Chapter 503
My Villains Episode 503
interlude. crown prince
The grandson of the Arriaga family headed to the inner city High Castle with a bodyguard and several servants..
Ossu climbed the gentle slope and looked up at the towering castle in the middle of the city. The majesty of the central castle tower, so tall and majestic as to pierce the sky, made him fall into a brief reminiscence..
Enemies gathered like a cloud beneath the castle. Prince Silver and his knights singing of victory. Fighters who worked hard day and night just for victory. Comrades who sweated, hung their shoulders, and held hands in blood..
Strangely enough, the boy, who was hiding his trembling hands under the table, did not remember the tension or fear at all. All that remained in his mind was the enthusiasm, fighting spirit, and hope that Ulkar had given him..
Os passed through the castle gate, feeling an inexplicable emptiness as the flags filled the walls..
“dismissal.”
“Oh, Lord Garwin.”
Cao Son encountered Margrave Garwin in the open corridor leading to the inner part of the inner city..
The young great lord was gentle and kind, but had a strong and wild aura. The previous softness may be due to the loving discipline of his deceased father, and this growing manliness may be due to harsh trials..
The once lively young man earned the nickname 'Hwangyabaek' but lost most of his speech and facial expressions. He bowed to Eabon as usual and gave a quick glance to Os, who followed him. Os smiled warmly at his close friend, who happened to be with him at the moment he was reminiscing..
“I'm on my way to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.?”
“yes. Even the marquis?”
“Same thing.”
The Marquis stroked his well-groomed beard and glanced at Gawin's group. Axo Dbroek's loyal vassals, including Knight Gepart and Captain Arbecon, were following the young barbarian..
‘……I feel sorry for you.’
Eabon secretly smiled bitterly. Here, I couldn't help but find it funny that the young man, the lord of High Castle and the high lord of the plateau, was acting like a guest..
Every time the Margrave, the commander of the border, enters and exits my castle tower, he gives a reason and asks to enter. How humiliating it is.
However, if this place had been Lianwell and not Highcastle, the Marquis would have been in a similar situation. That's right, Zacharis, who occupied the city's deepest power, was acting like a master to the fullest, using his authority as the crown prince and his military power. It may not have made much difference who the other person was..
“Let's go.”
“Margrave Prix and Earl Coburn?”
“Looks like we're already having an audience.”
“I guess so. Is there any chance of getting away from Your Majesty? “You must have been busy licking your precious chief for almost a month.” As Eavon sarcastically spoke in a nonchalant tone, Garwin nodded quietly, and Os made an awkward expression..
As the Marquis said, I clearly witnessed the two great lords fawning in front of Zacharis like they were pet dogs. However, the marquis also secretly flattered the crown prince in order to please him. However, it is so shameless that Nios is left speechless..
The group, which was over twenty, was reduced by half as they entered the castle tower, and then reduced by half again as they passed through the hallway leading to the synagogue. This is because the knights and guards stationed throughout the castle tower stopped it..
“Thank you for your hard work, Sir Ogier..”
“Marquis.”
The Marquis greeted a guard knight in front of the hall he had used as the throne room. The commander of the royal guard politely bowed to the 'disguised' Ogier..
“May the Light guide you, Highlord. His Majesty the Crown Prince is waiting for you. If it is okay, please come straight to the throne room..”
Following his guidance, Eabon, Os, and Garwin entered the synagogue, leaving behind their closest aides and their escorts who had been with them until the end..
The Marquis of Eabon looked back at the table in the middle of the spacious room and the dozen or so people sitting around it, then smiled broadly..
“I heard that you have found your faith, Your Majesty..”
He slowly pulled his right foot back and bowed his head toward the upper table. The smile hanging from the corner of his wrinkled mouth cooled coldly at that moment. This is because they discovered the vassals without any bodyguards and the king's standard-bearers sitting around them..
‘He seems like a childish and cheap guy..’
“You are late, Marquis Eavon..”
Low, booming voices filled the synagogue. A man sitting on a dark stone chair with yellow silk covering it was looking down at the three old and young people..
“After receiving the message, we set out straight away, but it took quite some time to bring the old man with us. I hope you can generously forgive the old servant’s rudeness..”
““Huh” that’ •
The man sitting in the upper seat was unusually tall and boasted a fairly bloated physique. Because he was sitting on a large seat on a platform a couple of spans high, the people sitting at the table below him were almost at eye level with his knees..
He made a sound that was confusing as to whether it was snorting or snorting, and then offered the three new arrivals a seat..
Os, who was holding his breath behind Eavon, walked slowly and looked at the crowd..
Ornate tapestries hung on the walls instead of the current state of the border and topographical maps of the area, and instead of various reports and orders, the rough tables were filled with tin glasses and silverware glistening with wine..
