Chapter 496
My Villains Episode 496
interlude. judges and jockeys
5The month has arrived.
Like most provinces across the empire and kingdom, Obdorf has also reached the peak of spring..
The Zelentree, drenched by a brief shower, showed off its green like never before, and the wide plain stretching to the south was filled with lilacs colored in deep purple and azaleas glowing orange..
Next to the road paved with old flagstones, there was a small soybean field surrounded by a small fence that barely reached the knees. The scarecrow, standing alone in the middle of the soybean field, seemed to be quietly looking down at the young pods with soft hairs growing up little by little..
“Isn’t it so peaceful??”
At the leisurely question, the elderly man who had been admiring the scenery with a blank face turned his head. I thought it was the voice of the horseman pulling his horse's reins, but the person who made eye contact with the old man was a handsome young man wearing plate armor..
“Baron Daeon.”
“I thought it would be full of ashes, blood, screams and wailing because it was a land swept over by military fire... … . I guess it wasn't as terrible a war as I heard through rumors..”
A noble-looking young man leaned over to one side of his horse and picked a wild flower and smelled it. With his brilliant blonde hair, handsome face, gorgeous white horse, and shining armor, he looked like a knight straight out of a fairy tale..
It was a figure that would make many young girls blush, but it did not seem to impress a man in his sixties who was looking at the line. The middle-aged man, who looked a bit tired, opened his mouth with an expressionless face..
“This may be because the period of war was not very long. Since victory or defeat was decided in three or four decisive battles, collateral damage would have been relatively small..”
“That's right too.”
Daeon Nam, the sixth standard-bearer of King Milanol and the head of the ‘New Order’ family, said in a slightly confused tone..
“I never expected that the war would end so easily and quickly. Since I am a knight, I have no choice but to miss the opportunity to show off my skills, but... … . On the one hand, I feel proud that the newly incorporated royal territory is so beautiful..”
Old Man Zhong, a high judge in the royal capital and one of Crown Prince Zacharis' close associates, shook his head with a stern expression..
“It is still too early to be optimistic. No one knows how the situation will end, so we must not relax..”
“her. I don't know what Lord Kingsley and the other jockeys are afraid of..”
“It's not scary, it's difficult, Baron..”
The king's young rider seemed unable to understand his opponent's cautious attitude..
“What's difficult? The two princes of the empire dared to invade, counterattacked and took away a large amount of land. What more explanation do you need??”
“Isn’t this a victory achieved entirely by our kingdom?.”
“If so, whose victory is it? The one holding the flag is His Royal Highness the Third Prince, the legitimate son of the royal family, and the people gathered there are the various vassals of the kingdom. Of course, it is a victory for His Majesty the King and our kingdom..”
As the young man tapped his breastplate in frustration, the old judge quietly narrowed his eyes..
‘Are you acting stupid on purpose? I want to believe in that simple logic as if it were an immutable truth.?’
“…… The Baron heard the news too. The three princes, and indeed their subordinates, were granted imperial titles. The 'Red Dragon' was given the title by King Ruilix II himself, and the rest were given the title in the presence of the emperor. What does that mean??”
“Of course you weren't cheating, right? Your Majesty the Third Prince is a natural tactician. Since he did not have enough strength to face the enemy's large army, he lied and bowed his head in order to gain time to join His Majesty the Crown Prince's army..”
“……If that's the case, why do the border fortresses keep their gates locked so far? I can't make way for reinforcements..”
“Aren't we heading to Eisbowald now to solve that very problem??”
Baron Daeon hides his sad expression
I sighed deeply..
“You can clearly guess what the situation is like in Eisbowald. I lost my lord to an unexpected, unfortunate death. How confused must everyone be?.”
“If there is confusion?”
The knights under his command, including the ‘Achamcheol Knight’, the ‘Giant Knight’, the ‘Salmusa’, and the ‘Red Knight’, are all extraordinary people. Since His Majesty the 3rd Prince, who was responsible for all of this, passed away in pain, it is only natural that there is division from within.……
The young man looked at the southern horizon with sad eyes..
“Even thinking about it again, it's really sad. He wasn't the type of person to die in vain like that..”
Kingsley wrinkled his nose quietly. There was no way to tell whether Baron Daeon was mourning for Prince Silver, whom he had never met in person, or whether he was intoxicated by the sight of himself grieving..
“…… As we agreed a few days ago, we decided to refrain from commenting as much as possible on the unfortunate death that befell His Royal Highness the Third Prince..”
“I remember it. We're just saying this because it's between us..”
“Be careful from now on. I don't want to be kicked out for looking ugly like the former Norik monks..”
