Marriage and Sword 5
The courtroom was thrown into chaos at Erzenes Targayel's words. Everyone was at a loss as to what to do and was busy looking at each other.
Crown Prince Raymond, who was watching the situation, sneered. An incident that had happened a while ago came to mind.
"Your Highness. I apologize for coming to see you so suddenly."
A few days ago, Duke Seraph came to see Raymond without any notice. Although he was a little surprised by his sudden visit, Raymond readily agreed to meet him.
"I heard there was a fire at the dugout. Are you okay?"
Raymond also heard that the Duke Seraph's residence had been half burned down by fire. He thought that was why he came to discuss it, but that was not the case at all.
"The mansion is undergoing restoration work. In the meantime, we are temporarily staying at another mansion in the capital, so don't worry."
Duke Seraph was no different than usual. Raymond, who had been secretly hoping to see him shaken, hid his disappointment. Duke Seraph smiled broadly at Raymond, who was offering comfort.
"The reason I came to see you suddenly is because I have something urgent to tell you."
"Hmm?"
"This is the story of Count Targayel."
At the name Targayel, Raymond sat up straight from his relaxed posture. And began to listen to the story of Duke Seraph. The words he spoke were nothing but astonishment. After listening for a while, Raymond covered his face with his hand and muttered in a confused voice.
"Countess Targayel was Elijah's Elze..."
He had felt since the last banquet that she was different from ordinary noblewomen. But she never thought that she was Elijah's Elze. That was beyond Raymond's imagination. Raymond pressed his fingers against his temples and asked the Duke of Seraph.
"Count Targayel knew this from the beginning?"
"He knew it. At the very least, he should have told Your Highness, but he kept it a secret from you until now without saying a word."
"Ha..."
Raymond felt his heart tighten. Shan knew that he was wary of Elijah, but he had kept it a secret from him.
After the Hundred Years' War, when he ordered him to eliminate Elijah, Shan did not follow his orders. Instead, he took them into Targayel's private army. Now he understands why Shan sided with Elijah so much back then.
Since becoming the Crown Prince of the Baluar Empire, he had not trusted anyone. However, Shan Cirxus was the only person Raymond had given his heart to. The more he gave his heart to him, the greater the sense of betrayal he felt.
Duke Seraph sighed softly as he looked at Raymond, who was frozen in shock. He whispered to Raymond with an extremely pitiful expression on his face.
"Haven't I warned you many times? He is dangerous, Your Highness. You had to get rid of the hounds after the hunt."
"..."
"The Marquis de Geth would like to raise this issue formally at the trial of the Count of Epernon. He would like to use it as an opportunity for his eldest son to make his debut in central politics. Would you be willing to do so?"
Raymond couldn't answer easily. The moment he nodded here, Targayel would be kicked out of central politics.
When he returned to the Empire after the war, Duke Seraph was in control of the Imperial Palace. He enjoyed power no less than that of the Emperor, although he did not show it on the outside. Thus, the one who Raymond created to be a force to check the Duke was Count Targayel.
But now he's telling him to destroy it with his own hands.
"I think it would be a good idea to use this incident as an excuse to clean up House Targayel. Since Your Highness forcibly saved a family that was in ruins anyway, it is time to let it go its course."
The voice of the Duke of Seraph crept into his head. Raymond could not hide the fact that he was shaken by the words he whispered. In the end, Raymond ended up agreeing with the Duke of Seraph’s opinion.
"...I will follow your words."
A flash of joy flashed across the eyes of Duke Seraph, who had obtained what he wanted, but unfortunately, Raymond did not see it. Duke Seraph quickly regained his composure and continued speaking.
"Oh, and this is a minor story, but... Recently, I have been planting a spy in Heglatan and gathering information."
"You're in Heglatan?"
To Raymond, who asked in surprise, Duke Seraph spoke in a smooth tone.
"Yes. I didn't plan on reporting it until there were results. But it seems the Count misunderstood that as collusion with Heglatan."
Duke Seraph handed Raymond a thick stack of documents.
"I have summarized the detailed information and achievements made so far, although they are limited."
"Duke Seraph..."
Raymond didn't know that Duke Seraph had shocked him and had achieved his goal by sneaking it in. Raymond was being dragged along as Duke Seraph wanted. Duke Seraph smiled beautifully in front of Raymond and whispered.
"Seraph will continue to be loyal to the Baluar royal family."
Elze smiled bitterly as she watched the courtroom turn upside down at her words. She hadn’t expected cheers, but the cold stares mixed with shock were bitter.
The whispers around her were mostly what she had expected. From the moment Elijah's Elze turned into a woman, all of her achievements in the war were being belittled.
The idea of a woman fighting in war, and as a mercenary at that, was still a difficult concept to accept in Baluar. However, when she heard whispers that this was a victory won by rolling her body against Heglatan, even Elze had a hard time holding back her anger.
Adam, who was taken aback by Elze's straightforward admission, stood speechless for a moment. Then, his father, the Marquis of Geth, tapped him on the side, bringing him back to his senses and belatedly opening his mouth again.
“Well, since you have admitted that you are Elze, I will accuse you of the crimes you committed without going through a trial.”
Adam took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat running down his cheek, then continued.
“As a woman, you have deceived the imperial family by hiding your identity and participating in the war. Furthermore, the Targayel family, known as the Sword of the Emperor, did not become knights and serve the Empire as they should, but instead formed a mercenary band for personal gain.”
Adam, who had been criticizing Elze, then pointed his finger at Shan and shouted.
“Count Targayel knew all of this, yet you not only turned a blind eye to it without a word to the imperial court, but you even took Elijah’s mercenary band into his private army.”
He finished his speech with a slightly trembling voice.
“I hereby request that House Targayel be punished.”
The trial of Count Epernon had long since been forgotten. Everyone in the courtroom was focused on Targayel. Even the accused Count Epernon had completely forgotten about his own trial. Elze straightened her back as she felt the eyes gathering around her. And then she began to speak calmly.
“I inherited the sword talent that was passed down through Targayel.”
The rumor about the talent of the sword spread. The fact that the talent of the sword, which was thought to have been lost, had been passed down through several generations and was manifested in a woman at that, was a huge story.
