122 – Night of the Long Sword
Words spit out.
A vulgar word that is difficult to say.
Although the musicians did not stop playing, there seemed to be silence in the space.
Most people listened attentively, but even those who listened doubted whether they had heard correctly.
Where is this place?
It is the imperial castle of the empire.
It is a place called a beacon of humanity, rebuilt on the site of a pagan temple that had been destroyed. This is where the royal family, a noble bloodline that takes the lead in protecting humanity, resides.
‘Wow, it’s cool.’
In a place where most people knew him, Shiron sighed with relief. The faces of the people surrounding him were truly worth seeing, but their reactions were completely irrelevant to Siron.
The only thing that matters is Austin’s reaction.
Next to him, even Viktor’s face is turning pale as if he’s about to faint at any moment, but Austin is grinning as if he’s trying to act calm.
“Okay, I told you. How about it? Are you curious now?”
“…Well, I knew that his temper was unusual, but I never thought he would openly threaten the imperial family.”
“Threats? That’s a misunderstanding.”
Shiron waved his hand and hurriedly denied it.
“Since you have ‘asked’ me to tell you about your concerns, I am letting you know the concerns I have been harboring as Dori as a human being.”
“It sounded more like a wish than a worry.”
“I made it clear. It’s difficult to answer.”
Shiron chuckled and looked around. As expected, everyone just blushed. I couldn’t say anything to Shiron, who was trying to match the prince.
It has to be that way,
Even though Siron is a brat with no blood on his head, he is Hugo’s nephew. The Emperor loves Hugo Prien more than his own children and is fanatically obsessed with him.
It is widely known what Hugo does in the North. It is self-evident that entities that threaten the imperial power are subject to purge, but anyone who has been to the North even once…
‘This guy doesn’t know how scary Demon Lord is.’
Siron said, recalling the terrible demon beasts of the demon world.
“Or did you know that I would tell lies without realizing it?”
“I expected you to turn things around at least a little.”
“It’s so strange.”
Siron approached Austin… then turned and placed his hand on Viktor’s shoulder.
“You’re not even the crown prince, let alone the emperor, are you?”
“…Your father keeps delaying the appointment of crown prince.”
“For that reason, I don’t think there’s any reason for me to be careful about what I say to His Excellency Austin.”
Siron said so and put his arm around Viktor’s shoulder.
“If you think about it, Austin is better than Victor in no way.”
“Right.”
“You understand correctly, right? If you have nothing to say, we’ll just leave.”
“Yeah, I was in the way.”
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“Where did you say the balcony was?”
Siron walked away without answering Austin.
*
A separate room in the banquet hall, not a gloomy balcony. Siron sat down on the sofa and frowned.
“Why are you talking so loudly? I really want to beat you up.”
Siron took a swig of strong drink, muttering some unfinished curse words. It’s not like I’m acting exaggerated because I’m angry. Austin’s presence on Gensei was annoying enough, but now he was more concerned about the girl sitting next to him.
Siron turned his head to Lucia.
The reason I haven’t said anything since a while ago was because I felt a little ominous. Even now, my fist resting on the hem of my dress was shaking slightly, like a time bomb about to explode.
‘Would you have hit me if I hadn’t stepped forward?’
Imperial palace duel event.
In Reincarnated Swordsman, Shiron naturally got along with Austin. Just because Lucia is close to Victor.
In the end, the two come into conflict over everything, and which Prien is better at fighting? I find myself in the same situation countless times…
Siron Prien was beaten by Lucia, who had anger management disorder, regardless of the situation or space. Instead of being kicked out of the imperial palace, Lucia Prien gained Victor’s trust.
‘Is it because the past has been reversed? ‘You’re holding up well.’
After organizing his thoughts, Shiron patted the shoulder of the girl with anger management disorder.
“good job.”
“…what?”
“You held it in well.”
Siron let out a sigh full of alcohol.
“Not only did you stay silent earlier, but you didn’t rush in and beat Austin to death.”
