paranoianovel Book 3 Chapter - 10 Chapter 13. The light in the clouds.
Book 3 Chapter - 10 Chapter 13. The light in the clouds.
Silence lurked in the Chamber. No matter how scared I was, I couldn't go along with Julia. As if everyone was playing a timing game, they just waited for someone to open their mouth.
'I can't offer my soldiers like this...….’
It was inconceivable that they had no enlisted men. The soldiers were in charge of security and territorial defense. Someone who managed to reach there said to Yulia.
"Your Majesty, it is nonsense to abolish private soldiers."
"It doesn't make sense."
Julia looked at him fiercely. In the apparent anger of the emperor, the aristocrat was overcome with the urge to make sure his neck was attached. Recognizing that her throat was fine by breathing in, she barely opened her mouth.
"If we abolish the private army, what about the defense of the land? You know, even in peaceful times, bandits and bandits appear."
"Yes, Your Majesty! There was no time when there was no crime."
Julia smiled at them with a face that she expected.
"Do you remember Jim's own judgment last Thanksgiving?"
"Yes, I remember, Your Majesty."
I meant the violence that happened on Thanksgiving Day. They nodded, thinking Julia was rather supportive of their reasons.
"Do you remember how Jim handled it after that?"
"It is……."
Trying to say what she remembered, she shut up the next moment. Come to think of it, it was a violent incident caused by the Knights who lost their jobs.
Julia looked at the look and raised the corners of her mouth.
"Jim learned the truth about security in the capital during Thanksgiving. I also knew what kind of detriment was in the Knights of the Duke of Pez."
As Julia winked at Felix, he soon put a big screen in front of them. Some of the aristocrats who attended the accusation against Duke Pez trembled on the screen alone. It was because it felt like a sentence against them.
"After that, Jim ordered a temporary patrol."
When Julia winked at Eusto, he opened his mouth with me. The action was also a trauma to some nobles. It was as if Eusto had taken over the actions of Cyril when he was punishing Duke Fez.
"At that time, I sent out mercenaries and knights who lost their jobs and set up guards."
"Right."
"Of course, in the beginning, everyone was self-indulgent and showed the problems of the Knights of the nobility."
Julia nodded at the words. She's actually been to the guard training course without telling anyone.
It was obviously a mess at first. But Eusto and Felix's education worked effectively.
Felix, who was in charge of mental education, trained on the basis of when he treated Julia, and punished those who did not follow without mercy. Eusto overpowered them with his charisma and skills, and applied strict rules.
Thanks to this, they, who became guards, treated the residents like gentlemen to the point where they are not recognized now.
"As you can see, the frequency of crimes has decreased significantly since the security forces were in operation in the capital."
Eusto described what was on the screen in such short words. However, the visual material was so good and the words were clear that the aristocrats had no choice but to listen to it even if they didn't want to.
"That's how much of a problem we're experiencing with other knights right now."
Listening to Eusto, the nobles admired him. To be honest, for the aristocrats who run the Knights, sometimes they feel like Bobborough. This was because it was difficult to improve the negligence of work. There were many times when it was a waste of money to pay them even though they were forced to run the Knights.'It would be less of a waste of money if everyone worked just as much as much as me.’
Nevertheless, the Knights could not be dismantled because it was a situation that served as a force for the land. At the end of Eusto's explanation, Julia went on to talk to them as if to wrap it up.
"For the sake of the security you speak of, it would be better to have state control than to run your own Knights."
The nobles groaned inwardly at the words, finding words to refute. In the meantime, it was the Earl of a estate famous for its commercial city that opened his mouth.
"Your Majesty, we spend a lot of money on the Knights every month because of the frequent traffic."
"I know."
"I don't think even if it's managed by the state, if it's a fair evil, it's not going to reduce the size of articles for each estate to be maintained."
"That's what I'm thinking."
The count spoke to her with force at Julia's words.
"Doesn't it mean that the state pays their wages as well? Can you handle the huge cost problem?"
Julia laughed as if there was nothing wrong with the words.
"You think Jim spoke of the abolition of soldiers on a whim.”
"No way. But I think it's something you might miss."
"Yes, I think it's a good intention."
Julia said so and winked at Felix. Then, the screen came up big again, and the data on cost reduction was in front of me.
"Based on the reports from each estate, the average was based on the expenses spent on the Knights."
Some were surprised by the words. That was the case with some aristocrats who wrote down the operating expenses of the Knights to pay less taxes. Julia continued her story, turning a blind eye to such a thing.
"If you switch to the national operating system, your monthly tax rate will go up a bit."
"Then...!"
"Don't be hasty, Earl."
Julia then pointed to the next screen with her hand.
"However, you can actually save money by comparing the increase in taxes with what you've been spending.”
There have been calculated results that combine the cost of losing money due to neglect of duty and the increase in profits expected when crimes are reduced.
"Some of them think that even if they actually pay more taxes, the land's budget will remain unchanged or increase.
More than half of the aristocrats' facial expressions changed at that time. This was especially true of the lords of places where the Knights did not function properly despite the frequent appearance of bandits and bandits. They were short of knights and had to pay a nearby lord or hire mercenaries to beat the bandits.
No matter how you look at it, there was no room to dig in. Everyone looked at the other nobles for different opinions, but no one could open their mouth.
I think that's the end of the story.’
Julia slowly stood up from her seat.
"Other than that, I can only think of rebellion for Jim."
The words chilled the air in the conference room.
"But Jim doesn't mean to be self-righteous."
Julia turned away, saying so.
"I'll give you a month. If it doesn't make sense, you'll have to say no to it."
It was a heavy word. The emperor left the conference room without looking back. The remaining nobles just looked at each other with dumb faces."Early Polyum!"
One of the noblemen from Weddin caught the count leaving the conference room in a hurry.
"What's going on?"
"What's going on? Don't you think we should talk about what to do?"
Count Polyum sighed loudly at the words of the nobility.
I knew that emperor was out of the ordinary, but this was too big. He was meant to do anything for Brick. But I hesitated.
"…wait a minute.”
"Wait for me!"
"I'm going to see you and seek your opinion.”
The words darkened the countenance of the Weddin nobles. Brick, as you all know, was quite unwelcome to their steps.
"Will Your Highness ever open his mouth?"
"You have to open it up. He's a man of responsibility."