Elze knew better than anyone that she was not a good speaker. But she was determined to do her best. Suppressing her pounding heart, she continued to speak calmly in front of the crowd.
“But even if I inherited the sword, there was no precedent for a female knight in the empire. I couldn’t force the impossible, so I had no choice but to hide my identity and gender and participate in the war as a mercenary.”
A few of the women who had been sitting as observers nodded slightly at Elze's words. Elze placed one hand on her chest, extended the other, and spoke in a genuine, childish voice.
“It is true that the Elijah Mercenary received material support from the Baluar Imperial Family. However, it was a choice made for the sake of the other members. It is not right to expect loyalty to Baluar from those who were born as mercenaries.”
Of course, Elze also enjoyed some material gains, but here they were slightly covered up. Instead, Elze showed off something else in a big way.
“If I were truly pursuing self-interest, I would have sided with Heglatan rather than Baluar during the war.”
The atmosphere that had been fierce and hostile until just a moment ago was gradually softening.
“In the Battle of Shan-Elijah, Count Targayel and the Elijahs defeated Heglatan’s forces with only five men. At that time, Heglatan tried to persuade me. If it was for my own selfish interests, I would have surrendered then. But I chose to fight back.”
Of course, this wasn't because of Baluar, but to save Shan, there was no need to reveal it. Elze whispered in a slightly lowered voice.
“There is not a single lie in the loyalty with which we fought and died for the Baluar Empire.”
As Elze finished speaking, silence flowed. After finishing speaking, Elze took a small breath to calm her ragged breathing.
Crown Prince Raymond, who had been quietly listening to the story, let out a short sigh and said.
“But now that it has been brought up publicly, it is an issue that cannot be overlooked.”
Elze chewed the flesh inside her mouth without being seen. Raymond said so and closed his mouth.
The silence continued again. No one dared to open their mouths or move. It was at that moment when no one moved in the silence. Shan stood up from his seat.
“...!”
As Elze looked at him in surprise, Shan walked over to Raymond and bent one knee.
"Your Highness."
Shan, who had assumed a posture as if he were swearing an oath to his lord, looked up at Raymond and spoke in a heavy voice.
“It is true that Targayel has stirred up trouble. I know full well that nothing can wash away our sin of deceiving the Empire and the Crown.”
“...”
“However, I would like to ask Your Highness for a chance to atone.”
“...A chance for atonement.”
“The Hundred Years’ War is over, but there are still conflicts, big and small, along the borders adjacent to Heglatan.”
Shan looked at Elze for a moment. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Shan’s eyes were gleaming deep inside. Elze couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“If you send Targayel to the border, I will personally settle the dispute.”
The nobles looked at Shan in surprise. He said he was clearing the border, but in reality, it was no different from demotion, expelling Targayel from the central government. He had personally requested a punishment that could only be handed down as punishment.
Not only was Raymond bewildered by this absurd situation, but even Duke Seraph’s eyes wavered. They carefully examined Shan’s expressions to figure out his thoughts. However, they had no idea what he was thinking.
Shan simply kept his face extremely calm and continued speaking as if he had stepped away from the chaos around him.
“I wish to carry out the name of Targayel, the Sword of the Emperor.”
Shan lowered his gaze and spoke slowly and with a tone of loyalty.
“Send me to the border with Targayel’s private soldiers.”
However, Shan's eyes, which were lowered so that Raymond could not see them, were flashing dangerously like a hunting dog about to start hunting.
The trial of the attempted murder of the Crown Princess ended without much success. This was because the plaintiff, the Marquis of Geth, only got heated when attacking Targayel, and was lax when it came to questioning the Count of Epernon's guilt.
In a way, it was natural. In fact, no one in the courtroom had time to pay attention to the Count of Epernon.
The defense of the Count of Epernon was continued by another noble who had been acting as a defense attorney on behalf of Shan. However, the trial was put on the back burner. Everyone was busy watching Elze and Shan throughout the trial. They glanced at the two of them and interpreted even the smallest actions with great significance. They were trying to find out something, even if it was just a little.
The Count of Epernon was convicted of having attempted to warn the Count of Targayel, but had inadvertently endangered the life of the Crown Princess. He was spared the death penalty because he had not intended to kill the Crown Princess, but was found guilty of attempting to attack the Countess of Targayel. As a result, he was stripped of his hereditary title and reduced to a commoner.
Strictly speaking, the Count of Epernon would also be resentful. In fact, he had done nothing and was merely covering up the plot of the Duke of Seraph.
But the Count of Epernon did not object and complied with the verdict. In such matters, it did not matter who was at fault. In a game decided by the law of power, the Count of Epernon's family was destined for destruction.
However, thanks to the efforts of Duke Wade and Count Targayel, he was able to save his life. Count Epernon was well aware of this fact and therefore remained silent.
And as soon as the trial was over, Shan was called in to speak privately with Raymond.
“It might take some time. I think it would be better to go home first.”
Shan took care of Elze until the end with a worried expression, then disappeared with Raymond. As soon as Elze was left alone, she felt the subtle gazes pouring in toward her.
“...”
As if an invisible wall had been created, no one approached more than a certain distance. At the same time, they did not take their eyes off Elze and closely examined every little thing. Their curious gazes, like those of a curious animal, were more poisonous than hostile.
However, the gaze was better. Elze, who had a more sensitive sense than others, kept hearing whispers she didn't want to hear.
“Somehow... Wasn’t something strange happening at the hunting competition back then?”
“There was a rumor going around that she cut a hunting dog in half with a single stroke, and it was true...”
“I can’t believe that a woman would do something as vulgar as a mercenary.”
“You must have seen a fight with Heglatan. Isn’t that the only way a pretty woman can survive on the battlefield?”
The voices of all ages and genders mixed together were disgusting. Elze had to hear it all.
But not everyone in the courtroom was muttering. Among them, many kept their mouths shut and their expressions fixed. They were the people who had been moved by Elze’s sincere explanation earlier.
In particular, those who followed Shan and participated in the Hundred Years' War showed signs of confusion, but instead, they looked at Elze favorably. No one who saw with their own eyes heard with their own ears, or experienced with their own bodies belittled Elze's achievements.
