Episode 304 I am the Plunder King (5)
The Marquis of Branford remained silent for a moment.
An old image of the Duke of Delphine, whom he had not seen for a long time, came to his mind.
He always had a relaxed smile and a contrasting indifferent look in his eyes. He was a person whose thoughts were completely unknown.
Still, the Duke had a good reputation. He was generally considered to be non-authoritarian and kind to everyone.
However, after a certain incident, he became a cruel and ruthless person. After that, rumors of his sudden madness began to spread, and the Duke did not appear in public for a long time.
That’s why even the Marquis of Branford couldn’t tell what he was doing now. All the big and small affairs of the dukedom were being carried out by Viscount Joseph, who held the real power.
‘Count Joseph… … was actually suppressing the civil war? Not the Duke?’
The Marquis of Branford also thought that the duke was continuing the same structure in order to reduce the damage.
And I thought that was the Duke’s intention. There were rumors that Viscount Josef was the real power and the Duke was a puppet, but it would be impossible to completely go against his symbolic intention.
But the truth is that it was Count Joseph who was persuading the Duke who wanted war. It was something that was hard to believe even after hearing it.
‘I couldn’t believe that guy was trying to take over the kingdom.’
In their youth, the Marquis of Branford and the Duke of Delphine were classmates who studied at the same academy.
The Duke had little interest in studying. He was more of a dreamer. He always liked to sit alone and think.
When the Marquis of Branford spoke ambitiously about the politics and power of the kingdom, the Duke always responded with a smile.
― Do politics and power really mean that much? They will all crumble and disappear with time anyway.
― What does that mean? Isn’t that why the moment we live is important? Especially for people like us, it’s even more important. Because people’s lives can change depending on how we act.
― I… … want to see further.
Unlike the passionate Marquis of Branford, the Duke of Delphine often said things that were not befitting his position and status. However, sometimes his eyes would be filled with an unknown yearning.
That is why the Marquis of Branford could not understand the Duke of Delphine.
It was the same when I was in conflict with the Peacock faction. I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.
However, I forced myself to understand that he must have grown older and changed.
‘Okay. I guess I was wrong about him. It’s been a while.’
A few decades is enough time for a person to change. And the Duke is already an enemy of the kingdom.
There was no need to try to understand the incomprehensible. Since he did not reveal himself, even if I wanted to know, I could not.
It no longer mattered who was in power and what their intentions were.
“Anyway, everyone knows that the Duke’s family is trying to take over the kingdom. They just pretended it didn’t happen and didn’t mention it. No one can fail to anticipate that a civil war will break out in the worst case scenario.”
The Earl of Forwood smiled bitterly at the Marquis of Branford’s sharp words.
“But how many die is another matter.”
“I have no intention of abandoning my honor for fear of death.”
“Even if many people in the kingdom die in the war?”
At those words, the Marquis of Branford looked at him with a cold expression.
“Even if everyone in this kingdom dies, the Duke will never become king.”
“What is that worth? Does it mean that the crown is more important than the lives of people?”
“That is my duty.”
Count Forde said through gritted teeth.
“Your Majesty, is there anything that can be done in this kingdom without your command? Your Majesty is already the king of this kingdom.”
“…….”
“Your Majesty is bedridden with illness, and has the royal family been reduced to a mere puppet for a long time? If only the owner of that position could change, there would be less bloodshed.”
“Shut up!”
Boom!
The Marquis of Branford, who had struck the arm of the chair, continued speaking, glaring at the Earl of Forde with a menacing look in his eyes.
“I am trying to protect the royal family because the kingdom is full of leopard-like people. If not me, then no one else can protect it.”
“…….”
“Tell the Duke straight. If he gives up his ambition and steps down, I will step down from this position as well. If he becomes an enemy of the royal family, I will fight to the end. Do you understand?”
“……All right.”
Count Forde slowly bowed his head and stepped back.
The Marquis of Branford is known as the Iron-Blooded Power. I actually thought that no words would work.
This was the final persuasion and negotiation.
“Phew… … .”
As the Earl of Forde stepped aside, the Marquis of Branford let out a deep breath.
He knows too. How the world evaluates him.
The highest authority in the kingdom, one who is not a king but has a king-like position.
A person who wields so much power that even the next king must obtain his approval before ascending to the throne.
It was not his intention, but he had no choice but to do it in order to protect the crown. Perhaps history will record him as disloyal.
“I’m getting old too.”
Unlike before, I get tired easily. This must be the aftereffect of being in politics for too long.
It’s time to properly choose a successor. My son, who is the military commander in the East, is not up to par.
‘Giselle Ferdium… … .’
Strangely, when I think of a successor, that guy comes to mind first. It wasn’t like I had that much in mind when I first pushed for him.
Although I still feel uneasy and uneasy, I keep thinking that there is no one like him.
‘If only he was loyal to the crown… … .’
The Marquis of Branford chuckled at that thought.
“There’s no way he would do that.”
Yeah, no matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would do something like that. Rather, Jiselle was the kind of person who would overthrow the royal family if he didn’t like something.
“ha…….”
I can’t help but sigh. There wasn’t a single guy who didn’t have problems.
‘If only we could bring down the Duke… … .’
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At that time, it seemed better to step down. That was the little wish of the Marquis of Branford.
* * *
The Duke of Delphine.
No one knows exactly who his ancestors were.
There was a theory that he was the brother of the founding king of Rutania, a theory that he was a descendant of the royal family, and a theory that he was a public servant. There was also an absurd theory that he was a descendant of the dragon that protected Rutania.
The only reason it exists is because all related materials have been lost.
Since time immemorial, the Duke has been the Duke. The master of the Delphine Duke has always been treated like royalty. That was the custom.
