episode_0139

Dagdak-

I can hear the sound of a carriage moving.

As they were passing along the well-paved Imperial Road, Karl and the Duke of Maynor inside the carriage felt no particular discomfort.

The Duke’s carriage was so impressive that it could be recognized from a distance.

It was a carriage as well made as the Manor house itself.

The Duke sat in the carriage and read the report Karl had handed him. It was a report on the Academy’s activities.

-Nothing unusual was found with Daniela Del Rio. When the princess was at the Academy, the relationship between the two was not friendly.

After reading the last sentence, the Duke folded the report in a flurry.

“Your conclusion is that there is no possibility that the princess approached Daniela or that there was any kind of deal.”

“Yes.”

“I hope this is your conclusion as an intelligence investigator, not as Daniela’s friend.”

“Do not bring personal feelings into the mission.”

Karl sat facing the duke and straightened his swept hair. He was not used to wearing a tuxedo. He also applied oil to his hair to match the formality.

The bow tie was uncomfortable. Or maybe it was uncomfortable because he was lying.

In the inside pocket of his jacket was a card for a tavern called ‘Green Arms’ that he had obtained from Daniela.

“Really? I asked because I was worried because there was a precedent. It was a one-time mistake, so I trust you will figure it out from now on.”

“… … ”

For a moment, his expression seemed to harden, but Karl nodded with a calm expression again. The duke on the other side was also wearing a tuxedo like Karl.

The atmosphere inside the carriage became heavy.

“I will be careful not to make the same mistake…”

“What if you had reported it that day, or if you had subdued the princess yourself… I sometimes think about it.”

The duke laughed bitterly.

After the Christmas Eve celebration, the relationship between the adoptive father and adopted son, the vice-director and the agent became strained.

It seemed like it would take some more time for that shallow yet deep valley to be filled.

At first, I couldn’t believe that he was reporting the truth about the princess so late, and I thought that he had been taken over by the power of the royal family. I also wondered if the power of the holy sword was of no use.

“I know that you have a hard time dealing with the church because of me. I am ashamed. It is all my fault, Father.”

“I’m sorry. It’s rude to bring up past events. I’ve had a lot of free time because of the war. Don’t worry about it. It was just a rant.”

The sword was subjected to intense interrogation by the sect.

And the result was no suspicion of heresy.

There was absolutely no trace of the royal family on the sword. In other words, it was confirmed that it was not under the control of the royal family’s magic.

The intelligence people were relieved.

I returned the sword, sweeping away my surprised heart.

Everyone thought of Carl’s belated report as just a rookie’s mistake. A rookie mistake caused by excessive expectations and pressure.

“… … ”

But the Duke and Louis felt relieved yet bitter. They felt an anxiety that they could not bring themselves to express out loud.

Talking about it won’t make a difference, and it’s not something you can get rid of or suppress.

“Is the saint coming today too?”

“… Seeing you asking about Alana, I guess it’s still the same even though we’re in the same academy. Well, it’ll take some time. So I’ll answer. No, no one from the church will be attending the meeting today.”

“I see… ”

Just as a rift developed between the duke and the sword, so did the relationship between the saint and the sword.

If there is a difference, it seems like it takes a little more time than between a peacock and a sword… or so.

“Maybe Alana’s intuition is right… ”

“Yes?”

“Ah. Don’t worry about it. I’m just talking to myself.”

The peacock smiled faintly and looked out the window.

The scenery was changing.

We are starting to reach our destination.

The saint investigated the sword’s suspicions with the divine powers given to her, but found nothing.

However, as she failed to find any traces of the royal family and realized that the sword was clean, she used her divine powers more and more desperately. She carried out her investigation so desperately that she almost collapsed from exhaustion.

The priests around her, the duke who was watching, and even Karl worried and tried to stop her. But no one could stop the saint.

‘This… This can’t be happening. This, this can’t be happening. The sword… The sword…!’

The peacock then saw something.

I could tell from the saintess who was investigating with her blazing eyes, sweat-soaked hair, and haggard face what she was worried about.

‘Oh! Oh my…! This isn’t right… Why! Why! Why on earth isn’t there any trace… .’

