Episode 83
“No, my prince. It is an honor to meet you.”
“What is glory? I am honored. I got to meet such a young hero.”
“That’s an overstatement. I was just lucky enough to meet a good teacher and achieve a small achievement.”
“Haha. If that’s a small achievement, what becomes of someone like me?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Besides, you didn’t just use personal force, you saved the family from danger and expanded the world. You are truly a talent worthy of being called a hero.”
“…thank you.”
Logan was a little embarrassed by the unexpected situation.
He is a prince who knows the circumstances of a baron on the border who is of no interest to the general nobles of the capital.
When Logan turned his head to look at his teacher, the swordsman shook his head slightly.
It means he didn’t tell you.
“The Duke praised me so highly, so I was personally curious and looked into it. Did I perhaps do something rude?”
“No, I just want to thank you for your undeserved interest.”
“Really? That’s good. Oh, don’t stay like that. Please sit comfortably in your seat. Duke, please sit here too. It’s hard to be too polite when we’re alone.”
The prince points to the seat right in front of him with an easy smile.
Logan was a little embarrassed, but when his teacher sat down next to the prince without any objection, Logan also had no choice but to sit in front of him with a small sigh.
I don’t know where or who prepared it, but the prince personally placed a teacup in front of his teacher and me and poured tea with a faint scent.
Again.
“Oh no, Your Highness!”
“It’s okay. Just stay.”
“Huh…”
“I like meeting people. Especially young and talented people like Sir Logan. But I can only do this because I am worried about the opinions of my two older brothers, so a cup of tea can’t replace rudeness. Please accept it with sincerity.”
Although his words conveyed the difficulties of being born as the third prince and living a life of caution, there was no hesitation in his attitude and his tone was also full of confidence.
It occurred to me that the reason his teacher praised him for being brilliant and was rumored to be a king was not simply due to his brute force talent.
‘I was hoping that even if it wasn’t as good as the rumors, it would definitely be better than Prince 12.’
It seemed like the expectations had already been met.
“…I will gratefully accept it.”
A smile comes out naturally.
“Given my personality, it doesn’t suit me to talk back or drag on the story. I’ll get straight to the point.”
Perhaps because the prince was young, he was much more direct than expected.
“I don’t know about Lord Logan, but the fate of this country is at great risk right now. The nobles are splitting the country in two and fighting each other to eat the other half. There has been no direct use of force yet, but it is a bomb that will explode at any time.”
I know when it might explode.
Logan listened silently, hiding his true feelings.
“Those guys who don’t even care about the lives of the people. They are the poison that will ruin this country. That’s why I need talent and power. The power to drive out the poison that is eating away at the country!”
The prince’s expression showed desperation as he gritted his teeth.
“Prince!”
However, the teacher’s expression hardened quickly upon hearing those words.
“Your Highness. You clearly told me that there is no coercion.”
“Of course, Duke. How could I, a powerless prince, force the swordsman’s disciple?”
“That’s not what I meant… huh…”
The prince, who had silenced his teacher with just one word, turned his gaze back to Logan.
“Then I heard news of Gyeong. At the age of 21, he was already a senior knight. A war hero who had already led two wars to victory. Even the swordsmen here declared that he was not as good as Gyeong at that age.”
Looking at his teacher, the swordsman cleared his throat and turned his head, even though he was embarrassed.
“Logan McLane. Genius of the century and treasure of the kingdom. I want someone as talented as you to support me and stand up for me when the time comes. Can you do that?”
Along with the highest praise I’ve ever heard in my life, came the inevitable question that left me with only one option.
‘What I hoped for.’
But even if it wasn’t what I was hoping for, how could I say no here?
No matter how weak the three princes were, they would be able to easily destroy a small local fiefdom just with their status as a prince.
Logan smiled to himself and slowly opened his mouth.
“I also deeply sympathize with Your Majesty’s opinion. After meeting you in person, I also know that there is absolutely no truth to Your Majesty’s rumor that He is the ‘only’ King.”
A smile gradually spreads on the prince’s face, and the swordsman looks at the two with a complicated expression.
“But it is difficult to comply with Your Highness’s wishes right now.”
Logan poured a bowl of cold water.
“…Is that so? I don’t see a possibility after all.”
The prince made a sad expression, but Logan calmly shook his head.
“No. There is a good chance.”
“hmm?”
“At least, it is a well-known fact that the two princes above are not showing a very desirable appearance.”
“Logan! That’s a matter for you to address…”
“It’s okay, Duke. Lord Logan. Please continue.”
“…If you show me just the basic qualities, I think the prince will at least get your will.”
Of course, that will soon lose its meaning.
“However, as the heir of the fiefdom, I have a duty to protect the family. And our fiefdom is currently in conflict with Count Bipros. He is a powerful enemy that we cannot handle. In such a situation, it is not my situation to blindly respond to the prince’s call. “There are difficulties.”
“If Bipros, is he a member of the Two Princes faction? A margrave of the southwest?”
In front of the frowning prince, Logan smiled confidently.
“Give me just a little time. After defeating Bipros, I will lead the entire family and become the prince’s strength.”
And you too can become my sword.
Let’s bow our heads, hiding our true feelings.
Only then did a smile fully bloom on the 3rd prince’s face.
“Hahaha. That confidence is also that of a swordsman’s disciple. Okay, I’m looking forward to it. Let’s see. I should at least give you a gift on this great day….” “
Just my heart is enough. I will only receive the gift after I have done my best.”