But, ironically, the things she had vaguely heard through hearsay were causing even more trouble. She couldn't help but laugh as she watched the chaotic scene.
"Ha..."
As soon as Elze heard her low laugh, everyone's gazes gathered. And among them was Duke Seraph. His eyes sparkled even brighter. His eyes were filled with anticipation as to how Elze would react.
This was the person he liked the most when Elze would suddenly lose her temper or break down in tears. And Elze would never do as he wished.
“I think some people are making excessive remarks.”
When Elze began to speak softly, everyone else kept their mouths shut, wanting to hear what she had to say.
“If you have any questions or concerns, please ask me.”
Elze spoke coldly, her blue eyes filled with a chill.
“I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.”
But there were always going to be clueless guys no matter where you went. A young nobleman sitting next to Duke Seraph raised his hand like a student giving a presentation and spoke.
“How did a beautiful and delicate lady fight against the wicked Heglatan?”
He continued speaking with a faint smile.
“It’s not a rapier or a mangosh, but maybe...”
Then, he trailed off and burst into laughter with the people around him. Everyone was looking at him, expecting Elze to run away crying in humiliation. Elze quietly answered him.
“I told you to ask questions, not to insult me. Do you think you can take responsibility for your own words now?”
“I was just curious because I don’t know your skills. I hope there’s no misunderstanding.”
“Ah, I see.”
It was pathetic to hear him talking about such trivial things. Elze looked him up and down. Without thinking about what he had done, the man got angry at Elze’s gaze, saying it was insulting.
“If you doubt my skills so much...”
Elze smiled and asked him while he was getting angry.
“Would you like to duel me?”
A duel was the most justifiable way to kill. If he accepted, Elze was truly determined to kill him.
“No, that’s...”
The man slowly stepped back at Elze's gaze which secretly revealed his intention to live.
Elze nodded her head at the sight of him hunched over. It was a signal for the others to step forward if they wanted a duel, but at least there were no nobles here who were as arrogant as him. When they were told to step forward, they all quietly shut their mouths and ignored him. Elze, who was getting angry, was about to say another word when she felt warmth in her hand.
“Sister.”
The person holding my hand was Astin. Astin whispered in a small voice.
“There’s no point in getting more involved. So...”
When did he grow so tall? Astin, who had grown a little taller than Elze, met Elze's gaze through his clean-looking glasses.
“Let’s go home.”
Astin grabbed Elze's hand and pulled her closer as if he was trying to coax her. Astin was right. Now was not the time to do something like this. It was time to stay as quiet as possible and observe the situation. Elze sighed softly and nodded.
Astin took Elze's hand and walked briskly. She felt the Duke of Seraph looking at her from behind, but Elze pretended not to notice and followed Astin's lead. Then she boarded the carriage that would take her back to Targayel.
“...So, Count, you are misunderstanding Seraph.”
Shan just listened to what Raymond said in silence. It was amazing to hear him say that.
He wondered how Duke Seraph had the confidence to reveal Elze's identity, but it was as expected. H was amazed at the meticulousness with which he had taken the initiative one step ahead.
“Is that so?”
Shan continued his thoughts with a vague reply. Now that the rebellion had been prevented, the only cards left for Elze and Shan were the record of threatening Iarin and the blue-eyed prostitutes who were locked up in the basement of the Duke’s mansion.
However, when discussing with Elze, they ultimately decided to leave the matter of threatening Iarin buried. Of course, it was not a choice made with the honor of the Baluar royal family or Duke Seraph in mind.
From the moment the scandal about her broke out, regardless of who was the victim and who was the perpetrator, Iarin was going to be the center of gossip in social circles for a while.
Common sense would suggest that it would be right to curse the perpetrator and protect the victim. However, in most cases like this, the victim is often the one who suffers the most. In fact, the absurd situation of the victim being tormented by groundless rumors can occur.
But they couldn't just let it go, so they planned to ruin Duke Seraph's reputation. If he told the story about the prostitutes in the Duke's basement, he could at least peel off the veneer of a noble person.
It seemed like he wouldn't be able to feel better if he didn't do that. For now, Duke Seraph had no choice but to leave it at that.
The Count of Epernon had stripped him of his title as he had intended. What was left was Adam Geth, and he was worried about how to kill that bastard. He did not plan on killing him kindly.
“...I am very disappointed in you because of this matter. Why did you keep it a secret from me?”
Shan, who was thinking about how to kill Adam, stopped when he heard Raymond's words. Raymond spoke to Shan in a pretended, watery tone.
“I trusted you and considered you as my own brother.”
“...”
Brothers? Shan tried not to let the sneer show on his face. The person he considered his own brother had placed a watchman in Targayel Manor and was interrogating him like this, swayed by a single word from Duke Seraph.
Crown Prince Raymond was an extremely selfish person. He trusted no one and only used the word trust when he needed it. And when the usefulness was over, Raymond was the one who threw it away without any regrets.
“You were the only person I trusted and entrusted my back to on the battlefield, Shan.”
Raymond sighed heavily. He stared into space for a moment, then spoke quietly.
“It seems that His Majesty will soon return to the embrace of the goddess Ines. I have heard that it will be difficult for him to survive this year.”
The Emperor, who had sent the Empress away early and had been suffering from a long illness, had not been able to move from his bed since the Hundred Years' War. However, he had tenaciously kept his lifeline alive from day to day.
He was a corpse, but he was still called the Emperor simply because he was not dead. It felt like someone who should have died long ago had finally left this world. Raymond tried to persuade Shan by bringing up the throne.
“You were the person I wanted to use the most when I ascended to the throne, so why are you disappointing me like this?”
“...I’m sorry.”
But Shan just bowed his head and apologized briefly. Raymond sighed again and said.
“Tell me honestly, even now. What did you mean when you asked me to send Targayel to the border?”
But even though his tone seemed to be so desperately worried about Shan, his eyes were busy examining Shan’s expression. It was obvious that he was trying to delve into it clumsily. Shan was not the type to get caught up in such a shallow trick. Shan responded with a blank expression.
“It is literally to atone for the empire and the royal family.”
