I Am a Low-Class Aristocrat of a Perishing Country

20 – Hair and Eyes

“IrLP. Do you know where the Eld Chain is stored?”

“Only His Majesty knows everything about the Eldchain.”

“That’s a relief.”

It means that information will not be leaked unless the emperor confesses. You might think that the question about the whereabouts of the Eldchain is disturbing, but IrLP didn’t ask anything.

‘Well, should I say it’s like an Illelp…’

For some reason, I arrived in a floating mood in front of the glass greenhouse of the Imperial Palace. Dozens of Nelfrugia Knights are on guard duty in front of the glass greenhouse.

They moved quickly as soon as they sensed the presence of the Illelpi.

“Kudos to the captain…!”

“Stop it.”

Irelpi cut off the ceremony dryly. The kindness that had been shown until just now was nowhere to be found, and an expression of irritation was rampant.

“Be good at escorting His Majesty. Don’t worry about the captain’s displeasure.”

“Sir, I’ll fix it!”

Even a raging blizzard would not be colder than the tone of the Illelpi. Her work is quiet, but her content is never light.

The knights send Ir Elfi away with a firm attitude.

‘Yes. This incident is no different from a major accident of the Nelfrugian Knights. If it was real, it would have been an issue that would have remained even if the Knights were disbanded.’

At least that’s what I’m talking about while the elfie is her shield.

As the general manager of the organization, she is obligated to take responsibility for her situation. But the reality is that no one took the responsibility they deserved.

This must have left a deep scar on her pride. Because Irfi Yustihara’s human values made her shirk her responsibility.

“Are you… Okay?”

“Not at all. I’m angry enough to want to stomp my feet vulgarly. I forgot a little, but thanks to you, I realize my incompetence.”

“Incompetence.”

If there is one thing I can be sure of while living with Illelpi, it is that she is close to an iron man.

It was not simply an evaluation focused only on force. Her days were shorter than anyone in the world.

My responsibilities as the head of the Marquis of Justiha, my duties as a knight commander, and finally, the additional duties of monitoring me. Her work always piled up like a mountain.

She deserves respect for Ir Elfie, who does everything she is given overflowing day after day without any problems.

“Irelpi, if you are incompetent, I’m worse than a stone on the roadside.”

“Neffi is… Um…”

Ir Elfi blurted out her words with a serious expression. I protested with a look of bewilderment at the unexpected response.

“Why… Stop talking? Illelf? Hey? Yeah?”

Illelpy laughed lightly as he looked at me while trying to appeal to me.

“Yeah, Nefi is Nephi. It’s definitely fine.”

“Hey, I’m fine. I’m very upset.”

“Whoops.”

While having her useless conversation, Ir Elfi’s heart seemed to be relaxed to some extent.

Finally, we opened the glasshouse door and met the emperor.

“Meet the Emperor.”

“Welcome. The Marquis of Justiha and the Marquis of Alteon.”

Since each seat is a seat, a simple example was given and the seats were arranged.

The emperor’s appearance was emaciated. That alone conveyed the emperor’s feelings for the empress.

‘Should I say that finding the opposite s*x is fast or slow?’

It seems like a lot of time has passed since the banquet at Duke Peita’s residence, but in fact, not even a night has passed.

It took only half a day to reach our mansion from the encounter with Siegharun.

The emperor’s appearance was so ruined in such a short period of time.

“I’ll say it with all my heart. Vice-captain Ethio Rascal committed suicide.”

“Yes?”

“Are you sure, Your Majesty…!”

It was the reaction of me and Irelp. It’s true that I was also surprised, but the shock of the leader, Ir Elfi, seemed incomparable. She clenched her fists and shut her mouth in disgrace.

“Your Majesty, is there any possibility that it was the work of an outsider?”

I asked on behalf of the panicked Illelpi.

“They imprisoned the attempted murderer of the imperial family. There’s no way to break through that tight security unless you kill the manpower. Of course, all those who were guarding the side are alive and well.”

“Would it have been possible to attempt suicide when there were so many people watching?”