I remember the saint finally sitting down and sobbing.

Those who were watching simply thought that a saint with a strong sense of mission was suffering because she could not track down the royal family.

Everyone thought that she looked truly good and that she showed the noble determination of a saint to destroy evil through the blessing of light.

In the midst of the solemn atmosphere at the interrogation site, the Duke was the only one who felt something different.

jealousy.

The Duke saw jealousy in the saintess.

It seemed as if the sword was desperately clinging to find evidence that it was not intentional that it had released the princess.

And from then on, the duke began to worry.

What could Saint Alana’s anxiety be, what could her intuition be pointing her towards?

What kind of future will there be in the place you go to following your intuition?

That worry whispers to the duke.

Maybe the sword had feelings for the princess even without the terrible power of a curse like the royal power, just because of the relationship between a man and a woman.

*

As the banquet was in full swing, Karl stood alone, leaning against the wall.

The Duke has already finished greeting the important figures at the banquet hall.

As the Duke’s son, he has done a good job of shining a light on the world, so he can just spend some time there and then leave.

The banquet hall was filled with people dancing and drinking to the sound of the band.

Even during wartime, social circles were important.

No, it’s more important because we’re at war.

All kinds of information are shared and created here, so the Duke is paying more attention to social circles than usual.

The same goes for the nobility and other dignitaries of the empire. They delve into the ever-changing interests that arise from the changing political situation due to the imperial family.

It was also a place where we constantly judged who would be with us, who would defect, who would be likely to defect, and who would be on our side.

But this is not a place that suits a knife.

In this kind of situation, it is better to leave it to the Duke and quietly disappear.

“What are you doing?”

I raised my head at the alluring voice.

A red-haired woman wearing a low-cut dress appeared.

“Senior Scarlett.”

“Looking for a girl to dance to?”

Scarlett Rogers, the only daughter of Marquis Rogers.

Unlike his father, who was an Imperial Army officer and knight, his talent as a knight is zero.

Instead, he was born with the look that was perfect for captivating men and the intellect as a politician.

Carl looked at Scarlett with indifferent eyes.

“I have bad memories of dancing.”

“Ah. Right, right.”

Scarlett scratched her head as if she had made a mistake, holding her champagne glass.

With the attitude that I shouldn’t talk about ‘dance’ so carelessly because I knew the suffering I had to endure because of dancing with Beatrice at the Christmas Eve.

“Don’t pretend to be sorry.”

“Huh? I’m really sorry?”

Scarlett smiled brightly.

Still not sorry.

“How was your impression of the Rogers Mansion? Your father put a lot of effort into hosting you. I hope you like it.”

“What a wonderful mansion. The banquet was also wonderful.”

“Why are you just standing there? You should get to know the other noble ladies quickly!”

Scarlett pointed to the noble ladies in the banquet hall, scolding Carl for being alone.

“Senior, I am the ‘former’ fiancée of Chloe who has betrayed me. And I danced with the princess and the whole church was turned upside down. No woman in her right mind would want to get involved with me.”

“Now is the chance, why doesn’t anyone know about it? It’s a great opportunity to recruit a handsome junior.”

“But even seniors like that just push you and don’t think about picking it up themselves?”

The knife clanked and shook its head.

“Oh my! I thought I had a chance too? I thought you weren’t interested and not interested in my taste!”

“Ah. That’s right. It’s not my taste. I don’t like women who say “you’re so cute” or “whatever” on the first date I meet them… ”

“Ahaha… I guess I was drunk back then.”

Scarlett smiled awkwardly, her face red.

“By the way, what kind of taste does a good-looking junior have?”

The impression was charming, but the way he asked questions in a friendly manner was somehow endearing.

Scarlett called Karl her ‘handsome junior’.

Her argument was that he was a good-looking junior, since he had replaced Beatrice, who was a pretty junior.

Carl entered the student council according to the Duke’s will.

Since this was where the princess stayed, it was necessary to observe the student council members’ movements a little more closely.

