Chapter 74 Exam Proposal
Chapter 74 Exam Proposal
Count Marsene Clusio arrived at the Duke of Cailos’ residence in Delesón at sunset.
It took him ten days to get here.
Originally, he could have arrived two days sooner than this.
However, I moved slowly considering the condition that was not like when I was young, and thanks to that, it took two more days.
The shabby carriage in which Count Clusio rode slowly entered the grounds of the Duchess Dellesson’s estate.
Soon, the carriage stopped at the front gate of the duke’s residence.
“No.”
With a heavy moan, Count Marsene Clusio got off the carriage.
The servants of the duke’s residence lined up on both sides of the main gate bowed in unison to Count Clusio and bowed.
“Huh, it’s a grander welcome than I thought.”
The Count laughed incredulously.
“You have had a lot of trouble coming a long way, Count Clusio.”
Duke Kyle Roth, who was standing with the servants, held out his right hand toward the Count.
The Count looked down at the hand for a moment.
“I never thought you would still remember this obsolete man, Duke.”
It was not a voice full of emotion.
It was a mixture of a bit of rebuke and sarcasm.
Duke Kyloth recognized this right away, but he did not criticize Count Clusio. Instead, he just lightly moved his right hand up and down.
A signal to quickly accept a handshake.
“Huh, really… ….”
Only then did the Count grant the Duke’s handshake request.
“You are very old too.”
“Anyway, I wonder if the duke is as good as you.”
“You must have had a hard time coming this far. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
The Duke ordered Ron, the butler, to prepare a meal. Then he took the count to the dining room.
Count Clusio sat in the seat guided by Duke Kailos.
He leaned as hard as he could on his back with his arms crossed.
It was quite an arrogant attitude for having the Duke in front of him, but Duke Kylos didn’t bother pointing it out.
“… ….”
“… ….”
The two old men sat opposite each other across the table and stared at each other without saying anything for a while.
‘Even after 20 years, his temper is still the same.’
Duke Kailos made this evaluation of Count Clusio in his heart.
No, I guess it’s like he’s become more eccentric.
Since he was at least in front of him, there was a feeling that he had killed his temper a little.
On the other hand, Count Clusio was still complicated.
‘I thought it would be awkward, but…… Looking at his face, it’s not like that again.’
He became disillusioned with Kylos, who was solidifying his position not only in the political arena, but also in the imperial faction at the time, and left the political world.
Then he cut them all off. Either physically or mentally.
While living in his country village, he would occasionally reminisce about those days, but that’s all.
He did not forget his disillusionment with the people he was involved with at the time.
At least until I received a letter from Duke Kailos.
‘I don’t think it’s good to act too pointedly… ….’
Aren’t you too childish at the age of 60 soon?
Besides, Duke Kailos is also in the same position as himself.
“If I did anything wrong to the Count in my youth, tell me. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen your face, so I’m just saying it as a way to get rid of regrets.”
“There is no such thing. I just left, disillusioned.”
Count Clusio said in a firm voice. The duke got the impression that he was openly revealing his thorns.
“Disillusionment is always felt. Wouldn’t there have been a moment like that for me?”
“Unlike the Duke, I couldn’t stand being dirty. That’s what made me disillusioned.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong to the Count…….”
There was a hint of relief in the Duke’s voice.
“Duke, I was just disappointed in many people, including you. No matter how much it was for political gain, the behavior of those who sold their colleagues without hesitation…….”
“They got rid of them right after I became chief.”
The Count furrowed one eyebrow at the Duke’s remark.
“Let’s take this slowly. There is a reason why I called you.”
“Yes. I’ve been waiting for you to bring it up for a while.”
Only then did Count Clusio remove his upper body from his backrest and straighten his back.
“To resume trade with Sergel Kingdom. Isn’t it exciting news?”
“The current Empress, Her Majesty Cecilia, is pushing that forward.”
“I heard the rumors. You’re not even twenty yet?”
The duke nodded his head in affirmation.
“Currently, Her Majesty has a competent personal secretary attached to her side. Of course, her ladies-in-waiting are also very talented.”
“The day the empress leads the empire is coming. Huh, really…….”
A mysterious expression appeared on Count Clusio’s face.
At that time, the maids set a hearty lunch on the table. Delicious smells emanated from all kinds of food, but the two old men didn’t even look at it.
They only stared into each other’s faces with serious eyes.
“So, Duke. What role will I play in trade with the kingdom?”
“You will play a very important role.”
“What is that?”
As soon as he heard the Duke’s remarks, Count Clusio’s heart began to beat with passion.
It feels like the passion of youth is springing up again!
But the pounding didn’t last long.
“It is to teach His Majesty’s direct secretary to speak the Sergelian language fluently.”
“… ….”
Count Clusio only blinked his eyelids with a dazed face.
