#10 Banquet (5)
I expected that one day this day would come.
Anyway, wasn’t it last fall that he sent a letter to Yubin through the Imperial Quartermaster Polo?
Of course, Elric didn’t expect him to come this way.
“This is Ferdin’s royal banquet. It’s new because I rarely get invited to banquets in other countries. what… I hope everyone has a peaceful year.”
He quickly took his eyes off Elric, spoke to the crowd, and moved to the center of the banquet hall.
In an instant, people gathered around him and surrounded him.
“Elbus Graham… A celebrity is here.”
Tyria spoke softly.
It was as if Elric was going to tell him something he didn’t know.
“This is the person called the Nangjungjichu of the Empire. He played a leading role in the war even before he came of age, and was discharged due to injury. His achievements are still scattered around like legends, so there are few people in the East that do not know his name.”
At the quiet voice, Elric let out a small laugh.
“Me too circumnavigating the continent… .”
Oops, I should refrain from saying unnecessary things.
Fortunately, when she swallowed her words, Tyria expressed her understanding with an ‘ah’ exclamation.
“… Yes, you are famous in many ways. sorry. I apologize.”
“no. If this happens in the future, please explain. I don’t know much about aristocratic society.”
Involuntarily, a hand reached out and covered the back of her hand.
Tyria gave a small nod, and Elbus was skillfully passing the fuss over.
Elric was lost in thought.
‘Wolyeong’s first target was Elbus… .’
I had something to think about.
It is Wol-young, who has already suffered severely from himself while trying to assassinate him.
Now, what is the intention of them aiming for Elbus again?
It must be one of two things.
‘It’s worth taking the risk.’
Or, his appearance was an unexpected accident.
Neither was pleasant.
Elric felt offended.
‘Why did you come all the way here?’
His gaze was directed directly at Elbus.
The picture Elric expected was the end of him leaving for the east on a pleasure boat and secretly coming to Wibin.
It was a judgment that he, who was unaware of his own temperament, would not have tried to cause trouble in such a public place.
However, it is an unexpected appearance.
I just couldn’t let it pass on his whim.
Because Elric knows him as much as he knows Elric.
Behind those aristocratic words and actions, he always acts with a lot of calculation.
Today’s appearance must also be part of that calculation.
In an instant, Elbus’s eyes met.
He smiled and pursed his lips.
– Let’s talk a little later.
It was like that.
Elric gave an affirmation with a wink.
And so the banquet began in earnest.
Baba night!
“His Majesty the King is entering!”
the king entered
“I am very happy to see the faces of the Lords at the beginning of the year. Besides, this year, it is even more special since we have an important guest.”
A middle-aged man began to speak in a dignified voice.
“… So, I hope that this year will be full of good bye in Ferdinand I will finish it. Enjoy yourselves.”
As he waved his hand, the tune of the orchestra changed.
It was the beginning of the prom.
“Gossip, now slowly… .”
“no.”
“… yes?”
Elric looked at Tyria and said.
“It’s a prom, how about enjoying it a bit? Of course, I can’t dance with you because of my knees.”
A twinkle flashed in her eyes.
It was uncomfortable, but I couldn’t help it.
Elric felt a little sorry, but after struggling to control his emotions, he said.
“Are you okay?”
“… yes.”
“Good. Then can I come and see you for a while?”
Feeling embarrassed, she said it and nodded her head.
Elric said, “I’ll be right back,” and stood up.
Elbus has already left the banquet hall.
There was no need to go to the trouble of finding him.
Ugh-
mana waves.
He was giving his location by code.
*
Elric arrived at a garden somewhere in the royal family.
Perhaps they had recognized the location in advance, but unlike the noise in the banquet hall, there was a thick silence.
A garden where flowers are in full bloom even in midwinter is a miracle allowed by magic.
Elbus Graham was looking at the flower garden with a smile on his face.
“Long time no see.”
he said, turning his head.
Elric stopped laughing.
The words that came out were a bit playful.
“You always seem to exceed my expectations.”
“Can I take that as a compliment?”
“Man, how can this be a compliment? And as soon as you come in, what if you give me that kind of attention? I thought my heart was going to drop.”
“I’m sorry.”
Elbus laughed and added a word.
“Hey, I didn’t even know. I thought you were married.”
Elric’s lips were tightly shut.
For some reason, I felt like my face was getting hot.