Of course, Karl tried to join the student council without the Duke asking him to do so. He was curious because Beatrice, who had a bad reputation at the academy, was actively working in her own way.

“I had a rough idea since he was engaged to Princess Chloe, but I was curious to see him dancing with a princess… no, a pretty junior.”

“Can you bring up the names of traitors so carelessly?”

“What’s wrong? No one’s listening.”

“I’m here.”

“Oh my! You’re not going to hand me over to the church, are you?”

The sword snickered.

“No way.”

“Actually, it doesn’t feel real. It was just the same old academy. It was the annual Christmas party, and I thought the same old routine would continue… ”

“… … ”

“That kid, I never dreamed that Beatrice would be royalty. I thought she was a little bit unruly, but she wasn’t a bad girl. I really didn’t know she would start a war like this. That’s why it doesn’t feel real.”

The atmosphere was starting to get a little heavy.

So Carl thought he should have a little chat with Scarlett to keep up the good work.

“It’s my taste… ”

“Oh! Are you talking?”

“Um… ”

Carl touched his chin and thought deeply.

Taste… I guess you’re talking about women’s tastes. Who they like, what kind of people they like.

Looking back, it feels like it wasn’t that long ago that I developed a taste.

Because before the ice was melted, the sword was a woman.

At that time, my taste was none other than Carl Maynor.

A man with a rough charm, but who is warm to those around him.

In the novel, Carl Maynor was indomitable and fiery.

And the heroines gathered towards the hot flame. The heroines fell for the sword even though they knew they would be burned by the flame.

As for the knife, Kim Se-jin liked that kind of knife.

So, Kim Se-jin thought that a man like Carl Maynor would suit her taste.

I realized it after I actually got into it.

Kim Se-jin didn’t like Carl Maynor; he envied him.

I don’t like Carl Maynor. I want to be Carl Maynor.

I dreamed of the life of Carl Maynor, who captivated heroines with his strong heart.

It was only after that dream came true that I began to think about my true tastes.

‘Heroine… ‘

Which of the many heroines would suit his taste?

Just looking at the main heroine alone is overwhelming.

They are all incredibly pretty, like characters from a fantasy world. It’s beyond belief.

Carl turned his eyes and saw Scarlett, who was taking a sip of champagne.

Even that woman, who is merely a sub-heroine or supporting character, is beautiful. She is a rare beauty in the world before Bing.

But not as much as the main heroine.

It doesn’t come close to Chloe’s pure beauty, Daniela’s bubbly aristocratic charm, Alana’s overwhelming figure, or Beatrice’s sensual charm.

‘First of all, the chest has to be big.’

Chloe is eliminated. Daniella barely qualifies.

ah.

Now that I think about it, the maid Beatrice brought around was also worthy of being the main heroine just by looking at her appearance.

Hmm… pass.

‘A thin waist and wide hips are pretty.’

‘There are women who suit a moderate amount of obsession.’

Gorgeous facial features that immediately attract attention are also to Carl’s taste.

… …

After considering this and that, there weren’t many options left.

Before he knew it, only Alana and Beatrice remained in Carl’s mind.

But one of them is a villain you shouldn’t associate with.

It is an extreme evil that is causing chaos in the world.

Therefore, the taste of the sword had to be directed towards one person.

“I wish it was as beautiful as the night sky.”

“?”

Scarlett was touched.

“Isn’t the night sky illuminated by moonlight beautiful? It’s kind of cold, but not cold, and it feels like your spirit is lifted.”

“It’s quite emotional for a knight’s college? Hmm… If I were to summarize, it’d be a dreamy feeling?”

“That’s right.”

The knife snapped his fingers.

“She’s the kind of woman who makes you lose your mind if you look at her.”

“Who is that woman~”

“I like a girl who looks cool but is cute and sassy. I think it would be pretty if she had a charming face and pretended to be easygoing but then got embarrassed right away.”

“… … ”

I decided not to add the words, ‘You look prettier when you cry.’

Carl found himself smiling as he thought of someone.

iced coffee.

The sword’s taste had to be directed at one person.

I should have turned to my fateful love, not the person I’m thinking of now.

The owner of the holy sword is twisted.