"I've been wanting to see Her Highness the Princess for a long time..."
When Graham mentioned Carson's younger sister, he finally slowly turned his head toward Count Graham.
"Who do you want to see?"
Carson, who had taken off the mask he had been wearing so well, stopped speaking to the Count. When he spoke, Ines unconsciously flinched as if she had faced an angry God.
Count Graham also had difficulty speaking and straightened up, coughing loudly.
"Since we're like family, wouldn't Her Highness want to see me?"
"Since we're like family... "
Graham smiled calmly, but he couldn't hide the fact that the tip of his mustache was trembling slightly.
"Does Count Graham send off someone who's like family in such an intense way?"
The Count couldn't even pretend to smile at Carson's continued words.
"What... I think there's a misunderstanding."
“Misunderstanding? What are you talking about? Oh, Count Graham sent my sister, the Princess of the Keynes Empire, out with just a maid?”
“Oh, that’s...”
Graham couldn’t answer, perhaps because he hadn’t expected it.
“That’s fine. That means the security of your territory and Landhill is excellent. As long as there’s no one-sided, sudden attack.”
Carson could clearly read what the old fox in front of him was thinking. While he was in the palace, Count Graham often came to the palace to see the Empress. Whenever he did, Carson would just keep quiet no matter what he said.
So Count Graham couldn’t help but be surprised at such a clear statement confirming his crime.
At that time, Carson had no choice but to do so because his sister was in Count Graham's hands, but no longer.
The noble family head standing in front of Ines could not bear the heavy atmosphere of the two lords. Count Graham eventually couldn’t even say a word properly and hurriedly took his family and left Carson.
Then the Swenden family’s turn right away.
Ines’ father had no choice but to bow to Carson and greet him.
Then Carson smiled brightly at Viscount Swenden and held out his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Viscount Swenden.”
Carson, who had been polite to Count Graham as if it were natural, was now speaking politely to Viscount Swenden. Since all the noble families had already shaken hands with the new lord, Andrew had no choice but to take his hand.
“Yes, Count. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Andrew could feel Count Graham staring at him.
Embarrassed, Andrew hurriedly tried to get away, but Carson wouldn’t let go of his hand.
“I should have gone and thanked you in person, but I did.”
Andrew quickly realized that it was about the Princess that his daughter had saved.
“No. It was an honor for my family to be able to safely serve the Princess.”
“The Viscount has raised your daughter so well.”
“That’s too much praise.”
At that moment, Carson looked at Ines naturally. When their eyes met, he felt her flinch. He asked her with a gentle smile.
“Is your body completely recovered?”
“Thanks to your concern, I am better now.”
“That’s good.”
Carson turned his gaze back to Count Graham while holding Andrew’s hand.
“There was something I had to tell you both anyway, and since we’re all here, I think it wouldn’t be bad to talk about it here.”
“Who are you referring to when you say ‘you both’?”
Count Graham asked, furrowing his brow.
“Of course, it would be Count Graham and Viscount Swenden, right?”
At that moment, Ines widened her eyes and looked at Carson.
In fact, Carson had planned to meet Ines separately and tell her that the Swenden family had completely annexed Landhill. However, there was more to tell her, so he thought it would be good to see her happy face right now.
“What on earth is going on?”
“Oh, it’s nothing... I heard that the house of Swenden still belongs to Lesonia?”
“Yes...That’s right?”
“From now on, Viscount Swenden will be looking after my affairs.”
“What did you just say?”
“I don’t think I said anything difficult for you to understand?”
“Your Highness, what do you mean?”
“Exactly. From now on, Swenden will be the vassals of Landhill.”
“But Swenden has been the vassals of Lesonia for generations.”
“Yes, I know. But that was 35 years ago.”
“Thirty-five years ago?”
Seeing the Count’s attitude, which was almost like shouting, Carson slowly let go of Andrew’s hand. Then he strode towards Count Graham.
Although he had clearly stepped down from the platform, he was still looking down at the Count.
“Count Graham, what are you doing now?”
“...”
“Are you in the Keynes Empire daring to speak against the royal family?”
“That’s not it...”
“You dare call me Your Highness and then yell at me?”
“...”
“This empire has never once in its history not adopted gnosticism. And how dare a mere Count dare to break the laws of the empire that even the Emperor upholds?”
