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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Heading to the Capital
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1.
After negotiations with the Bellus Barony concluded, preparations for the journey began in earnest.
The Emperor had personally summoned the ducal children.
As the Leston ducal family was one of the pillars supporting the Empire, a certain level of formality was required.
"For this trip to the capital, Hans's third squad will be serving as your escort."
"I think it would be fine if we just went by ourselves, Sir Jeras."
"This is a special directive from His Grace, the Duke. It also implies that we are to do our utmost to prevent you two from doing anything that might tarnish the family's honor."
"Anyone would think we do nothing but cause trouble."
"A leaky bucket at home is a leaky bucket abroad."
Karron shrugged at Jeras's words and glanced back. He raised his hand slightly and said,
"Water."
At that, the man waiting behind him with a water bottle, Urhan, quickly handed it over.
"Here you are, Young Master. Hehe."
Urhan had been thoroughly disciplined in a single day.
It was unclear what had happened last night, but at the very least, the smile on his face was genuine.
The reason was simple.
'A deserter and a bandit becoming the personal servant of a young master from a prestigious noble family... Isn't that considered moving up in the world?'
If his luck had been bad, he would have vanished as dew on the executioner's block.
The young master might have a rotten personality, but in a way, hadn't he saved his life and given him the opportunity of a lifetime?
Therefore, Urhan planned to serve Karron with all his heart and soul.
*Gulp.*
Karron drank the water from the bottle, glancing over at Urhan. Then he spoke in a languid voice.
"Sir Jeras. Please take good care of this one while I'm away. He looks like he's planning to take it easy. You can whip this vicious bandit into shape, can't you?"
"I'd rather whip someone else into shape first. Weren't you the one who took the liquor from my room yesterday, Lord Karron?"
"Ah, that was Lady Sabina's doing. It would be better to ask her. Ah, but the liquor was excellent. Expensive stuff really is the best."
"Mm, that's right. It was tasty."
"See? Even Leo knows his liquor."
In that moment, Jeras felt a vague sense of terror.
Karron had always been like this, but Leo was starting to become more and more like him.
Unleashing these two on the capital was therefore a dangerous proposition.
It would be stranger if this pair *didn't* cause some incident that would tarnish the family's honor.
Was it really the right decision to send these two to the capital?
The capital was home to the Imperial Guard, the traditional rivals of the Sea Wolf Knights.
If they made a poor showing in front of them... The mere thought made his blood boil.
But there was nothing to be done now.
The Duke himself had already made the decision.
He could only hope that Hans's squad, who would be accompanying them as escorts, could somehow prevent the young masters from causing trouble.
"Has the itinerary for the capital been finalized?"
Jeras slowly nodded in response to Karron's question.
"You will be taking the train again. The line passes through the Tebe Autonomous Territory. It's the fastest route to the capital."
"The Tebe Autonomous Territory... That's the place where the citizens elect their own mayor, right? I heard there are a lot of interesting things there."
"His Grace has forbidden any activities outside the capital. Don't even think about it."
Jeras's firm reply earned a shrug from Karron.
"A shame."
The Tebe Autonomous Territory.
When he had heard that such a region had been established in the Empire, he had thought it sounded like a fascinating place.
A place where the people chose their own leaders.
They swore fealty to the Imperial family just like any other territory, but it was said that commoners were the ones who led it.
A place where status, be it noble or slave, didn't matter much.
But Karron didn't believe such utopian tales at face value.
Professor Yuris, a famous professor at the Academy and his childhood tutor, used to say this about the city:
-A place where money is class.
Home to the Empire's largest pleasure district, gambling dens, and more, the Tebe Autonomous Territory was a place where human desire thrived.
"A private train has been arranged to go directly to the capital. You will be able to see it for a short while from the window."
"How long will it take?"
"You can expect it to take about six hours to reach the capital."
It would be a boring six hours.
Trains were fast, but they didn't offer the same freedom as riding a horse.
Karron let out a light sigh and stood up.
He then picked up the wooden sword that had been leaning against the wall.
"Is the briefing over?"
"Yes."
"We can't get looked down on in the capital, so we should train until we leave. Leo. Grab your sword."
"...Suddenly?"
"You said you wanted to get noticed at the social parties. Who knows? You might get into a duel in the capital. If you win a duel, the young ladies of the noble houses will surely take an interest."
At the word 'duel,' Leo shot up from his seat. He spoke, his voice filled with motivation.
"A man with the blood of the Leston ducal family must never lose a duel. Father always said to keep our swords sharp. Alright, I'm ready."
"That's the spirit."
With each passing day, Karron's skill at handling Leo grew more and more impressive.
Jeras watched them and once again shook his head.
"Sir Jeras."
"Yes, Lord Karron."
"While we're at it, could you call the third squad? It would be good for us all to train together."
"I have already scheduled emergency response training for this afternoon in preparation for any contingencies."
At those words, Karron gave a slight smile.
"Sir Jeras, you're always so thoroughly prepared. In that case, please instruct us until then. We can't let those Imperial bastards look down on us in the capital."
"If that happens, you two had better be prepared for hellish training the moment you return to Cheonghae Castle."
Jeras raised his wooden sword, then looked down at the two boys and said,
"I will see how much you two have grown through your mission. Come at me together."
As soon as he finished speaking, Leo and Karron charged at Jeras simultaneously.