“...”
Raymond frowned at Shan's answer. It wasn't the answer he wanted. Raymond said in a slightly agitated voice.
“When I ascend to the throne, I will grant you a separate title. Divorce Erzenes Targayel, and put Elijah in your hands.”
“That cannot be, Your Highness.”
Eventually, Raymond lost his temper. He shouted loudly with a red face.
“Why is the Count walking towards death!”
“I am sorry, Your Highness.”
This is the way to live for me.
The courtroom was thrown into chaos at Erzenes Targayel's words. Everyone was at a loss as to what to do and was busy looking at each other.
Crown Prince Raymond, who was watching the situation, sneered. An incident that had happened a while ago came to mind.
"Your Highness. I apologize for coming to see you so suddenly."
A few days ago, Duke Seraph came to see Raymond without any notice. Although he was a little surprised by his sudden visit, Raymond readily agreed to meet him.
"I heard there was a fire at the dugout. Are you okay?"
Raymond also heard that the Duke Seraph's residence had been half burned down by fire. He thought that was why he came to discuss it, but that was not the case at all.
"The mansion is undergoing restoration work. In the meantime, we are temporarily staying at another mansion in the capital, so don't worry."
Duke Seraph was no different than usual. Raymond, who had been secretly hoping to see him shaken, hid his disappointment. Duke Seraph smiled broadly at Raymond, who was offering comfort.
"The reason I came to see you suddenly is because I have something urgent to tell you."
"Hmm?"
"This is the story of Count Targayel."
At the name Targayel, Raymond sat up straight from his relaxed posture. And began to listen to the story of Duke Seraph. The words he spoke were nothing but astonishment. After listening for a while, Raymond covered his face with his hand and muttered in a confused voice.
"Countess Targayel was Elijah's Elze..."
He had felt since the last banquet that she was different from ordinary noblewomen. But she never thought that she was Elijah's Elze. That was beyond Raymond's imagination. Raymond pressed his fingers against his temples and asked the Duke of Seraph.
"Count Targayel knew this from the beginning?"
"He knew it. At the very least, he should have told Your Highness, but he kept it a secret from you until now without saying a word."
"Ha..."
Raymond felt his heart tighten. Shan knew that he was wary of Elijah, but he had kept it a secret from him.
After the Hundred Years' War, when he ordered him to eliminate Elijah, Shan did not follow his orders. Instead, he took them into Targayel's private army. Now he understands why Shan sided with Elijah so much back then.
Since becoming the Crown Prince of the Baluar Empire, he had not trusted anyone. However, Shan Cirxus was the only person Raymond had given his heart to. The more he gave his heart to him, the greater the sense of betrayal he felt.
Duke Seraph sighed softly as he looked at Raymond, who was frozen in shock. He whispered to Raymond with an extremely pitiful expression on his face.
"Haven't I warned you many times? He is dangerous, Your Highness. You had to get rid of the hounds after the hunt."
"..."
"The Marquis de Geth would like to raise this issue formally at the trial of the Count of Epernon. He would like to use it as an opportunity for his eldest son to make his debut in central politics. Would you be willing to do so?"
Raymond couldn't answer easily. The moment he nodded here, Targayel would be kicked out of central politics.
When he returned to the Empire after the war, Duke Seraph was in control of the Imperial Palace. He enjoyed power no less than that of the Emperor, although he did not show it on the outside. Thus, the one who Raymond created to be a force to check the Duke was Count Targayel.
But now he's telling him to destroy it with his own hands.
"I think it would be a good idea to use this incident as an excuse to clean up House Targayel. Since Your Highness forcibly saved a family that was in ruins anyway, it is time to let it go its course."
The voice of the Duke of Seraph crept into his head. Raymond could not hide the fact that he was shaken by the words he whispered. In the end, Raymond ended up agreeing with the Duke of Seraph’s opinion.
"...I will follow your words."
A flash of joy flashed across the eyes of Duke Seraph, who had obtained what he wanted, but unfortunately, Raymond did not see it. Duke Seraph quickly regained his composure and continued speaking.
"Oh, and this is a minor story, but... Recently, I have been planting a spy in Heglatan and gathering information."
"You're in Heglatan?"
To Raymond, who asked in surprise, Duke Seraph spoke in a smooth tone.
"Yes. I didn't plan on reporting it until there were results. But it seems the Count misunderstood that as collusion with Heglatan."
Duke Seraph handed Raymond a thick stack of documents.
"I have summarized the detailed information and achievements made so far, although they are limited."
"Duke Seraph..."
Raymond didn't know that Duke Seraph had shocked him and had achieved his goal by sneaking it in. Raymond was being dragged along as Duke Seraph wanted. Duke Seraph smiled beautifully in front of Raymond and whispered.
"Seraph will continue to be loyal to the Baluar royal family."
***
Elze smiled bitterly as she watched the courtroom turn upside down at her words. She hadn’t expected cheers, but the cold stares mixed with shock were bitter.
The whispers around her were mostly what she had expected. From the moment Elijah's Elze turned into a woman, all of her achievements in the war were being belittled.
The idea of a woman fighting in war, and as a mercenary at that, was still a difficult concept to accept in Baluar. However, when she heard whispers that this was a victory won by rolling her body against Heglatan, even Elze had a hard time holding back her anger.
Adam, who was taken aback by Elze's straightforward admission, stood speechless for a moment. Then, his father, the Marquis of Geth, tapped him on the side, bringing him back to his senses and belatedly opening his mouth again.
“Well, since you have admitted that you are Elze, I will accuse you of the crimes you committed without going through a trial.”
Adam took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat running down his cheek, then continued.
“As a woman, you have deceived the imperial family by hiding your identity and participating in the war. Furthermore, the Targayel family, known as the Sword of the Emperor, did not become knights and serve the Empire as they should, but instead formed a mercenary band for personal gain.”
Adam, who had been criticizing Elze, then pointed his finger at Shan and shouted.
“Count Targayel knew all of this, yet you not only turned a blind eye to it without a word to the imperial court, but you even took Elijah’s mercenary band into his private army.”
He finished his speech with a slightly trembling voice.
