Neos's gaze was very stern. He looked more like a fierce teacher who had come to teach Iland than a soldier who was standing guard. He said.
“Here, not only in the Palace of Nation but also in the Royal Household of Rotppair, all the subordinates respect the character and wisdom of the Crown Princess. Therefore, Your Majesty, Lord Lorevinev, please be aware of this fact and do not let your servants commit unexpected rudeness.”
Iland had an expression on his face as if Neos had hit him in the head. Well, he had never tolerated or listened to others saying unpleasant things to him, so it was a shock similar to being hit on the head.
Iland, who had been standing there with a blank expression, furrowed his brow for a moment. The moment the thick veins on his neck stood out, the door visible beyond Neos’ shoulder opened wide.
“Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess has arrived.”
Neos stepped aside and made room for him. At the same time, Iland turned his face, which had turned black with anger, fiercely. His eyes, which had been glaring as if they were about to burst into flames, widened as if he was terrified.
“Judith...”
Judith looked at Iland with an expressionless face, then quickly dismissed the attendants with a nod. However, she left Cheraan and Neos alone in the room.
The reason for this was that Judith had no expectation of her brother's patience or human nature. She knew well that Iland would become incredibly violent and clumsy if he was even slightly upset. So, if he were to act out of the ordinary, she needed someone to stop him.
The last time Iland saw Judith was when she was alone before she left Tien. While Iland was stunned by her appearance, which was noticeably different from the one he had seen a few years ago, Judith suddenly spoke.
“What’s going on?”
Iland couldn't hide his momentary bewilderment at the emotionless voice and tone. His lips and eyes shook simultaneously. However, after a moment of silence, a very unpleasant expression appeared on his face.
“What’s going on? Is that all you’re saying when you meet your brother for the first time in years without even saying hello?”
Judith snorted, raising the corners of her lips without moving an inch.
“A greeting? Did you expect me to bow to you?”
"What?"
As Iland raised his voice, Cheraan and Neos' gazes flew to him at the same time. Even so, Neos, the commander of the Combler Knights, could not tolerate the fact that Cheraan, who was no more than a maid to anyone, was glaring at him as if she was going to devour him.
“What on earth is this? Is this how the Rotairs teach you to treat your own blood relatives? Have you forgotten that I am your only brother? Tell me, Judith!”
Judith's brow furrowed. Her eyes blinked quickly, smiling vainly.
“Where is my brother?”
“What... what did you say?”
“When you sold me for money without any hesitation or regret, why are you now scolding me for not treating you like a brother? If you are serious, then the King of Tien is truly shameless.”
What had he just heard?
“Here, not only in the Palace of Nation but also in the Royal Household of Rotppair, all the subordinates respect the character and wisdom of the Crown Princess. Therefore, Your Majesty, Lord Lorevinev, please be aware of this fact and do not let your servants commit unexpected rudeness.”
Iland had an expression on his face as if Neos had hit him in the head. Well, he had never tolerated or listened to others saying unpleasant things to him, so it was a shock similar to being hit on the head.
Iland, who had been standing there with a blank expression, furrowed his brow for a moment. The moment the thick veins on his neck stood out, the door visible beyond Neos’ shoulder opened wide.
“Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess has arrived.”
Neos stepped aside and made room for him. At the same time, Iland turned his face, which had turned black with anger, fiercely. His eyes, which had been glaring as if they were about to burst into flames, widened as if he was terrified.
“Judith...”
Judith looked at Iland with an expressionless face, then quickly dismissed the attendants with a nod. However, she left Cheraan and Neos alone in the room.
The reason for this was that Judith had no expectation of her brother's patience or human nature. She knew well that Iland would become incredibly violent and clumsy if he was even slightly upset. So, if he were to act out of the ordinary, she needed someone to stop him.
The last time Iland saw Judith was when she was alone before she left Tien. While Iland was stunned by her appearance, which was noticeably different from the one he had seen a few years ago, Judith suddenly spoke.
