Chapter 165: |
Chapter 165
Raymond recalled his conversation with Oden that night.
‘If you think you can’t do it, it’s better to give up early.’
‘I don’t know exactly what King Oden’s intentions are.’
One thing is certain, the King will not help him in this matter.
‘Those nobles are probably acting like this because they are confident that the King will not interfere in such matters.’
Unless the worst had really happened, it would not have been something the King would have to do.
‘Above all, I vowed I would definitely do it. So I would accept his apology.’
Raymond clenched his fists as he remembered another promise he had made to Oden.
At that moment, the wise man Mevinson spoke with an anxious and nervous face.
“Your Majesty, nobles are the same everywhere. What should we do about this?”
It seems that he remembered the times when he was frustrated with the selfishness of the nobles in the Kingdom of Droughton.
Raymond also had his worries.
Then, an unexpected story was delivered.
“Your Majesty, a call has arrived through the communications port.”
Raymond looked puzzled.
The servant’s face was anxious.
“To whom?”
“Your Highness the Prince Lemarton.”
“…!”
“They say they have something to say about the current situation with the lords.”
Raymond’s face hardened.
‘nNo way?’
The incomprehensible collusion of the lords.
An unexpected call from Lemarton.
The puzzle fell into place in Raymond’s head.
‘is Prince Lemarton talking behind my back?’
* * *
It was as expected.
Beyond the crystal ball, Lemarton was wearing a smug expression.
‘After all, this time the lords’ collusion was Lemarton’’s scheme!’
If Lemarton had been leading from behind, the situation would have been explained now.
For some reason, many of the new lords of the Rafald region this time were from the Lemarton faction.
Of the nine, a whopping five were supporters of Lemarton.
Other nobles must have been persuaded by some means as well.
This is what happened.
– Long time no see. I heard the news. You must be having a hard time because the lords are not listening to you.
Raymond bit his lip.
‘You did it yourself, but you’re being unreasonable.’
Of course, he didn’t show it on the outside.
Although he had made huge mistakes during the war, the power of the nobles who followed Lemarton was still great.
It was because of the influence of his biological mother’s family, the Marquis of Terne. The Marquis of Terne was not only a vassal of the western part of the Kingdom of Houston, but also a family with strong influence over the nobles in the center, so even now there were many nobles who followed Lemarton.
So there was no benefit to be gained by going against Lemarton’s wishes.
“Thank you for your concern.”
There was silence for a moment.
Because they weren’t close enough to have a friendly conversation.
“…What business brings you here?”
Rimmerton looked at Raymond with heavy eyes through his crystal orb.
Just when he was feeling burdened by that gaze, he told me an unexpected story.
-Would you like to think again about what I said before?
“Yes?”
-Raymond, be loyal to me, and when I become king, I will give you the position of second in command.
“…!”
Raymond opened his eyes wide.
It was an unexpected suggestion.
‘I’m serious.’
Lemarton’’s eyes were infinitely serious.
He made this suggestion with sincerity.
-If you pledge your loyalty to me, I will immediately resolve the current situation of the lords. Not only that, I will fully support you so that you can become a great lord. You will become the second most powerful person in the Kingdom of Houston and enjoy all kinds of wealth and honor.
Raymond sensed Lemarton’s true intentions.
‘This is a threat.’
That this is an ultimatum.
If he refuses this offer, Lemarton will view him as an enemy and begin to become fully hostile towards him.
‘Can I handle it?’
‘I didn’t feel like bowing my head to Lemarton.’
‘But I was afraid of the aftereffects.’
There will be problems even in becoming a delegate right away.
Because it wouldn’t be easy to subdue the lords who rebelled under Lemarton’’s instructions.
-If you can’t answer right now, I’ll give you a day. I expect you to make a wise decision.
After the communication was cut off, Raymond sighed.
‘What should I do?’
Raymond bit his lip.
‘If I were to pledge my allegiance to Lemarton? Perhaps, that would be wise.’
Raymond faced reality.
The kingdom was too big.
Enough to live up to the two princes’ border.
In that case, it might be better to join hands with one of the two, otherwise he would become an enemy of both.
And between the two, Lemarton was better.
Lemarton was in a very difficult position due to his blunders during the war, so he will be given even more importance.
‘But…….’
The moment Raymond thought of Lemarton’s arrogant eyes, his heart sank. He had absolutely no desire to go under him.
‘I felt like I absolutely had to never join hands with Lemarton.’
It was a feeling.
And Raymond, who had been persecuted his entire life, had an exceptional gut sense.
‘Ugh. What should I do? I just want to be successful and live a life of wealth and honor. Why is he making my life so miserable?’
It was a hair-pulling moment.
Another unexpected call came.
“Count, a message has arrived through the communications port.”
“Who?”
“This is Princess Sophia.”
“…!”
“She said he had something important to say.”
Raymond opened his eyes wide.
It was truly a completely unexpected call.
* * *
A cold, doll-like face appeared beyond the crystal ball.
