Chapter 12

The Medieval-Modern Man With A Gamer Mindset 12

12. Consultation Time

Prince Aeselton was a man who lacked nothing in caring for his family and state affairs.

Not necessarily likable, but hard to hate. This was the general sentiment towards Prince Aeselton. Although his beloved wife had languished and passed away after giving birth to their youngest, he never resented the child.

Instead, he considered his youngest son a legacy left by his wife and did everything to ensure a bright childhood. The youngest, as if recognizing this devoted effort, grew up healthy and worry-free.

Prince Aeselton took pride in having lived an honorable life during his peaceful reign. He could think so until now. Had Yubas not revealed his vile fangs, it would have continued thus.

Yubas, having grown rapidly with the church’s backing, was now eyeing the Duchy of Forwis, established by Aeselton’s ancestors. This was why he had repeatedly made decisions he wouldn’t normally consider.

A profound sense of duty to not end his ancestors’ legacy in his generation, and the repulsion towards Yubas’s petty and dreadful schemes, propelled Prince Aeselton. All to keep the shame deeply entrenched in his heart from surfacing.

Yet, there was someone who dared to bring forth the truth Aeselton had tried to ignore.

“Are we ultimately succumbing to them?”

At the moment when the hottest issue within the castle walls had reached a conclusion, a man openly showed his defiance. It was an act that dared to question the authority of the family head, yet no one could point it out.

The opposition to King Aeselton’s decision came from none other than his own son. It was his second son, who had inherited King Aeselton’s chivalrous traits.

Terbear, the right hand of Streagos Glerio Forwis.

With black hair grown just enough to brush his shoulders and eyes gleaming like a lean hawk. A man with a sharp nose, pointed chin, thick beard, and robust muscles visible even beneath his loose clothing.

“My brother, who used to cry in fear of riding, has finally realized he is a man. Had he remained silent after such grave insult, I would have been the one to scold him.”

And even though everyone was angry, the only one who spoke favorably of Narba’s misdeeds, which everyone else hushed, was Terbear. His words were so shocking that they made the courtiers of King Aeselton gathered in the audience chamber frown.

No one dared to voice it, but they all felt that Terbear’s defense was excessive. Even those who sympathized with Narba could not condone his atrocities.

Some avoided Terbear’s gaze, whispering among themselves. Only after taking in this strange atmosphere did King Aeselton respond to Terbear’s challenge.

King Aeselton, rubbing the armrest of his throne, spoke.

“Is this why you abandoned your duty to fend off the raiders?”

“To protect the weak and speak for the innocent. I have come to advocate for my brother’s grievances, which no one else will hear.”

Terbear, the second son, was a true knight in appearance and path. Unlike his elder brother, who was preparing to inherit the title and inspecting his domains, Terbear was only interested in martial arts and war.

Thanks to this, the succession was very stable. Terbear even renounced much of his rights, saying he’d rather live as his brother’s knight than as a lord. At that time, it felt both admirable and grateful…

King Aeselton felt a suffocating frustration, like looking at a bottle clogged with dregs, and closed his eyes tightly.

‘It was your brother who asked for this!’

It was fine to entrust him with the task of repelling raiders swimming upstream due to his exceptional martial skills and biased interests. He thought it would be okay even if the rest was substandard.

Even if the eldest son died unexpectedly, he believed the courtiers would be sufficient to assist. …It was a mistake. Terbear, consumed by fighting, had no contemplation or understanding of why King Aeselton had made such a decision.

And Terbear, immersed in chivalry and family love, began to show fierce anger, sympathizing with his brother who had suffered a painful tragedy. Since he couldn’t blame his father, King Aeselton, he targeted the courtiers who were with him.

“I know what you’re thinking. I’ve heard the rumors that Narba takes out his anger on the servants in the castle.”

Terbear, standing straight, pointed at the courtiers one by one with his well-groomed index finger, glancing at them with bloodshot eyes. Each time his daunting gaze landed, the courtiers subtly bowed their heads.

But Terbear seemed even more displeased with this, baring his teeth slightly as he growled.

“But from my perspective, it seemed like a child who has realized he is a man is still lamenting his powerless self, crying for someone to mourn the tragedy with him.”

“…Sir Terbear. You still say this after hearing the rumors about Prince Narba?”

“People say this and keep their distance. That’s why Narba struggles with loneliness and walks an even more twisted path! A man cannot cry out loud! It’s only when someone is with him that he can truly cry in his heart!”

Despite the hostile atmosphere, his resolute statement was trampled by a thunderous outcry. Terbear, as if choking, pounded his chest with his fists, exhaling sighs filled with lament.

The courtiers could only look up and watch silently. Their expressions held many unspoken words. Some even showed contempt through their faces.

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‘Really making a fuss.’

Terbear, the distinguished knight of Forwis Duchy and King Aeselton’s pride.

He was a man with a sensitivity far greater than that of middle-aged men going through a midlife crisis, his eyes reddening at the mere sight of falling leaves. He was so empathetic that he assumed the role of guardian for his lonely, often scorned brother.

King Aeselton, watching Terbear’s tantrum in the audience chamber, felt a throbbing headache. It was painful to think of disowning his beloved youngest son, and now his second son was behaving like this.

