Chapter 82 – To Black Swan (2)
‘Journeys should be taken in a good mood.’
With this, everything was in place. A smile naturally spread across my face when,
“Milon!”
A loud voice erupted from one side. Of course, it was none other than Duke Kairos.
“......Of course he wouldn’t just sit and let this happen.”
Old man, did he eat a chimney for breakfast?
“Come down before you set off and have a quick chat with me!”
“......Your Grace.”
Duke Hermann, who was beside him, called out with a grim expression.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my promise.”
“...”
“If something happens to Her Highness, won’t it bring disgrace to the country? At the very least, I must offer some words of caution.”
Duke Hermann, who had been locking eyes with him for a moment, finally averted his gaze.
“......Do as you will.”
“Then, excuse me.”
With that, Duke Kairos tried to take Marquis Milon aside. Of course, I wasn’t about to just stand by and watch, either.
“Marquis Milon!”
“......?”
“I’ll make sure you don’t regret this decision!”
At that moment, a sharp vein bulged on Duke Kairos’ shiny head.
***
Once they were a fair distance away, Duke Kairos turned to look behind him. Marquis Milon was standing there, staring blankly.
“I thought you were a smart man.”
“...”
“But it seems I was wrong.”
“...”
“Is there any specific reason you made this decision?”
“...”
“Say something. You’re not mute, are you? I know you’re not the type who dislikes talking.”
“...”
“I’ve learned a lot about you this time. I didn’t know you were such a drinker. If I had, I would have invited you to our gatherings long ago.”
Marquis Milon, who had been silently listening, finally opened his mouth.
“It depends on the company.”
“Finally, that precious voice of yours. Go on.”
“If you drink with someone you dislike, the alcohol tastes bitter. On the other hand, if you drink with someone you like, even the strongest liquor tastes sweet.”
“......So?”
“Why ruin your body with alcohol, especially with unpleasant company?”
Duke Kairos let out a small chuckle.
“You’re still young.”
“...”
“Politics and social life often require drinking that awful alcohol, even if you don’t want to. Do you think they willingly ruin their bodies because they like it?”
Marquis Milon sighed.
“I’m getting a little tired of this. As expected, Your Grace and I think very differently. Maybe it’s because of the generational gap.”
“I understand that you have no interest in power or status. But you should at least consider your country. You were born a noble of this land, after all.”
“Do you think associating with that child is neglecting the country?”
“Do you even hear what you’re saying? You’re well aware of the internal situation in the Principality of Meeke.”
“My perspective differs somewhat.”
“Look here, Marquis!”
The usually calm Marquis Milon’s brow furrowed slowly.
“......This is starting to annoy me.”
“What? A-Annoy?”
“If the 7th Prince of Principality of Meeke gains power and ascends the throne, will you still be able to say the same?”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“You, among our grand nobles, have been in politics the longest, Duke Kairos. You may see things that we younger folks have missed. Experience is not something to be dismissed.”
Though Milon’s words acknowledged him, Duke Kairos’s face only grew harder. After all, Milon wasn’t finished speaking.
“But stagnant water rots. A stone that doesn’t roll gathers moss.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Isn’t it that Your Grace simply doesn’t want to accept change? You’re not willing to let go of the principles you believe are right in the first place, are you?”
Duke Kairos’s eyes twitched uncontrollably.
“You can’t be serious...... You’re weighing a single person against an entire nation?”
“I believe that one person has the power to change a country. Just like the real Ancelot, who was called the Great Hero.”
“’”
This time, Duke Kairos had trouble thinking of a response. Just days ago, he would have shouted that it was utter nonsense.
But last night, he had witnessed that brat’s greatness with his own eyes. He couldn’t deny it.
The 7th Prince of the Principality of Meeke...... He was a genius among geniuses, unmatched even across the entire continent.
In terms of potential, he was on a level above the heavens.
‘......But there are limits to what one person can change.’
Wasn’t this evident from the story of the Great Hero Ancelot? With power, your voice grows louder.
You might scold a king to govern on a grander scale, or point fingers at corrupt officials, cursing them for ruining the country.
But beyond that?
‘......That’s it.’
Still, changing the world is impossible.
In the end, the Great Hero committed joint suicide with the emperor. Humans are creatures driven by desire, and power constantly changes hands.
Even when the corrupt ruling class fades, their spots are filled by new embodiments of greed.
That’s politics.
But still,
“What in the world is that brat......?”
These thoughts spilled from Duke Kairos’s mouth. At the same time, the other two glanced at each other, smiling as if on cue.
“If I could ask one question to the gods, that would be it.”
“......What do you mean?”
“What in the world is that brat, to shake up people’s hearts like this?”
“......!”
***
Pause.
Milon, who had been heading back to the marching grounds, stopped in his tracks. Ancelot had stepped away from the group and was waiting for him.
“You’re here?”
“...”
“I’m counting on you for this journey.”
Milon stared at the outstretched hand for a moment. Then, after a brief silence:
“......You did something unnecessary.”
“Huh?”
“My sister.”
“...”
The silent Ancelot shrugged his shoulders.
“You’re saying things you don’t mean.”
“...”
“I told you, I won’t let you regret this choice.”
“...”
“All the obstacles have been dealt with. Let’s go. Time is of the essence. We need to be back before the diplomatic meetings.”
As Ancelot turned and began to walk away, Milon, watching his back, finally spoke from the heart.
“......I will repay this debt, without fail.”
For some time, he had scoured all sorts of books. However, there was no mention of a formula for a drug that slows down the heart among them.
If such an incredible medicine were to be developed......
‘Even if something happens to me, May will survive. By analyzing the drug, we can even find a way to completely cure her.’
If that happened, this child would be nothing short of their savior.
But then,
“......We talked about that before, didn’t we?”
Unexpectedly, Ancelot paused and replied.
“That if you give something expecting something in return, that’s a bribe.”
“......!”
Ancelot turned his head and flashed a mischievous smile.
“What kind of bribe is there between friends? Just buy me a drink when your sister gets better.”
For a moment, Milon’s eyes widened in surprise, but then he grinned back.
“I do have a sense of conscience.”
“Huh?”
“Next time, stick to orange juice, you cheeky prince.”
***