novelraw Chapter 106 : Chapter 106
Chapter 106 : Chapter 106
Chapter 106
“Aaaaaaaak!”
Marquess Dmitry, called out at dawn by the 1st Prince’s summons, looked at the 1st Prince with pathetic eyes.
“These damn bastards dare! Dare!”
Watching the 1st Prince unable to even form a proper sentence due to the anger covering his head, his chest felt tight.
‘I told him not to act rashly so many times, but did he finally cause trouble as he pleased?’
Checking the Severed pinky finger contained in the crude box, he sighed deeply.
Sending a Severed pinky finger instead of a head was clearly a message to keep the promise between Moner and the Royal Family.
‘It seems they couldn't even hide the fact that the Royal Family sent it.’
For now, it ended with a warning as they were preparing for a large battle, but thinking about what Moner might demand later using this as a pretext made his head throb.
“…Did you send a shadow?”
“Marquess! Didn't I, didn't I tell you! That whore’s son is aiming for my neck!”
The 1st Prince had changed.
As if his past cool-headed and composed demeanor was all an act, the 1st Prince ran wild at even the smallest thing, claiming the 2nd Prince was targeting him.
‘Still, he hadn't acted as he pleased until now… It seems he finally heard that rumor.’
After the nonsensical rumor spread that the King was secretly supporting the 2nd Prince and Moner, his condition worsened.
To the point where even the King gave up conversing with the 1st Prince.
“Aaaaaak! Marquess! I must report to the King and tear those traitors to death!”
The Marquess moved his old body to soothe the Prince.
“Prince, please calm down. Nothing has changed.”
It was something he had said several times already, and it was true.
The King absolutely does not support Moner, nor does he intend to.
It is true that the King admired the 2nd Prince’s command skills , but the 2nd Prince actually fell out of the King’s favor.
“Marquess! Are you trying to deceive me too? Did you think I wouldn't know the King supports the 2nd Prince in his heart?!”
“Prince, how can the one who will inherit the Royal Family be shaken by such vain rumors.”
“Then what about the northern nobles?! Why on earth do those bastards suddenly support that whore’s son!”
Searching for a suitable answer, the Marquess closed his mouth.
Because even he couldn't say it was because the northern nobles were ignorant bastards.
Still, for nobles to stake their family’s fate on a vain rumor. Even the Marquess, who heard the report directly and investigated, found it hard to believe.
Instead, he picked up words the Prince would find agreeable.
“His Majesty said that perhaps the northern nobles and Moner might perish together .”
Deep wrinkles settled on the forehead of the Marquess as he spoke.
“Wouldn't there be a reason His Majesty doesn't stop the 2nd Prince from entering a place of death?”
Saying so, the Marquess laughed self-deprecatingly.
Because the messenger sent by the Royal Family to recall the 2nd Prince had entered and left the Marquess’s castle gates dozens of times.
It was just that the 2nd Prince didn't budge even at the King’s threat to dethrone him if he didn't return immediately.
“Hehehe… How would I know father’s heart. Maybe he wants to make my younger brother a hero like the children in the market say.”
The 1st Prince, having already lost trust in the King, continued speaking with eyes dyed in madness flashing.
“However, I will trust the Marquess until the end. Since my mother said there is no loyal subject like you.”
Every time he saw the Prince laughing madly, Trimia’s shamelessly confident face came to the Marquess’s mind.
‘Loyal subject…….’
Thinking about what was truly for the Royal Family, he forced himself to fold his thoughts.
He merely devotes himself to the King for the Kingdom.
‘Loyal subject…….’
The road leaving the royal palace and returning to the castle felt exceptionally long and arduous.
* * *
Meanwhile, the northern nobles who received Moner’s letter arrived at the fortress one after another.
“Oh… Is this Front Hold.”
“Indeed, they say it’s an impregnable fortress…….”
The Count House held small banquets daily whenever nobles arrived.
It was a banquet where neither the Count, the Prince, nor the Young Lord surrounded by rumors participated, but the nobles were relieved just by the fact that they could enjoy a banquet in the desolate fortress.
“Ah! Baron Diez!”
“Viscount!”
Viscount Dotran, who arrived first, welcomed the Baron with a smile.
“It is a place as amazing as Moner’s history.”
“Yes. The knights who came with me also couldn't stop admiring it.”
“Was it the same for you? My family’s knights were the same! They were so shocked they asked for permission to receive teachings from the knight order as soon as we arrived!”
“Hahaha! As expected, Moner is Moner.”
This also flowed according to Ian’s intention.
Ian insisted that the escorting of nobles to the banquet hall must be done by the knight order.
By showing knights of outstanding skill first, he tacitly engraved Moner’s potential in their minds.
“More than that, about the three Count Houses…….”
“Ah, the three Count Houses said they would be a bit late.”
“As expected, the Viscount had connections with the three Count Houses.”
The Viscount, recalling Natasha, spoke with a reluctant face.
“Hmm… It’s not really a connection. Since the three families locked their doors, we are just in a relationship where we ask after each other.”
* * *
A few days later, the Count House’s secretary-general visited the nobles enjoying the banquet and asked about their intention to participate in training.
