464 – When spring comes, even newlyweds melt – 2
As the start of school was approaching, I personally checked each and every piece of luggage to be used at the academy.
It is okay to carry the same luggage as last year, but it was necessary to check the clothes again. These days, the clothes I used to wear feel small.
“Please come in.”
After checking my luggage for about an hour, I called the servants waiting outside the door.
“I plan to take only this much luggage. Prepare a wagon of an appropriate size.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
The attendants bowed to my instructions and quickly gathered their luggage and went outside. They will probably load it onto the carriage that will take them to the academy.
And as soon as the last servant left and closed the door, he sat down on the bed and sighed.
‘I didn’t know that I would be able to borrow the help of the imperial palace servants this year as well.’
I felt a little embarrassed and scratched my cheek.
No matter how much I was a member of the royal family, I was officially given a title, so I thought I would stay somewhere other than the imperial palace. Because that’s the custom. However, His Majesty told me to stay at the imperial palace until then, as I would be looking for a separate place to stay.
Of course, the Marquis of Idrafen does not only have territories officially vested in it, but there is quite a bit of land that was also granted, but what can we do if His Majesty says so? As a marquis, he had no choice but to enjoy the luxury of staying in the imperial palace.
But why? Although there was no basis for this, I had a hunch that I would be spending several years in the imperial palace.
‘…I’ll try to contact you soon.’
Pushing aside my complex and subtle intuition, I held the communication device in my hand. Now that I’ve finished packing my bags, I have to take care of other things.
-Who are you?
Shortly after activating the communication port, the other party received a call.
A young lady with bright white skin and shining silver hair. It may be too obvious a metaphor, but a young lady with a voice like the chirping of an oriole.
“It is me, Lady Shati.”
Shati Gurt, the only child of the Marquis of Barandiga.
I contacted a young lady who was like my fiancé.
– Ah, you are the Marquis of Idrafen.
As always, it was a blunt and blunt response, but I was used to it now so I wasn’t impressed.
From Lady Shati’s point of view, didn’t she end up in an unwanted arranged marriage with someone she met for the first time a few months ago? Even if it is an arranged marriage, it is common to marry someone you have known since childhood. Therefore, it is quite understandable that Lady Shati is putting up a bit of a wall.
“Perhaps because the weather was nice today, I suddenly thought of Lady Shati and contacted her. Did I disturb her precious time?”
– It’s okay. This isn’t the first time you’ve contacted me suddenly.
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
When I answered with a smile, Lady Shati made a sullen expression. Just like I don’t like the fact that I laughed it off even though I heard something that could offend me.
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It’s a pity for Lady Shati, but I have no intention of being angry with Lady Shati. I have no intention of breaking this relationship where marriage is a given.
It is not a romantic reason such as falling in love with the young lady at first sight. Maybe it’s an aftereffect of already loving someone, but right now I have no intention or room to feel personal affection. I only move for the sake of my royal duties and for the daughter who will become my wife.
“Before going to the academy, I wanted to see you in person, but unfortunately the start of school is just around the corner. I have never resented my status as a student more than I do now.”
– I’m glad you didn’t come. Serving His Excellency the Marquis in the northern outskirts is so embarrassing that I can’t even raise my head.
“How can you say such a thing when having Lady Shati is enough? There is no better treatment for me.”
Then, I could feel Lady Shati’s eyes trembling even through the communication port.
‘You’re being honest today too.’
When I saw that, I burst into laughter. In fact, I don’t have a rational crush on Lady Shati, but I do have a person-to-person crush on her. The more you talk to him, the more he reacts in a blatant and cute way, so how can you dislike him?
At first, Lady Shati was very polite and pushed me away with indirect remarks. It is only natural that if the rumor spreads that a new nobleman refuses to marry a member of the royal family, the daughter’s family will be in jeopardy.
However, I pretended as much as possible not to know the lady’s true intentions. If you were polite, he would approach you with a sly look, and if you spoke in a roundabout way, he would pretend not to understand. So, perhaps out of frustration, the young lady gradually pushed me away more directly and clearly.
Of course, I pretended not to know that either.
“By the way, as advised by the Lady, I have been working hard on training recently. One day, I will have to spend time in the North, and it will be difficult if my body cannot withstand it.”
– I see… I see. Thank you for listening to my advice.
“These are the words of a young lady, not someone else, so it’s only natural.”
Slowly, I heard the sound of my teeth grinding.
I guess I’ll just have to do this for today.
***
As soon as Marquis Idrafen’s face disappeared, he threw away the communication tool.
“aaah!”
Then he shook his head violently and screamed. If I don’t do this, I don’t think I will be able to calm my burning insides.
It’s annoying. I’m so pissed. If the Marquis of Idrapfen were in front of me, I would have closed his eyes and punched him. To that extent, the Marquis of Idrafen is annoying, sly, and… I don’t like it anyway.
‘If you hit him just once, he’ll fall down!’
His fists were shaking and his teeth were gritted. The Marquis of Idrafen, whom I first met at the New Year’s wedding, looked like a typical prince from a settled country.