“I hereby request that House Targayel be punished.”
The trial of Count Epernon had long since been forgotten. Everyone in the courtroom was focused on Targayel. Even the accused Count Epernon had completely forgotten about his own trial. Elze straightened her back as she felt the eyes gathering around her. And then she began to speak calmly.
“I inherited the sword talent that was passed down through Targayel.”
The rumor about the talent of the sword spread. The fact that the talent of the sword, which was thought to have been lost, had been passed down through several generations and was manifested in a woman at that, was a huge story.
Elze knew better than anyone that she was not a good speaker. But she was determined to do her best. Suppressing her pounding heart, she continued to speak calmly in front of the crowd.
“But even if I inherited the sword, there was no precedent for a female knight in the empire. I couldn’t force the impossible, so I had no choice but to hide my identity and gender and participate in the war as a mercenary.”
A few of the women who had been sitting as observers nodded slightly at Elze's words. Elze placed one hand on her chest, extended the other, and spoke in a genuine, childish voice.
“It is true that the Elijah Mercenary received material support from the Baluar Imperial Family. However, it was a choice made for the sake of the other members. It is not right to expect loyalty to Baluar from those who were born as mercenaries.”
Of course, Elze also enjoyed some material gains, but here they were slightly covered up. Instead, Elze showed off something else in a big way.
“If I were truly pursuing self-interest, I would have sided with Heglatan rather than Baluar during the war.”
The atmosphere that had been fierce and hostile until just a moment ago was gradually softening.
“In the Battle of Shan-Elijah, Count Targayel and the Elijahs defeated Heglatan’s forces with only five men. At that time, Heglatan tried to persuade me. If it was for my own selfish interests, I would have surrendered then. But I chose to fight back.”
Of course, this wasn't because of Baluar, but to save Shan, there was no need to reveal it. Elze whispered in a slightly lowered voice.
“There is not a single lie in the loyalty with which we fought and died for the Baluar Empire.”
As Elze finished speaking, silence flowed. After finishing speaking, Elze took a small breath to calm her ragged breathing.
Crown Prince Raymond, who had been quietly listening to the story, let out a short sigh and said.
“But now that it has been brought up publicly, it is an issue that cannot be overlooked.”
Elze chewed the flesh inside her mouth without being seen. Raymond said so and closed his mouth.
The silence continued again. No one dared to open their mouths or move. It was at that moment when no one moved in the silence. Shan stood up from his seat.
“...!”
As Elze looked at him in surprise, Shan walked over to Raymond and bent one knee.
"Your Highness."
Shan, who had assumed a posture as if he were swearing an oath to his lord, looked up at Raymond and spoke in a heavy voice.
“It is true that Targayel has stirred up trouble. I know full well that nothing can wash away our sin of deceiving the Empire and the Crown.”
“...”
“However, I would like to ask Your Highness for a chance to atone.”
“...A chance for atonement.”
“The Hundred Years’ War is over, but there are still conflicts, big and small, along the borders adjacent to Heglatan.”
Shan looked at Elze for a moment. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Shan’s eyes were gleaming deep inside. Elze couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“If you send Targayel to the border, I will personally settle the dispute.”
The nobles looked at Shan in surprise. He said he was clearing the border, but in reality, it was no different from demotion, expelling Targayel from the central government. He had personally requested a punishment that could only be handed down as punishment.
Not only was Raymond bewildered by this absurd situation, but even Duke Seraph’s eyes wavered. They carefully examined Shan’s expressions to figure out his thoughts. However, they had no idea what he was thinking.
Shan simply kept his face extremely calm and continued speaking as if he had stepped away from the chaos around him.
“I wish to carry out the name of Targayel, the Sword of the Emperor.”
Shan lowered his gaze and spoke slowly and with a tone of loyalty.
“Send me to the border with Targayel’s private soldiers.”
However, Shan's eyes, which were lowered so that Raymond could not see them, were flashing dangerously like a hunting dog about to start hunting.
***
The trial of the attempted murder of the Crown Princess ended without much success. This was because the plaintiff, the Marquis of Geth, only got heated when attacking Targayel, and was lax when it came to questioning the Count of Epernon's guilt.
In a way, it was natural. In fact, no one in the courtroom had time to pay attention to the Count of Epernon.
The defense of the Count of Epernon was continued by another noble who had been acting as a defense attorney on behalf of Shan. However, the trial was put on the back burner. Everyone was busy watching Elze and Shan throughout the trial. They glanced at the two of them and interpreted even the smallest actions with great significance. They were trying to find out something, even if it was just a little.
The Count of Epernon was convicted of having attempted to warn the Count of Targayel, but had inadvertently endangered the life of the Crown Princess. He was spared the death penalty because he had not intended to kill the Crown Princess, but was found guilty of attempting to attack the Countess of Targayel. As a result, he was stripped of his hereditary title and reduced to a commoner.
Strictly speaking, the Count of Epernon would also be resentful. In fact, he had done nothing and was merely covering up the plot of the Duke of Seraph.
But the Count of Epernon did not object and complied with the verdict. In such matters, it did not matter who was at fault. In a game decided by the law of power, the Count of Epernon's family was destined for destruction.
However, thanks to the efforts of Duke Wade and Count Targayel, he was able to save his life. Count Epernon was well aware of this fact and therefore remained silent.
And as soon as the trial was over, Shan was called in to speak privately with Raymond.
“It might take some time. I think it would be better to go home first.”
Shan took care of Elze until the end with a worried expression, then disappeared with Raymond. As soon as Elze was left alone, she felt the subtle gazes pouring in toward her.
“...”
As if an invisible wall had been created, no one approached more than a certain distance. At the same time, they did not take their eyes off Elze and closely examined every little thing. Their curious gazes, like those of a curious animal, were more poisonous than hostile.
However, the gaze was better. Elze, who had a more sensitive sense than others, kept hearing whispers she didn't want to hear.
“Somehow... Wasn’t something strange happening at the hunting competition back then?”
“There was a rumor going around that she cut a hunting dog in half with a single stroke, and it was true...”
“I can’t believe that a woman would do something as vulgar as a mercenary.”
