Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 265

265. Hwangdo-ro (2)

Margrave Hendrick was troubled by the recent situation. Because nothing matched his expectations.

‘It’s something that couldn’t have happened in the first place.’

The Margrave always had a plan that was almost perfect, considering as many variables as possible, and there were several levels of preparedness in case the plan went awry due to irregularities.

Therefore, he was not embarrassed when Prince Mores suddenly appeared at the estate and demanded that the distribution of medicinal tea be stopped. If the medicine cart didn’t work, he had another next step.

The same goes for the fact that they were unfazed by the unprecedented air raid. He had a final bastion that he kept hidden until the very end.

‘But why?’

If you think about it, the answer was obvious.

Strangely, the variables that Prince Mores creates are always far outside the range that humans can anticipate and prepare for.

Everything is turning around the prince. Not only the medicine cart, but also the Milo Sangang, and even the movements of the Penitent Church.

‘Now it’s a holy relic!’

At first, I thought it was some kind of nonsense, but isn’t it really the Ice Knight who is supporting the Count’s mansion?

An inspector of relics dispatched from the imperial capital even officially prepared documents, saying it was evidence that the ‘Knight of Grace’ had descended. It was a situation he could never have predicted in advance.

‘I thought the prince would try to cover this up quietly… … .’

This is the position of Prince Mores, about whom there were once disturbing rumors.

Anyway, there would be no benefit in making it widely known that he had moved the magical beast, so I was just trying to take some advantage by pretending to cover it up.

But now the situation has become the opposite.

‘Rather than the stigma of being a territory that survived with the help of a demonic beast, it is a hundred times better to be known as a territory that the main lord personally protected by sending down holy relics!’

Therefore, Prince Mores also did not tell the Margrave in advance. It was as if the Margrave was returning back what he had arbitrarily tried to reduce to the princes’ merits.

In any case, the continent would be in an uproar with the news of the relic’s arrival. Sigismund’s desire to show off his firmness to the North was in vain.

If this is the case, then what is the meaning of curtailing the activities of the princes? Also, what will happen to the relationship with the Penitent Church from now on?

‘Besides, Prince Mores probably won’t just let it go.’

My head was already aching as to what the prince would demand in return for trying to reduce the Duke.

However, the day before he left, this was what Prince Mores said to the Margrave when he appeared in the study.

“Margrave, give me Max.”

“……?”

“I promise. I will make Max happier than anyone else in the world.”

For a moment, the Margrave did not quite understand what he had heard.

On the other hand, a list of useful talents in the territory, from the Wolf Knights to the lowest ranking soldiers, flashes through my mind.

‘Lord Marx is an old man about to retire. I heard that Marx, who came from the village below me recently, is quite talented, but he is still at the squire stage. Not only do neither of them have any contact with Hae-jae, but they probably aren’t talents worth coveting either. Who on earth… … .’

Then the prince added with a pitiful look on his face.

“What are you thinking about, Margrave? Is that something you should think about for a long time?”

“I apologize, sir. But which Marx are you talking about…?”

“What on earth are you talking about? I’m talking about a wolf dog in a kennel.”

“Ah? Yes. Is that so?”

I heard there’s a wolfdog that’s definitely cute.

Still, the reason I didn’t think of it right away was because I never thought the prince would ask for that dog from the beginning.

Above all, Margrave Hendrick did not remember the names of each of the dogs he owned. Although he knew all the human resources of the territory, the number of dogs was important, and he was completely uninterested in the characteristics of small individuals.

“What can I do? Can you give it to me?”

“Of course, my lord. As a hound, you can do whatever you want.”

Trying to use the disposition of a dog that is not even part of the negotiation agenda as a tile may have the opposite effect. In that case, it would be better to at least be kind to the other person.

“Good. After all, you are someone who knows how to communicate.”

The prince smiled in satisfaction, then walked to the side and pulled out a book from the study.

He flipped through it carelessly, put it on the bookshelf, and took out another folder.

It was the same thing that old Vincent sometimes did when he came into the study for business.

“…….”

The Margrave barely suppressed his frown.

The study is his space, a space completely controlled by his own rules. And he absolutely hated any disruption of the rules.

