Episode 183: A few days ago, Grandia Capital.
“You are truly wise, Your Majesty.”
When Prime Minister Roberts Floyd said that and bowed his head, all the ministers attending the cabinet meeting bowed their heads in the same manner and showed respect.
A familiar sight.
It would have been perfect if it had stopped there.
The same thing was always added.
“Then I will discuss this matter with Count Logan and put it back on the agenda for the next meeting.”
Wiggle.
King Rogers found it particularly annoying today.
To the extent that I raised my eyebrows without realizing it, something that I would normally have laughed off.
I close my eyes for a moment and try to calm my mind.
“Your Majesty, are you uncomfortable?”
The imbecility that did not even notice the monarch’s thoughts was even more frustrating.
No, is he doing this knowingly?
…No way.
‘I guess not to that extent.’
The king suppressed his increasingly nervous thoughts and opened his eyes with a sigh.
“No, no. I think it’s because I’m a little tired, Prime Minister. That’s the end of today’s meeting.”
“…I understand, Your Majesty.”
The Prime Minister bows his head and retreats.
Useless voices continued to trail off.
“We must find someone who will become the mother of the nation as soon as possible, Prime Minister.”
“That’s right. You’re bound to be tired because you’re lonely on a long night.”
“Hahaha. I really should.”
If the subjects were close to the monarch, they might joke like this.
But were we close?
…Since when?
Crack.
bang!
As Rogers could not control his rising emotions and slammed the desk, the battle became quiet for an instant.
However, as the ministers looked at him in confusion, he immediately regretted his actions.
‘Damn it…’
What kind of foolishness is this?
The monarch is showing strong emotions. And for a reason that is not typical of poetry.
“Hmm. When the time is right for marriage, I will tell you first. Yeon-chi is still young, so there is no need to rush state affairs.”
I try to speak calmly.
The wrong person said the wrong thing.
“What Count Falman said is not entirely wrong, Your Majesty.”
Roberts Floyd.
What is your intention again?
The king tried to control his increasingly erratic thoughts and kept his expression as gentle as possible.
“What do you mean?”
“Wouldn’t the future of this country be secured if Your Majesty gets married and produces a successor as soon as possible?”
It’s not wrong.
But why do those words spoken with a smile sound so precious?
Without realizing it, another crooked word came out.
“Do you think I will die before then?”
“Your Majesty. That’s what I meant…”
The Prime Minister, or rather Logan McLane’s father-in-law, being embarrassed created a low sense of pleasure in his heart.
Still, I felt sorry for myself.
Is that why?
My inner feelings that I really wanted to hide suddenly came out.
“Even if I die, it doesn’t matter. Then the person who will become king has already been decided.”
The one who turned a prince who had nothing into a king.
“Your Majesty, how could you say such a thing…!”
If you make that surprised expression, you really seem like my loyalist.
‘That’s pathetic. ‘I…’
The king stood up because he felt like he would look bad if he continued to sit there any longer.
Coogung.
As he left the gates of Daejeon, ignoring the gazes of his subjects, a familiar face greeted him.
“Your Majesty. I will serve you.”
Nod.
Even though he only nodded without answering, Cleo, the faithful royal chamberlain, seemed to have read his discomfort and immediately moved.
Then, after a long walk, I feel like my frustrated mind is relieved a little.
“Your Majesty. Did anything make you uncomfortable at the meeting?”
Cleo spoke with amazing timing.
Yes, I kept him by my side because he has this talent.
The king looked with some pride at the first subject he had promoted.
Of course, that didn’t mean they were in a relationship where they could openly reveal their own shame.
“It’s no big deal.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Sosin just seems dull…”
“No, there’s no need for that. How can you not be stressed when discussing national affairs? It’s a common occurrence. A common occurrence…”
The king is the king. But I have this dirty feeling, like I’m not a real king.
okay. It was just a common thing that I’ve felt often lately.
“Then shall we raise medicinal liquor as usual?”
A familiar subject skillfully relieved my frustrated mind.
“So be it.”
Yes, if I don’t have this little comfort, I’m so frustrated, how can I live?
* * * Squeak.
The moonlight shining through the window brightly illuminates the office, and the small moon floating in the glass quietly soothes the mind.
The mistakes I made in Daejeon today especially stuck in my mind.
