146 – A Strange Encounter
“Are you really going to tell His Majesty?”
While the carriage entered the imperial palace and was guided by a guard, Edgar brought up to Ariel what had happened a little while ago.
Edgar thought that she would raise her voice, saying that it was obvious, but Ariel, contrary to his expectations, responded in a rather calm tone.
“If you dry it, I’ll think about it.”
“I have no intention of drying it. Of course, assuming that it goes beyond the appropriate punishment.”
“… so? If it were you, I knew you would say quit.”
Ariel, who glanced at Edgar with a look of surprise, brought out his true intentions, and a bitter smile formed on his lips.
Edgar, who had been watching the situation through the window a while ago, had no intention of saying that he was too much for Ariel this time.
Of course, there were definitely misunderstandings on the other side, and some people might feel that Ariel overreacted a bit.
Edgar also agreed to that point.
However, it was also true that there was a contradiction in saying that they purely fulfilled their duty.
Even though we were in a situation where we could have an amicable conversation with each other, there were times when I looked down on Shuri and used my words a little excessively.
Edgar attributed this to the fact that, from their point of view, Shuri seemed insufficient to act as the Grand Duke’s representative.
In other words, it is safe to say that he immediately changed his attitude the moment he recognized that his opponent was weaker than himself.
In response, Ariel only returned it in the same way.
“You just became the head of the household, right? Rather, I think I needed a little bit.”
“You hate things like this.”
“What I hate and what I need externally are two different laws.”
Edgar shrugged his shoulders, expressing that he didn’t care too much.
Above all, she is now the owner of the grand duchess and a representative of all members of the Loveheim family.
Sometimes, even if it’s a bit excessive, it’s a law that needs to reveal that it’s your own authority.
Even if she had just risen to the position of head of household, one of the guards in the imperial palace maintained a calm attitude even when she appeared in person?
On the contrary, if she had passed on a little softly on the spot, she might have lost her prestige, as she would have been able to look down on the outside.
“Instead, as I said, I think it would be better to end it at a moderate level.”
“Your Majesty will take care of the punishment.”
Ariel said the same thing, but as soon as she had an audience with the emperor, she had no intention of bragging about it right away.
I don’t know what their contact system is, but if there was a commotion like this, it would have gone to the ears of the emperor or his closest aides, whether they like it or not.
If the other side secretly leaks this story, you just have to affirm it, and if not, then you will have to step out.
It is literally just handing over to them the authority to punish them.
“If your majesty or the people around you say they will punish you severely, it would be better for you to stop it within an appropriate line.”
“Does it have to be like that?”
“From my point of view, that is a way to secure both justification and practicality.”
Edgar, who gave advice with a grin, gently held Ariel’s hand as he was wandering aimlessly.
“It’s important to show authority, but there’s no reason to appear cold-blooded. Even if you dissuade them anyway, they won’t be able to stay still.”
“… Well, it doesn’t.”
Even if Ariel doesn’t want their punishment with her mouth, if this fact is known to the outside world, they have to show that they are sincere.
Even though a mere guard is consistent in ignorance of the owner of the Grand Duke’s family in name and reality, if they try to pass it off appropriately, it will only damage their honor.
“In other words, you mean to leave a benevolent impression on those around you, even if your true intentions are not.”
“right.”
Basically, the brain is on the side of clever, so Ariel quickly understood Edgar’s true intentions.
Even if it was just acting, she didn’t want to say something like asking for mercy to those who insulted Shuri, but as long as it wasn’t death anyway, from her point of view, it was there.
If so, it would be the right choice to take care of the truth at times like this.
Punishment can be given according to punishment, so the Loveheim family’s prestige won’t fall, and thanks to her being stopped along the way, you’ll be able to hear people say that she’s generous.
On the other hand, the two people who were silently listening to their conversation on the other side let out a low exclamation.
Normally, Edgar seems to be a cheerful and mischievous person who likes to make fun of Ariel, but it is because I realized anew that he is actually a man with deep thoughts.
“Edgar has a surprisingly wide field of vision. Isn’t that right, Hagel?”
“I agree. I just thought it was enough to finish the punishment, but you were watching at least two moves ahead of that.”
At the praise of the two, Edgar raised one corner of his mouth and gave a subtle smile.
Rather than thinking deeply, it was just that Yulken and Helene had secretly summoned him and asked him to be deeply engraved in his heart.
Ariel will basically have nothing to lack in terms of ability, but there are often times when emotions take precedence when performing certain actions, so please be aware of that.
As an advisor by her side, before she took a step forward, I asked him to remain as someone who could block her for a moment with his arm and knock on the stone bridge instead.
Ariel also felt mixed feelings when seeing Edgar like that.
I also realized why her mother had given her such advice the other day.
“… Looking at you, I think you know that your mother didn’t say that for nothing.”
“What did you say?”
“’Even if you don’t listen to Mom and Dad later, you have to listen to Ed.’ He said.”
“Put.”
Edgar couldn’t confirm or deny it, just passing it off with a subtle smile.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to repay that trust, but I’m determined to do my best.
* * * * * * *
The exterior of the imperial palace, which was reached after twists and turns after getting off the carriage, was apt to be described as extravagant.
Even though he had seen it before, Edgar stuck out his tongue at the majesty that he had seen before and stepped inside with the party.
“Oh, isn’t it your Highness?”
After passing through the entrance guarded by the guards and arriving at a corridor where twenty people could easily pass, a man with a bushy beard and impressive appearance blocked the group’s path.
His name is Ludrick Orman.