“They had poison sacs planted in their teeth. As Ethio Rascal was from a commoner, he was rather a knight with a certain status. I don’t know since when he harbored a rebellion! More than anything, even with my own eyes…”

The emperor belatedly realized that Ir Elfi was also present at the table, and he blurted out her words. His ability to distinguish emotions was a secret he hid even from Ir Elfi.

Fortunately, Ir-Elfi passed without any doubts.

After dozens of deep breaths, the emperor asked me a question.

“Now let’s talk about what happened at the duke’s residence. I’ll ask the Marquis of Alteon first. It’s a rude question… But really, did the marquis suffer? No one else but the nobleman Netionpis… Will stop them. Couldn’t it?”

“Your Majesty…”

That’s a tricky question. Obviously, Siegharun was strong, but he hadn’t fully grown yet.

In other words, it was an opponent that could be sufficiently overpowered.

‘It would have been if it had been Netion Piece instead of Neffi.’

Even before I became possessed, I was more like a nerd who was far from fighting. In addition, because of the body’s initiative, it is difficult to properly utilize the specs of Netion Piece.

But with the result like this, I had no choice.

“Sorry.”

“No… No. I didn’t mean anything…”

As the emperor washed his face, he asked Ir Elfi this time.

“Did Marquis Justiha find a way? Charles, is there any way to track the child down?”

“I have nothing to say. Please hold me accountable.”

“Ah… Ah…!”

Looking at the emperor who seemed like he would go crazy if he tapped him with his finger, I felt a strange sense of incongruity.

‘At first, I thought he was looking for Charles only for the empress… Now that I see it, the emperor seems to have affection for Charles. What twists and turns?’

The relationship between the emperor, the empress, and Charles was full of questions.

“Marquis Alteon. Please lend me your wisdom. Aren’t you the jiji who established the first emperor of Astelnerca, who was the third son of a mere count family? Please, with a heart that cares for your descendants… As an elder member of the imperial family, please give me advice. Drio…”

It was so pitiful to see him sobbing like a child desperately seeking wisdom. It was hard to believe that the man in front of him was the noblest man in the empire.

“Your Majesty. I… Have Netion Peace…”

Have you been possessed by the desperate look of the emperor? Unbeknownst to me, I was about to deny the netion piece, which is a possessed body.

If it hadn’t been for a mouth that was out of my control talking nonsense, I would have confessed.

[It is an abominable child.]

“Neffi?”

The first to react was IrLP. She fiddled with her earlobe, suspecting she hadn’t heard it wrong.

I had no choice but to deal with it without saliva in my mouth.

“I, I… I’m an abomination. I asked Your Majesty to trust me… But I only let you down.”

“Is that so…”

The emperor stared at me with a bewildered expression. I belatedly reminded of one fact.

‘The emperor can read emotions. You should know lies as if you were looking down at your palms!’

Obviously it wasn’t my will.

I feel déjà vu that I’ve been through the same situation in the past.

I endlessly rummaged through the past and finally remembered the identity of the sense of incongruity.

“…Your Majesty.”

“Speak comfortably.”

The emperor’s consideration is clearly conscious. Was it an implicit will not to interrogate in front of Irlp?

I looked at Ir Elfi, who was sitting next to me, and opened her mouth.

“If you can’t be polite, I want you to have a private meeting right now.”

“Neffi? The flow of the story is abrupt.”

Ir-Elfi sent a silent press demanding an explanation. I can’t bear to face it, so I fix my eyes on the emperor.

“I’ll allow it.”

“Your Majesty?!”

“Marquis Justiha. Wait outside the greenhouse for a moment. I beg of you. Please.”

“…”

Irelfi glared at me for a moment, then quietly stood up with a pouting face. It looked like he had his arms crossed.

Even when she woke up, she opened her eyes and said with a disgruntled expression.

“Neffi. I’m telling you just in case. Don’t get me wrong.”

“What…?”

“It’s not that His Majesty ordered me to leave. I decided that I deserved to leave.”

Irlp’s cheeks were slightly flushed. She added, letting out a small snort of hers.

