Chapter 148 – 14. Courtship Competition (8)
Gaul, capital Lumiere.
A man who was banned from entering the hallway of the majestic royal palace trudged. With a tall appearance and sloppy clothes like the leading actor in a theater company, he entered the palace with a confident attitude. Even against the Royal Guard full of those who have seen the end of the sword and the court wizards who are among the top 10 on the continent, they advanced without showing any signs of being intimidated.
“Lungs, lungs!”
“It’s Jacques de Gaulia!”
The court ladies, who had lowered themselves from a distance, whispered. Experienced guardsmen also rarely showed embarrassment. The most notable reaction was the officials who opened their mouths or shook their bodies. It was because the man who had been exiled right before the death of the previous king had returned.
Hair that grew long like a lion’s mane, a beard that grew thick like a dragon’s beard, a look that wasn’t quite as straight as a pitiful beggar, and one eye was also wearing an eyepatch, possibly blind. Nevertheless, Ilshin possessed indescribable authority, befitting a man who was scheduled to rule a country in the past.
“Stop!”
A knight clad in layers of armor shouted not far from the royal throne. It was Richard Calais who blocked the way with several of his swordsmen and his hand on the hilt. He was the captain of the royal guard, the so-called sword of the king.
“Dear Crown Prince, you are now committing disrespect to His Majesty his, the lawful and solemn King of the great Gaul, under the watchful eye of the heavenly gods! An uninvited guest like you will no longer be tolerated by the heavens and the lord of this realm that is comparable to them!”
“Richard Calais, you are always noisy. On the subject of wolves changing owners to their liking.”
“Dare…!”
The light in the eyes of the heavily armed Richard’s helmet flashed. In the twinkling of an eye, he drew his sword and pointed his sharp sword at the nape of the decapitated prince’s neck as a warning. As if no matter how old the royal family was, they would not forgive any more atrocities than this.
“Yeah, now they even put a knife to my throat. Abandoning the favor of selecting you, a commoner without family, and granting you the castle of Calais. You are about to commit treason against a superior you deserve more than your life.”
The deceased was sneering. In accordance with royal tradition, all Gallic kings are granted the rank of Knight Commander of Calais before ascending the throne. It is to test the eyes of future rulers, giving them the right to select talents to protect temples, regardless of status.
And it was Jacques who had been crown prince in the past who had chosen the current head of the guard, Richard Calais.
“The only lord this Richard Calais sword serves is His Majesty the King.”
“It is so concise. Your words seem to be preparing for the time when I soon regain the position I should have occupied.”
“Jacques, don’t test the master’s patience any longer! Not only will you no longer bear the name of Gaul, but you will no longer be the commander of the knights leading Calais, so now, when His Majesty’s benevolent mercy tolerates it, is the time to retreat!”
Royal privilege is perfectly law when you don’t stand out. Even more so, a man whose qualifications had been revoked a long time ago could be decapitated like a flash of light right away.
However, the reason why the stern guard commander has not put it into action yet is simple. It is because I respected the person who took me back from being just a street fighter and made me enjoy the same honor as now.
“Go back. Your time is over. Because even that grand ambition won’t be able to set foot in this country anymore. His Majesty’s compassion and the reputation he had as the former Crown Prince should have managed to secure a decent life, but that’s it.”
The lung prince sighed and turned his head to the side. I glanced at the elderly man who was following me and gave a signal, blinking the only remaining pupil. I was lucky to see a man nodding saying that he could deal with it anytime soon.
“It’s already been more than ten years since the back of the millennial’s bastard stabbed me in the back of the head. Some people suggested that I become Ruth’s helper. He also asked me to get a political guardian for Bruelin. Of course there were similar proposals in Britannia and Hellas.”
“I warn you, if you take one more step, I will slash you.”
“I flatly refused. Even though this body fell from the heavens to the abyss on that day, I shook it off resolutely and came back. I want to prove that this Jacques de Gaulle is the one who will become the supreme king to my father’s original sin and his two unqualified younger brothers of his.”
“If you really want to die as a traitor who was punished for trying to usurp the throne… !”
Richard clicked his tongue and stabbed his sword. He acted while waiting for the sensation of a cool and heavy slaughter from the sharpened blade.
And, Kakang!
The famous sword forged with magic broke mercilessly like a tree branch. The tingling sensation in both hands made it impossible to guess what the hell was happening. If the man standing behind the decapitated prince hadn’t held his posture with his hand in the air, he would never have realized it.
“… An intangible sword?”
“The level of the Knights of Calais was barely this high.”
“How can it be, there are only two people who have reached this level on the continent… !”
“One of them is a woman. Do I look like the iron-blooded Empress Constantina Rus?”
The man laughed and groaned. Richard was finally able to realize who the man in charge of escorting the deposed prince was. In the sky outside the sky, there is only one person who can play like a child against a master who has seen the tip of a sword like me.
