I’m Not That Kind of Talent - Chapter 40

40. Honorary Count Deon Hardt (5)

A week has passed since the banquet.

The murderous knights who wanted to put them in the middle of the forest were fortunate enough to be able to stay in a decent lodging despite Remember’s objection that they couldn’t waste their budget, and I… “You’re going to build another

dam

? How much time and money does it take to make one? Even the territory is Hart territory?! it’s crazy. “Who on earth posted this?”

“That’s me.”

“Ah… now that I think about it, having one more wouldn’t be a bad idea. Even though it is a temporary territory, it will be difficult to neglect management, so if drought or floods can be prevented… I will approve it.”

bang.

The seal was stamped.

…So, as you can see, I’m currently surrounded by a mountain of documents and I’m busy getting things done.

As I had half a year’s worth of documents behind me, I couldn’t rest properly for a week and was just working on documents. Naturally, dark shadows appeared under my eyes!

How long has it been since you came!

I feel like I just want to stamp it without reading it, but if I do that, Remember won’t let me go.

What’s really great about our butler is that he never raises his voice or frowns, but he has a knack for putting people off. Even now, look at me, I’m still opening my mouth to see what I’m trying to say.

He is probably trying to reprimand me for being negligent in managing Hart territory.

“It looks like you haven’t heard the news yet.”

“…yes?”

“A week ago, His Majesty temporarily entrusted the management of the Hart estate to the Count’s ownership.”

“What is that?!”

I barely accepted being put in temporary charge, but what did I do?

“This joke went a little too far, Remember.”

“It’s not a joke.”

“I didn’t receive an official letter or anything.”

“It must be here somewhere.”

“….”

I looked at the pile of documents that occupied not only the top of the desk but also the floor.

Remember calmly spoke to me with a devastated expression.

“The Hart estate now belongs to the Count. “It would be difficult to neglect management.”

“…Isn’t this too much for an ‘honorary count’ in the first place? “I received not only one or two territories, but why do I have to look into the national defense area?…”

He waved a document containing a report that a group of monsters were wandering around the territory near the border.

“That’s because part of the Count’s territory borders the border.”

“That’s right! Why should a ‘count emeritus’ assume the role of margrave!”

Margrave Count Emeritus.

These three are all counts, but their treatment and privileges are different.

An honorary count is a rank that is equal to a count and is treated equally, but is a single title. The title cannot be passed on to someone else, and upon death, the territory belongs to the empire.

What about the Count? As you know, it is possible to pass down a title. You can proudly show off your own ‘family’.

A margrave refers to a count who owns a territory bordering another kingdom.

In fact, he is a count in name only, but is treated almost equally as a marquis. Is this a benefit given to those responsible for part of national defense?

In that sense, it is shocking that it is not a count who has become a margrave, but an honorary count who has become a margrave.

“Ask your Majesty. “It is none other than His Majesty who has given you rights and duties greater than that of an honorary count.”

“There’s no way I can argue with you….”

I collapsed on my desk with a deep sigh.

There were more than one person who protested for no reason and lost their heads, so who would argue with the emperor?

Even though he gave me territory to manage in the imperial family.

‘Yes, that territory.’

The territory that made me take on the role of Margrave is not actually located on the border. It’s actually closer to the center.

In other words, it was originally a fiefdom that had to be managed by the imperial family.

The emperor gave the territory to me, who knew nothing. Damn it.

I’m satisfied with being an honorary count, but I don’t know why I’m anxious that I can’t get something more.

“…Rather than that, we need to find a way to return Hart Territory.”

I can easily pass over other fiefdoms, even the fiefdom that made me play the role of margrave, but I hate the Hart fiefdom.

I don’t have very good memories of this territory since it was the territory of the ‘former’ Count Hart family.

To be precise, we can say that their betrayal transformed the good memories into the worst past.

It was annoying to have it temporarily taken care of, but who is going to hand over ownership at will?

I can never get over this.

“There is no way they will accept it obediently…”

The temporary entrustment itself was something the emperor forced upon him.

Should I meet him in person and ask him to take it back?

It may be painful, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to ask for a deal, saying that you will grant whatever the emperor wants as long as it is practicable, just once.

It’s fortunate that the emperor isn’t so crazy that he accepts interesting deals.

“I have to go see His Majesty soon…”

Knock.

I couldn’t even finish my sentence.

Because there was news beyond the door that cannot be taken lightly.

“Count, General Nemeseus has come to visit.”

I jumped up from my seat. I could tell without even looking that my eyes were wide open.

‘General? why? Aren’t you supposed to be by the emperor’s side? Why did you come directly? Has something big happened?’

Surely you didn’t come to catch me?

The door suddenly opened. I made eye contact with the servant standing in front of me.