Unlike other knight commanders, he was the head of the Imperial Guard, who served under the emperor’s direct command, and was the man who had recently visited Ariel’s succession ceremony.
“It’s been a while, Sir Orman. Thank you for visiting during the succession ceremony.”
“You express your gratitude for the obvious, but on the contrary, this side is about to feel embarrassed. But what happened to the imperial palace today… … ?”
“My lover received a royal letter from His Majesty the Emperor, so I stopped by for a while.”
Only then did Rudrick respond to Ariel’s calm reply, ‘Ah!’ I exclaimed and looked at Edgar standing next to me.
I heard the story about him even during the succession ceremony, but I seem to forget it often because I’m getting older.
He apologized belatedly and greeted the other two people standing behind him.
“I apologize in advance, Sir Edgar. I guess this is why His Majesty told the ministers to remain seated today.”
“Is it? It must be a pretty stressful place.”
Edgar didn’t think that today would be a casual event, but he didn’t know that he would have summoned other ministers, so he expressed some disapproval.
To be honest, I didn’t think it was something that would be honored to this extent, but it couldn’t be because if he showed humility about this, even Yulken, whom he saved, would be humbled.
It could have been a truly bizarre situation.
“hahahaha, you don’t have to feel so burdened. After all, the birth of a hero should always be publicized.”
As the closest aide to the emperor and the leader of the royal guard, Rudrick knew better than anyone else that what Edgar had done was not so easy.
Besides, since the person he rescued was the owner of the grand duke’s family, even as the current emperor, when he received the report, he must have felt it was too much to just nod his head and pass by.
Rather, it may be that he is trying to elicit loyalty by giving his subjects and other people around him the awareness that ‘the current emperor is sure to be punished’.
In any case, from the point of view of receiving the award, it means that you just have to accept it warmly.
“Then, besides Your Highness, it must be the first time for the other three to have an audience with His Majesty.”
“yes that’s right.”
Ariel had met the current emperor when she was young.
It was so long ago that even she, who has a pretty good memory, vaguely remembers it, but it means it’s not an invitation anyway.
On the other hand, it would be the first time for the other three to meet face-to-face and talk, even if it was from far away.
Thanks to this, Hagel, who was especially loyal to the emperor, was already shaking his hands.
“Maybe we will meet each other at least once before the awards are given. It’s quite pleasant and easy-going, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
“You seem to have the same personality as His Majesty’s personality passed down by my father.”
“It is. Your Highness from the previous generation had many occasions to meet the emperor, so you probably know him well.”
Rudrick smiled benevolently and tried to move on, saying that he had a place he needed to visit soon and hoped to see him again later.
At that moment, a man like him, who had been passing the hallway, walked politely toward the party.
Wearing a black tailcoat, she has a slightly slender impression.
In particular, Edgar was bewildered by the unknown expression, whether it was calm or angry.
In a good way, it was mysterious, and in a bad way, it was a somewhat gloomy impression.
“Well? His Excellency Albrich, what are you doing all this way?”
“I was passing by for a while when I heard a buzzing sound. But I didn’t know that Your Highness would be here.”
Albrich Bertus, Marquis.
When asked to pick the person with the most power in the empire, he is another figure that is mentioned along with the emperor and the owner of the grand duchy, and is also one of the greatest wizards in the empire.
He visits the Mage Tower frequently, and rumors are circulating that he has a close relationship with the current Mage Tower owner, but nothing has been confirmed, and his appearance is considered to be very young compared to his age.
In a sense, he is a man with a heavier hip than the Grand Duke, so it is rare to see him outside of his castle or mage tower, but today, for some reason, he went to the imperial palace.
Rudrick was also a newcomer to the extent that he was dumbfounded when he heard the news that he was coming.
‘It’s a big deal.’
It was strange that he personally went all the way to the imperial palace, but he went around the inside himself.
Rudrick couldn’t hide his doubts, as he wondered if the sun would rise in the west after all.
“My name is Albrich Bertus. I sincerely congratulate you on becoming the owner of the Grand Duchess, Your Highness. I am sorry that I was unable to attend the succession ceremony due to the schedule.”
Albrich politely apologized, but no one here took his apology seriously.
There’s obviously nothing wrong with the posture of bending the waist or the tone of speech, but it’s amazing that it didn’t touch my heart.
It was as if only an empty echo echoed in my heart.
“Come to think of it, this is the person who was active in Whitewood.”
“yes that’s right. He is also my lover.”
“That’s right. Sorry for finding out late.”
Rudrick, who had been watching this, was stunned when he, who rarely stooped stiffly to anyone except the emperor, did so frequently today.
It was to the point where I had the illusion that the man in front of me might not be Albrich, but someone else wearing that skin.
“… … .”
Meanwhile, Edgar, who accepted Albrich’s handshake request and held his hand, couldn’t take his eyes off the man in front of him.
I had a very strange feeling.
It was an aura so foreign that I could say that it was probably the first time I had this kind of feeling when I saw someone.
People don’t look bad.
But that unfavorable impression did not mean that it was positive.
In other words, it could be said that he was a man who did not feel anything.
“I heard rumors and wanted to meet you at least once, but this opportunity has arrived. I heard that His Majesty also highly praised the young hero’s appearance.”
“… Thank you, Your Excellency.”
It was said as a greeting to everyone he met at the succession ceremony, but it was the first time that Edgar’s words had felt as empty as today.
He smiled, trying hard not to show this strange feeling.
Even though they were clearly shaking hands, it seemed that for some reason, they didn’t feel the warmth of people at all.
Why? Even when I asked myself, I didn’t get a proper answer.