Chapter 9: Entangled Destinies

"Yes? What do you mean?"

"Are you going to make me get up?"

I felt a momentary urge to fight, but as my soul had been cleansed a lot while strolling on the beach, I was in a state where it was difficult to throw insults or scoldings.

The opponent is a war veteran knight. Endure, hold back.

I sighed and answered.

"I was wondering how much longer this place will remain a resort.... It was really no big deal. It was just a word to enjoy the moment. I'm doing the same."

"You still haven't answered my question."

I really wanted to leave, but he was quite persistent.

Yes, while I sit in the room eating and only reading books, you fought for your life in the Tunbar Mountains.

I thought that I should not babble nonsense anymore and wrinkled my forehead.

The sea breeze on the hill was a bit chilly.

"The Empire subdued the Amata tribe."

"So?"

"Then the Agael Kingdom, having lost an important iron ore import route, will have to find a new one."

Amata was a tribe located at the edge of the Tunbar Mountains. They were exerting considerable influence on neighboring countries, mining iron ore, and trading, while maintaining a primitive state form.

But the Agael Kingdom across the Tunbar Mountains lured the Amata tribe, severed the iron ore trade with the Empire, and had exclusive trade with themselves. That was the cause of this war.

Soon, the opponent of this war was actually not the Amata tribe, but the Agael Kingdom.

While preparing for the academy entrance exam, I studied not only the past but also the current situation.

So now, these were just useless stories to me.

"The most likely opponent is Smailand across the sea, right? In terms of distance and the diplomatic relationship so far."

"What does that have to do with this beach?"

"Um. Jebron is the closest imperial territory to the trade route between the Agael Kingdom and Smailand. I saw that on the map hanging in the hotel lobby earlier?"

"...."

"Since there was the Amata war and the issue of pirates in the Sea of Pollution, the Agael Kingdom is likely to send warships for important trade, and then the Empire will have to station naval forces here by convention, considering the location...."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Then the hotel business won't be easy, right? No one wants to see warships and soldiers outside the window when they come to rest."

"...."

"You feel like you've listened in vain, right? Walking on the beach, these thoughts came to mind, so I just said anything. I also prefer the place of memory to remain as it is in my memories? So just forget it."

At that time, a man in noble attire with black hair was seen coming up from under the rock hill.

Ah, shit.

A curse came out from inside. I seemed to have been struck by a black hair neurosis.

And I didn't want to go through the procedure of running into a noble and saying, 'I am a nobody from such and such family. Oh, please don't be so nice. I'm a bastard.'

People always showed excessive kindness to the family of the third lion, and their faces soured when they found out I was a bastard.

"Are you resting? Your master is coming. Eternal glory to Tagar. I wish you a quick recovery."

I spoke quickly and ran down over the rock hill.

'Eternal glory to Tagar.'

That was a greeting used for the royal family and also expressed respect and courtesy to the soldiers who protected the Empire.

(This is a time divider.)

Rocard, having climbed up the rock hill, stared at the sea with Prince Grayan, the 2nd prince. The wind had become strong.

"Let's go in. Your injury might get worse."

"Rocard, who's staying at the hotel?"

It sounded like a very indifferent question. However, Rocard found it strange.

Jebron Hotel was a private facility operated by royal funds. There could not be any guests without an invitation from the royal family.

"It's our father and Count Roar. The Count arrived this afternoon."

"Alone?"

"He brought his daughter."

"The one who was admitted to the academy this time?"

Rocard smiled faintly.

"Are you not too young to be Your Highness's opponent?"

"Die, Rocard."

Rocard chuckled quietly. His laughter blended with the sound of the waves.

"The two lions will finalize the draft for post war compensation negotiations next week, and we'll be able to announce it then."

"Don't be late. Rewards for the combatants should be prompt and certain."

"...."

"Why?"

"The imperial harem expressed dissatisfaction that Your Highness is nursing your wound here. They pointed out that, since the Amata Expeditionary Force has been disbanded, the Second Prince doesn't have the authority to be involved in political negotiations after the war."

Greyien's twisted smile was quite wild.

"...'Just run like a dog' is it?"

"You probably want to leave the role of distributing the feed with a smile to the First Prince Your Highness."