A moment later.
*CRRRRAAAAASH—!*
A deafening roar began to echo through the training grounds.
2.
Late that evening, Peil straightened his clothes and knocked on the door before him.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
"Enter."
From within, the voice of his father, Halo, echoed. Peil concealed his nervousness and stepped into the Duke's office.
"Father. You summoned me."
"Yes."
Before Halo sat a half-filled glass of liquor.
It seemed he had been drinking alone.
Peil knew this was a sign that Halo was troubled.
His father was a man who wouldn't touch alcohol unless he had something on his mind.
He quietly sat down to his father's left.
Halo placed a glass in front of Peil, then quietly picked up the bottle.
Whiskey filled the glass Peil held politely.
"I hear the negotiations with the Bellus Barony went well."
Peil replied in a low voice to the question.
"The other party made many concessions. They were not difficult negotiations."
"They ceded some of their own shares to Leo and Karron?"
"It felt very much like an early investment."
"Interesting people. The Baron Bellus I knew would never have made such a bold decision."
"It seemed to be driven strongly by the young baron's opinion."
Hearing this, Halo nodded his head with interest.
"A sharp one, then."
"Now that they have wings, thanks to the mana stone mine, we can look forward to the development of the Bellus Barony."
"The development of a friendly neighboring territory is a good thing for us as well. It will be important to build a solid alliance moving forward. I'm entrusting that matter entirely to you, Peil."
"I will not disappoint you."
"Of course, you won't."
Halo took a sip from his glass. Following his lead, Peil also downed his drink.
He didn't think his father had called him simply to praise him.
The man was stingy with his compliments.
There had to be another reason.
For instance.
'Something related to Karron.'
Something to do with the grandson who was causing such a stir in Cheonghae Castle.
He would probably talk about Karron's upcoming trip to the capital. And Peil's prediction was spot-on.
"His Majesty has never personally summoned any member of the ducal family besides myself. In that respect, this trip to the capital is highly unusual."
The Imperial family had been wary of the Leston ducal family for generations.
The Leston family had wielded great influence since the early days of the Empire, and in this generation, they had a history of deposing the Evil Emperor.
Although it was a deposal supported by all the nobles and citizens of the Empire, a deposal was a deposal.
Naturally, the relationship between the Imperial family and the Leston ducal family could not be good.
To be precise, it would be more accurate to say that the Imperial family feared the Leston ducal family.
In such an atmosphere, the Imperial family had been the first to extend a hand.
"Father, you recently had a private audience with His Majesty, did you not? Perhaps that caused a change in His Majesty's heart."
"Hmm."
At Peil's words, Halo recalled the expression on the Emperor's face from their last meeting.
His tone had been gentle on the surface, but fear still lingered in the Emperor's eyes.
The fear that they might depose him, just as they had deposed his own father, the so-called Evil Emperor.
For such an emperor to suddenly change his attitude and extend a friendly hand?
'Impossible.'
Summoning Leo and Karron was not a simple act of goodwill.
Beyond that goodwill, there were surely various circumstances he had yet to grasp.
Political reasons, for instance, and the like.
It might prove to be a difficult matter for young children to handle.
"Father."
Just as Halo was about to get lost in thought, Peil spoke in a low voice.
"Was this not a matter you could have refused, Father? And yet, you left the choice to the children."
"Yes, you are correct."
"May I ask for your reason?"
At his son's question, Halo looked quietly at Peil.
His third son was always like this.
Even though he already knew, he would rebuke him through a question, asking why he made such a choice. But he himself would have already anticipated the answer without needing to be told.
"I am curious about Karron's capacity."
At times like this, Halo always answered honestly, turning his son's speculation into certainty.
"Karron is a boy who possesses a sea so vast it cannot be measured. That sea could very well become the shackles that bind him. To be honest, I'm curious just how far he can see."
"A test, then."
"It is something a child chosen by the Guillotine must naturally endure."
He is a child who will walk into the eye of the storm.
Whether he wants to or not, he is a child destined to move toward the center of the world.
That was why Halo wanted to gift Karron as many varied experiences as possible.
How many enemies the Leston ducal family currently has, and which choices will benefit him.
A boy as clever and mature as Karron, so unlike his peers, would surely come to realize a great many things on this trip to the capital.
"The movements of the influential nobles are unusual."
"And the one who knows that has managed to stay quiet."
"I believe in our family. If there are any who dare to challenge the prestige of the Leston ducal family, they will surely come to regret it. And above all."
Peil drained the remaining liquor in his glass. Then he spoke, his voice filled with conviction.
"I believe in my son."
At his son's answer, Halo let out a small breath.
This was his youngest son, who had hated the family, hated this Cheonghae Castle. The youngest who had always seemed to shrink whenever he set foot here, yet now, there was a sense of dignity about him.
Halo was inwardly pleased by this side of his youngest son.
Some might say that Peil had regained his confidence thanks to Karron's incredible talent, but Halo knew that wasn't it.
That is the nature of a father.
Peil had simply changed to protect his beloved son. This was Cheonghae Castle, after all, a place full of those who were jealous of Karron.
"You believe in your son... A fine answer."
Halo refilled his son's empty glass.
After that, father and son drank in silence for a long while.
And so, the time for Karron and Leo to depart for the capital was drawing near.