279. King of the Desert (2)
“Don’t say anything strange, just talk about Dilma.”
Lydia barely held her shocked heart.
She was shaking slightly as her wine glass was struck by her hand.
“The raw materials for the drugs distributed in Samad were discovered in the empire. “You allowed it.”
“Dilma… ?”
The second prince, wearing gloves, did not notice any change in his expression after hearing Dilma.
She just stared at her sister with her characteristic expressionless face and her red eyes.
“Oh, yes. Come to think of it, there were doctors who tried to get permission to distribute Dilma.”
He spoke calmly as if it was no big deal.
As if he had no interest in the affairs of the empire.
“We requested to export it as a medical painkiller, so we allowed it. “Of course, through fair procedures.”
The 2nd Prince took a sip of water.
He frequently took out her handkerchief and wiped it whenever her lips got wet.
“Of course, we did not allow it as an empire. “It was all sold to the northern island principalities.”
“Ha, there are goods in the empire that are destined for principalities farther away than Bakal?”
Liam took a deep breath at her sister’s firm tone.
Then, she placed both elbows on the table with a very serious look in her eyes.
“Lydia.”
The prince of the desert with his hands clasped and his chin resting on his head.
He responded with cold eyes.
“I told you, it’s not my part-time job.”
The 2nd prince did not show any signs of being angry or displeased.
He had dry red eyes, as if he had absolutely no interest in the affairs of the empire.
“I am destined to become the king of Samad. “For me, the national interests of the kingdom come first.”
That’s right.
Liam was the son of the Emperor and Vanessa, but he was raised all along in Samad.
He never felt a bond with Leonhard, who was famous for not caring about his children.
It was the royal family of Samad who took care of him.
There was no reason for him to feel familial love for Leon.
“Besides, why would I destroy the trust between our two countries by destroying the empire?”
The 2nd Prince said that and looked at me intently.
They reacted as if they had no intention of fighting a country that had two Grandmasters.
“Why don’t you go around looking for connections instead of catching people who are strict?”
After saying that, Liam stood up.
And, he welcomed the royal family of Samad who visited the party.
“Oh…. “Liam, as expected, was personally inspecting the party venue.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
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The king of Samad smiled and greeted Liam.
Nobu greeted us who were still sitting in our seats.
“You were meeting Lydia and Lord Veil first.”
“Yes, my younger brother personally introduced me to my husband.”
Mr.
Lydia cleared her throat at those unfamiliar words.
“Hmm.”
Still, perhaps because it was in front of adults, Lydia calmed down her voice to act calm.
However, even she was prone to getting angry at her older brother’s subsequent attacks.
“The relationship between the two was so good that they had already made plans to have children.”
“Ho…… ? Already? “Of course it’s Lord Veil!!”
Nobu looked at me and smiled broadly.
In response, Lydia maintained her composure with her fierce smile.
“Whoa…” . “We will be away for a while.”
“Yes, yes-. “Make sure you two have a good time.”
The Grand Duke smiled and gestured.
Leaving behind the laughter of her family, Lydia leisurely walked out into the hallway of the mansion with me.
“Thank you for your patience.”
“That guy, it’s more suspicious that he flirts when he feels like the situation is going to get worse.”
The Third Princess was no longer swayed by his jokes.
She quickly regained her composure and decided to focus on her goal.
“It certainly didn’t seem very unrelated.”
“Yes, even if they didn’t sell Dilma to the Empire, the fact that they exported it overseas is itself suspicious.”
Lydia was lost in her thoughts, rubbing her thumb with her pointed fangs.
Then, she soon opened her mouth to see if she had made up her next plan.
“Let’s pretend to inspect this place and check if there’s anyone suspicious. “Seeing as he came all the way here in person, she might meet someone related.”
“It certainly could be possible. “I said he was someone who had only been in Samad so far.”
We decided to split up for a while and look around.
While Lydia met the upper class with her eastern knights, I took on the ordinary middle-to-upper class.
“It’s a connection book.”
Dilma, which was leaked to the principality, must have gone through several processes to reach the empire.
Probably, the price of medicines has risen, making it difficult for commoners to take them.
‘Then the customers who will buy the leaked items are probably upper class.’
That also means low-ranking nobles who like alcohol and luxury goods.
In the past, there were several bold princes who guarded Irina and wooed her because of her looks.
When I thought about it, there were some among them who acted like they were drunk.
In broad daylight.
Maybe they are also Dilma addicts who started to spread around this time.
‘Then, if you go around like the guys I beat up and kicked out in the past, they might come closer to me.’
I headed straight to the bathroom.
And then, I dabbed some water on my neat bangs and brushed them away.
The scar on his forehead was clearly visible.
Water droplets ran down my wet hair and down the bridge of my nose.
‘Should I pay a little more attention?’
I also took off the tie I was wearing tightly.
