Chapter 201. Prison Named Lullaby (1)
“Bibung-!”
A loud alarm echoes from the lakeside of the Eastern Mountains.
The morning of the Countess of Prontera began with the voice of Vibeongi.
Lloyd’s eyes also lit up.
“haha.”
As soon as you open your eyes, what you see is your own bedroom.
It was not as fancy as the royal villa or the guesthouse of the sultanate.
Instead, it was cozy.
I was used to it.
How much I missed the bedroom in this mansion during the 6 months or so I was on my way to the Sultanate.
“Brother Lloyd? Are you awake?”
As soon as this side made a sign, a voice cautiously asked from outside the door.
The voice was also familiar and welcomed.
“Come in.”
The door opened slowly.
Emily, the maid, pokes her head through the crack in the door and laughs.
“I brought you breakfast.”
“thank you. Did you wait a long time?”
“no. little bit.”
“It’s a big deal. You must have waited a long time.”
“no. I waited really long. are you okay.”
Even the scent of the breakfast that Emily had brought to the tray was welcome.
Bean soup that won’t burden your stomach, boiled and shredded chicken whole wheat bread and two sausages, half-cooked fried eggs, a piece of goat’s milk cheese, and even warm milk.
It was a simple morning that was not typical of an aristocratic family.
Still, Lloyd liked this the best.
‘Compared to the high school days, it’s a buffet, a buffet.’
Breakfast that is too luxurious is a no-go here.
It’s burdensome both for the stomach and for the mood.
So, this is just fine.
“thank you. I will eat well.”
“Your son. When you finish eating, I’ll come clean it up.”
“huh.”
“Oh.”
Emily stopped as she put down the tray and was about to leave the bedroom. I looked around. Bash once again.
“I’m glad you came back safely.”
“…uh.”
Emily slipped out of the bedroom before she could say anything.
Lloyd looked at the bedroom door for a moment.
Is this how an insider feels?
This feeling of being welcomed by everyone.
It’s not bad.
No, to be honest, it’s good.
‘This is why I like this place.’
A smile came out of nowhere.
I suddenly remembered the first time I came here.
At that time, everyone’s eyes looking at me were so cold.
As if I saw a human I couldn’t see.
As if he had encountered the troublesome truth again.
The feeling of being awkward, wanting to avoid, and not wanting to get entangled was conveyed intact.
Those gazes were transformed into such a warm welcome.
who?
just yourself
‘I’ve been working really hard.’
There is no reason why people’s attitudes have changed.
Because he worked hard and worked hard and made that much result.
So, from now on, I wanted to live comfortably while sucking on the honey pot I made with that effort.
‘you can do it.’
How many problems have you solved so far?
He paid off Youngji’s debt and stopped the monster Domino.
Refugees were accepted and settled.
epidemic was prevented.
He secured ample funds and avoided war with the Sultanate.
‘I got it all sorted out. who? I. so now i’m going to play Goodbye to the sickest Nogada. I will live like a building owner while lying around for the rest of my life. The king doesn’t have to call me. I just need to come up with a plan to make sure that doesn’t happen.’
Lloyd picked up a fork, solidifying his new hope for the future (?).
Enjoyed a simple but delicious breakfast.
I enjoyed the first day of my honey sucking life.
I took a walk in the morning.
I enjoyed the warm and moist sunlight of early summer.
Along the way, I also met familiar faces.
A rebel faction from the Sultanate.
However, those who have now come to exile and become residents of Frontera Territory.
They were Termez and rebel officers.
“I’m glad everyone arrived safely.”
They said they arrived here about five days earlier than here.
It was said that it was not possible to move quickly because it was a journey with family members of all ages and genders, but thanks to the protection and guidance of turtle necks and bone guards, they were able to safely cross the desert and secretly cross the border.
Even after that, the first day of honey sucking life flowed happily.
What if the morning was a nice meeting time?
The afternoon was a more welcome time to pick up the courier.
“this…What was it all about?”
around lunchtime.
Dozens of carts entered the Prontera estate.
It was a cart full of large chests.
I was worried that the wheel might come down.
Seeing that, Count Frontera opened his mouth wide.
It was then.
“Mr. Lloyd Frontera? Are you here?”
The man leading the lead wagon shouted in front of the mansion.
At that cry, Lloyd ran like the wind in front of the mansion.
