136 – cleanup
I of the 1st prince.
Led by Austin, it was a major incident that would later be recorded in history books, but despite its scale, it was resolved quickly.
After regaining consciousness, the emperor immediately began to sort out the situation. Did he want to quickly forget that his eldest son, Austin, had rebelled, not only because he was dabbling in bizarre magic?
Siron guessed that.
The emperor never summoned Shiron under the pretext of stability. Excluding those who reside in the main palace for treatment, there will probably be no one to meet in person.
Siron also understood the emperor’s unwelcoming attitude.
Funeral of the dead.
Purification work of the imperial palace.
And even the crown prince’s appointment ceremony, which had been postponed over and over again.
Apart from the fact that Austin is a bastard who tried to cause a treason,
Apart from the sense of loss of losing his son, the current emperor had a lot of work to do.
You will be so busy with work that you will not have time to control your emotions.
so,
Siron decided to return to the mansion. It is shameless to ask for hospitality in a place where there is a shortage of manpower, and there is no reason to stay in a separate palace.
Rattling-
Inside the shabby carriage, Siron watched the imperial palace getting smaller and smaller with thin eyes.
“……”
And then, the gaze shifted to Lucia, who was unable to make eye contact with the subject sitting across from her.
“Uh, uh… Siron?”
Lucia must have been unable to withstand the silent stares pouring in, so she opened her mouth first.
“I… I was wrong. So don’t just stare at me, at least talk to me.”
Lucia asked Siron carefully. I was looking out the window in silence a while ago, and then I was looking this way again… I thought he had something to say, but seeing him not say it made me feel uncomfortable.
“I’m just watching, so don’t worry about it.”
However, contrary to Lucia’s wishes, Siron did not ask anything. Since Lucia had lost her mind while looking at Jagannatha, I did not want to inquire further and end up fainting again.
Just waiting to see if things are okay.
“…”
However, contrary to Siron’s intentions, Lucia thought that Siron was making a silent protest.
Seira, who left for the mansion first because she had an appointment, said that Siron was worried about Lucia and could not rest properly despite the fatigue of the battle. It is natural to feel that one has caused great inconvenience.
‘Why did I… do that?’
Lucia lowered her head and broke into a cold sweat.
Even if I thought about it myself, I would have drawn my sword first and ran away, because I couldn’t understand why I was trembling and crouching like a fool.
‘Are you afraid that Siron will be killed by Jagannatha? Or are you afraid that I will be harmed?’
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I thought of many reasons, but none of them seemed acceptable. The most reasonable thing to say was that he was scared and panicked.
However, regardless of that, Lucia could not look at Siron properly.
Intense shame.
Although I didn’t say it out loud, I had a vivid memory of running out, confidently promising to protect the theory.
The moment I pondered the unanswerable question, Siron’s tightly closed mouth opened.
“Lucia.”
“Yes?”
Lucia looked at Siron in shock.
The bent back was straightened, and the writhing hands were on the knees! and went up.
“Answer my questions honestly.”
“W-what is it…”
“Why did you follow me?”
Siron stared at Lucia.
I didn’t ask why she fainted. This was because I already knew, and I was worried that Lucia would start a fight again.
But, I need to know why you followed me.
“……tailing?”
“You followed me secretly, from the annex to the imperial palace. You hid your presence so well that I was only able to notice you until much later.”
“that is…”
Lucia spoke shyly, scratching her increasingly itchy cheeks.
“You suddenly came into the annex covered in blood, right? And with Viktor on your shoulder. So I wondered what was going on. But I didn’t have a chance to say anything.”
“…”
“Siriel came in before me and just asked, and then you went upstairs and Viktor collapsed. I tried to ask you when you came back down later, but you ran out without even looking back…”
Lucia spewed out unorganized words in her head.
It’s because I couldn’t bear to say, “You showed up in a great way at a critical moment and followed me to protect you…”
‘…Should I just be honest?’
But the moment you say that, you will be ridiculed terribly. I wouldn’t have known if I had just watched the situation through a crack in the door. Lee Sang, trembling with tears in his eyes, passed out. I couldn’t even say that.
I’m in a moving carriage now, so I can’t run away anywhere.
“I did it because I was worried about you.”
Because she took the time, Lucia was able to give the best answer.
“I had a feeling that something was ominous. Since he was covered in blood, it was natural to think that he had returned from a battle, and since he was going out in that state again, it was also natural to think that he was going to fight again, right?”
“…”
“That’s why I followed you. In fact, it wasn’t even a follow-up. I did it because I was worried about you. I was trying to act as a sort of escort!”
Lucia, whose face was bright red, twitched the corner of her mouth and finished speaking. That’s because he said it well, considering he answered it while his head wasn’t working.
Siron quietly watched Lucia, who looked excited.
“Then, can I ask you outright next time?”
“…Hmm? Please? Where are you going to fight again?”
“No, that’s not true. They said they followed me because they were worried about me.”
“yes?”
“Then you won’t be worried every time I go somewhere to fight in the future. Just don’t make it complicated and call you whenever I need your help.”
“…Is that how it happens?”
