CH 107

Duke, Please Repent! chapter 107

26. The Duke and the Second Prince (2)

As soon as the emperor announced the start of the banquet, Serpens headed straight for the terrace.

To be precise, he noticed that the second prince was trying to escape to the terrace, and predicted where he was going to enter through his gaze direction and movement path and headed there.

Pretending to be a coincidence, they arrived in front of the same terrace at the same time.

...Duke of Prasidus?

" Your Highness Second Prince?"

The second prince, Frederick, was really surprised, and Serpens pretended to be surprised.

Let's go in first.

Frederick glanced behind him and invited Serpens to join him.

If he hadn't recommended it, Serpens would have suggested it first, but now the two are being pursued over a common enemy (?).

What's more, Frederick must have been crazy at the banquet last month, so everything has to be rushed.

Thank you for your consideration.

Serpens made up a smile of relief, as if saying he was lucky.

I hurriedly opened the door of the terrace and put it back on, and the one who seemed to be the second prince's attendant was vain in the air.

Even though it's a substitute, I thought that closing the door would yield to him, so I went inside and stood still.

Since I opened the door, the servant seemed to know how to even close it.

While we stood so far away, Frederick and Serpens were on the terrace.

I sat down on a chair attached to the provided table.

I couldn't keep the door wide open, so I closed the door late and walked to the lock.

after finishing the lockdown. Me and the attendant stood by the table where they sat, a little distance apart, and waited.

Aren't you with Yulydia-sama of Arche Kingdom today?

Frederick asked if it had suddenly come to mind.

His face, which he could only now see in detail, was quite similar to that of Humanus, but he was a little younger than him.

'Did you say you turned 23 this year?'

He is two years older than Humanus.

However, unlike my brother, who is very energetic, he exudes an adult atmosphere with a calm tone.

You], you said that you are not attending today for personal reasons.

Serpens lied without raising an eyebrow.

It was only because it was difficult to make the internal affairs of the empire a topic of conversation when there was Eugene from a foreign country, and it was not possible to establish a meeting under the guise of a coincidence like before.

There were no personal circumstances.

Frederick, who did not know such a thing, nodded, wondering if it was just that.

By the way, isn't this the first time the two of you have a conversation like this?

Yeah, you're probably right.

All this time, hyung was always in the middle...

I was wondering what to do with the second prince, but now I see that Humanus often called the two of them and set up a private meeting.

'Between Humanus and the 2nd Prince

and expressed it as if he had heard it from a third party.

Just by looking at the fact that he and his younger brother tried to strengthen their friendship by calling him together, shouldn't it be considered that they would be good friends?

I'm talking because my brother isn't here... Do you know that?

Yes? What are you talking about...

As if he had no idea, Serpens tilted his head, making up an innocent face.

Actually, when I was young, I thought that I would like the Duke to be my older brother instead of my older brother.

Yes?

Serpens concealed the sincerity of 'why are you?'

Unlike my brother, who sometimes jokes with me, he is always proud and kind, so I think he looked good.

I am so grateful that you thought of it that way. Hana, the Crown Prince will be disappointed if he hears it.

It is said that I did that from a young heart, even when I was young. It is absolutely not that I am dissatisfied with or disliked about my brother!

Yeah, I know.

"So, what I meant to say I just wanted to say that I think of you as a brother."

Embarrassed to say the least, Frederick scratched his cheek. Seeing that, Serpens smiled in the guise of benevolence.

'Isn't this hereditary?'

I guess it wasn't just the appearance that resembled Humanus. Establishing and building a relationship alone has left someone out of nowhere.

Anyway, even Serpens didn't notice.

Thanks to the friendship, the conversation flowed naturally.

By the way . If you buy this much, don't you think it's okay to just apply for an audience without worrying about other people's opinions?'

Of course, I knew there was nothing between them.

Being absurd, I looked at Serpence for a long time. Even though he noticed my gaze, he didn't blink once, as if he was proud.

It feels like my childhood was just yesterday, but I'm already struggling with marriage issues...

Follow the memories of the past to reach the present

did. Frederick said with a small sigh.

I heard that the Duke also suffered quite a bit from that problem.

"Yeah, I guess That's why it's not that difficult every time I attend an advisory meeting these days."

Saying that, Serpens raised his eyebrows slightly as if he was embarrassed, creating an awkward smile.

I didn't feel annoyed at all because of them, who bothered to keep talking to me and suggesting I don't like it.

[I know it's because they care and care about me, but I have no choice but to keep rejecting it, so I'm very sorry.]

seems to say so. It is a lively performance with delicate expressive power.

Frederick, who had completely fallen for the good and pure inner acting to the point of regret, shed a sigh.

'On the subject that I grumbled in annoyance that I wanted to jump into an advisory council brawl and wipe everyone out .'

Although there was a lie on his face, there was no lie in his words.

It is true to the end that he is tormented every time he goes to the advisory council.

