A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

38 – War on the Table (3)

Originally, I tried to learn from Lord Mente since I was 10 years old.

I tried to recover my skills step by step by receiving direct instruction and sparring.

However, Sir Mente was actually tied up in Morgania.

Although he was allowed to visit Gibraltar regularly and look after me, he had to work as a knight of Morgania for most of the three years.

“Are they letting go of Morgania now?”

“Is that possible? This is the first time I knew the Archduke was such an obsessive person.”

As soon as Sir Mente entered the waiting room next to the drawing room, he lightly moved his wrist.

“I’m glad I grew as much as I received investment, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to walk around with my face in shame.”

“You’re still as tall as ever.”

“Do you want to die?”

Sir Mente’s skills have clearly improved.

“What’s wrong with me, who worked so hard to find a martial art that’s right for you?”

“I couldn’t break the curse and I’m still 139 cm tall.”

“If I become a master, I can become bigger than you are right now, right?”

“Then, I hope you become a master. I’m sure Archduke Morgania also sincerely hopes for that.”

“He seems like an arrogant guy.”

Sir Mente grabbed his wooden sword from the wall.

Unlike ordinary wooden swords for practice, it was a single-edged sword with only one side of the blade sharpened – a ‘sword’.

“Even now, I can ask for the position of leader of the new knighthood.”

“But the reason it was able to grow like that was because I asked for it, right?”

“Yes, yes. Thanks to someone training me in various fields, I was able to discover talents I didn’t know I had.”

Boo!

“You become this strong because you use something else instead of a sword.”

The kingdom has a strong feeling that the sword is the ‘king of all ills.’

“No one could have imagined that with this, he would rise to the second-in-command position in Morgania, right after the Archduke.”

All things other than swords are viewed as trivial or unattainable for mastery, and even among swords, imperial style swords such as ‘blades’ are not treated as mainstream.

“What do you think? What is the sword that Master wields?”

“But you are not a master.”

“Soon. And when I become a master, the Archduke will try harder to extend my contract. Wouldn’t that be a loss for you?”

“I can’t even reach Master right now anyway.”

I grabbed the wooden sword with both hands.

“Even with all my might.”

“!!”

One step.

Taking advantage of the moment when I was caught off guard, I unleashed magical power throughout my body and ran forward, but the sword I swung split the air.

“Dangerous guy.”

Sir Mente was standing at an angle to his side, pointing the tip of his sword at my neck.

I attacked first, but before my attack reached her, she dodged the attack and pointed the knife at her neck.

“The ‘eyes’ are chasing it, but the body can’t chase it. Hmm, it’s still fun.”

“So, I hope my body grows quickly.”

“Really? Hey, I’m looking forward to the day when I can cross swords with the future hero.”

Sir Mente chuckled and retrieved her sword.

I also put down the sword I was swinging forward and picked up the baton placed on the wall.

“Are you going to do that this time?”

“No. I have to serve the queen, so I can’t keep sweating.”

I feel like I want to test my current skills until I’m drenched in sweat like Noir before dinner.

‘He honed his future skills every night for two hours, five times a week on average.’

I want to pour out three years of effort against a truly advanced knight who is stronger than Robert.

‘If she sweats, the queen and the knights who follow her will hate it, so she should restrain herself now.’

But now, my father and Queen Carmen took the time to talk, so I only briefly confirmed the blow.

“After chatting at the mansion, you will immediately go out to inspect another place.”

“Yes. The official schedule includes inspecting the gateway in person, then visiting the orphanage and having dinner there.”

I guess they don’t know that there is a date on the rooftop of the orphanage at night.

“Are you attending the queen after dinner?”

“Huh? No. At that time, I was Viscount Hex. I only had official schedules.”

“I guess you will continue to be my escort until the meal.”

Viscount Hex would probably take action on late-night dates.

He can know and intervene in the relationship between his father and the queen more directly than Sir Mente.

“Grey. Can I show you this while we talk?”

“Yes.”

Lord Mente wraps a fairly wide piece of cloth around the end of the pole.

“One of the honor guard etiquette, the honor guard ceremony.”

Lord Mente swings the baton lightly.

“Nostrum march. There is no music, but it doesn’t matter because the music was created based on this movement anyway.”

Despite its small physique, the cloth attached to the end of the pole flutters and flutters gorgeously.

“This is the end.”

Boom!

When the end of the stick is touched to the floor, the cloth attached to the other end flutters to the side due to inertia.

“Can you show me some other moves?”

“No. That one is enough. After all, I can’t understand it just by looking at the book.”

“Why do you want to know the royal chairman?”

“It’s stylish, right?”

“…I admit that.”

I learn because it’s cool.

There is a reason for this, but it is also an etiquette that I could not learn before returning.

‘They didn’t teach it at the academy, and when I became an adult, Nostrum was ruined.’

Although he is familiar with imperial etiquette from 100 years ago, he is close to being illiterate when it comes to the kingdom.