He is a superior who has never experienced hardship and has never achieved anything using his body. A guy who has nothing to boast about other than his looks and status, and who is naturally expected to live a life of support. That was Marquis Idrafen’s first impression.
Now, that first impression has been added to the impression that he is a shameless, sly, unlucky guy who pretends not to notice anything!
– By the way, I have been working hard on training recently as advised by Lady Ae. One day, I will have to live in the north, and it will be difficult if my body cannot withstand it.
Soon, Marquis Idrafen’s words came to mind and I burst into laughter. I don’t have the strength to express my anger anymore.
‘What is training?’
A few weeks ago, when I was still polite to Marquis Idrafen, I said something like that. It is said that the environment in the North is harsh and harsh, so it would be difficult for an ordinary person to even set foot on it.
It meant that if you married me, you would have to live in the harsh north, but the Marquis of Idrafen took it as advice to discipline yourself, not as pressure to give up on marriage.
No, you know it’s the former, but you’re pretending to hear the latter. I’m sure it’s that sly guy.
‘Try training for 100 days.’
I suppressed my laughter and picked up the communication tool rolling on the floor.
No matter how hard you train the flowers in the garden, they eventually grow in the warm breeze.
You will not be able to become a northern warrior worthy of standing alongside me.
***
At this point, I am seriously worried. Could it be that I committed a big sin in my past life? For example, the grave crime of selling the country ruled by the emperor to someone else. It seems like it was not a tacit agreement but rather an active betrayal of the country.
Yes, it will definitely happen. Otherwise, that bastard can’t be this sincere towards me.
“I couldn’t leave the gift the cardinal sent me anywhere, so I hung it up. Personally, I feel happy every time I see it.”
Taeyangjeon visited after receiving a call from the emperor. Even within the Sunjeon Hall, there is an office where the emperor works.
In fact, my saint portrait was hanging in the space where all affairs of the empire received final approval.
‘Are you crazy?’
I became dizzy. As the start of school was approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to receive a call from the emperor, but I had no idea that a portrait like that would greet me as soon as I entered the office.
Crazy bastard. Really crazy bastard. Which emperor in the history of the continent hangs portraits of saints of his subjects? I wonder if we can see his self-portrait screen again.
“This is so true. Are you so moved that you can’t even speak?”
In the meantime, the emperor continued with additional provocations.
Impression, you bastard, you must study the dictionary definition of the word emotion again.
“…I am both scared and shocked that a portrait of a lowly person is hanging in the sacred space where His Majesty the Emperor conducts business.”
“It’s a sacred space, so we should hang portraits of saints.”
Then the emperor burst into laughter. It was such a bold and confident laugh that I almost laughed along with him.
“Every time I feel cloudy and frustrated, I look at the minister’s portrait. You don’t know how happy I am to think that this great man, who will become a saint after his death, is still alive to help me.”
“I salute you, Your Majesty.”
I answered, bowing my head towards the emperor who patted my shoulder.
If I look at that bastard’s face right now, I feel like I’m going to be punched.
After calming down my desire to punch, I was able to have a normal conversation.
“The minister will have to work hard until this year. No matter how I think about it, it would be better to send the minister instead of causing confusion by sending someone else.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will do so.”
He was informed that he would have to deal with old members at the academy again this year, but he calmly nodded. Of course, I thought I would go, but as the emperor said, there was no need to send anyone else away for the last year.
And if you send someone else for no reason and something happens, someone will have to take care of the problem, and there is a high probability that that someone will be me. In that case, it would be better for me to do it from the beginning.
“I’m telling you in advance, but you’ve worked hard for three years. What kind of bureaucrat helps the royal family of another country for three years? His Majesty must have sent the minister to the academy because he thought the minister was the right person, but he must have felt uncomfortable inside. .”
In response to my answer, the emperor offered unexpected consolation. Even for an emperor who boasts a destructive personality, my life at the academy seems to have been impressive.
“I just did what I had to do as a subject.”
“You deserve praise because you did what you had to do.”
The emperor with a faint smile was silent for a moment and then slowly opened his mouth.
“…I can’t promote you any further than this because you’re already a minister, and trying to be a double minister as if you were a double count—”
“Your Majesty.”
“It’s a joke. It’s common sense that it’s impossible for one person to hold the position of minister at the same time.”
I cut off the emperor’s words, but I do not regret it.
That bastard said with words that it couldn’t happen, but his eyes were full of sincerity. If I had been a little embarrassed, I might have pushed ahead.
“Oh, come to think of it, Minister. I have a personal favor to ask you.”
“Please give me your name.”
Unlike the mouth that moved instinctively, the head was full of doubt. A personal request after making the crazy statement about being a double minister? What on earth is this bastard trying to say?
“Recently, Ainter has become interested in swordsmanship. If you have time, please give me some advice.”
However, an unexpected statement was made.
It’s unexpected. Isn’t Ainter the person who distanced himself from martial arts after the fall of the 2nd prince? Since the Emperor regards Ainter as a member of the imperial family, there is no need to keep his distance from her, but he also does not need to get close to her.
“Yes. If Sosin’s advice is helpful, I will gladly do so.”
Of course, it is unexpected and not something to be concerned about.
As a man lives, he may be able to hold a sword.