Chapter 25. Taking care of the snowflakes to bloom. (5)
The punitive team passed through the castle gate and arrived in front of the imperial palace one by one. A much larger crowd than when the departure ceremony was held was gathered and waiting for them.
“Waaah!”
No one expected that the subjugation team would fail. I am just happy that we have achieved the predicted victory.
However, there was not only pure joy on the faces of the nobles.
This is probably because the landscape of noble power that has been maintained so far is changing due to this subjugation war.
In addition, some people were watching the subjugation team with strange eyes. It looked like he had already heard something.
“… … Phew.”
As Mikel opened the carriage door and got out, he felt eyes flocking to him.
The reason he put Leah in the lead instead of himself was because he was physically uncomfortable and needed time to organize his thoughts.
“Are you okay?”
As he looked at Leah approaching him, Mikel felt his judgment becoming more complicated.
“It’s okay, don’t worry.”
“Yes, father.”
The two women stood side by side and waited for the rest of the group to enter. While enduring the gaze that rains down on the two like arrows.
“… … “Have your thoughts still changed?”
Suddenly, Mikel opened his mouth and Leah turned her head to the side.
Eyes that were as deep as the sea, but at the same time transparent and clearly visible, were directed at him.
“Do you mean becoming a successor?”
Even though it was an unexpected question, Leah immediately understood what he meant.
“It has been and will always be my answer.”
And he answered in a filled tone.
“You can. “For that purpose, I took it in my hand.”
Although there was no subject, Mikel could tell what Leah was talking about.
Although it is not visible now, the sword Aria resides in her daughter’s body.
After getting it, Leah’s eyes changed even more clearly. His belief in himself and his confidence were all over it.
“… … I see.”
In fact, when Abel and Leah were fighting, Mikel observed them as if possessed.
To be precise, I couldn’t take my eyes off Leah, who was holding Aria and moving around.
I had been ignoring it for a long time.
How vividly my daughter breathes when she holds the sword, how sparkling her eyes are as she pursues her goal.
And how dazzling my daughter’s smile was at that moment.
“-!”
Above him, the afterimage of his long-lost wife falls like the flapping wings of a butterfly.
It soon became a storm and scratched Mikel’s heart.
‘If I didn’t do that, I would constantly be suspected and tested.’
Abel’s words cut straight to the point.
Mikel praised his insight, but at the same time felt a lingering regret that he could not let go of.
‘If it were Prince Abel… … .’
I imagined Leah standing next to him in a wedding dress. Leah’s future, which Mikel had always hoped for, was there.
But Mikel also realized deep down in his heart.
That my daughter would be more suited to fighting with Abel rather than standing around in a dress.
Plop, plod.
The Knights of Ovest came in and lined up next to Mikel, who stood in the center.
With Abel in the front, a composition was naturally formed with him and Leah standing side by side.
“I think the lead suits you quite well?”
When Abel spoke with a low laugh,
“Don’t make fun of me. “I thought there was a hole in my body because of the gaze.”
Leah pursed her lips and grumbled.
“You are the one that people couldn’t take their eyes off of.”
“It’s something I’m familiar with.”
Leah grumbled softly at Abel’s calm and weak answer.
Looking at that scene, Mikel was overcome by an indescribable emotion. Did she feel his gaze?
“… … .”
Suddenly, Abel turned his head and looked at him. The moment our eyes met,
Nod.
Abel nodded clearly enough to be seen. As if she was telling me to believe in myself.
The words he whispered one day passed through my mind.
‘Miss Leah and I could become good friends.’
The moment that memory was thrust into my heart, the illusion of Leah that had been flickering all along shattered and disappeared.
“… … .”
Mikel quietly clenched his fists.
I felt like I had finally reached a conclusion that I knew in my heart but could not reach in my head.
Leah’s happiness was his happiness.
If Leah was truly going to walk down the thorny path, her job was to go ahead and cut off the thorns. She’s not throwing another thorn.
While Mikel was lost in thought, all the knights had already lined up.
“Your Majesty the Emperor is eating!”
The aide’s booming voice was heard.
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“… … Phew.”
Mikel slowly released the force in his fist. And he looked straight ahead with eyes filled with determination.
Tap, tap.
I saw the emperor slowly coming up to the stage.
* * *
‘I guess I’ve finally given up my regrets.’
I grinned and squinted at Mikel’s face.
Mikel’s constant confrontation with Leah was not beneficial to me. It was necessary for the two father and daughter to come together and fully support me.
However, I did not want to use marriage as a means of doing what Mikel wanted.
‘Because that’s not necessarily the only way.’
If Leah succeeds the Concellare family, all the troubles will be resolved once and for all.
for example,
“… … .”
It would be easier to deal with Carlo, who has his eyes burning brightly.
He looked back and forth between Cain and me, who were standing at the far end, as if he couldn’t believe it.
If I could cut a person down with my gaze, my body would have been torn to pieces long ago.
“Heh.”
When I smiled sweetly at him, Carlo looked away as if he had seen something he couldn’t see.
You must have heard news from the North, but seeing it with your own eyes will be amazing.
Cain is standing at the back instead of proudly leading the way. There, Hector is wearing a helmet and giving off a gloomy energy.
“Hehe.”
In addition, various views came from all over the place.