At the mention of the word Emperor, the Count bent down and bowed to him.
“I apologize, Your Highness. However, this matter is enacted by special law.”
“Ah, that special law.”
Carson smiled as if he had never once driven the Count to anger and pushed him away, and moved away from him a little.
“Don’t worry about that. I just got the Empress’s approval today.”
“Her Majesty the Empress?”
Now as if he was annoyed, Carson waved his hand and climbed back up onto the platform.
“Aren’t you too old to take care of your estate? Why can’t you understand me? I heard you have a grown son. Why don’t you just put everything down and rest?”
“...”
“Or do you think I’m lying? Do you want to see letters exchanged between the royal family?”
Count Graham bit his lower lip without saying anything.
“What on earth are you carrying on your back that makes you so indulgent?”
Ines fixed her gaze on Carson so as not to miss a single word he said or a single action he made.
The corner of his mouth was slightly raised on the left side, the angle at which he tilted his head toward the other person, the way his eyes looked down...
Without making a sound, he was catching every single thing in front of him without any gaps. It was a new realization that he was a royal. She pictured the figure in her mind as if she were imprinting it on her.
But at that moment, Carson saw someone other than Count Graham. The knight who was clearly guarding the Count’s daughter had been staring at Ines since a while ago.
Even as he was pushing Count Graham, Carson couldn’t help but pay attention to where the knight’s gaze was lingering.
The object of his guard was clearly not Ines, but for some reason, his gaze was focused only on her, so Carson was very alert.
He couldn’t be at ease about what Count Graham would do next.
“Do you have anything else to say? If not, then go. I have to greet my subjects.”
Count Graham’s face turned red at the blatant order to swear at him. He tried to say something with a grin, but then he took his daughter and walked away.
Carson, who had greeted all the nobles, stood in the middle of the banquet hall and thought back on what had just happened. At that moment, Noah approached him and handed him a piece of paper. As soon as he saw it, Carson frowned.
“What is this?”
The paper with the names of the women written all over it clearly meant something. Among them, he didn’t like the fact that the order was set.
“This is too much.”
“What are you talking about?”
There was nothing wrong with Noah’s behavior. Now, Carson von Raymond had to live his life as the Lord of Landhill, Count Raymond. He was a young lord and an unmarried man.
He knew that to give the people of the estate a sense of stability, the first thing he had to do was find a wife.
“This is the first banquet.”
“I’m not asking you to choose a bride right away. I’m just asking you to dance.”
So now, after finishing the greetings, it was clear that this was a good time to look at the women. The problem was that Carson had no intention of doing so at the moment.
“According to the numbers written here?”
“You can choose the order in any order you want.”
“No.”
“Yes?”
"No.”
“Are you saying you won’t get married?”
Carson shook his head as Noah’s words that he had clearly asked for marriage were overturned. Then he returned his gaze to the paper.
“But what criteria were used to select these?”
“Of course, they are daughters of the Landhill noble family.”
“That’s all?”
“Of course, only those from families above the Viscount’s level were selected. The family’s standing, reputation in the neighborhood, the size of the dowry, the age and appearance of the young ladies, etc.”
“Perfect.”
Noah took his words as pure praise. He compared the list he had selected in advance with the actual women who had come today and arranged them one by one. No one could have done it faster than him.
Carson went up to the second floor, saying a compliment that was definitely not a compliment. Every balcony was full of people, but he managed to find an empty balcony that overlooked the garden. When he finally had time alone, he tilted his head toward the sky and exhaled deeply.
“Count Raymond, Count Raymond...”
He repeated the name that people had called him all day.
It was the name he would have to live with for the rest of his life. He snickered, but it was only a momentary feeling of emptiness. As Noah had said, he urgently needed to find a woman who had the qualities to become a Countess. A woman who was neither too much nor too little.
He easily realized that he had been looking for someone’s name on Noah’s list.
But at that moment, a sight that made his eyes dazzle caught his eye.
It was that woman. The woman who was never found on Noah's list.
Ines Swenden, appeared in front of him wearing the dress he had chosen for her but never approached him.
After exchanging a brief greeting with him like everyone else, she never showed up at the banquet hall, but was now walking along the path in the garden.