"The imperial army is now my dog, huh...."

Rocard neither laughed nor replied.

It was clear why the bards loved this war.

The brave Second Prince who led the war to victory on behalf of the young First Prince who had fallen ill, and the close friendship with Duke Kaidel, who demonstrated a great martial prowess and saved his life.

But that was a story to charm only the bards.

The Second Prince had suffered a near fatal wound on the battlefield, and the First Prince was trying to scoop up all the glory as soon as the war was over.

The wound would heal over time, but depending on the current situation, the future standing of the Second Prince would be determined.

He could be the returning hero from the war or become the sucker who couldn't even claim his share beside his brother.

So there was a dangerous tension in Rocard's casual reply just now. Rocard kept his distance from the sensitive wounded prince's anger with silence.

Greyien looked at Rocard with wicked eyes.

"I met a girl here earlier."

"...."

"She looked at you and called me her master?"

Rocard looked into the Second Prince's gem like green eyes.

In those rugged mountains, the Second Prince had been a comrade who had entrusted his back to him to survive, but he had known from the start that such a relationship would eventually evaporate.

More than anything, Greyien was Tagarda. Doubt flowed half mixed in the blood of the royal family.

But he thought the Second Prince's doubts, churning in his heart even before his war wounds had healed, were too hasty.

Maybe the war didn't just leave visible scars.

Rocard didn't avoid Greyien's eyes but met his cold gaze.

"I swore allegiance to Your Highness the Second Prince. In return, you took me as your first lion to share your fate. Do you regret it already?"

Rocard spoke of loyalty, but it sounded more like a declaration.

Then Greyien smiled. His eyes, colder and more unstable when he smiled, resembled his most formidable enemy.

"Come to think of it, you're with Goyang, so it's settled. Let's go back."

"The food at the Zevron Hotel must be delicious too," Greyien said, and went down the rocky hill with light steps.

Rocard followed, thinking he should now get the Second Prince out of those disguise clothes.

(This is a time separator.)

When I returned to the hotel from the strange man on the beach, the Count and Duke Kaidel were in the hallway.

The reason the Count came here was to meet that man.

I froze for a moment, and the Count opened an arm as if calling me over.

"Coming back from a walk? Say hello to Duke Kaidel. This is my daughter, sir."

"I meet Duke Kaidel. I'm Lorisha."

"Oh, are you the young lady who enrolled in the Academy this time?"

Duke Kaidel asked with a handsome smile, and I bit my lip tightly.

Even if the Academy entrance exam is a unique interest for the nobles, it was no exception for the Empire's first lion.

Then the Count answered first. It was a truly comfortable and natural response.

"It's my other daughter."

Duke Kaidel's expression did not change at all. The first lion in a political rivalry with the Earl must have known about the illegitimate child of the third lion.

"Our work has ended smoothly. Earl, how about having dinner with Her Highness? My son has accompanied us as well."

Earl, Earl? No. Father? No way!

My inner scream was useless. The Earl even answered cheerfully.

"That sounds good. It's been a long time since I've seen Duke Rocard."

The Duke then called for his son and headed to the restaurant with us.

With every step, my mind was a battlefield as I recalled the etiquette I had been neglecting all this time.

I could not understand what the Earl was thinking, calling me to such a place.

We entered a high end private restaurant with an attached banquet room. When the aperitif was served, a black haired person entered.

"I apologize for being late. I greet you, Earl Roar. Oh, you have not changed at all, Earl."

"The Duke has changed a lot. I never thought you'd be so strong. Truly, like the leading role who suppressed Agael and led the empire to victory."

How fortunate it was that I could not drink alcohol since I had not yet come of age. If I had a glass of alcohol in my hand, I would have spilled it.

The black haired person sitting next to Duke Kaidel was the very person I had once driven into a corner as a ruffian in the city.

'Earl... I want to die now.'

Duke Kaidel replied sincerely, as if he meant it.

"Your words are too much. All I did was try not to fall off the horse."

"Humility, too? That's too much, Duke."

Everyone laughed at the Earl's joke.

Meanwhile, Duke Kaidel turned his gaze to me. It was my turn to greet him.

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This novel has been translated up to chapter 100.

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