Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Marquis Veil Mikhail
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"Huu...."
Stretching my stiff body, I leisurely stepped out of the bathroom.
"Parties really aren't for me."
I'd only had a few sips of alcohol, but with Lea constantly stroking my pants, things had gotten dangerously dizzy.
If I'd gotten any drunker, I might've slipped up, so I had no choice but to step out for some air.
Just as I'd calmed myself down and finally returned to the banquet hall—
'Why's the atmosphere like this...?'
Returning alone, every eye in the hall turned toward me.
On top of that, my father—whom I hadn't even noticed arrive—and my childhood friend Margo were there too.
The two of them, seeing me after so long, looked at me with deeply pitying eyes.
"Father...? What brings Margo here too?"
I approached them casually.
Then, a woman with sleek black hair gently slipped into my arms.
She buried her face in my chest and sobbed.
"Veil...."
"What's gotten into her all of a sudden? Did something scary happen?"
I stroked her familiar head with a forced smile.
Then, I turned to Hans.
"Father, if I'd known you were invited, I would've come to fetch you myself.... I'm sorry."
My adoptive father shook his head slowly at my words.
He seemed to have rushed here too, as he wasn't in party attire.
"No, I was summoned suddenly myself."
"Summoned...? Who at this late hour...."
As I asked, footsteps echoed from the direction of the distant stairs.
A heavy, ponderous vibration, as if the empire itself weighed on those shoulders.
"...."
The emperor, clad in white uniform, his white hair slicked back.
His eyes held a pathos he'd never shown anyone before.
"Veil Mikhail...."
The emperor looked at my face and made a meaningful expression, as if he'd unmistakably recalled someone.
It was a strange mix of joy, sorrow, and finally, regret.
He approached me before the eyes of everyone in the banquet hall.
Then, heedless of their stares, he grasped both my hands.
As if facing a benefactor.
"Your Majesty.... What brings you here? You don't look well."
I asked, holding his cold hands.
But the emperor didn't answer—instead, he confessed his true feelings.
"I failed to recognize a noble soul."
Noble soul.
I furrowed my brow at the words.
"Even when the empire's foundations were threatened, you were always there, yet I failed to see it...."
I'd helped him many times, but this was the first time I'd seen the emperor so confessional.
However, I soon realized why he was acting this way.
"Bertie Mikhail."
The name of the one existence that had troubled my heart slipped from his lips.
"Your father, Bertie Mikhail!!"
The emperor, having grasped all the circumstances, pinpointed that Sir Bertie was my father and shouted it out.
As if declaring it to everyone.
"I thought all his kin were dead. To have let his child suffer without properly confirming.... It's all my fault...!!"
Hans's sudden arrival at the party.
And nodding along with the emperor, as if they'd spoken.
Seeing that, I realized Hans knew about my birth father and had told the emperor my secret origin.
"I'm sorry, Veil. Your lord asked me to keep it a secret for life...."
My adoptive father gave a bitter smile.
He placed a hand on his chest and continued.
"But you seem strong enough now that you no longer need to hide, so I told the truth."
Hearing Hans's words, my lips parted.
Then, staring at the emperor as if muttering to myself.
"That means...."
"Yes, your father is none other than the Marquis Bertie, who lost his life because of me...."
The emperor covered his lips with a massive hand, as if ashamed of his own words.
"All of it happened due to my negligence. How can I ever repay this...."
The emperor showed weakness before me.
The man who once conquered all kingdoms and raised Leon to the greatest empire stood there with the sorrowful expression of an old man.
"Your Majesty...."
Seeing him like that, my own heart grew heavy.
Just like my father Bertie, who once advised the emperor when he was on the verge of ruin.
He must have felt this way seeing the shaken emperor.
"...."
I averted my gaze from him and looked around at the others.
The princesses and Senior Miya, their eyes worried at the emperor's unfamiliar sight.
Ekina and Camilla attending as knight captains, Allen and Batsu too.
Everyone in the empire watched this sad, pitiable scene in silence.
"Your Majesty."
I let out a quiet, shallow breath.
Then, I fixed him with serious eyes, just like Marquis Bertie's.
"Do you remember what my father said in your memories?"
"...?"
The old lion raised his head at my words.
Soon, he met the familiar gaze he'd longed for so much.
"That only Your Majesty could protect this empire."
I gently wrapped my hands around his.
