novelraw Chapter 227
Chapter 227
Chapter 227. Ominous Will (4)
Hemmel, an imperial royal mage who reached the title of "Three Colors," was assigned to handle Yulian's affairs, and thus, the conclusion was inevitable.
Yulian was considered useless in the noble society and a malignant tumor in the Cryphart family.
For someone like him to oppose a mage like Hemmel was impossible.
"There's no need to worry too much. Lord Ornn."
"Yes, even if Yulian was the Sword Saint's prized disciple, he was still expelled, wasn't he?"
"Moreover, that Sword Saint has already passed away. If even the master wasn't invincible, how insignificant must the disciple be?"
Aagh.
When one of his aides belittled the Sword Saint, Ornn shot him a sharp glare.
"That... that..."
"Even though he's dead, he was a fallen star for the Empire. Don't disrespect him in front of me."
"I apologize..."
As part of the Cryphart family and a swordsman, Ornn didn't disregard the accomplishments that Hayden Reich had built as the Sword Saint.
Even if he went into exile, his legacy wouldn't disappear. Ornn held genuine respect for him and attended his unofficial funeral.
"In any case, since Lord Hemmel has gone, nothing substantial will happen."
"We should focus on the future of the imperial family."
"... That witch is manipulating Emperor Adratan like a pawn."
The aides within the Council of Nobles started to express their concerns, setting aside the priority of Yulian.
Ornn was aware of this issue as well.
Abigail, the diviner.
Ever since she entered the royal court, the Emperor's mental state began to change.
This was a concern both for the nobles who had to keep the royal court in check and for the royalty who had to keep the nobles under control.
It was a shared concern for both sides.
"In this regard, it seems wiser to deliberate on what Abigail's next moves might be, rather than worrying about Yulian, who's already being handled."
"Yes, entrusting everything to her would be a foolish act indeed."
Despite the aides' advice, Yulian lingered in Ornn's thoughts. If it were that easy to handle, would he have managed to survive so well up to now?
No.
As soon as he entertained such thoughts, his premonition became reality and evidence began to surface.
"Oh, Lord Ornn."
A butler approached him, showing signs of distress. Seeing his face, a sense of unease started to rise within Ornn.
"What's the matter?"
Just as he was about to ask for the reason, a familiar face appeared behind the butler.
"Yulian..."
When Ornn uttered Yulian's name, the surroundings fell silent.
Those who claimed that Yulian would never return alive were unable to hide their astonishment at seeing his face intact.
Yulian had returned, and with him, any talk held here could lead to punishment.
If I, someone like Ornn, faced such a scenario, surely there'd be a way to survive even when faced with his blade.
But would these mere noblemen survive when faced with the end of Yulian's sword? The nobles couldn't even entertain the idea.
"Oh my, you must be very busy to be leading such a life. For someone your age, you're quite industrious, Lord Ornn."
Yulian stepped into the parlor with his characteristically shameless smile, glancing around.
Although no emotion was apparent, no one dared meet his gaze.
"... How did you end up here?"
Given Ornn's usual temperament, Yulian's visit to his estate should have provoked a fiery reaction.
Considering how unusually composed his voice was, the nobles speculated there might be a connection with Hemmel.
"Hmmm, isn't that something you should be aware of rather than me, Lord Ornn?"
Step by step, with all eyes on him, Yulian approached gracefully and took a seat in an empty spot.
"Could you all please leave us for a moment? There are matters I need to discuss with Lord Ornn alone."
Even as he uttered the words requesting departure, Yulian's gaze scanned every noble present in the room.
That gaze left them with a tingling feeling akin to a bruise forming, realizing, "He's memorized my face."
To tackle this unexpected situation, they all sought an internal solution, yet not a single one could vocalize it. Much like lambs being led to slaughter, they could only helplessly exit the room.
"I asked how it is that you're here."
"Just doing what needs to be done. You know my character, Lord Ornn."
Yulian's face turned to Ornn, followed by a more sinister smile.
