Chapter 22 - A Big Reward Creates Loyalty Where There Was None
Chapter 22 - A Big Reward Creates Loyalty Where There Was None
As soon as I arrived in the capital, Athena, what greeted me wasn't cheers of victory, but the chilling killing intent of my father, Court Count Albert, filling the office.
This mastermind father of mine, what the hell is with him summoning me every time I come home?
However, since I could roughly imagine how much damage my actions had caused him, I went quietly to the office as soon as I got off the carriage.
Albert was so angry that he didn't even offer tea; he just made me sit on the office sofa, glared at me with eyes as cold as a snake's, and blurted out.
"How did you know?"
"...I'm not sure what you're talking about all of a sudden, Father."
I asked back, putting on the dumbest expression I could muster.
Albert looked like he was about to throw anything he could get his hands on.
His brow furrowed deeply.
"You did that knowing full well what you were doing, didn't you? That 'Skull' in the North. I'm asking how you knew about that plan and intercepted it!"
So this guy really was the mastermind.
Even though I knew the original story, there were many variables in the world.
I couldn't be sure until I saw it with my own eyes.
But since he admitted it so honestly, I think I can now act with the certainty that he's a bad guy.
I put on a thick skin, shrugged my shoulders, and replied.
"I was just doing my job as an aide to the inspection team. The barbarians were about to do something bad, so I stopped them, and the Young Lady was in danger, so I saved her. I don't know why doing what's natural for a loyal subject would provoke your anger, Father."
"Y-you!"
Albert slammed the table with a trembling hand.
His face was literally on the verge of exploding.
If he had eaten a lava fruit, he probably would have erupted right then and there.
"Fine, let's say that's that. Then what on earth is your scheme for getting engaged to the Northern Grand Duke's daughter without my permission? How dare the eldest son of the Noel family do that without consulting me!"
I had nothing to say to that.
For one thing, the Noel family was a well-known noble house, with my father, the Court Count, as the head.
But I was genuinely aggrieved by this.
"That wasn't up to me. Lady Nataliya likes me too much. I was in a difficult spot too, but they say Northern women don't let go of a man once they've set their sights on him."
"Are you telling me to believe that? You must mean to use the Grand Duke as your backing to have a go at me!"
Madness filled Albert's eyes.
He seemed convinced that I had brought in Northern military power to challenge his authority.
I waved my hands and replied politely.
"If that's how you feel, you've misunderstood. I have no such thoughts at all. I just want to live peacefully."
This was the truth.
I wanted peace and tranquility.
Chicken and peace!
Suddenly, I'm craving chicken... I'll have to ask them to make some secretly for dinner.
As I decided on chicken for my late-night snack, he shouted.
"Peace? Fine. If that's how you want to play it, I have a plan too. Get out of this mansion right now! Let's see if you're still spouting that peace nonsense after being kicked out penniless!"
Albert glared at me, basking in a sense of victory.
He probably thought that doing this would somehow create an opening for me to be vulnerable.
But I smiled brightly and bowed my head.
"That works out perfectly. I actually have a house granted to me by His Highness the Prince, and I was planning to tell you about it soon."
"What!?"
"And this mansion is too big and old, so I haven't felt any attachment to it. I'll be taking my servants with me. Thank you for raising me all this time, Father."
"Y-you little...!"
I left the office with a relaxed smile until the very end.
He was just a biological father with absolutely no paternal love or affection, so I felt very relieved.
I could hear the sound of Albert smashing his desk behind me, furious at the fact that he had been played, but my footsteps were as light as a feather.
A week later, I finished moving into the new mansion granted by the Prince with my servants.
Located in a high-end residential area of the capital, this house was a splendid mansion with a garden and a fountain.
The mansion granted by the Prince couldn't be described simply as an 'expensive house.'
Situated on the highest ground in the Versailles district, the symbol of power and wealth in the center of the capital, it was like a small fortress.
Passing through the main gate supported by massive marble pillars, a meticulously maintained garden unfolded.
In this garden, rare flowers collected from all over the empire bloomed in flowerbeds where the temperature was controlled by magic engineering all year round.
In the fountain in the center of the garden, clear streams of water sprayed by an angel statue shattered like jewels under the sunlight.
The exterior walls of the mansion were built of white granite, looking blindingly white and sturdy.
As I entered, a central hall that opened up to a height of three stories welcomed me.
The floor was covered with the highest quality red carpet airlifted from the South, and on the ceiling, a massive chandelier embedded with thousands of magic crystals emitted a soft light day and night.
It was truly an ultra-luxury mansion that you could only see in a fantasy world... Thinking that this mansion would be my home starting today, it felt like dopamine was surging in my brain like crazy.
"Oh my... to think this is your mansion, Young Master... I can't believe it."
"Oh my, oh my, look at this wall, it's all marble!"