If you learn something this time, you will be able to use it wherever you go in the future.

“I will keep showing you the movements, so learn them with your eyes. Listen carefully to the questions I ask with your ears, and answer them with your mouth.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Are you trying to betray your mother?”

The motion of stabbing the air with a baton feels like stabbing my heart.

“I am not betraying my mother.”

“But did you think about bringing the queen here? Even though she was pregnant?”

“There is a part of her mother that is a bit afraid of her queen.”

It was like that in the past.

“The queen has committed a sin.”

“The Count did it unilaterally. Breaking off the engagement.”

“Since her mother decided to marry her father, she is also the perpetrator. She stole her father from the queen.”

“It’s merciless. Do you hate the Countess that much?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it.”

However, adding that backstory would be truly betraying my mother.

“If I don’t say anything more here, I’m taking my mother’s side.”

“…What if the Count suddenly changes overnight and commits an affair with the Queen?”

“Fuha!”

Wait a minute, laughter burst out.

“I’m sorry, Master. This was completely unexpected.”

“I’m being serious. The Count is also a human being.”

“Yes, a person. Um… Master. Wait, let’s talk about adding a family to a family.”

I sat down on the sofa and knocked on the spot next to me, and Sir Mente put down his baton and slowly came over and sat down next to me.

“Master, listen carefully.”

“Tell me.”

“Honestly, even if your father takes Princess Morgania as his second wife, what’s the problem?”

“…….”

As soon as he heard this, Lord Mente’s face became filled with astonishment.

“You….”

“You must have heard something from Archduke Morgania. If not, I will tell you here.”

“No, I heard it. But I thought it was a joke…”

Sir Mente’s eyes are shaking.

“Are you really going to do that?”

“If necessary.”

“…There is no justification.”

“Wouldn’t the past actions that have been accumulated so far serve as justification?”

“…….”

Sir Mente lamented, placing his hand on his forehead.

“Then the story that is happening there now is….”

“This is not the second act of a romance play where former lovers meet for the first time in a long time. It may have been Crimson and Carmen when they entered.”

The only conversation taking place inside the drawing room is a political conversation that is like a sheet of thin ice, devoid of any warmth.

“There is only the Margrave of Gibraltar and the ‘Regent’ of Morgania.”

* * *

“Next 7 years.”

Here.

“There is still time left until we can crown Naria as king, Count.”

A traitor plot is being discussed in full swing.

“Can’t you pull more?”

“Pull? How? Even if we mobilize Congress to make a new law, what’s the use if the Saints reject it?”

“He said he usually just stamps it.”

“You can’t just stamp a royal seal when it comes to hereditary succession to the throne. You need a seal with blood on it.”

Hereditary succession to the throne.

According to the kingdom’s laws, the king of Nostrum must be an ‘adult’ in any case.

“Count. Are you planning to repeat history?”

“…….”

“Whether it is a sudden rise, a sudden rise, or a dethronement, if someone who is not of age ascends to the throne, disaster will inevitably occur in this country.”

“Isn’t that the royal curse handed down from the ancestors?”

“But it actually happened, right? Then it’s not a curse, it’s a prophecy.”

Why not just pull it down?

It is impossible.

“It may seem like an absurd spell, but in reality, if it happens about 10 times each time, it is a customary law that must be followed unconditionally.”

“…….”

The Kingdom of Nostrum had several crises for nearly 500 years, the most serious of which occurred when there was no adult king.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what will happen now that the contract with the dragon has been broken, but are we going to repeat a disaster where at least tens of thousands… no, hundreds of thousands of people could die? I can’t do it.”

“Me too. I have no intention of piling up the canyon into a mountain of corpses like in the days of Lord Cadian.”

Is it because the dragon and the progenitor made a contract?

“A minor cannot become the owner of a nostrum. …It is a long-standing custom of the royal family.”

Or is it really an accident that happens repeatedly?

“To be honest, if it weren’t for custom, I would have taken that person down a long time ago. And with Naria at the forefront, I became regent.”

“Sweet cleanliness? Everyone who has done that so far has not had a good ending.”

“Look, Margrave. Who am I?”

“It’s Carmen.”

Among historians, there are some who say, ‘If there is a situation to converge and purify in the first place, the country will be ruined.’

“Yes. All of the women who were pure and clean had bad endings. But if only I died, Naria, who became king, would also die.”

“The next heir to the throne, when Nostrum’s lineage reaches adulthood.”

“Yes. At least I don’t see that happening. Or, do you want my daughter to have a child at around 40? I can’t do that.”

Still, if this has been done without fail for 500 years, it is right to be careful to prevent such cases from happening in future generations.

Especially for people of that time.

“Customs are truly a tiring thing.”

“Laws, procedures, justification, rule after the revolution. If you think about it afterwards, it is right to go like this. If I had just tried to take him down, I would have strangled that person to death right away.”

“If you’re going to do that, call me. I’ve wanted to cut off that guy’s head for a long time.”