Although Ornn had been filled with confidence until that moment, witnessing that smile allowed cold sweat to trickle down his spine.
"But it's time to remove that heavy weight sitting atop your amassed achievements, Lord Ornn."
A calm warning.
"Are you planning to kill me right here and now?"
"How could I? I'm not one to resort to barbarism."
Not barbaric, my foot.
Ornn knew the reason the Sword Saint and Yulian had completely parted ways.
Massacring an entire village against the Sword Saint's opposition, claiming he's not barbaric, is a contradiction.
"Simply put, I'm only here to witness the dismantling of the power you've built up from the front row, Lord Ornn."
With that, Yulian rose from his seat.
A peculiar fear brushed against Ornn's cheek. This creature didn't come all the way here to spout nonsense.
"A warning?"
Perhaps not.
Had he drawn his sword and gone berserk, perhaps it'd be easier to understand his motive.
"Oh, Lord Ornn, I almost forgot to mention this."
Despite hoping Yulian would vanish from sight immediately, I grit my teeth as he added a final word.
"Recently, didn't someone from the royal court acquire something from the North in great secrecy?"
While he posed the question, although something immediately came to Ornn's mind, he merely scoffed.
"It seems there's something you know of."
Sensing a realization, Yulian continued.
"I'll ask again soon. At that time, even if you don't want to, you'll spill everything, Lord Ornn."
After uttering those mysterious words, Yulian finally exited Ornn's estate.
"That damned bastard..."
Left alone in the parlor, I clenched my fist, my lips trembling in frustration.
The fact that Yulian survived and returned was something I had considered.
What infuriated Ornn more was Yulian's sudden appearance and the way Yulian tarnished Ornn's reputation in front of the nobles.
"You may have returned, but you can't even lay a single finger on me."
No matter what Yulian did, Ornn remained unshaken. The one who will break shall be Yulian.
***
There was confidence in what he'd accumulated so far.
Though he had lived with unwavering status up until now, the time when Ornn's sky-high arrogance began to waver wasn't far off.
"... What did you say?"
Unable to hide his shock at the aide's words, Ornn asked again.
The stern gaze of the elder unnerved the aide.
"Are you unable to say it again right now?"
A bolt of thunderous rebuke from me, directed at the hesitating aide, jolted him into action.
"The, the thing is... a new proposal has been submitted at the latest council meeting."
Ornn listened in silence.
"It's to dissolve the current chairman of the Council of Nobles and shift back to selecting five representatives to lead the council as before..."
BANG──!
At those words, Ornn slammed the table hard.
Witnessing this, the aide swallowed nervously with tension-filled eyes.
"It came from whom?"
"Lord Kolparan."
That old fox Kolparan.
The urge to swear crept up to his mouth, but Orr contained it by clenching his fists.
"Surely, the proposal hasn't been passed? I've been aware for quite some time that the old fox held grudges against me."
Though this was the first time he moved so directly, I anticipated such occurrences long before.
"Well, that..."
Seeing the aide trailing off, I sensed an ominous sign.
"The proposal has already passed... The only thing left is for you, the chairman, to confirm it, Lord Ornn."
"What!?"
The instant Ornn heard those words, dizziness hit him.
Unbeknownst to Ornn, the authority he had built up till now had been divided into five parts, and even one portion of it was unreachable to him now.
If so, what he was hearing now wasn't the "consolidation of information" but an "outright notice", isn't it?
"Kolparan, that bastard...!"
He must have deliberately conspired and maneuvered behind the scenes.
"... No way."
Then suddenly, the relationship between Kolparan and Yulian emerged in Ornn's mind.
The day of the Sword Saint's funeral where Kolparan had defended Yulian. Come to think of it, it was anything but a normal relationship.
― I'll ask again soon. At that time, even if you don't want to, you'll spill everything, Lord Ornn.
Yulian mentioned this before.
He'd return and shatter all Ornn had built.
"Was he referring to this...?"
Ornn bit his lip. Red blood began to trickle down his chin, but rage dulled any sensation of pain.