himself was also like that.
‘I wonder if he was training until just now.’
Behind the towering King Alicia.
Knights were lying all over the vast sandy training ground.
Each of them was groaning, clutching their arms, legs, shoulders, etc.
The number seemed to be about fifty.
He must have been beaten up by that woman just now.
‘That’s what a sword master is like.’
There was no way that the knights in the palace would lose their skills.
That woman who used 50 such people for practice and rolled them to the ground with a single sword was a monster.
And he came to meet such a monster in order to be granted asylum.
‘Is this really real?’
Thermes breathed again.
I didn’t really feel the situation right now.
King Alicia’s laugh flowed toward him.
“Amazing.”
The king’s eyes moved.
I turned to Lloyd, who was kneeling alongside Thermes.
“Lloyd Frontera, long time no see.”
“Your surname is indescribable, Your Highness. I am truly delighted to see Your Highness John An.”
“really?”
“…I swear it comes true. So, even though I was in the distant Sultanate, I didn’t come running like this with one single thought to meet Your Highness.”
“Tsk. The obvious flattery against Jim who dared. According to the law, you should be staying in Ahinsha, the capital of the Sultanate, by my order, but why are you here right now in my presence?”
“Could you please tell me briefly?”
“Tell me in detail.”
“I will honor your order.”
Lloyd fell flat on his stomach.
And the long explanation began.
Everything was told in a step-by-step order with as much detail as possible.
When the explanation is finally over.
There was a slight wrinkle between King Alicia’s forehead.
“…So, in summary, the sultanate was very neglectful of my special envoy, and you signed a construction contract with the sultan for the purpose of breaking the neglect and starting negotiations, and you needed the rebel leader’s cooperation to successfully carry out the construction? ?”
“It is, Your Highness.”
“So Jim wants that rebel leader to be granted asylum?”
“Your surname is indescribable, Your Highness.”
“Gratitude is impatient. Jim hasn’t granted your request yet.”
“Ha-oh, but I, Lloyd Frontera, firmly believe in the virtues of Your Highness, such as Ha-hae.”
“Tsk. How far can your shamelessness go?”
“Your surname is indescribable, Your Highness.”
“That bastard’s everyday surname.”
King Alicia stopped laughing.
I tried to hold it in, but the laughter came out on its own.
Lloyd Frontera.
Seeing that absurd man’s even more absurd behavior, I couldn’t help but smile.
‘okay. In a situation where the rebels’ cooperation is needed, the surest way to prove that you are not the sultan’s helper is to come to me.’
But to really bring a rebel leader from an enemy country here?
A bold idea?
anyone can think of it.
What was surprising was the crazy level of execution that really turned that bold idea into action.
‘Is this bold or fearless?’
If it’s not that, I’m not the type who doesn’t choose the means and methods for the purpose.
Alicia’s wry smile deepened slightly.
“Lloyd Frontera.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You are truly a loyal subject without any spoils.”
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
“No, there is no need to apologize. Anyway, what you did today is also an act to complete the mission given to me by assisting the work of the special envoy from a big perspective.”
“You counted the small person, and your surname is ruined.”
“Tsk. Stop having sex that is not even in your heart. If so, would it be possible for Jim to grant the author an asylum permit?”
“It is, Your Highness.”
Lloyd fell even flatter.
Alicia called left and right.
She recited the contents of the permit, and the palace staff filled out the paperwork.
just 5 minutes later.
An official asylum certificate with the king’s official seal was placed in the hands of Termez.
“…Now, if you have this, you and those who follow you will always be qualified to become Magentano’s people.”
“Your last name is ruined.”
Thermes trembled and took the permit.
I had snorted inwardly when I heard Lloyd’s words five days ago in a warehouse outside Kandara.
‘I can’t believe that words will become a reality.’
It felt like a dream.
That feeling continued after that.
Even when I bowed to King Alicia and retreated.
In the meantime, it was the same when King Alicia summoned Lloyd.
“…It’s Lloyd Frontera. Since we have met like this, Jim has something to tell you.”
“What are you doing, Your Highness?”
“The warlock Cannavaro you captured in Namaran.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Sooner or later, the interrogation on him seems to be over. Perhaps at that time, I may have something to call you to the royal capital to help me.”
“…Are you referring to the small person?”
“It is true. Or are you reluctant to be called by Jim?”
“Of course not.”
“yes?”
“It is.”
“that’s right. It should be. It would be so if you see that he came to pick up his luggage like this today. For you, luggage will always be something you want to meet. Isn’t it?”
“Of course it comes.”
“Hmm. It looks like your eyebrows just trembled.”
“Ah, this is because the small person has been overworked these days.”
“Flying day and night to see Jim?”
“It is.”
“So you mean that next time Jim calls, you’ll fly all day and night like this time?”
“Of course I come.”
“Again again. My eyebrows were trembling.”
“It’s also because of overwork.”
“Right. It must have been because of overwork.”
“It is.”
“okay. It should be. You should never be that nasty, selfish person who comes to see Jim only when you need him. yes?”
King Alicia gave a somewhat behind-the-scenes smile.
Lloyd hurriedly withdrew from the palace with a sweaty smile.
“Whoa.”
After safely (?) escaping from the king’s training ground.
Lloyd let out the breath he had been holding back.
And I looked back at Thermes.
“How is it. Do you have some trust now?”
“….”
Thermes moved his gaze without speaking.
A piece of paper in his hand.
It was an asylum permit stamped with King Alicia’s official seal.
A smile came out without me knowing.
“under. To think this would be real.”
“You didn’t know?”
“Whoa. I didn’t know sincerely.”
“Then will you accept my offer now?”
“of course. I will yield all the tunnels.”
Thermes nodded.
Now, there is no reason not to believe in this wacky boy in front of you.
What if there are people in the rebels who still don’t believe him? He even made up his mind to bring his own lunchbox and follow his comrades around to persuade them.
“Then are you going back to Kandara now?”
“Yes, it should be. Just like I said when we left.”
“11 nights and 12 days. right?”
“yes. If the weather continues to be good, we might be able to go back a day earlier.”
“I guess so.”
“Yes, it is.”
The two walked towards the outside of the palace in silence for a while.
Then, suddenly, Lloyd laughed.
“Come to think of it, haven’t we had a formal exchange of names yet?”
“hmm?”
“I formally greet you. I am Lloyd Frontera, the eldest son of the Countess of Frontera, loyal to the Magentano royal family.”
“….”
A hand reaching out towards you.
Termez also reached out.
Shaking hands with Lloyd, he said.
“This is Damietta Thermes, a prospective exile to the Countess of Frontera. Good luck in the future.”
“great. Then there will be no kidnapping between us.”
“Of course. You are going to be the ruler of my future residence.”
“Then you won’t be hitting your forehead with a stick in the middle of the night?”
“…I am very sorry about that.”
The rebel leader, Thermes, laughed awkwardly.
and six days later.
Thanks to Kkomingi’s diligent flapping of wings, Lloyd was able to return to the desert city of Kandara with Thermes.
Now to end the long drought.
Backed by the active cooperation of the rebels.
It was time to start full-scale surveying for the construction of qanat.
