Chapter 69
Meanwhile, Rafel was having a not very pleasant time in the palace. He said nothing and looked at the man in front of him. Under the man's gray eyebrows, the wrinkles around his eyes were clearly visible. Looking at that face, Rafel thought involuntarily that he would feel the same way 30 years later.
“…… I'm counting on you, Lapel. You are a great resource that will lead Deltium's future. It seems like yesterday when I was still a child, but you have really grown up. Reaping you was a choice with no regrets. My son.”
The conclusion is condescending. Rafel thought a little twisted inwardly. At first glance, it seemed like he was praising himself innocently, but in fact, it was a clever speech that erased the debt of the heart. , And raised you so well.
Rafel felt frustrated whenever he heard these words.There were probably two more illegitimate children of Celgratis besides himself.She didn't know maybe she could have more.However, most of them would live in the shadows, without even holding the status of aristocrats If Rapel hadn't excelled in swordsmanship when he was young, he would be living like that by now.
'If I hadn't been useless, I would have been abandoned right away.'
Lafel thought self-deprecatingly, recalling his childhood, which was like his own gutter. Celgratis was not doing himself any favors. Rather, he it was close to seeing his own talent and making a kind of investment. Been paid off when he quelled Letan's rebellion, but he hated to act as if Celgratis still owed money. After all, he hadn't slept properly for years because of the aftermath of the damn war.
Still, he was not without a heart of gratitude to his real father. In any case, after confirming that he had talent, he pushed Lapel in earnest. It was literally a generous investment. He gave Raffel power, crushing with authority the social aristocrats who looked down on his illegitimate son his. Rafel felt a kind of indebtedness to all of this.
Above all, the greatest debt owed to the king was his marriage to Annette. She is The daughter of the Bavarian family, the noblest bloodline in Deltium excluding the royal family. Annette was truly a woman worthy of being queen. With Lapel alone.
'That alone is something to be grateful for.'
Recalling Annette's pretty face, Lapel thought to herself.At the time, it was a marriage I really did n't want to die for, but how cunning humans are.However, Lapel also had his own excuses for her.
Of course, the Duke of Bavaria was the most vehement opponent of Rafel's appointment his as a marquis. He looked at Lapel with contempt at everything, and after receiving his title his, he blatantly ignored him. Saying that he hated even being in one place with fake aristocrats. Naturally, Rafel felt so humiliated that his eyes turned red each time.
But to marry the daughter of a Duke of Bavaria! She must have been a woman just like her father her, and she was terrified of living under one roof with her. Rafel thought he might really be abusing his wife his. It was Celgratis who reprimanded Rafel like a thunderbolt and forced the marriage.
'You're such a fool!! What's the use if only the title is noble!! If you become the first head of household, you have to think and judge what kind of path you can take to prosper your family!! How can you deny this good marriage with just foolishness!!!
Although Sel Gratis didn't get along well with Rapel, he was on the side of being pretty lenient. He couldn't tell if it was acting or real, but he was genuine, at least in the Deltium society. Of the wedding, Celgratis was terribly angry and drove Lafel. He even issued an ultimatum to reconsider the title of nobility given to Rafel.
It was the first time that Celgratis, who always looked after him, had this much precipitation. No matter what the investment was, Lapello, who received a lot from Celgratis, could not hold out until the end. Choice but to grit his teeth and accept this marriage. It was literally a marriage that we decided to eat onions while crying.
'But you can't bring that woman to this extent…… I never thought I'd do it.'
Lapel, who had been thinking without thinking, was suddenly startedled. What on earth did he want to put in that blank space? No, no. Rafel tried to distract him by tightening his straight chin.
The 19th king of Deltium, Cel Gratis, who had no idea of Rapel's agony, reached out and tapped his shoulder. Lapel, who doesn't like being touched, raised his eyebrows slightly at the touch. It wasn't just because Celgratis was the king. It was because he was the last remaining 'family' of his.
“If your mother had seen you like this, she would have been proud of her. Because she still had a lot of expectations from you. She will thank you for growing up so well.”