“What’s going on?”
Iland couldn't hide his momentary bewilderment at the emotionless voice and tone. His lips and eyes shook simultaneously. However, after a moment of silence, a very unpleasant expression appeared on his face.
“What’s going on? Is that all you’re saying when you meet your brother for the first time in years without even saying hello?”
Judith snorted, raising the corners of her lips without moving an inch.
“A greeting? Did you expect me to bow to you?”
"What?"
As Iland raised his voice, Cheraan and Neos' gazes flew to him at the same time. Even so, Neos, the commander of the Combler Knights, could not tolerate the fact that Cheraan, who was no more than a maid to anyone, was glaring at him as if she was going to devour him.
“What on earth is this? Is this how the Rotairs teach you to treat your own blood relatives? Have you forgotten that I am your only brother? Tell me, Judith!”
Judith's brow furrowed. Her eyes blinked quickly, smiling vainly.
“Where is my brother?”
“What... what did you say?”
“When you sold me for money without any hesitation or regret, why are you now scolding me for not treating you like a brother? If you are serious, then the King of Tien is truly shameless.”
What had he just heard?
Iland looked around with an expression that seemed completely incomprehensible. It was a habitual behavior to look for someone who would listen to her rebellion, but of course, there was not a single person in the room who would scold Judith or defend Iland.
“Yes, you are now... Are you in your right mind right now? I thought you were acting a little strange from the moment you left. Are you really crazy?”
“So what if I'm crazy? So what if I'm sane? Either way, it has nothing to do with you, the King of Tien.”
“The King of Tien? So you are no longer a Tien person? The sound of your father wailing in the underworld!”
No matter how much he yelled and shouted, he could not inflict any damage on Judith. Judith looked at Iland, who was trembling and shouting, coldly and said.
“If my father laments, how can it be my fault? He will rather lament your rule. Of course, like father, like son, he may not think much of it even after seeing the country in decline.”
“Judith Lorevinev!”
Iland took a step forward. At the same time, Neos and Cheraan moved their bodies simultaneously and stood between the two as if protecting Judith.
“What... what is this now, now!”
The sight of Iland, who could do nothing but stamp his feet on the spot and pretend to run long distances, was extremely pitiful. Judith stared blankly at the man she once called her brother with very complicated emotions.
He had seemed so big when he was young that he was scary, but now he seemed insignificant. He had a small body without any solid parts, and his features were just like his late father's, so narrow and cunning, it was almost comical. Judith could understand why she had to be afraid of this person for so long, but on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel absurd.
“I have long since abandoned the name of Lorebinev. Didn’t you, who bear the name of Lorebinev, abandon me first? I am the Crown Princess of Rotair, not the Princess of Tien, nor your sister. So please stop being rude and go back. The reason I brought you here was to tell you to stay here and be quiet and leave. I have no other intentions.”
Iland's face was distorted so strangely that it looked as if he was about to burst into tears or burst into laughter. It was the kind of expression one might make when one tries to laugh at someone breaking a glass bottle, only to find out that the broken bottle was actually one of his own.
The window frame rattled and shook lightly in the wind blowing from outside. Iland, who came to his senses suddenly at the sound, glanced sideways at Cheraan and Neos, who were still standing in his way with a murderous look on their faces.
As with Tien, he could have been angry and lashed out, but for some reason, he became calm easily. Then, as if she had seen through his thoughts, Judith added in a stern voice.
“I know that you have repeatedly used me as an excuse to demand money from His Majesty the King of Rotair. I have not said anything until now, trusting that Your Majesty will make wise judgments, but if I hear such words again from today, I will not sit idly by.”
Iland clearly showed his displeasure at every word Judith uttered, but he did not refute her even though his lips were quivering. His mind was spinning faster than he could breathe.
What was the reason he came here in the first place?
“Yes, you are now... Are you in your right mind right now? I thought you were acting a little strange from the moment you left. Are you really crazy?”
