Chapter 209 – 20. Interlude (9)
Marquis of Lemoens, City of Ardennes.
The border square, which was cold and deserted, has now been reborn as a street symbolizing the prosperity of the frozen land. Even wood, let alone bricks, was scarce, so only thatched-roofed houses were close to each other, and there were only a handful of streetlights.
The expanded fortress expanded into an area comparable to that of any large city. It has become a daily routine to build buildings that are at most two stories taller by several stories. The roof made of weaving reeds and straw was replaced with a nice stone material under the support of the manor, and business in winter clothes was in full swing on the streets.
“Attention everyone!”
Appropriate regulations and guidance properly controlled the sprawling buildings in the blink of an eye. Residential and commercial areas are developed evenly, and the site that was underdeveloped until a few months ago has been completely changed. In particular, the villas built by influential people from all over the kingdom in an effort to establish a link with the north were reminiscent of the bustling capital city or the scenery of an ancient city.
“This is the lawful and solemn king of the great Gaul under the watchful eye of the heavenly gods! An edict containing the name of His Majesty Alphonse de Gaullia, Duke of Lumiere and Count of Agincourt, Baron Roche-Jacqueline and Lord of Durys, Lord of Evreux, Commander of the Knights of Calais, Protector of the Eastern Plain and Southern Forest, Ruler of the Western Wilderness, and Conqueror of the Northern Frozen Land. Ini!”
The king’s honor guard, which was said to be seen only on the first road to Lumiere, roared loudly in front of the bulletin board in the plaza, lined up with fives. From ordinary natives to middle-class immigrants and aristocrats visiting for business or leisure, the school read the textbook.
“The burden reaches all peoples. The rulers of many continents have been defeated, and today the long war has reached its climax. Since the people inside and outside are grieved and the powerful are shamelessly turned away, how can we be stingy in praising those who have devoted themselves to overcoming national difficulties?”
Even in the bitter cold, the honor guards clad in cold plate armor cheered up every time they finished reading a paragraph. Originally, it was a part where you had to show off your dignity by hitting the floor with the spear and shield you were holding, but for some reason it was not armed, so it seemed to be replaced like that.
“The loyalist of the first generation, Romuald Arden!”
Among the onlookers, those who managed to have a high status spat out exclamations. It is not uncommon for a person who is the size of a country’s monarch to pick and hold a particular subject in high regard. Moreover, if it is a local hegemon that can be called a potential threat.
“The king is the governor of Baron Ardennes?”
“Nonsense, no matter how dizzy the situation is…”
“It must be unprecedented in the history of Gaul to praise a baron so far from the central political realm!”
Nevertheless, the knight leading the honor guard proudly showed me lined up with me at the head, and recited Yoon’s music repeatedly to let me know. As if he was rather welcoming the reaction of the boisterous crowd, by the time the expression went a step further, he glanced at some of them dressed as nobles.
“Your loyalty, not sparing my name, awakened me. As if swimming in the vast sea of the name of the era, he boldly shook off the delusion in the dizzy world and presented the direction this country should move forward. This is a feat comparable to the nameless servants of the founder, King Taecho, the nine swords of the sun king, the ancestor, and the thousand-year-old merit of his father, King Chin-ae!”
The king never has a second person. He should not be left This is because he is a political opponent who will soon challenge his authority. Any kind of ruler who reigns over his subjects must induce competition among his subordinates in order to strengthen his dominance.
The wise king, Alphonse de Gallia, is a king who is not so incompetent as to not know that.
But why does Yun-eum in the school gate put a man who is only a mere baron on top of her? Moreover, even if Romuald Ardennes joins the ranks of his henchmen like the Count of Beauharnais in the middle, his origin and title are too low.
“What was the definition of royalty from ancient times? What was the definition of nobility? Now that the age of mythology has passed, Jim’s theocracy has become a human right that must be pioneered and bestowed on oneself! Thus, being challenged by numerous factions in and out of Gaul, the innate kingship is being tested as if it were truly standing on the edge!”
Those who were quick-witted had already guessed what was written in the textbook. In short, the Hyeonwang was boldly trying to use the northern baron. Considering that he was the son-in-law of the Marquis of Lemoyn and one of the four great tribes of Gaul, it was a very unconventional greeting.
“But Jim doesn’t care. Didn’t he have a sword and shield to use to dispel the dark clouds and protect his subjects willingly? Some cast blasphemous doubts whether that loyalty was perverted, but this belief is stronger than ever. That’s why I give you a gift.”
Humongous buzz, now all those gathered on the street intuition opened their mouths.
“No, not only the governor, but also the sergeant?”
“This looks like the Northern Margrave, who is far from the royalists, is stepping on the southern train.”
“If the central rulers were not fools, weren’t they sure that they would regard the baron’s loyalty as their true intentions?”
“Hey, the invincible knight of Lumière is someone who has devoted himself to the country since he was unknown.”
It was at its peak. As if he had been waiting for this moment, the knight of the honor guard raised his right hand. He spread out his five fingers and folded them as he uttered a word.
“Garden of the Royal Palace, Trianon first!”
Land within the palace that cannot be owned by non-direct royal family members, even if it is a garden.
“You grant your biological mother the honor that only its owner can have!”
The dead mother of Baron Ardennes was no longer a Cortizan. As the manager of the royal gardens, she earned the title of Lady Trianon. Just as she lifted the label of growing up as the founder of a new family, it also meant that he was no longer born from birth.
