Chapter12. Hide your dagger and smile. (One)
Tap, tap.
The sound of two men’s footsteps split the corridors of the imperial palace.
“This way.”
The imperial servant who was walking ahead stopped.
“Father, over there.”
“yes.”
Carlo grinned at Cain’s words. He raised his hand and pointed in front of him.
“I am the conference chairman.”
The huge door, embossed in gold, was open. There were knights with stern faces standing on both sides.
Their force was like a well-forged sword, extremely sharp yet cold.
“Hoo.”
Cain wiggled his fingers. Interest and a desire to win spread across his red eyes.
Carlo burst out laughing when he saw his son like that.
“Why are you itching?”
Knights of Maggiore.
The greatest contributor to Emperor Theodore’s reputation as a cruel conqueror.
They fought before the empire’s war of conquest, and now that there is no war, they are working on the defense of the capital Maggiore.
Among them, those assigned to the imperial castle are composed of the most skilled.
“I’d like to try it sometime.”
Cain’s voice, which answered immediately, was full of confidence.
“Actually, the one I want to deal with the most is the Ovest Knights, but it’s going to be difficult.”
“I don’t know.”
Carlo stroked his well-groomed mustache.
“That territory always sent a knight as their agent. So you never know, an opportunity might come.”
“If you come, I won’t refuse.”
“guy.”
Carlo had a happy smile on his face. His son’s achievements always delighted him.
The servant approached and spoke to the knights.
“This is Carlo Sud Ardante, and his son Cain Sud Ardante. Cain came as an observer.”
The knights nodded and retreated to either side.
“……Wow.”
Cain’s mouth opened slightly at the scene unfolding before his eyes.
The interior of the conference hall had a solemn feel that made it difficult to make noise, and an old-fashioned feel reminiscent of the oldest building in the empire.
The huge circular hall became deeper toward the center. In the center was a gorgeous throne.
“Maybe that place….”
Carlo followed Cain’s gaze and nodded.
“Yes. It is His Majesty’s seat.”
Cain looked around with sparkling eyes.
Red seats were placed like a circle spreading out around the throne. Some nobles were already sitting there and keeping their seats.
If you look towards the upper part of the hall, there are spectator seats set up between the ivory pillars.
There, young noblemen clung to the railing and were busy looking down the hall.
“cute.”
Cain chuckled and then lowered his gaze again. And she noticed something strange.
“what?”
A significant number of nobles were gathered in small groups outside the conference hall, chatting.
“How have you been?”
“Ugh, my butt is giving me cramps from the long way.”
“Traveling by carriage is hard. It’s a shame it only happens once every three months. If it had been more frequent, I would have died. LOL.”
They laughed and chatted while drinking drinks provided in the lounge. It seemed like he had no intention of taking a seat.
“Why don’t you go in and just talk here?”
Carlo smiled meaningfully in response to Cain’s question. He gestured with his chin to the seats inside the conference hall.
“Look at those who are already sitting.”
Anxiety or nervousness was evident on their faces. His hands and feet were shaking, and he looked nervous as he constantly looked at the documents he had prepared.
Cain said after looking at their faces closely.
“Most of them are lords of small or medium-sized fiefdoms.”
The same was true for other small and medium-sized nobles who newly entered the conference hall. They entered the conference hall hesitantly, but became discouraged when no one around them greeted them.
As they trudged to their seats, they looked very lonely and lonely.
“Look at him this time.”
Cain looked for where Carlo’s eyes were. In the middle of a large crowd of people, I saw a middle-aged man who stood out.
Her long white hair was tied up and she wore thin clothes to make sure it wasn’t too cold. Her face was full of wrinkles, but she felt more sophisticated than old.
It was thanks to the blue-gray eyes located under the white eyebrows. The strong eye glow emanating from low-saturation colors made people feel intimidated.
“You must be Lord Mikel.”
Cain whispered softly.
Since I had familiarized myself with information on major nobles before coming to the capital, it was not difficult to find out his identity.
Mikel Nord Concellare.
A silver tiger that rules the vast snowy mountains of the north. Noh Ik-jang, the oldest among the current lords and the one who survived the extreme cold.
Carlo pointed next to Mikel with his chin.
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“Look at that woman.”
There was a middle-aged woman with reddish blonde hair. Her blue eyes shone brightly, contrasting with her hair.
“You must be Lord Bennifer.”
Benifer Est Contadina.
The ruler of the eastern Est territory, which embraces a vast granary region. She is a widow who took over as lord because her husband died from a chronic illness and there was no successor.
“How have you been?”
“Of course. Actually, my bones hurt a little when I wake up.”
“This is a very serious situation. The person who has yet to correct the situation cannot speak like that.”
“That’s what Lord Bennifer will say when he comes to the North.”