Since the nobles can't keep pushing it again after the marriage proposal has been rejected, it seems that he has changed course to make him want to get married.

It's like bringing a portrait of your little grandchildren or children and saying that the children are really cute, or the happiness of having a family.

In that way, he eagerly preached to him the benefits of marriage.

For that reason, he was always a Serpense who arrived more leisurely than the start time and waited, but at the advisory meeting yesterday, he deliberately narrowly entered and left faster than anyone else.

Still, I believe that over time, those who understand my will will surely appear.

I don't know if that's the case. It would have been great if the other nobles of the empire followed even half of the duke...

Fred Rick smiled bitterly at Serpense's clear expression, which didn't even feel the slightest thought.

Externally, the reason for refusal that Serpence advocated is that saving the continent is the priority.

The appearance of Serpens who seemed to be purely worried about the future of the continent and those who tried to make up their own greed even in such a situation were the difference between heaven and earth.

"Is it possible that the Duke is delaying the wedding because he is afraid that the balance of power in the empire will be disrupted?"

When people try to find the reason for someone's certain behavior, they have a habit of projecting and interpreting their own situation.

It's the same with Frederick.

As if he was suffering from those who tried to use him as a tool of power, he naturally seemed to have gone crazy in that direction.

Naturally, instead of denying it, Serpens simply smiled.

I knew it !

Frederick, who understood the meaning, looked at Serpens with respectful eyes.

The more I look at it, the more it seems that the second prince in [Master of the Holy Sword] did not shake up the empire with his own greed.

Considering that he thought of Serpence as his older brother".

'The emperor's own father tried to oppress him, but to help Serpens, they all fell for his schemes . When I woke up, things got out of control and became irreversible?'

We don't know who the second prince is yet, so we're not sure.

I heard that your Majesty's recent complaints about your marriage continue to rise.

Knowing that the word is marriage, in fact, it is about succession to the throne. You do not need to say it back.

Serpence was careful with his luck.

However, Frederick referred to it bluntly.

No one else, the Crown Prince hyung passed away... Hmm, Hmm! The rumors spread.

Ummm... I'm sorry. Why did I bring up such a thing then...

As if it was too manly to put it in his mouth, Frederick said, replacing the word with a cough.

At that, Serpens made a sound of pain and blamed himself. This time, he must have been genuinely embarrassed, and a slight tinge of blood appeared in his ears, which were visible through the bluish-silver hair.

I didn't say this to blame. After all, other people in the room just didn't speak out, but everyone must have had doubts.

Admit it.

In 'Master of the Holy Sword', 'These conditions depended on it, and Humanus who satisfies them walked around pretending to have a lot of experience.

There are always stories of whether he was doing it to hide and deny his inability, or to assert his well-being to others. It had to come out one way or another.

'In [Master of the Holy Sword], it was just not mentioned in order to protect the main character.

me?'

Judging from the situation so far, there were no lies in the contents of [Master of the Holy Sword], but there were a lot of stories that were omitted.

Hearing that there was such a thing among them, there is nothing new about it now.

Aren't my older brother and the prospective brother-in-law who put an end to that anyway? Rather, he was delighted, saying that the Duke was very comfortable with him.

At Frederick's words, Serpens put on a puzzled expression. Although the expression on the outside was dazed, the inside of him was trembling.

'Humanus, you bastard. He's a really nice guy... ?!'

It was usually a situation where there was nothing to say even if a fistfight occurred.

But for more than 10 years, is it because Serpens never took a joke and kept his manners?

Although he was puzzled, he was happy to ask such a question.

Yes, but .

' It's salty.'

It's really, really, really sad and sad.

How much iron walls do Serpens usually use?

Since they hit it, I wonder if they have come to accept even that kind of thing.

I'll have to tell Serpens if he meets Humanus later, he's a poor guy, so how about treating him kindly?

I'm saying this because I'm afraid you'll be misunderstood, but hyung is definitely not that

It sounded like a question that could arise as to how you are so sure of that, or whether you just want to believe that way.

Frederick was also aware of it, so he quickly followed up.

"He looks a little light on the outside, but he really cares about the empire a lot.

I am saying He is also clearly aware of the weight that comes from the position of the Crown Prince.

I know it well.

Serpens, who hid his ignorance expression, nodded with a face that he sincerely agreed with his words.

'Hey, aren't you particularly fond of Humanus?'

I was very curious as to how Humanus could drop the spear in front of the alternative Serpens so that the evaluation could hit the floor like that.

Considering his inclination, it was not unusual.

No matter how pathetic his outward appearance was, he was a guy who had endless doubts that it might have been calculated to lower his vigilance.

' I couldn't open my heart, but it seems to have succeeded in breaking the vigilance.'

It doesn't look like all the efforts have been in vain.

But, I feel like I'm being treated as a poor person rather than a friend. it's just a little sad