“that… .”
“Somehow, it was strange, even though there were many women who flirted with her, she didn’t pay attention once. Are you not interested in women? It was all lies.”
“that is… .”
“She was a sweetheart. I can’t forget my wife even though I’m on the battlefield… .”
“… It’s not like that, so why don’t you stop?”
Elric felt his face heat up.
At that time, it was because there was really no time to look at women, and Elric himself had committed too many sins against Tyria to be called a loving wife.
Although it was a matter of complex cause and effect, Elbus only shrugged his shoulders as if he knew all of this as an excuse.
“Your wife is very kind.”
“Your wife will be upset if she hears it.”
“It’s okay. Ilya is generous in this way.”
you’ll be tough
Elric recalled the face of a woman who was not very strong.
– You’re playing with each other.
A woman who made a bold statement from the first meeting through his introduction.
Seeing that he didn’t bring him, it must be his own consideration to hide things about himself from her.
But does consideration end there?
“Honey is dripping from your eyes. I thought I was going crazy wondering what they were talking about holding hands.”
“Because let’s stop.”
“It was like seeing a man and a woman falling in love for the first time. Did you two kiss?”
Elric’s fists clenched.
Elbus just kept his mouth shut.
nasty human being.
One of the skills to escape is excellent.
Elric sighed and said.
From noble mtl dot com
“… It’s not like you’re looking at it separately to talk about that, isn’t it?”
Elric was in a hurry to get to the point.
According to his reasoning, the entanglement between him and Wol-young now was not of the ordinary kind.
“I think you know about it. Aren’t you the one who moves hastily?”
“Oh, an assassin? Of course there will be. Did I have a lot of enemies?”
“It’s not something to laugh at. Those who are after you… .”
“To be precise, they didn’t target me.”
“… What do you mean?”
Elric’s brow narrowed.
Elbus said with a smile.
“It must be an assassination targeting an envoy of the empire, not me. Originally, this seat was not mine, but I only got it last week.”
“… ah.”
Was it like that?
Only then did Elric know why Wolyeong was responsible for this assassination.
Three assassins passed through Elric’s mind as he knelt begging for his life.
‘They also live a very strange life.’
It must have been quite embarrassing if the person in charge of the change was Elbus, considering his timid nature.
A laugh was leaking out.
“You are right.”
Elbus reached out and plucked a flower.
It was a red flower.
“I believe you have been hearing about the Western battlefield. Hasn’t the situation there changed a lot?”
“… .”
“This car is about to start a full-scale crash. And isn’t that what war is like?”
Elric could guess what was to follow.
It was a word he uttered out of habit.
“Despair for some.”
“A chance for someone else. I remember.”
“I’ve heard so much about it.”
“Is it?”
Elbus chuckled.
Before long, his expression hardened, and his smile began to contain bitterness.
“For example, there are people who want to take a chance.”
It wasn’t that hard to say.
A noble from the Empire who came to the East.
A force of assassins targeting the nobility.
Assume what if
If I hadn’t been confident here, and had the one who originally planned to come as an envoy instead of Elbus arrive.
If Wolyeong had assassinated him.
“A noble of the Empire who was assassinated in the land of the East.”
that is,
“A good cause for war.”
It meant that another sea of blood would arise.
“There are forces that want the war to expand to the east. Inside the empire, maybe with the outside.”
Elric’s heart cooled at Elbus’ words.
How far are you going to continue that damn war?
“Hey Kasha… No, Elric. I will ask straight forward.”
Elbus’ gaze turned to Elric.
“Do you have any intention of returning to the battlefield? I need you.”
serious face.
He wanted an unadorned answer.
There was one funny fact.
For a moment, what Elric draws in his mind is neither the horrors of the battlefield nor the memories of terrible moments, but a certain wheat field scene.
It was a woman’s face.
“I am… .”
It was the moment when he parted his lips in hesitation.
“Did you two know each other?”
3 people broke in.
Elric’s and Elbus’ gazes simultaneously turned towards the direction the voice came from.
There, a middle-aged man with a huge blond hair was approaching.
A man I’ve never actually met before.
However, Elric was well aware of his identity.
“… Count Nimrud.”
The real power of the kingdom of Ferdin who instigated the assassination.
It was an obvious enemy.
“What a wonderful coincidence.”
he smiled crookedly.