"How can I...….”
"I'm going to kneel in front of the palace until you meet me."
Count Polyum, saying so, jerked toward the palace where Brick. Looking at his heavy back, the Weddin nobles shouted late.
"Nice to meet you, Earl! Make sure you get the answer!”
Count Polyum raised his hand as if to believe in himself.
There was a look at them. It was none other than Yulia. There was no one who could notice her gaze because it was above the wall. Eusto asked her if she cared about the thin clothes, opening her cape carefully.
"Do you think we should put surveillance on it?"
"I'm not going to start a rebellion right now.”
"However...."
"Can't you see how hard Brick worked on this?"
Julia smiled, saying so. So I consulted Cyril and decided to reverse this edition. Detain him and punish him with excessive punishment, creating a more distinct cause. For the nobles, Cyril became an aristocrat but was a man of the emperor.
"I thought I'd cut off the limbs first and remind them of Julia as a tyrant.’
There, they checked the refutes and prepared the data. Logically, there had to be some validity in order for them to accept and have fewer holes to escape. Of course, the material was made by Cyril at the expense of his own sleep and many other things.
"If you go to the Wizard's Tower, you'll get some rest.’
Cyril finished the material by early this morning, talking in a nonchalant manner. Numerical data often had a great effect on keeping people quiet. Those who recognize, those who do not. Those who do not. Thanks to this, the nobles seemed properly cornered.
"Brick's been wearing a mask in his own way so far. Pretending to be a good man."
But it will now face limitations, too. On the surface, he acted as if he was keeping away from the Weddin aristocracy or the northwestern aristocracy. However, the reality is that they are forced to follow the next course of action.
"There will be no choice but to act in the future. 'Cause Jim gave him a tempting bait.'
It was also a bait that would be hard to catch again if we missed the present.
Eusto swallowed bitter emotions as he saw the confident Julia.
Julia turned her head slightly back and smiled innocently at his appearance.
"Don't worry too much, Eusto."
"I believe in you, Your Majesty."
"Your face doesn't look like that at all."
"I believe you."
Julia reached out and patted him on the back of his hand, responding stubbornly. He looked startled.
"Don't forget, Jim's promise."It was a short but sufficient word. Eusto somehow just nodded to Yulia, pressing down on her arid feelings.
The atmosphere of the main hall in Salon Oreha was gloomy. Yesterday, it seemed like a lie that it was noisy with gossip related to the emperor.
"…how can I really do this?"
One of the nobles spoke in a mixed tone.
"What can I do...…. I have no choice but to follow."
Everyone sighed deeply at the words. But someone shouted out in a fit of steam.
"Are you going to cut off your hands and feet and dedicate them to the Emperor?"
"If not, what are you going to do? Your Majesty said he would, and it is true that there is a justification."
Thinking like that made me hate Cyril even more. The Duke of Fez was the one who looked like it in the first place. Everyone thought they would fail one day, even though they were offering bribes to save their lives. He was incapable and greedy, so he expected to strike at any time.
But Cyril was not. From the time of the Duke of Fez, he's been acting up to himself, and he's been a jerk.
"Of all things, Count Venus, he did such a thing.
"Don't blame Count Venus. Honestly, is that all for one thing?"
Everyone nodded in agreement at the words of one of the nobles.
"What's the use of talking here now? If you had so much to say, you should have said it in front of your majesty."
Everyone remained silent on that remark. No one in the spacious conference room could resist strongly what Julia said.
The first reason was that if I said it wrong, I would have my neck cut in Yulia's hands for treason on the spot. The second reason was that everyone was stabbed.
It was true that the soldiers of each aristocrat were in charge of the security of the estate, although they were also military forces. No matter how many people overlooked such corruption against Young Jimin. Some people have tried to correct the situation, but honestly, it was a minority.
Moreover, now that I know much of what happened on Julia's trip to the South, I couldn't open my mouth on the spot.
"Last week, the Duke of Marcus' visit to the salon must have been a foresight now that I think of it."
"…I thought you were here to cheer us up because of the news going around."
They dropped a gloomy look on the teacups, recalling two days before the troop abolition meeting.
When rumors of an emperor's scandal broke out in the capital, most thought Yusto was the most likely candidate for empress.
His status, status, power, appearance, nothing fell, and he was even the emperor's most trusted servant. In addition, most of the four promising figures could be recognized and followed by the nobility. The fact that he was illegitimate in the name of Duke Marcus was insignificant.
In the first place, Cyril was from a small country, so he had little support and was not very likable. In addition, he did something that he should not have done, believing in the emperor's trust, and was not an accessible opponent.
Felix, the emperor's mad sheep, was not the type to be talked about by cajoling up to the name.
In the case of Count Brick Wade and Weddin, the shortcoming was that they had a very clear support base. The tendency to have high access barriers peculiar to the nobleman Wedin was also a reason to turn away from him.Therefore, most aristocrats tried to make yusto and kites somehow from the time of the scandal. Especially the less from Ranchea, the more so. For them, a sudden visit to Eusto's salon was a great opportunity.
From the time he entered Salon Oreha, the manager welcomed him with a welcoming face.
"It is an honor for the Duke to visit Salon Oreha."
"I'm here for a while. I've heard the name of this place."
"Is there anyone you're meeting?"
Eusto shook his head at the manager, who guided him with a gentle and professional smile.
"Then I'll show you to the main hall. The drink is... ..."
Her slightly high-pitched voice answered procedurally, and Eusto sat in the right seat in the main hall.
"If you need anything, you can always call in another waiter, Duke."
"Thank you."
She stepped down with a perfect smile of business at the words. Eusto had a cup of tea and picked up a newspaper stuck on the side. The aristocrats' favorite places were full of content that would raise his eyebrows.
"Duke Marcus?"
It was then that a group of nobles, who had been wary of Eusto's visit, approached the table where he sat.
"If you don't mind, can we hold the car together?"
Eusto expressed his permission only by nodding his head at the words. A nobleman from the south-east of the empire sat down with a small sigh of relief.
"I've been to Oreha a lot since I started socializing in the capital, and it's the first time I've seen him like this."
"It's my first visit, too."
Apparently, he spoke formally, but strangely overbearing.
"I suppose so. You're busy serving your majesty."
