Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 281
◈ 281. [Side Story] Fall Festival (2)
“majesty!”
Serenade stepped down from the carriage, supported by her escort..
Naturally, that guard was Serenade's faithful subordinate, Elise, who wore a sword the size of a house..
“It took a lot of hard work to get here, Serenade..”
I welcomed guests with open arms. Serenade and Elise bowed slightly to me..
Elise had an expressionless face beneath her royal blue hair, but when she saw me, she lowered her eyes..
It seems like you're doing well, seeing as your complexion is fine..
Serenade raised her hips and laughed..
“sorry. As I was paving the road from the Imperial Capital to this Crossroads, it was a little later than expected..”
I beg your pardon?
You came down while doing road maintenance? Those rough mountain roads?
‘I thought it would take a little longer to arrive than expected, but it wasn't..’
These guys got the job done in a ridiculous amount of time.……!
I looked at the people at the top with a new look. Somehow they are starting to look like heroes of a reversal..
“Our company carried out the national road project. And the road maintenance has not been completely completed, but only the most basic stage of construction is in progress..”
Serenade pointed to the wagons behind her..
“Still, there will be no significant disruption to the distribution of magic stones. If you give us permission, we can send the Crossroads' magic stone to the ecliptic starting tomorrow..”
“Thank you for your hard work, Serenade. thank you.”
When I praised her, Serenade wiggled her fingers and looked embarrassed..
“No, no. It's something I promised you. There's no need to be thankful..”
“Ugh, uhh…….”
Yes, why am I embarrassed when you say that?…….
I also felt awkward and scratched the back of my neck. It was a time when a vague atmosphere was forming..
“This, this, this…….”
Evangeline, who was shaking next to me, looked up at Serenade with a shocked face and muttered..
“This mature, sophisticated, and beautiful woman could not possibly be……?”
“Oh, hello. Evangeline. This is Serenade. I'm the owner of Winter Silver's upper deck..”
I also introduced Evangeline to Serenade..
“Serenade, this is Evangeline. Heir to the Crossroads Marriage Count..”
“Nice to meet you, Evangeline. The girl is called Serenade. Please take care of me in the future.”
Serenade bowed first to show respect. He was a greeting with perfect etiquette without a single flaw..
“Nice to meet you too, Serenade! however!”
Evangeline glanced sideways between me and the serenade and suddenly asked:.
“Actually, when I was a emperor, I read a lot of magazines that contained gossip about the two of you.!”
“…….”
I raised my hand and touched my forehead..
Come to think of it, Evangeline said that when she was attending the Imperial Academy, she collected all kinds of scandalous magazines related to me, read them, and even scrapped them.……!
“There were all kinds of speculations about the relationship between the two of you! I was so curious that I couldn't even sleep! Please answer one question clearly.!”
Evangeline hit Serenade with a fastball..
“What exactly is your relationship??!”
“yes? Ah, well, I mean…….”
Serenade, who was confused and hesitant, looked at me carefully, blushed slightly, and muttered..
“……Ex-girlfriend, maybe??”
Then Evangeline opened her eyes so wide that she screamed..
“It's called Ex-Girlfriend-?!”
“…….”
……No, when you say that, you sound like an EX grade girlfriend, what is it??!
“This, this, I mean, you dumped such a pretty person, senior.……?”
“No, it's not cold. No, it's true that it's cold..”
As I stuttered, Evangeline, who was shaking, suddenly hit me on the shoulder with her fist..
“You flirt! Bad Guy-!”
Why are you hitting me, man??!
***
“I really appreciate you coming in person, but serenade me..”
Manor house. drawing room.
After serving some simple refreshments and sitting across from each other, I asked Serenade:.
“are you okay? There will be a lot to do in the imperial capital. There is no need for you to come all the way to this remote area.…….”
“In the Imperial Capital, the business of Winter Silver Merchants has stabilized. Alberto was a great help in a new business linked to the imperial family..”
I was glad to hear the story of Alberto..
It seems that the old butler who was in charge of the villa is now enjoying the second chapter of his life at the top of Winter Silver..
