227. Wolf’s Decision (3)
“hahahaha…. Coldman, isn’t this the man your Majesty brought in directly? “There must be a reason for everything.”
“Okay, since you’re already here, why don’t you treat me a little more kindly?”
Honestly, Darren and Marchen welcomed me with smiles and were satisfied with my manners, but I still had doubts.
I suddenly appeared at this precious event that only they were attending.
This is why the emperor chose the marquis, who was only 20 years old and had no fiefdom, to attend.
‘As expected, it’s still not easy to accept this level of entertainment… ?’
“Lord Veil, out of curiosity, where and what did you do before you were reinstated as Marquis?”
Koldman’s hands are full of scars, as if they were scratched by an animal.
He held out his huge palm to me and asked openly.
To test whether I am a great person who can attend this event.
“Hmm….”
Darren and Marchen did nothing to stop him from asking rude questions.
Because they were also curious about what kind of person I was.
“….”
I stared at the middle-aged tiger who was looking at me indifferently.
Then, the Northern Grand Duke frowned as if this was the first time he had seen a man who did not flinch when he looked into his eyes.
“You mean me? Let me tell you, I think it will take a while….”
First, he gently turned his head and looked at Marchen, the mayor of Lastium.
And, with thin eyes, he smiled like a fox and answered.
“First of all, let me tell you about my recent actions: I visited gambling halls around Lastium Stadium.”
“It’s a gambling house… ?”
The mayor was shocked when the gambling den that had been plaguing the security of his city was mentioned.
It looks like you’ve had quite a bit of trouble with that problem so far.
“Ha, a gambling house…” . What did you do there? “It looks like you made a lot of money, right?”
Koldman chuckled, saying he knew that would happen.
But, at that moment.
“We went to all the gambling houses and arrested all the criminals.”
“Yes… ?”
When even Marchen, including Coldman, heard my answer, their eyes widened.
“You make criminals…” ?”
“It’s strange. I’ve never seen the name Veil in a report…”
The mayor looked particularly puzzled.
I shrugged my shoulders and answered.
“Oh, that? This is probably because it was reported as Lord Miya of Subangsa Temple, ‘and one other person.’ “I wrote it myself.”
“….”
Numerous gambling dens and illegal gladiators that plagued Lastium.
Märchen cleared his throat when he heard that they had all been eradicated.
And, he pursed his lips, perhaps feeling sorry for doubting me.
In fact, she has recently received good reviews as mayor, saying she has taken care of all the illegal gambling dens and strengthened her security.
“I see…”
Thanks to this, there was a high probability that Mayor Rastium would be re-elected this time.
This appreciation meeting was also an opportunity to celebrate this.
But the hidden contributor to all of this was me.
She avoided my gaze as if embarrassed.
“After dealing with the illegal gambling establishments, maybe….”
I muttered in a sly voice as if I was humming.
Next, I told him about another major incident I had experienced.
“I entertained the diplomatic corps with Her Highness Lydia and Irina.”
Diplomacy with Bakal.
Because it was an event hosted by the Imperial Council, Council President Darren showed interest this time.
“A hot spring event with Her Majesty Lydia. “I led the Northon tour with Her Highness Irina.”
Hot Springs and Northon.
At this, Darren’s brown eyes sparkled.
Bakal’s elder and Princess Christina, who were both known for being picky.
Because those were the only tourist attractions they gave high ratings to.
“No, you are the one who commanded those two places…? ?!”
Darren was recognized by the emperor and lawmakers for successfully leading diplomacy with Bakal.
Thanks to this, he succeeded in winning a second term in the National Assembly, so the corners of his mouth turned up.
“I just helped, it’s all the princesses’ credit.”
I pointed at Irina with a sly smile.
At this, the princess tapped my shoulder with an embarrassed expression.
Friendly, like lovers.
“…?”
However, she soon regretted her feminine behavior.
Because of the werewolf elixir she took a little while ago, her instincts jumped out.
“That…” . I wasn’t informed of your activities, so I didn’t realize it….”
Darren thanked me with an amazed expression.
The two lawmakers just look at the music stage that hasn’t started yet with expressions of shame.
“Hmm.”
Now all that remains is Northern Grand Duke Coldman.
He took a deep breath, thinking that he had owed me no favors.
“Well, I did make some small achievements. “Keep reciting it.”
He crossed his arms alone like a tiger with a bad temper.
And, as if he wasn’t satisfied yet, he urged me to prove more merit.
“What…. After that, he was in charge of escorting the returning diplomatic corps.”
Escort the diplomatic corps.
The original diplomatic corps’ return route corresponds to the northern border area of the empire.
Therefore, it was closely related to Coldman, the Grand Duke of the North.
“Escort the diplomatic corps… ?”
“Yes, and on the escort road, I met a ‘werewolf’?”
The Grand Duke frowned when the legendary divine beast that had been plaguing the northern border area was mentioned.
Sometimes, when they harmed the people of the Empire, orders were given to Coldman to quickly subdue them.
However, it was burdensome to sacrifice his own soldiers due to their ever-changing and powerful nature.
So, I was in a situation where I couldn’t do this or that and only my reputation was being tarnished.