The aristocrat laughed, talking like a drama. Another aristocrat next to him stabbed him in the ribs with a fan and gave him a hint as if to hurry up and ask him what he was talking about.
"Maybe the Duke...….”
Eusto quietly listened to the newspaper's reading gaze. The aristocrat, who had opened his mouth, felt numb just by looking at him. Still, I didn't know when I would get another chance if I didn't ask now, so I calmed down my nervous heart and opened my mouth.
"Do you know any recent rumors about the capital? About those who are considered to marry you...….”
Eusto casually pointed to the newspaper at the words.
"It's written here, too."
"Well, you'really. What do you think, Duke?”
The aristocrat asked Yusto with the feeling that even if he was beaten, it would be better to be beaten quickly. Eusto frowned slightly. He was horrified by the sight, and another aristocrat beside him looked enchanted by the remarkable appearance. Think that a handsome man is handsome even when he frowns.
"The story is not for me to say."
Eusto spoke in his usual tone. But the cold feeling was threatening enough for the aristocrat who was dealing with him.
"I'm sorry, Duke!"
"Why do you apologize?"
'Huh? I asked you something useless, and you got angry.'
"It's not enough to get angry at. Now that the rumor has spread like this, I can't help but wonder."
Eusto folded down the newspaper saying so. Even the newspaper screen was removed and the aristocrat, facing Eusto head-on, only saliva.
Eusto Marcus was a young duke not too old. Furthermore, it was rather stiff, but treated him with engineering. But it was strangely scary. Eusto murmured recitedly as he looked away from his gaze.
"It's just a pity that I'm not your full strength."It was not a loud voice, but it was heard by the aristocrats who had other expectations. As I focused on that, I let go of what Eusto said.
"- There were a lot of irreverents on this Southern expedition, but my strength wasn't enough."
Everyone also understood it as a sign of further empowerment for Eusto himself, saying in a roundabout the new duke in the South. Originally, if there was another purpose, people had the talent to interpret anything accordingly.
"Yes, Duke!"
"What?"
It was time to pluck up courage for Eusto and approach other nobles. The manager who first guided Eusto approached him and the story was cut off. Hearing her whispering in her ear, Eusto rose from his seat.
"Suddenly, Your Majesty found me, so I'm going to go."
Eusto said he was sorry to break the ice and paid all the expenses spent by other aristocrats in the main hall. Of course, it also seemed to the eyes of the aristocracy to be Eusto's feeble devotion in advance.
The bitter aristocrats, thinking about last week, soon ordered alcohol instead of tea. They talked, filling each other's glasses with strong whiskey.
"How many times has Your Majesty stabbed us in the back so far? We were too naive."
"I never thought Duke Marcus would cheat."
"Didn't the king return his title quickly when he first declared that he would only give up his title as a single-winner?"
Everyone sighed deeply. I felt like I was stabbed in the back by Eusto. That day he lit the fire like that, and later he chatted more excitedly about Julia's scandal. As if to ask the Weddin aristocrats to hear, Brick even teased them by saying that he was a poor opponent.
All the nobles in the main hall were troubled. Everyone was talking as if they had no choice. Someone shouted, taking away the bottle of the aristocrat who was leaning whiskey.
"Are you sure you want to give your Majesty everything as it is?"
"The Earl of Polyum...….”
The aristocrat, who was robbed of his bottle by a sudden intrusion, looked at him and asked, as if he was dumbfounded.
"Then there's a way."
"At least if I had given you a great deal, we would have to ask for it."
One of the other nobles, with his chin resting on his chin, said Count Polyum as if it were funny.
"How are you going to make that request? Are you going to say we can't abolish the private army? Your Majesty will then ask you about the usefulness of the soldiers."
Julia had already pre-explained what they might be arguing about.
"Your Majesty wants me to explain why we need soldiers other than rebellion, can you explain Count Polyum?”
If the remaining nobles were united, there would be a way out if they were more militarily overwhelming than Yulia. The problem was that most of the Ranchean nobles were in favor of her idea, and the Empire's best armour was Julia and Eusto.
Asked by the nobles, Count Polyum said to them, kicking his tongue as if he knew one, and not the other.
"You shouldn't approach things like this with logic alone."
"What do you mean? Your Majesty will not blink unless there is a clear reason."
"Everyone thinks we can't do anything about the enlisted system anyway."
The aristocrats shed their eyes at him as if they were asking why he was so hesitant. Count Polyum said with a faint cough.
"I appeal to His Majesty for our misgivings.""I was wondering what you were going to say…….”
"Listen till the end!"
Count Polyum spoke, placing the bottle he was holding firmly on the table. Because the table shook, the cup fell to the floor and wet the carpet.
"Where do we intend to rebel? When the empire doesn't last long, you don't scare them!"
Many countries have been established and collapsed on the continent for a very long time. Among them, there was a country whose dynasty ended with only one monarch. There was no guarantee that the empire would not do that.
Of course it was only a name, but not a bad option for the emperor. An unmarried and solitary emperor was an anxiety factor in itself.
"Don't tell me, Earl...….”
"Let's ask your Majesty to marry you and produce your Imperial hands first!"
Once again, the nobles in the salon stirred at the words of Count Polyum.
"Do you mean to establish Her Majesty?"
"Yes, and Her Majesty must be worthy of protecting our interests!"
The nobles nodded as if they had a point. It's been around for a long time. The position of the monarch's companion was the seat of alliance, and it used to be used either to check the imperial authority or to strengthen the imperial authority.
The nobles realized that the position of empress was more negotiable, not the abolition of private soldiers.
"That way, it will be possible to delay or prevent the abolition of soldiers."
"It's possible to stop the delay, let alone delay it. That sounds like a very hopeful story.”
It was the sound from the mouth of Emperor Julia, not anyone else. Has she ever not done what she has said she will do so far.
Most of the aristocrats nodded with a face that was nonsense. But Count Polyum spoke to him with a look of ignorance.
"Have you forgotten how many weak monarchs have ever been in history at the request of a companion?"
"No, that's it, but...….”
The problem was the emperor Yulia. Even if history did, no one could guarantee that it would apply to the present emperor.
"I think you'll have to use some medicine to make yourself look like that...….”
He was an emperor who was always thorough except when he was dissolute because of Duke Pez's medicine.
As the nobles shook their heads, Count Polyum opened his mouth with confidence.