It was only after seeing the attendant shaking and lowering his head in shock, as if he had been burned, that I was able to recall a fact I had forgotten for a while.

‘okay. It was an unpleasant sight for my eyes here.’

Mixed emotions came flooding back.

Although I was slowly adapting to the human world, my mind still seemed to be in the demon world. How can you forget, even for a moment, a fact that is like common sense?

I let my guard down.

Even though I know that other people, except those who have a close relationship with me, such as the royal family and the knights Remember, find it uncomfortable to look into my eyes.

“…What brings you here?”

My question was answered by a quick-witted butler.

“This old man thinks it might be related to the revolutionary army he caught this time.”

“I didn’t receive an official letter or anything.”

“It must be here somewhere.”

“….”

It feels like déjà vu. Isn’t that what you just said?

I looked around at the documents in the room once again and then walked away with a deep sigh.

Anyway, I can’t keep the general waiting.

Nemeseus was my immediate superior when I became the vanguard during the Eight Years’ War.

I don’t know why, but I clearly remember that he was secretly trying to distance himself from me. The fact that such a person came like this must mean that it was a situation that had no choice but to come.

Continuing my pointless speculation that it was probably due to the emperor’s orders or something like that, I opened the door to the living room and froze when I made eye contact with the people inside.

“It’s been a while, Count.”

“…Deonhardt meets the Empire of the future.”

***

“Honorary Count Hart captured the revolutionary army that attacked the mansion?”

“!”

“They said he caught the bomb with his bare hands.”

The crown prince, who was drinking tea across from the princess in the garden, put down the newspaper he was holding. The princess who was tipping the teacup in front of her flinched and trembled.

She calmly passes the liquid in her mouth and sets down the glass. At the same time, my head bowed.

“Honorary Count Hart…”

“Why are you sulking again?”

As if he could see dark clouds above her head, the crown prince quickly uncrossed his legs and a look of confusion appeared on his face.

The princess had been depressed for several days after the banquet.

“He doesn’t want to see me anymore, does he?”

“It wasn’t much different from before, but something new happened.”

“But you vomited blood!”

The princess raised her voice and buried her face in her hands. The prince, with his eyes wide open, seemed unable to see anything.

I admit it. Even when I was quiet, people around me were attracted to me. Due to my status and appearance, I was clumsy because I had never tried to seduce someone.

Even if there were other more advanced methods in the first place, I wouldn’t have been able to use them… but I didn’t intend to cause such a big accident.

“I’m ruined… all my efforts…!”

“I don’t think it was a very effective tactic to begin with…”

“After all, I have to apologize, right?”

“directly?”

“yes!”

“no.”

The crown prince’s expression hardened.

In most cases, you will be allowed to do what you want without blocking it, but this is not the case.

“Whether you visit his mansion or he comes to the imperial palace at your summons, if you meet him in person, there will definitely be a scandal.”

“Then it’s good for me. If you make the scandal a fait accompli and get married as is….”

“Alethea.”

There was a short silence.

He glanced at his younger brother and sighed.

“You don’t love him.”

“….”

“And an apology will also stain your performance.”

Because the ‘Princess’ is not smart enough to apologize for something like that.

Only then did a stir appear in the princess’s eyes.

To put it in a good way, she is pure, and in a bad way, she is a stupid princess. That’s the public opinion about Alethea.

“If you want to quit, I’m welcome.”

“…That’s Okay.”

The stigma that the princess incurred for the emperor and crown prince she intended to be.

From the crown prince’s point of view, it is a sorry evaluation that proves his brother’s sacrifice.

“Even if we stick together, it’s not enough, so we can’t split sides again over the issue of succession to the throne.”

“Yeah… I’m sick of the succession fight.”

“And if it’s a question of Honorary Count Hart, don’t worry. “Even if I don’t love him, I like him.”

It’s not hard to guess what that little head is thinking about.

The crown prince stroked the princess’s head.

“I tell you this many times, but if you want to quit, you can quit at any time. “No one has ever forced anything on you.”

The princess, who was quietly looking at him, smiled brightly.

“i know. So, brother, please come and find out what Honorary Count Hart thinks of me.”

“…what?”

“Come on. “I can’t go, right?”

“No, there’s something strange about the conclusion…”

She pushed her brother’s back and burst into bright laughter.

The princess has a good sense.

Her senses indicated that Deonhardt was the Empire’s most uneasy hero. If I could tie him perfectly to the imperial family through marriage, that would be enough.

“If you really want to lure Honorary Count Hart, you will have to change your method first.”

“I’m sorry that the foolish princess only knows this way!”

“….”

It doesn’t matter whether Deonhardt comes over or not.

What’s important is that the ‘princess’ expressed interest in him and everyone knows it.

Of course, I would appreciate it if you would come over, but even if you don’t, you have to choose Deon Hardt the moment you send the marriage proposal.

