Chapter 282 – 28. Family Management (2)
Corridor of Harmony.
A man stepped into the resting room of the palace named by Jeanne Dieudone, the deceased queen. It was Jacques who was running high as if he had a halo shining behind him. He was already a man who showed off his strong presence by breaking through various dignitaries and court ladies.
“It’s been a while, brother?”
Like his upright personality, the abducted prince, who had been walking with a moderate movement, hesitated. It was because of the princess who spread her sensuality in a strange dress among the haggard men.
Marian de Gallia!
The royal slut, who proudly led all sorts of riches, took her place as the main body in a rare case. Even the prodigal daughter, who usually prefers to appear as a doll that resembles me, can’t help but pay attention to her formality when walking around the palace.
“You look frivolous as ever, Marian.”
The princess, who flicked her turbid white blonde hair with the back of her hand, smiled slightly. Even though it was divided into two parts like water and oil, only Yoongi nodded, showing off his unchanging hair. Moreover, her sensuous body was highlighted by the clothes that were cut so that fatal parts like her breastbone and thighs were exposed.
“Using a given weapon well is also an ability.”
The shape of her thin, translucent kerchief and finely braided hair also created a contradictory charm. It was a part where we could guess why many people in Gaul were attracted to a beautiful woman with blue and pure eyes.
“Rather than that, why is the exiled person here without an escort?”
“It is about state affairs.”
“Interesting. I heard that you are back.”
The eyes of the two ambitious siblings crossed. They confronted each other for a while, creating a situation where sparks seemed to fly. Since they couldn’t be said to be good friends with empty words, the atmosphere only got worse and worse.
“It’s not your brother’s business anymore, is it?”
“It’s bold, but prejudice has always been your bad habit.”
There was deep contempt in the one eye of the deceased prince. It was no wonder that she was so disgusted that her bloodline, which perfectly resembled her venerable mother, was committing fornication outside. Similarly, as if he despises his brother, who is only full of thoughts of exterminating his poor bastard child, despite his declaration of defeat.
“Please, Your Majesty the King!”
“… !”
The fight between the two, who were really at odds, went into a lull for a while when the Hyeonwang appeared accompanied by about a dozen knights. It was because there was nothing good between Jacques, who had unexpectedly visited, and Marianne, who had made an appointment in advance, to ruin the meeting with each other.
“Zach, you are a nobleman without fail.”
Alphonse, who appeared wearing a brilliant crown, looked around the corridor and spat out. For some reason, he took the trouble out of the turmoil outside and personally came to visit.
“What kind of ugliness is this when the turmoil in the east has calmed down? Still, are you really not ashamed of yourself in front of the people you once tried to rule over?”
“If it weren’t for the monarch who was overly frightened because of his incompetence, his subordinates would also have had the insight to handle things quietly. My help must have been great for this duel trial to not have developed into a civil war in the first place?”
“You’re being cheeky, do you dare to think you’re indebted to Jim?”
Alphonse, who raised his head stiffly, sighed as if he hadn’t even thought about it. But, on the other hand, he waited for Zach’s next words in a form of generosity. It was a euphemistic expression of his willingness to listen as he felt a sense of moral responsibility, although he could not admit the fact that he was beholden to as a wage in a precarious position.
“It’s not too late to show hostility after hearing about it. It won’t be such a bad suggestion for you either.”
“Pride pierces the sky, but it is my duty to listen to the voices of the people.”
The brothers, who confirmed each other’s position, knelt at the same time. Although they had no choice but to be hostile to each other due to a different position, as they say, they found a strange commonality in the process of resolving the confusion caused by the recent clash between the north and the east.
“I propose a truce.”
Eugene and Jeanne Dieudone’s children did the same. From persistence to firearms, the siblings each had their own fields in which they excelled, and they were people with the qualities of a good man, possessing virtue and wisdom that were not inferior to them.
“It is a cunning age. I finally admit that my vices, as the eldest son, have caused heavy war clouds in Gaul today. Even so, I have no doubt that I believe that this body is qualified to sit on the throne, but politics should be practiced with a broader perspective.”