Princess Violet, who grew up beautifully, and other nobles whose faces changed. And even the Vitoria guild members who would be mixed in the crowd.
I leisurely enjoyed the gazes and waited for the emperor to stand in front of the podium.
Now the entire audience has gathered. I just waited for the stage curtain to rise.
“I see the sun of the empire.”
Mikel offered his greetings on behalf of everyone.
“Raise your head.”
Emperor Theodore’s majestic voice suddenly fell. When the people raised their heads, the emperor looked at everyone’s faces carefully.
“My joy is limitless.”
A happy smile appeared on Emperor Theodore’s lips.
“I can’t believe you came back after completing the northern subjugation war so successfully. “Everything exceeded expectations.”
He asked a question to Mikel.
“Thanks to you, I think the problem in the Node territory has been resolved. “How is it?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It is thanks to all the knights who bravely fought with their swords.”
Mikel answered in a calm tone.
“Their blood and sweat will never be forgotten by the Nord Territory.”
As befits his temperament, his greetings did not contain any flattery towards the emperor.
Emperor Theodore raised one corner of his mouth as if he knew that would happen.
“But what happened to Lord Mikel’s leg? Genga was injured during the battle.”
“… … “Your Majesty, I am sorry, but it is not an injury sustained in battle.”
Mikel naturally changed the topic.
“Please consider the hard work of those who sacrificed themselves in this subjugation war more than my minor injuries.”
“Ah, of course you should.”
Emperor Theodore realized Mikel’s intention and laughed briefly.
“As promised, the families that participated in this subjugation war will be rewarded with a tax reduction.”
The Emperor continued speaking, extending his hand to the side.
“However, there is an order to merit. From what I heard, there was an interesting bet being made during this subjugation war, right?”
An aide standing nearby handed the emperor a document. It was clear that it was a report about this subjugation war.
“It’s fun, it’s fun.”
Emperor Theodore smiled as he turned the pages.
“A competition based on the number of monsters killed.”
Palak.
He folded the document and handed it back to his aide.
“So, whose work is this interesting bet?”
There was a moment of tense silence.
Not only the civil and military officials but also the gathered crowd held their breath and waited for an answer.
Quietly raising one hand,
“That’s me.”
The moment you say softly.
Thousands of eyes focused on me. Still, the gentle smile on my lips never disappeared.
“… … “Hoo.”
Emperor Theodore gave a meaningful look.
“You are Prince Abel. Looking at this document, I see that the Ovest Knights were the main players in the victory in this subjugation war.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How should I interpret this? Is this to show the world the power of the Ovest Knights?”
This also happened in the original work.
Cain led the northern subjugation war to victory and killed the most monsters.
Add to that the influence of the Mare Guild, and praise for him flowed throughout the empire.
Emperor Theodore, who was more sensitive to power than anyone else, could not stand to see that happen.
It was the same this time too.
He was already wary of the Ovest Knights who came in from the castle gate with all kinds of cheers.
“I came up with this proposal with only one goal in mind.”
I smiled innocently and dodged Emperor Theodore’s attack.
“To bring victory to His Majesty the Emperor, the one and only sun of this empire.”
Covering his eyes with false loyalty, he gently rolled his tongue and whispered.
“We made a bet for this, motivating the drivers and driving results at the same time.”
After seeing Emperor Theodore’s eyes twitch,
“We were able to proceed smoothly because everyone had the same mindset as me.”
I slowly bowed my head.
“I am just happy that I was able to bring such complete and complete victory to His Majesty the Emperor.”
It didn’t move for a while.
‘1, 2, 3… … .’
Not long after counting,
“… … ha ha ha!”
Emperor Theodore burst into hearty laughter.
“ha ha ha… … . This is it. Did you put honey on your tongue? “How can you only choose sounds that are so sweet?”
Only then did I slowly raise my lowered head.
“okay. A young person should have this level of spirit, right? “Betting, I thought that was a very interesting idea.”
Emperor Theodore looked at me with a satisfied smile.
“The only similarity between father and son is their faces. “Other than that, they don’t look alike at all.”
“I am very grateful, Your Majesty.”
“Thanks to you, I can skip the complicated task of determining the order of merit. “All of this is thanks to the wit of Prince Abel.”
Whenever I had doubts earlier, Emperor Theodore laughed and praised me.
‘Okay, laugh out loud now.’
It was not yet time to reveal the hidden blade in my hand.
This blade will be more lethal if you stab it from behind the opponent’s back when they are concentrating on something else with their back to you.
“If that’s the case, we will award compensation in the order of the report we confirmed earlier.”
“I am in despair, Your Majesty.”
The punitive force and civil and military officials bowed their heads obediently. Emperor Theodore continued.
“Also, to commemorate the victory in this subjugation war, we will open the treasury and hold a festival for three days.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the front of the imperial palace was filled with huge cheers.
“Oooooh!”
“Long live your Majesty the Emperor!”
Emperor Theodore was a powerful and cruel man, but he tended to reward meritoriously.
That was one of the secrets to maintaining imperial power without losing public support.
After some raucous cheering,
“But, I heard an interesting story.”
Emperor Theodore raised his hand and silenced the audience.
“I heard that the heavy snow in the north this year is caused by some ‘being’?”
There was a deep greed in the corner of his eyes as he asked as if he knew everything.
fantasy,
