Novels online

Chapter 406

My Villains Episode 406

63. The Silver Prince's Knights(13)

It was already deep at night, close to midnight. That's how much time passed during the fight, the fainting for some time, and the conversation..

Although it was completely dark outside the castle, Count Akele did not hesitate. After coming down from the tower, he walked around the stronghold ‘Vale Solis’ as if it were his own home..

In addition, because several blood knights, including Lord Eordan, followed along, Valesolis' guards, servants, and maids were scared and scattered or started making noises in surprise. Well, it was natural for them to be surprised since it was not an ordinary guest, but a man as high as a count showed up without warning at night..

However, since the level of surprise did not exceed a certain level, it was possible to guess that something similar to this happened often..

“Ship, Your Excellency the Count!” As we reached the main hall in the middle of the castle's first floor, a familiar man and a thin man who appeared to be around the same age rushed out. The person in front was a middle-aged man who introduced himself as the castle's manager, and the person who accompanied him was the castle's butler..

“How did you arrive at this late hour??”

“afoot.”

“Yeah- yeah?”

Count Akelle passed by the embarrassed steward and sat down at a large rectangular table that seemed to be over 10 meters long. Naturally, it was the most senior seat..

“Call Count Aeneas and Slanwith..”

“Are you talking now??”

“okay.”

“But, it was time, everyone was in bed.-”

“It's urgent..”

The steward took turns looking at the Blood White and the Blood Knights lined up behind him, and broke into a cold sweat. Then the Count added with an expressionless face..

“Should I move it myself??”

“no, no.”

“I’m hungry, so please bring me some food..”

“Yeep

The steward stepped away, his face turning white. I quickly caught the butler who was trying to follow him..

Sir Langbold, who waited for me for a long time and returned to the anchorage of the Steel Fleet, and Atalanta, who is resting in a guest room in the stronghold. It was to call those two..

“Oh and,”

“Speak, Lord Phoenics..”

“While you're preparing the Count's meal, I'd like to ask for some of mine too. About 4 servings. I couldn't eat dinner.”

“……All right.”

As the butler left in a hurry, I clicked my tongue..

“What are you doing in someone else's house this late at night? There is a degree of nuisance.”

“ Nuisance?”

The Count snorted softly..

“From Audenloch and Abidden to Onwooter and Midwooter. They are all parasites in Eyland's arms. There is no reason to notice.”

“……Oh my, you are amazing. Have you ever heard the expression ‘gapjil’??”

“Gapjil?”

“Is this your first time hearing this? They say acting like shit to low-ranking people is called Gapjil..”

“I see..”

“How are you feeling stung??”

The Count answered without hesitation.

“no.”

“……You're shameless..”

“They should be thankful that Eyland does not covet this port. I have to endure at least some shit..”

I gave him a dumbfounded look, but he didn't seem to care much..

“When you criticize me, be careful about your words and actions. Now you are not Zahakar.”

“i know. Don't worry about me, take care of yourself..”

“bouncer. You're showing off that you're uneducated..”

The reason Count Akelle didn't try to catch me was basically because another pregnant woman, Hayla, was at High Castle. But the fact that I was hiding my identity as Zahakar probably also played a role..

In other words, if I had used the last name Zahakar and served as a knight of Ulkar, he would have broken my leg with a club and dragged me to the island as another impregnate. I can't just stand by and watch people say that Zahakar serves my Ore..

Thanks to the diligent work of the stewards, butlers, and servants, the meal was ready in no time. It wasn't quite a feast as we ordered it out of the blue late at night, but there were plenty of different dishes prepared..

A dish of various vegetables mixed with vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice, topped with thinly sliced ​​raw tuna and salt-pickled herring. A dish of soaked peas and smoked pork stir-fried with finely ground cinnamon and sour grape juice. A dish of palm-sized lobsters boiled in white wine, grilled in pork fat, and served with a sauce made of honey, pepper, cumin, and roux.…….

In addition, all kinds of seafood were served on the table, including porridge made with plenty of fish and oysters topped with sliced ​​lemon..

Would you say this is truly a port city-like menu?.

Crackling.

When you pour a lot of sauce on the lobster and bite into the whole back part, the flavor explodes. Fried in pork fat, the skin was crispy and the flesh was firm and chewy..

The stir-fried edamame had a refreshing scent while filling the mouth heavily, and the fish

It was thick and salty because there was a lot of dead flesh in it..

Count Akelle stared at me as I ate my food like I was a glutton and asked a question quietly..

“I think I heard you can't eat fish..”

“I can't *mumble*. I can’t eat it because I don’t have it..”

Next, he blinked as he saw the romaine and kale topped with tuna and herring being put on a fork..

“You eat vegetables well too..”