Above all, the patriotism of the three people was terrifyingly great. Their principles of action were only focused on protecting the country and its people.
“The winner takes everything. The rules are the same. But no glory can be found in a victory that only hurts. That’s why it’s good to reject the small face and egotism. So I propose to you both.”
Alphonse and Marian made faces of oblivion. Of course, the ambition in Zach’s one eye was still radiating unchanging brilliance. However, isn’t the old prince who was able to secure the unshakable throne originally a person who values duty?
“To fight the war out of the question… !”
Showing his clenched fists forward, he showed his courage. No matter how static it may be, the arrogant desolation of the crown prince made the other two siblings agree. Anyway, since he was a human who was chosen as the monarch of a country in the past, he deserves his name.
“Okay, how can you afford to be a burden when you don’t look like a leader of a rebellion? The sweetness of power is said to be unparalleled, but it will not be as rewarding as a cause. I can’t fight for the fate of the country, so I totally agree with that statement.”
“There is no nobler game than a bloodless political battle. In that context, your brother’s suggestion is sometimes worth listening to. In the first place, wasn’t the conflict between the three siblings also caused by prioritizing their qualifications rather than exercising their skills?”
Division leads to downfall. Countries with strong national power are no exception. In terms of legitimacy alone, the wise king Alphonse is overwhelming, but the abolished prince Zach has a strong base of support, such as the Knights of Chasseur or long-time loyalists, even if it is not necessarily Oliver Somerset’s swordsmen’s union.
Besides, what about Princess Marian?
The big hand of the continent who controls the upper world can shake the price and shake the people’s livelihood if he wants. Moreover, her new political patron, the archbishop, is a magnate who even held the post of elector who could elect an emperor in the ancient empire.
If Wilhelm Cole, the mayor of the city association of Brullin, was an untitled king.
Because Albert Monet, the leader of the Gallic religious world, is a king without a country.
“Let’s talk a little bit about my point. The recent performance of Baron Ardennes has been very impressive. I wondered if a man like that would be enough to be my companion.”
When looking at this battle for the throne with an objective perspective, there was no doubt about Jacques’ superiority in terms of practical odds. However, since the person who preoccupied such an advantageous position willingly excluded options such as war and decided to win or lose, what reason would there be for refusal?
Paradoxically, that’s why their political strife ignited even hotter. No one was willing to give in easily, so I did my best within the rules that I naturally set.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I don’t think it would be a suitable marriage.”
Alphonse was quite taken aback. Zach, who had been listening quietly, did not express himself too much, but he seemed to feel that he had been taken aback by the slight frown of his brow.
‘What do you mean, I’m going to use Baron Ardennes as my sword?’
‘This madness is trying to disgrace the family…’
And the more she did, the more Marianne, who had a bright smile, realized that she had played properly. While he was inwardly delighted, he continued to speak words that were tantamount to provocation.
“I don’t have any particular reason to ask for permission from the two of them, but I thought I should let them know because they’re family.”
“Baron Ardennes is married!”
“So what? Any problems?”
It was a shameless attitude. But the effect was certain. Thanks to that, the sweaty Alphonse rolled his head. For Princess Jang to become Baron Ardennes’ concubine, she would certainly welcome it with open arms, but that was only when she was subordinated to her as if it were her possession.
If a loyalist who had fallen into the width of her princess’s skirt was to be entangled backwards, it would be extremely difficult for the wise king.
“Could it be that, as a country’s princess, she intends to entrust her concubine to a baron who was born in heaven not too long ago?”
“Brother Zach’s stereotypical prejudice is very outdated. After all, I understand that there are not just one or two practical benefits that I missed because I was too busy valuing face. But it’s hard to forget that I’m a woman with a deep knowledge of dolls.”
I will give the smooth and beautiful doll an appropriate status, make contact with the baron, and make him a prisoner of pleasure.