"I think it's a hope for us to show that even if we're drunk."
He laughed as he spilled all the rest of the bottle on the carpet.
"Just because you've shown yourself that way, doesn't mean you've always had that temperament."
"Well, even if you're high on drugs, it doesn't mean you weren't your majesty.….”
"Give me your strength. To protect us and to raise the Empress who will surely capture you!"
Count Polyum dropped the bottle he was holding. When his eyes were on the rolling bottle on the fluffy carpet, he shouted a wedge.
"It's only a matter of time before we become the same as that worthless disease!"
The words divided the atmosphere of the salon. One sympathized with Count Polyum, and one shook his head, calling it a preposterous optimism. But both numbers were even, much less so.
The eyes of the chosen ones gradually changed sharply and seemed to catch fire. As if to imply the future of the empire in the near future.….
A subtle melody flowed from a small phonograph. The thick rug that prevented the coldness of the stone floor was fluffy. The stone wall, which had been drilled, was tightly covered with windows, protecting the inside from the ever-changing outside air. Instead, one of the windows was equipped with magical tools such as a mesh, which also cared about the air circulation inside and outside.Next to the right-sized desk and chair were bookshelves that smelled of wood, which contained several books that showed the owner's taste. Beyond where the partition was spaced out in the office space, there was enough bed for one person to sleep comfortably, and beyond that, the bathroom was steadily attached.
In the center of the room was a neat sofa and a moderately sized tea table. Of course, there was also a kitchen space with a ventilation system so that the owner of the room could cook proper food.
Julia looked around the room and stuck her tongue out.
'Perfectly Detachable One Room…….’
Compared to the studio where he lived, it looked more than twice the size, and there was nothing to say about the facilities. Of course, the owner of the room nonchalantly greeted her by sitting on a desk chair.
"Thank you for coming to such a humble place."
"I don't think I should say that."
Of course, I knew Cyril was just saying it for nothing. But this squalid place, the only thing to death in the past, they feel somewhat sad, only to have only separate one room near the charter company.
"Of course, that wasn't easy either!"
Still, it was a relief for Yulia, who knew Lee Seok-sil's violent past. Thinking about other people's eyes, I could only find them a few days later today.
It was on April 2, 271, six days after Julia detained Cyril in the former Wizard's Tower.
"I was going to ask Jim if he could come here and stay with you.”
Julia sat on a fluffy sofa and clicked her tongue.
"I'm afraid I've lost something.”
"Did he send you so much work to do?"
Cyril said, handing over documents with a much more laid back hand than in the office.
"That's what you were supposed to do."
Julia proudly answered Cyril and looked around the room one more time. It was a completely different landscape from the one I found about half a year ago as soon as I became Julia.
At that time, it was a cold snap that penetrated to the bone and a life-spreading room that matched it matched. So I was very worried when I decided to send it here after discussing it.
Looking at Ulia, Cyril opened her mouth to praise Felix, who was in charge of the room.
"Your servant is such a faithful man."
"I didn't do it for you!”
Of course, it didn't sound very nice to Felix. The old sorcerer's tower was not as easy a place as she feared. There was no reason why the nobles could not protest Julia's decision and accepted it. In the ever-changing climate, a distorted forest was right next to it. Even the sorcerers who were working on it decided they couldn't touch it anymore, so they moved their locations.
It was Felix who made the place a place where people could live. He willingly changed the top floor of the tower to a comfortable place to live at Julia's request.
"How much mana and mana you've collected here…….”
"Thank you, Felix."
Julia once again thanked him for his trouble. In particular, Maseok is a place where wizards spend a long time to draw their own magic, and I heard that they used quite a lot of it because they didn't have much time.
The average wizard was told that making only one mana stone a month was beyond his power. Thanks to this, magic tools that use mana stone as a power source often cost more than the tool itself, so they cannot be used."I heard you used a third of the mana stones you collected. It means a lot to Felix."
Felix shook his head at Julia's words.
"It's all right, you can use it all for your sake! I can make it quickly.”
In fact, Felix used to create much better mana stones in a day on days when he didn't use much magic.
"Well, I guess you can say this was a low-cost project.”
"I don't want to waste what I wrote for you.”
Felix, who was so cute when he spoke to Yulia, quickly became icy.
"Leave it there."
Stopping Cyril gently teasing him, he stroked Felix's head as if it were OK. Then the eyes, which had become triangle-shaped, quickly became round and showed a cute face.
"I knew you were well enough and relaxed. That's all for your regards."
Julia beckoned Felix or Eusto, who were standing, as if to sit down.
"Shouldn't we start talking?"
"Yes, I was able to relax and look at the data because I had time to come here.
Cyril also moved to the sofa with documents in front of her desk. He unfolded the documents one by one in front of Yulia.
"This is one more summary of the suspicious cases."
Among them, information was compiled about Lord Tern, the pirata, and other things that appeared to be linked to the Duke of Fez in the south.
You're amazing.’
Julia was amazed at what she saw at a glance. He absorbed what she had told him a few times and developed it to suit his work here. Julia talked through the document with her eyes.
"I heard the pirata ran away about 15 days ago.”
"Yes."
The former Knight of Therne, Pirata, ran away without missing a gap deliberately shown by the convoy.
"Based on Felix's direction, the route is like this."
Cyril pointed to the gateway he passed and told him where he could usually go through these routes.
"The old E-Turn area... There it is."
To be exact, it was a quiet town on the outskirts of the old Eton area.
"In addition, the messenger that the Duke of Fez used to contact was bound to pass through this town.
Julia looked up at the words and looked at Eusto.
"I'll send you some of the guards."
"The story shouldn't leak out."
"Yes."
Cyril asked Yulia, as if she had risen to the story.
Come to think of it, Your Majesty, did you catch the rat?
"No."
Contrary to the answer, Yulia's expression was refreshing. She replied as if she didn't needn't worry.
"I've left it to someone who can do the best.”
"Then you won't have to worry.”
Cyril realized who Julia had given the job to just by saying it. It has finally moved Plena, the former top stock of Auris, which has not been used strangely until now.
Cyril almost blamed Julia a little when she found out that Flena was from Auris. It's always his job to search for information.
Of course, Yulia had her own reasons for having to do so. It may have come from the novel, but it wasn't in Julia's memory. It was only possible to think of it when I returned to the capital, thanks to the opportunity of Clarice Rubaigan during the Southern Expedition.