Then, I also unbuttoned about 3 buttons on my shirt.
“….”
Afterwards, I looked at the mirror.
Sharp eyes and free-flowing hair.
Only one strand had slipped down and was knocking on his dark eyebrows.
To finish, take off the black suit jacket and throw it over your shoulders to complete the look of a handsome nobleman.
‘Let’s go out now.’
I decided to avoid the banquet hall as much as possible because I might meet the Samad royal family or the imperial family.
Instead, I wandered around among the ambiguous upper class who were wandering around without any connections.
――――――.
As expected, the hallway on the second floor, which was not a banquet hall, was full of young nobles and ladies.
A place where adults socialize with people from all walks of life.
They often came upstairs and wandered around looking for a companion who was as leisurely as them.
The lady wore a daringly low-cut dress, and the man wore an extravagant cane and fedora.
I passed silently among the young people who were excited about the banquet.
Then, suddenly, I began to feel the gaze of women.
When I turned my head, they tended to avoid my gaze and bow their heads shyly.
The guys were also secretly looking at me, and when they caught me, they cleared their throats and avoided eye contact.
“…!”
Lydia, who found me on her first floor, also made eye contact with me, and then turned her head away with a red face.
‘Did I come out acting like a fool…? ?’
I didn’t expect her to get this much attention, so she carelessly smoothed her protruding bangs.
Afterwards, she put her hands in both pockets and was moving leisurely….
“Oh my.”
A woman in a silk dress hanging on the wall in the hallway spoke to me.
“Is this your first time seeing this face?”
She slowly approached, elegantly holding a glass of red wine in one hand.
Just looking at her golden hair and red eyes, she was a young lady who had just become an adult and was excited.
“Oh, yes. That’s right.”
She answered firmly and avoided eye contact.
As I looked around her, pretending to be indifferent, she moved her head as if she was trying to make eye contact with me.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just…” . “I was looking to see if there was anything worth enjoying.”
The upper-class lady looked at me intently and raised her red lips.
“How can there be anything fun to be had at an adult party like this? “I just get drunk like this.”
The Lady sensuously flipped her golden hair and raised her wine glass.
The liquid in the glass seemed slightly darker than a simple red wine.
As if something was burning inside.
“You should only get drunk once or twice. “I’m tired of drinking now.”
“Oh my…. “It’s such a serious symptom that you can even get drunk, right?”
It’s a symptom.
When I tilted my head at the subtle choice of words, the woman smiled and said.
“I think it’s probably because I haven’t had a chance to drink proper alcohol.”
The woman gently pushed the cup she was holding towards me.
I accepted the glass.
“I guess I heard something special?”
“Yes, if you drink this alcohol, you might get the taste of alcohol again. “I also received a ‘prescription’.”
Prescription.
I was convinced of something in that strange choice of words.
“Good. “This is holy water from a beautiful lady, so let’s drink it with pleasure.”
“You are an interesting person.”
I slowly put the wine glass to my mouth to gain favor.
And, the moment when the tip of your tongue is soaked with red wine.
“….”
For a simple wine, a subtle sourness began to pour out.
However, after the sour taste passed, sweetness and pleasant bitterness began to fill my mouth.
Like chewing sweet herbs.
“How do you feel?”
The woman’s red eyes looked up at me.
She nodded her head quietly alone, as if she was satisfied with my hazy expression.
“It’s good…” ? “What kind of alcohol is this?”
“It’s a wine with herbs. “I took some herbs that my doctor recently prescribed.”
It didn’t really feel dreamy, like I was in a fantasy.
I just feel slightly better.
It’s like spending a peaceful afternoon at the Subangsa Headquarters without any summoning orders.
However, it was clear that it was not an experience that could be felt simply by drinking wine.
So, I secretly took a deep breath and spit out the intoxication with the Grand Aura.
“If you’re curious, would you like to drink more?”
“Yes, that’s good.”
The woman smiled brightly and took the lead for me to follow.
The moment she turned her head, I noticed the corners of her mouth rising to an odd degree.
At that time, it was so bizarre that I furrowed my eyebrows.
―――――.
She followed her and turned her corner.
And then, she started heading deeper into the mansion.
A passage that is subtly dark even though all the lights are on.
Soon the blonde woman stopped in front of a guest room.
The person who stayed in the room had a sign saying Pavan Le Mans.
“Can I come in?”
As if responding to her question, the door slowly opened.
Then, the bitter scent of the wine I drank a little while ago rose through the gap in the door.
“Come in.”
She followed the low, deep voice and entered, firmly putting her hands in both pockets.
After that, what she saw before her eyes was….
Nobility and ladies of the same age as the blonde woman.
And, she was a man wearing glasses and wearing a white robe.
“I brought someone who wants to drink here-.”
“This is my first time seeing you.”
A young brown-haired doctor greeted me with a wide smile.
