The Blood Knight’s Villains - Chapter 464
My Villains Episode 464
66. The Silver Prince (19)
“…just as I heard.”
The voice of the imperial guard muttered was as heavy as his eyes.
I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.
It’s like you’ve heard it’… what kind of story did you hear?”
He stared at me and turned his head in silence to Prince Ulkar, who was sitting in front of him.
“I heard that he has a violent and cruel temper and makes fun of his tongue without exception.”
Instead of Fabio, who withdrew his gaze from me as if he was unworthy of an answer, the one who opened his mouth was the middle-aged sword master ‘Gombak’ with a stern look.
“It’s not worth listening to the speculators talking about joining, but the reputation of the red knight doesn’t seem to be so.” “Huh? Then, how is His Excellency?”
“You mean me?”
“yes. I’ve heard the ignorant thugs of Eisbowald say that loyalty to the Emperor is far better than a dog. There was a story that sometimes even licked the master’s back hole, but that’s an exaggeration, right?”
At my question, the black and white tuacelo’s face immediately froze. As he glared at me with bloody eyes, I shook my head and stuck out my tongue.
“… and fuck. It looks real.” “You lowly fellow!” A silver prosthetic hand knocked on the table at the moment Geombaek kicked off his seat, possessed by a lifelike growl.
bang!
“stop.”
Prince Ulkar’s calm gaze turned to Tuaselo.
“Sit down.”
“under! Do you want me to be patient with such a lowly insult?”
“What if you can’t stand it? Are you going to draw the knife before the meeting even starts?” As Geombaek hesitated in an ambiguous position, the prince turned his head towards me.
“Sir Phoenix.”
” yep.”
Understanding his intentions, I straightened my posture, sat down, and bowed my dog to Tuaselo.
“I made an excuse, sir.”
“…her.”
When I immediately apologized, he burst into laughter as if he had raised his voice in excitement alone. Then, with his mouth firmly shut, he sat down in his seat.
As soon as the atmosphere calmed down, the person sitting across from me, to the left of the guard, Fabio, opened his mouth.
“Since I unexpectedly heard the message of reconciliation, I expected blessings… but it seems I made a hasty decision.”
He was an impressive man with a neatly trimmed mustache and chubby cheeks. When the eyes of the silver prince gathered, he pretended to be surprised and quickly introduced himself.
“Ah, I am ‘Rupyrtus’ who manages Miteltang’s court. His Majesty the Emperor appreciates my humble talents, so I’m also consulting on diplomacy and ceremonies.”
“Rupyrtus… Come to think of it, I think you’ve heard of a court bag called ‘Tu Tu’.”
“Oh, what an honor. I never thought that the Silver Lion of Milano would know my nickname.”
A guy with a round face and an exaggerated tone of voice…
This is the first impression Miteltang’s courtier gave me that he holds the power second only to the electors in the empire.
“But is that a hasty judgment? What do you mean?”
“ah. That’s it.”
Ignoring my displeased gaze, Rupyrus replied to the prince with a worried expression.
“Personally, I have admired and respected the 3rd Prince for a long time, so I want to accept the peace quickly. However, when I saw the words of the knight whom Her Majesty favored,
he made eye contact with me and quickly turned his head away with a frightened expression on his face.
“Well, it is true that I am a bit suspicious of your intentions because I do not feel goodwill. Unfortunately too.”
“hmm. That’s what I agree with.”
“You are indeed a wise man. Didn’t His Highness, the 3rd prince, have the same doubts as me?”
“exactly. Seeing the attitude of the gentlemen, I suspect that you misunderstood my intentions.”
“…a misunderstanding. What does that mean?”
“All I want is reconciliation and the rights of my niece. Not surrender.”
Prince Ulkar smiled and looked back at the people sitting across from him.
“But the eyes of the Lords are all those of the victor.”
“Uh-huh, well. No way for me.”
“To be honest, I am a little embarrassed. It’s because I’ve never seen the other person’s eyes in my life.”
“In order for the lords to show this kind of attitude, shouldn’t they first win against me?”
Miteltang’s courtier closed his mouth, weighed down by the cold blue gaze.
“Would you like an easier explanation?”
“…No, I fully understand.”
It wasn’t Rupyrus who answered that. Said the young marshal Nadim in a cracking voice.
“It’s just that I’m a bit disappointed that the silver prince’s knowledge doesn’t seem to be as good as rumors.”
Prince Ulkar leaned back on the backrest in silence, as if asking him to continue talking. The Empire’s field marshal, whose face was full of scars, smiled coldly, perhaps disapproving of his relaxed attitude.
“40,000 of the subjects who rose up holding weapons in the wake of His Majesty’s Majesty. It is such a large army that a river dries up one by one every time the soldiers quench their thirst.”
“… Damn Oba.”