It was so doll-like that it felt like a picture drawn on a crystal ball.
“Yes, your highness?”
-… … .
Sophia just looked at him strangely without saying anything.
‘What? Why did you contact me?’
Raymond frowned.
‘Are you contacting me because you’re bored and want to pick a fight?’
Considering her usual appearance, he wouldn’t have guessed so.
That’s when she opened her mouth.
-I’ve heard the news. You’ve done a lot of great things.
“That’s too much praise.”
Raymond looked surprised.
‘What’s going on? That spoiled princess is giving all these compliments?’
But you have to listen to what people say until the end.
-But surely you are not forgetting your subject? Do not forget. That you are a lowly illegitimate child.
“…!”
Raymond’s face hardened.
‘… This bastard.’
The moment when anger wells up, Raymond realizes something strange.
‘…I’m not trying to provoke you. I’m trying to tell you something.’
Sophia looked at him calmly.
Although her face was as cold and indifferent as usual, her eyes contained some hidden meaning.
-You have achieved many great things, but you should not forget your own circumstances. There are still many people who look down on you.
“…!”
-People like my older brother, for example.
Only then did Raymond guess Sophia’s true intentions.
‘I’m warning you. There’s no way Lemarton will consider me as a proper collaborator! If you cooperate, you’ll just get kicked out!’
Yes, that’s right.
No matter how many achievements he made, he was an illegitimate child.
There was no way that a proud man like Lemarton could truly regard his illegitimate brother, Raymond, as his equal.
‘Rather, it would be more likely that he would try to deal with me if he became king.’
Raymond looked at Sophia with discontented eyes.
‘Anyway. Is it really necessary to make me feel so bad when saying something like this? If he were my real brother, I would have fixed his messy hair.’
Then Sophia said.
-Did what I say offend you?
“Oh, no.”
-Then become stronger.
“… … .”
Sophia was looking him straight in the eye.
-I know you have high ideals for your patients and your people.
It was an unexpected story.
-But ideals without power are empty. If you continue like this, you will be manipulated by the powerful and become a sacrifice.
Raymond kept his mouth shut.
-Be strong enough that no one can mess with you. Be strong enough to live your life the way you want without being influenced by anyone. That’s how you can live the world the way you want.
“…”
Raymond couldn’t answer.
Because she was right.
‘…She’s right. If I want to live the way I want to, I need to have the strength not to be swayed by anyone.’
Will this be the end if he gets past Lemarton’’s scheming?
No, the threats against him will continue endlessly.
Will the threat go away just because he quietly lives the life of a healer?
Never.
He was too big for that.
Even if he wants a quiet life, there will be endless external pressure.
There was only one way to live the way he wanted without giving in to that threat.
Having the power to ignore such threats.
‘To do that, I must first become a lord.’
Ironically, living the life of a healer requires strength.
But it is understandable, how many great saints throughout history have been manipulated by those in power and met miserable ends?
What they had in common was that they had the support of the people, but had no power.
There was no way Raymond wouldn’t end up like that. If he wanted to live the way he wanted to, he had no choice but to gain power.
“Thank you. But why are you telling me this?”
Raymond looked puzzled.
He couldn’t read Sophia’s mind.
‘If you just look at the way she speaks, she seems like a total bitch, but she always seems to be helping.’
Sophia frowned and answered,
-Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this with you in mind.
“…”
Then what?
-I’m just trying to pay off a debt.
“What debt are you talking about?”
‘Are you still thinking about the treatment I gave you before?’
But Sophia said something really unexpected.
-I’m just trying to repay the debt I owe you for playing with me when I was little. After Mom passed away, you were the only one who really hung out with me.
“…”
-I just don’t want to live in debt, and it’s not like I like you or anything…So just cut it off.
Sophia suddenly turned off the communication port, and Raymond looked at the switched off communication port with a strange look for a moment.
‘…She was embarrassed just now, wasn’t she?’
* * *
Ultimately, Raymond turned down Lemarton’’s offer.
Lemarton gritted his teeth, his pride hurt.
-…you will regret it.
Raymond was a little scared, but the dice had already been cast.
Lao and Mevinson asked worriedly.
“What are you going to do, brother?”
“Selfish nobles would never bow their heads so easily!”
Raymond bit his lip.
‘I can’t back down. Now I have to do something on my own.’
There was one fortunate thing.
In case something like this happens, they have prepared several strategies to attack the lords in advance.
‘I expected that the lords would not easily follow my words.’
Coincidentally, the measures Raymond had prepared were aimed at the lords of the Lemarton faction.
‘I would have been reluctant to use this tactic, but it would have touched the nobles of the Lemarton faction.’
But now that Lemarton has become hostile first, there is no more hesitation.
‘If I stay still, I will suffer.’
‘So I had to fight back.’
‘We must drastically cut off Lemarton’s influence in the Rafald region.’
If that happens, it will be a pretty painful blow to Lemarton as well.
He came up with the first plan.
‘I’m using my abilities as a healer.’