DYBAR - Chapter 115 The Weight of the Commander-in-Chief
Do Your Best And Regret
Count Comode had no answer to the unexpected question. In an instant, the atmosphere in the conference room froze as if thin ice had covered it.
The tip of the Grand Duke's mouth slowly rose.
"If you can't answer because you're so sad, I change the question. What did the Count send to his son when he was alive?"
"Ooh, relief supplies! We have sent relief supplies!"
It was an opportunity. The Count answered triumphantly. The nobles murmured in agreement.
"Yes, indeed. Count Comodet and Viscount Odelph both contributed alms and donations for the crime of sending their children."
"You're right, Your Majesty."
At one time, sending relief goods to Heferti and making a name for it was a trend that spread like wildfire. At those words, the Grand Duke smiled and stared at Count Comode.
"Lord Interfield."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Count Comode, who was about to give a haphazard answer as his gaze was fixed on him, closed his mouth.
Meanwhile, Baron Howard Interfield, a close associate of the Grand Duke, took two steps forward. In his hands were two file files as thick as bricks.
"Has Count Comode ever sent any relief supplies to the camp?"
At the same time as the Grand Duke asked the question, the color disappeared from the faces of the nobles who had come forward to send relief goods. Howard answered in a calm voice.
"There is one."
"What are the details of the relief goods?"
"Ten bags each of carrots and potatoes. Oh, it says 'rotting' in parentheses."
Count Comode's face became as earthy as a rotten potato that had been kindled. After Howard finished speaking, the Grand Duke grinned in the conference room, which had become so quiet that even the sound of water could be heard.
“Aha.”
And he shrugged his shoulders as if it was nothing new.
"My dear Count Comode is demanding that I pay for your precious son's life."
Every time a creepy, wonderful voice rang out, the nobles were caught in the illusion that someone was pressing down on their shoulders.
"No armor, no spear, no horse to cover the body of that precious son."
The Emperor, who received the red gaze squarely, was no exception. The Grand Duke stood up, looked at the Emperor, and continued speaking.
"He didn't even send his son a blanket to lie down in peace."
The face that he always thought resembled that of a Princess looked like the previous Grand Duke's face.
"You sent rotting potatoes and carrots."
Jet black hair, red eyes. Smiling mouth as if looking down.
"It's a simple gift to send to a son who went to war for the glory and honor of the Empire."
Even a cynical laughing voice.
"Well, isn't it better than ten years ago, when the Empire was not as wealthy as it is now when there was nothing? Your Majesty?"
The Grand Duke was now asking the Emperor, comparing himself to the nobles.
Responsible for the death of the previous Grand Duke, who went into battle bare-handed without any support.
The two people's eyes met in the air. The moment he witnessed the hatred burning beneath the cool surface, an indescribable fear came over the Emperor.
How much does this guy know? No, how much does he know?
"What does that mean?"
" Your Respected Majesty"
Even with his eyes as sharp as the tip of a spear, the Grand Duke spoke as sweetly as the tongue in his mouth.
"As Commander-in-Chief, I feel great responsibility for the damage caused by war."
Commander-in-Chief.
Is it because of this?
The reason he decided to attend the nobles' meeting was to tell them how noble his father's death was?
"In every way, as a human being, as commander-in-chief, and as a Grand Duke."
As the veins over the Emperor's eyes bulged, the Grand Duke's smile deepened.
"So, we plan to compensate all the knights, volunteers, doctors, and nurses who died and suffered damage, as well as all the people who almost starved to death during the war because they could not find bread."
Meanwhile, the aristocratic nobles blinked and asked back.
"You're not from a noble family?"
The Grand Duke didn't even listen, as if it wasn't even worth answering. In the meeting room, which was becoming noisy again, the nobles looked at the Emperor, the Duke of Elkin, and the Duke of Madeleine as per the prescribed procedure.
The Duke of Elkin stood up as if he had been waiting for that trend.
"But Your Majesty, in the negotiations with Heferti, no indemnities were awarded to the Empire. Didn't Your Highness sign a 'peace agreement'?"
"His Majesty the Grand Duke said he should not accept compensation...?"