‘There’s still a long way to go. ‘I…’
continues.
The burning sensation that went down my esophagus quickly washed over my chest.
I feel like my stuffy chest is being pierced.
“Cleo.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A faithful servant standing far away near the gate immediately bowed his head.
“What was the name of this drink? It tastes particularly good today.”
“It’s called Flamma, one of the famous brands of the Empire, Your Majesty.”
“Flamma?”
“Yes. They say it means flame in ancient language.”
Stop.
“…Yes. That makes sense. Was this the drink you recommended?”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“I’m sorry. I’m complimenting you. Haha.”
“Here comes the Emperor.”
“I am grateful to Duke Hwang. There is nothing that comforts me more than this drink.”
“….”
Grumble.
As I filled my glass again and lifted it up, the moon, which had risen before I knew it, was pleasing to my eyes.
but.
‘Fireworks….’
By chance, that name reminded me of someone.
Is that why?
Words that I wouldn’t normally say came out of my mouth again.
“What do you think of Logan McLane?”
Was it too sudden a question?
Cleo’s complexion hardened slightly. But soon.
“He is the number one contributor to ending the civil war and upholding His Majesty.”
It was a standard answer that would be similar if you asked anyone in the kingdom.
If we add a little more, some will say that he is a hero who saved the country.
“Yes. That’s right…”
The person who changed the kingdom despite being only a few years older than him.
And the one who made himself a king from nothing.
I am definitely grateful and I am definitely someone who should be thankful.
“Why am I…”
Is he annoying?
A complaint mixed with self-deprecation.
It was an embarrassing statement for anyone to hear, so I just swallowed the last words alone.
Then, I got angry again because I thought why should I, the king, be in trouble, and I started laughing because I felt sorry for myself.
At some point, the pervasive moonlight and starlight seemed more lonely than beautiful.
And only a few days from that day.
An incident occurred.
“Kill me!!”
Nearly twenty masked assassins burst out from deep within the garden of the royal palace’s inner palace.
A situation where the king, lost in thought, was accompanied by only minimal escorts to organize his thoughts.
Fortunately, Lewis Hyon, the swordsmith’s right-hand man and top knight, was included among the three guard knights.
“Protect Your Majesty!”
Advanced three. Intermediate fifteen.
Louis, who had assessed the enemies in an instant, entrusted the king to two senior knights and jumped towards the enemies.
He thought that quickly dealing with enemies was the top priority.
And the choice was right.
“Aaaah!”
“Monster!”
“Don’t back down! Kill the king!”
I don’t know how he got into the deepest part of the palace, but there was no one among the masked men who could stop Louis.
Lewis, who instantly killed seven masked men, began attacking three masked men who were presumed to be superiors at the same time.
And the two senior knights of the Knights of Esperanza who had been left by the king’s side were also perfectly blocking the attacks of the masked men.
And eventually.
Skag.
“Ahh!”
When Lewis’s sword emitted red light once again.
The right arm of the person presumed to be the leader of the attackers fell off, and at that moment, the person stepped back and screamed.
“Everyone retreat!”
“Where!!”
Lewis followed right behind.
“Eat this!”
Flash!
Two other masked men took out scrolls from their arms, tore them apart, and threw one to Louis and the other to the king.
“Stop it!!”
Louis’ complexion hardened as he felt the unusual flow of mana.
Rumbling.
The magic that unfolded along with the loud sound of thunder blocked Lewis’s vision and senses, turning the surrounding area into pitch black darkness.
I instinctively stopped chasing and turned to a defensive stance.
‘…No attacks?’
As the tension and suspicion piled up, the magic effect disappeared, revealing a half-ruined garden.
Lewis’ gaze quickly turned back.
“your majesty!”
A sigh of relief came out of his mouth along with an exclamation.
One of the men was charred and staggering about as if he had been hit by some strong magic, but fortunately the king was safe.
Then, what caught my eye again was the appearance of the garden that had been dug up here and there at the moment of that brief skirmish.
Yes. Just a completely ruined garden.
‘What about the body?!’
A small trace of blood was all they left behind.
Those who attacked the king even retrieved the body of their comrade and escaped?
Moreover, if you have such a powerful scroll, why don’t you use it from the beginning? Were there any restrictions?
All kinds of questions raced through Lewis’ mind.