Didn’t he just say that he was going to play a key role?
“Is there anything else?”
“That’s all.”
“… ….”
After a bit of silence, Count Clusio.
“Huh!”
He showed an expression of absurdity along with an exhilarating laugh.
“Isn’t that a problem to be solved by self-study? When I was younger, there was no one to teach me, so I had to study on my own.”
“They say they are currently studying with His Majesty. I just asked for a teacher because I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right.”
Despite the duke’s calm explanation, the count just shook his head with his eyes tightly closed.
“Count. Do you still remember the Sergel Kingdom language?”
“Ah, that shouldn’t be taken for granted. How can I easily forget what I have worked hard to learn?”
“Isn’t that a good thing then? It’s hard to find talented people who can speak Sergel’s language now.”
“You mean there aren’t that many talented people in the empire? Eh, tsk tsk…….”
The state of the empire is unreasonable.
Count Clusio muttered in a low voice, but the duke heard it clearly.
“What are you going to do? Even the count might find a new kind of fun while working as a teacher.”
“Hmm… ….”
As Count Clusio was troubled, Duke Kylos calmly watched. If he had refused in the first place, he was a man who would not have written a reply to himself.
He’ll think about it and say he’ll do it.
Soon, the answer the Duke expected came out from Count Clusio’s lips.
“I will. There is only one condition.”
The count raised his index finger.
“If it is judged that the secretary is not doing well, I will just play and eat here, so you know.”
“I’ll tell His Majesty in advance.”
“I can’t do it because I’m hungry. How about having dinner now?”
Confirming that the Duke nodded, Count Clusio began to gorge himself on his food.
After dinner, the Duke sent Count Clusio up to the guest room so that he could recover from his travels.
‘I’ll have to send a letter to His Majesty.’
The duke went into his office and immediately wrote a letter to Cecilia. Then he called in Ron, the house owner.
“Ron. Please deliver this letter to the imperial family right now.”
* * *
I was teaching Sergel Kingdom language in Cecilia’s room today as well.
In fact, rather than teaching, it was closer to reading and studying together.
“The pronunciation of this sentence seems a bit difficult.”
“Yes. I think so too.”
There are two people, but there is only one book, so of course we had no choice but to sit close together.
“Listen carefully, I will read it.”
“Yes.”
While doing so, Cecilia came closer to me.
I know it’s just to look closely at the phonetic symbols written in the book, but…….
Her slender shoulders touched my arm!
At the same time, the faint smell of perfume tickled her nose.
‘They wear perfume at night too.’
Perhaps it is to avoid showing a disheveled appearance at night.
…… I’m not sure why you want to do that.
“How does it sound to you?”
“That seems to be the case.”
“Hmm… ….”
Cecilia had a rather unreliable face.
“I will try.”
“Yes.”
From noble mtl dot com
As I was reading a book and was about to read a sentence written in Sergel Kingdom, a knock sounded. The one who knocked was one of the butlers in the imperial palace.
“Your Majesty. The Duke of Kailos has sent you a letter.”
Cecilia kicked her butler out of her room as soon as she received her letter.
“It looks like Count Clusio has arrived at the duke’s residence.”
I replied that I think so and she quickly handed her her paper knife. Cecilia tore off the seal of the envelope and pulled out her stationery inside.
“Would you like to read it too?”
“Your Majesty will check first, then we will see.”
She nodded and read her letter. Perhaps because the content was brief, she immediately cast her gaze in this direction.
“Luke. Once the positive answer came.”
“Oh! This is good news.”
However, a complex expression appeared on Cecilia’s face.
“Just…… Your role seems to be important.”
She handed me her letter as I tilted her head to one side. I posted a thank you note and looked at the contents.
It was only then that I realized why Cecilia had said that.
It was because of this verse.
[Earl Marsene Clusio agreed to teach Sergel Kingdom language. However, he put forward the condition that if His Majesty’s secretary cannot properly show the results of his self-study, he will do nothing.]
…… Why are you testing me?
After reading further, it was written that he would visit the imperial palace for an audience in the next two days.
So…… That means I only have two days left to spare!
“Your Majesty… ….”
“He sure is a person with a peculiar temperament.”
A faint smile was drawn on Cecilia’s lips as she muttered that.
Why are you able to laugh like that at this timing?
“Luke. I think she will be worried.”
“Yes… ….”
“But that is strange.”
“… ….”
Cecilia stared at my face with her ruby eyes. As if trying to find something in me.
At last, her lips parted again.
“If it were you, I’m sure you would pass this level of testing without incident.”
“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
“But there is one thing in odds.”
At that, I raised her bowed head again.
“So, let’s study the Kingdom language more diligently with me.”
“Yes. I will do my best.”
Anyway, there was only one conclusion. That you have to study hard.
That too with Cecilia.
…… Is this correct?
-Continued