“The reason I don’t like it is because I don’t like talking about secrets between the two of you as the captain of the escort. Do you understand?”

“Huh? Uh uh, ok. Thank you… Illelfi…”

I was stunned for a moment by the kind of excuse I hadn’t even guessed at all.

“That’s enough.”

Elfie shook her head and, with her resentful steps, she walked out of the conservatory.

‘What is it? Why are you cute …No, nonsense!’

It must have been a natural impression brought about by the appearance of the LLP. Just like dogs and cats are always cute.

My self-denial soon came to an end due to the Emperor’s pressure.

“So. Why did the Marquis ask me for a private meeting?”

The emperor asked, narrowing her eyes. I let go of my silence for a while.

“Ah…”

How should I speak? A true story that can’t be understood by common sense…

If you can’t believe it no matter how hard you try, it’s better to end it quickly.

“Your Majesty. If you really want the wisdom of the nobility of the country… Please talk to me.”

“Marquis, please don’t talk back.”

“I didn’t mean it back then…”

I knew the day would come when I would confess to the emperor, but it was too soon. I wanted to raise my feelings and confess a little more, but…

“Whew!”

A sigh came out as I imagined what the psychopaths would do from now on.

“Old man, don’t squat around inside, just come out and talk to yourself.”

“Marquis of Alteon? Could it be that there is a third party in here other than us!”

“No, that’s not it… Hey old man. Why don’t you come out and get some fresh air. If there’s anything piled up, loosen it.”

At that time, I heard a strange tone in my head.

[I can’t control my emotions, so I can’t control my emotions.

“What? You’ve always been ugly.”

“Marquis Alteon…? Who are you talking to?”

The emperor couldn’t keep up with the situation, so he longed for an answer, but he could only see one hundred words.

Soon the emperor will be able to get the answer he was looking for.

“I’ll rent you for a while. Come out.”

[You can kill this child right away and turn the world into a mess.]

“Oh yeah? Try it.”

I snorted and glanced outside the glasshouse. It was very pretty to see the white hair of Irelpi watching the dawn dyed in indigo.

Is it because I look stupid as I blankly stare at Irlp? Netion Peace immediately burst into laughter.

[Kuh, hahahaha! Okay! Your intelligence wasn’t that low. There are also my mistakes, so I will go over to the rhythm once.]

“If only the old friend’s old tongue was long. To sum it up, I’m afraid of IllP… Ugh…”

I couldn’t finish my speech and had to enter the mental world of Netion Peace.

What greeted me in the world of imagery was the same scenery as the other day. You can see the first heads of the four dukes and the first emperor, Astelnerca.

Among them, the netion piece was missing.

“As expected, the Holy Memory seems to have weakened after fighting Ziegharun. If not, there is no way Netion Piece can interfere with the body.”

Since Netion Peace didn’t try to do anything, I thought it was still stable…

When this solo treatment is over, I must ask IRLP for the repair of the Holy Memory.

“Let’s listen to what the senile old man says.”

I began to intuit the conversation between Netionpis and the Emperor in the mental world.

◇

“Who does the Marquis talk to?”

The emperor’s tone was dripping with bewilderment. My… Netionpeace’s gaze lost its focus and slanted, there was no answer for a long time.

That was for a while, and at some point, Netionpeace’s mouth curled up.

[You look alike. The eyes of a child like an abominable beast.]

“What…!”

The emperor raised his round pink eyes and analyzed the situation coolly.

“You’re not Marquis of Alteon… Who are you and do you use insulting words?”

[If you have inherited Astel’s cleverness, look. Who do I look like?]

Netionpeace’s gaze, full of wickedness, was directed at the emperor. The emperor immediately took notice.

“No way, a nobleman who founded the country… Oh?”

[Your eyes are not used up.]

“Huh…!”

Despite having the arrogant real netionpiece in front of him, the emperor was unexpectedly calm.

“If you’re a nobleman, what is the Marquis of Nephi Alteon? I’ve never heard of two living in one body.”

[The child is just a puppet…]

“- Not.”