As the eyes gathered again, I crossed my arms and looked away. Nadim, who was glaring at me with bloodshot eyes, continued to speak as if chewing and spitting out.
“Your army, on the other hand, is only a handful. Without His Majesty’s direct intervention, even if I were given a small detachment, I could easily conquer Angst and Obdorf.” It was quite a belligerent remark, but Prince Ulkar didn’t seem to care.
“Then, His Majesty the Emperor seems to have different ideas from the enemy.”
“what?”
“If the enemy had that level of ability, this position would not have been possible in the first place. It would have been enough to obtain an easy victory and then surrender.”
“It’s foolish that His Majesty wants to show mercy to you-” “Then the Emperor wants to show mercy, but is his enemy intimidating the opponent?”
When the young enemy was speechless, the prince clicked his tongue slightly, as if feeling sorry for him.
“To think that the enemy, who is supposed to lead the army as the emperor’s agent, can’t properly understand even the master’s will. It is the misfortune of the entire empire.”
Just before the red-faced enemy spoke in an angry voice, another nobleman opened his mouth.
“I think this is enough for a war of nerves, Your Highness.”
Sitting between Nadim, the field marshal of the Empire, and Tua Selo, a swordsman, was a woman who looked to be in her mid-to-late 30s.
She introduced herself as ‘Viscount Anyanelle’, and through the information I had learned in advance, I was able to recognize that she was one of the Emperor’s henchmen, ‘The Talent of Olpopao’.
It’s not surprising that the nickname ‘the gifted messenger of Lee Sang-seung’ came about for nothing, so it’s no wonder that His Highness has such confidence.”
Her voice was so calm. It was a contrast to the bloody atmosphere that flowed over the table before,
and it made me feel uncomfortable.
“However, His Majesty the Emperor is also confident that if there is a battle with His Highness, we will surely win. He believes that even if not only His Highness’ army occupying Angst and Obdorf, but also the crown prince’s army on the march and the fresh-blooded army anchored on the southern coast, we will be able to defeat it.”
What a great confidence.
While I was grumbling inwardly, Viscount Anyanelle continued to persuade me.
“Nevertheless, His Majesty the Emperor arranged this event because he judged that the war with Milanol was futile.”
“You are absolutely right.”
Prince Ulkar nodded in agreement with her words.
“What His Majesty needs is the land of gold in the Southern Continent. It’s not the east, where wars are frequent on the border with the kingdom.”
“Yes, that’s right. This war began with the ambition of Duke Avillamber. Your Majesty regrets that His subjects are caught up in these worthless things.”
“So you mean you accept my offer?”
“First, check the details of the proposal, Your Highness.”
As if the snarling at each other was a lie, Viscount Agnanel opened up a conversation, and the negotiations progressed quickly.
When Prince Ulkar, the ‘blind viper’ Sir Ariad, and the ‘arrogant’ Sir Layam presented their demands, Olpobao’s daughter-in-law and Mitteltang’s courtiers coordinated them, and the royal scribe wrote the document.
The imperial scribe filled three pages of parchment in just thirty minutes. Because it was the same for the other party and us to want peace.
No matter how strong Prince Ulkar and his army were, fighting against the emperor’s army of over 40,000 was insane, and the emperor’s side was inconvenient, but if we even joined hands with Crown Prince Zacharis, we would suffer huge losses in an endless war. He was in a situation where he had to give up Angst and Obdorf.
In addition, it served each other’s purpose to divide the Strawn family of Duke Avillambus, the strongest rival of the current imperial family, the Sdamterk family.
In addition, Prince Ulkar made an attractive proposal that the emperor could not ignore.
“Whoever becomes the Elector Count after receiving the transfer of rights from my niece must of course also have the right to vote as the Elector Countess.”
“…the right to vote?”
Viscount Ayanel, who was conducting the meeting smoothly, slightly narrowed his forehead and showed disapproval.
“Isn’t that obvious? Isn’t the right to vote for the throne the most important right of an electorate?”
“That is correct. However, since the edict 130 years ago, the number of electors with divine right has been limited to eight, so this rule, both imperial law and custom, cannot be changed overnight.”
“I don’t know what the problem is. Wouldn’t it be fine if the two Elector Counts of House Strom exercised their share of rights?”
When the prince asked in a calm tone, the viscount blinked for a moment before asking again.
“The fact that the two Elector Counts exercise their share of rights… does that mean that they will split and exercise one vote?”
“exactly.”
“…impossible. Dividing the sacred right set by the Emperor Judvik III
.”
“Of course, this should be kept confidential.”
After being silent for a moment, Viscount Ayanel wet his lips and spoke.
“…I think the draft is roughly finished, so can we take a break?”
“Do whatever is convenient for you. I’ll have to go back to the main camp, so I’ll give you plenty of time.”
As soon as the prince had finished speaking, the viscount paid his respects and left the tent with the courtier Rupyrtus and the royal secretary.