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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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A sliver of light pierced through the closed window. It was too late to be dawn, but too early to be morning.
I put on the clothes I which scattered around the bed and added more logs to the dwindling fire in the fireplace. The flames, which had been on the verge of dying out, burn back to life.
The crackling of the burning wood held a strange fascination feeling, captivating my gaze.
Eleanor lay on the bed shown her back to me. She had been up with me until dawn, so it was no wonder she was tired. And it was the first time she had faced me alone.
I was about to pull the blanket up to her neck, but hesitated. The blanket, bearing the clear marks of our night together, was more like a rag.
I couldn’t understand how we had managed to sleep under it. The sheets were in the same state. I noticed a strange smell, which was neither pleasant nor unpleasant, rather late.
After a moment of contemplation, I decided to cover her anyway. It was a bit late to be acting squeamish.
“I’ll be back.”
I kissed her back, which curved elegantly, as a farewell. As my lips touched her skin, she flinched.
I held the edge of the blanket and looked down at her. A suffocating silence descended, and she slowly buried her face in the pillow.
She was pretending to be asleep. The memory of her moans like an animal last night must have just come back to her. The flush that spread from her cheeks to her neck was proof.
I continued to pulling the blanket up to her neck and placed my hand on her slender waist, which was still defined even under the blanket.
Her body flinched slightly. A smirk played on my lips. I brought my face close to her ear and whispered, my hot breath mingling with my voice…
“I won’t stop in the middle tonight.”
Eleanor had begged me to stop at dawn, and when I didn’t, she had used the mock battle as an excuse, claiming she needed to conserve her strength.
“Hiccup.”
She wrapped the blanket tighter around herself and curled up.
“Eleanor, why are you so cute?”
I lay down beside her and embraced her, yet she struggled.
“Y-You monster! Leave me alone!”
“Calling your husband a monster? Eleanor, I’m hurt.”
I forced her to face me. She squeezed her eyes shut and pushed against my chest.
“We’re not married yet!”
“Yet?”
I smirked, and her face turned crimson.
Due to her albinism, Eleanor’s skin flushed easily when she was shy, making it easier to read her emotions.
What should I do with this cute woman? I couldn’t hold back any longer and climbed on top of her.
“W-Wait! The mock battle, the mock battle is starting soon!”
“We still have a little time.”
“No! I’m sore!”
“Where?”
I paused and looked down at her. She averted her gaze.
“W-Well…”
Perhaps it was the perfumed oil. While it had acted as a lubricant at first, it became sticky after dries, causing friction.
“Then is a kiss alright?”
“Just a kiss…”
She glanced at me and then nodded slowly.
I lightly kissed her lips, licking them slightly as I pulled away.
Her tongue, which had been about to dart out and welcome me, hesitated and then pulled back. She must have been expecting a deep kiss.
“You’re so lewd.”
I kissed her again, then got out of bed. Eleanor now turned to face me, watching me leave the room.
“Be careful. H-Husband…”
I turned back, surprised, but she was already lying with her back to me again. To be embarrassed by a simple term of endearment, after everything we had done… That was what made her so cute.
“I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
I left the shy woman and exited the room.
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“Your next opponent is Sir Edmon.”
Jin, who had been waiting for me, appeared as if from nowhere and fell into step beside me.
“The knight who’s said to be stronger than Sir Gail?”
I had seen his name on the list of participants that Jin had brought me before the mock battle began.
I remembered the note that said while Gail was a well-rounded commander, Edmon was a pure warrior.
“Yes. He’s one of the ones you should be wary of.”
The list had included several families and individuals to watch out for. Of those, I had only faced Sir Gail, a court knight. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to go on a rampage yesterday.
‘I was lucky.’
In any case, I rolled the name Edmon around on my tongue. The situation had changed from my original plan. If that was the case, it might be a good idea to kill the King’s favored knight and weaken his forces.
The aristocratic faction had been significantly weakened by my rampage yesterday.
If the royalist faction defeated the aristocratic faction, I would be in trouble. The King’s next target would be me.
The problem was that the aristocratic faction, who believed I was on the King’s side, would be suspicious… If I had Aaron spread the rumor that the King had offered a sacrifice to save face, one death might be acceptable.
“How is the takeover of the capital’s underworld going?”