“You must have seen a fight with Heglatan. Isn’t that the only way a pretty woman can survive on the battlefield?”
The voices of all ages and genders mixed together were disgusting. Elze had to hear it all.
But not everyone in the courtroom was muttering. Among them, many kept their mouths shut and their expressions fixed. They were the people who had been moved by Elze’s sincere explanation earlier.
In particular, those who followed Shan and participated in the Hundred Years' War showed signs of confusion, but instead, they looked at Elze favorably. No one who saw with their own eyes heard with their own ears, or experienced with their own bodies belittled Elze's achievements.
But, ironically, the things she had vaguely heard through hearsay were causing even more trouble. She couldn't help but laugh as she watched the chaotic scene.
"Ha..."
As soon as Elze heard her low laugh, everyone's gazes gathered. And among them was Duke Seraph. His eyes sparkled even brighter. His eyes were filled with anticipation as to how Elze would react.
This was the person he liked the most when Elze would suddenly lose her temper or break down in tears. And Elze would never do as he wished.
“I think some people are making excessive remarks.”
When Elze began to speak softly, everyone else kept their mouths shut, wanting to hear what she had to say.
“If you have any questions or concerns, please ask me.”
Elze spoke coldly, her blue eyes filled with a chill.
“I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.”
But there were always going to be clueless guys no matter where you went. A young nobleman sitting next to Duke Seraph raised his hand like a student giving a presentation and spoke.
“How did a beautiful and delicate lady fight against the wicked Heglatan?”
He continued speaking with a faint smile.
“It’s not a rapier or a mangosh, but maybe...”
Then, he trailed off and burst into laughter with the people around him. Everyone was looking at him, expecting Elze to run away crying in humiliation. Elze quietly answered him.
“I told you to ask questions, not to insult me. Do you think you can take responsibility for your own words now?”
“I was just curious because I don’t know your skills. I hope there’s no misunderstanding.”
“Ah, I see.”
It was pathetic to hear him talking about such trivial things. Elze looked him up and down. Without thinking about what he had done, the man got angry at Elze’s gaze, saying it was insulting.
“If you doubt my skills so much...”
Elze smiled and asked him while he was getting angry.
“Would you like to duel me?”
A duel was the most justifiable way to kill. If he accepted, Elze was truly determined to kill him.
“No, that’s...”
The man slowly stepped back at Elze's gaze which secretly revealed his intention to live.
Elze nodded her head at the sight of him hunched over. It was a signal for the others to step forward if they wanted a duel, but at least there were no nobles here who were as arrogant as him. When they were told to step forward, they all quietly shut their mouths and ignored him. Elze, who was getting angry, was about to say another word when she felt warmth in her hand.
“Sister.”
The person holding my hand was Astin. Astin whispered in a small voice.
“There’s no point in getting more involved. So...”
When did he grow so tall? Astin, who had grown a little taller than Elze, met Elze's gaze through his clean-looking glasses.
“Let’s go home.”
Astin grabbed Elze's hand and pulled her closer as if he was trying to coax her. Astin was right. Now was not the time to do something like this. It was time to stay as quiet as possible and observe the situation. Elze sighed softly and nodded.
Astin took Elze's hand and walked briskly. She felt the Duke of Seraph looking at her from behind, but Elze pretended not to notice and followed Astin's lead. Then she boarded the carriage that would take her back to Targayel.
***
“...So, Count, you are misunderstanding Seraph.”
Shan just listened to what Raymond said in silence. It was amazing to hear him say that.
He wondered how Duke Seraph had the confidence to reveal Elze's identity, but it was as expected. H was amazed at the meticulousness with which he had taken the initiative one step ahead.
“Is that so?”
Shan continued his thoughts with a vague reply. Now that the rebellion had been prevented, the only cards left for Elze and Shan were the record of threatening Iarin and the blue-eyed prostitutes who were locked up in the basement of the Duke’s mansion.
However, when discussing with Elze, they ultimately decided to leave the matter of threatening Iarin buried. Of course, it was not a choice made with the honor of the Baluar royal family or Duke Seraph in mind.
From the moment the scandal about her broke out, regardless of who was the victim and who was the perpetrator, Iarin was going to be the center of gossip in social circles for a while.
Common sense would suggest that it would be right to curse the perpetrator and protect the victim. However, in most cases like this, the victim is often the one who suffers the most. In fact, the absurd situation of the victim being tormented by groundless rumors can occur.
But they couldn't just let it go, so they planned to ruin Duke Seraph's reputation. If he told the story about the prostitutes in the Duke's basement, he could at least peel off the veneer of a noble person.
It seemed like he wouldn't be able to feel better if he didn't do that. For now, Duke Seraph had no choice but to leave it at that.
The Count of Epernon had stripped him of his title as he had intended. What was left was Adam Geth, and he was worried about how to kill that bastard. He did not plan on killing him kindly.
“...I am very disappointed in you because of this matter. Why did you keep it a secret from me?”
Shan, who was thinking about how to kill Adam, stopped when he heard Raymond's words. Raymond spoke to Shan in a pretended, watery tone.
“I trusted you and considered you as my own brother.”
“...”
Brothers? Shan tried not to let the sneer show on his face. The person he considered his own brother had placed a watchman in Targayel Manor and was interrogating him like this, swayed by a single word from Duke Seraph.
Crown Prince Raymond was an extremely selfish person. He trusted no one and only used the word trust when he needed it. And when the usefulness was over, Raymond was the one who threw it away without any regrets.
“You were the only person I trusted and entrusted my back to on the battlefield, Shan.”
Raymond sighed heavily. He stared into space for a moment, then spoke quietly.
“It seems that His Majesty will soon return to the embrace of the goddess Ines. I have heard that it will be difficult for him to survive this year.”
The Emperor, who had sent the Empress away early and had been suffering from a long illness, had not been able to move from his bed since the Hundred Years' War. However, he had tenaciously kept his lifeline alive from day to day.
He was a corpse, but he was still called the Emperor simply because he was not dead. It felt like someone who should have died long ago had finally left this world. Raymond tried to persuade Shan by bringing up the throne.
“You were the person I wanted to use the most when I ascended to the throne, so why are you disappointing me like this?”