The Dukedom is a huge area that covers half of the southern part of the country. It is also called the Blessed Land because it has numerous resources.
The Duke’s family had been growing powerful for generations, based on their fertile lands. However, no one had ever threatened the royal family or harbored any ambitions to usurp the throne.
Rather, the owners of the dukedom were always reluctant to appear in public and were so inconspicuous that they almost lived in hiding.
That’s why all sorts of rumors circulated and died down, but the Duke always remained silent.
That is, until the current machinations of the great powers revealed their ambitions.
At the center of the dukedom is a large and magnificent white castle. This is the castle where the duke resides, ‘Eclipse’.
In the center of the castle is a place called the Hall of Glory. The ceiling there is incomparably higher than the banquet halls of other castles.
That is why anyone who entered the Hall of Glory could not help but feel intimidated by its overwhelming height.
There is only one ornate chair on a high platform in the center of the hall.
The only one who could sit on this throne was the master of the Delphine Duke House.
“So, Harold lost?”
On that chair, a man rested his chin on his hand, closed his eyes, and opened his mouth. A soft, gentle voice echoed through the hall.
With his pure white skin and flowing black hair, he looks like a handsome young man to anyone who sees him. He is the master of the ducal household, Duke Ernhard Delphine.
Surprisingly, his appearance remained the same as it had been in his youth. He was no different from the time when he was called the most handsome man in the kingdom and made the hearts of many ladies flutter.
If the Marquis of Branford were to see him now, he would be very surprised, for the Duke was clearly approaching middle age when they last met.
It was absurd that the duke, known to have never learned any swordsmanship or magic, would regain his youth.
However, the Duke’s retainers all accepted it naturally, because they had all seen the Duke slowly grow younger.
At Erhard’s question, Raoul, known as the brains of the dukedom, slightly bowed his head.
“Yes, I heard he was defeated by Earl Fenris.”
“Fenrisra… … I’ve been hearing that name a lot lately. I hear you’re quite capable?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t properly assess whether you were the right person.”
Ernhard nodded several times at Raoul’s apology. He still had his eyes closed, but a smile was on his lips.
Erhard slowly opened his mouth again in the midst of the suffocating pressure.
“Cayenne, I heard you saw a child named Giselle in person. What was it like?”
Next to the peacock stood a middle-aged man with eyes as sharp as a lion and a body as huge as an iron tower.
This man was Count Kaien Balzac, the sword master known as the Kingdom’s First Sword.
He had once met Giselle at a banquet held by the Marquis of Branford, wearing a mask.
“Yes, Your Majesty. He seems to be unrivaled at his age. Judging from his accomplishments, it is no exaggeration to say he is a genius. As time goes by, no one will be able to easily surpass him.”
“I see.”
Erhard’s reaction was limited to that. It seemed like a moment of curiosity, nothing more.
A heavy silence fell over the hall again. No one even breathed a word. After a while, Ernhard slowly opened his mouth.
“Raoul.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I am one who knows the joy of waiting for a gift. That is why I have left everything to you and waited until now. However… … Now I am a little thirsty.”
“I am sorry, Your Majesty.”
Raoul bent down, sweating profusely. He had been in charge of everything up until now, so it could be said that he was responsible.
And there is only one reason why that happened.
‘Giselle Ferdium… … . I should have killed him then.’
The plan that had been in progress for a long time was going smoothly, but it started to fall apart because of a guy named Jiselle. I was seething inside.
Harold’s defeat resulted in the loss of the greatest power in the North. The only silver lining was that Amelia, supported by Harold, took Leipold.
But Fenris’ momentum had now surpassed Leipold’s. It would take more time and effort to retake the North.
Erhard slowly opened his eyes. His pupils were narrowed vertically, giving him an eerie feeling, like a reptile watching its prey.
“Raoul, have you changed your mind yet?”
“Taking over a kingdom is easier than turning over your hand. But there is still so much to do after that. There is no point in wasting your talents and troops now.”
Ernhard chuckled at Raoul’s desperate persuasion.
“Haven’t we already lost Harold and the North?”
“There are still some left. Harold succeeded in rebellion against Leipold… … .”
“Tsk tsk, you’re still fixated on small things.”
Ernhard cut Raoul off as if he was annoyed. He considered the task of taking over the kingdom to be a ‘small matter’.
But Raoul could not refute that statement, for the Duke really did regard most worldly affairs as trivial.
To him, everything was just a boring and meaningless routine.
“How long do I have to wait?”
“… … Please give me just a little more time and I will finish everything.”
“Yes, if that’s what you want. There’s still plenty of time.”
There was no impatience on Erhard’s face. He just left everything to Raoul with his usual relaxed smile.
“If you have nothing more to say, then step aside.”
“… … ‘They’ have contacted me.”
“What is it?”
“He said he would send someone who could help. He said they are quite skilled knights. They will hide their identities and act as our people.”
Erhard nodded slightly, still looking disinterested.
“Do as you wish.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You should just step aside.”
At the Duke’s command, everyone withdrew, leaving only Count Cayenne Balzac. He was the only one who could remain by the Duke’s side.
But Erhard gestured to Cayenne as well.
“You too, step aside today.”
“majesty.”
“I want to be alone.”
At his command, Cayenne also bowed her head slightly and left.
Choaak.
When no one is left, the curtains are drawn and all the lights are turned off. Suddenly, the Hall of Glory is devoid of any light or sign of life.
In that eerily silent space, Erhard remained silent for a moment and then muttered softly.
“… … I wish ‘that day’ would come soon.”
In the thick darkness, only Erhard’s two eyes were emitting an ominous light.
