novelraw Chapter 678 : Visit to the Grand Duchy of Atinjo III
Chapter 678 : Visit to the Grand Duchy of Atinjo III
Chapter 0678 Visit to the Grand Duchy of Atinjo III
Translator: Jay_Forestieri
Editor: Tseirp
The next day.
On the way to Cam Pho, the capital of the Atinjo Grand Duchy, Zlurma relayed information to the two of them as they traveled.
“My family... well, we’re called the Gyuga clan. We are the descendants of those who once served a country that was destroyed by the Grand Duke’s house. The family that ruled that country no longer exists. Nowadays, we take assassination work for our own selfish profit and gain...”
“Sounds like a certain assassination cult.”
“...”
At Zlurma’s explanation, Ryo interjected without thinking, and Abel gave a small shake of his head.
“I believe the Babury family was mentioned in yesterday’s conversation.”
“Yes. Once... until before the previous Grand Duke ascended, they were a great noble house of the Atinjo Grand Duchy, second only to the Grand Duke’s house. But the previous Grand Duke greatly reduced their power. Even now, they are by no means weak... if they were to raise a rebellion, then due to the status of that house, the other nobles might follow them as well.”
“Can you beat them?”
“If we clash head-on, the Grand Duke’s house would probably win. But if the Gyuga clan assassinated the Grand Duke...”
Zlurma grimaced.
Had it been the previous Grand Duke, such a thing would have been unthinkable.
Because he was a Phantomkin.
From the incident at the embassy, Zlurma did not seem to know that Duke Helb or the previous Grand Duke were Phantomkin, but he must have understood that they were astonishingly powerful.
Even yesterday’s elder had described them as a ‘monster’.
Zlurma left the two of them to give instructions.
“Conflict is happening everywhere, both here and there, within the country.”
Ryo grumbled, shaking his head.
“There are always a certain number of people in any country who want power.”
Abel said with a shrug.
“On that point, Abel, you are fortunate.”
“Hm? Because you don’t want power?”
“Because our prime minister there isn’t aiming for the throne.”
“That’s certainly true.”
“If Count Heinlein went after the throne, it would absolutely be taken.”
“That’s true too. Well, in that case, I’d gladly hand it over.”
At Ryo’s words, Abel shrugged again.
This king, too, was not the type to cling too strongly to power.
“By the way, I’m the type who clings to power.”
For some reason, Ryo said this with his chest out and a villainous expression.
“Is that so?”
Abel asked, sounding doubtful.
“With power, I can obtain the cake privilege, after all!”
“If you were told that giving up power would get you free cake and coffee every day, what would you do?”
“Of course I’d give up power. Free cake and coffee every day, you know? There’s no need to even think about it.”
“Yeah, no matter how you look at it, you’re not the type who clings to power. You’re the type who clings to food.”
“Eh?”
One part of the reason the Kingdom of Knightley was peaceful... had now been revealed.
That afternoon, the group arrived in Cam Pho, the capital of the Atinjo Grand Duchy.
As they arrived, they passed a military force leaving Cam Pho.
“A huge army, numbering in the tens of thousands?”
“Suppressing a local rebellion?”
Ryo said, though both he and Abel watched it pass by without really understanding.
Ryo and Abel were guided by Zlurma up to the royal palace.
“Welcome!”
The new Grand Duke Bash went so far as to come down from the top of the staircase to greet the two of them.
He was smiling. Yes, smiling.
And yet, one could sense a shadow.
The reason for that was probably that the domestic situation was still unsettled.
“Your Excellency, Duke Rondo, Abel-dono, I have dragged the two of you into the conflict in our country. I apologize.”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty, please raise your head.”
Bash bowed his head, and Ryo was startled.
“I received most of the explanation from Zlurma-san.”
“Zlurma... perhaps he also told you about his clan?”
“Yes. Since the ones who attacked yesterday seemed to be those people, he must have had no choice but to speak about it.”
“I see.”
From Bash’s wording, it seemed that not only Duke Helb, but even the new Grand Duke Bash standing before them, knew Zlurma’s background and the fact that his clan had turned into enemies.
The two of them were guided by Bash and taken to his private room.
“First, this Holy Sword...”
“Thank you.”
And so, the Holy Sword Tatien was returned from Ryo to Bash.
“I must apologize that this timing became unavoidable.”
“Hm?”
“Actually, tomorrow, the royal palace will be attacked.”
“Huh??”
At Bash’s sudden words, Ryo let out a startled, high-pitched voice.
Abel said nothing, but his eyes widened.
“Sorry for the outburst. I heard from Zlurma-san that the people from the Gorgeous family... no, the people from houses like the Babury family, and the Gyuga clan, were trying to bring down the Grand Duke’s house. Is this related to that?”
“Yes. Armed retainers from the nobility, centered precisely around the Babury family, will attack tomorrow.”
Bash stated it clearly.
Bash looked to be not long past adulthood, yet his expression held neither hesitation nor indecision.
If anything, he even gave off a sense of strength.