Lucia tilted her head in confusion. Siron suddenly stretched out his body towards Lucia.
“No matter how much you think about it, isn’t that better? Why are you following me? In that case, it makes sense to just go with you.”
“…is it?”
Lucia looked at Siron with blank, open eyes.
“I see?”
Lucia had a bad feeling, but couldn’t think of anything to retort, so she accepted Siron’s proposal without much hesitation.
*
Two days after that.
Siron knocked on Hugo’s office door.
“Shiron, what’s going on here?”
Hugo, wearing glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, greeted Siron with a bright face. Although the emperor wanted to keep the events that occurred in the imperial palace a complete secret, Hugo was able to hear, at least roughly, Siron’s activities.
“Are you feeling okay?”
I don’t punish you because I think you did something reckless. The poet I heard through Devialet was truly a descendant of a warrior who lived up to Hugo’s ideals.
“It’s okay. I tried to come see you as soon as I got back, but I’m just sorry. More than that…”
Siron glanced at Hugo, who looked a little burdened. It was because the customer who came first kept attracting his attention.
“It’s been a while since I saw you.”
Cardinal Devialet. When he saw Siron enter the office, he suddenly stood up and greeted Siron.
“What are you doing here, Cardinal? Aren’t you busy with post-mortem matters?”
“Because seeing Sir Hugo here is also included in my work. The autumn expedition is soon approaching.”
Devialet smiled kindly and looked at Hugo and Chiron alternately.
‘I can’t believe there is such a fate.’
During my last expedition, I talked to Johan about a successor, and seeing the two of them together like this made the picture really good.
The successor to Hugo, who had shown prowess never seen before in the history of the empire, could never be anyone.
In such a situation, Devialet witnessed Siron’s skills being enough to fill Hugo’s vacancy, so he couldn’t help but feel reassured.
After seeing Hugo and Chiron sitting on the sofa, Devialet opened his mouth to continue speaking.
“…I heard that Master Siron has already discussed that he will be joining us on the next expedition. In that case, I think he is qualified to discuss the next expedition here. How do you think, Sir Hugo?”
“of course.”
Hugo nodded in agreement. Regardless of the turmoil that occurred in the imperial palace, we must prepare for the upcoming expedition. The demonic beasts that come across the mountain range do not take this situation into consideration.
However, Siron did not come here to say something that was in line with their wishes.
“I have something to tell you about that expedition.”
Siron continued speaking as if making a declaration to the two middle-aged people facing him.
“Don’t go on an expedition.”
“…What do you mean?”
Hugo asked, his eyes wide.
“Didn’t you say last time that you would personally accompany me on the next expedition? Have you changed your mind?”
“Yes. It has changed.”
Siron answered coolly and without hesitation.
“Uncle, did you hear the news that a treason occurred in the imperial palace not long ago?”
“I heard that, but what does that have to do with the expedition?”
“It is a big problem that my uncle handles most of the subjugation by himself.”
Siron opened his eyes wide and looked at Hugo.
“Isn’t the fact that a treason taking place means that there is no problem even if there is temporary chaos in the country?”
“hmm…?”
“It’s the same with the princes calmly waging a political war to kill each other. When there is an external threat, we should unite more internally! Because the external threat does not seem like a threat. Isn’t that why you are doing such nonsense?”
What does that mean? Not only Hugo, but even Devialet could not understand Siron’s words.
“I have heard since ancient times that internal chaos can be resolved by blaming the external enemy. Isn’t it strange that every expedition is resolved without much damage in the first place? Once the demonic beasts invade their front yard, they can stop such unproductive nonsense. “You’re not going to do it, are you?”
After speaking once, Siron took a deep breath.
“I think we need to realize the vacancy of our uncle.”
The same goes for the story that good talent is not coming to Changcheon these days. In the first place, if you had the right mind, you shouldn’t have done something like keeping Hugo in check.
“For a long time, I thought that my uncle was having a hard time alone. That’s right. Now, why don’t you go on a vacation with your uncle?”
“…”
“I think so too.”
Devialet also decided to support Siron’s argument.
At first, it was hard to agree, but my thoughts changed when I saw Hugo wearing glasses.
Hugo needed a break. Didn’t Devialet himself say that until the last expedition?
“Lord, don’t you know that your skills aren’t what they used to be? You need to whip the galloping horse a lot. If you keep whipping it, your legs will break.”
“Even the cardinal…”
“I recommend rest not only for political purposes, but also considering your well-being.”
Hugo didn’t answer and just gaped.
After seeing this, Devialet decided to use this time to say what he had been wanting to say.
“Now that I think about it, isn’t Sir John at an age where he should soon be retiring? I’m going to reorganize slowly. Let’s let Sir John rest in peace as well. Not only will it be a check on other warrior families, but no one will want to come to the knights who work until they die of old age.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s do it together.”
Hugo was embarrassed by the outpouring of words and waved his hands.
Seeing that, Siron massaged the back of his neck.
‘…did you pass it well?’
I wanted to say that I had to go to the Holy Land to save Latera, not an expedition, but I couldn’t, so I did it.
Thanks to unexpected reinforcements, persuasion became easier.