At the old man's warning, the young man shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Instead of asking what exactly the gesture meant, Kingsley sighed and added,.
“My advice to the Baron, no, I ask you not to be optimistic about the situation. Additionally, please refrain from speaking as much as possible when you arrive at Eisvowald..”
The young and handsome Baron nodded roughly again. Seeing Hong's cold eyes, the old judge swallowed his words to himself..
‘Now we are crawling into the den of wolves on our own. Not just wolves, but a den of wolves that have lost their leader and become very ferocious..’
As a shadow fell over Kingsley's wrinkled face, his pallbear spoke in an excited voice..
“My lord, look.”
“hmm?”
“That looks like Icebowald..”
It was just as the young servant said..
It was the early afternoon of May 1 when Kingsley and his party of about twenty people, carrying the Crown Prince's letter, arrived at their destination..
And Kingsley did not deliver the letter until evening two days later. No, let alone handing over a letter, I have not met a single one of those who are the leaders of the Silver Prince Army..
After struggling with the gate guards for a while, he somehow managed to enter the city, but was not treated properly..
The news was delivered through an officer with a large scar on the corner of his mouth who was serving as the temporary head of the guard, but no guide came. Although he was staying in an empty mansion as a lodging thanks to the officer's favor, he was only surrounded by a lot of surveillance troops and could not meet the Silver Prince's knights..
“The situation in the city appears to be much more serious than expected.”
If High Judge Kingsley was the nominal leader of the group, the real leader was the middle-aged female knight who had just opened her mouth..
‘‘Black armor’ patina. As the king's fourth rider and one of the kingdom's leading magic swordsmen, she seemed a little embarrassed by the current situation..
“What I was worried about was what their answer would be, but now I wonder if I will even get the answer in time..”
Immediately after entering the city, and during the two days he was confined to his lodgings, Nam Patina tried his best to understand the inner workings of the city of Eisbowald and the troops stationed there..
But all she felt was an extremely depressed and rigid atmosphere..
“I found out something?”
The young merchant bowed his head at Baron Patina's gaze..
“Sorry, there isn't much news.”
On the surface, his identity was that of a merchant who was somehow connected to the royal family and making money, but his real identity was Sejak, who had over a hundred subordinates. He explained that he was following the nobles as a guide when passing through the castle gate, but in reality, his real mission was to obtain the necessary information in the current situation..
“However, looking at it, it seems like the problem arose because no one wanted to take the empty seat of His Highness the Third Prince..”
“It's the exact opposite of what I expected. They're not fighting for power, they're just putting each other off.?”
“It's not about procrastinating. To explain it in one word… … It's like, 'Who can dare take his place?'.”
The middle-aged woman nodded slowly..
“I get the idea. Then, will His Majesty the Crown Prince have a chance??”
The young merchant hesitated for a moment and then bowed his head..
“ doesn't exist.”
“ You're decisive..”
“I'm sorry, Nari. However, I just made a judgment based on the information I received..”
“The basis is?”
“Needless to say, the hostility is too strong. There is a rumor going around in the military camp that it is all the fault of His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince that His Majesty the Third Prince has been wandering around battlefields and outskirts for nearly 10 years..”
“Are the leaders’ thoughts the same??”
“It will happen. Most of them, including Langbolt Urshore, Ankyr Whitestone, Ariad Barin, and Lyam Summersong, served the three princes for a long time and shared in their penance..”
“Those who received the title?”
“I think that might be a breakthrough. Lu Yan, who was appointed after the Empire, has a high reputation, but is still a young boy and unmarried. We will be able to find an appropriate way to appease you. The same goes for Atalanta, who was sealed by Prince Angst. Since she is a squire of Nou Dane, there will be positive results if she is offered an appropriate amount of money..”
The young merchant took a deep breath and continued speaking..
“Variables are the red knight.”
“Poinix von Depelken.”
“yes. Although he is called the seventh knight of the Silver Prince, his period of military service was relatively short. Nevertheless, he was active based on his fearsome military power and became a figure close to the second-in-command of the Silver Prince's army. You can get a glimpse of his status through his possession of the yolk land of Obdorf and his obtaining the title of permanent senator..”
“Even if such a red knight appears, the situation cannot be resolved..”
“that… … no.”
“no?”
When Baron Patina narrowed his eyes, the young merchant responded in a very uncertain voice..
“Immediately after Prince Silver died - no, they say he disappeared, but disappeared anyway. The Red Knight is known to be in hiding..”
“stay away?”
“yes. Especially after returning to Eisbovald, it's almost impossible to see anyone except a few of my closest associates..”
The young merchant expressed his opinion cautiously..
“It's just my guess, but you'll probably only get a response to your letter when the Red Knight reappears..”
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