Two Eggs (3)
“What should we do with these insolent fools?”
Bovbert Count replied to the Surpuk Duke's words from his side.
“You say that, but it seems you have no intention of punishing them.”
“Whether it's punishment or not depends on them.”
“Do you have something in mind?”
“We'll make the stage bigger. Since those two are getting all hot and bothered, let's give them a real show. Heh heh heh.”
The old Surpuk Duke's face looked just like a mischievous brat's.
Bovbert, knowing there was no stopping him at times like this, could only let out a small sigh.
“What do you plan to do?”
“Simple. We'll make it one of the entertainments at the grand assembly. I'll tell the incoming dragon knights and feudal lords to pick one of the two.”
“Which egg will hatch the better dragon, you mean?”
“Exactly. And if we get them to bet money on it, it'll be even more fun.”
“...If they lose, won't they become complete traitors?”
“Anyone stepping onto that stage has to be prepared for as much. But if they win, they'll get cheers.”
Bovbert Count realized his liege actually favored Owen.
The Surpuk Duke never let talented people he liked walk an easy path of flowers.
He'd roll them through dangerous trials this way and that, watching to see if they survived to the end.
Owen's case was no different.
Now, only extreme outcomes awaited him.
The Surpuk Duke looked pleased with his own decision.
“Whether it's Albert or Owen, the loser won't be able to show their face in the East anymore. They've blown the money bet by all sorts of Eastern power players on themselves.”
“Your Grace. Aren't you just ruining a boy who's growing up nicely for no reason?”
“Quiet. If he can't pass even this, do you think he can work under me? The kid said with his own mouth he wants to be the head of the Eastern dragon knights.”
“That's true, but...”
“You need to drop that habit of worrying all the time. Bovbert.”
“...Hmph.”
“Honestly, I don't know where Owen gets his confidence to win. That egg of his is so moldy, I'm not even sure it'll hatch. But one thing's for sure. In that short time, have you ever seen Logan Leire's son talk nonsense?”
“If he's Logan's child, no way.”
“Right. So let's have some expectations. See what that stubborn kid's prepared this time.”
Bovbert Count had no choice but to nod at the Surpuk Duke's words.
“Then I'll bet on Owen.”
“Hahaha! You. Are your ears that thin? Come on! This is a good chance to invite the Third Prince in the capital.”
“The Third Prince?”
“Yeah. I was wondering how to call him anyway, and this is a perfect excuse. He loves dragons, after all.”
Bovbert Count immediately understood the Surpuk Duke's intent.
“I'll prepare without a hitch.”
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The Imperial Capital Artaras.
The splendid city where the Emperor resided, the true heart of the Empire.
It bustled with people from all corners of the Empire, and even dark elf mercenaries—once classified as humanity's enemies—were a common sight.
Most had grown used to such scenes, but those who remembered the old days often sighed in secret.
Two nameless old men basking in the sun by a busy roadside were chatting about it.
“Dark elf mercenaries crossing streets where dragons used to march. The state of the country's a disgrace.”
“Shh, watch your mouth. The guards will hear.”
Unlike the past, the capital was now guarded by powerful gunpowder weapons.
There were countless large and small cannons, and dark elf mercenaries carried hand cannons—a primitive sort of gun.
They lacked triggers and had crude grips, making accuracy abysmal, but the dark elves had made sure their power was undeniable.
Those with insight knew they were weapons meant not for humans, but for dragons.
When facing a big target like a dragon, a bit of poor aim didn't matter.
“His Majesty the Emperor still seems haunted by Duke Owen Glendower's ghost. All the capital's defenses look geared toward stopping dragons, not humanity's enemies.”
“Who says otherwise... Sigh. Speaking of, the Third Prince is brave. Petitioning His Majesty to rebuild the dragon knight order.”
“And now he's completely fallen from favor... Such a shame. The sharpest of the princes.”
“Sigh...”