I asked you to leave it to me, so you'll do well.’
Julia rose from her seat after a short discussion with Cyril.
"Do you have a communication tool?""Of course."
That's what Cyril said and pulled out of his arms. It was faster than anything else. Julia left the room by operating a mobile device as if that was enough.
In turn Felix and Eusto stood up, following her. Cyril, who looked at Felix silently, opened his mouth to Eusto when he disappeared.
"Do you remember what I said last time, Duke Marcus?"
A dull word caught Eusto's ankle. An unforgettable word came to mind again. Eusto, who had put his hand on the mobile device, slowly turned around.
Cyril was looking at it in a sedentary manner as if nothing special. A sharp and hard gaze met like spreading in the air.
Until when will you be there, do you really think that could be your shield?’
That's what Cyril said before detention, when they happened to be alone for a while. From then on, the word often lingered in my head.
Julia's shield, for Eusto, was the direction of life. Eusto looked into Cyril's eyes to find out what was in his mind. But he was such a brazen man. He was looking as if he were talking about his business.
"It is not up to you to decide whether you can be your shield or not."
"Is that so?"
There was a subtle hint of disappointment in Cyril's words. He shifted his gaze and held his car in a relaxed manner and paused.
Even Eusto, who is not that impatient, seemed strangely impatient. He seemed to test himself, or provoke himself. It seemed to be a mixture of emotions that were different from what I usually do to Yulia.
It was not until a few seconds later that Cyril looked up, made eye contact, and managed to open her mouth.
"Your Majesty will have a hard time ahead of him."
"What do you mean?"
"Are you closing your eyes, or do you really think you can handle anything?"
Cyril said with a slight tongue flick.
"Or do you think this rumor, or that everything you're doing now, will simply be covered by his power?”
Eusto clenched his fist at the words. He still talked about the gist in a hurry. But it wasn't that I didn't know what I wanted to say. Among Julia's losses to the plan was her empress' seat.
It's not that I'm not worried.’
But didn't Julia order you not to worry. Of course, my mind has fluctuated ever since I heard the rumor. I wanted to talk to Yulia again and again, panicking. I'd rather let you handle it yourself. But I knew that wasn't what she wanted.
"I think Count Venus is trying to judge anything from his own standards. Me and Her Majesty--"
"I don't exactly want to hear about your relationship with the Duke."
Cyril cut off his horse, drawing a round finger over a teacup.
"I accept the Duke's integrity and loyalty. But."
Cyril came up to Eusto with a glass. His bangs, which came down calmly, gently moved every time he walked. Accordingly, it felt like a small amplitude was added to Eusto's mind.
"Are you sure you're satisfied with just following your king? Really?"
I could see the iris from Cyril's eyes over the glasses. Eusto realized at the moment. Ichae was mixed in his eyes, which were always cold and work-oriented.It was a color of emotion that he also had. He was much lighter and lighter, but shocking. It was a color that Cyril Benus would never touch. I've had it all along, so I've noticed just a little trace.
"…you can't do it yourself, are you going to do it on your behalf?"
Cyril snorted back to the question.
"You know what I want."
"I have no choice but to know."
But Cyril spoke clearly with a completely unperturbed face.
"No, the Duke won't know. If the Duke had guessed...….”
That's what Cyril said, looking beyond the window toward the Emperor's Palace. There was desperation, but it did not seem to be strong.
"Then I wouldn't have had to do this with the Duke's back."
"…Count Venus."
"What I hope for is further than the Duke thinks."
Eusto looked at him like he couldn't know more about the words.
"I'm being very honest right now. Your Majesty may have read the insides.”
Cyril said that and turned to Eusto again.
"You know, Your Majesty knows everything, but he turns a blind eye to it."
His words fell on Eusto's mind with a thud. He seemed to have forcibly hugged the fact that he had been trying to ignore it. She knows everything about herself, but she's just drawing a line with her military relationship.
Cyril guessed a rough change of mind just by Eusto's unchanging facial expression.
"Are you sure you're just going to save your seat?"
"I'm-"
"You think that if you don't want to, you won't."
Cyril also stole what Eusto had to say and replaced him.
For Eusto, it was not his own heart, but Julia's. If she wanted this condition, she was just gonna keep it.
Cyril's teacup shook slowly and roundly.
"Then why don't we find out exactly what you don't want?"
"Count Venus."
The next moment, Cyril stopped her hand. He spoke seriously, removing the relaxed attitude he had just seen.
"This work will not be as easy as His Majesty thinks. No, not in the future."
I realize that's what Cyril wants to say. This man doesn't exactly state his purpose until the end. Eusto turned around thinking so. But that was enough.
The Queen's Seat.
Even if she didn't have affection, or rather, it was a place where she had to be the one to support her the most. At least it's himself who fits the bill the best, and that's as confident as it can be confident. Eusto told Cyril, tampering with a mobile device.
"I don't know what the Earl wants."
Light shone on the mobile device with a short driving sound. Eusto turned his head and looked at him.
"I would never make a stumbling block by myself like this."
Lastly, the image of Eusto disappeared from the stone chamber.
Cyril sat on her back on the sofa and put down the cold tea cup.
"But I'm in a position similar to yours, even with your shorter service than anyone else.’
Eusto was the last word to be heard. Cyril turned to paper, leaving the car cold.
"Didn't I tell you that this would put me in trouble?"
"But I... No, Count!"
Brick drooped his eyebrows as he looked at Count Polyum kneeling in front of his residence. He had a look of embarrassment wherever he looked at him looked."Last time, I was told it would be just one time.
At Brick's words, Count Polyum reached out to Brick as if it were not a word.
"We don't have much time!"
"The Earl of Polyum...….”
"A lot of people have moved on from what I begged you to do last time, to get a positive answer."
Brick looked at Count Polyum with a look of astonishment at the words.
"How could you do such a thing..."What I said to the Count was to think of you, Your Majesty."
"This is also about your majesty! Your majesty is the only one in the imperial family. Don't you need a partner to rule the empire in the future?"
Brick just sighed at the words. Count Polyum said, kneeling closer to Brick.
"Just say yes, please. If I had your answer!"
