episode_0039

Nash’s breathing, usually soft and pleasant to hear, was unusually rough today.

Each step he took was not the elegant stride that used to captivate the attention of the surrounding ladies with just a mere walk, but rather a very coarse and vulgar gait.

Yulrian was well aware of how different his current state was from usual.

Blaming it on the champagne was futile; he had only sipped one glass.

Since entering the hall, he had been melting into the shadows, far from blaming the vulgar atmosphere around him.

He was heading towards Eleanor to clear his cluttered mind.

However, as her beautiful figure filled his sight more and more, the turmoil in his heart only grew louder.

“Hold on a moment, Yulrian! Where are you going in such a hurry?”

His friend’s voice caught Yulrian’s coat gently from behind.

“The Byeonbaek couple. And Lady Eleanor.”

Yulrian responded briefly, seeming annoyed by the bewildered tone.

“So suddenly like this?”

“We came all this way upon invitation. It’s only proper to greet them, isn’t it?”

“But still, Byeonbaek is currently engaged in conversation with the Duke!”

His harsh footsteps paused momentarily at that voice.

The neat silver hair falling to his shoulders swayed against the white coat collar.

“And?”

“And so what? That man is the Duke, after all!”

Christian’s chin gestured towards the black-haired man joyfully conversing with Byeonbaek and Eleanor.

“Unlike others, he carries himself with proper dignity as the Duke.”

Yulrian chuckled at Christian’s words.

“Christian, even though he’s a Duke, he’s merely a distant relative of the royal family. There’s no need for direct descendants to show respect to distant relatives.”

Christian looked awkward at Yulrian’s confident tone.

Technically, Yulrian was right.

Despite holding the title of Duke, the Berbretz ducal family had long separated from the royal lineage.

Yet, it wasn’t that simple to think that way.

Yulrian, not a legitimate heir of the royal family but a product of the Emperor’s whims and amusements, continued his vulgar steps with a smirk, and Christian sighed softly, following him.

“Oh, really! Alright, I get it. Just wait a moment, Yulrian!”

#.

“Even though it’s not your business, you’re making efforts in various ways. I’m not sure how to express my gratitude.”

Dmitri chuckled.

In response, Novice Nash, whose head was slightly spinning, burst into a refreshing laughter that made everyone feel cool.

Facing the boisterous laughter of Obert, which was refreshing to behold, Dmitri immediately bowed, letting his black hair flow down.

The people standing behind Byeonbaek were perplexed, unsure of what to do in the face of the grand Duke’s greeting.

Currently, there were many eyes watching.

Although tonight’s gathering was arranged by Byeonbaek Obert, it wasn’t tightly controlled like a royal ball, allowing guests to enter without invitations.

Therefore, not everyone present here could be considered friendly towards Byeonbaek or the Baron of Verne.

While some had come to admire the renowned townhouse of the Bearen family and find their match, many had no interest in Byeonbaek’s return to the west.

Surely, there were also those who had donned disguises to catch Byeonbaek’s attention.

However, even if they were not interested in the Baekjeong.

Even if they were merely wanderers seeking their own matches.

The two men conversing in the distance were the Grand Duke guarding the north and the Baekjeong guarding the west. Since the disbandment of the soldiers, they were two men who each had their own armed forces strangely. They were the kind of men who could overturn the empire if they so desired.

Naturally, the attention of those around them was focused on the two men.

In the midst of it all, the Grand Duke bowed deeply to the mere Baron Naburang.

Contrary to the Beaurne family members who were greatly bewildered by the Grand Duke’s actions, Daphne, standing behind the Grand Duke, showed no particular reaction as if it were an everyday occurrence.

Although the Verbriz Grand Duchy had long abandoned the Galatea family.

As rulers of the north, they were clearly a noble lineage separated from the imperial family, descendants of the first king who established Galatea.

However, governing the rough north where life and death fluctuated with even the slightest gap, the people of Verbriz naturally drifted further away from titles, classes, and authority.

Dmitri was no exception.

Having grown up with his subordinates on the massive wall built to stop monsters coming down from the northern lands to warmer places, he was immune to formalities or authority.

Moreover, since the North was the one providing assistance.

The Baekjeong lifted the elderly Dmitri, who had bowed deeply, and said, “If you say that, this old man feels a bit offended. I, too, along with everyone standing here, am a subject of the empire. I am always grateful for the efforts of the North in repelling monsters.”

In response to Obert’s words, Dmitri replied with a friendly smile, “Isn’t the Baekjeong the empire’s shield protecting the empire from the heretics of the West?”

Thus, the two men exchanged banter and chuckled.

In the midst of their conversation, a sharp and somewhat cold voice pierced through.

“It’s been a while, Grand Duke Dmitri. And Baekjeong Obert.”

The two men turned their heads to the unfamiliar voice.

Certainly, the silver-haired man was smiling elegantly and gracefully, but there was an inexplicable tension emanating from him.

With the unexpected appearance of an uninvited guest.

And an indescribable coldness from Yulian.

Having just entered the annex and still keenly aware, Dmitri took a step back in surprise.

However, Obert was different.

The sense of the Empire’s shield, which had been dulled by the annoying remarks that had bothered him and the refreshing champagne poured down his throat repeatedly, made him indifferent.

Obert laughed heartily and looked at Yulian.

“Haha. Who might this be? Isn’t it Valatie, the savior of our precious Ellie from the hands of the ruffians?”

His rough and wrinkled hand reached out towards Yulian, and Yulian’s long and delicate hand wrapped around the Baekjeong’s hand.

“Rescuing a lady in distress is surely a man’s virtue, isn’t it?”

“Hahaha. I wanted to express my gratitude to my wife before heading down to the West, but things got busy. Anyway, you’ve come at a good time today.”

Following Obert, Yulian cautiously extended his hand to the red-eyed man.

“It’s been a while, Valatie. I thought I should visit you once, but I happened to be heading down to the East.”

“I heard you became the security officer of the Ministry of the Interior.”

“I was fortunate in many ways.”

“Indeed, Karnat must be quite skilled to command the attention of inexperienced rookies without any military background.”

His grip tightened as their hands met.

Through the taut veins that surfaced as he writhed, Yuriel’s hand, as delicate and fair as a woman’s, began to blush red as well.

“By the way, how are things in the North? I heard the Knights’ armory is in chaos, unable to repair. Seeing the Duke leave his post vacant seems to confirm the rumors.”

Dmitri’s rough hand showed no change from before, unlike Yuriel.

However, the slight tremble of his hair behind his forehead hinted at some damage from Yuriel’s retaliation.

“Anyway, it’s fortunate the emergency aid was approved by the council. Your Highness, while you linger in the capital, the Northern defenses have held firm.”

And only now did Obert realize the gravity of the current situation between the two men.

Beyond the heated exchange, unsure of what to do, he called over a busy servant who deftly slipped champagne flutes between their large fingers and offered them to the two men.

“Come now, enough of this petty talk. Here, let’s each have a drink. We must get along well, as we are the ones to lead the Empire forward.”

Both Dmitri and Yuriel received champagne glasses, wearing uneasy expressions at the imposing figure of Chancellor Baek blocking their path.

The silver-haired man, without toasting, raised his sharp jawline skyward and downed the champagne in one swift gulp.

Yuriel’s crimson eyes began to gleam as he turned towards Obert, who looked surprised at the sight.

“Chancellor Baek, may I have a word with Lady Eleanor?”

Caught in the crossfire of the men’s dispute was none other than Eleanor herself, standing dazed behind Chancellor Baek.