The Duke of Elkin turned the Grand Duke into an enemy with just two words. But the Grand Duke shrugged his shoulders without any trace of embarrassment.
"What are you worried about, Duke? As the head of Vikander, I want to take responsibility for this."
"...!"
"But if that happens, the finances of the Grand Duchy will......"
While everyone was shocked, someone quietly spoke up. On the surface, they were worried about the finances of the Grand Duchy, but even during this time, the nobles counted the Grand Duchy's wealth.
It is said that the reason the grand ducal family, which was only a facade, was able to make a comeback was because of the countless jewels.
It was a moment when they were looking for a way to access the wealth of the Grand Duchy, whose mineral taxes alone were said to overwhelm the taxes of the five rich territories.
"Finances will become difficult. So, the Grand Duchy of Vikander plans to officially request the Emperor to adjust the tax rate for the mineral tax currently paid."
"...!!"
All the nobles were speechless. So did the Emperor. He didn't even feel any pain from his bitten lip.
Franz, a wealthy and strong empire.
Adjusting the tax rate of the tax that is the basis of it. However, the cause that the Grand Duke has advocated so far has been to set an example as an aristocrat.
"Isn't that just an expression of Grand Duke Vikander's loyalty? If you suddenly talk about adjusting the tax rate like this..."
"MmYour Majesty knows Vikander's loyalty better than anyone else. Isn't that right?"
Hearing those words, the Emperor firmly grabbed his armrest once again. The once broken armrest felt precarious.
The Grand Duke spoke to the Emperor and to the nobles as if he were in a play.
"So, if the Emperor allows it, I must now set an example as the head of the Grand Duchy."
Although he asked the Emperor's permission according to etiquette, he looked confident.
At some point, the nicknames that had been Implicitly called the slaughter demon or the Emperor's dog disappeared as if washed away. The way he referred to himself as the head of the Grand Duchy was surprisingly natural and dignified.
The Grand Duke smiled brightly with that dignified appearance.
"Follow the example of His Majesty, who always looks out for everyone, and..."
"..."
"I am following the example of the nobles here who practice their moral duties as nobles."
The sincerity without a hint of sarcasm pierced the nobles' mouths like a dagger.
Edwin looked closely at the faces of the nobles.
Those who talk about sadness but have a good complexion, and those who talk about the sorrow of losing a child but show greed. The Emperor glares at him as if he's going to kill him, but can't say anything.
Among them, there was a silver-haired nobleman who looked particularly gaunt, but Edwin decided to easily ignore it.
Then, he belatedly added condescendingly.
"Oh, Your Majesty, don't worry at all that the Grand Duke's family will be in jeopardy just because a little bit of my wealth is spent."
In response to a remark that revealed both his wealth and generosity, the Emperor ended up breaking the decoration on the armrest he was holding for the second time.
Edwin laughed like a villain at that embarrassing sound. The eerie red eyes flashed sharply as if avenging a long-standing grudge.
"Anyway, what Your Majesty will give me will end up being nothing more than crumbs."
The ripple effect of one lazy word was huge.
At the sight of the Grand Duke making a request as if he had entrusted something to the Emperor, the nobles immediately fell silent and looked at him.
A powerful imperial authority, and a rich and powerful Grand Duke who disobeys him.
In this place where the Crown Prince was away, the nobles began to move towards the Grand Duke.
"Ah. I will pick up the lesser documents regarding the mine this evening when we adjust the mineral tax rate."
As if responding to that gaze, the Grand Duke left the conference room with another word.
***
"Whatever happens, bring the Princess."
A conference hall where all the nobles showed up. The Duke of Elkin, who had been standing by as the Emperor chanted, lowered his head, changing all his plans in his head.
With the sound of the door closing, the Emperor left alone, looked down at the broken armrest decoration.
A sparkle that everyone envies. A strong position.
The Duke of Madeleine, who was the closest advisor to this position, got up immediately after the meeting ended and headed to the Grand Duke.
Grand Duke, Grand Duke, Grand Duke......!
The Emperor threw down the decoration he was holding in his hand in anger.
Bang!