When Graham mentioned Carson's younger sister, he finally slowly turned his head toward Count Graham.
"Who do you want to see?"
Carson, who had taken off the mask he had been wearing so well, stopped speaking to the Count. When he spoke, Ines unconsciously flinched as if she had faced an angry God.
Count Graham also had difficulty speaking and straightened up, coughing loudly.
"Since we're like family, wouldn't Her Highness want to see me?"
"Since we're like family... "
Graham smiled calmly, but he couldn't hide the fact that the tip of his mustache was trembling slightly.
"Does Count Graham send off someone who's like family in such an intense way?"
The Count couldn't even pretend to smile at Carson's continued words.
"What... I think there's a misunderstanding."
“Misunderstanding? What are you talking about? Oh, Count Graham sent my sister, the Princess of the Keynes Empire, out with just a maid?”
“Oh, that’s...”
Graham couldn’t answer, perhaps because he hadn’t expected it.
“That’s fine. That means the security of your territory and Landhill is excellent. As long as there’s no one-sided, sudden attack.”
Carson could clearly read what the old fox in front of him was thinking. While he was in the palace, Count Graham often came to the palace to see the Empress. Whenever he did, Carson would just keep quiet no matter what he said.
So Count Graham couldn’t help but be surprised at such a clear statement confirming his crime.
At that time, Carson had no choice but to do so because his sister was in Count Graham's hands, but no longer.
The noble family head standing in front of Ines could not bear the heavy atmosphere of the two lords. Count Graham eventually couldn’t even say a word properly and hurriedly took his family and left Carson.
Then the Swenden family’s turn right away.
Ines’ father had no choice but to bow to Carson and greet him.
Then Carson smiled brightly at Viscount Swenden and held out his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Viscount Swenden.”
Carson, who had been polite to Count Graham as if it were natural, was now speaking politely to Viscount Swenden. Since all the noble families had already shaken hands with the new lord, Andrew had no choice but to take his hand.
“Yes, Count. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Andrew could feel Count Graham staring at him.
Embarrassed, Andrew hurriedly tried to get away, but Carson wouldn’t let go of his hand.
“I should have gone and thanked you in person, but I did.”
Andrew quickly realized that it was about the Princess that his daughter had saved.
“No. It was an honor for my family to be able to safely serve the Princess.”
“The Viscount has raised your daughter so well.”
“That’s too much praise.”
At that moment, Carson looked at Ines naturally. When their eyes met, he felt her flinch. He asked her with a gentle smile.
“Is your body completely recovered?”
“Thanks to your concern, I am better now.”
“That’s good.”
Carson turned his gaze back to Count Graham while holding Andrew’s hand.
“There was something I had to tell you both anyway, and since we’re all here, I think it wouldn’t be bad to talk about it here.”
“Who are you referring to when you say ‘you both’?”
Count Graham asked, furrowing his brow.
“Of course, it would be Count Graham and Viscount Swenden, right?”
At that moment, Ines widened her eyes and looked at Carson.
In fact, Carson had planned to meet Ines separately and tell her that the Swenden family had completely annexed Landhill. However, there was more to tell her, so he thought it would be good to see her happy face right now.
“What on earth is going on?”
“Oh, it’s nothing... I heard that the house of Swenden still belongs to Lesonia?”
“Yes...That’s right?”
“From now on, Viscount Swenden will be looking after my affairs.”
“What did you just say?”
“I don’t think I said anything difficult for you to understand?”
“Your Highness, what do you mean?”
“Exactly. From now on, Swenden will be the vassals of Landhill.”
“But Swenden has been the vassals of Lesonia for generations.”
“Yes, I know. But that was 35 years ago.”
“Thirty-five years ago?”
Seeing the Count’s attitude, which was almost like shouting, Carson slowly let go of Andrew’s hand. Then he strode towards Count Graham.
Although he had clearly stepped down from the platform, he was still looking down at the Count.
“Count Graham, what are you doing now?”
“...”
“Are you in the Keynes Empire daring to speak against the royal family?”
“That’s not it...”
“You dare call me Your Highness and then yell at me?”
“...”
“This empire has never once in its history not adopted gnosticism. And how dare a mere Count dare to break the laws of the empire that even the Emperor upholds?”