“They had quite a grudge against us humans. However, Princess Christina and I managed to resolve the misunderstanding.”
A dramatic compromise was reached with the legendary beasts.
Coldman’s lips parted at the thought that a man with no blood on his head could achieve an achievement that even he could not achieve.
“Wow, you mean a werewolf…? ?!”
“Yes, isn’t the border area very quiet recently?”
I asked in a calm voice.
Then, the Grand Duke of the North repeated the recently posted reports and nodded his head without realizing it.
“Well, I guess so…” .”
“It’s all because we agreed with the werewolves not to kill any more people.”
When monsters no longer attacked humans, the nobles and the emperor thought that this was all due to the Northern Grand Duke’s strengthening of security.
Thanks to this, his evaluation increased even more.
Koldman was speechless at the fact that it was all thanks to me.
“Well, that’s right…” .”
“Yes, that’s how it happened-.”
I smiled brightly and looked around at the powerful figures of the empire.
“After all, it’s insignificant compared to the achievements the three of you have made so far, right?”
Then he opened his eyes like a fox and spoke.
“I’m sorry. “You must have been bored listening to it.”
He lowered his head in a sad voice.
Then, Marchen, who was scheduled to become the first two-consecutive mayor of Lastium thanks to me, urgently tried to dissuade me.
“Oh, no…. What a great performance… !!”
“That’s right, that’s right. After all, he is the eldest son of my classmate Berti!!”
The same goes for Darren.
Before I knew it, even my biological father was praising me and saying that we were close friends.
All of those people who were so arrogant actually received my help, knowingly or unknowingly.
“Ah, no. What can I say-!! I should just go to my hometown and grow watermelons, whatever!!”
I sneered in a sly voice at them who was hastily trying to stop me.
And then, he made a gesture to get up from the chair.
“Watermelon, what do you mean!!”
“Come on, sit down, your glass is empty, I’ll fill it for you!”
Only then was I satisfied with our disingenuous lawmakers.
Afterwards, he sat down gently and spoke in a reluctant voice.
“If you two say that, I can’t help it.”
I received a drink poured by my father’s classmate.
At the same time, she turned her head and blinked one of her eyes at Irina.
Irina said she couldn’t stop me from smiling when she saw my eye smile. She giggled.
However, one of her hands was still gently pressing her lower abdomen.
“….”
Only Northern Grand Duke Coldman remained silent.
Unlike the two lawmakers who praised me, his expression became very dark.
‘It’s worth it.’
As a supporter of the crown prince, you have unintentionally received help from me.
Furthermore, just by facing off against werewolves, their skills have already been proven.
Märchen and Darren smiled and invited me to get a drink each.
Thanks to this, the emperor’s ears were filled with harmonious laughter as he returned to the drawing room.
「Ho…. “What were you talking about that made you hear laughter even outside?”
When the emperor sat back down again, the two lawmakers, who had serious expressions until he left, laughed heartily.
“No, Your Majesty. “I only did it because I was happy because the Marquis of Veil is a really nice friend.”
“That’s right. “You are such a pleasant friend.”
「Isn’t that what you think?」
The emperor nodded his head at the sight of me persuading the picky lawmakers.
And then, I looked at Coldman, who seemed the most dissatisfied.
「What do you think, Coldman?」
“Yes… ?”
「This is our Marquis of Vale.」
The Northern Grand Duke looked at me and the emperor alternately.
Then, for some reason, I noticed that the eyes of the two people were strangely similar.
Short and unlucky eyes.
“Sure… what…. I think you are a friend who is fully qualified to join our appreciation party….”
「Isn’t it the same when you see it?」
Leonhardt laughed heartily and tapped the Northern Grand Duke on the shoulder.
However, Coldman’s expression was still sullen.
“….”
I looked at the scene with satisfaction.
Then I suddenly turned my head to the soft hand stroking my thigh.
It was Irina.
She smiled brightly, probably proud of me for satisfying the lawmakers.
I held her hand under the table.
However, unlike usual, the princess’s hands somehow became very hot.
‘Hmm… ?’
She tilted her head slightly and looked closely at Irina’s face.
‘For some reason, the black lines seem to have become slightly longer….’
Irina blinked her eyelids as my eyes met hers.
Then, as usual, neat and beautiful emerald eyes greeted me again.
‘Is it because of my mood…? ?’
“What’s wrong, Veil?”
“Oh, no.”
I tilted my head and took a sip of the wine the lawmakers gave me.
And when the preparations for the concert were over, we headed to the audience seats together.
Separated VIP seats for two people each.
The lighting in the VIP room was very dark.
Furthermore, the space between them was quite wide, so it was quite far from the other compartments.
“….”
Irina somehow felt cozy in that dark space.
As if it were her original home.
She was just listening to my activities until a little while ago.
She felt that her status was gradually increasing to the point that even Leah looked down on her and looked down on her.
The more she did, the more anxious she became.
I wonder if I will leave myself and fly higher.
I was glad that he was doing well.
However, he hoped that it would be him, not Leah or Lydia, who would stand next to him as he rose.
And, as if responding to that desire, the instinct latent in her body stirred.