From the seats near the throne, there are two middle-aged great lords, six subordinates who are like the crown prince's limbs, and eight king's standard-bearers.…….
Even though he sat at the small table of heads, Margrave Prix and Count Coburn, the great lords of the Past and Audenloch regions, respectively, his demeanor was far from dignified..
Freex, famous as the vicious head of the Drisir family, had his helpless gaze fixed somewhere on the table..
The Margrave and his family had a record of rebelling against the royal family following 'Prince Frost' Wevelter during the Thousand Day War, but were cruelly destroyed. Perhaps that's why he felt uncomfortable with the current situation, with the king's standard-bearers, whom he had met as enemies at the time, all around him..
Count Coburn, who sat across from me, was no different. A middle-aged man with a small build was looking around with anxious eyes..
Odenlock, the Boyd family's territory, was small and poor enough to be called an earldom, so it was often threatened by powerful families around it - the Aryan family, Mullin, Milgrester, etc. The reason they were able to protect the land and maintain the status quo was because the royal family acted as a mediator and defended the rights of the Boyd family..
However, a few months ago, the royal family abolished the Neville family, which was considered a prestigious family, and made Gistol, its fiefdom, its direct territory. It was an incident that occurred when the head of the family, Count Mattianber, touched a taboo and became a vampire, so there was no room for opposition..
Whatever the reason, Count Coburn and the Boyd family could not help but feel an existential threat. So, it was natural that a timid lord with weak power would feel intimidated in front of the crown prince who would become his lord in a few years..
‘Would it have been better if Lord Daylessid was by my side?.’
What Os came to mind was Daylecid, the ‘champion of Auden Rock’..
A brave warrior who stands shoulder to shoulder with the Silver Prince's knights, and a vassal whom Count Coburn trusts enough to entrust him with the heirloom 'Vidain'... … . If he had been here, Count Coburn's poor appearance might have been hidden to some extent. It was Zacharis' henchmen who sat next to the great lords..
Council of Dawn delegate Cianan Ibaleus, Royal Chamberlain Miriam Shazar, Deputy Commander of the Expeditionary Force Kraus, Bishop Gedo, Priest Shubovan of Matiariot Cathedral, and High Judge Kingsley.…….
Except for Cianan, a wizard, and Shubo Van, a priest, all four of them held important positions in the kingdom. When Zacharis ascends to the throne in the future, these are the people who will be at the forefront of the royal capital's hierarchy of power..
The eight people who filled the bottom of the table were also people who could never be ignored. These are the heads of the families who have assisted Jeore for the 2nd and 3rd centuries, that is, they are the king's standard-bearers..
The most noticeable thing among the riders was, of course, their seats..
The king's first horseman, the most noble baron. Geisel from Free Fire.
‘aka thunderbolt sword.’
The man Os had glanced at as he passed by was so young that it was hard to believe he was thirty-seven years old. If I shave off my short mustache, I'll look like I'm in my early 20s at most..
What was even more unbelievable was the fact that the man who was rubbing his eyes with a sleepy look was considered one of the best knights in the kingdom, along with Sword Demon Calliora and Frost Lord Webelter..
Os lost his imagination for a moment as he secretly took a look at the legendary magic sword 'Zeronos' hanging on Geisel's waist..
If that carefree man and a red knight bursting into laughter clash swords, what would be the outcome?.
The Marquis of Eavon and the two young counts passed the king's horsemen and the crown prince's men one after another and filled the empty chairs. Os, who sat down in the seat corresponding to the last seat of the great lords, cautiously turned his eyes to the upper seat..
“Okay, have you eaten??”
A heavy voice echoed through the synagogue. The Marquis answered with a glaring look on his face..
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thanks to your consideration, I was able to set the time accurately..”
“Good thing.”
The great man in the throne room silently glanced at the three young and old. Eabon just smiled, pretending to be a kind old man, and Garwin looked at him with a calm expression. Os suppressed his desire to act the other way and maintained a resolute attitude..
The giant looked at Os and smiled..
“It's cute.”
As the words did not fit the atmosphere at all, the audience's attention focused on the boy. Osu stiffened for a moment at the sudden attention..
“I feel it every time I see it, but it looks exactly like Aglas..”
The great man sitting on the throne, Crown Prince Zacharis, gave off the impression of a bear about to hibernate due to his long bones and ample flesh attached to them. After mentioning his eldest son, he rested his chin and turned his gaze to Eabon..
“Now that I think about it, it seems like Gyeong also resembles his father..”
“It's natural. As you know, our progenitor was the brother of His Majesty Zeoth the Conqueror..”
“flaw. That was some time ago?”