King Aeselton, pressing his forehead with his left hand and feeling dizzy, slowly nodded his head.

“Terbeare. I acknowledge there’s reason in your words. However, Narba has not been without thoughts on the matter either. He’s sorting out his feelings and is currently in a private meeting with Yubas’s daughter. Once it’s over, arrange to meet with Narba.”

“Father… Your Majesty! I knew you would understand my counsel immediately!!!”

Terbeare’s voice, filled with emotion, resonated throughout the audience chamber. The King of Aesulton merely nodded in approval, continuously and without a word. The atmosphere in the audience chamber did not grow any colder, thanks to the wisdom the King of Aesulton had accumulated as a ruler.

The easiest way to solve a headache-inducing problem.

‘Narba, since this is your scheme, see it through to the end.’

It was a passing of the buck.

***

There was one thing I never omitted while preparing for my monastery journey. Today was the day for it.

Miriam of the right hand of Yubas. The path to meet the woman who had been legally my wife for about seven months was unbearably heavy. It wasn’t because of the people who murmured and cleared the way as I passed.

It was because of John, who clung to me and trembled like an electric massager. John by the brook would grab the hem of my clothes, roll his eyes around, and emit bizarre moans.

“Heeek! My lord, the gaze! I feel the gaze!!!”

“Be at ease. It’s just a painting.”

“Hikkyaaak! The birds outside the window are watching us!!”

“People are watching you too.”

“Who, who speaks?!”

Instead of answering aloud, I slowly turned my head to meet John’s gaze. I had picked up somewhere that making eye contact is crucial for calming someone down.

Often, information from unknown sources ends up being nonsense, but not this time, it seems. John by the brook regained his composure remarkably quickly, even letting go of my clothes and straightening his posture.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, my lord. I had forgotten the being I should fear the most.”

“Hm?”

There was a slightly dubious aspect, but it was fine as long as he regained his composure. Edwina, who had been quietly leading the way, seemed to change her pace. Edwina, with an expression that could enjoy the silence filled with white noise.

The noisy John must have been irritating her. After a while, only footsteps echoed in the silence we had finally found. Edwina, in front of our destination, spoke with a voice full of solemn resolve.

“Miss Miriam, your husband is here. He requests a private audience.”

Knock, knock, knock. The clear sound of knocking cut through the quiet corridor. But no sound came from beyond the door. The most flustered by Miriam’s non-response was, as usual, John by the brook.

“It’s been seven months since you’ve shared a bed; perhaps she feels slighted?”

“…”

Our John’s head is attached, probably because it’s okay to be attached. I was too busy with grim imaginings to die. Could Yubas have moved on to Plan C? Could he really be that mad?

…Thinking about it, he was mad from the moment he impregnated the daughter. With the possibility becoming a reality, I couldn’t just stand by. I directed Edwina, who was standing still in front of the door.

“Edwina. If there’s no response, call the soldiers. If necessary, we’ll break down the door.”

If Plan A was to usurp power through convoluted means, then Plan B was to kill me to preserve the inheritance rights. But if it’s difficult to secure the inheritance rights, then the last resort, Plan C, could be considered.

Considering Yubas’s actions to avoid war, it’s not a method he would choose lightly… but he’s not the type to completely dismiss the option of turning an assassin’s blade away from me to Miriam, fabricating a casus belli for war.

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The firmly closed door opened lightly. And through the opened crack, a woman with a gentle demeanor appeared, her snow-white hair and warm auburn eyes reminiscent of snowflakes.

“…I did not expect your highness, who has already guessed the situation, to come here.”

Miriam Oren Yubas.

It was she who responded to my words, having shown no reaction when Edwina knocked and spoke. John by the brook had his strength sapped from his eyes upon seeing Miriam’s beauty, only known to him through rumors.

But it was still too early to be relieved. Perhaps this was the last resort prepared by Yubas, a natural assumption. I looked over Edwina and John once and raised my hand to signal them to stop following.

“If I cannot come out by the time the sun touches the window frame, call the soldiers immediately. However, no one should approach this place in the meantime. You two, keep your distance and dare not eavesdrop on my conversation.”

“Of course, your highness!”

John, if nothing else, was very good at following orders. As soon as the command was given, he immediately stepped back to create distance. It was impossible to tell who understood the heart of their lord better, John or Edwina.

Even Edwina seemed to worry about me, her lord. She stepped back with measured steps, then turned to look this way, her eyes full of concern.

“Your highness, could it be that you are now feeling emotions for Lady Miriam’s beauty?”

“I have felt emotions from the beginning.”

“Your… highness.”

The fear that Miriam might be an assassin prepared by Yubas. As I put it into words, Edwina, who caught the meaning, bit her lower lip. Clearly, she felt shame as a subordinate who had to send her lord into a potentially perilous place.

I gave Edwina an encouraging, confident smile.

“The rest is up to you.”

“Yes, your highness. Certainly. I will do as you have commanded.”

With those words, I cheerfully turned my back. To the room where Miriam and that child were staying. Miriam was gesturing into her room with a wan smile, her complexion more haggard than when I first saw her.

“Haven’t you already guessed everything?”