episode_0127

“I commend your contribution in resolving this case.”

“Your Majesty, I am very grateful.”

Rupert enters the royal court for the second time since the previous Abyss Cult incident.

The atmosphere was still solemn and I was quite nervous, but fortunately, unlike before, there were no people around.

Of course, it was burdensome to meet the Emperor alone.

“I would like to congratulate you on your achievements, but since this is a sensitive issue, I hope you understand that I am giving you this kind of congratulations.”

“No, Your Majesty.”

The recent incident involving the Night’s Attendants had changed many aspects and was known to the world.

The reason was none other than the elves.

‘Of course it is not your fault, but if rumors spread that the people of the Empire have been harmed by renegades from the Elves, it is bound to have negative effects.’

Many races lost contact with humans due to the racial war that took place on the continent.

In a situation where the majority of them still reject humans, the only ones with whom they were able to interact a little were the elves.

The emperor deleted all information related to the elves, fearing that if the truth of this incident were to become known, all buds of exchange could be cut off again.

“Baron Sleepy fought bravely against the enemies who were targeting the empire until the end, and showed the exemplary figure of a nobleman who protected the people of the territory. He was thus appointed Viscount, and the Sleepy family was declared to have the right to succeed to the Viscount’s line.”

The people who benefited the most from these changes were the Sleepy family.

This was Rupert’s suggestion.

‘How about defeating Satanael and the Night’s servants in solidarity with Baron Sleepy?’

As the actions of the Allied Forces, including the secret organization Crimson Wardens, were hidden, their enemy Satanael also had to be weakened.

So, in the end, the fact recorded in the history of the empire was that Baron Sleepy bravely swung his sword and defeated hundreds of enemies, and then finally gave up his strength and fell.

Satanael in the afterlife might be shocked if he saw this, but he was already dead and there was nothing he could do.

‘Baron Sleepy was such a master of swordsmanship?’

‘No… I’ve known the Baron for years, and he never seemed unmanned.’

‘Are you insulting the hero of the Empire right now?! There’s no way His Majesty the Emperor would lie!’

Of course, those who knew him knew that something was strange, but since he was already a hero of the empire, Baron Sleepy, no, Viscount, they could not speak carelessly about it.

And so, Sleepy Count became a hero.

***

“Thank goodness! I wanted to run straight to Somerset, but everyone, including my father, stopped me… .”

After the tributes to the ball were over, it was Crown Prince Alex who greeted Rupert.

Alex was anxious because the Emperor did not allow him to head straight to Somerset Estate when he heard the news that Ada and Rupert were in danger.

“I hope Ada isn’t hurt?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, you are safe.”

Rupert sighed inwardly at Alex’s words of concern for Ada.

‘Ada needs to be educated too.’

Rather, it was much more likely that Ada would hurt someone, but Rupert just kept quiet because he knew Alex wouldn’t believe him even if he told him.

“Ah, I’m late with my congratulations. Congratulations on your family’s success.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“You are now the Marquis of Somerset. It is certainly a good thing, but it will also be a lot of trouble.”

“That’s definitely true.”

It wasn’t just Baron Sleepy who got credit for this incident.

Because it was known that Somerset had made great contributions in both the previous Abyss Cult incident and this Satanael incident.

The Emperor decided to elevate the Somerset family to the rank of marquess.

“But I’m a little curious that it passed so easily.”

While he was still, Earl Bradley, who had become the Marquis, wondered what was going on, and Rupert was equally bewildered.

The Sleepy family, who rose from baron to viscount, deserved it.

Since the emperor had the authority to decide on the title of Viscount at his own discretion, there was no problem with the Sleepy family becoming Viscounts.

From the count level onwards, it was not something that could be decided simply by the emperor, but required the approval of a majority of the nobles.

“There must have been many nobles who were not so pleased with our family’s recent growth.”

“Ah… I guess you still don’t know about that rumor.”

“Yes?”

“No, I don’t think this is something I should talk about now.”

Alex speaks as if he knows something.

Rupert became more curious, but he couldn’t ask the Crown Prince Alex, so he had no choice but to continue the conversation with an uneasy feeling.

“While you’re here, why don’t you go see Iolin? He must have been worried about you too.”

Rupert, who had been thinking about doing that anyway, simply replied that he understood what Alex said.

***

“Hmm… I guess my father is more daring than I thought.”