He couldn’t help but lament that Prince Mores and Old Man Vincent, the two people he couldn’t mess around with, had similar habits.

“To be honest, Margrave, I was a little impressed this time.”

widely.

Eventually, Prince Mores put the documents he was holding into the bookshelf and turned his head.

“Sigsmund’s power is beyond imagination. The ice wall was destroyed and many soldiers were killed or injured. Also, part of the territory became a battlefield and completely collapsed. But even in such chaos, the people of the territory did not shiver from the cold and never starved. “There is none.”

Although it may seem like a compliment, it is not a very good thing to hear as the beginning of a negotiation. So does this mean that they will tear it apart as much as they want without hesitation?

However, as always, the Margrave bowed his head, skillfully hiding his expression.

“That’s too much praise, my lord. This is the result of not being negligent in preparing for the danger that is the devil’s side.”

“Yes, I know. I guess I’ve been saving it up little by little over the years in preparation for an emergency.”

It’s something that feels strange.

Margrave Hendrick furrowed his eyebrows as he thought about its meaning, but Prince Mores, who had been staring at him quietly, continued.

“That’s why I became even more convinced. That you don’t care about your own self-interest and work harder than anyone else only for the future of the territory.”

“Since you know so much, I don’t know what to do, my dear.”

Even as he answered, the Margrave was puzzled.

What on earth does the prince want to say?

“But Margrave, I sometimes feel this way when I look at you recently.”

Prince Mores crossed his arms and tilted his head.

“Does the prosperity of the territory have value in itself to you? Regardless of the well-being of the count or the people of the territory.”

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

“That’s exactly what it says. You have the most promising son on the continent, and you have loyal residents who protect the territory even in the harshest cold. But are they and the territory completely different?”

“…….”

“The medicine cart thing at the top of Milo is a good prediction. Why do you sometimes get the feeling that what you do is in complete parallel with their well-being?”

Of course it is different. To Hendrick, they are members of the territory, not the territory itself.

But from many years of experience, the Margrave knew that this was the wrong answer.

“If you feel that way, it is only a result of my shortcomings. I am only completing this body for the sake of the people of the territory and the empire.”

Then, cold, colorless eyes, similar to the eyes of Seonghwang, whom he once encountered, quietly gazed at him.

“I only ask you this, Margrave.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did you already know that they would bring out [the penitent tree]?”

The Margrave, who had suddenly hit the nail on the head, was almost startled.

However, with a really desperate effort, I was able to stop my facial muscles from twitching for a split second and make a puzzled expression. It was a skillful response that the young prince would not have dared to see through.

“Who are they, sir? And what is penance?”

The Wolf Knights had already heard about the attack by the Demon Tree.

However, it is true that not many people know about its second name, [Chamhoemok]. If you understand it right away, there will be nothing more suspicious.

But the margrave had no idea. Something in the prince’s mind just whispered this in his ear.

It is a lie.

“…….”

And the prince smiled. It was an eerie smile that you would never expect a young boy to make.

“Well, then. Enough introduction. Now, shall we talk about the remaining calculations?”

For some time thereafter the Margrave discussed future compensation with Prince Mores.

The content was nothing special.

Prince Logan and the Lilium Detachment will send a formal letter of thanks to the imperial capital for their activities in the Demonic World.

And in the deal with the new merchant, we will recognize several priority exclusive rights.

It may have been large, but it was within the range that the Margrave had assumed. On the contrary, compared to the prince’s temperament that was previously understood, it is rather generous.

‘Have you looked into the situation of the territory? Since he’s been quiet up until now, I thought he was going to try and extort a lot of money.’

After sending the prince off, the Margrave approached the bookshelf. I had to straighten out his rules that had been bothersome from before and had been disturbed by others.

However, the Margrave, who was trying to quickly sort things out, suddenly realized an unbelievable fact and stopped dead in his tracks.

‘… ‘Is it the same?’

Nothing has changed.

Not only the order of bookshelf and documents arranged according to complicated rules, but also the intentional disorder that is cleverly arranged.

‘I was clearly watching with my own eyes as they picked things out and rummaged around!’