“Hehehe…….”
Thinking of training just for show, the nobles scrambled to participate, and not long after, they experienced hell.
“Heoeoeok! H-How much longer do we have to walk?”
When a noble with a plump figure asked gasping for breath, a young soldier nearby answered politely.
“Baron, you may stop anytime if it is difficult.”
However, none of them could stop.
The nobles, full of pride, couldn't admit the fact that they lacked stamina compared to a mere soldier.
“I, I want to receive knight training!”
Rather than wanting to receive training, it was closer to demanding justification.
Because no one would point fingers if they fell behind while training with knights.
However, the northern nobles’ wish to escape hell was shattered by the polite voice of the waiting knight.
“Viscount, we are carrying out the same training as the soldiers. If it is difficult, you may rest anytime.”
The northern nobles had no choice but to shudder at Moner’s viciousness.
How could they force such arduous training on those noble knights!
“Why on earth are knights doing such training……!?”
Yet they couldn't curse Moner, so they gritted their teeth and continued training.
Even as nobles wiping tears due to injuries during training increased one by one, and nobles fainting from the unimaginable training intensity appeared, the Count House personnel didn't stop the training.
Like machines, they only hinted to rest if it was hard.
That night, no one among the nobles gathered at the banquet hall was smiling.
* * *
“Baron Diez, what do you think this means?”
When Viscount Dotran asked with a serious face pointing at the medicine bottle Moner gave, Diez answered with a grave face.
“A knight of Moner gave this potion and said he hopes I participate in tomorrow’s training too.”
“Euum…….”
“That vicious…….”
The nobles shut their mouths collectively.
If today’s training repeated, they might die before the battle even started.
Among those present, there was undeniably not a single person who truly wanted to participate in training.
“The problem is whether we can refuse the Count House’s proposal…….”
Diez, pondering with a serious face, continued.
“First, my family’s knight said sharing another knight order’s training is a tremendous favor.”
At those words, the nobles nodded.
Sharing a knight order’s training is no different from sharing their secret arts.
“Seeing that soldiers also receive the same training, I thought today’s training might indeed be the secret of Moner’s potential.”
The nobles nodded once again with gloomy faces.
“That is exactly the problem. Refusing training might become refusing the Count House’s favor.”
“Moreover, giving this healing potion…….”
“It must be to fundamentally block lying down claiming sickness.”
Everyone bowed their heads at the Viscount’s words.
Just thinking about receiving the same training tomorrow made them feel nauseous already.
“However, thinking about it, participating in training doesn't seem bad.”
Diez grinned at the nobles glaring at him as if asking how he could say such harsh words.
“When the Prince arrives, he will receive the same training, so wouldn't we be more advantageous having received even one more day of training?”
“……!”
“Indeed!”
Diez, proudly touching the muscles that definitely formed today, continued.
“At least if we receive training, we won't be disgraced in front of the Prince.”
At those words, the nobles, renewing their will, nodded with serious faces.
* * *
Sven was wary of the nobles gathered at the fortress.
Arrogant and insolent nobles are no different from bombs that don't know when they will explode.
They might be holding their breath suppressed by the Count House’s power now, but if relaxed even a little, they will start doing nonsense.
“Is there still no contact from that guy?”
At the Count’s question, the secretary-general nodded.
“…Yes. But since he said he would arrive within tomorrow, won't he come soon?”
“Sly guy. He said he would see the nobles’ faces…….”
Ian and the Special Mission Unit, who left with the irresponsible words that they would come within 3 days, had no news even after a week passed.
“How is the condition of the nobles?”
While asking that, the Count was skeptical of Ian’s plan.
The idea of coercing training was good, but the nobles he knew were existences coercion didn't work on.
They only suffered on the first day not knowing anything, but starting tomorrow, no one would attend training.
“For now, they say everyone responded positively to the training, but…….”
“They will suddenly get a high fever or something sad will happen.”
He even sent healing potions just in case, but the opponents are nobles.
They will make up unimaginable justifications to skip training.
“Strictly manage those skipping training so they don't harm other soldiers or residents.”
“Yes. I will keep it in mind.”
“Also tell the fortress soldiers not to fight with guys from outside.”
The Count, briefly recalling the fortress soldiers, continued.
“Tell them if anyone loses, I will lock them in the underground prison.”
“Not the ones who fought……?”
At the secretary-general’s question, the Count chuckled and said.
“I can't lock up all the soldiers, can I. At least if they fought and won, I should let that guy off.”
When more than two guys holding swords gather, they inevitably want to check their skills.
If it were a knight order that could gauge skills without clashing swords, maybe, but Moner’s soldiers would absolutely not miss this opportunity.
In a situation where they have to stand on the same battlefield, perhaps checking each other’s skills would be better.
“Hmm… Tell the team leaders of each group to go easy.”
“No, earlier you said not to fight…….”
“Don't fight, but if they fight, win, and even if they win, tell them to win gently.”
At the absurd demand, the secretary-general nodded silently but thought inwardly.
That even without saying, the soldiers would have already started moving.