“What do you think of me?”
Lucia, who was furious, tried to lightly punch Siron… but lowered her fist back. If he hit Shiron here, even as a joke, there was a clear possibility that he would be criticized as someone who uses his fists rather than his words.
“You are…”
Lucia lowered her head and continued speaking.
“You started a fight just to show off.”
“What do you mean by this again? When did I start an argument?”
“…You could have just ignored it. It hasn’t been a day or two that arrogant people act like they don’t care.”
“?”
what? Lucia uses common sense. Shiron felt a sense of discomfort and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, Lucia looked at the glass with faint eyes, as if lost in thought.
-The hero representing humanity is a barbarian? This could be a problem.
-savage. Can you read?
-My origins are very humble. Shouldn’t we at least adopt someone’s daughter to represent us?
Lucia knew very well how annoying the people who pounded the boats from behind were.
They were not even a fist away, let alone a single sword, but the violence of numbers always overwhelms the individual. It was no different 500 years ago, and her patience was always tested.
-Ignore it. Because they were afraid that their comfortable power would be threatened by a new hero.
…I was hit.
so,
Lucia did not take the first step. Regardless of Victor’s identity, I had long ago given up on understanding the inner thoughts of those in power.
‘Because it’s someone else’s business.’
“It doesn’t have anything to do with Viktor being a jerk to his older brother, does it?”
Lucia stared at the empty sofa. Victor, who was supposed to be sitting there, left them in a separate room, saying he would bring drinks and snacks.
Siron, who didn’t know what Lucia was thinking, grabbed both of her hands.
“That’s so sad. Is Viktor someone else?”
Perhaps because of my anxiety, I kept squirming so much that my specially made dress was becoming wrinkled.
“You’re a childhood friend I’ve been with since I was young. I don’t know if I don’t have the strength. How can I bear it when my friend is openly ignored in front of others?”
“still…”
“So you wouldn’t step forward even if I were in a situation like Viktor?”
“You are different.”
“What’s the difference between me and Viktor?”
Lucia’s appearance caught the eye of Siron, who was concerned that Lucia’s reaction was different from the original.
The girl who looked better in pants than a skirt came out with some nail polish on her hands that were calloused and torn from swinging a sword every day.
It was easy to see how much I was looking forward to this banquet.
“You… are my older brother.”
…First of all, is it your brother? The corners of Siron’s mouth rose slightly.
“When did you ever treat me like an older brother?”
“…but there isn’t any.”
“Look at me even now. I keep talking rudely, and whenever I get the chance, I try to get along with you by yelling at you. If others see you, they will think that Siriel is your younger sister, not you.”
“…Do you want to be treated like a big brother like that?”
Lucia looked up at Siron with a puzzled expression. The light eye makeup and rouge on the lips sparkle in the light.
“…Don’t blur the point. That’s not what’s important right now.”
“brother.”
“don’t do it.”
“Why oppa? You say you want to be treated like oppa. Then I’ll call you oppa from now on.”
“No, when did I say that? It’s creepy, so don’t do that.”
They were in the midst of such an argument.
Sigh-
They heard a disturbing sound and both their heads turned towards the door at the same time. Just then, Victor came in, pushing a cart full of drinks and snacks.
*
Lucia looked at the approaching Victor with a disapproving gaze. For the first time in a while, I took the opportunity to embarrass Siron. A saboteur came in.
“It came sooner than I expected.”
“Thanks to all the chaos, there was no one to talk to.”
Victor, reading the strange atmosphere in the separate room, smiled bitterly.
The air in the room was strangely hot and both of their faces were red. Victor, who was looking at Lucia’s tangled dress, turned his gaze to Siron.
“…I want to tell you something that I couldn’t tell you because of the interruption. Is that okay?”
“Don’t hesitate and talk quickly.”
Siron poured alcohol into the glass in front of Victor.
“That bastard. What on earth is it that you’re so blatantly ignoring in a public place like this? Seeing you makes my stomach turn.”
