< Chapter 58 - Invitation from the Duke >
Chapter 58 – The Duke’s Invitation
It is said that when two or more people gather, a power relationship is formed, and when three or more people gather, politics begins.
There were numerous nobles in the capital, and a naturally complex political structure was formed.
‘Why do people gather in groups?’
There may be many reasons, but the biggest reason is probably survival.
By grouping together, we strengthen the group’s power, thereby warding off danger and gaining what we need.
‘The political arena of the royal road.’
Several groups formed there.
Even within a single group, there were multiple factions formed, and if you counted the number of groups individually, it would be in the dozens, but broadly speaking, they could be divided into two groups.
Royalists and aristocrats.
The former was a group of nobles centered around the royal family, while the latter was a group centered around a coalition of great nobles that had enough power to check royal authority.
Because both sides were groups made up of nobles from the Kingdom of Seilun, their compositions were quite different.
‘A royalist faction consisting of relatively new nobles and an aristocratic faction consisting of nobles with a long history and tradition.’
It was not a structure created because the new nobles had high loyalty to the royal family.
There was a more realistic reason behind it.
‘Because I need a hill to climb.’
For the ‘old aristocrats’ who already had vested rights, the ‘new aristocrats’ could not help but be a thorn in their side.
They are opponents who must share their wealth and power.
Because of this, the new nobles had no choice but to be ostracized by the existing aristocratic society, and the means they chose to survive was loyalty to the royal family.
The new nobles depend on the royal family, and the royal family absorbs the new nobles to build up its power to counter the noble faction made up of the old nobles.
‘It sounds like a dream without any romance, but this is reality.’
Of course, there are some who truly have deep loyalty to the royal family.
‘It’s not bad anyway.’
The struggle for power between royalists and aristocrats was certainly unproductive, but it was also productive.
‘Because absolute power corrupts absolutely.’
If one faction were to drive out the rest and monopolize power, the promised corruption would begin from that moment.
Therefore, even if there were instances where they wasted energy needlessly trying to keep each other in check, confrontation was absolutely necessary.
‘Anyway, royalists and aristocrats.’
Where there is a crowd, there is bound to be a leader.
Both the natural royalists and the aristocrats each had their own leaders leading their respective factions.
‘The royalists are the defenders of the country.’
Duke of Antarius.
Starting out as a commoner and rising to the position of Duke, he was the dream and hope of the new nobles, and was a relatively easy chess piece for the royal family to handle.
‘But then I got hit in the head.’
The person who pushed forward the plan to annihilate the royal family was none other than the Duke of Hoguk.
For the royal family, it was like being stabbed in the foot by an axe they trusted.
‘In any case, the one currently leading the royalists is the Duke of Hoguk.’
Therefore, in order to keep him in check, it was necessary to borrow the power of the aristocrats, not the royalists.
‘I’m talking about the power of the hawks, not the doves.’
As it was a coalition of great nobles, the noble faction was organized in the form of a polyarchy with several heads, and broadly speaking, this side could also be divided into moderate doves and radical hawks.
‘The Duke of Spencer leads the doves. The Duke of Valois leads the hawks.’
The doves of the Duke of Spencer, who had a close relationship with the royal family through marriage, were virtually neutral, so in order to actively attack the Duke of York, they had to borrow the power of the hawks.
“It’s complicated. It’s complicated!”
“Just go to the Duke of Valois’ house and give him this.”
“Then why didn’t you just say that? Why are you bothering me with such a complicated explanation?”
“Sob, sob. Daddy, I hope our princess doesn’t give up on what she thinks.”
“You usually think a lot, like what’s for dinner tonight or how to make a prettier explosion, etc.”
“What a beast woman······. How about growling for the first time in a while?”
“Wah! Wah!”
Cordelia, who had bitten Uther’s hand while making a really dog-like sound, dressed up as the phantom thief Pink Bomb and bit him again.
“Anyway, you’re saying I should just leave this at the Duke of Valois’ house?”
“Oh, along with this meaningful letter.”
Yuder, who spoke with a smile, inserted a letter with Pink Bomb’s signature into the secret ledger he found at Count Makan’s house.
“If you bring it to me, I will beat up the forces of the Guardian King on my own.”
“Hmm… I guess the medicine goes to the pharmacist.”
“We should leave the work to the experts.”
Even if there was a secret ledger, it would have been impossible for Uder and Cordelia to directly expose the corruption of the Guardian King.
However, it was a different story for the nobles who were always on the lookout for royalists to find a way out.