Brick's brow was slightly frowned upon by his mistake. For a moment, Count Polyum felt his shoulders stiffened. He coughed up his title and spoke again.
"With the count's decision, all those who hesitate will turn around."
Count Polyum said so and said the number of nobles who had already expressed their consent.
"I'm not trying to oppose what you're trying to do. I just want a more stable empire."
“…….”
"Earl."
Count Polyum spoke eagerly towards Brick. He sighed deeply, still with a difficult face.
"I'm not feeling so well, you know. There are more days to preserve our seats than there are days to not."
"Don't worry about that. We'll take care of everything.”
But Brick still seemed to be troubled.
Count Polyum was impatient, and brought up something he had no choice but to listen to.
"At this rate, the stability of the Weddins, whom the Count had hoped so much, could be destroyed."
"How could you say such a scary thing...….”
Brick trembled with a pale complexion as if he could not imagine it from the bottom of his heart.
"You may believe in your majesty, but we are not. We grew up listening to a lot of battles and the end of the country."
Count Polyum clasped his hands with both hands as if desperate. I felt his hand, whose bones were bony due to a long illness, and I felt heartbroken. Brick was the only one to rely on, even though they thought they were too much. The rest of the candidates fell short compared to the trio next to Yulia.
"Who else would we trust besides you?"
"The Count..."
Your Highness, you must be Her Majesty.
Brick chewed his lips at the words. There was a sign of nervousness. Soon he sighed and nodded heavily.
"…I'm the one who created this situation, so how can I live alone?"
"Your Highness!"
"Just remember, Count Polyum. I don't know how far... I pray for peace between the Weddins and the people of Lanchea."
"I know, because that's what we all want!"
Count Polyum left his room with Brick's signature as if he had become one. As soon as the door closed, the servant in charge of him brought Brick a basin of lukewarm water. He washed his hands quietly, his expression so wretched until just now erased.
"This time it will be done as you wish."
"…you should."
Not even a friendly way of speaking to anyone. There was a sense of sophistication in that short word. The servant serving him even felt a chill at the sight.
'That's the spirit of a monarch.’
Brick raised his washed hand. Naturally, it was a gesture to wait for the servant. The servant did not feel bad at all. He carefully wiped the water off Brick's hand in case it hurt him. Whenever he was invited, he felt proud of himself as a servant.Brick's face was still pale, but his eyes were punishable by an arrogant desire for power. It was completely different from the way he always lowered himself in front of Yulia and showed humility as a virtue.
Brick's servant had served in the palace since five years ago. The surrounding comments about King Sijong were all praiseworthy. I've never been lazy on duty, I've never raised an eyebrow with arrogant behavior. The majority would say that he is loyal to the royal family of Ranchea and can be trusted.
But it was only a facade to the extent that it was. His real owner was Brick, not Julia.
When he first entered the Imperial Palace, he was in the midst of a war, so Duke Pez was in charge of internal affairs. In other words, it was easy for King Sijong to change his origin. Originally a nobleman from the Kingdom of Weddin, he quickly became a member of the surrounding small countries.
In addition, there were several other people who laundered their origins in that way. It was thanks to Julia's execution of the Duke of Fez, but it was not filtered out. It was not forged on the document, and there was no big problem with confirmation.
They were real beings, people who had left their homes early for many reasons. He even sent some aid to each family on behalf of the half-missed.
Thanks to you, the servant was able to be Brick's ear brilliantly. It was thanks to the confidence of the imperial palace servant that he was able to know and hear all the war situation while leaving the capital during the Duke of Fez. The servant took great pride in that fact.
When Brick nodded his dry hands, Sijong cleared the basin. The unpleasant sensation of being caught by Count Polyum seemed to have disappeared. The servant soon brought a letter to his front with him on a silver tray.
"I guess you got away with it again."
"Of course. There's no lie at all."
Brick was examined for correspondence. The reason why Julia has not been able to judge herself so far, was because there is no evidence.
In fact, it was a letter from an ordinary baron in the Weddin area. Brick opened the seal once to check the correspondence.
Starting with 'Have you been at peace?' was an ordinary letter of regards. But a subtle smile spread around his mouth, hardly believing that only simple greetings were written.
"…this one, he seems to like it."
"Is that so?"
"You really don't have to hesitate because I and he agreed."
Brick coughed a little, saying so. King Sijong brought warm water and medicine prescribed by Tae-ui before he could speak.
"Maybe it's because you've been talking to Count Polyum for a long time today."
"…yes."
Brick grabbed a glass of water on a tray. Even though there was not much water in it, his thin arms seemed to be too much. Brick alone kicked his tongue and swallowed the medicine. An unpleasant sense of volume passed along my neck. The weak body was sick and tired of even taking medicine.
'If we hang in there a little longer...….’
The expression, which had been disorganized for a while, disappeared as soon as he put down the cup.
"I'll ask Tae-ui to pay more attention to the medicine."
"…yes."
The weak body couldn't even swallow the medicine properly. Tae-ui said that stronger drugs could temporarily lead to healthier health, but they would shorten the number of lives."But I can't stay this weak.’
There was only one reason he or she decided to do this. Because it was an opportunity not to come again. A risky plan that is burdensome for the great emperor Yulia to try. If you hesitate now, no better chance will come again.
To do so, we must win the hearts of other nobles.’
No matter how much the support of the Weddin nobles, how can we push those who work today and tomorrow to the empress? Brick cleared his throat and asked the servant something else he cared about.
"What about Count Rubai?"
"Nothing's wrong."
Brick nodded as if he was lucky, but added:
"You have to be careful. If you want... you can use medicine."
The servant nodded at Brick's words. The servant had a very faithful and discreet look on his face.
"Doesn't the Emperor seem to have noticed?”
"It looks like everything's all right."
"…I'd be glad if that were the case."
Brick thought so and looked towards Julia. What he wished for his ex-fiancée, Clarice Rubai, was a tiny thing. It was intended to induce the emperor to punish her, but to create a minor crack by making evidence that it was a wrong decision.
But she grew things out of her own volition. With a stupid judgment that you'd be better for yourself. Worried about that, he wrote a warning in a letter to Yulia's side. I didn't know you'd hit the job before it was delivered.
"He's a fool who can't imagine being out of engagement.’
He thinks he's very smart.
Brick had no choice but to hurry. It's impossible that Emperor Julia doesn't doubt herself for her foolish behavior.