“Are you just going to blow off your head?”

“I’ll cut those dirty hands too.”

Queen Carmen laughs.

“So, you just have to wait 7 years. In the meantime, just keep making excuses.”

The Margrave’s expression did not change at all, but he was sitting comfortably on the sofa facing Queen Carmen and leaning back.

“Then…we’ve already talked about why the incompetent king had to be kept alive for 7 years, so shall we talk about what comes next?”

“…….”

“Count. If the incompetent king is purged, I will be alone.”

Queen Carmen crossed her legs and smiled leisurely.

“Will the nobles in the center leave me alone?”

“Would anyone touch the queen’s mother?”

“And what if your father dies?”

“…….”

“Morgania’s power is based on bloodline, property, and information, but the basis is military force.”

Queen Carmen held out her hand.

“If we don’t link up with Gibraltar, we can’t guarantee what happens after that.”

“Are you asking me to be your strength?”

“Of course. The justification is enough, right? Gray Gibraltar.”

“Grey’s story is….”

“Queen Naria’s State Book. It’s the perfect justification for Gibraltar to be brought into the center. Oh, the Earl can stay here. But Gray has to stay in the royal capital.”

Queen Carmen smiled brightly and tilted her head slightly.

“You can either become in-laws with me, or you can marry me. After 7 years, the count will make one of two choices.”

“Do I have to marry my son to your daughter so that I won’t marry you?”

“Of course. Oh, of course it would be good to do both. Genealogy is none of my business, and we are not related by blood anyway, right?”

“…We have to be in a relationship where we can mix things up.”

“Oh.”

Queen Carmen’s posture stiffened at the Count’s self-deprecating words.

“…You’re joking. Count, have you changed a lot as a person? Is it because you had three children and then another one?”

“There is something like that.”

“… People have changed so much. Where is the person who put her fist in the King’s face because his wife touched her breast?”

“Here he is. And the fact that he is that kind of person still doesn’t change.”

The Count calmly shrugged his shoulders.

“If you think about Gibraltar’s future, there’s nothing you can’t do as a father who looks forward to his son’s future.”

“…….”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

The Count hesitated for a moment, then immediately adjusted his posture and opened his mouth.

“I think we need to spend some time talking about the national policy issue.”

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, a few days ago, Gray said this….”

* * *

“…Huh?”

Wajangchang.

I heard something breaking.

“…Huh?”

“Queen, no way-”

Kwa-euang!

The door opens roughly.

“Gray Gibraltar ㅡㅡㅡ!!”

Queen Carmen came out of the drawing room, her face turning red, screaming my name.

“Carmen, calm down. That’s-“

“Count, please stay still!!”

When he grabbed his wrist and shouted at his father, who tried to stop him, his father also flinched and took a step back. His hands did not shake off.

“…Yes, it is here.”

“You.”

Queen Carmen strode towards me, gesturing towards me. The father is dragged in hesitantly.

“While talking with the Count, a very interesting story came out.”

A voice without pitch.

This is dangerous.

Colonial Governor Carmen Morgania is in front.

‘When was the last time I was this angry?’

When Noir impregnated three noble ladies and pretended not to know, they told me to deal with it?

When Lettar told me to restrain myself because he killed so many people that a warning letter was sent to the emperor?

No.

“Explain.”

It is now.

“You.”

Now is the most dangerous moment.

“What do you mean, even if you don’t love my daughter, you can marry her if necessary?”

“…….”

Ah.

“Did you really, truly say that? You said you were okay with anything for love?”

I felt relieved.

“Naria…!!”

“Was that it? The matter of the marriage alliance between me and Princess Naria.”

It’s not Queen Carmen, but Princess Naria’s mother.

“That was it, what?”

“Hmm. That’s not something to say in front of others.”

I thought something big was wrong again.

Isn’t it? Are you getting angry on purpose now to test me?

“I told my father a while ago, but it was delivered late.”

Either way, there is no doubt that the problem is caused by a lack of dialogue.

“I think the queen needs a separate explanation.”

My father must have made a mistake while talking about his future plans.

‘It’s not a mistake in words that would be particularly problematic.’

As a father, this is something I can talk about.

“Queen. I am a horse.”

It’s just that the queen doesn’t know much about this.

Or maybe she was just mistaken as the queen.

“I know more about Princess Naria than anyone else, more than you think.”

“So that’s-“

“Queen.”

I bowed her head for a moment – once to the queen and to her father – and whispered softly into her queen’s ear so only she could hear.

“This thought is not mine, it is hers.”

“……What?”

“It’s the opposite, the opposite.”

Not me.

“Would you like to ask Princess Naria? Would she marry Gray Gibraltar for the sake of her country and a man she does not love?”

“…….”

“She will definitely answer like this. There is no mistake.”

In this world.

“If that is the way for this country.”

There is no one who understands Princess Naria more perfectly than me.

“Even if you don’t love someone, isn’t it possible to get married if necessary?”