novelraw Chapter 124 : Chapter 124
Chapter 124 : Chapter 124
Chapter : 124
We each threw a light jab, but there was no reason to blush about it.
“Congratulations on your son’s wedding. Duke of Bourgogne. Lord Charles is truly so dignified that everyone will look up to him.”
“Haha. To receive such praise from the renowned Margrave of Bellua. I am truly grateful.”
“I have not forgotten the favor you showed me earlier. If you ever need my strength, please speak. I will return as much as I received.”
“Your words alone are reassuring.”
The conversation between the Duke of Bourgogne and me, attending the wedding and exchanging pleasantries, was truly amicable.
Actually, ignorant medieval people, empty cans running wild without thinking ahead. Such evaluations were suitable for lower nobles or ordinary knights.
At least the cunning great nobles leading the kingdom, that is, dealing with political plots in the court, always moved insidiously according to their own benefits.
“Distinguished guests, please rise. The wedding vows will now proceed before the Holy Lord.”
When the chamberlain shouted, the attending nobles busily stood up and began to move.
As befitting the wedding of the high-status Duke of Bourgogne's son, the procedure was complicated and splendid.
As if silver didn't suit his status, everything was covered in bright yellow gold. Moreover, Charles, the first son of the Duke of Bourgogne, who appeared triumphantly like a conquering general, was wrapped in a velvet cloak dyed in a covetous and enchanting purple with beautifully crafted jewels.
“Hmm….”
“Oh….”
And seeing that, all attendees let out a groan in unison.
“Haha…. Now he is moving blatantly.”
“Mehehehe. Look at those covetous jewels. Mehr. My Lord. Want them. Mehr.”
“That is something even the Emperor of the Holy Empire cannot wear easily…. Certainly, the Duke of Bourgogne is rich. Your Excellency.”
“Sniff, if things go wrong, a bloodbath will blow? Human lord. Is this…. really okay?”
Although there was something slightly strange(?) said in the middle, my vassals also fired off their opinions in unison.
Everyone spoke with a mix of anxiety and admiration.
That was because the purple velvet cloak worn by Charles, the first son of the Duke of Bourgogne, was clothing that only noble bloodlines inheriting the throne could wear in [Pangea Universalise].
‘Well, strictly speaking, the Duke of Bourgogne is also from a collateral branch of the royal family, so he is of noble blood….’
Still, this was a bit unexpected.
Because there were not only people from the Duke of Bourgogne's side here.
From the pagan empires across the sea to the great nobles of the nearby Anjou Kingdom and the Holy Empire, weren't they lined up?
But to act like this openly? This was almost like a declaration of war sent to the King of the Elang Kingdom. A declaration of war stating I will no longer move under you.
“K-khm.”
“How rude!”
In fact, the royalist nobles who confirmed Lord Charles's cloak could not hide their uncomfortable expressions in unison.
But what could be done?
This is someone else's feast. No matter how angry they were, no one had the courage to overturn this feast table.
Thanks to that, the wedding began to proceed very smoothly and amidst enthusiastic welcome.
Usually, the confusion of a neighboring country was always a good opportunity. An opportunity to maximize their influence. Therefore, there was not a single foreign noble who disliked this provocative show displayed by the Duke of Bourgogne.
Rather, they were only contemplating how to make the King of the Elang Kingdom and the Duke of Bourgogne fight big by enthusiastically supporting and inciting it.
“Uhuhuhuh. Truly, they are cunning snakes. Just snakes.”
Of course, Magician Agpiel watching this let out a hollow laugh and evaluated it like this.
* * *
“There will be Lord Charles's proof ceremony soon. Now, Lord Charles. Please come this way.”
The bishop officiating the wedding slowly led Lord Charles.
The place they headed to was a bedroom located in a wide open space. The woman who would become Lord Charles's wife was already waiting there.
“Hmm…. I have seen this many times, but I really cannot get used to it. How about you?”
“Is that even a question? Magician Agpiel.”
I answered with a bitter smile.
I knew well about the wedding customs of medieval nobles, but seeing it with my own eyes was shocking.
‘In front of everyone like this….’
To have to prove one’s purity?
What if trauma develops and causes problems in the heart later? Good grief!
But contrary to my uncomfortable feelings, the proof ceremony proceeded smoothly.
As always, sighs and screams were heard.
“Check quickly.”
Sounds of busy movement and whispering were heard, then.
“Oh! Proof of purity before God has just been made!”
“Ohhh.”
“Lord Charles has also proven to be normal.”
With every word of the bishop, the audience buzzed with admiration and praise.
Of course, watching this, I was looking with a fed-up expression.
Well, since producing an heir to continue the line was the most important matter for nobles, it could be understandable….
But did they really have to prove that in front of others? That was my feeling.
“Your expression is very interesting?”
“K-khm. Isn't it a bit bizarre?”
“Hahaha. Bizarre. Isn't it something you will experience soon?”
“What do you mean by that.”
“You are not married yet. If you are a great noble like yourself, it is a procedure you must undergo.”
“Mehehehe. My Lord. I will officiate well. Just trust me. Meeehr.”
“Well…. Just say the word. Since I have received help in the meantime, I will specially give you a vitality potion….”