However, his smile soon disappeared completely.
“Oh, you…” .”
Because he recognized my face.
“Isn’t this the Imperial Sword, Marquis Mikhail Bale…?” ?”
“Really?! Now that I think about it, it seems like our faces are similar? “I almost didn’t recognize you because of the clothes!”
Unfortunately, the person whose face I recognized ended up looking like a connection.
First, he spoke calmly in a low voice.
“That’s right, but is there anything uncomfortable?”
I leaned my back against the wall, crossing my legs.
The young people seemed wary at first, but they relaxed after realizing that it was the same group as them.
“Oh my, that can’t be-. “I just did it because it was amazing to meet a famous person.”
A young doctor speaks eloquently and gets up from his chair.
On his table were dried herbal leaves on white paper.
At first glance, it did not feel like a simple room.
“But I didn’t know there would be such an atmosphere… ? “It looked very solemn in the stadium.”
“Everyone enjoys deviation from time to time.”
I said as I slowly walked into the center of the room with brisk steps.
Then, the doctor secretly wrapped the herb in paper.
“Well, no matter how powerful you are in the empire, you still need to relieve stress.”
“So, can I taste more of the alcohol I just drank? “It tastes a bit different.”
The man in the white robe had an expressionless expression for a moment in response to my question.
He exchanged a look with the blonde woman who brought me in, then slowly nodded her head.
As if he had changed his mind, he slowly released the wrapped herbs again.
“Of course, you are the hero of the empire. How could I not treat you to a drink?”
The doctor put the herbs into an empty flask and poured some water.
Afterwards, he cooked it slowly over low heat and observed my face through a reflective glass bottle.
He was wary at first, but he looked relieved when he saw me leaning against the wall and laughing.
With a subtle smile, he added heated herbal water to the wine.
“Now, let’s try it.”
I slowly shook the glass to keep the wine oxygenated.
Afterwards, it’s time to take another deep sip.
“Um…. “It’s definitely good.”
I answered with open eyes and at the same time took a deep breath and let out the medicine.
“Right? “What I just received was a decoction of high-quality herbs.”
“Why didn’t the empire know that something this good existed?”
Is it because I drank as much alcohol as I could?
I subtly asked him a question as his guard was somewhat relaxed.
Then, the blonde woman who was proud of having brought me answered instead.
“It is the highest quality herb imported from the Nordic principalities in the north. “Maybe it’s on a different level from Imperial Mountain?”
It’s a principality.
I think the 2nd prince I mentioned earlier also mentioned the name of that country.
“I can’t be the only one eating this good food. “Is it possible to purchase more separately?”
“Oh my gosh, don’t even talk. “It was so hard to get it that we had a hard time.”
I chuckled at the sight of the doctor named Pavan acting harshly.
Then, he put down the wine glass he had finished drinking and asked back.
“How much is it? “Do you think I’m the kind of person who would care about things like price?”
In his own way, he is a marquess of the Empire’s First Sword.
The guy who knew this also played with her tongue as if he was intentionally trying to raise the price.
He probably approached other Young master in this way.
“That can’t be right. If the strongest person in the empire wants, he can save you as much as he wants. It just takes some time and effort… !!”
He made a gesture with his fingers that represented a gold coin.
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“If it’s an amount, we can cover it right away, so don’t worry too much.”
I approached a birdcage hanging in the guest room.
There, a communication pigeon was calmly pecking at the feed.
When told that the price would be paid immediately, the doctor’s lips parted as if both joy and embarrassment coexisted.
He motioned for me to wait.
“Now, could you please wait a moment…” ?!”
“Well, is there any problem?”
“That’s not it, I also need to contact the top distribution company that provides airlift!! It will be done soon, so could you wait a moment….”
I calmly gave permission to the doctor who was speaking gibberish.
Then, he went out of the room for a moment with the blonde woman who brought me.
After that, the two started talking secretly.
As if responding to this, I also strengthened my body with the Grand Auror and focused my hearing.
Leaning leisurely against the wall, holding a notepad, I overheard their conversation.
「I’m out of my mind… ?! “I told you to bring me a reasonably stupid and handsome guy, but you brought me the Empire’s Best Sword?!”
「Did you know he was that kind of person? ? Just by looking at it, she looks like a gisaeng brother….」
I scribbled down a note while silently listening to the evaluation of my appearance.
「Wouldn’t it be okay? On the contrary, if we attract celebrities to our side, we can secure more customers.”
「How stupid!! If we get caught like that, we’re finished!!”
As expected, the man seemed to be a little more intelligent.
However, he was not much different from the woman.
「First of all, let’s somehow get him drunk today and send him away. “If you come to me later, you can just tell me that you were drunk and mistaken.”
Because I am not drunk at all.
The moment when I didn’t confess the truth even though I knew I was a grandmaster in the first place.
There will be no mercy for these guys.