“Although time has passed, where will that noble lineage go?.”
“well……
Zacharis twitched his lips.
He smiled and sneered..
“As you know, most of the previous kings were not people who were bound by things such as morality and order..”
“He has the appearance of a hero..”
“It also has the characteristics of a municipal miscellaneous boat..”
It seemed as if a cold wind was blowing into the already quiet synagogue. Hehe, what can the subjects say when the most powerful person in the kingdom openly mocks his ancestors?.
“Actually, it is. Even the father, who is called a single king, has already revealed more than five illegitimate children. A plunderer who ate up 30% of the continent, a one-eyed maniac, or a massacre who stained half the kingdom with blood would have been much worse than that. It's obvious.”
The Crown Prince, who cursed the King of Conquerors, the King of One Eyes, and the King of Knights in turn, looked back at his subjects who were silent as if they had not heard anything and burst into laughter..
“Haha! Maybe it's because I saw young people with bright futures, but nonsense came out without me even realizing it. “Don’t worry about it, everyone.” “Yes, Your Royal Highness.” The king's horsemen and the crown prince's henchmen answered in unison as if they had been waiting, and Os, who was surprised, pursed his lips in confusion. Seeing that, the crown prince smiled and changed the topic..
“Now that I think about it, there are many cases of young people taking over titles recently. Isn’t that right, Miriam??”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Just as great lords appointed as emblems those who were fluent in writing and were well-versed in world affairs, the royal family appointed officers of protocol. Miriam, the representative of such wise people, immediately brought out the information Zacharis wanted..
“A total of eight people, including the two of you here, hold the title of earldom in their teens..”
“A total of eight. who are the other six?”
“Count Shay of Northshire, Count Pasitea of Perrait, Count Aeneas of Abidden, Count Gdoun of Onwuther, Earl Godwin of Saven, and Count Olaz of the Northern Shore, Your Majesty..”
“There are a lot... … . Wait, what about the Crescent Islands and Eyland? And it seems that the new lord of Marva was also young..”
Despite the crown prince's repeated questions, the chief minister answered without hesitation..
“The Marquis of Asen is 31 years old, Duke Kaisis is 26 years old, and Count Clarissa is 24 years old..”
“I see. Anyway, they are all bright young people..”
As Miriam quietly lowered her head, Zacharis rubbed his beard with the back of his hand, deep in thought. Jeore's eldest son showed off quite a handsome appearance despite being very fat and middle-aged. It was thanks to his distinct facial features and bright, vivid blonde hair..
He opened his mouth after a short period of thought..
“The young people are taking on too much responsibility, and as someone who will be responsible for the kingdom in the future, I cannot help but feel worried. I need to come up with something..”
“If you say it's a measure,?”
“The details will need to be worked out slowly together with the officials..”
To the Marquis of Eavon who expressed doubt, the crown prince smiled brightly..
“Young great lords, their successors, and nobles who will become the pillars of the country in the future.
2, 3How about we gather at the Royal College and study for about a year??”
“••••••yes?”
“It is basic to learn the advanced studies of the royal capital, and it will be a good opportunity to communicate with nobles of the same age. Networks are as useful as military force or money, perhaps even more so, so they will be a good asset for the trials you face at a young age..”
“Your Majesty, those words are.”
“Margrave Garwin and Baek Os, who are here, went through a rough war at a young age and built up a great reputation, so they might be able to share their experiences with their peers who are or will become fellow vassals in the future..”
The Crown Prince continued speaking on his own, but nodded cheerfully as if he liked it..
“Additionally, if this is made regular, it will be a good channel for central and local nobles to communicate..”
Eavon, who immediately saw what Zacharis was thinking, looked puzzled..
“However, Your Majesty the Crown Prince, if the owner of the territory and the people is away for several years, the resulting chaos will be-” “It will be enough for vassals with ability and reputation to act for a while.”.”
“Trying to help the young lords may end up shaking their authority..”
The crown prince snorted..
“Huh, how dare you? While the lord is invited by the king to the royal capital, if there is anyone who seeks the empty spot, I will put my honor on the line and exact merciless revenge..”
At the sight of Zacharis proudly proclaiming, Eabon opened his mouth small..
‘This crazy guy is going to take hostages from the entire kingdom? Just as the Marquis was about to say something, the crown prince suddenly raised his hand..
“Oh, stop. We'll talk about this later. There's a problem that needs to be solved right away..”
“……Yes, Your Highness.”
“Then - there you go. Tell me, Kingsley..”
Zacharis's bewildered eyes turned to High Judge Kingsley..
“Ulkar, why aren't any of that bastard's men in sight??”
At his crooked smile, Kingsley swallowed dry saliva..
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