The moment the story of his birth mother his came out of Celgratis' mouth, Lafel's expression became blatantly cold. It was a kind of warning. Seeing the clear rejection on his face His, Cel Gratis clicked his tongue. A slightly pitiful and slightly disapproving expression.
“Do you still reside with your mother?”
“Are you seriously asking that?”
Rafel asked in a tone that clearly conveyed her sarcasm. He was well aware that he was accepted by the King, even though he was a little cocky. Even more so, when he brought up the story of his birth mother, it was only natural for him to react like this. Seeing Rafel's angry eyes, the king sighed.
“Okay. It's also my fault for not looking back at you to that point. If you had acted a little quicker, your mother wouldn't have acted so drastically either. What a pity.”
The King's expression darkened as he looked at Lapel. Blood kinship is blood kinship, Rafel's heart softened whenever his father made an expression like this. His eyes saw the white years that had settled upon the dark hair of the king who had once looked like him .It was difficult for him to remain angry at his senior father.
“It's okay, it's all in the past. Now, under His Majesty's benevolence His His, as you can see, I'm doing well.”
In the end, Rafel gave a brief reply and turned his head. It was clear that he didn't want to talk about his birth mother any more. Seeing this, Celgratis seemed to have suddenly remembered something else.
“So, how is your married life?”
“As this is a marriage organized by His Majesty, we are trying to save face.”
Rafel replied moderately nonchalantly. Hearing that answer, Celgratis put on a strange expression. His eyes seemed to be watching to see if Rafel was really doing well, or if he was just responding like this in a formal way. The king, who was thinking hard about something, gave a heavy warning.
“Even if she became a wife, they are two fundamentally different people. So don't be too quick to trust the insider and tell them too much. Annette looks harmful on the outside, but she is also a Bavarian daughter-in-law So I have no choice but to put my family first.You don't know what tricks you'll plot in the future with the weaknesses you've given yourself.Do you understand what I am saying?”
Rafel made no reply. If it was like before, I would have firmly believed in those words and engraved them in my heart, but not now. Suddenly, Annette's thin voice came to mind. That one day, the words she whispered to her desperately , but which touched her chest with her teeth.
'Lapel, you are my precious family. So I… I want to protect you.'
It was a really odd sound. Who is protecting what? A little woman who could reach her own chest her. She was fortunate enough to hold a teaspoon properly with her slender wrist. Think of that voice? Lapel, who lowered her sunken eyes, stood up from her seat her.
“Let's go. Take care of your health, Your Majesty.”
Celgratis said nothing. Rafel walked out of the audience room, leaving behind the king who silently glanced at him. The palace was beautiful and elegant, but it felt stuffy whenever I came. This be because dirty blood was mixed in the veins?
Raffel took his steps back to his home. Annette, who had gone boating during the day, would have returned by now and waited for her. The white face of her surrounded by blonde hair Her would tilt its head and say, “You're Here, Lapel?”
Recalling that kind voice, Rafel's steps became a little faster.But there was someone standing in his way.
'What is this again?'
A look of displeasure appeared on Rafel's face as he confirmed his opponent. In addition to King Celgratis, whom we just saw, there was another man in the palace with eyes similar to Rapel's. Blue eyes with cold light. Adding to this, the handsome man with silver hair as transparent as ice looked like a man made of the breath of winter.
“Let's talk for a while. As a man to man.”
The crown prince of Deltium, Ludwig, strode out from the shadows. His face His, which was rich in sensitivity, was covered with gloomy darkness unlike before. Perhaps it is because he has awakened dark emotions such as great loss, jealousy, and possessiveness Rafel showed his teeth as he met those cruel eyes that were eager to hurt him.
“This is what I hoped for.”
He was a man who had never escaped a fight from others. Whatever barked Ludwig barked, it was nothing more than the dog's outbursts in a fight. Annette's husband now was himself. Therefore, Lapel's steps following Ludwig were leisurely.