It was clear that he would get excited and go around poking around here and there.
“Okay. So I just need to scatter these treasures in the designated places?”
“Oh, because this is evidence that the royalists are corrupt.”
If these were simple treasures, you might think, “Isn’t it a crime to just work hard to save up money?” But the problem was that these treasures were all stolen goods.
“Most of those are royal items.”
“From the royal family’s perspective, it would seem like they’ve raised a bunch of thieves?”
“I guess so. Maybe I should do some squats?”
When Uther smiled slightly evilly, Cordelia instantly brightened and nodded.
“Hmm, yes, that’s right. That’s a really good saying.”
“Oh, you know?”
“Huh, of course I know. How could I not know this?”
When Cordelia spoke with a smile, Uther clapped his hands in admiration.
“Do you like Romance of the Three Kingdoms?”
“Oh, I like Zhuge Liang.”
I like smart guys.
Cordelia swallowed her words without knowing why, and stood up, dusting herself off.
“Anyway, let’s go now.”
“Yes, let’s wish the noble faction good luck.”
And the next afternoon.
The noble faction began to move secretly but quickly, and Yuder counted the numbers while reading the extra edition containing Cordelia’s exploits.
‘I think everything will work out somehow before the National Foundation Day.’
Hoping that the royalist faction of the Duke of Gukjo would collapse with just one secret ledger was the epitome of a thief.
What can be expected is a blow to the extent of the dismissal of several staff members, including Count Makan, and the closure of several Black Moon businesses.
It was a bit subtle, but it was actually enough.
That is, to disrupt the perfect plan of the Guardian King.
‘Of course, we plan to continue taking follow-up measures.’
“Another evil thought.”
At the nagging heard from the side, Yuder smiled and turned his gaze.
In front of the South Gate.
A few days ago, Adelia welcomed Uther and Cordelia at the same place, but this time, Uther and Cordelia were waiting.
Of course, Adelia was in a position to wait, then and now.
“No, no. The temperature difference is huge.”
“I know.”
Unlike Uther and Cordelia, who were sitting on the bench and waiting quietly, Adelia had been loitering around the south gate, fidgeting for some time.
“If you keep doing that, your neck will fall off.”
The sight of him leaning forward and standing on tiptoe, trying to see as far as possible.
The reason why Adelia was so anxious was simple.
“Coming!”
The carriage of Count Bayer and Count Chase.
To be exact, it is Adelia’s love that is riding inside it!
Adelia, who was very excited, was about to run towards the carriage at any moment, but she suddenly clenched her fists and held herself back again and again.
Because no matter how much I liked her, I couldn’t be a frivolous woman running towards a carriage.
Especially in front of Gail.
“Okay, okay. I can stand it. I can stand it, Adelia. Yeah, yeah, I can do it.”
“Sister, don’t do that. Try memorizing the prime numbers. It’ll work.”
Cordelia gave her advice from the side, but Adelia didn’t seem to hear her at all and just kept breathing deeply while pressing her chest.
And a few minutes.
After what felt like an eternity to Adelia, the carriage of Count Bayer and Count Chase finally arrived at the South Gate.
&
“Your Highness the Gale.”
“Miss Adelia.”
“Your Highness the Gale.”
“Miss Adelia.”
“Prince Gale!”
“Miss Adelia!”
Adelia’s mansion garden.
Before moving to the royal residence, they stopped by to rest for a while, where Gail and Adelia faced each other, exchanged voices and glances. Without saying who would go first, they hugged and kissed each other, and the faces of those watching showed a variety of expressions.
“It looks good.”
“That’s right.”
Maia and Count Bayer smiling happily.
“I never dreamed that Miss Adelia would end up like that.”
“Me too, me too.”
Dahlia and Cordelia are happy but also embarrassed.
‘It would be good to remember that this is a public place.’
Why are couples so desperate that they can’t get married in public?
Yuder clicks his tongue and shakes his head.
“It’s the end of the world, it’s definitely the end of the world.”
Edward, the eldest son and successor of the Chase Counts, doubts his own eyes and seems somehow forgotten by everyone.
“hmm.”
And Count Chase, with a blank expression on his face, with only the corners of his lips slightly raised.
‘Well, it seems like they don’t even care.’
As he watched Gail and Adelia sharing a passionate kiss, Uder shook his head again and turned his gaze away. Then, he looked at Cordelia, who was receiving audiovisual education with an excited expression, covering her cheeks and lips with both hands, and then he turned his head in surprise.