“I'm not a kid, so if I have it, I eat it. I don’t have to look for it and eat it..”

When the count closed his mouth with a mysterious expression, I focused on my meal again. Then he muttered 'Hmm' and immediately started devouring the food with as much excitement as I did..

It was around that time that Atalanta appeared with scattered hair..

“Nicks! what the hell are you-”

She raised her voice as if she was trying to argue with me, but stopped when she saw Count Akele sitting at the head of the table. And quickly bowed his head..

“Meet His Excellency Count Akele.”

The Count looked at her intently and wiped the area around his clean-shaven mouth with a white cotton towel..

“You are that Nudein woman. Did you say Atalanta??”

“It is called Atalanta 'Nafi Dat' Al Nouvoa. “It is an honor to meet His Excellency the Blood White, Admiral of the renowned Ironscale Fleet and ruler of Lihil.” “I heard that he will play a key role in this offensive..”

“Yes. There are warriors who follow and help the 3rd Prince's great cause..”

It was unknown whether it was the Count's momentum, power, or reputation that overwhelmed Atalanta. Anyway, she stiffened up like a gentle sheep..

“ sit down.”

Atalanta quietly lowered her head and quickly sat down next to me, as if she wanted to avoid the bright-blooded gaze..

“Why were you so scared??”

“……Why would you do that??”

Atalanta, whose face was contorted as if in bewilderment, snapped at me in a low voice as I was eagerly eating oysters..

“What the hell happened??”

“Just something, this and that.”

“‘Just what, this and that? This bastard-”

Atalanta, who was trying to make a fuss, cleared her throat and looked at the head of the table..

“…… I waited over five hours? The officials and servants keep saying they don't know, and the Blood Knights don't even pretend to see it no matter how much they talk to them. But it ends with ‘this and that’?”

“I couldn't help it either. I didn't make you wait because I wanted to..”

“Ahhh.”

She kept squinting, looking back and forth between me and the Count. I felt anxious because I didn't know how the situation was going..

“Everything worked out well, so don't be upset and just sit still..”

“I'll just keep talking about what's comfortable?”

“huh. Come on, try some oysters. it's crazy.”

Atalanta said, 'Why are there all these bastards?' He glanced at me with a look that said.

hmm. It's a very familiar look.

Not long after, Sir Langbolt appeared, and by the time the meal was over, Sir Slenwyd and Count Aeneas had also appeared..

Knight Bannet Sir Slanwy de was the cousin and vicar of Viscount Cirillo, and was currently in charge of Vallesolis and Haut Douenne..

I heard that apart from having a wealthy cousin, he also owned a large amount of land. It may have been a reflection of his ample wealth, but Lord Slanwith was a middle-aged man with a generous figure and a round, gentle face. In complete contrast to his cousin, whose physique is so small that he is called 'Viscount Goblin' behind his back..

However, from the perspective I had developed over the years, I could see that that ample body shape was not entirely made up of fat. He was a so-called muscle pig, with a typical business body type, so his skills were expected to be quite high..

“I heard you were looking for it, sir..”

Sir Slanwith bowed his bulky figure and saluted Count Achele, but the only reply he received was an arrogant gesture..

He's a thug-like customer who suddenly calls me in the middle of the night and doesn't even greet me properly when he takes the head table as if it's a given.…….

I just feel sorry for Sir Slanwith, who can't even keep his mouth shut in front of such a guest..

Well, it was common sense that a landlord with a dozen or so manors would not be able to make a fuss in front of a count who had the most powerful fleet in the kingdom, an army of over 1,500 people, and a vast territory..

“Did you call me?.”

Count Aeneas, who appeared with Lord Slanwith, did not seem to be in much different condition, although he had five knights as guards..

Count Aeneas, High Lord of Abidden and head of the Milgrester family, was a young girl who must have been fifteen years old at most..

Looking at her oval-shaped face, slender jawline, fair skin, and rosy cheeks with no sagging breasts, I could bet a hundred gold coins on the prospect that she will grow up to be a beauty in the future..

What particularly stood out were the eyes..

The eyes, which bore the family legend of being descendants of the Nagas, were a mystical combination of finely slitted pupils and sapphire-colored irises..

But the mystery didn't just come from appearance..

I felt magic.

If it were me before, I would have been blinded by the energy emanating from the ring on the girl's hand and the jewels embedded in the pendant, but as my level increased and my aura also increased, I was able to easily notice that Count Aeneas was a magic user..

“Ah, there you go now. Please sit down.”

The Blood White offered Count Aeneas a seat across from me and spoke in a vaguely polite tone..

I thought I was going to talk informally to everyone in the world, but that's not the case. It seems like they are treating him in his own way, just because he is a fellow count..

