Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 319
◈ 319. [Side Story] Hwayangyeonhwa (花樣年華))
15years ago.
One winter day when white snowflakes were falling.
“…….”
Lucas was looking down at the bodies of his parents who had fallen to their deaths..
The overturned carriage rolled down the bridge..
Because it was winter, the river under the bridge was dry, and I couldn't even hope to survive by drowning..
The carriage was blown to pieces and my parents were crushed to death..
Only Lucas, who was thrown out by his mother right before the carriage rolled down, survived the accident..
But Lucas couldn't attend his parents' funeral right away. He wasn't even given time to collect the body..
“You must be Lucas McGregor. He is the eldest son of the McGregor family..”
A cold voice flew into Lucas's ears as he looked down at his parents shattered under the bridge..
It was the Capital Defense Force that rushed to the scene after receiving a report of an accident..
Their priority was to take the surviving Lucas to their ‘destination’ rather than collecting the bodies of the McGregors..
“Come here. Your Majesty is waiting.”
“However, my parents…….”
“We will take care of the situation. Rather, come on.”
The soldiers dragged Lucas, who was in a state of despair, and placed him in a new carriage..
Lucas was dragged aimlessly, leaving his parents' corpses behind..
It felt so unreal, I couldn't even cry..
Shocked by the death of his parents, covered in dirt and blood after being caught up in an accident, the place where Lucas was taken was the imperial palace..
To be exact, a star palace.
It was a small palace where the second prince, Fernandez, lived..
***
“It's too bad that the head of the McGregor family and his wife died in an accident. I express my deepest regret.”
Crack. crackling.
Light footsteps echoed in front of Lucas, who was kneeling..
Lucas, who had been looking down at the floor blankly, slowly raised his head..
“As I was introduced to you today, I planned to strengthen the bond between your family and mine. Never thought something like this would happen.”
There was a boy with glasses on the tip of his nose.
The glossy black hair had a red aura, and the two pitch-black eyes were as red as a flame..
Fernandez ‘Ember Keeper’ Everblack.
He was the second prince of the empire who had just turned twelve..
Seven-year-old Lucas trembled and looked up at the second prince. I had no idea what was going on..
Fernandez smiled gently. Although his dark red eyes were not smiling at all,.
“Let's talk a little bit about repayment of debt..”
“debt… … This is it?”
“okay. debt. Since you will be the head of the McGregor family from now on, this is something you need to know..”
Fernandez's explanation was simple..
The MacGregor family's fortunes were so tilted that they had to take on debt to maintain the family. Fernandez lent money based on the family name..
However, the McGregor family was unable to repay on time, and the interest grew like a snowball..
“Today I called your parents to discuss repayment... … It's a pain in the ass.”
Lucas, who was only seven years old, could not understand all of Fernandez's difficult words..
but.
“Still, you can't make the debt go away just because you feel sad and pitiful. yes?”
He could sense that his life was at stake in this conversation..
No, not just yourself… … Even the fact that the lives of everyone left in the family are at stake..
The power of life and death for the McGregor family lies in the hands of the boy in front of me. I realized it through instinct.
“……I'll do anything.”
So, Lucas lowered his head..
“Just save me... … please.”
Fernandez smiled brightly as he looked down at Lucas and whispered in a soft voice..
“That's great, Lucas..”
“yes……?”
“There is a job for you. Moreover, since you lost your parents and became an orphan, you are even more suitable for this job..”
Fernandez bent down and quietly looked into the eyes of Lucas, whose shoulders were shaking..
“If you carry out this task well, you will no longer have to worry about your family's debt..”
“That thing... … What is it?”
“My brother Ash knows?”
3Prince. Ash 'Bonhater' Everblack.
Lucas swallowed dry saliva. How can you not know? He is the only three princes in the empire.…….
……Everyone was whispering that this child was destined to destroy this country..
“Is he the same age as you? I'll take care of the procedures, so go into that child's palace and become her friend. and…….”
Fernandez's fingers clenched onto Lucas' shoulder..
“Monitor the child's every move and report it to me..”
“…….”
“How about it, can you do it??”
“Yes, yes, we will do it.……!”
“good. As expected from McGregor, he is trustworthy..”
Crack. crackling.
Fernandez's footsteps became distant, and there was the sound of a chair lightly scraping the floor..
When Lucas carefully raised his head, he saw the eyes of Fernandez, who was sitting at the head of the table and looking down at him..
“So swear to me, young MacGregor.”
A prince sitting on a chair like a ruler,
A fallen nobleman kneeling and looking up.
“loyalty.”
The relationship between superiors and subordinates was clear, and the gap was too deep to be bridged..
“An oath of loyalty to the family that will never change forever..”
So Lucas slowly lowered his head..
I felt like I was on a leash made of invisible chains..
On this day, Lucas became the next head of the McGregor family at the age of only seven..
At the same time, it had to be a dog that does what others tell it to do..
***
As soon as his parents' funeral took place, Lucas left home..
We moved for a while in a carriage with no idea where it was going. This time, the carriage entered the imperial palace..
The carriage stopped at a palace that was smaller and more compact than Fernandez's villa..
Lucas picked up a bag that was as small as his body, crumpled with only a small amount of luggage, and got off the carriage hesitantly..
“Are you Lucas McGregor??”
The person who hit Lucas was a stern-looking elderly man. His neatly trimmed hair and beard were gray, and his raised eyes showed stubbornness..