So far it has been almost the category of work Brick expected. It was conceivable that Julia would come up with something that would cause a great backlash from the nobles. Even the possibility of abolishing the military service system was vaguely in mind. But then beyond expectations, it will be a fierce battle.
Sijong asked Brick for one more comment.
"The villa servant's investigation seems to have been completed. What should I do, Your Highness?"
He was a good hand in this fire incident. Brick said with a gentle smile.
"Take care of it, so you can't open your mouth again."
Chaeng-!
A sharp metal sound sounded the smokearman. It was an ambitious time when all the drivers who would be trained went back. The soft armour under the moonlight continued to sound fast and colorful metal, which was hard to hear even during the day.
Clink-!
The metal sound, which became more rough, stopped as soon as one sword flew away. That was, in a way, the usual. The other thing was that he missed the sword this time, not because of Yulia, but because of his own volition.
Julia asked him with a rare, hard breath.
"Did you let him off the hook?"
"No."
He shook his head firmly and gently grabbed Julia's shoulder. It wasn't just his actions that were rare. Julia's posture, which is quite undisturbed, has collapsed. Eusto's abandonment of the sword was to support her briefly reeling body.
"…would you like to do a little more?"
"No."
"Are you very complicated?"
Julia laughed at the words. It wasn't something to hide, and it wasn't something to do. Because the capital has already made a fuss about it.
It has been about two weeks since the meeting, which mentioned the abolition of the military service. Two days ago, Julia faced aristocrats who opposed the abolition of the military service."Your Majesty, please let Her Majesty in!"
Count Polyum, the most leading group of nobles gathered in the audience room, cried desperately. Then the nobles who followed bent down and shouted along.
Julia sat obliquely on the roof and looked at them. The blue eyes felt more sore than usual, and the nobles felt as if they were pushing a title into the beast's mouth.
"The Empress..."
Julia asked, resting her chin on the armrest.
"I think Jim only talked to you about abolishing the military service."
I could feel that the emperor's judgment was uncomfortable just by his voice. But I couldn't step down from here. If he stepped down because he was scared, he would have no choice but to be dragged away by the emperor.
Count Polyum swallowed his breath and opened his mouth.
"I don't think the wise and great king knows our burden."
Julia looked at it as if to keep talking without changing her posture. I felt like I was staring at Count Polyum, even though I was just looking at him. He continued, ignoring the fluttering beat.
"I'm not saying this for treason. How many years has the war stopped on the continent?"
"Early Polyum, do you want to say that this empire is about to go under?"
Julia skipped her sin and hit the nail on the head of her argument to lay down preconditions. He shook his head in surprise at the low voice of the emperor.
"Well, it's not like that!"
"Or why would there be a war? Unless you intend to rebel."
Julia smiled brightly. It was a sun-like smile for a beautiful face.
Count Polyum felt his palms sweaty. I thought I had a good reason, but I didn't know the emperor would say that in reverse. But I had to keep saying. If even this reason was lost, there was really no means against the emperor.
"The great Master Julia Domina Berius, I hope you will look after us."
"What do you mean?"
"I believe in your strength, and that the Empire will remain strong for a long time to come."
"But what are you worried about?"
Julia had a face that she really didn't know. The Count of Polyum had a burning mouth. She comes out like that knowing what they're going to say.
"But it's disturbing that we don't have yellow hands. I hope you will rule us for a long time, and I believe you will!"
Count Polyum looked at Julia, saying so. There was no shaking in the eyes of the emperor. I realized it intuitively. That they're dancing on Julia's palm.
My mouth was numb. It was easy to shut up. It was also easy to succumb to her low pressure. But more than that, for Count Polyum, there was a greater presence of his estate and his poor and sad monarch Brick.
The boldness that could not be known from him was in place at that moment. He said every word, every word, to Yulia.
"Giving birth to the Imperial Son is…It is a duty that any monarch in history has to fulfill, Your Majesty!"
The count of Polyum literally knelt down and struck his head.
"If you order us to abolish the private army, do your duty and show the nobility the integrity of the royal family!"
Silence lay behind the cry of Count Polyum. In reality, the emperor said nothing. I was able to speak up in a moment when I was emboldened. However, the longer the quietness grew, the colder the chill seemed to creep along the body from below the ground. Even though the season was already spring.Count Polyum was on his knees and stiff with his head down. The eyes of the nobles in the back of the house and the eyes of the emperor who looked at him were all throbbing in the back of the head. He was at a loss and only counted the patterns on the carpet on the floor.
The world seemed to be spinning with anxiety. Now I realize that Brick was important, but not as much as my family and not as much as my life. The straw seemed to flutter on the floor.
"You are..."
About three minutes later, Julia finally opened her mouth. Count Polyum shuddered at the voice, but was rather relieved. Julia spoke, looking pitifully at him and the nobles.
"No, have you forgotten how old Jim is?"
"Yes……?"
"I'm only 23 years old this year. And you're already asking me to hand down Jim's successor!"
The anger was heavy.
At that moment, Count Polyum realized the weight of what he had put in his mouth. Of course, as a nobleman and emperor's servant, I could ask Yulia to give birth to the Imperial Son. However, I realise that this may be taken in a different way.
No, actually, I just pretended not to know. There have been countless cases of the emperor and his successors being static in history.
"We discussed the abolition of the military service in the hope of the happiness of the people of the Empire, but do you carry your burden with all your heart?"
"Oh, no, no! Your Majesty!"
"What's not it's not?"
"Well, well, I'm just nervous. What do you mean? How dare you say such a scary thing!"
The nobles, including Count Polyum, shook their heads vigorously and said to Yulia.
"If it isn't, how could you bring up irrelevant matters only for the sake of opposition?"
"Hey, what do you mean it's not related...…. It is a system that can only be implemented when the imperial family is firm.….”
"The duty of the imperial family, Jim, is not trying to deny it."
Julia slowly stood up from her seat.
"Can you swear in this place?"
"Yes……?"
In the cold gaze of Julia, the nobles answered foolishly.
"I'm not really asking you to go with the evil that has been going on for decades for the sake of the empire, not your interests.”
Her words left the nobles speechless. It's not hard to swear falsely, but strangely, my mouth didn't move.
"…everyone's up to something.”