“Why do you know they will attack tomorrow?”
Abel asked bluntly.
“Because I arranged it so.”
Bash answered just as bluntly.
But perhaps he thought he ought to add some explanation.
“This plan has been in motion since half a month ago. We thought the two of you would arrive a little later... after this matter was already over. I am sorry that you were dragged into it.”
“Well, that can’t be helped. We probably arrived earlier because of ocean currents and the wind.”
“During the attack, I would like the two of you to stay in a safe place within the royal palace...”
“Oh, please do not worry about that. Both Abel and I can protect ourselves well enough... please fight to your heart’s content.”
Ryo answered with a smile.
Abel beside him gave a shrug, but did not deny it.
Abel gave a small nod and spoke.
“When we arrived in the capital earlier, the army had left. It was quite a large force, but that’s related to this, isn’t it?”
“Yes. That is the main force of the national army, thirty thousand strong. They left today for a three-day, two-night exercise.”
“I see. By doing that, you created a gap in the palace’s military strength... to tempt the Babury family?”
“Exactly as you said. This exercise had been planned half a month ago... From the enemy’s perspective, there are not many opportunities as good as this.”
“But wouldn’t they think it’s a trap?”
“They probably would. However, this is their last chance.”
In response to Abel’s question, Bash said it decisively.
“Because Duke Helb is recovering day by day.”
“Yes. If my uncle fully recovers, they will have no chance, not even the slightest. So even if they know it’s a trap, this is the only time they can act.”
After talking about a few other things, Ryo and Abel left Bash’s private room.
Guided through the royal palace, the two walked onward.
“His Majesty Bash has changed.”
“That he has.”
“When I brought Duke Helb’s ice coffin before... back then, it may be a bad way to put it, but he still had a rather fragile feeling about him. But now...”
“Position shapes who you are, or perhaps experience shapes the face.”
Abel nodded as he spoke in response to Ryo’s impression.
“It’s a battle of interception while using one’s own life as bait. You can’t do that unless you brace yourself.”
“Being a ruler is hard, isn’t it. There’s a strange swordsman beside me who made himself into such a ruler, too.”
“I had no other options. It couldn’t be helped.”
Abel shrugged.
“But I think both Abel and His Majesty Bash can stand up in a crisis precisely because they were raised from a young age with royal education.”
“Is that so?”
“I don’t think most people can do that.”
“I don’t know about the royalty of other countries, but at least I was taught that everything a royal family does is for the people. After my elder brother died, and with no idea what happened to my father, the capital fell... there was no other option in my mind except for me to stand as king. I believed that doing so would be for the sake of the people of the kingdom, or at least I acted with that belief.”
“I think that is wonderful.”
Ryo sincerely praised Abel’s words, his principles, and his way of acting.
To sacrifice one’s own body, to devote everything to one’s people... that is not something ordinary people can do.
That is precisely why Abel, who naturally does what ordinary people cannot, earns the support of the people.
And in this Atinjo Grand Duchy as well, there was a new Grand Duke who was trying to expose himself to a difficult path.
“Come to think of it, Duke Helb also had enemies attack him, didn’t he?”
“Could that be a tradition of the Grand Duke’s house?”
What Ryo and Abel were remembering was the assault incident at the joint conference of the Eastern Countries, held in the autonomous city of Kwebasa.
At the entrance to the conference venue, the carriage carrying the Grand Duke of Atinjo was attacked.
But that had been a trap—rebels had bitten at the bait Duke Helb had deliberately scattered.
The result was a complete sweep by Duke Helb, with hundreds of corpses left strewn about.
“But this time, Grand Duke Bash’s side will not have an easy battle.”
“There are also people like the Gyuga clan, attacking from the shadows. If only Duke Helb were at full strength...”
“Because he is not at full strength, they see this as their last chance and are attacking.”
“That’s right. It’s all rather complicated.”
Both Abel and Ryo shook their heads slightly.
The place they were being guided to was an annex within the royal palace grounds.
It was something like a guest house, apparently a building where state guests stayed.
The Grand Duke Bash had recommended that they stay in the annex rather than lodging inside the royal palace, so that nothing should happen to them.
“The royal palace is apparently going to be attacked, but this annex is also part of the palace, right?”
“Well, the other side’s main target is the Grand Duke’s house... for this time, it would be Bash-dono, right? Since this place is a little removed from the main palace building, I suppose that means it should be safe.”
The annex was a splendid single-story building made of stone that looked like marble.
“This is amazing.”
“It’s a fine building.”
Both Ryo and Abel were astonished by its beauty.
Incidentally, this annex also had stables attached, so the horses of the state guests would be kept there as well.
Naturally, this time, Andalusia and Feiwan were housed there.
“Andalusia and Feiwan were also eating their meal with great appetite.”
“You’re saying that we can expect the same, too.”
“Abel, say no more.”
“You’ve already said it all.”
That night, they were served a banquet even more lavish than they had expected, and it is worth recording here that they were able to sleep satisfied.
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