“yes! going!”
When receiving a courier, it is prompt.
With as much excitement and joy as possible.
I have signed the receipt.
Immediately the workers began unloading the chests from the carts.
“What the hell is this?”
Count Prontera, who was watching the scene, stuttered and asked.
A smile crept across Lloyd’s lips.
“A courier, or a valuable shipment.”
“Delivery?”
“yes.”
Lloyd nodded.
The Count’s ears snapped open.
“There was pottery, silk, rugs, spices, and what else. Anyway, they are all specialties of Ahinsha, the capital of the Sultanate.”
“…of Ahinsha? Specialties?”
“yes.”
“Who the hell sent this?”
“I am.”
“under?”
“I sent it. When I went to Ahinsha.”
Lloyd’s smile grew wider. And he briefed the count on the money he had made in Ahinsha.
“…That’s how I hired a merchant ship and commissioned the transport.”
“You mean you brought me here via Cremor Harbor?”
“yes. I think I did a really good job doing that. You must have chosen a good merchant ship. It was such a long distance, so I was worried that the goods would arrive on time.”
“….”
Lloyd smiled innocently.
Seeing that, the Count was at a loss for words to stop.
All of the items in that many chests are specialties of the East, such as pottery and silk.
“Then what should this father do?”
The Count gulped and caught his spirit.
Lloyd’s answer, as if he had been preparing, came back immediately.
“I think you can find out where the seller is. In the royal capital Cremo Namaran and so on. Of course, it won’t matter if you don’t sell them all at once.”
“That would be it.”
The Count nodded.
At a glance, it was a huge amount of specialties.
Can I sell them all at once?
That’s not the case, thought the Count.
‘It would be really nice if there was a vendor like that. However, even some of the largest merchant companies won’t be able to afford to pour that amount of money at once.’
In addition, demand for special products, especially luxury goods, is limited.
It is said that there is a set of consumers who have the purchasing power to purchase them.
So, you can’t sell it unless you sell all of it at once.
“I see what you mean. Yes, leave it to this father.”
“Yes, it doesn’t matter if you dispose of it slowly and little by little, so don’t overdo it.”
“okay.”
The Count nodded and patted the shoulder.
I felt a sense of admiration for this.
A smile came out of nowhere.
Like that, Lloyd eagerly received the courier(?).
The goalkeepers were called in and boxes of special products were piled up one by one in the warehouse.
After that, the day went by.
“Whoa. It seems to be a bit more human now. yes?”
As he came out of the storage room, he looked behind him and asked.
Xaviel, who stayed by her side silently all day, was there.
However, the guy still had no answer even after being asked this question.
“what’s the matter? What’s wrong?”
“….”
It’s not that it wasn’t, but Xaviel’s expression wasn’t very good.
If I had to put it in one word, it looked like someone who had stepped on dog poop before he even took off the tag of his new expensive sneakers.
Lloyd’s eyes turned mischievous as he looked at Xaviel.
“Tsk. There’s something going on. yes?”
“….”
“What. Are you dissatisfied with me again?”
“yes.”
The answer finally comes.
Lloyd’s lips curled up.
“You are dissatisfied with me. What is your complaint?”
“….”
“Looking at him still keeping his mouth shut, he must have really gone mad….”
“Is Lloyd-sama’s lullaby free?”
under the setting sun.
Xaviel tilted his head to one side in a gruff manner.
He turned his dark eyes towards this side.
“I believed Lloyd-sama’s lullaby was something that required a considerable price.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That woman.”
“Serazad?”
“yes.”
Xaviel nodded.
Shining more intense flounder eyes.
“You will remember the first day you arrived in Kandara. Lloyd said that right after he first sang a lullaby to Miss Serazade. Lullabies aren’t free. I don’t know about you right now, but I’m sure you’ll get a decent price for a lullaby.”
“Yeah it was.”
“But what is this?”
“what?”
“In the end, Lord Lloyd didn’t get anything in return from her.”
“Um, do you think so?”
“yes.”
As they walked side by side, Xaviel’s harsh words continued.
“I bet you don’t want to take it as a reward for easily receiving the help of the rebels instead of putting her to sleep.”
“huh. of course.”
“Then what did you receive?”
“The woman’s future.”
“…yes?”
Lloyd’s reply came back calmly.
At those words, Xaviel hesitated.