Like those two old men, many subjects in the capital hoped the Third Prince would ascend the throne.
They believed he was the one to stabilize the shaky Empire.
But he had long been pushed out of the succession race, and his pro-dragon stance left even his current position precarious.
Right now, he was getting an earful from the Emperor in the palace.
“Are you truly in your right mind?!”
The white-bearded Emperor straightened his hunched back with effort and bellowed.
The grand hall held the Crown Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince—the three princes—and he was pointing accusingly at the Third.
“Your Majesty.”
“Silence! A prince wants to go dragon-watching in the East? What have I just heard?!”
“I deeply apologize for causing you worry. But I've heard there's an amusing contest in the East. My curiosity has gotten the better of me—I can't bear it anymore. I beg your permission.”
“Ha! Such a child! Dragons are the imperial family's enemies!”
Ten years after Owen Glendower's death, the Emperor no longer hesitated to call dragons enemies of the imperial house.
Despite the countless dragon knights and dragons sacrificed for the Empire up to now.
The Third Prince naturally frowned, but the Crown Prince nearby quickly fawned.
“Your Majesty! Please preserve your precious health. Getting angry like this isn't good for you...”
The Crown Prince was infamous as a fool and far more incompetent than the rumors suggested.
To compensate, he offered the Emperor blind loyalty.
But lately, such behavior was losing effect, only tiring the Emperor.
“Quiet. You shut up too.”
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
He looked utterly devoid of the dignity befitting a crown prince.
In truth, such treatment stemmed from his incompetence and his mother's fallen status.
The Crown Prince's mother was the official Empress, but she had long lost the Emperor's favor.
Moreover, her relatives had been purged in the great cleansing, leaving her with no political base.
Without a solid maternal backing, the Crown Prince's position was weak.
In contrast, the Second Prince had the loudest voice in court.
“Your Majesty.”
As the Second Prince stepped forward, the Crown Prince openly showed his disgust.
“Speak.”
“Send the Northern Commander. He's busy with official duties, so a little fresh air might be nice, no?”
The Northern Commander was the Third Prince's title.
Originally a heavy responsibility commanding the entire northern army against the dark elves—a role traditionally held by imperial kin.
But after the Emperor made peace with the dark elves, it became a toothless position.
Even as a prince commanding the Northern Commander Army, he had nothing real to do.
The Second Prince was mocking his plight.
“What does that fool even do?!”
“A bit of travel as Northern Commander might broaden his horizons and help him grasp Father's true intentions.”
“Hmph...”
In truth, the Second Prince wasn't helping out of fondness.
The Crown Prince had recently felt threatened and was desperately trying to embrace the Third Prince.
'Perfect. I was wondering how to sabotage those two idiots cozying up. Glad the third one's leaving on his own.'
With the Second Prince's backing, the Emperor reluctantly permitted it.
“Hmph! I don't want to see your face. Do as you please!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Get out.”
With permission granted, the Third Prince moved quickly.
You never knew when the fickle Emperor might change his mind.
He packed the next day and headed east.
Rushing so hastily, he read reports on the Eastern situation inside his carriage.
“The orcs' great chieftain... Could mean a bloodbath in the East.”
A young, beautiful knight maiden attended the Third Prince, handing him another report.
“Officially, we're going to enjoy the Eastern festival and watch the bet, Your Highness. Here's a summary on the betting.”
“Thank you.”
Flipping through the report, the Third Prince soon learned of a 16-year-old boy's outrageous deeds.
“Well... A strange one popped up while I wasn't looking. Owen Leire...”
Suddenly, the Third Prince grew interested in this dragon knight named Owen.
“I should meet him once. Arrange it.”
At the Third Prince's order, the beautiful knight maiden bowed her head.
“Understood. I'll meet him first when we arrive in the East.”
Half a month later, the bet between Owen and Albert had ballooned far beyond expectations.
Originally, it was just a clash of two managers' pride.
At most, a contest between two dragon stables.