“...I’m sorry.”
But Shan just bowed his head and apologized briefly. Raymond sighed again and said.
“Tell me honestly, even now. What did you mean when you asked me to send Targayel to the border?”
But even though his tone seemed to be so desperately worried about Shan, his eyes were busy examining Shan’s expression. It was obvious that he was trying to delve into it clumsily. Shan was not the type to get caught up in such a shallow trick. Shan responded with a blank expression.
“It is literally to atone for the empire and the royal family.”
“...”
Raymond frowned at Shan's answer. It wasn't the answer he wanted. Raymond said in a slightly agitated voice.
“When I ascend to the throne, I will grant you a separate title. Divorce Erzenes Targayel, and put Elijah in your hands.”
“That cannot be, Your Highness.”
Eventually, Raymond lost his temper. He shouted loudly with a red face.
“Why is the Count walking towards death!”
“I am sorry, Your Highness.”
This is the way to live for me.
But Shan didn't speak out his true feelings, he just kept them deep inside.
In his private conversation with Raymond, Shan was convinced that he was already completely under the control of Duke Seraph. Crucially, he sensed a faint fear in Raymond.
Raymond had never let his guard down in the past. But now, he felt a little different. If in the past Raymond had seen him as a loyal subject, now he seemed to see him as a rival who had to be defeated.
Shan made a show of bowing his head slightly. His guard was so strong that it would be a headache if he tried to use his skills right away. He planned to go along with Raymond's pace until they reached the border.
After finishing the private meeting, Shan hurried back to Targayel. He was worried that something might have happened to Elze, who was left alone in the courtroom after he left.
However, Shan had to stop his hasty steps because he came face to face with Duke Seraph.
“Count Targayel, are you finished speaking with His Highness?”
Shan wondered what on earth he was waiting to say. When Shan showed his annoyance on his face, Duke Seraph smiled faintly and said,
“It was truly an interesting trial today. Many nobles are delighted that the sword’s talent has not been lost in Targayel.”
The expression of joy was quite subjective. Shan let out an incredulous laugh. Duke Seraph continued speaking as he pleased.
“I know you must be tired after talking with Your Highness, but could you spare me a moment?”
Shan hesitated for a moment. However, he also wanted to hear what he had to say, and he also needed to understand Duke Seraph’s intentions to some extent. So Shan followed Duke Seraph and settled down in a place where there were few people.
“Let me make it simple.”
Duke Seraph didn't feel the need to beat around the bush with Shan. He got straight to the point.
“I wonder what the Count is thinking.”
Shan raised his eyebrows at the Duke's words.
“I’m asking just in case, but...”
As the Duke of Seraph tilted his head slightly, his platinum hair tumbled. The Duke asked in a gentle voice.
“Are you thinking of committing treason, Count?”
Shan snickered at the Duke's question. The Duke's face is slightly distorted at Shan's snickering instead of answering right away. Shan spoke in a relaxed tone.
“Your Excellency must be quite impatient. I didn’t expect you to come and ask me in person like this.”
“...”
“Your Excellency, you are very intelligent and know everything. Don’t you think you have figured out my intentions?”
Shan, who was very sarcastic, nodded his head arrogantly and added:
“Please try to match this too.”
The lips of the Duke Seraph, who had been smiling, trembled briefly. Although he tried not to show it on the outside, it was obvious that he was upset by Shan’s whining.
The Duke often insulted others, but he never insulted himself. No one dared to belittle the Duke Seraph, so it was difficult for him to calmly respond to unfamiliar situations.
But Duke Seraph quickly put his smooth mask back on. He spoke to Shan as if nothing had happened.
“Actually, I came here to make a suggestion rather than ask a question.”
Shan knew that whatever Duke Seraph suggested would be nothing but trash, but he decided to listen to it anyway.
“Give me Erzenes.”
But the Duke's words were even more rubbish than he had imagined. Shan's face, which had been lying down leisurely, suddenly hardened.
“What did you just say?”
Duke Seraph smiled faintly. He tried to shake Shan, just as he had shaken Crown Prince Raymond.
“If you continue on this path, you will fall back to your lowly status. You will lose honor and wealth, and become Shan Cirxus with nothing. If you wish to remain Count of Targayel...”
"Your Excellency."
There was no need to listen to the end of his words. Shan spoke to Duke Seraph with a truly absurd tone.
“Even if you give me more than a hundred titles, they mean nothing to me. I am not a person who is excited by noble nobility and such like Your Excellency. Do you understand?”
It seemed that Duke Seraph had misunderstood something. He had assumed that Shan would want to remain Count Targayel, and had deliberately made a bold proposal, intending to gradually adjust the situation.
But it was a long shot. It had to be a reasonable suggestion, this was impossible. To Shan, Elze was now the center and reason of her life. Duke Seraph was basically suggesting to Shan that he should receive the title after she died. Shan answered bluntly.
“Don’t treat her like a bargaining chip. She’s not the kind of woman to be treated like that.”
Duke Seraph was silent for a while. He was quiet for a while and then blurted out.
...Interesting. I thought you would be a little shaky.”
The Duke blinked slowly. An incomprehensible emotion appeared in his glassy eyes.
“Has the Count not the least interest in wealth and fame?”
If it was a human, he would have been interested, but Shan didn't even move an inch, so it seemed strange. However, even if he explained it in detail, it seemed like Duke Seraph wouldn't understand, and he didn't want to talk at length. Shan just said it simply.
“There is something more important than that.”
Then Shan looked around. After confirming that no one was passing by, Shan smiled at Duke Seraph and said.
“Oh, and...”
There was a moment when Duke Seraph was slightly flustered by the smile whose meaning was unclear. A vicious hand grabbed Duke Seraph’s neck.
“Ugh!”
Shan's hand grabbed the Duke's neck. The tightening force suffocated him in an instant. The face of the Duke Seraph, who was suffocating, turned bright red. Shan brought his face close to his. Shan whispered with his purple eyes flashing.
“Try to treat my wife like that one more time.”
The evil spirit grew stronger. Shan growled in fear, feeling as if his neck was about to break.
“At that time, I will just kill you without considering the consequences.”