His hands were rough from countless years gripping a sword hilt.
"I'm just the empire's greatest swordsman, but Your Majesty is the pillar of this nation who wields that sword directly."
At words similar to Bertie's advice, the emperor could say nothing more.
He simply listened to my counsel in silence.
"So please, show no more weakness like this."
I released the emperor's hands.
Then, placing a hand over my left breast, I made a polite plea.
"There's no need for you to apologize to me."
I understood Leonhardt's choices.
I understood his life and his pains.
"Though my father died in service to the country.... He would be happy in heaven."
That's why I could speak so humbly.
Our lives had been opposites, but our devotion to others was the same.
"Your Majesty protected this empire so his death was not in vain, and raised three beautiful daughters."
Beneath the radiant crystal chandelier.
My face fell into shadow.
Yet, in that shadow, my black eyes shone brightly.
Like the loyal vassal who once advised the emperor.
"You...."
Leonhardt's voice trembled at my sight.
Clutching his swelling chest, he forced out the words.
"You truly resemble your father...."
Leon’s emperor was a wise ruler who heeded his loyal retainer's counsel.
So at my words, he tried to compose his usual stern expression.
"Understood, Mikhail...."
The emperor covered his trembling lips with a massive hand.
Then, steadying his voice at last.
He regained the dignified gaze befitting the continent's ruler.
"But remember this one thing."
Leonhardt extended only one hand to me this time.
Then, he declared loudly to all.
"The moment I learned you are my benefactor's son, I vowed never to treat you lightly."
Never treat lightly.
It was a promise to regard me not as a mere subject, but as an old friend, an equal.
"...."
Understanding, I nodded.
And as he wished, I replied with a friendly smile.
"I am grateful for your words alone, Your Majesty."
Satisfied with my answer, the emperor turned his head.
Then, he commanded Moasian, whom he always sought in times of great import.
"Prime minister, bring my sword."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The old man fetched the long, unyielding blade hanging behind the throne.
Its hilt bore an ornate golden lion's head.
"In truth, this was meant for my friend Bertie."
Hector, ranked first among the empire's seven famed swords.
Famous for its deceptive thickness yet sturdy enough to parry any heavy weapon.
By tradition, it should have gone to the next emperor.
But the emperor intended to bestow it upon me.
"At last, it finds its master."
In response, I knelt.
Leonhardt bade me—nay, requested me—to rise.
"Rise, Mikhail. This is not something I give as lord to vassal."
As I stood, the emperor spoke as an equal once more.
"Veil Mikhail, without you, this empire could not have revived."
He praised me, attributing Bertie's merits to me as well.
Overwhelmed by the undeserved honor, I didn't know where to put myself.
"I could not have stood here whole, nor reconciled with Rosanna."
Rosanna, standing afar, gave a light wave.
She too acknowledged my contributions.
"This is not a reward I give you. Merely returning what you should have enjoyed long ago."
The emperor gripped the long sword with both hands.
Then, slowly bestowed it upon me.
"I hope henceforth to keep you by my side and repay your grace, Mikhail."
I stared intently at the emperor's sword before me.
Then, I recalled the moment I first met him.
First, for merely receiving lunchboxes from the princesses, I earned a thunderous bolt of fury.
Second, my merits recognized, I received a barony.
Third, acknowledged as the empire's greatest swordsman, granted treatment equal to a marquis.
And now, at last, this moment.
Learning of the father I never knew, reclaiming the title of 'marquis'.
"I accept your command."
As I took the sword, the grand banquet hall erupted in thunderous applause.
There was a splendid orchestra, countless fine instruments.
Yet, they were overshadowed as people celebrated my marquis investiture with genuine cheers.
Among them, the three princesses.
Lydia, Irina, Lea.
The three noble princesses watched with pleasure as I rose to nearly their equal.
However, their applause soon faded.
As if lost in some secret fantasy.
The banquet seemed to conclude with my ascension to marquis.
But the princesses were different.
As if it were only beginning, they each swallowed deeply.
Then, exchanging glances, they departed the hall by separate paths.
"Veil Mikhail turns out to be the eldest grandson of the border count of the Bern region at the Epina border!!"
The next day.
Victor the reporter's breaking news spread across the world.
People everywhere buzzed about the birth of a new marquis.
The ripple was so great that talk emerged of a new power rising in Leon.