[…!]

“A nobleman ball?”

I was quite surprised by the image world of Netion Peace.

Wow. This is how it works.’

It was a short time, but he interfered with the body while completely overtaking the initiative. I don’t know if it’s because of the poor remaining holy memory or if it’s my ability.

What is certain is that Netionpeace was greatly embarrassed. It was so exhilarating that I sprawled out.

“I don’t know the details, but I understand that the two of them are separate personalities. I’m well aware that you are the real nobleman of the founding. I won’t ask any more about this.”

[You’re behaving well. I can give you what you want.]

“That’s true!”

The emperor’s complexion changed suddenly.

[Think of it as an apology to a shameful child who couldn’t subdue even a ‘little kid’.]

My cheeks burned at Netionpeace’s criticism.

“Let me cheat too, damn you!”

It’s less perfect than that, but Zeke Harun is a mediocre kid. It is arrogance worthy of Netion Peace.

“Thank you… Thank you very much.”

[The rest is up to you. Where do you do well? He inherited Astel’s red hair.]

Netion Peace left only those words and returned to the world of images. A netion piece that looked just like me, but with slightly more naive eyes, was on the podium before I knew it.

“What, you’re more cooperative than I thought. You give me back your body without any regrets?”

I expressed genuine surprise. Then, the Netion Peace on the podium laughed as if it was self-deprecating.

[What would you do in front of a white girl?]

“You’re right, but…”

I know that too, so I openly changed my body.

“I don’t think so.”

[Keuk, puppet child. You don’t have time to worry.]

Netty On Piece tumbled up to me and grabbed his face with one hand. I instinctively guessed what would happen next.

“Wait a minute!”

[Go.]

The jet-black aura of Netion Peace eats away at me.

It transformed into a form of black lightning and conveyed the pain as if all sorts of tortures had been smothered without filtering.

Pajijijijijik!

“Ahhhhh, living dentures… Bastard…”

I lost my mind just like the phenomenon I experienced at Duke Peita’s mansion.

The only thing that has changed is that I can afford to spit out swear words.

[…]

Now left alone in the world of images, Netionpeace slowly climbed onto the podium.

The first emperor and the first family heads were still young. Faces you will never forget.

Netionpis saw the first emperor, Astelnerca, holding a royal sword. The sight of him facing Astelnerka’s indigo blue eyes with his eyes trembling dimly seemed sad.

After a while, the tone that came out directly from Netionpeace’s mouth was the original one, with no hint of arrogance.

[Astel. I saw your offspring. The same passionate red hair. Unlike him.]

There was no answer. It was only natural that this place was only a space made up of images of Netion Peace.

[I had no intention of helping. A descendant with the same red hair asked for it, so I got involved without even realizing it. Now that I’m here, I’m the eldest adult of the imperial family. Gut.]

Netion Peace shed a fire mixed with self-deprecation. Even so, the story stood firm.

[I really hated it. I wanted to stab those hateful pink eyes to death… But the red hair that stretched out like a mane was so similar… The eyes reminded me of you to the point where I couldn’t help it.]

I must have been your friend who couldn’t help it after that day.

Netionpeace swallowed the words.

He looked at the heads of the four major dukes who were kneeling on one knee, with their backs to Astel Nerka this time.

[Bartlante. Asselin. Luceon. ………… Lorian.]

He approached the woman with black hair and black eyes in jet-black clothing. The abyss-like eyes that seem like you’ll be sucked in if you look at them still are as beautiful as the deep sea at midnight.

[Lorian. Your descendants are plotting crazy things. Is it because you put your relative as your successor until the end? They don’t even look alike.]

Lorian Peita’s expression was still lifeless. Netionpeace knelt in front of her.

[I miss you, Lorian. I can’t forget it even after four hundred years. What’s the use of living forever alone? Actually you, we… Couldn’t do that.]

Lorian…

I want to go back to your side too.

It must be impossible now.

The soul stained with sin, the body that lives forever will bind me like a chain.

Relentlessly chanting Lorian’s name, the netion peace slowly subdued her consciousness.