“I entrusted Alberto with the overall management of Hwangdo Trading Company. Perhaps because he is the person who has been in charge of the royal family's household for his entire life, he is very thorough in his work. His network is wide... … If you were better than me, you would be better, but not worse. And if anything happens, you can contact me through Jeon Seo-eung and that's it.…….”
At the top of Winter Silver is a communication system using an eagle, Jeonseo-eung (傳書鷹)..
A few of them also came with the upper procession that came this time. If you have urgent business, you can contact me through that..
But no matter what, Sang Sang-ju must be in the ecliptic, at the end of this southern world.…….
“which…….”
Serenade's voice trembled slightly as she lowered her eyes and stirred the teacup with a spoon..
“Alberto told me to quickly go where my heart goes… … By pushing.”
“…….”
Oooooh! The atmosphere has been giving me a romantic and mysterious feeling since a while ago! I don't have much tolerance for this! Ash Kim! Come out quickly and solve the problem for me! He said it was your first love-!
“……and. More than anything.”
Then Serenade's face became serious..
“I have something to say to His Majesty the Prince in person..”
I blinked. something to say to me?
Serenade took a deep breath with a determined expression, looked straight at me with her straight silver gaze, and slowly opened her mouth.-
“oh.”
I was about to say something, but my gaze shifted to the side. huh? I saw that too.
“……ah.”
Lucas was standing at the entrance to the drawing room..
He was hiding outside the door with his large body, sticking his head inside the door and watching what was going on..
Hey, big dog! Do you think that will hide your size?!
“It's been a while, Sir Lucas! how have you been doing?”
Serenade waved her hand and said hello first..
Embarrassed, Lucas rolled his blue eyes, looked at the atmosphere awkwardly, and then politely bowed with embarrassment..
“……long time no see. serenade girl.”
“Why are you doing that there? Come in. It's His Majesty's escort..”
“ah… … So, that's…….”
Lucas glanced at me. I just broke into a cold sweat inside..
“……Well, escort work… … May we resume, my lord??”
Lucas, who said that, still had bandages wrapped around his body..
Even after the battle, he was not properly treated and was left in prison for a week. It will take a few more days for all injuries to heal..
“You're not feeling well yet. Just rest for a few more days.”
“but…….”
“Uh huh. Don't overdo it..”
“……I understand, my lord..”
Lucas looked like a dog in the rain that had been abandoned by its owner, then turned around and trudged out of the parlor.…….
“hmm…….”
Serenade, who was watching Lucas disappear, smiled awkwardly and asked.
“Sir Lucas's mood has changed quite a bit, hasn't he? Originally a little more…….”
“No, that's it. Umm.”
I felt embarrassed for no reason, so I slurped down my tea and briefly explained what happened this time..
This battle was quite dangerous, and as the war situation became more urgent, Lucas drove himself out of control and was exposed to danger. He almost lost his humanity forever and became a beast.…….
I even scolded him rather harshly so that he could never use that method again..
Things have become awkward for the past few days since then. spoke frankly.
“Your Majesty, isn't Sir Lucas the bodyguard who has been by your side since you were a very young child??”
After hearing the whole story, Serenade was lost in thought for a moment and then spoke softly to me..
“Why don’t you… … Should he have disciplined him by stabbing him with his hand??”
“I almost lost that guy forever..”
Lucas is the main character of this game.
He is indispensable for future attacks, and at the same time, he is a valuable companion..
That guy almost got stabbed himself by swinging a dangerous double-edged sword called a wild beast, even though I warned him not to use it..
“There was a need to put the brakes on that runaway..”
The battle will become more intense in the future.
If we don't put the brakes on now, Lucas might do something even more dangerous. So he came out strong..
“Above all, it is a serenade. This is a fortress city. I am the commander of this military camp..”
I looked down at the teacup in my hand with a heavy heart. My face is reflected on the surface of the tea water..
“Hierarchy is necessary. No matter how loyal a knight is, if he continues to disobey me, I must punish him..”