But the Surpuk Duke's words changed everything.
—Knights and lords coming to the grand assembly, place your bets on one of the two. It'll be fun.
It wasn't an order, of course.
But no one in the East could ignore the overlord's words.
Eastern power players arriving punctually for the assembly paid respects to the Surpuk Duke, then diligently visited the two stables.
To see the eggs before betting.
At first, everyone bet on Albert's egg.
Anyone could see Albert's looked superior.
But as time passed, some started making irrational choices purely out of pride.
“Sir Owen Leire!”
An Eastern lord called out to Owen, snorting heavily.
“Yes, I'm listening.”
“You must hatch that moldy egg no matter what!”
“Of course.”
This lord had come to Owen only because his archenemy bet on Albert.
But the moldy egg looked so pathetic that he'd been nagging Owen relentlessly.
“No need to worry. Who enters a bet expecting to lose?”
Owen replied stoutly, but the man didn't seem convinced and droned on with lectures before leaving.
“This is killing me.”
As Owen groaned, Conrad—the new administrative officer of the 5th Dragon Stable—offered him a drink.
“Honey water. Nothing beats it for fatigue.”
“Thank you, Officer.”
“His Grace really stirred up a storm.”
“Hahaha...”
Owen let out a hollow laugh.
He hadn't expected the Surpuk Duke to escalate it this far.
Owen was confident of victory, but the others in the 5th stable were wailing that they were doomed.
With bets from Eastern bigwigs, losing meant dangerous repercussions.
Only Conrad, trusting Owen, stayed relatively calm.
“It's 8 to 2 right now. Almost all on Albert. Looks like the safe bet.”
“Then what's that 20% on me? Officer.”
“Thrill-seekers. Or pride issues like that last guy.”
“Seems you're the only one who purely believes in me.”
“The egg just looks so pitiful.”
“Even Count Drun betting against me was a shock.”
The boisterous Count Drun, whom Owen had fought at the bandit knight's fortress.
One of the Surpuk Duke's four swords, this Eastern powerhouse had arrived in Bris days ago.
He compared both eggs, then unhesitatingly ditched Owen.
“Kuhahaha! Leire, looks like you ate something bad. I, Drun, hold you in high regard, but I can't throw gold in the dirt!”
True to his wild boar-like nature, even his refusal was hearty.
But soon, an unexpected visitor sought Owen.
“Greetings, Sir Leire.”
The man greeted with a calm voice, his status obvious at first glance.
He wore fine clothes, but his face was pale and sickly.
Yet his eyes gleamed with sharp intellect, giving a scholarly air.
“Who might you be?”
“I'm Loton, the illegitimate son of Count Drun's house.”
“Ah! No way?”
“Yes. I was the one captured at the bandit knight's fortress. You saved my life that day, but I couldn't thank you properly. My apologies.”
“No need. Seeing you healthy makes me glad. Did you come to Bris with the Count?”
“Yes. But today, I have separate business with you, Sir Leire.”
“With me?”
Loton nodded and gestured to his servants.
They grunted as they hauled over a large chest and set it down.
Thud!
It looked heavy even at a glance.
Opening it revealed stacks of gold coins.
“Heavens... How much is all this?”
“Three hundred gold coins.”
“Why so much gold?”
“I'll bet it all on you, Sir Leire. You must have a surefire plan to win.”
“Even so...”
“It's nothing compared to you saving my life. If you win the bet, I'll give you all the winnings from this stake as repayment.”
“I can't accept that!”
“It's just my way of repaying the life debt. Please don't refuse.”
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Owen quickly turned it over in his mind.
Considering the odds, three hundred gold coins would yield an enormous payout.
He was sure to make a fortune.
And unlike the public funds from selling the whip-tail dragon, this would be his personal wealth.
'I do need the money. This time it's a combat dragon I'm selling without regret, but if I ever can't buy a dragon egg I truly want due to lack of funds, I'd cry tears of blood.'
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