“Yuder, do you have something to share?”
“···Yes, Father.”
Count Bayer didn’t look particularly angry, but his eyes were more subdued than usual.
That’s understandable, since Yuder, who had gone on a royal journey, ran away from home once again.
“Adelia’s letter did contain some of the details, but… I guess I’ll have to hear it from her.”
“That is a valid point.”
When Yuder spoke with an awkward smile, Count Bayer smiled faintly and said, “I can’t help it.”
“You’ve changed a lot. No, you’ve become a lot stronger this time too.”
It had only been about three weeks since he left home, but in that time, Yuder’s skills had improved by leaps and bounds.
I would have to practice sparring with him to know exactly how much stronger he has become, but just by facing him like this, I could feel that he had become so strong that he was no different from the previous Yuder.
“You’ve grown a lot taller too.”
Just a few months ago, Uther had been smaller than Cordelia, but now he seemed to be a head taller than her.
“There were a lot of things going on.”
“Okay, let’s talk about it later. For now, it seems like they’re more urgent.”
“yes?”
“That way, that way.”
Count Bayer, who had spoken teasingly, entered the mansion laughing heartily, and Uder could see Count Chase looking at him with the same expression as always.
“Father.”
“It’s still small.”
“yes?”
“Still small.”
Although he had grown a lot, he was still small by Count Chase’s standards.
That would be the case, since Yuder is currently in the early 180s, while Gale is in the late 180s, and Count Chase himself is a giant who is nearly 2 meters tall.
“then······?”
As Yuder trailed off with a hint of anticipation, Count Chase suddenly turned to Adelia, and upon confirming that she was still absorbed in the passionate kiss, he suddenly approached Yuder and spoke.
“It’s a crude thing.”
Count Chase, who had thrust a small leather pouch into Uther’s arms, spoke quietly while staring at Adelia.
“Eat it secretly.”
Adelia secretly.
Alone.
Don’t get caught.
“Yes, Father. I will definitely do so.”
When the impressed Yuder spoke without even checking the item, Count Chase laughed and snorted as he always did and tried to leave.
but.
“ah.”
Count Chase, who was about to take a step back, turned around briefly and looked at Yuder.
“Father?”
Are you going to give me something else?
Yuder gave her a slightly expectant look, but not this time.
Count Chase made a hesitant expression, then looked away and spoke as if passing by.
“Something… is there any change?”
“Change… are you talking about that?”
“No, um, no.”
Rather, there should be no change. Now is just right.
Because they are children who haven’t even had their coming-of-age ceremony yet.
“Father?”
Uther asked again, but instead of answering, Count Chase made a solemn expression and walked towards Adelia and Gale, causing Gale to raise her head in surprise.
‘Hmm… what a nice expression.’
Uther, who had a small smile on his face, tried to approach Cordelia, who was lost in thought, while covering her reddened cheeks with both hands.
But that was just then.
“I think I got a letter.”
Maia turned to look at the main gate and walked away, while Uther saw a man standing beyond the metal fence, waiting for the gate to open.
It was an outfit that looked exactly like that of a noble family’s herald.
“Who is it?”
“He’s a member of the Spencer Duke family.”
When Uther answered the question that came out as a soliloquy, Cordelia raised her head with a surprised expression.
“How do you know?”
“Because there’s a crest engraved on your outer garment that shows you’re a servant of the Spencer family. Perhaps… they’re inviting you and me.”
It was about time for the seven-colored herb that Princess Darian had brought to begin showing its effectiveness.
And as Yuder had expected, the person who appeared in front of the main gate was someone from the Spencer Duke family.
However, there was one thing that was different from what I expected.
“This… doesn’t it seem like they only called us?”
An invitation in a slightly different form than I had expected.
“Well, it’s an invitation anyway, so there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Cordelia said with a grin, and Uther thought the same.
‘Well, I guess so.’
‘Yeah, I guess so.’
If you go straight, you just need to go to Seoul. Anyway, all you need to do is go to the Spencer Duke’s house and meet the Sword of Light, Rune Proud.
‘So don’t worry and let’s go to Bomu confidently.’
‘okay.’
Uther nodded in response to Cordelia’s gaze, and Cordelia smiled brightly again.
Cordelia didn’t know until this point.
No, because Yuder didn’t expect it either.
The fact that this invitation would be the first time the two of them would do something like a real relationship.
Something like a real love affair.
&
< Chapter 58 - The Duke's Invitation > End