Of course, I want to be friends with my colleagues. Being rigid is not my style..
However, it must be clearly engraved when necessary..
That I am the one who has the power to take life and death on this front line..
“I understand what you are saying..”
Serenade smiled softly at me..
“But isn't it the law of the military to punish mistakes and praise achievements??”
“…….”
It was a correct opinion. I am speechless.
“Sir Lucas may have made some mistakes this time, but he must also have made some achievements in this battle..”
“Umm…….”
You were the MVP of this stage, Lucas. He attacked the enemy's main force and crushed it single-handedly..
“There are times when harsh punishment is necessary, but in the end, it is just a few warm words that can move a person's heart..”
“…….”
“Even if Sir Lucas's actions were a little off, he would have done it all for the sake of His Majesty. You punished me first, so now please comfort Sir Lucas' heart..”
Yes, I know. Lucas also said he did it out of loyalty..
And of course we have to reconcile. I can't stay in this awkward state forever..
‘however… … dick, that…….’
It's quite difficult to make up after a fight.…….
If it were my personality, I would first bow my head and apologize, but this time, scolding Lucas was not my personal decision, but my judgment as a frontline commander..
As a superior, he punished his subordinate officers..
I cannot be the first to apologize for punishing them for the sake of military discipline at the front. this is the army.
‘but… … Honestly, I feel like I was scolded too harshly.…….’
As Serenade said, Lucas was the stage MVP for killing the most monsters, even though he wore beast boots in this battle. It should be praised by giving an award.…….
‘Ouch! It's difficult! acting as commander!’
I cupped my face and made an ooh sound. Looking at me like that, Serenade covered her mouth and laughed..
“I'm sure you'll do well..”
“huh?”
“People who worry, even if they get lost, will eventually go in the right direction..”
The right way, the right way.
Not only did I scold Lucas, but the sum of all the choices I had made... … Are we really following the right path? Was it the right path in the first place?.
I'm not sure.
It just doesn't stop. Even if I look back, I take steps forward.
Towards the destination called Clear, shining dimly in the distance. somehow. do whatever it takes.
***
Winter Silver's upper division purchased a building downtown and opened a branch..
A sign is being put up that says ‘Wintersilver Upper Crossroads Branch’ written in a nice font..
Workers are flocking to the building and are quickly starting to repair not only the exterior walls but also the interior. One thing he really does is that he's incredibly fast..
“There are two tasks that Your Majesty will entrust to our superiors. Maseok distribution department, and…….”
Serenade, who was watching the building being repaired, looked up at me and asked:.
“It was a tourist city plan.?”
“that's right.”
“We've brought in talented architects, so construction of the hotel will soon begin. I will instruct you to inspect the site and produce a bird's eye view..”
Serenade made an um sound and pressed her plump lips with her index finger..
“And it’s a fall festival… … It's already that kind of season. Since when??”
“two days later. Open for a total of 3 days.”
“You said that Crossroads’ traditional events are martial arts competitions and dance festivals..”
Serenade had a serious look on her face, lost in thought, crossing her arms and tapping her fingertips on her forearms..
“The natural scenery is very nice… … . There are many empty lots in the territory... … . If this condition…….”
It is a motion similar to flicking an invisible, intangible abacus..
It was interesting to see her white, slender fingers moving rhythmically, so I watched quietly..
“Because time is running out, dramatic change may not be possible... … Still, I'll give it a try.”
Finally, as if she had finished calculating, Serenade smiled brightly at me..
“Slowly and steadily, let’s make Crossroads the best tourist city in the South! This fall festival is the first step in that plan.!”
“huh… … ? Yeah, yeah!”
Here I felt something was a little out of focus..
No, the tourist city plan I was trying to promote... … The plan was to just build a hotel with a casino, fill the minimum number of tourist points, and lure out SSR-SR level heroes who would be attracted to it..
It seemed like the owner of Winter Silver had other, bigger plans..
I laughed out loud. Anyway, how many tourists can come to this remote area at the end of the world?……?
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