At that moment, the words the prince uttered in passing came to mind in the Margrave’s mind. And she realized the reason for the discomfort she felt earlier.

-okay. I know. It must have been saved little by little over the years in preparation for an emergency.

What it meant was clear. It is said that the prince has already investigated all of Sigismund’s material movements over the years.

I also saw top-secret materials that were never exposed to the outside world and that only a few people, including the Margrave, knew about!

The Margrave stared blankly into space in shock.

‘Since when did the prince start going in and out of the study? How far did you see it? No, how far did he figure out my plan!

Of course, we do not create documents with dangerous content just to show off. All plans and materials are in the Margrave’s head.

However, some people infer many things just by listing seemingly meaningless data.

‘I didn’t just come for negotiations. He was warning me.’

The Margrave, who realized that his rules were not an all-purpose lock, could not help but feel saddened.

* * *

[So what was the conclusion? What on earth did you threaten?]

‘well… … .’

In fact, although he pretended to be in front of the Margrave, Seongjin was also unable to completely understand the specific plan the Margrave had in mind.

‘In the end, we have no choice but to finish on a moderately warning note.’

Of course, when I think about what the author did to my sister, I want to rip off every single capillary, but if that happens, it is not the Margrave who will suffer, but the subjects of the Sigismund Empire.

A margrave by nature is not a person of extravagant nature, but is a person who manages funds rationally for his fiefdom.

Now, Sigismund, which has been hit by an unexpected disaster, is in a position to demand more subsidies.

‘The Margrave has one last move he is hiding. It’s also probably related to the Dark Church.’

Seongjin rested his chin and was lost in thought.

‘I guess I won’t be able to take my eyes off Sigismund for a while, right? Should I tell Dasha to mobilize all of Monkey Watchtower’s agents to keep a close watch… … .’

However, the Demon King said that he did not feel any special magical energy in the territory.

Somehow, I can’t shake the feeling that there are limits to the human eye. If they dig too deep, it will be difficult for the agents to get out.

In the end, Seongjin, who had been thinking about it, came to a conclusion.

‘Let’s leave this matter to Schmidt.’

Since he is the branch manager who will win Sigismund’s anti-monopoly contract anyway, shouldn’t he put in this much effort?

It would be good to keep an eye on him as he goes back and forth about contract issues, and he has a pretty cute demon in his household who cries at meeme.

[what? Do you like a family member who makes such soft animal cries? Is that why you find that mongrel dog that makes bullshit cute?]

‘Why have you been tripping over strange things for a while now?’

But their conversation did not continue any further. This is because I encountered a not-so-pleasant person in the hallway.

“Sir, what’s going on!”

The Margrave’s second son quickly approached him with a smile on his face. He looked like he was going to take out everything, including his liver and gallbladder, but Seongjin just stared at his face without answering.

“…….”

“How can you say that?”

Seongjin vaguely remembered the sharp thoughts he had heard while in a dazed state after drinking medicinal tea.

-Orden That bastard, it’s so disgusting to see him pretending so arrogantly without knowing the end. I wish I could go somewhere and die.

Dry eyes in that loose smile. He’s probably the one who has the most of the Margrave’s personality, but his head doesn’t turn that much.

Seongjin looked at him blankly and asked.

“Where is the Archduke?”

Crispy. Emmett’s smile cracks.

“yes?”

“I have no business with you. Where is your brother?”

Then he wheezed, clearly showing his face color changing. Compared to my father, I still have a long way to go.

But no matter what he was thinking, Emmett had to give an appropriate answer to the prince’s question.

“…It will be at the training ground. I will guide you.”

“No, you don’t have to.”

Seongjin responded like that and walked past him.

“Unlike anyone else, the Archduke’s Auror activity is very strong. It’s not a sign that can be hidden just by hiding it.”

“…….”

“Why don’t you do some training like your brother instead of bandaging your good arm? Or go and help with the estate work. What is a grown man doing that’s a trickster?”

Sensing the fierce gaze following him from behind, Seongjin snorted and quickened his pace.

‘There’s this guy and that guy, and there’s really no one I like in the Sigismund family.’

I think Orden is the best among them.

… On the topic of Orden.

fantasy,