At the mention of the word Emperor, the Count bent down and bowed to him.
“I apologize, Your Highness. However, this matter is enacted by special law.”
“Ah, that special law.”
Carson smiled as if he had never once driven the Count to anger and pushed him away, and moved away from him a little.
“Don’t worry about that. I just got the Empress’s approval today.”
“Her Majesty the Empress?”
Now as if he was annoyed, Carson waved his hand and climbed back up onto the platform.
“Aren’t you too old to take care of your estate? Why can’t you understand me? I heard you have a grown son. Why don’t you just put everything down and rest?”
“...”
“Or do you think I’m lying? Do you want to see letters exchanged between the royal family?”
Count Graham bit his lower lip without saying anything.
“What on earth are you carrying on your back that makes you so indulgent?”
Ines fixed her gaze on Carson so as not to miss a single word he said or a single action he made.
The corner of his mouth was slightly raised on the left side, the angle at which he tilted his head toward the other person, the way his eyes looked down...
Without making a sound, he was catching every single thing in front of him without any gaps. It was a new realization that he was a royal. She pictured the figure in her mind as if she were imprinting it on her.
But at that moment, Carson saw someone other than Count Graham. The knight who was clearly guarding the Count’s daughter had been staring at Ines since a while ago.
Even as he was pushing Count Graham, Carson couldn’t help but pay attention to where the knight’s gaze was lingering.
The object of his guard was clearly not Ines, but for some reason, his gaze was focused only on her, so Carson was very alert.
He couldn’t be at ease about what Count Graham would do next.
“Do you have anything else to say? If not, then go. I have to greet my subjects.”
Count Graham’s face turned red at the blatant order to swear at him. He tried to say something with a grin, but then he took his daughter and walked away.
***
Carson, who had greeted all the nobles, stood in the middle of the banquet hall and thought back on what had just happened. At that moment, Noah approached him and handed him a piece of paper. As soon as he saw it, Carson frowned.
“What is this?”
The paper with the names of the women written all over it clearly meant something. Among them, he didn’t like the fact that the order was set.
“This is too much.”
“What are you talking about?”
There was nothing wrong with Noah’s behavior. Now, Carson von Raymond had to live his life as the Lord of Landhill, Count Raymond. He was a young lord and an unmarried man.
He knew that to give the people of the estate a sense of stability, the first thing he had to do was find a wife.
“This is the first banquet.”
“I’m not asking you to choose a bride right away. I’m just asking you to dance.”
So now, after finishing the greetings, it was clear that this was a good time to look at the women. The problem was that Carson had no intention of doing so at the moment.
“According to the numbers written here?”
“You can choose the order in any order you want.”
“No.”
“Yes?”
"No.”
“Are you saying you won’t get married?”
Carson shook his head as Noah’s words that he had clearly asked for marriage were overturned. Then he returned his gaze to the paper.
“But what criteria were used to select these?”
“Of course, they are daughters of the Landhill noble family.”
“That’s all?”
“Of course, only those from families above the Viscount’s level were selected. The family’s standing, reputation in the neighborhood, the size of the dowry, the age and appearance of the young ladies, etc.”
“Perfect.”
Noah took his words as pure praise. He compared the list he had selected in advance with the actual women who had come today and arranged them one by one. No one could have done it faster than him.
Carson went up to the second floor, saying a compliment that was definitely not a compliment. Every balcony was full of people, but he managed to find an empty balcony that overlooked the garden. When he finally had time alone, he tilted his head toward the sky and exhaled deeply.
“Count Raymond, Count Raymond...”
He repeated the name that people had called him all day.
It was the name he would have to live with for the rest of his life. He snickered, but it was only a momentary feeling of emptiness. As Noah had said, he urgently needed to find a woman who had the qualities to become a Countess. A woman who was neither too much nor too little.
He easily realized that he had been looking for someone’s name on Noah’s list.
But at that moment, a sight that made his eyes dazzle caught his eye.
It was that woman. The woman who was never found on Noah's list.
Ines Swenden, appeared in front of him wearing the dress he had chosen for her but never approached him.
After exchanging a brief greeting with him like everyone else, she never showed up at the banquet hall, but was now walking along the path in the garden.
Comments
Post a Comment