Maid Anna and Butler Hickam, who had come with me and helped me, also began to look around the mansion with expressions of disbelief.
Roughly speaking, I heard that the value of this mansion was 7,200 gold, which is about 72 billion won in Korean currency, an ultra-luxury property.
I was moved as I looked at the scenery of the capital at sunset from the terrace on the second floor of the mansion.
"Ah... I'm really glad I was born. At this level, being a loyal subject is worth doing..."
I recalled memories of my past life.
Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun... the hellish times when I had to be satisfied with minimum wage while working like crazy...
Thinking back to that time, now felt like heaven.
Ah, I suffered a bit in the South and struggled a bit with the snowstorms in the North, but thinking that I got this mansion, it felt like everything was being rewarded.
It was to the point where I could feel loyalty toward the Prince, which hadn't existed before, welling up in my heart.
"Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to work a little harder..."
I thought while taking a bath in the mansion's bathroom.
If the empire stabilizes like this, and I officially marry Nataliya... working moderately, then retiring and living a leisurely noble life.
That kind of life seemed like it would be really good.
Hmm... yeah, let's try a little harder!
I received such a good house, so I should try harder, of course!
Thinking that, I burned with the desire to work.
The three-day dream-like special vacation passed.
The time when I walked barefoot on the marble floor of the 72 billion won mansion and shouted, "This is the taste of capitalism!" was short, and the time to go to work arrived again.
But it was different from usual.
If before I felt like a 'cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse,' now I felt like an 'assistant manager ready to work his fingers to the bone for a boss who gave him a huge raise.'
I entered the Imperial Palace with light steps and opened the door to the Prince's office.
"Leopold-nim, this Edric has returned from vacation."
Perhaps my voice was a tone higher than usual, as the Prince, who was reviewing documents, looked up and laughed heartily.
"Edric, did you like the mansion?"
"Yes! I could feel Leopold-nim's grace, so it was truly better than anything."
"Hahaha! Good, I'm glad you like it."
The Prince looked at me with a satisfied smile.
And that day's work began.
It was an enormous amount of work, as usual.
If it were last week, I would have grumbled to myself, thinking, 'When am I going to finish all this?', but today was different.
Because today's me is someone who received a 72 billion won house from the Imperial Family.
I did my best to help the Prince process the work.
Just as I was finishing the morning's work like a storm, the Prince called me with a serious expression while looking at a document.
"Edric, have you ever heard of St. Maryen Church in the South?"
"Yes, are you talking about that Imperial church in the Oracle territory?"
A large church was being built next to the Prince's territory.
The time it took to complete was a whopping 30 years, the Imperial Family had invested massive capital, and it was a place that was like a symbol of Imperial religion, with the Church also pouring its heart and soul into it.
In the original work, it appeared as a passing event where the dissolute Emperor said he didn't want to go, ruining the relationship with the Church, but now it was a place that was properly completed and scheduled to have a completion ceremony.
Since it was in the South, where the Prince's territory is, the Church also wanted the Prince to participate, and I had also been reported on it and was preparing in advance.
"I have received a report that the completion ceremony will be held in 3 weeks. Considering the travel distance, it seems we should depart in 2 weeks."
"There... is a problem with that."
"Yes? What problem is it?"
Since I hadn't been reported on anything, question marks appeared in my head.
The Prince said with a worried expression.
"His Majesty's health is not good, so he has urgently appointed me as a diplomatic envoy to the 'La Kingdom.' So, it seems I will have difficulty attending the completion ceremony."
"That... His Majesty..."
The Emperor's health began to deteriorate from this point on.
I remember this wasn't anyone's conspiracy, but just a matter of lifespan.
Is it fate that the Prince cannot go to the church?
As I thought that, the Prince said.
"So, I think you should attend the completion ceremony on my behalf."
"...Me?"
I was flustered by the Prince's words.
No, I didn't make that expression because I didn't want to work.
My desire to work was at MAX right now.
Even if I were told to go back to the North, I was confident I could go again.
This was purely because I was worried that I wasn't of the right rank.
"Leopold-nim, it wouldn't be appropriate for an aide like me to go as a proxy to an event where even a Cardinal is attending."
Yes, even a Cardinal is coming to this completion ceremony.
In that case, it would be appropriate for at least a Chancellor-level official or a member of the Imperial Family to go.
The Prince gave a meaningful smile at my worried words.
"Don't worry. That's why I've decided to attach one more member of the Imperial Family. You just need to handle the practical matters."
"If it's one of the Imperial Family...?"
I couldn't think of any Imperial Family member right away.
Just then, the heavy door of the office opened without warning.
"Oppa, did you call for me?"
A cold and sharp voice, yet filled with an arrogant grace. As soon as I heard that voice, I felt my heart drop.
When I turned my head, there stood Princess Camilla, wearing a gorgeous red dress.
Ah... my head is already starting to hurt.