“Groan….”
I rubbed my throbbing head. They were all adding a word as if this was the time.
Marriage, what marriage. Well, I would have to do it someday, but seeing that sight now, I absolutely didn't feel like doing it.
Even if I do, I plan to do it after gaining enough power to change all those damn customs. Roughly when the Great Famine strikes, they wouldn't bother interfering with me over such matters.
Of course, the situation seemed to be flowing completely differently from my wish.
“Oh, faithful Margrave! Congratulations!”
“???”
“Please do not forget me. I am the King's faithful servant, Baron Ajua.”
“I am….”
“Me too….”
The grand banquet started after the splendid wedding ended. There, I unexpectedly received congratulations from people out of the blue.
* * *
Originally, for nobles, a banquet was a place for socialization.
Go to a banquet, meet people, build friendships, and exchange information. In that sense, the grand banquet held by the Duke of Bourgogne after the wedding was truly the best social venue.
When would nobles ever meet nobles gathered from such diverse countries!
Such an opportunity was rare.
Therefore, the participants were repeatedly gathering and scattering, forming and breaking alliances for their own purposes.
And to me, a great noble of the southern region, as well.
“Your Excellency, truly congratulations!”
“I would like to invite you to the region I oversee once, what do you think?”
Naturally, countless nobles stuck to me and were courting me diligently.
Of course, the factions they belonged to were a bit strange.
“Those friends…. Aren't they royalists? Why are you suddenly so popular with the royalists?”
“Hmm…. Well. Agpiel.”
I was flustered by the unexpected situation. Well, it is the daily life of nobles to meet without worrying about factions as long as there is profit, but…. There were far too many royalist nobles around me right now.
‘What is it…?’
Moreover, this wasn't all.
The Duke of Bourgogne, who heard something from a servant who suddenly entered, was looking at me with a disapproving expression.
“Did you do something wrong? Why is the Duke of Bourgogne looking at you with such a sour face?”
“Haha…. It seems something is rolling strangely. Magician Agpiel.”
And while I was thinking that.
“Meeeeehr!! My Lord!!”
“?”
Our goat beastman suddenly approached, making a fuss.
“I! I! Found out something tremendous. Mehr!”
“What is it?”
“Meheheheh. My Lord. I will have to stand as the officiant. Meeehr.”
What nonsense is this again.
Stand as the officiant?
What random sound is he making suddenly.
While I was thinking that, my curiosity was resolved immediately.
It was because of the words that came out of the mouth of another royalist noble who approached next to me.
“Faithful Margrave! Truly congratulations on your marriage. You are marrying Princess Maceania? Hahahaha.”
“???”
* * *
“Phew….”
After suffering a ordeal in the crowd, I barely managed to come out to the terrace and catch my breath.
To think the King suddenly proposed to marry his daughter.
I was just dumbfounded by the matter decided without my knowledge.
‘Hmm…. Is he playing a prank because I got closer to the Duke of Bourgogne?’
It was a quite interesting scheme.
No wonder the Duke of Bourgogne was looking at me with unusual eyes…. Indeed, there was a reason for everything.
‘Still, the proposal is quite attractive in its own way. Enough to fluster the Duke of Bourgogne.’
Marriage alliance.
Moreover, the southern region was currently being ruled as directly managed land by the King, who confiscated the titles in the aftermath of the last southern heretic subjugation. If the marriage alliance is concluded, it meant I could exercise powerful influence in that region.
However.
‘Why me? Why bother?’
The [Great Famine] was coming anyway.
Once the [Great Famine] starts, the King will lose control over the southern region. No, he will lose control over the entire kingdom, not just the southern region.
That’s how serious a natural disaster the [Great Famine] was.
So there was no reason to join hands with the King.
What the King could give were things that time would solve on its own if I stayed still.
It wasn't particularly attractive to me.
‘How impudent.’
Thanks to that, a feeling of unpleasantness slowly rose within me.
From the content about the rebellion plot I heard from Baron Pierre last time to the tricks I saw in Baron Vigneux's territory, doing only such petty schemes.
‘Hrmmm…. I should try to screw him over somehow?’
I thought while rubbing my chin.
What should I do with this marriage proposal that came to me now to embarrass the King?
Since the Duke of Bourgogne suspected me once, wouldn't strong shaking create trust?
‘Did he say Princess Maceania?’
I slowly recalled the memories of playing [Pangea Universalise] in my head.
Princess Maceania.
The tomboy daughter of the King of the Elang Kingdom. In the game, she was one of the royals quickly consumed as a pawn for political marriage. I knew she had a very free-spirited personality for a woman of this era, having grown up in the quite progressive and wealthy Duchy of Aquitaine.
‘Is she also satisfied with her life like Gertmann?’
A mischievous smile slowly rose at the sudden thought.
Something…. An interesting method flashed through my head. A scheme to weaken the power of the King of the Elang Kingdom and plunge the Elang Kingdom further into a vortex.
‘Not bad? Hmm…. Wouldn't be bad.’
And while I was thinking that.
“Oh my?”
The terrace door opened and a person entered.
“Oh dear…. There was a guest already.”
She was a quite beautiful woman.