Chapter 374
My Villains Episode 374
62. deception tactics(1)
Ulkar welcomed subordinates returning from the east and guests visiting from the south at the gate of the castle..
The return of Sir Ariad, the ‘Viper’, the third knight of the Silver Prince, was not particularly surprising. It was at the end of August last year that he left to follow Lord Langbold to the east to ask for reinforcements, so it was time to return..
And above all, the news that the Southern Shore steel fleet led by Lord Langbolt and Lord Ariad had arrived at Blade's Edge Bay had already arrived..
“Lord Ariad.”
“ majesty.”
Ulkar embraced his old and lowly knight. He patted his small back a few times and then placed his hand on his shoulder..
“Thank you for your hard work. It took a lot longer than I expected..”
“I apologize. It was delayed due to unexpected events..”
The 'unexpected events' he mentioned probably included what happened in Longville..
Last September, my party and I, who were staying in Longville, met Ulkar's knights heading east..
At the time, Daionea, who was the deputy lord of Longville, was confronting the army led by Doyle Mullin, the son of Count Tristan. Accordingly, Sir Langbolt and Sir Ariad personally participated in the war and helped her, while also serving as a bridge with Clarissa, who was the official successor to Count Tristan..
Thanks to that support, Longville defeated Doyle's army. Afterwards, Dionea became the official lord in place of Baron Mallory, who was assassinated by his brother. Clarissa, who ascended to the throne after her father who died of old age, recognized Dionea's succession to the title and even supported her..
……Yeah, that happened..
Now that I think about it, I wonder how Dionea is doing. I heard that he was succeeded to the baronetcy, but I haven't heard any news since then..
Even now, when I close my eyes, an elegant figure wearing a white headkerchief and a light green dress comes to mind. The dark green eyes, the sorrowful look, and the faint smell of cloves are also vivid..
Well, I sent a letter through Lianwell's bank a while ago, so I'm sure I'll get a reply soon. We will soon be able to find out news about Dionea and the status of the men she left behind in Longville - Amias and Genesa, who are now married..
“……Yeah, I heard there was a lot going on..”
While I was thinking about random things, Prince Ulkar looked around and asked a question..
“But Lord Langbolt?”
“It's in the bay of blades. I was in command of the fleet and couldn't leave..”
“……Are you in command? I expected support from the fleet, but I didn't expect to receive a command baton..”
“I will tell you the full story about him later..”
Lord Ariad's wrinkled eyes scanned the people gathered in front of the inner palace. More than half were Ulkar's direct subordinates, but the rest were other lords or his close associates..
“ O ”
At the glance of the old knight, Ulkar closed his mouth. Sir Ariad naturally stretched out his hand backwards..
“First of all, let’s say hello. We have a guest from Razil to visit His Majesty..”
Razil. It is a region to the west of Eyland, and is where ‘Tawz Den’, the main city of the Black and White Snake, is located..
The attention of the crowd was focused, and the three officers who had been standing some distance away in the back slowly stepped forward. They were all wearing black robes and hoods, but it was evident that they were wearing strangely shaped armor underneath their robes..
“……I heard the news. They are knights who serve Count Akele.?”
The one in the middle of the three took a few steps forward, as if he were their representative..
“No, your highness.”
He took off his hood and continued..
“We serve not Count Akele, but Jahakar and Baluin..”
He was a man in his early 40s with a short beard. He was a man with no special features except for his black hair, eyes, and large physique..
However, those gathered in the audience were able to immediately recognize the man's identity..
An implicitly bleak atmosphere, somewhat twisted features, reluctant eyes, and an expressionless face that seems lifeless..
“blood knight……
As one man groaned and muttered, the man with the beard was a blood knight from Eyland..
Because his characteristics were exactly the same as those reported in the rumor, even those who met the Blood Knight for the first time in their lives were able to guess the man's true identity..
It's a good thing that me and Hayla don't share that strange trait. If we, like me, had given off an eerie and unpleasant atmosphere even when we were still, we would have been caught before we even tried to fool ourselves..
By the way, that guy is someone I know. This person is as old as my Dangsuk..
It was only natural for me, who absorbed Poynix's memories, to remember people belonging to Ja Hakar and Baluin, and people close to Royal Blood..
Moreover, that man was also the person who had escorted Hayla all the way to Longville with the blood knights and squires a few months ago..
“……Um, I see..”
Prince Ulkar's dark blue eyes sparkled and he smiled slightly..
“Anyway, it must have been Count Akele's intention to send the sergeants to me.?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The middle-aged man knelt down on one knee and looked up at Ulkar..
“It is an honor to meet someone who carries on Jeore’s noble blood. I am Eordan of Baluin, the Blood Knight of the White Snake. I have come here to convey the wishes of His Excellency Count Achele, the naval representative of His Majesty the Duke of Kaisis, master of the eastern part of Eyland, and admiral of the Iron Scale Fleet..”
The gestures and formality were clearly polite, but the voice felt somewhat mechanical. Ulkar nodded with a strange expression..
“It's a greeting full of old-fashioned charm. It's nice to meet you too, Lord Eordan..”
He said as he helped the middle-aged blood knight to his feet..
“In my heart, I would like to hear Count Achele's message here, but that would be harsh on the soldiers who are tired from the long journey..”