But rather than that, assisting the king came first.
Louis quickly approached the king, putting aside the doubts in his heart.
“Are you okay, Your Majesty?”
At that question, the king looked blankly at Louis.
An expression of shock that hasn’t gone away. However, the king soon seemed to come to his senses and nodded.
“Ah ah. Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for your hard work. Call the priest quickly. We have to save Lord Tenin first.”
Louis nodded immediately after confirming that the king was not injured.
“Yes, thank you! Hello! Is there anyone here?”
He shouted loudly to call for people, but no one came, and it was only after Peron, another senior knight, went outside the garden and called for people that people began to flock.
It was revealed later, but the incident occurred at the moment when the shift order of royal garden guards was completely messed up by someone.
The attempted assassination of the king that occurred in the deepest part of the royal palace immediately caused an uproar in the inner palace.
* * * Boom!
“Is it possible that we can’t find any traces?!”
The trembling hands clearly expressed the anger the king was feeling.
At the time, I was just embarrassed and dazed, but as time went by and I realized that I was almost dead, I reached the limit of my patience.
And in the face of that anger, Chason Riverfield, the lord of the royal magic tower, bowed his white-haired head and calmly continued speaking.
“I erased the traces with magic. Other than the blood shed by those who became corpses at the scene, not even a trace of blood was left behind. Life Tracking Trace tracking spells no longer work for all purposes. It’s not like there were any superhumans among them, so they must have prepared thoroughly in advance.”
“So you can’t find them?”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
At the fiery look in his eyes, Chason Matapju only lowered his head and stood next to him in his place. The swordsman received the king’s words:
“It is not time to blame the owner of the Chasen Tower, Your Majesty. First of all, we need to stop rumors from spreading. The country may become chaotic not long after you ascend to the throne. I will personally punish those responsible and speed up their recruitment.”
“Can you guess who they are?”
“…Maybe they are a group of followers of the 1st royal descendant who disappeared.”
When Logan the Sword Master took over the royal family, it had already been done. He mentioned the only royal grandson who had disappeared.
“Clavis? “You mean that child?”
“Among the knights of the 1st Prince’s faction at the time, there were quite a few who disappeared along with the 1st Prince’s grandson. If I had to really ask, I think they would be the most influential.”
“Queu. Well, I guess it’s good. The Grand Duke, please do your best to find the culprit. Whether it’s Clavis or not, our goal is to thoroughly eradicate it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,
Your Majesty.” How should we catch those who couldn’t find a trace even with magic?
Before worrying about such things, the swordsman simply lowered his head.
First, he had to appease the monarch’s anger. .
“I will double my escort force for a while. “ Go away now.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
The king’s expression as he left the office was not good.
He entrusted the handling of the situation to the powerful men at the top of the kingdom, but his mood did not improve at all.
‘If the royal magic tower lord can’t find it. …’
It meant that there was a high probability of not being able to find an object to resolve this seething anger.
“Your Majesty. I will serve you.”
The road leading from the king’s office to the bedroom was now escorted by knights rather than members of the palace.
The king was able to relax a little when he saw the face of Louis, who had made a great contribution to protecting his life.
“Your Excellency, you will be able to exterminate them. Please don’t worry too much.”
Even if he says something that no one will believe.
“Okay. I understand.”
I felt my mind calming down a little.
I nodded and started to walk, but suddenly a strange thought occurred to me.
“Clavis, so even if the first royal grandson is safe, are there any nobles who would want to follow him?”
“…Yes. ?”
“No, no.”
The king shook his head in haste, surprised by the thought that came to his mind.
But his thoughts had no choice but to continue.
‘If you want to make Clavis, who has no power, into a king, you can’t just kill me. There’s no way Logan and the Sword Dukes will admit it. In that case, we have to defeat McLane and the Grand Duchess Esperanza. Are there fools who would join forces?’
No matter how much he thought about it, it was nonsense.
Then, the inferiority complex that had recently been deep in his heart rose to the surface again.
The man with red hair and red eyes and a confident face seemed to be looking down at him again.
“Lewis.”
“Yes.” “Your Majesty.”
“If I die in this situation, who will become king?”
Louis could not bear to answer that question.
The king’s expression only grew more and more stiff.
And a few days later,
Logan McLane arrived in the capital.