“So what if I'm crazy? So what if I'm sane? Either way, it has nothing to do with you, the King of Tien.”
“The King of Tien? So you are no longer a Tien person? The sound of your father wailing in the underworld!”
No matter how much he yelled and shouted, he could not inflict any damage on Judith. Judith looked at Iland, who was trembling and shouting, coldly and said.
“If my father laments, how can it be my fault? He will rather lament your rule. Of course, like father, like son, he may not think much of it even after seeing the country in decline.”
“Judith Lorevinev!”
Iland took a step forward. At the same time, Neos and Cheraan moved their bodies simultaneously and stood between the two as if protecting Judith.
“What... what is this now, now!”
The sight of Iland, who could do nothing but stamp his feet on the spot and pretend to run long distances, was extremely pitiful. Judith stared blankly at the man she once called her brother with very complicated emotions.
He had seemed so big when he was young that he was scary, but now he seemed insignificant. He had a small body without any solid parts, and his features were just like his late father's, so narrow and cunning, it was almost comical. Judith could understand why she had to be afraid of this person for so long, but on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel absurd.
“I have long since abandoned the name of Lorebinev. Didn’t you, who bear the name of Lorebinev, abandon me first? I am the Crown Princess of Rotair, not the Princess of Tien, nor your sister. So please stop being rude and go back. The reason I brought you here was to tell you to stay here and be quiet and leave. I have no other intentions.”
Iland's face was distorted so strangely that it looked as if he was about to burst into tears or burst into laughter. It was the kind of expression one might make when one tries to laugh at someone breaking a glass bottle, only to find out that the broken bottle was actually one of his own.
The window frame rattled and shook lightly in the wind blowing from outside. Iland, who came to his senses suddenly at the sound, glanced sideways at Cheraan and Neos, who were still standing in his way with a murderous look on their faces.
As with Tien, he could have been angry and lashed out, but for some reason, he became calm easily. Then, as if she had seen through his thoughts, Judith added in a stern voice.
“I know that you have repeatedly used me as an excuse to demand money from His Majesty the King of Rotair. I have not said anything until now, trusting that Your Majesty will make wise judgments, but if I hear such words again from today, I will not sit idly by.”
Iland clearly showed his displeasure at every word Judith uttered, but he did not refute her even though his lips were quivering. His mind was spinning faster than he could breathe.
What was the reason he came here in the first place?
He had never intended to congratulate his sister on her wedding. The only thing that was important to him was his wealth. In any case, if he wanted to achieve his goal easily, he couldn't get kicked out of this place right now.
'Look at that big talk. This brat is getting a really good deal... If that's the case, I'll have to cling on even tighter to get something out of it to make a little bit of a dent.'
Iland thought. After doing some calculations, he showed a completely different expression from the shouting he had been giving off just a moment ago. He even smiled slightly.
“Judith... Your brother is truly sorry for you. I was somewhat neglectful of you when I was young, so how can you be so cruel to me when I came all the way to a foreign land to celebrate your wedding?”
“I clearly told you that I don’t have a brother.”
“No matter how much you say that, the bloodline that was once connected won’t disappear, right? I was wrong about everything that happened in the past. It’s already in the past, so let’s forget about it. No matter what you say, we’re the only two siblings in the world.”
He kept talking and making cowardly imitations that didn't suit him, but Judith's gaze was cold the whole time. Iland rolled his eyes and pretended to check her mood, tried to act generous, and backed away.
“Why would I... come here on such a wonderful day to complain? Don’t worry. I have my own thoughts... I really just came here to congratulate you.”
Judith didn't wait for him to finish his rambling before turning around. As soon as she turned around, she felt sick and even wanted to vomit. She wanted to chase him away right away, but since he was already a formally invited guest, she couldn't do that and was so angry that her stomach was turning.
“Look here, Judith...”
Iland tried to grab Judith, but she didn't look back with a cold expression. Following Cheraan, Neos also left the room without even giving Iland a glance. Iland, who was left alone in the empty living room, burst into laughter with a bewildered expression.