“Hehe. I’m starting to like this person more and more. Okay. If that’s the case, I’ll prepare a surprise for you too. You can look forward to it.”
A heated atmosphere. Logan smiled and took the hand the prince held out.
* * *
“What were you thinking when you said that?”
The way out of the safehouse where the 3 princes were.
After walking in silence for a while, the teacher suddenly asked.
“yes?”
“I mean, I will follow the Third Prince.”
“Uh… did I tell you that clearly? I just want to overcome Bipros in the future and then…”
“You damned guy. Isn’t that what you meant? Or are you going to say that I defrauded the prince? ”
“Haha. Isn’t that what you said all because you believed in your teacher?”
“Huh…me? Didn’t I say I can’t guarantee you anything?”
The swordsman’s eyes became complicated, but Logan just smiled and continued.
“Life is an adventure anyway. The greater the risk, the greater the gain.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Ah. As you know, Master, our family is at loggerheads with Biphrus, and we are practically enemies with Kairos, the first prince faction. There is no other way.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to choose neutrality?”
“You’re still young, aren’t you? Still, you should take a big shot.”
Despite Logan’s sly words, the swordsman still asked back in a serious manner.
“So is that really all there is? I don’t think so.”
“…Why do you think that?”
“I don’t think you’d jump into something you have absolutely no chance of winning. If you have any thoughts, please tell me openly. Maybe I can help you?”
Blue eyes staring at you. Logan asked with a serious expression, filled with curiosity.
“Master, which of the three princes do you think would be best to become king?”
“It is not a matter for me to judge. It is a matter for Your Majesty to judge.”
“And the interests of the nobles will also become entangled. Many nobles will move in pursuit of the whereabouts of the next person in power. Just like the current 12 Prince faction.”
“That also has nothing to do with me.”
The swordsman’s voice was firm, but Logan continued speaking calmly.
“Is that so? But my opinion is different. I have heard this before. Prince 1 is the one who will become a tyrant and ruin the royal family, and Prince 2 is the one who will become a tyrant and ruin the country.”
“…Who dare say something like that! It’s something that offends the royal family and both duchies. It’s not something you should say carelessly!”
‘You said that in your past life.’
Although these are words of lament that came out during a civil war in a past life, they are not that far from now.
Naturally, Logan was confident that his teacher’s current thoughts would not be much different, so he was able to easily say his next words.
“Anyway, I believe that. I don’t know how far Prince 3 will grow, but I think he will be better than Prince 1 or 2 at best. What do you think, Master?”
“As I said, I will judge…”
“I respect your loyalty, Master, but I don’t think loyalty to the principles always benefits the country. All I want to hear right now is your opinion. That’s too much. Isn’t it true?”
Logan’s red eyes gazed quietly at his teacher.
The person who received that gaze hesitated for a moment, but soon expressed his honest true feelings.
“…I’m not that different from you either.”
‘it’s okay!’
In this way, the tacit consent of the swordsman was obtained.
Of course, it is still just a seed being sown in the heart of a loyal swordsman.
However, the tree of thoughts created from the seeds of words also changed people’s thoughts.
It is not known whether the seed will germinate or whether it will grow into the desired tree.
When something unexpected happens, you will be able to at least induce some kind of flow.
So Logan watered the seeds he had sown with his wishes.
“Your Majesty is probably hoping that the third prince will grow up to be a better person than his two older brothers. That is probably why he appointed Master as his guardian.”
“…But that doesn’t mean I can officially support the Third Prince.”
“You don’t have to do that. Just…
” “Just?”
“Just like now, you just have to protect the 3rd prince until he comes of age.”
There will be an uproar before that.
“…I originally thought he was a shady guy, but now he is. I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
The night came to an end amidst the swordsman’s empty laughter.
* * * It was only a two-month period.
In that short time, Logan achieved a lot.
He checked the king’s condition and met the three princes. They formed a relationship.
Philip sent a commercial trip to prepare supplies for the civil war, and in order to facilitate the process, he obtained a map of commercial routes and connections through Kairos and even received a promise of cooperation. In
addition, he acquired a talented person named Eilen and received another gift from his teacher. Since he had learned the secret techniques, the purpose of coming to the capital had already been fully achieved.
Therefore, Logan no longer felt the need to stay in the capital.
The invitation from the 12 prince faction that kept pestering him was also a problem.
However, such calculations Separately, this moment was extremely regrettable.
“Aaaah!”
“See you again soon, Oma Stella.”
Logan, who carefully stroked the cheek of the crying baby as if he knew they were going to be separated, handed the swaddle to the nanny with full of regret
. Hi.
“Huh.”
“Hehe.” “It seems like Stella really likes you.”
“I’m a bit popular with babies.”
I could feel Rick looking at me with a puzzled expression, knowing full well that the only babies Logan had ever held in his life were Ronian and Stella. Logan was shameless.
First of all, it was true that they both liked him, so it wasn’t a lie.
“That’s right. “Father, this guy is so sad.”
“Hey.”
That’s what he said, but the teacher’s face as he patted the child just smiled and showed no trace of sadness.
“I hope you’ll be safe until we meet again.”
“Okay. Again on a good day. “I hope we can meet,”
the swordsman prayed, leaving his regret behind, but knowing that it would not be long before this familiar peace would be shattered, Logan only gave an awkward smile.
“Let’s go, prince.”
Logan said at Rick’s urging. I walked steadily,
because there was still one place left to stop in the capital.