“It’s too large and powerful for an outsider with no money or backing to take over with personal ability alone.”
“But you should be able to do it.”
“The problem is that it will take a long time.”
Even for Jin, a named character specializing in this field, it was a difficult task.
“Financial support will be provided soon.”
I had arranged to borrow troops from Aaron for the expedition to the Northern Continent, and Count Dressten had agreed to supply them. I wouldn’t have to spend my own money.
And with Anya and the Rasino mother daughter duo working hard, the financial situation would soon stabilize.
“I certainly hope so.”
Jin disappeared into the crowd as naturally as she had appeared.
“He’s here! He’s here!”
Cheers erupted as I entered the arena. Men reached out to shake my hand, and women offered me handkerchiefs and flowers.
Meanwhile, Bronce II, who was already seated in the spectator stands, was surprisingly smiling. Even though he must have known he was on a runaway train with no brakes.
‘What is he planning?’
He was definitely up to something. The strange occurrences continued. My opponent, Edmon, and his troops were nowhere to be seen in the waiting area.
“Where’s the other team?”
“It’s not just any opponent, is it? He probably feels like a prisoner being led to the gallows. That’s why he’s taking his time.”
Muel, seizing the opportunity, offered his flattery. I thought otherwise. The King’s smile, and this… something was up.
“Prepare for battle. It might… become a real one.”
“Yes? Yes!”
Muel saluted and informed his comrades. Despite his appearance, he was a knight who had survived on the battlefield for two years. He would be reliable in a real fight, as he had been until now.
Meanwhile, the spectators also seemed to have noticed that something was wrong. The murmurs grew louder. Just before the match was about to begin, the announcer stepped onto the center of the stage.
“Sir Edmon fell gravely ill last night and has withdrawn from the tournament!”
“What? A knight who was so active yesterday suddenly falls gravely ill? Are we supposed to believe that?”
“It looks like he’s running away from Sir Allen.”
“Surrender? Surrender? A knight, in front of everyone?”
Even though the announcer had told the truth, the commotion grew louder. Everyone, regardless of age, sex, or social standing, condemned Edmon for surrendering.
Surrendering without a fight was a great dishonor. Why else would my previous opponents have fought, knowing they couldn’t win? It was all for honor.
And to surrender in front of so many nobles was a scandal that could get one ostracized from aristocratic society.
And for Edmon, a renowned court knight, to do such a thing…!
While everyone was struggling to understand the situation, only Bronce II remained calm.
‘Did he expect me to kill Edmon?’
If that was the case, he would have known that either choice would have been a loss.
If he fought, he would die by my hand, and if he didn’t, it would be an admission of the plot to use me to weaken the aristocratic faction.
If the result was the same, then he would have decided to preserve his forces. That suggested a more direct course of action.
It was a slightly disappointing outcome. The aristocratic faction’s suspicions would be confirmed, but I had failed to weaken the King’s forces.
The commotion that started in the spectator stands spread to the waiting area. Servants scurried back and forth between the two, and the nobles whose turns were approaching came forward themselves. As a result…
“Sir Harold of Vissen was thrown from his horse a little while ago and can’t fight at the moment!”
“Sir Eymond also has an upset stomach…!”
The participants from the aristocratic faction, now convinced of the King’s plot, began to withdraw one after another. Among them were many of the families and knights that Jin had warned me about.
The royalist faction, as if they had discussed it with the King beforehand, also didn’t hesitate to surrender.
Extremes meet, as they say. The murmurs died down at once. Instead, the royalist and aristocratic factions distanced themselves from each other, glaring. Everyone sensed that war was imminent.
Even the commoners, sensing the tense atmosphere, fell silent. A heavy silence descended over the arena, where hundreds of people were gathered.
-Clop. Clop.
The sound of hooves broke the silence a moment later. A single rider was crossing the arena, heading towards the center of the spectator stands, where the King was seated.
It was me.
“So I’m the winner?”
The announcer, receiving my question, glanced at Bronce II. He stood up, a fake smile on his face, and spread his arms wide, addressing the crowd.
“The winner has been decided! Let the trumpets sound! Allen of the Tolbatz family, with his valor and strategy… ahem, has overcome countless powerful opponents to stand here today! He is the strongest knight of this era! Everyone, rise and welcome him!”