Strictly speaking, Count Aines has a higher status than Count Akelle. When comparing the head of a count family that has been famous for a long time and Count Danseung, the former is naturally superior..

However, it seemed that common sense did not apply here, and Count Aeneas bowed his head slightly and sat quietly..

Then, when Lord Slanwith, who was watching, sat down, Count Akele looked around the audience and opened his mouth..

“I have something to suggest, so I prepared a meeting..”

There was no word of understanding for bringing people together late at night or any build-up before getting to the main topic. He immediately brought up the matter with his characteristic expressionless face..

“Since Viscount Cirillo is fighting against the Electors under the command of the 3rd Prince, the Count will probably join him. Isn't that right??”

After receiving the question, Count Aeneas was silent for a moment and then nodded..

“You can see it that way..”

“Then I guess you'll be interested in what the Third Prince is doing with his knight.?”

I noticed it right away, but the 'child who might be interested in this transaction' that Count Akelle mentioned earlier was none other than Count Aeneas..

The girl blinked quietly as if trying to understand the situation. It's a bit of a blind impression. Did I wake up late??

For a moment, though I felt a little drowsy, bright eyes turned towards me..

“3What is the prince preparing??”

“uh……

Count Aenes was not in the plan Ulkar told me about..

I scratched my eyebrows and shrugged my shoulders. Err, I don’t know..

“We will cross the bay of blades.”

“Only the blade. I'm thinking of attacking the Strom family's territory. but-”

As if the pattern was just that of a great lord, his blurry eyes quickly glowed blue. The girl looked back at Count Akele..

“I didn't know Eyland would cooperate with the three princes..”

“No cooperation. Just made a deal.”

“If you say it's a deal?”

After hearing a brief explanation of Lord Eordan's negotiations with Prince Ulkar, Count Aeneas narrowed his eyes..

“what do you want me to do?”

“I have no wishes. I would like to advise you that simply watching your allies struggle is not a wise choice. Advice from a neighbor.”

“……Thanks for the advice.”

The girl continued speaking slowly..

“However, even as a young and foolish person, this plan seems like a time-consuming task. It would take time to prepare an army to send on an expedition. I am afraid that if I miss the time, I will ruin the plan arranged by the 3rd prince..”

“Well then, let me give you some more advice..”

“……Your Excellency?”

“As you said, since it will be a battle over time, organize the expeditionary force into a small number. Even if we take only half of the troops we brought with us this time, we could fill one of Milgrester's battle ships..”

“They are my escort unit.”

“There is no great lord who drags three hundred guards to tour his territory. Because going around with a large army to guard against the citizens is undermining my prestige..”

While Count Aeneas was silent, the blood-white gaze turned to Lord Slanwith..

“You are responsible for supplying the provisions and supplies necessary for departure and expedition..”

“Do you mean me??”

“okay.”

He couldn't say anything except wiping the sweat that had formed on his forehead with the back of his thick hand..

“Is there a problem??”

“No - no, sir..”

As Lord Slanwith lowered his head, Count Aenes spoke again..

“Sending an expeditionary force is not difficult, but it requires a price..”

“Abiden is a land a short distance from the border. If the 3rd prince fails to protect the border, your territory will also be ruined. He talks about the price.?”

“I may help with the defense, but it is not my duty to join in the counterattack across the sea..”

The girl met Count Akelle’s silent gaze with fierce eyes..

Although she wasn't showing any particular momentum, she felt the pressure was enough to overflow, but Count Aeneas didn't turn her head until the end..

“……Consult with Lord Phoenics here. How much of Froshafen's shares will be distributed to the Count Milgrester family depending on their contribution?.”

In any case, if he received direct support from the Iron Scale Fleet, he was going to hand over a significant portion of the port to Eyland. As long as the stake was solid, it wasn't difficult to pay for the support of the Milgrester family's elite troops..

I exchanged glances with Atalanta and then nodded..

“We will guarantee you a minimum share of Froshafen, up to a maximum of 30% depending on the performance of the troops you support..”

Count Aeneas hesitated for a moment..

As she is the great lord who rules the coast, she must have been greedy for the rich port across the sea, but she seemed to want something else..

As I waited leisurely, the girl slowly parted her lips..

“……A share of the port is nice, but I want something else..”

“tell me.”

“Recently, I heard that the Ironscale Fleet is chasing something.”

What does this mean again??

I glanced back in confusion, but Count Achele had an expressionless face as usual..

“If at least some of it is good, please share the results with the Milgrester family..”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“The witch of praise.”

……Witch of Hymn?

“Fishman searches the entire area like a rat.

You're looking for the tribe's spawning grounds and burning them down. Isn't the purpose to capture the Witch of Hymn??”

Seonhyeolbaek did not express anything. But the silence he showed for a moment was a meaningful answer in itself..