Count Polyum and the nobles gently closed their eyes to the words. Now that the emperor came out like that, they thought their lives had already fled. Julia was not such an emperor who had mercy on cause.
"Go back and keep a low profile."
"…what?"
"Don't make me say it twice.”
But she made an unexpected choice. Julia left the reality with only that word. The nobles could only come to their senses after a long time.
Her choice shook the capital. The nobles interpreted her mercy to their liking. There were cases where he died while supporting the crown prince in history, but cases where he died while asking for the crown prince were cited.
The nobles thought she couldn't be tough on this. Even though Julia just said she'd keep a low profile.
Thanks to this, even though several nobles, including Count Polyum, were ordered to keep a low profile, the issue of the empress in the capital continued to grow in size. They used to discuss who would be the first empress of the empire in pursuit of each other's interests, not just the abolition of the private army system. It's been hard for me to keep my mouth shut because I've been pressed by Yulia.Of course Eusto was also aware of the rumour. Since the declaration of abolition of the military service system, she has often appeared in the military camp every night. Eusto wanted to be a force to Yulia, who endured it all alone.
But when asked if it was hard, Julia pretended to be fine. She even shook her posture unlike her today.
"There's nothing complicated about it."
"But your sword...….”
When she tried to say it was disorganized, Julia said with a trivial smile.
"It's just a passing headache. I'm trying to predict it, but I'm at a loss.”
Julia looked at Eusto as if it were nothing serious.
"There are times like this because Jim is a man. It was like that when you were a kid."
“…….”
Eusto was forced to nod his head at the words. Even then, she said it wasn't a big deal. Eusto was even stiffer because she herself had always taken things lightly upon her.
It was the first time she was threatened by a half-brother. She was a light escape from the threat of assassination, but suffered from a sense of betrayal. Trying to assassinate her was her youngest brother, whom she cared most about.
"Jim must have put you through so much trouble every night."
As he became serious, Julia tried to push down Yusto, who carefully grabbed his shoulder, as if she was okay. But he did not budge.
"Eusto?"
As Julia looked up in a curious face, his eyes had a more complex glow than usual. It wasn't that I didn't know what the look was holding, but Julia smiled casually and said.
"Stop letting me go."
“…….”
It was Yusto who would normally have let go of Julia's order immediately. But he didn't let go.
"Eusto, Jim and you have a schedule tomorrow morning, don't you?"
"…I."
Eusto barely opened his mouth at Julia's admonishing words.
"Is this really all I can do for you, Your Majesty?"
"I can't believe it's like this. This, too... ..."
But Julia shut up about the more serious appearance of Eusto than usual. He had really sore eyes.
"If Your Majesty wishes... After today, I'll shut up and pretend I didn't hear you."
"Eusto."
"But there is. What I can... do."
Julia once again pushed him away at the words. Eusto could not bear to hold on to the attempt and slowly let her go. Julia, facing him, had a consoling face.
"Right, there's a lot you can do for me. Not only this. You're the only one I can keep by Jim's side.”
She said so and then entrusted Eusto with her sword. As if he's the only one who can be so relieved.
Eusto accepted her sword with her mouth heavily closed. As usual, eyes did not fall from Julia's back to the bedroom.
"Your Majesty knows everything, but he turns a blind eye to it."
What Cyril said to him hummed in his head. I had no choice but to know. I couldn't help but notice. It's just a fact that I've been trying to ignore.
'Everyone... you all know.'
Eusto pulled the dagger out of his arms. The blue jeweled dagger was completely hidden in my hand, unlike the first time I received it from Yulia.
I wish she was such a small person. If he did, he could have embraced them all. Clenched the dagger."I wish I could take your word for it like a stupid aristocrat.’
She wanted to interpret the phrase that she was the only one who could stand by her side as she liked. But the sword that followed blocked the room for interpretation.
Julia drew the line. But despair did not dig in. There was one more thing I realized because I saw the fact that I was turning a blind eye. Julia would never really abandon herself. And the line she drew was not a line of rejection. It was just a hold line.
'What His Majesty really wants...….’
Eusto slowly stretched his hand holding the dagger. The blue jewel twinkled in the moonlight. He kissed the dagger instead, as I swore.
The next morning, Julia was busily preparing to leave the office.
Your Majesty, Count Weddin asks for an audience.
"Count Weddin, at this hour?"
At Julia's words, the maid nodded as if she was right. It was early weather for him, who was weak.
'What to do today...….’
Julia nodded after roughly calculating what to do in the morning.
"I'll leave half of it to Cyril.’
Julia told the maid, casually deciding what would make Cyril frown.
"Guide him to the drawing room."
"All right."
After the maid left, Felix, brushing Julia's hair, said with a sulky face.
"You're busy these days, so if it's not urgent, why don't you send it back?”
"It's okay, this much."
Felix drooped his eyebrows even though he knew Julia was going to leave the job to Cyril.
"Do you know how many hours of sleep you sleep a day these days? The prime minister's seat is also vacant, so he already has a lot of work to do. Count Weddin is also very inconsiderate."
"Even if you don't mind."
"Disappointed, Your Majesty."
Julia nodded knowingly at his words, too. Also, I understood his more sulky mind than usual.
He has been hurt by rumors in the capital city every day these days. It was four people who were first mentioned as her opponents. Cyril, Eusto, Brick and Felix.
But now it was only Eusto and Brick. Cyril, who is known to have fallen out of favor with Julia, though, Felix was for another reason. People used to say publicly that Felix was only Yulia's concubine at best.
Felix wouldn't mind if it was that much.….’
He wasn't so hurt by what he was cursed at or did. The problem was not only the concubine, but Felix's status was also being talked about openly.
"Favoring someone whose identity is not clear, I'm still on drugs."’
It was because Julia deliberately reminded them of their memories half a year ago by disposing of Cyril before discussing the abolition of the military service. In addition, she gave considerable clemency to the nobles who protested, including Count Polyum.
The aristocrats made a lighter mouth than they used to. It can't go in the ears of the Emperor anyway. However, there was no way that fast Felix could not have heard the story at various news in the capital.
Julia stood up after confirming that she had finished cleaning her hair.
"Felix."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He gave a happy smile as if he had never looked upset. Julia hesitated for a moment when she saw it, only stroking his cheek. Words of comfort seemed rather to hurt him.