The privileges of a marquis were truly immense.
The empire's priciest golden egg: Center Bridge.
A massive office with a view of the capital's river.
My assignment changed there.
Normally, like Marquis Bertie the border count, I'd govern a territory.
But I had zero interest in such hassles, so I declared I'd stick to being the empire's greatest swordsman and Water Police duties.
I converted all lands to gold and sent it to the mansion next to Lea's villa.
I never set foot in the riverside office.
It became a storage dump, filled with things like the brown bear statue Lydia gifted.
So where did I end up?
Of course....
"Keuhuhu...."
"Water Police Agency, Nostrum Office."
Responsible party: Marquis Veil Mikhail.
I hunkered down in the same shabby office as always.
"Senior Miya, check this out. What do you think?"
What I was doing there: admiring the new leather chair I'd splurged '5' gold on.
Plush enough that lying back made sleep come instantly—decent luxury material.
"Looks pricey, but.... Isn't it a bit too modest?"
Senior Miya, still with the Water Police, smirked.
"Modest? Back in the day, even swapping this one would've made my hands shake."
I kicked off my shoes and curled up on the massive chair.
She snickered, as if I looked like a lazy black fox.
"Well, it does suit you perfectly."
Senior rested her soft chin on my chair's headrest.
And we enjoyed the quiet hush of the office together.
"But from now on, your workload's gonna be totally different—?"
Miya hummed playfully, like a mischievous black cat.
"Nah, it'll be fine. Fine—. How much more could it pile up anyway—."
The empire's greatest swordsman's duties topped out at swordsmanship lectures and occasional palace patrols.
Without lands, the marquis title was honorary at best.
Maybe attending the occasional imperial council.
"No one's above me now anyway, so it's actually better."
I yawned hugely, half-closing my sly eyes.
But at that moment—
BAM!!
"Hiiik...!!"
A heavy thud slammed the desk, jolting me upright from the sofa.
My eyes bulged at Miya, rattling off my schedule like a secretary.
"Yeah, right. Just handle your duties as Greatest Swordsman."
"Imperial Knight Order Swordsmanship Lectures"
"Imperial Private Academy Dispatch Lectures"
"Verdant Knight Order Dispatch Lectures"
"Radiant Knight Order Dispatch Lectures"
"Eastern Knight Order Dispatch Lectures"
"Black Knight Order Reorganization Support"
And so on—countless state documents greeted me.
'No way, what is all this...? I'm not some freelance instructor!'
"General Valderian said I should handle your secretary duties too, so I brought them all myself."
Miya shrugged off her navy uniform jacket.
Revealing a form-fitting white shirt like the secretaries wore.
A skirt hugging her hips and thighs so tightly it looked restrictive.
For a split second, I nearly asked if her skirt was too short.
But her alluring eyes and beauty mark left me speechless.
"From now on, I'll be assisting you right by your side...."
Senior cleared her throat and told me.
Come to think of it, ever since the marquis title, everyone's eyes—including the princesses'—felt oddly intense....
"Ah, got it. I'll go through them first, so why don't you head out and rest, Senior?"
I told Miya I'd handle the documents alone.
She smirked and nodded.
"Sure, I have to go to Water Police HQ for the handover anyway."
Miya stretched her lithe waist.
Then stepped out of the office briefly.
"Whew.... Turns out it's not all upside...."
Smacking my lips, I stared dazedly at the mountain of documents.
I skimmed just the titles, pretending to read.
"Sigh.... Maybe I should just ditch it all and farm watermelons in Cornell...."
So thinking, I pressed my cheek to the desk.
Drowsily flipping documents, soon enough....
I drifted into a lazy nap.
I wanted to sleep like this forever, basking in endless sunlight.
Undisturbed by anyone.
But....
The office door flew open, as if scolding me for daring to relax after coming this far.
And in walked a blonde woman in white uniform.
"Sound asleep as expected, Mikhail."
Lea, the empire's Chief of Operations and First Imperial Princess.
Inheriting her decisive father and mother's traits, she'd come straight for the sleeping man.
"...."
Lea passed by him with hands behind her back, gazing out the window.
She peeked to check if anyone was outside....
Then drew the curtains shut.
The office dimmed, and her blue eyes gleamed fiercely like a dark lion's.
As if prey lay before her.
"No more excuses to lean on now, right?"