Lucas, who was somehow cowering, answered hesitantly..
“Yes, by the way…….”
“Welcome, my name is Chamberlain Alberto..”
The hard expression skillfully softened, and a smiling Alberto took the bag from Lucas' hand..
“I heard that you will be staying here in the villa from today. Now, give me your luggage and follow me..”
“yes? yes…….”
Embarrassed by the unexpectedly gentle atmosphere, Lucas hesitantly headed towards the back of the palace..
As we walked along the path and reached a well-maintained garden, there was a woman standing and waiting for us..
“Oh my god, you are Lucas.!”
The woman was distinctly different from the other people in the palace..
Grumpy gray hair and brown skin that looks like it's been burned by the scorching sun. And freckles…….
It had an appearance that you wouldn't feel out of place even if you encountered it in a market rather than a palace. She smiled brightly and introduced herself..
“My name is Dustia..”
“Huh!”
Lucas, surprised to realize who the other person was, immediately bowed..
“Meet the Second Empress……!”
“Oh my, you are so polite. I wish my son was half as good.”
Dustia covered her mouth and smiled as she reached out her hand and gently stroked Lucas' head..
“But there's no need to be so formal, Lucas. This place isn't that strict. You can be more comfortable.”
Dustia spoke kindly, but Lucas was still stiff..
Dustia smiled at Lucas with compassion and affection, took one of his hands, and guided him inside..
“The children have been waiting for a long time since they heard you were coming. Come on, let's go!”
Dustia's hands were rough but warm. Lucas quietly followed her touch, not knowing what to do with her unfamiliar warmth..
In the courtyard of the villa, a girl and a boy were looking at us with wide eyes..
Dustia, who brought Lucas in front of the children, applauded..
“Now, guys, pay attention! As I said in the morning, Lucas will be living here with me from today. Since he is younger than you, you have to take good care of him? got it?”
Dustia introduced the two to Lucas one by one..
“This is Serenade! My sister is three years older than you. Since I come to this palace often, I will have a lot to say hello to. serenade? This is Lucas. You are the eldest of the three of you, so take care of yourself.?”
“I will, mama..”
Serenade, a girl with water-colored hair, bowed her head towards Dustia and smiled brightly at Lucas. Lucas didn't know what to do and avoided his gaze..
“Now, this is my son Ash! He's a year older than you..”
When Dustia pointed, the black-haired boy ran behind Serenade and hid..
Serenade let out a short laugh as if she was tickled, and Dustia let out a laugh as if she was dumbfounded..
“ash? Oh my, this guy too. Hiding behind the serenade sister again. Come out quickly and say hello to Lucas. What are you guarding against??”
“…….”
“Yesterday, I prepared a long speech saying I was happy to have a new brother, but when I saw his face, I was embarrassed. Can’t you even say hello? Will her mom do it for her??”
“Oh no! I can do it…….”
Boy with black hair - Ash hesitated and pulled himself out from behind Serenade..
“Hehehe, heh, heh heh!”
Ash, who was looking around with his round eyes rolling back and forth, wiped his small hand on his pants, then reached forward and offered to shake his hand..
“hi!”
“ah… … hello. His Royal Highness.”
Lucas hesitantly held out his hand and accepted it. Ash looked at Lucas curiously..
“Are you really going to be my escort??”
Lucas is the successor to swordsman McGregor and was appointed as Ash's personal bodyguard. In that name, he was allowed to stay with the prince in his villa..
“yes! Yes, that's right, Your Royal Highness! Although I am still lacking a lot, I will train hard so that I will be able to protect Your Highness without any shortcomings in the future.……!”
Lucas closed his eyes tightly and spit out the words he had memorized in advance..
As a result, I inadvertently started talking behind my back..
“I must become the strongest knight in this capital... … ! Enhance the honor of the McGregor family, and……!”
These were the words my parents always poured out to Lucas..
You have to become stronger than anyone else. So we need to revive the collapsed McGregor family..
Even before the carriage crashed off the bridge, his parents were teaching Lucas that message..
Lucas, who was pouring out words at a rapid pace, was shocked and stopped talking..
Ash looked at Lucas with wide eyes, then smiled brightly and answered..
“You don't have to be the strongest knight, Lucas..”
“yes?”
“I may never become emperor, but my dream is to become the most handsome man in the world..”
Ash smiled whitely, his big round eyes like the moon..
“So, you, who will be my escort, make sure you become the greatest knight in the world..”
Not the strongest knight.
Be the best knight.
“got it?”
“…….”
This was the first time I heard a story like this in my life..
The most wonderful article?
what is that?
Lucas, who was dazed, nodded hesitantly. Ash grinned in satisfaction..
At that time, Alberto brought a kettle and snacks into the garden on a tray..
“I brought you tea and refreshments, Empress..”
“Thanks Alberto. Now, guys, shall we talk while we eat??”
Ash answered yes like a chick and Serenade motioned to Lucas..
Lucas didn't know what to do, but did as his older brother and older sister told him and sat down at the table together..
Ash and Serenade fed Lucas some snacks while arguing about whether this was delicious or that one was better..
Second Empress Dustia was watching the children's scenes with a smile..
Although it was winter, the garden had a cozy feel at midday..
In Lucas's life, no.
From Lucas and Serenade and Ash's Life. That's how the warmest and most peaceful days began.
- Monitor the child's every move and report it to me..
Also at the same time.
The poisonous days have begun.
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