221. Responsibilities of the husband (1)
“Whoa…” .”
I relaxed my sore body and came out of the bathroom.
“After all, parties don’t suit me.”
After taking a few sips of alcohol, I felt quite dizzy because Leah kept stroking my pants.
I felt like I would make a mistake if I got even more drunk here, so I had no choice but to go get some air.
The moment I finally calmed down and returned to the banquet hall.
‘Why is this atmosphere like this?’ ?’
When I returned to the banquet hall alone, everyone’s eyes were on me.
Furthermore, my father and my childhood friend Margot, who I don’t even know when came.
The eyes of the two people who saw me for the first time in a long time looked very pitiful.
“Father… ? “What are you doing here, Margo?”
I approached them leisurely.
Then, a woman with long black hair gently embraced me in my arms.
She buried her face in my chest and sobbed.
“Veil….”
“Why is he like this all of a sudden? “Did something scary happen?”
I smiled and patted the top of her friendly head.
And then, I asked Hans.
“Father, if I had known you were invited, I would have gone to see you personally…. Sorry.”
My adoptive father listened to me and slowly shook his head.
He also came here in a hurry and was not dressed for a party.
“No, I came here after receiving a sudden call.”
“It’s a call… ? Who… This late at night? .”
When I asked the question, as if answering this question, I heard footsteps coming from far away on the stairs.
A massive and heavy vibration sound, as if carrying an empire on one’s shoulders.
「….」
The emperor wore a white uniform and had his white hair slicked back.
His eyes were so pathetic that he had never shown them to others before.
「Bail Mikhail….」
The emperor looked at my face and made a meaningful expression, as if someone had clearly come to mind.
That expression was a strange combination of joy, sadness, and finally, regret.
He approached me in front of everyone in the banquet hall.
After that, we held our hands together without paying attention to their gaze.
As if encountering a benefactor.
“Your Majesty…. What’s going on? “Your complexion is not good.”
I asked while holding the emperor’s cold hand.
However, the emperor did not reply but confessed his honest feelings.
「I didn’t recognize you.」
Noble person.
I frowned at those words.
「Even though you were always there at the moment when the foundation of the empire was threatened, I never recognized you….」
I had helped him many times, but this was the first time I had seen the emperor confessing like this.
However, I was soon able to figure out why the emperor behaved like this.
「Berti Mikhail.」
Because he mentioned the name of a being who disturbed me.
「Your father, Berti Mikhail!!」
The emperor must have figured out all the circumstances and shouted out that Sir Berti was my father.
As if making a declaration to everyone.
「I thought all his relatives were dead. To put a benefactor’s child through a hard time without properly checking on him…. It’s all my fault… !!」
Hans suddenly came to the party.
And, he seemed to have had a conversation with the emperor and nodded along with him.
When I saw that, I realized that Hans knew about my biological father and that he had told the emperor the secret of my birth.
“I’m sorry, Veil. He had been asked by his lord to keep it a secret for the rest of his life….”
My adoptive father smiled bitterly.
Then, he placed his hand on his chest and continued speaking.
“I told you honestly because I felt like you were now strong enough that there was no need to hide.”
When I heard Hans’ words, my lips parted.
Then he looked at the emperor and muttered as if he was talking to himself.
“That means….”
「Yes, your father is the Marquis Berti, who lost his life because of me….」
The emperor covered his lips with his huge hand, as if he was ashamed of the words he had spoken.
「Everything happened because of my negligence. How can I repay this? .」
The emperor showed weakness in front of me.
The man who once conquered all the kingdoms and established Leon as the greatest empire looked as sad as an old man.
“Your Majesty….”
When I saw him like that, my mind became confused.
Just like his father, Bertie, who gave him advice when he was a bad person in the past.
I wonder if he felt this way when he saw the shaking emperor.
“….”
I took my gaze away from him and looked around at the people around me.
The princesses and senior Miya looked worried at the unfamiliar sight of the emperor.
Ekinawa, Camilla, Allen, and Bashu attended as knight commanders.
Everyone in the empire silently watched this sad and pathetic situation.
“Your Majesty.”
I quietly exhaled a shallow breath.
And he had serious eyes like the Marquis Berti.
“Do you remember what my father said in my memory?”
「… ?」
The old lion heard me and raised his head.
Soon, he met the familiar eyes he had longed for so much.
“Only Your Majesty can protect this empire.”
I gently wrapped his joined hands.
His hands have become very rough due to holding the sword hilt for countless hours.
“It is merely the best sword in the empire, but Your Majesty is the father of this country who personally wields that sword.”
The emperor could say nothing more after hearing similar advice from Berti.
They just listen to my advice silently.
