Became the Emperor's grandson
Became the Emperor's grandson
Viscount Shed Wildler enlisted as soon as he became an adult. He enlisted the day he awakened his race and reached this position.
He enjoyed walking by the [Drevo] River in his military uniform even on hot summer days.
It was his own vanity. Wearing 7 Drevo Medals and 9 Leaf Medals on his chest. A veteran, a bulwark protecting the Empire.
Especially, he never got tired of seeing people surprised by his medals.
The time had come to trade 9 sky-blue Leaf Medals for 1 Drevo Medal. He had been hunting Azure Slugs for nearly 80 years. One every 10 years, 8 Drevo Medals were imminent.
'A soldier only needs to obey orders.' That was his catchphrase. Seeing people who got demoted or discharged for making a slip of the tongue after meddling in politics or imperial issues, Shed became even more convinced of his own philosophy.
'Iron Lumps' and 'Demons' were too much for Shed to handle, and he personally detested monsters with many legs. If he were demoted to such places, the only option would be discharge.
'DonkeyGalller or whoever? Morons.' The Viscount clicked his tongue. He had seen many who paid the price for running their mouths about the princesses there. As someone who had only hunted 'Azure Slugs' and never paid attention to anything else, he thought, 'What on earth are they thinking?'
He thought that if you take an interest, you'll want to add a word. If you don't know, there's no need to say anything unnecessary.
He lived by the phrase, 'My only interest is contributing to the Empire's peace by hunting Azure Slugs.'
Not joining political factions, not getting involved in gossip, and being sparing with his words. That was his own way of navigating life.
And as all beastkin do, he also looked down on the Soi Tribe.
However, dog beastkin had a cognitive dissonance due to their settings.
Dog beastkin resembled real-life dogs. They had an instinct to follow 'people,' to establish a hierarchy, and to offer loyalty to the 'person' above them.
The problem was the setting of this world.
The Soi Tribe, who corresponded to 'real people,' were a lower race.
The setting that Saklasi's friend added for fun was giving dog beastkin a cognitive dissonance that even they couldn't explain.
The Soi Tribe draws the eye, the Soi Tribe is below dog beastkin, the Soi Tribe must be controlled. The Soi Tribe must be kept under them. They didn't even dream that this was actually a twisted heart wanting to follow the Soi Tribe.
Normally, this would never happen in this world. The Soi Tribe appearing as beings far superior to dog beastkin was something that would never happen in this world.
But now, Shed Roiller didn't yet know that a Soi Tribe member worthy of a dog beastkin's loyalty had appeared before his eyes.
Katerina wanted to go out and greet Saklasi herself to surprise him after hearing Veronica's story. Katerina going out to greet someone to surprise them.
This was Katerina's way of 'being cute' to Saklasi again.
As soon as Shed saw Princess Katerina, he knelt on one knee. In this tense moment, if the Princess recognized the merit he had dedicated his life to today, it would be the greatest honor.
"You're late."
"I am not late at all! The humble Shed Wildler dares to greet Her Highness the Princess!"
'No way! The Princess is actually talking to me?!' Seeing Katerina suddenly speak to him, Shed couldn't help but think that. He desperately suppressed the corners of his mouth from rising in anticipation of having his merit recognized. It was fortunate he was bowing his head.
Because of that, he didn't know. That Katerina's gaze had been directed only at Saklasi from beginning to end.
"Who is this person? It seemed like you were in the middle of a conversation."
Naturally, this was said to Saklasi, but Shed's words, eager to show loyalty, came before Saklasi's.
"Yes! A Soi Tribe member seemed to be lost and wandering in the Imperial Palace, so I was giving him some help."
This statement by Shed Roiller meant 'I was teaching a clueless Soi Tribe member his place,' but this answer saved Shed's life. He didn't speak carelessly. He didn't show his personal feelings in public situations.
"Is that so? Saklasi?"
Thump!!!
The Viscount's heart sank.
Only then did the Viscount seem to understand why Saklasi had been so relaxed the whole time. Seeing that, he had thought, 'What a slippery guy! I can't let a guy like this slide!'
Honestly, even hearing it with his own ears, he couldn't believe the situation, but let's assume it's all true.
A Soi Tribe member wandering in front of the Imperial Palace? It was rare, but not unheard of. Soi Tribe members without abilities weren't allowed to leave Koopong, but once they manifested abilities, it wasn't forbidden for them to go outside.