Should I reject it and live alone for the rest of my life or accept it?

‘Of course, it’s just a guess, so I’ve put the marriage proposal on hold for now.’

“Okay, let’s go.” “I was planning to meet Honorary Count Hart anyway, so I’ll do my best to find out.”

“As expected of you, brother!”

“But don’t expect me to just check to see if he’s offended by your rudeness.”

***

I barely managed to come to my senses and lowered my head. A stiff, awkward voice came out as if representing my feelings.

The crown prince smiles gently and nods as if he understands my feelings.

The crown prince, not the general!

‘Why is there no message…!’

No one even announced it.

With sharp eyes, he glared at the servant who only announced the ‘visit of Nemeseus.’ The moment the bastard’s face turned white, the crown prince gently called to me.

“Don’t criticize the users. “I told you not to say it.”

“…Your Highness.”

It is in front of the crown prince. I immediately straightened my posture.

After I had some time to spare, General Nemeseus came into view. I was so distracted at the banquet hall that I just glanced at him and passed on.

Skin tanned by the sun from fighting the battlefield. A scar across the face.

His former superior looked the same as he did during the war, but his expression was stern, as if he didn’t like something.

Judging by his gaze, he seems to be dissatisfied with the fact that the crown prince followed him.

In other words, the crown prince followed him as he pleased…

Why?

“Your Majesty wants the handover of the revolutionary army you captured. Well, that’s what you said to the general, so it has nothing to do with me… but I’m personally interested.”

“What are you talking about…”

“I heard you caught the flying bomb with your bare hands?”

“….”

I almost made a rotten expression for a moment.

I’m glad I realized that the other person was the crown prince, but I almost got dragged in for my disrespectful attitude.

By the way, where did you hear that news?

The moment he thought of Lord Lien, who seemed particularly impressed at the time, the crown prince let out a soft laugh.

“There is no need to worry about where the news leaked out. Didn’t many people witness it that day? “You can’t stop everyone’s mouths, and even if you did, someone who happened to pass by could have spread the word.”

In addition, he kindly told me that there were already a lot of rumors in the capital… It made me feel sick to my stomach.

There is no benefit to having your skills inflated in this way other than increasing the emperor’s expectations.

For your information, I am not at all happy with the emperor’s expectations. Because you will be dragged into dangerous jobs more often. Additionally, the greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment.

My lifespan is getting shorter like this….

“It’s a joke.”

“yes?”

“That’s why I came here. It’s great that you caught the bomb, but it has nothing to do with me. “There is no reason for me to come here.”

“Ah, then…”

“I came to apologize on behalf of the princess for her rudeness during the banquet.”

“Ah…”

Are you referring to the one that swooped in from behind? It’s not just once or twice, but I’m used to it now and it’s okay.

Moreover, it is not a sincere intention to attack, but is simply a sign of goodwill, so I cannot say anything about it.

Even though he knew that….

“The position of future emperor is so heavy that he can’t even apologize casually. “If I go to you privately, it will attract the attention of others, so I followed you under the pretext of doing something public like this.”

“….”

“I gave the princess a hard scolding, so this won’t happen for a while.”

…for now?

It’s not that you don’t understand the princess’s personality, but aren’t you being too honest? Still, he’s the crown prince.

The crown prince looked away for a moment, as if the words ‘for the time being’ he had uttered pricked his conscience, and then he made eye contact again and opened his mouth.

“Would you accept my apology? count.”

“…of course. “There was no need to apologize in the first place.”

“That would have been the case under normal circumstances. “But didn’t you vomit blood?”

“….”

That wasn’t blood.

While he was unable to speak and was just rolling his eyes, the crown prince stood up and spoke softly.

Unlike the shocking content, it was a casual tone of voice.

“I’m glad you’re not offended. “Actually, I wanted to become friends with you, whom His Majesty trusts.”

“…yes?”

“Aren’t you too busy? Even though we have built up a friendship over time, our friendship will only end there.”

“….”

“So when Alethea was rude and you vomited blood, all I could think was that you were ruined.”

Damn…

what am I listening to…?

“That’s why I came here in person to apologize and build friendships, but do you feel uncomfortable with me like this?”

“Oh no.”

“Does that mean you are okay with my efforts to become friends with you?”

“That’s right.”

“Thank goodness. “Then, can you stop by me often whenever you come to the palace from now on?”

“…yes?”

I feel like I’m caught in something I can’t escape from.

As I blinked my eyes while thinking back on the situation and wondering why those words came out, the Crown Prince added with a warm smile on his face, as if to let me know that my feelings were correct.

“I don’t think you need to come and see me. “You can stop by while you’re at the imperial palace. Let’s have tea together, fight swords, and talk.”