“These things dare...”
The trembling voice came out and then suddenly stopped. The moment he was about to swear, the door that had been closed opened again. Iland's eyes, which were glaring at the open door as if he was about to swing his clenched fist, widened like a person in surprise.
A black jacket with a subtle red lining, with delicately crafted buttons running straight down both sides along the front darts. From the neatly angled epaulets to the golden tassels hanging appropriately along the shoulder line, everything caught the eye.
Iland, who had been accustomed to luxury all his life, immediately recognized how carefully the clothes he was wearing had been made. Instead, he was so absorbed in the clothes that he belatedly remembered who had opened the door and come in.
"Nice to see you."
The voice of the man who opened the door and came in sounded very nice to Iland's ears. The plain and low voice, the polite tone, and the faint smile that was barely visible made the neat and ascetic appearance feel rather sensual. Compared to him, Iland looked like a crow carelessly draped in glittering jewels, but he did not realize it.
"You are..."
Iland, who was slightly taken aback by the voice of the man who appeared without notice, opened his mouth gropingly as if checking the mood. Then, the smile that had been lingering on the corner of the man’s mouth became a little more distinct.
“This is Franz Jedercayer.”
'Look at that big talk. This brat is getting a really good deal... If that's the case, I'll have to cling on even tighter to get something out of it to make a little bit of a dent.'
Iland thought. After doing some calculations, he showed a completely different expression from the shouting he had been giving off just a moment ago. He even smiled slightly.
“Judith... Your brother is truly sorry for you. I was somewhat neglectful of you when I was young, so how can you be so cruel to me when I came all the way to a foreign land to celebrate your wedding?”
“I clearly told you that I don’t have a brother.”
“No matter how much you say that, the bloodline that was once connected won’t disappear, right? I was wrong about everything that happened in the past. It’s already in the past, so let’s forget about it. No matter what you say, we’re the only two siblings in the world.”
He kept talking and making cowardly imitations that didn't suit him, but Judith's gaze was cold the whole time. Iland rolled his eyes and pretended to check her mood, tried to act generous, and backed away.
“Why would I... come here on such a wonderful day to complain? Don’t worry. I have my own thoughts... I really just came here to congratulate you.”
Judith didn't wait for him to finish his rambling before turning around. As soon as she turned around, she felt sick and even wanted to vomit. She wanted to chase him away right away, but since he was already a formally invited guest, she couldn't do that and was so angry that her stomach was turning.
“Look here, Judith...”
Iland tried to grab Judith, but she didn't look back with a cold expression. Following Cheraan, Neos also left the room without even giving Iland a glance. Iland, who was left alone in the empty living room, burst into laughter with a bewildered expression.
“These things dare...”
The trembling voice came out and then suddenly stopped. The moment he was about to swear, the door that had been closed opened again. Iland's eyes, which were glaring at the open door as if he was about to swing his clenched fist, widened like a person in surprise.
A black jacket with a subtle red lining, with delicately crafted buttons running straight down both sides along the front darts. From the neatly angled epaulets to the golden tassels hanging appropriately along the shoulder line, everything caught the eye.
Iland, who had been accustomed to luxury all his life, immediately recognized how carefully the clothes he was wearing had been made. Instead, he was so absorbed in the clothes that he belatedly remembered who had opened the door and come in.
"Nice to see you."
The voice of the man who opened the door and came in sounded very nice to Iland's ears. The plain and low voice, the polite tone, and the faint smile that was barely visible made the neat and ascetic appearance feel rather sensual. Compared to him, Iland looked like a crow carelessly draped in glittering jewels, but he did not realize it.
"You are..."
Iland, who was slightly taken aback by the voice of the man who appeared without notice, opened his mouth gropingly as if checking the mood. Then, the smile that had been lingering on the corner of the man’s mouth became a little more distinct.
“This is Franz Jedercayer.”
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