“Oliver Somerset…”
The captain of the guard who swallowed his saliva faced Britannia’s first sword. There is no one in any country who knows the swordsman who was brutally banished due to the duke of his alumni and former disciples who betrayed him.
Oliver of the Somerset Swordsman’s Guild regained his honor through a duel trial that lasted three days and nights, and was once again among the strongest of the era.
“How could Britannia’s lofty sword master become an abdicated prince, and you weren’t a hermit who refused even to be called by the Lion King of your own country?”
“I am not a scumbag who abandons Eunwon like the traitors in my life. Moreover, he respects the ambitions of those with convictions. The dream of the king of my country is not bad, but isn’t a swordsman more important in times of trouble than he reigns?”
“What…!”
“James the Lionheart is a man without an opponent. The reason he tried to moderate me was to work for peace in his homeland. But the interest rate is different. There are only a handful of people who can be said to be seriously aiming for the Danggeum Continent.”
Richard’s speech was blocked. Because the ambition that Oliver Somerset attributes to following Jacques de Gaulia is so absurd.
“I heard that Albenis Aragorn does not have any henchmen because his madness has gotten worse. Constantina Rus’ state was already in the same place as mine, so I wasn’t sure that I would be accepted. Helene Hellas is a man-avoiding personality, so I didn’t even feel the need to meet her. Naturally, the only remaining option is your abolished crown prince.”
Albenis of Aragon proclaiming the unification of the Apostolic Church.
Constantina of Rus burns the ambition of conquering the continent.
Helen of Hellas, who said she would explore the whole world.
And Zach of Gaul, who said he would subjugate the world below.
“Clear your way, Richard.”
The decapitated prince quietly ordered. Compared to the skill of the escort behind him, he possessed an irresistible dignity despite the fact that he was a pathetic man. It could be said that the result was different from the difference in his bowl.
“I cannot follow you.”
“Then you will die. You’d better act wisely like the soldiers at the palace gate.”
“It’s really cruel, I wondered how the crown prince, whose entry was strictly forbidden, could appear in this palace.”
Richard clenched her fists. He wanted to protect his master his, returning to his days his as a street fighter, just like the old days when they often fought over pennies.
“Clear the road, this is the last time we talk.”
“I’m sorry, but the captain of the Gaul Guard will not back down even if he dies.”
“If so…”
Oliver strode forward. He was an opponent who easily subdued even when he raised his sword in the Amman surprise attack. He had no reason to struggle just because his fists were slightly clenched. Coincidentally, Richard knew that too.
“Goodbye.”
Raising his shapeless sword, he greeted me. And at the same time, a man wearing a brilliant crown shouted in the distance.
“Stop!”
It appeared with hundreds of knights and wizards accompanying it, emitting spirit with a fierce and solemn expression like a beast.
It was Alphonse de Gallia. Oliver lowered his invisible sword. There was nothing wrong with the others, but it was a different story with the old advisor who stood by the king’s side. The wizard, who is said to be within ten fingers on the continent, had to be wary of even the swordsman who had realized the extreme.
“Atrocities beyond this will not be tolerated by Jim!”
The hyeonwang, who let out a terrifying shout, widened his eyes. And he looked at the face of the proud Crown Prince, who had the same prestige as me. He calmly responded to his arrogant older brother’s provocation and started a conversation.
“I thought you would stay hidden until the end.”
“Your Highness, are you really crazy?”
“You are babbling about having too many eyes to see and ears to hear. Be polite to your brother.”
“Yes, even Jim assumed you would one day bare those claws again. If even a sister with the status of a princess continues to challenge endlessly, you are no exception. But I wonder why it is now.”
No matter how thorough the crackdown is, rumors will inevitably spread as long as things have reached this point. In the same vein, the entrance of the abolished crown prince was already an obvious treason in itself. In short, the situation has reached an extreme.
So, there is no turning back.
“Because I couldn’t stand to see my people suffer any longer.”
“Your people? Truly reckless.”
“If I had tried to bring you down by force, I would have done it long ago. I was the one who could have disobeyed his father’s will his and ascended the throne myself in the first place.”
After looking around him, the lung prince gradually raised his voice.
“You called Marian and I a challenge together. Certainly, nominally you are the king of Gaul. However, true dominion is something that must be done with perfection, without any imperfections.”
“That means my reign is not like that.”
“The time of chaos is appropriate. The cause of salvation is certain. The legitimacy of the kingdom belongs to this Zach. The reason I waited so long was definitely for today. Therefore, I declare.”
It’s finally time.
“The true pretender and his rulers, stand up again with bare hands and fists to greet the returning crown prince.”
We will definitely end the past struggles that ended halfway through.
“I solemnly declare that the war for the throne has begun again in all of Gaul.”
The battle for the throne of this country!