Benifer covered her mouth and laughed at Mikel’s joke.
As the two great lords were talking, the other nobles did not dare to intervene and just stared at them. Then, she quietly turned around, found a seat, and sat down.
In the end, the only ones left who continued to discuss Saddam were nobles from fairly well-known families.
“Do you understand now?”
Carlo turned and asked Cain.
“Yes, father.”
Cain nodded slowly.
“It’s a show of power.”
“Yes.”
Carlo smiled contentedly.
“At these meetings, informal power struggles would always break out.”
“What do you mean by a struggle of power…?”
“Who sits last?”
It was just like a child’s game.
Cain tilted his head.
“You’re sitting late?”
“Yes. I purposely held out until His Majesty came, and then sat down right before.”
“Uhm….”
“And the person who sits down last is the winner of the day.”
Carlo smiled as if it was fun.
“The one with the most power.”
Cain furrowed his eyebrows as if he was seeing something strange.
“I don’t know whether I know it or not, it’s called power.”
“Well, it must be a difficult concept for you, who has been swinging it like a natural breath since birth.”
Carlo’s eyes deepened.
There, the hardships of someone who had climbed up from the bottom and taken the high ground were buried there.
“Even though it may seem strange at first glance, there is always a hidden meaning behind it.”
“Yes, father.”
Although he did not fully understand his father’s words, Cain bowed his head obediently.
He was still young and innocent to know all this. And Carlo didn’t want Cain to know that such a world existed.
“So, here we sit down right before the emperor comes.”
He changed the topic.
“It’s an incredible privilege.”
Carlo’s hand patted Cain’s back. He signaled for people to follow him.
“That’s what we’re allowed to do.”
The moment the two entered the conference room, everyone’s attention was focused on the entrance.
“Carlo Sud Ardante.”
“You’re finally here.”
The owner of overwhelming power and wealth, with the strongest voice among the four great lords.
His influence was spreading throughout the empire, and it would not be long until it expanded and took over the entire empire.
“The young man next to me….”
“Is it your son? He really looks just like him.”
It was clear to anyone that the two father and son standing together were family. Because they had the same flaming red hair and bright red eyes that were as clear and transparent as blood.
“Lord Carlo!”
“Are you here!”
Several nobles rushed towards Carlo.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. How have you been?”
“Mason, Lord Tyler.”
Carlo smiled brightly.
“I’ve been doing well so far. How have you guys been, too?”
“Thanks for looking into it.”
The relationship between Carlo and the nobles was very close.
They had a close treaty relationship with the Ardante family. In particular, he made a remarkable contribution in expanding the specialty products business of the Sud region to the capital.
After briefly exchanging greetings, the nobles turned their eyes to Cain.
“Who is this person?”
Their sparkling eyes seemed to have already guessed the answer. Even though he knew that fact, Carlo answered naturally.
“Let me introduce myself. My son, his name is Cain Sud Ardante.”
“Ah, this is him!”
The nobles exaggeratedly widened their eyes.
“The Crimson Nobleman! His appearance truly lives up to his name.”
“Hey, you’re just a good person.”
“I heard you have amazing swordsmanship skills?”
“I heard that Director Hector will be giving up his position soon.”
Cain blushed slightly at the barrage of praise.
In fact, this situation was not unfamiliar to Cain. And he knew very well how to react in situations like this.
“That’s an overstatement. The rumors are probably exaggerated.”
The nobles were amazed by his calm humility.
“You are very humble.”
“Are you saying this is an exaggeration? There are rumors even here in the capital?”
“That’s right. I was just telling the truth.”
Cain smiled sheepishly, as if he was embarrassed.
The neatly revealed white teeth and smile were so dazzling that the nobles almost raised their arms to cover their faces.
Carlo smiled happily seeing his son like that. Then, suddenly, the smile disappeared from his lips.
“Lord Carlo.”
Because Mikel and Bennifer approached them.
“…….”
The nobles who were talking stepped behind Carlo. Carlo looked straight ahead with Cain.
“Lord Mikel.”
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Well, I’ve been doing well as always.”
After letting out a good-natured laugh, Carlo’s eyes narrowed.
“But Lord Mikel doesn’t seem to know the latest trends in the capital yet. The clothes look too thin to wear in the fall.”
He then added patronizingly:
“If necessary, I can introduce you to my exclusive clothing room, how about that?”
It was a serious criticism as to why he had to wear such cheap clothes.
“Thank you for your words,”
Mikel laughed as if he didn’t notice Carlo’s attack.
“It was so hot when I came down to the capital, so I just dressed coolly.”
But his eyes were shining fiercely.
“I am so happy that Lord Carlo cares so much about me.”
“Hehe, I’m glad you think so too.”
Pajik!
A spark seemed to fly between the eyes of the two lords.
fantasy,