Prince William muttered to himself as he read the report sent by the Secret Service.

-It seems that the rumor about Rupert Somerset and the Princess’s marriage is not false.

William, one of the few people who knew exactly what was going on, was convinced that the rumours were true when he heard that the House of Somerset had been granted the crown by the House of Peerage.

‘Maybe my father had a hand in it.’

From the rank of Marquis onwards, he was a true upper-class noble.

It is the minimum title given to those selected as one of the seven great nobles who dominate the imperial aristocracy, and is a special title whose scope of influence in a region extends beyond a single territory.

Given the nature of the nobles, who usually did not welcome the increase in their competitors, it was natural that they would oppose Somerset no matter how much he had accomplished.

The fact that the nobles accepted the promotion requested by the Emperor without much objection must have been because some nobles had been informed in advance.

The content was probably like this.

– Among my children, the princess is now of marriageable age, and I am considering Somerset’s second son as her partner.

The nobles would have thought, “That’s right.”

In fact, at that moment, Somerset was starting to feel uneasy about his close relationship with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, and he felt the need to restrain him.

Marrying the princess would have been like putting him in chains.

‘I guess I have no choice but to refrain from getting involved with Iolin after my brother ascends to the throne.’

It was a very dangerous position to hold real power, even though it would raise the title and family honor. That is why it was obvious that he would become a marquis, so the shrewd nobles readily agreed.

“Those plans should be scrapped.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I also thought it was fortunate for William.

Rupert’s recent close association with the Third Prince and other powerful nobles of the Empire, as well as with royal families of other countries, has become suspicious, so there is no need to carry out the plans that were made just in case.

***

“Your Highness, you are truly amazing!”

“Hmm… Is that it?”

“Yes! The term “genius” must exist for your highness!”

Rupert and Iolin’s voices are heard from the Princess’ palace.

Rupert, who had already visited this place several times where no other man could set foot, was very excited as he looked at the manuscript in his hand.

“This picture is really the best. Of course, there needs to be some shock here.”

“I knew you would know! This is actually done on purpose to hide the ultimate villain… .”

The two, who were talking about the latest manuscript of that Iolin was working on, seemed like friends who got along well.

‘Has there ever been someone whom Your Majesty treated so casually?’

The chief steward, Ayton, watched the scene quietly and thought.

-Let me check if you two are interested in each other.

The emperor’s secret order given to him.

That was why Ayton had let Rupert into Iolin’s quarters, but he was troubled because no matter how he looked at it, it seemed more like a relationship between close friends than a romantic relationship between a man and a woman.

‘Where on earth are the author’s eyes?!’

Ayton was so frustrated that he thought he was going to die.

Other men couldn’t take their eyes off Iolin’s face.

From the first time they met until now, all Rupert has ever talked to Iolin about is his work.

yet,

“How about a faceless person?!”

“Mu-myeon-ja? Aha! So that means faceless. What a cool nickname!”

“Doesn’t it really suit you?”

It was so frustrating to see Rupert and Iolin so absorbed in the story of the cartoon and chatting away like a god.

‘No, rather, is it because of that kind of person that His Majesty doesn’t mind having him by his side?’

However, since there had been no men that Iolin had been interested in up until now, Ayton thought that, on the other hand, someone like that might be a good match for Iolin.

“But I heard that Baekgyeong will be finished soon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It may be fast, but in fact, the completeness of the work is more important, so I decided to finish it in the end.”

“Then aren’t the number of Manapia’s works too small?”

Iolin thought that the advantage of Manapia was that one could watch multiple works at the same time, so he thought that it would be quite a blow if one of the six works currently being serialized was dropped.

“The next work is ready.”

“Wow, is that Ishmael kid preparing his next work?”

“No, I plan to do one more piece.”

“What? Aren’t you serializing Van Helsing right now?”

Iolin was startled and asked back.

That was understandable, because in her opinion, it was simply impossible for Rupert, who was already serializing one work, to draw another.

“No way… Your work will be finished too.”

“No, I’m just going to draw one more piece.”

“Is that possible?”

Since Iolin did not know about the blessing Rupert had received from the goddess, Rupert could only answer that it was possible.

“Well, I guess you can. But can you just tell me what your next project is?”

“Um… It’s still a secret, but I’ll tell you, Your Highness.”

After a moment’s pause, Rupert’s mouth opened.

“The King of Cards.”