“I can’t believe it, even with that much money in my hands, I haven’t prepared a humble status until now?”
The brothers who stuck out their tongues at the plan of the long-haired princess, whom they thought were idiots, immediately started calculating.
‘It’s difficult. Surprisingly, isn’t it a tricky trick to destroy?’
‘Romuald Arden, at least on par with Oliver is a strong man.’
‘I don’t distrust the loyalty of the baron, but if you’re my sister, I’ll do anything. It’s like they might use some kind of medicine. In that case, it would be best to give the baron some strength to resist temptation.’
‘It would be perfect if I could embrace her, but what will happen?’
‘As expected, giving orders to the court baek in advance seems to have been the right choice.’
Fortunately, fortunately, the wise king, Alphonse, had a reward arranged before him. Deeply admiring his sister’s offensive attack that hit him to the bottom of his chin, he tried to feign composure before fainting.
“Knowing that, Jim had already asked him for a promotion. Soon, the Ardennes baron family will be reborn as a new ducal family in the east. So, I hope you don’t worry about looking out for people around you and dare to become a concubine.”
“Are you crazy, Alphonse? How many steps did you skip from being a baron to being a duke?”
“Wait, how did you deal with the complaints of the surrounding powers?”
This time, Marian and Jacques looked astonished. Coincidentally, in the royal court, which was halfway through a fierce political battle with them, there was no resistance at all to the fact that a loyal subject of the first generation was appointed as a duke.
‘Your Majesty, it is very disgraceful for the country that the supreme loyalist remains at the title of baron!’
‘Please give a proper reward to the public servant who led the defection of the LeBlanc family!’
‘Umm, then, the Marquis of Lemoyn to the Baron?’
‘Would you like to give it to your wife anyway? I just appoint you as a duke, right?’
Because the two of them had no way to know that fact.
“You don’t know what, Jim and the ministers’ will is firm as one.”
Indeed, the vassal who proposed to grant him the title of duke was given a high official position there as well, and no one disputed the decision.
‘With the baron, you guys wouldn’t be able to hastily think of taking my place by force. Moreover, if the pioneering of the snowfield trade route through the far north limit is successful, even the money is perfect. Even so, with this case, the northern part has even qualified to acquire shares in Uestveda, so the power concentrated in the eastern part will be evenly distributed, which will greatly benefit the frozen land, which still has a lot of room for development.’
‘Sealing the son of a millennial baller as a duke? Alphonse is such a foolish bastard, that he was determined to destroy the royal family by the roots, not even having to gossip with the second son of the family. But nothing bad for me. It’s best to wait and see now that Arnaud LeBlanc has been lost and the Lion King’s behavior is unusual.’
‘I mean, I had a lot of fun walking in the north during this duel. If I had a meeting with the baron under the pretext of using the money to invest in the Marquis Baekryeong on a person from the Sanggye side, I think I might be able to conciliate him somehow. In case of emergency, we may ask for cooperation from Yvonne’s side…’
In a fierce nervous battle, the three siblings quietly showed their teeth. In the meantime, the king’s messenger, who came running from afar, had no time to read the atmosphere, so as soon as he found his master, he reported it in a hurry.
“Your Majesty, an urgent message from the frozen land to Baron Ardennes!”
“Oh oh! So, did he say he arrived well?”
“Yes, but I hate Dukes!”
Thus, there was a moment of silence in the corridor.
“… Eh?”
“Why not?”
“Is that child out of his mind too?”
The three of them, who instantly became bewildered faces, shook their heads. It was probably because there was some intention, and I was trying to figure it out.
‘Could it be that he was concerned about the deprivation of the other ministers?’
‘He’s a scary guy, befitting a son of a millennium baller. Doesn’t that mean I’m going to aim for the throne while acting loyal to this idiot Alphonse?’
‘Are the relations between Alphonse and Baron Ardennes not so close? Then maybe the chance will come back to me? If you only captivate the heart with beauty world and gift offensive… !’
No one got the answer right, though.