“So don’t show me this weak side anymore.”
I let go of the emperor’s hand.
Afterwards, he placed his hand on my left breast and politely pleaded with me.
“You don’t have to apologize to me.”
I understand Leonhard’s choice.
I understand his life and pain.
“Even though my father died…. “You will rejoice in heaven.”
That is why I was able to say this so humbly.
Even though the lives we lived were opposites, the lives we devoted ourselves to others were the same.
“Your Majesty protected this empire so that his death was not in vain, and he also raised three beautiful daughters.”
Underneath the brilliant crystal chandelier.
My face was shadowed.
However, the black eyes were shining brightly in the shadow.
Like a loyalist who advised the emperor.
「You….」
Leonhardt’s voice trembled at the sight of me like that.
I held my pounding heart and struggled to let out a voice.
「You look just like your father….」
The emperor of Leon was a saint who knew how to listen to the advice of his loyal subjects.
So, after listening to me, he tried to keep his expression as solemn as usual.
「I understand, Mikhail….」
The emperor covered his trembling lips with his huge hand.
Afterwards, I finally calmed down my voice.
He once again showed the solemn look of the ruler of the continent.
「But, please remember this.」
Leonhardt held out only one hand to me this time.
Then he spoke loudly, as if declaring to everyone.
「The moment I found out that you were the son of my benefactor, I knew that I would never take you lightly.」
I will not take this lightly.
What he meant was that he would be treated as an equal, like an old friend, not just a subject.
“….”
Understanding this, I nodded.
And, just as he had hoped, he answered with a friendly smile.
“Thank you just for the words, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor turned his head as if he was satisfied with my answer.
Afterwards, he ordered Moshian, whom he always visited whenever important matters occurred.
「Prime Minister, bring my treasured sword.」
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Nobu followed orders and brought the long, strong sword that was hanging behind the throne.
The hilt of the sword had an ornate golden lion head engraved on it.
「Actually, this is…. “I was going to give it to my friend Berti.”
Hector was the first of the seven great swords of the empire.
From Noble mtl dot com
It was famous for being strong enough to take down all types of weapons despite its thin thickness.
Originally, the next emperor was scheduled to receive it according to custom.
However, the emperor wanted to give that sword to me.
「I was finally able to find the owner.」
As if responding to this, I knelt down.
Then, Leonhard gave me a ‘favor’, not an order, to stand up again.
「Please wake up, Michail. “This is not something I give as a lord and subject.”
When I stood up, the emperor spoke again as equals.
「Bail Mikhail. “Without you, this empire would not have been able to be revived.”
He seemed to be praising Berti’s achievements as well as me.
I didn’t know what to do with that undeserved glory.
「I wouldn’t have been able to stand here completely, and I wouldn’t have been able to reconcile with Rosanna again.」
Rosanna, standing far away, lightly waved her hand.
She also seemed to recognize my contribution.
「This is not a reward for you. “It’s just giving back what you should have already enjoyed.”
The emperor held the sword long with both hands.
After that, he slowly gave it to me.
「I hope to have you by my side from now on and give me opportunities to repay you for your kindness, Mikhail.」
I stared at the emperor’s treasured sword in front of me.
Afterwards, I remembered the moment I first met the emperor.
At first, he received a violent thunderbolt as a gift because he received a lunch box from the princesses.
For the second time, he was recognized for his achievements and was given the title of Baron.
For the third time, he was recognized as the best sword in the empire and treated like a marquis.
And finally, now, at this moment.
I realized the existence of a father whom I did not know, and the title of ‘Marquis’ was returned to me.
“I will obey your orders.”
When I received the sword, countless applause poured out in the brilliant banquet hall.
There was definitely a gorgeous orchestra, and many luxury instruments.
However, people sincerely congratulated me on my coronation to the point where they were put to shame.
Among them were three princesses.
Lydia, Irina, and Leah.
The three noble princesses watched with satisfaction as I finally reached almost equal status with them.
However, their applause soon became smaller and smaller.
As if immersed in a secret delusion.
The banquet seemed to end with my succession to the marquis.
However, the princesses were different.
They all swallowed deeply together as if this was just the beginning.
Afterwards, they made eye contact and left the banquet hall along their separate ways.
「Bail Mikhail, it turns out that he is the eldest grandson of the Margrave from the Bern region on the border of Epina!!」
The next day.
Reporter Victor’s emergency special report was spread around the world.
People all over the world whispered about the birth of a new marquis.
The impact was so great that it was said that a new force was now being born in Leon.
In fact, the benefits he received from becoming a marquis were truly enormous.
The most expensive yolk land in the center of the empire.
Center Bridge.
A huge office built with a view of the river flowing through the capital.