And Shan slammed thenDuke Seraph down on the floor. The Duke rolled on the floor and was covered in dust. He jumped up, more frightened than when he was strangled. Shan calmly spoke to the DukeSeraph, who was glaring at him as if he was going to kill him as if nothing had happened.
“Oh, Your Excellency. Your legs must have given out. You just stood there and fell down on your own.”
Then, after greeting each other neatly, he turned around and left.
“I’m busy, so I’ll go first.”
Duke Seraph could only watch Shan's back as he walked away.
***
In his private conversation with Raymond, Shan was convinced that he was already completely under the control of Duke Seraph. Crucially, he sensed a faint fear in Raymond.
Raymond had never let his guard down in the past. But now, he felt a little different. If in the past Raymond had seen him as a loyal subject, now he seemed to see him as a rival who had to be defeated.
Shan made a show of bowing his head slightly. His guard was so strong that it would be a headache if he tried to use his skills right away. He planned to go along with Raymond's pace until they reached the border.
After finishing the private meeting, Shan hurried back to Targayel. He was worried that something might have happened to Elze, who was left alone in the courtroom after he left.
However, Shan had to stop his hasty steps because he came face to face with Duke Seraph.
“Count Targayel, are you finished speaking with His Highness?”
Shan wondered what on earth he was waiting to say. When Shan showed his annoyance on his face, Duke Seraph smiled faintly and said,
“It was truly an interesting trial today. Many nobles are delighted that the sword’s talent has not been lost in Targayel.”
The expression of joy was quite subjective. Shan let out an incredulous laugh. Duke Seraph continued speaking as he pleased.
“I know you must be tired after talking with Your Highness, but could you spare me a moment?”
Shan hesitated for a moment. However, he also wanted to hear what he had to say, and he also needed to understand Duke Seraph’s intentions to some extent. So Shan followed Duke Seraph and settled down in a place where there were few people.
“Let me make it simple.”
Duke Seraph didn't feel the need to beat around the bush with Shan. He got straight to the point.
“I wonder what the Count is thinking.”
Shan raised his eyebrows at the Duke's words.
“I’m asking just in case, but...”
As the Duke of Seraph tilted his head slightly, his platinum hair tumbled. The Duke asked in a gentle voice.
“Are you thinking of committing treason, Count?”
Shan snickered at the Duke's question. The Duke's face is slightly distorted at Shan's snickering instead of answering right away. Shan spoke in a relaxed tone.
“Your Excellency must be quite impatient. I didn’t expect you to come and ask me in person like this.”
“...”
“Your Excellency, you are very intelligent and know everything. Don’t you think you have figured out my intentions?”
Shan, who was very sarcastic, nodded his head arrogantly and added:
“Please try to match this too.”
The lips of the Duke Seraph, who had been smiling, trembled briefly. Although he tried not to show it on the outside, it was obvious that he was upset by Shan’s whining.
The Duke often insulted others, but he never insulted himself. No one dared to belittle the Duke Seraph, so it was difficult for him to calmly respond to unfamiliar situations.
But Duke Seraph quickly put his smooth mask back on. He spoke to Shan as if nothing had happened.
“Actually, I came here to make a suggestion rather than ask a question.”
Shan knew that whatever Duke Seraph suggested would be nothing but trash, but he decided to listen to it anyway.
“Give me Erzenes.”
But the Duke's words were even more rubbish than he had imagined. Shan's face, which had been lying down leisurely, suddenly hardened.
“What did you just say?”
Duke Seraph smiled faintly. He tried to shake Shan, just as he had shaken Crown Prince Raymond.
“If you continue on this path, you will fall back to your lowly status. You will lose honor and wealth, and become Shan Cirxus with nothing. If you wish to remain Count of Targayel...”
"Your Excellency."
There was no need to listen to the end of his words. Shan spoke to Duke Seraph with a truly absurd tone.
“Even if you give me more than a hundred titles, they mean nothing to me. I am not a person who is excited by noble nobility and such like Your Excellency. Do you understand?”
It seemed that Duke Seraph had misunderstood something. He had assumed that Shan would want to remain Count Targayel, and had deliberately made a bold proposal, intending to gradually adjust the situation.
But it was a long shot. It had to be a reasonable suggestion, this was impossible. To Shan, Elze was now the center and reason of her life. Duke Seraph was basically suggesting to Shan that he should receive the title after she died. Shan answered bluntly.
“Don’t treat her like a bargaining chip. She’s not the kind of woman to be treated like that.”
Duke Seraph was silent for a while. He was quiet for a while and then blurted out.
...Interesting. I thought you would be a little shaky.”
The Duke blinked slowly. An incomprehensible emotion appeared in his glassy eyes.
“Has the Count not the least interest in wealth and fame?”
If it was a human, he would have been interested, but Shan didn't even move an inch, so it seemed strange. However, even if he explained it in detail, it seemed like Duke Seraph wouldn't understand, and he didn't want to talk at length. Shan just said it simply.
“There is something more important than that.”
Then Shan looked around. After confirming that no one was passing by, Shan smiled at Duke Seraph and said.
“Oh, and...”
There was a moment when Duke Seraph was slightly flustered by the smile whose meaning was unclear. A vicious hand grabbed Duke Seraph’s neck.
“Ugh!”
Shan's hand grabbed the Duke's neck. The tightening force suffocated him in an instant. The face of the Duke Seraph, who was suffocating, turned bright red. Shan brought his face close to his. Shan whispered with his purple eyes flashing.
“Try to treat my wife like that one more time.”
The evil spirit grew stronger. Shan growled in fear, feeling as if his neck was about to break.
“At that time, I will just kill you without considering the consequences.”
And Shan slammed thenDuke Seraph down on the floor. The Duke rolled on the floor and was covered in dust. He jumped up, more frightened than when he was strangled. Shan calmly spoke to the DukeSeraph, who was glaring at him as if he was going to kill him as if nothing had happened.
“Oh, Your Excellency. Your legs must have given out. You just stood there and fell down on your own.”
Then, after greeting each other neatly, he turned around and left.
“I’m busy, so I’ll go first.”
Duke Seraph could only watch Shan's back as he walked away.
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