The thrown decoration rolled a couple more times, breaking the floor.
"....Are you ultimately looking for mining documents?"
For the Emperor to maintain this position, he could not lose sight of both wealth and justification.
Therefore, the Emperor once again had to read through my secret documents.
Even if he had to hope against absurd odds that there would be a secret within it that the Grand Duke desired, and a leash to control him.
***
The drawing room of the Duke of Madeleine.
Sir Huxley, who served tea, could not believe his eyes.
The Duke is having tea with His Highness the Grand Duke.
The air in the drawing room felt sharp at this strange encounter. Many questions arose, but Lord Huxley knew that his life was precious.
After Lord Huxley left, the Duke of Madeleine stared at the search in the teacup for a long time.
It was when the tea cooled and an astringent smell came out that Ilhe couldn't easily say it despite the Grand Duke's eyes testing him.
"Is that kid okay?"
The Duke spoke with great difficulty.
"That kid. I don't know who the Duke is asking me about."
Contrary to his appearance of accepting the treatment with ease, the Grand Duke trembled slyly. The Duke of Madeleine felt strangely thirsty. And again it took him a while before he pronounced the name.
"... Olivia."
"I don't know why the Duke is worried about My Lady, but I guess she hasn't arrived in Vikander territory yet."
The Duke didn't know that his words of drawing a line would make him feel dizzy. The Duke quickly tried to say something else.
The sight of Olivia walking alone, refusing even the carriage, was pleasing to his eyes.
After that, the Duke thought about Olivia for a while and eventually realized that he was worried about what he was doing.
But..
The many worries that Ethella, Jade, and Conrad might have had were not easily expressed.
While the Duke was licking his lips, the Grand Duke grinned.
"I heard that the three father and son took a vacation together. It looks like you're going on vacation for Father's Day, right?"
The Grand Duke would probably know the destination. But before the Duke could say his words, the Grand Duke spoke first.
"I hope you stop thinking about My Lady when you go to that vacation spot"
The Duke couldn't bear to say that he couldn't do that. But he couldn't even say anything to claim his rights like before.
The Grand Duke, who was looking at the Duke as if it was something new, slowly got up from his seat and muttered.
"I'm glad the Duke didn't casually call himself father today."
When Edwin left the Duke's drawing room, the Duke's lieutenant bowed his head politely and Winster seemed somewhat upset.
"I didn't know that Your Highness would accept the Duke's special treatment."
Aha. Edwin responded angrily as he quickly revealed the cause of his heartache.
"I was curious about how you looked emaciated and alone."
It was a very trivial curiosity. Among the well-stained faces, what would a gaunt face say as if it was alone with its worries.
"Yes?"
"Well, it wasn't surprising. Anyway, Winster, you might be more curious about the document than this, right?"
Winster quickly forgot about the Duke and lowered his voice.
"Then 'that' secret document..."
"I told you to bring it when the tax rate is set tonight. We'll have to wait and see."
"No, did you say that precious thing out loud?"
Winster jumped up. The Grand Duke, who was looking at this, smiled crookedly and shrugged his shoulders.
"What do you think? The person who gave me that precious thing is also in this palace."
It was a strange designation.
Only then did Winster see the Princess standing at the corner of the road.
The Princess, who was accompanied only by a maid and holding her parasol, as if trying to arrange a meeting disguised as coincidence, smiled beautifully when the Grand Duke and her eyes met.
"Grand Duke, just give me a moment."
"Excuse me, Your Highness. Because I'm busy."
She received a polite refusal to express her gratitude for the foolish yet grateful mistake of handing over the white crystal mine to Olivia.
Edwin, who was walking thinking that he had paid off his bill well, paused for a moment.
If he thinks about it, shouldn't the Princess be grateful to him just for not crushing her neck?
Considering what she had done to Olivia, it was something he couldn't just leave alone.
After a moment of hesitation, Winster lowered his voice and began to report.
"Your Highness, isn't there Maria Ethel in the Prince's Palace?"
"Why is that woman?"
"That is..."
As the whispering voice continued, the corners of Edwin's mouth turned up.
Comments
Post a Comment