Words and actions that seem a bit extreme. However, Victor did not take issue with Siron’s actions. I was grateful to the point of tears that the person I could trust the most remained a reliable ally and was angry for me.
Victor looked at the full glass of wine and immediately poured it down the back of his throat.
His eyes were red, as if he was about to shed tears, and even just watching him, I could easily tell that he was in a lot of pain.
Viktor opened his mouth, holding back from choking.
“Brother…”
“for a moment.”
Siron raised his hand to stop Viktor. His face was a little red, perhaps because he was drunk, and thick veins were sticking out.
“Why why?”
How many times have we stopped talking today? My sad feelings overlapped and I felt like I was going to cry. However, Victor held back tears because he was afraid of his red face as if he was about to explode.
However, it is impossible to hide the tears in the corners of your eyes. Shiron saw that and sighed deeply.
“This bastard. You’ve turned into a complete idiot while I haven’t seen you. Brother? Are you my brother?”
Siron decided to leave Lucia’s work behind for now.
First of all, it’s Victor.
The person competing for the imperial power is this soft… I felt that my plan to make Victor the next emperor was faltering, so I sobered up.
“Because you bowed down and went into a place where that stupid guy wasn’t around. That guy became arrogant and crossed the line.”
“…”
“If you say ‘big brother’ one more time… I know you’ll get hit before Austin.”
‘Things are going strangely.’
Aside from Lucia, whose patience has increased.
An emperor who wouldn’t be surprised if he died tomorrow.
Victor is extremely weak.
Austin, who dared to point out Prien in public, was worthy of being questioned.
‘It’s okay for Lucia to be obedient. It would be troublesome if Viktor was like this.’
The emperor should be Victor, not Austin. This is because his goal is to subdue demon gods, not personal political strife.
Look at the sh*t Austin just said. They are already blinded by power and are trying to keep Viktor’s person, Siron, in check!
‘If Austin becomes emperor, he won’t be able to focus on subjugating the apostles.’
Siron quickly thought about what was the best thing he could do in the current situation.
After a while.
Siron took out a paper folded several times from his pocket and spread it out on the table. And I began writing down the details of the people who attended this banquet.
I feel like I want to crush Austin’s face and dethrone him right away, but since Victor has a weak political foundation and a weak temperament, there is no way he can properly receive the blind cake, so I let his temper die a little.
Instead, the plan to be made is extremely detailed.
People you can immediately make allies.
‘People who have a little bit of favor towards me.’
People other than that.
Hands move quickly.
The next emperor is Victor. How much effort had been put in since childhood to become close to the next emperor, so why would you let it go astray like this?
Originally, Austin’s health deteriorated and he died while competing for the imperial power with the second prince, Henry. If you’ve done something, you have to finish it. Siron could not stand to see the twisted situation caused by the 2nd prince’s ouster.
Eventually, a power structure as tangled as a spider’s web was completed. It was natural that Lucia’s eyes widened as she watched, and Victor, who reaffirmed what he already knew, could not keep his mouth shut.
‘When did all this happen…’
Viktor felt a shiver run down his spine.
I heard that Siron had been away from Lien for 5 years. However, considering that, the content of the paper was quite peripheral. All of the information that Victor had gained through attending social circles was written down.
Victor raised his head and saw Siron’s shadowy face.
No, it wasn’t a shady face. There was a sparkling chandelier behind my head, so it seemed like there was a halo.
“If you memorize this…”
“The story isn’t over yet.”
Shiron blurted out and stroked his hair.
“Check out the ones with scarlet letters.”
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“I checked.”
“They are traitors.”
“…?”
At Siron’s words, Victor looked again at the names written in scarlet letters. Traitors… So many people are traitors who are trying to sell out their country?
‘They’re all your brother’s people…’
“Know that.”
“?”
Siron spoke calmly and looked at Victor. It seemed foolish to keep my mouth shut.
“Except them, recruit them into your forces, or do it yourself.”
After making a plan, Siron counted the number of pieces of black glass.