Because my assignment changed there.
Originally, he was supposed to rule the region like the Marquis of Berti, who was the Margrave.
However, since I absolutely did not want to receive such a troublesome job, I declared that I would still only work for the Imperial First Sword and Subangsa.
All the territory to be received was converted into gold and sent to the mansion next to Leah’s villa.
He never went into Ganga’s office.
The place was roughly used as a warehouse, and items such as the brown bear statue that Lydia had given as a gift came to occupy it.
Then where did I go?
Of course….
“hehehehe….”
「Subangsa Northon Office.」
In charge, Marquis Bail Mikhail.
I was still stuck in a shabby office.
“Miya-senpai. Look at this. How is it?”
What I was doing there was a new leather chair that I had purchased with a large sum of ‘5’ gold.
It was a high-quality material that was so soft that I fell asleep as soon as I lay down.
“It looks expensive, but…. “Isn’t it too simple?”
The senior who was still at Subangsa Temple smiled and said.
“Isn’t it simple? “If it were like before, my hands and feet would have been shaking just to change this one thing, right?”
I took off my shoes and climbed onto the huge chair and squatted down.
Miya chuckled, probably looking like a lazy black fox.
“Well, it definitely suits you well.”
The senior placed her soft chin on the neckrest of my chair.
And, we enjoyed the quiet silence of the office together.
“But what I have to do from now on will be very different, right?”
Miya hummed in a playful voice like a black cat.
“Hey, it’s okay. Are you okay-. “No matter how much it increases, how much does it increase?”
What the Imperial First Sword does at most is lectures on swordsmanship and occasional patrols of the imperial palace.
The title of marquess is in fact nothing more than an honorary title if there is no fiefdom.
At least I participate in the occasional imperial meeting.
“It’s actually a good thing because now you don’t really have anything to say to me.”
I yawned and gently closed my thin eyes.
But, at that moment.
Kwaang!!
“Wow… !!”
I was startled by the heavy sound of hitting the desk and got up from the sofa.
And then, my eyes widened when I saw Miya talking about the schedule like a secretary.
“Yes, that’s right. “As the first sword, all you have to do is do your job.”
「Imperial Knights Swordsmanship Lecture」
「Imperial Private Academy Dispatch Lecture」
「Lecture dispatched by the Knights of Verdant」
「Lecture dispatched by the Knights of Light」
「Lecture dispatched by the Eastern Knights」
「Support for the reorganization of the Dark Knights」
And many other government documents welcomed me.
‘No, I’m not a one-time instructor, what is all this… ?!’
“General Balderian said I should just take over as your secretary. That’s why I brought it all myself.”
Miya took off her navy blue uniform jacket.
Then, the tight-fitting Y shirts worn by her secretaries caught her eye.
A skirt that fits the pelvis and thighs so well that it is difficult to move.
For a moment, she almost asked her if her skirt was too short.
But when she saw Miya with strangely strange eyes and tear spots, she was speechless.
“I think I will be by your side to assist you from now on….”
The senior spoke to me, clearing her voice.
Now that I think about it, it feels like the eyes of everyone, including the princesses, have become strange after being crowned a marquis….
“Oh, I understand. “I’ll read everything first, so would you like to go and take a rest?”
I told Miya that I would read her document alone.
Then, the senior smiled and agreed.
“Yes, I also have to go to the Subangsa headquarters for the handover.”
Miya straightened her flexible waist.
Afterwards, she left her office for a moment.
“Phew…. This isn’t just a good thing….”
Wasted my appetite and looked at the distant state documents.
I only skimmed through the title, pretending to read it roughly.
“Ha…. Should I just throw it all away and start farming watermelons in Cornell? .”
Thinking like that, she placed her cheek on her desk.
And then, as she looked at the document with her hazy eyes….
She took a tired nap.
All she wanted to do was sleep quietly in the sunlight pouring down like this for the rest of her life.
Without being disturbed by anyone.
But….
The office door opened as if scolding me for coming all this way and then daring to enjoy my leisure time.
Soon.
A blonde woman wearing a white uniform came inside.
“You were sleeping as expected, Michail.”
Leah, the operational commander of the empire and the first princess.
Thanks to her good behavior and resemblance to her father and mother, she immediately came to visit her sleeping man.
“….”
With her back to Leah, she walked past him and looked at her window.
Afterwards, I took a quick look to see if anyone had come outside….
I took down the window curtains.
Thanks to this, the office became shady and Leia’s lion-like blue eyes shined even more powerfully.
As if she had her prey right in front of her.
“Now there are no more excuses, right?”
well there’s Leonhard for his final excuse
and once that is gone there really are no more excuses