“My sword! Along with the Commander of the Knights of Calais, you are permitted to wear swords in the palace, the position of Honorary Commander of the three Royal Orders, and the Lumiere Honor Guard!”
Chuck! As many as one hundred honor guards saluted with their hands in unison. It was only then that people realized the reason why troops, which could only be seen in the center of the capital, marched to the frozen land and refrained from arming themselves. The army, which had come to serve the new leader at the king’s command, couldn’t create an intimidating atmosphere.
“Finally, I decree that the Crown Prince of Dijon outside the capital be granted, and at the same time, the title of Central Countess sealed!”
However, what was most impressive was the words he proclaimed at the end.
“… What crazy!”
“Hey, go back to the mansion immediately and tell the owner!”
“It’s a big deal! The title of count of Dijon to the baron of Ardennes!”
Another title conferred that is no different from promotion!
* * *
Speaking of Lucienne Lemoang, the Winter Stone of the North, she is a woman so beautiful that it would be rude to describe her beauty. Also, the mystic scholar Young lady, who can be called the true identity of the other side, is therefore a beauty in all directions with outstanding knowledge and talent.
Induce riots? Assassination plan? Behind the scenes control?
For this young lady with her long blonde hair and blinking ruby-red eyes, she is literally at the forefront of trickery. For her, who had a history of poisoning her father, it was no different than eating her sliced baguette.
“Excuse me, what did you just say?”
Romuald, Baron of Ardennes, and Oriane, the Marquis’s wife, were away for a while. Naturally, it was Lucienne who received the court bag Renoir, who had returned from the center, as she had no intention of disturbing their intimate time.
“Your Majesty has bestowed upon Sir Romuald Ardennes the Royal Mandate of Dijon outside the capital. It is a land that cannot be said to be large even with empty words, but in order to increase prestige, it will be promoted to a county, and the title of baron of Ardennes will be given priority at the border, but in the center it will be given preferential treatment as the count of Dijon.”
The young lady, who had an attractive cold and cold expression like ice, was called the Winter Stone because of that impression. Vincent, who had met several times on his previous visits but had never been alone, admired him, saying that he was as beautiful as rumors had it, and fulfilled his duty.
“Also, I gave my birth mother the surname of Trianon, the qualification of a bayonet that allows me not to disarm even when I have an audience with Her Majesty at the palace, the honorary leader of three Royal Knights who can exercise command in case of emergency, and the right to command one hundred Lumiere Honor Guards. There is.”
“Wait a minute, aside from the granting of the Dijon estate, isn’t the title of count a great nobility?”
“It is a tenured job. Succession is also possible to heirs.”
Vung, the half-fazed Lucienne asked without even realizing it. No matter how she looks at it, it can’t be a loss. So, it was something to think about after driving the wedge, but isn’t this too absurd anyway?
“… Why?”
Vincent Renoir, the courtier with clenched fists, grinned whether he knew the young lady’s feelings or not. As if he already knew everything, he didn’t need to act too hard, so he arbitrarily added extras.
“I know, don’t know!”
“Suddenly?”
“Baron Ardennes’ real love is, of course, the young lady. However, the promise until now was that if the two of you had a child, there would be only one title that could be inherited.”
The one known to the outside world as Rome’s wife is Lemoang’s wife, Oriane. Therefore, whether a baron becomes an earl or a duke, the only person who can inherit the title must be a child born of them. So nominally, Lucienne’s lineage could only inherit the title of Marquis.
It is only a story when the trick of adoption is excluded.
“Forget the conventions of the past! As of today, no matter what title the Baron of Ardennes holds, succession is encouraged! We strongly encourage the heir born of the two of them to become Baron of Ardennes, Count of Dijon and Marquis of Lemoens!”
Vincent continued, pointing to the list he had put on the table earlier.
“Welcome to the affair! Slave Owning Fully Encouraged!”
“Yes?”
“No matter the royalty, nobility, or commoners! If you are a woman and can only speak of being subjugated or controlled by a corresponding weakness, you can write your name here! The name and title in this list are guaranteed by the royal family under any circumstances!”
Puffy, silent, with his mouth wide open, he also delivered these signals.
‘Do you know who the royal family is?’
Please solve the troublesome princess Jang.
“An object that mobilized dozens of magic, alchemy, and other spells! Cloning and counterfeiting is impossible! Doesn’t burn! It doesn’t even tear well! Semi-permanent storage is possible! The main topic is the editing function of nationally certified family members!”
As the courtier said, the magical power contained in the list was a quasi-relic. It was a notebook that contained enough materials to make hundreds of more useful magic items.
“What if you write down the names of the Marquis Marquis and Young Ae, followed by the name of the royal family? The two of you will become the wife of Baron Ardennes. It’s already a relationship that His Majesty vouches for, but to give an example, that’s it!”
Even the luxurious build quality of the cover and the inside was comparable to that of a precious masterpiece.
“You might have noticed that I place more weight on the latter, in that it is not to mention concubines and slaves, regardless of social status!”
“I had no idea…”
“Haha, the virtue of humility is really nice to see. Then, in the future, I hope the baron enslaves as many women as possible. She won’t designate any woman in particular. Even if we don’t take that risk, we’ll be in a position where we all get along.”
Vincent gave her eyes as if asking if it was so, and waited for Lucienne’s answer.
“Aha!”
And the young lady finally clapped her hands and nodded.
‘The king is crazy.’