Lloyd’s lips were looking at me, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
“Once again, my lullaby is expensive. Because I pledged her future.”
“…What does that mean?”
Xaviel tilted her head.
Mortgaging Serazade’s future with a lullaby?
“You mean that she will give up her future for the lullaby?”
“Uh, roughly.”
Lloyd nodded.
“Miss Serazade has tremendous talent. Those of you who have directly clashed swords will know that. yes?”
“yes.”
“How exactly did you feel?”
“It was a talent that would surely become a sword master within 20 years.”
“that’s right. I think so too.”
Lloyd grinned.
It’s real.
Xaviel’s assessment was true.
In fact, Serazade was introduced that way in the novel Iron Blood Knight as well.
He is said to have a talent comparable to that of Alicia, King of Magentano.
He said he would definitely become a sword master within 20 years.
‘But that talent never blossomed.’
The reason was simple.
He died before that.
‘I fought until the end to protect the sultan who was driven into rebellion. Until the last moment, hoping that his father would approve of him. Even in a situation where I could retreat, I made an irrational number.’
It met such a disappointing end.
The flower of brilliant talent could not bloom.
But now?
The story has changed.
It was because of the qanat he made.
‘The rebellion won’t happen anymore. The drought in Kandahar has been resolved because of Qanat. Because the people’s dissatisfaction has been put to rest. Therefore, the Sultan will not be surrounded by rebels, and Serazad will not die fighting to protect the Sultan.’
That means she won’t die.
He will survive stably and reach the level of a sword master within 20 years.
“So it is.”
said Lloyd.
“There is a potential enemy in our country who will become a sword master within 20 years. Besides, she’s the sultan’s daughter. Someday in the future, the moment when we aim our sword at our territory may come. Can you just leave it alone?”
“that….”
“Of course I have to use my hands.”
“How do you mean?”
“Either take that sprout as mine, or if I can’t get it, I’ll take medicine to make it grow less.”
Lloyd’s grinning smile suddenly turned evil.
“Now our relationship with the Sultan has improved. But there’s no guarantee that it will happen 10 to 20 years from now. After all, they are potential enemies. That’s it. I sang a lullaby to Miss Serajad every day while I was in Kandara.”
“…You made it a habit.”
“Oh did you notice already?”
“Because I am the one who suffered that way.”
“that’s right. answer.”
Shrug your shoulders casually.
Lloyd’s words continued.
“She listened to the lullaby for over four months. Thanks to you, I was able to sleep soundly. But now? The lullaby suddenly disappeared. You will be very upset. Because I can’t sleep well.”
It’s true.
Insomnia that suddenly returns during a good night’s sleep.
You will struggle with that rapid change.
“Perhaps I would rather think that I liked the days when I didn’t know lullabies. because. I have tasted the lullaby. I know what comfort is. So now I can’t go back to the old days. It has changed from the past when I endured sleep deprivation with evil and gang.”
“…Did you remove the miasma that would break the wall of Sword Master Syndrome from her?”
“uh.”
Lloyd nodded his head as if to affirm.
It’s true.
whatever it is
Even a person who used to tolerate discomfort and get by with it will change after experiencing comfort once.
If you get used to using the remote control, you will live with the remote control every time you watch TV.
Even people who have endured well with only a fan cannot get out of the front when they taste the air conditioner.
Stoves, cars, elevators, the Internet, and smartphones are all the same.
‘Even more so if it’s a sleep that directly affects the body.’
Serazade, who was suffering from Sword Master Syndrome, must have felt the same way.
Severe insomnia that gave me pain all day long.
In the past, I would have endured it as if it were natural.
Even in such harsh conditions, he must have been training hard and raising the level step by step.
But then, all of a sudden, I got a taste of the lullaby.
I found the ultimate in comfort.
“So I can’t go back to the past. You won’t be able to raise your level by exerting the same vigor as before. Well, of course, you might be able to use your unexpected potential to regain the vigor you had before, but that will take a lot of time.”
“Does this mean that the time to become a sword master will be greatly delayed?”
“Uh. If you don’t come here.”
“Are you serious?”
“uh.”
“…Lloyd, you really are.”
“You can curse.”
“….”
Lloyd looked back and calmly raised the corners of his mouth.
Maybe it was because of its appearance.
Xaviel fired at Lloyd with the most intense curse he knew.