“Thank you for your interest, but we are fine..”
“It's okay. Please take a moment to catch your breath, as I also have to share my articles and stories that I haven't seen in a long time. I'll give you a room in my room.”
The prince said that and so naturally turned to me..
“Lord Poynix. I will guide you to Lord Eordan.?”
“……Yes, let's go?”
“Yes, it is a wonder.” I was shocked and froze for a moment, but it seemed natural that Ulkar would ask me for guidance..
A full-blooded knight carrying a message from Count Akelle is practically an envoy, so it is not unusual for the central guard commander in charge of the castle to step forward..
“Um, okay… … . Come this way, Lord Eordan..”
Eordan and the other two blood knights also accepted my guidance without saying anything, as if they had no intention of revealing my identity here..
I guided the Blood Knights to the manor building attached to the inner castle tower..
As soon as he entered the appropriate room he had chosen for his servant, Lord Eordan spoke..
“Long time no see, master..”
After hearing his unexpected words, I searched Poynix's memories for a while before opening my mouth..
“It's a master.?”
“ yes.”
“……When did the name change??”
I, that is, Phoenix, am the bastard son of Count Akele..
No, in fact, it is the same as an illegitimate child. This is because Poynix is the son that Count Akele had from falling in love with the beautiful slave ‘Li Ra’..
Count Akelle was the only younger brother of the previous duke, Skiele, and thus belonged to the direct line of the family, that is, the Royal Blood. Therefore, although Poynix was also a royal blood, his position in the family was not very good because his mother was a slave..
For that reason, no matter how much I search through my memories, I have never once seen a member of the family call Poynix by a title such as ‘Master.’.
“This was right after the elders of the family designated you as the pregnant woman..”
“ O ugh” —
Well, I expected it. Given the atmosphere of our family, it would be impossible to treat the person who will give birth to the next Duke of Eyland poorly..
“Well, I'm asking just in case, is it possible for you to refuse to become the impregnate??”
“It's impossible. Unless you die, a new impregnate will not be appointed..”
I checked the door again and questioned Lord Eordan..
“What brought you to High Castle? I came to deliver a message from my father.?”
As Kim Seung-soo, it was a little awkward to call someone I had never seen before as father, but the middle-aged blood knight answered without any hesitation..
“I have a message from Prince Ulkar.
It's true, but it's an enemy business. Of course, it's the two of you, Master and Hayla..”
It's because of the pregnant woman who came here, Miss Poynix.
“What are you going to do? You're not planning on taking us to Ireland.?”
“……First of all, the Count's order was to bring the two of you to Port Auduenne..”
“What are you going to do if you don't want to go??”
““What would you do if I were to force you to take me?” “What do you think?” When I asked him back with a chuckle, Sir Eordan kept his mouth shut..
I can feel the magical energy stirring within his body. I'm sure they're not preparing for battle, but they're probably just trying to gauge my strength..
I just flopped down on the bed on one side of the room and didn't react in any way. The strong have no need to react..
Sir Eordan was certainly a powerful blood knight, but he was nothing compared to me now. Five or six blood knights of a similar level would have to come to compete with me..
In short, it was impossible for him to drag me away by force..
Sir Eordan seemed to have instinctively sensed this and simply blinked his eyes..
When I look at that image, I suddenly think of Hayla. However, comparing her, a peerless beauty, to a middle-aged person with an eerie and grotesque atmosphere would have been harsh to Hayla..
“Indeed, just as I heard through rumors, you have really changed a lot..”
“……is it so? I don't know.”
“no. You will know best. That you have become a completely different person than you were before..”
He looked at me blankly, and I was like, 'So what? 'What are you going to do?' I shrugged my shoulders with an expression that said.
No matter what anyone says, I am ‘Kimpo Inix’ and the ‘Multiplier of Zakharkar’.
Seungsoo Kim and Poynix are at the same time. Just because an adult from the family came to visit, I didn't want to exclude Kim Seung-soo's part and pretend to be pure Phoenix, and I didn't feel the need to do so. They say I’m confident, so what can I do?.
Seeing my shameless expression, Eordan, who had been silent for a while, opened his mouth..
“His Excellency Count Akele is worried..”
“……Are you my father??”
“yes. As the conceived son of the Zahakar family, you are serving Zeore, so how could you not be concerned?.”
I scoffed and snorted..
“When I was ordained, I wasn't even pregnant. In terms of order, the conceived person did not serve Prince Ulkar, but the person who served Prince Ulkar was designated as the conceived person..”
“Even if you weren't pregnant, you are Zahakar's son..”
“You don't seem to understand, but I left Eyland precisely because I hated it. Because I don’t like being called Zahakar’s son..”
“……I'll pretend I didn't hear it..”
“Take what you heard, and tell it to your father. Don't forget to say that you have no intention of going back..”
Lord Eordan was silent for a moment, then spoke again..
“I'll have to talk to Miss Heyla as well. Since you said you'll be staying in the same accommodation, I'll come see you at night..”
“Well, you say so..”
At that moment, a sergeant knocked on the door and announced the prince's call. I took the Blood Knights, including Eordan, straight to the hall of the castle tower..
Well, housework is housework..
Let’s hear what Count Akele said to Ulkar..
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