“Ahem…!”
“That… that shameless!”
The aristocratic faction, believing it was a set-up, clapped half-heartedly. The royalist faction, also aware of my relationship with the King, was equally unenthusiastic. As a result, I was met with glares from both sides.
Bronce II, unfazed, awarded me the title and the prize money. He handed me the document that proved my status as a noble, a fake smile still shown on his face.
“Since things have come to this, you’ll have to help me.”
Bronce II wanted to maintain the aristocratic faction’s misconception that I was on his side.
He likely believed that if the aristocratic faction was wary of me, his burden would be lightened.
So that was why he had been smiling so fakely. He had been hiding this intention all along.
I clicked my tongue inwardly. He had gotten himself into this mess by trying to use me, and now he was trying to use me again? He hadn’t learned his lesson.
“If Your Majesty hadn’t acted so foolishly, we would have been good partners long ago.”
“What are you trying to say?”
I stood up and looked at the nobles, who were clapping half-heartedly.
I had dealt a considerable blow to them, so the power of the aristocratic and royalist factions was now evenly matched.
Considering that the aristocratic faction was a loose coalition, the royalist faction, united by the King, was stronger.
In other words, the aristocratic faction could be defeated one by one, or they could avoid war. Bronce II must have started this act with that in mind. I was not foolish enough to play along with his intentions.
“It was a meaningful tournament. The Lord said, ‘Do not be arrogant’. I have realized the truth of those words. If not for good fortune, the victory would have gone to someone else. It is a result of luck. Certainly, the Lord is blessing the expedition to the Northern Continent.”
The aristocratic and royalist factions both looked at me with a mixture of annoyance and confusion, as if I were speaking nonsense. However, their expressions grew serious as I continued.
“As some of you may know, I will soon be embarking on an expedition to the Northern Continent with Count Dressten. It will be a long journey, but with the Lord lighting my path, I will be able to go with a clear mind.”
I made the expedition to the Northern Continent official. I also emphasized the phrase “a long journey”.
I was informing everyone that I would be away for a while. So they should set aside their worries about me participating and fight the King.
The aristocratic faction, understanding my meaning, began to murmur. Most of them looked at me with suspicion, wondering if this was another of the King’s plots.
I wasn’t worried. They would have no choice but to believe me when they saw the large fleet leaving for the Northern Continent.
My departure, as the King’s strongest knight and the one who shared control of the south with Dressten, would seem like an opportunity to the aristocratic faction.
“I ask for your prayers. Please, I hope that unforeseen circumstances do not force an army of over a thousand to return.”
Of course, some of them might see it as an opportunity to attack my territory, so I didn’t forget to warn them.
As soon as I finished speaking, several nobles flinched. It was no coincidence that they were from families close to my territory.
I met their gazes one by one as a warning, then descended from the stage.
The aristocratic faction still looked at me suspiciously. Bronce II’s fake smile had disappeared, leaving behind a face as crumpled as a piece of paper.
I ignored them and turned my back on the arena. With the mock battle ending like this, the post match banquet would be cancelled.
My business in the capital was finished. It was time to go home.
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A few days later, while leading my party and taming the new horse I had won in the mock battle, I rode my horse to the side of the carriage at Eleanor’s summons.
She avoided my gaze and fidgeted, then mumbled in a barely audible voice…
“It’s… a secret from Anya.”
“What is?”
“Oh, really… you know.”
A smirk played on my lips. She wanted to keep her relationship with me a secret from Anya. After all, she was cheating on Anya.
“It wouldn’t be bad to have a relationship with Anya behind her back.”
“Oh… really, stop thinking about that all the time.”
“Don’t you like it too?”
“No!”
Eleanor slammed the carriage window shut. I chuckled and returned to the front of the line, leading the party.
Unfortunately, Eleanor’s wish was not granted. Anya, who had rushed out of the castle upon hearing of our return, immediately approached her and sniffed her.
“W-Why…?”
Eleanor, who had a guilty conscience, froze, her voice trembling.
I saw a sly smile on Anya’s face and shook my head.
Anya gently embraced Eleanor and whispered, so that only she could hear…
“You… did it with my brother, didn’t you?”
“Hiccup.”
Eleanor’s hiccup was enough of an answer for Anya.
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