But that Soi Tribe member is wandering in front of the Imperial Palace to receive a Dukedom? It was at the level of genuinely worrying and making a fuss about things like, 'What if a meteorite falls and the world ends?' or 'What if the Empire is destroyed by a volcanic eruption?'
Lastly, the Princess even knew the name of that Soi Tribe member and called him by it?
'I'm going crazy!'
There was no bolt from the blue like this.
"Yes, he says he wants to serve me by kowtowing."
"Is that so?"
The Viscount still couldn't raise his head. It seemed like Katerina's attendant was telling her something, and he was very curious about that story.
"If it's a Dukedom, it wouldn't be bad to have a few nobles under you. Do as you wish. Saklasi."
'So the Dukedom was real!!' The Viscount felt like his head was going to explode. That was when.
"Viscount-nim. I have returned."
It was the attendant he had sent to buy rags.
"Why did he bring clothes like that?"
In fact, Katerina understood the situation. She had been watching to see how Saklasi would handle it.
'Ughhh! Damn it!!' Cold sweat surged down Shed's back.
"Well. Why did you buy clothes like that? Viscount Shed-nim?"
"It, it is the primordial instinct of a dog beastkin! I want to wear rag clothes and roll in the mud! It is the mindset of wanting to pave the way for Your Excellency first!" The Viscount gave up on everything.
"Hmm~ It's a bit burdensome for me to ask for something like that, though..."
'Yes, please say you don't need it! I will never even speak to a Soi Tribe member again!'
"You are too humble. It is not good to refuse a noble's oath of loyalty. Please accept the oath of loyalty. Saklasi."
"Ah~ is that so? In that case, I will gratefully accept it." Saklasi had no intention of letting Shed Roiller go easily like this. Saklasi accepted the oath of loyalty, pretending to know nothing.
'When did I say I would swear an oath of loyalty!!!' Shed was going out of his mind.
If it came to this, it was the end. Swearing an oath of loyalty meant becoming one person's loyal knight.
Becoming someone's sworn knight. It meant that Shed Roiller would put that person before all his own priorities.
Shed's political circuits were spinning furiously. He was someone who wanted to become a Count someday by silently accumulating merit without getting involved in political strife.
If he said now that he didn't mean to swear an oath of loyalty, he might be demoted to the battlefield of those many-legged 'Pingri' bastards, not 'Azure Slugs.' He had to avoid going to see those disgusting bastards at all costs.
He felt he shouldn't ignore the subtle pressure Princess Katerina was exuding. Shed bowed his head even deeper and answered loudly. It was a voice that had been drawing the attention of people around the [Drevo] River until just a moment ago.
"It will be the honor of my life!!!"
There was no waiting time for Saklasi to greet the Emperor.
In the luxurious audience chamber, there were only five people: the Emperor, Katerina, two other red-haired elves, and Saklasi.
Ceremonial rituals and unnecessary extras were not needed. He was bestowed a sword. Thus, as of today, Saklasi became a Duke.
The person right in front of him now was the Emperor of the Empire. She was also a red-haired elf, but she looked the youngest among all the High Elves he had seen so far.
'This person is the mother of the princesses?' Originally, elves were born from World Tree eggs. Saklasi didn't know that the World Tree had burned down, causing her to hatch from the egg a little early, and that the Emperor had been living with her current appearance for over 2,000 years.
The Emperor said while attaching the Dukedom insignia to Saklasi's chest.
"Did you know? That you are my grandson."
"Yes?"
Saklasi forgot to be polite for a moment, wondering what on earth this was about.
"It seems you didn't know that all black-haired Soi Tribe members are of High Elf blood."
'Eh? Was there a setting like that?' It was a setting he hadn't heard from his friend.
"If you are a black-haired Soi Tribe member, you are definitely my grandson."
'Excuse me, but I'm just a Korean.'
Things were going strangely, but there was no other way to explain it. Whose child was she mistaking him for? It would be a big problem if he ran into the High Elf she thought was his parent.
He finally understood why Katerina had suddenly come to find him and take care of him. She had mistaken him for Imperial blood. What would happen if he revealed now that he was nobody?
A Korean who transmigrated into a friend's novel. He had no idea how to explain this.
"Do you know that the Imperial family is forbidden from marrying?"
"Yes, I am aware of that."
"Can you forgive the mother who regretted giving birth to you and eventually abandoned you?"
"There is nothing to forgive."
It was truly nothing to forgive.
"Yes, thank you. I will bury it in oblivion. The fact that she disobeyed me and gave birth to a child. Even who that mother is, and whether you know that mother or not."