CH 43

TL/N: Hi! As seen from the recent announcement on this site, I decided to take over this novel from Jassie and continue translating it! This is one of my faves so I didn’t want this to be dropped hahaha. I’m not the best translator but i will try my hardest and I hope yall enjoy reading!

Please don’t repost anywhere else and continue to read on PM Translations!

“I’m here for an urgent matter.”

“What, let me explain myself.”

At Rodrigo’s words, Frans looked away from me.

“Is it because of the war?”

“It’s because of the wizards.”

Frans moaned and rubbed his forehead.

“You went to war?”

“Didn’t you know?”

Frans clenched his fist. That was the answer. Rodrigo and I looked at each other and tilted our heads.

“It’s a rebellion.”

After hearing all the circumstances, Rodrigo summed it up in one sentence.

“For such a thing, you’re being treated very well.”

I pointed around. Frans’ room was clean without a grain of dust. And the expensive snacks he hadn’t touched were hanging around. Faint steam rose from the kettle, which was apparently just brought in.

“I don’t know how to put it, but I’m still a king anyway.”

Frans said. It was common. King Frans was a weak man. The opposition had politically castrated him because of the rebellion’s repercussions. It’s just that they took away enough power to control him. Why do they appear so many times in novels?

“I understand the situation. Who can help you?”

What amazes me is that Rodrigo looked at me and opened his mouth.

“Do you understand the situation?”

Rodrigo asked. It was immediately clear to me that those words were not simply asking about this situation. 

People speak not only with words but also with their bodies and eyes. Rodrigo couldn’t believe I understood the whole situation when I saw it in fragments.

You’re disregarding me?

“Are you disregarding me, Rodrigo?”

I’m not the type to keep words inside. When asked immediately, Rodrigo put on a serious face.

“No way. I’m amazed at my lover’s ability.”

Hmm, you’re gonna move on like a fox? Then I have to let it pass.

That’s not what’s important right now.

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“Somehow, I’m sure you both understood my situation correctly.”

Unlike other royals, Frans was very humble. Is it because of the past when he was persecuted from a young age? It was very nice to see him not being bossy.

“All the people who will help me are unfortunately under house arrest.”

“There’s no justification? And we were getting ready.”

Us too?

When I looked back at Rodrigo with surprised eyes, he smiled awkwardly and whispered a small ‘later’.

“Oh, let’s be fair. It is not an official house arrest. It’s just that they can’t come out. The wizards are watching them. And what we’ve prepared is…. unfortunately it ended when I was locked up.”

Finally, the story we wanted came out. I feel like we’ve come a long way.

“Ha……you must have had a hard time. Rather, why are they here? Did the kingdom decide to embrace the crazies?”

Frans shook his head.

“Do you know about crazy wizards?”

Rodrigo asked one question after another. Frans replied, “Roughly.”

“Your Highness, to embrace them means to turn the whole continent into an enemy. You know, it’s not just the Pillemon Empire. Don’t you realize that the Western Empire is on the same page with crazy wizards?”

“I know. So I was against it.”

Frans shut his mouth. For the first time, anger was read in his eyes.

“There are people who have joined hands with them.”

“Who is it?”

“Blanche.”

“Right on the mark!”

“Ha!”

At Rodrigo’s simple words, Frans let out a sigh of despondency.

“Sir Rodrigo, I really like you. Your strength, your bright brain, your wealth…… But that doesn’t mean you’ll get everything? I know very well that your country is persecuting you. You don’t know that just because you have a lot, you can’t just fight to win.”

That means he can’t fight Blanche.

“What’s the reason?”

I don’t understand Frans.

“I am a king. Blanche is the centripetal point of all nobility. To defeat him means to turn the nobles into enemies.”

“Even if he committed a great crime? Even if he’s hated by the nobility?”

“Unfortunately, his sins are nothing but a testament, and there is no evidence. He is unexpectedly generous to his own people and has never been an enemy.”

I chuckled. I’ve seen countless instances of people being allies in the morning and enemies at night. Can people who pretend to be allies for the benefit of each other be there for each other even at the decisive moment?

Absolutely not. And…

“The reason Blanche was able to attract crazy wizards is because he’s not in charge.”

I went on to explain.

“If left like this, he will only get credit for ending the war quickly. The nobles and the people are unhappy about the war being prolonged. Whatever the means, the modifier Blanche, who ended the war, would shine on him. 

His voice will grow in the kingdom. On the other hand, Prince Frans will be responsible for bringing mad wizards into the war. I’m sure each country will hold you accountable. Nationality will fall to the ground and trade will start to break.”

It was impossible in the 21st century, but it was possible in the worldview of the novel.

Honor is higher than economic profit here.

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“Is that what he was aiming for?”

Rodrigo muttered next to him. I nodded my head up and down once and looked at Frans.

“You have to make him take all the responsibility.”

“How?”

“Get out of the way.”

I smiled until my eyes closed.

“Give Blanche the king’s seat.”

Frans and Rodrigo looked at me in amazement.

What, what’s the reaction?

I tilted my head.

Our conversation didn’t go any further. Because there were people who came to Frans’s room. Rodrigo and I had to go back to the secret passage by the fireplace.

“I’ll put other things you need here. Will you come back?”

Frans said quite urgently. I looked at Rodrigo.

“We should meet one more time.”

Frans closed the aisle with a relieved face. The aisle soon became dark. Rodrigo muttered and flicked his hand, sparking flames on his palm. A warm light lit up the hallway.

“Magic is comfortable.”

Rodrigo smiled at my reaction.

“Why?”

“Usually, when one sees magic, they tremble or make a big fuss. Isn’t your uninterested reaction too bland?”

“Do you like that? Wow, it’s awesome, it’s the best! Something like this?”

When I reacted theatrically, Rodrigo frowned and shook his head.

“Let’s do as we always do.”

Rodrigo and I stared at each other and laughed.

“We’re so comfortable.”

In the middle of a war, in the middle of an enemy country, exchanging meaningless jokes.

“First of all, I need to tell Eyla and Ether the news.”

I pulled a magic note from the main bag on Rodrigo’s back. There are only five magic notes left.

“You have to use it carefully.”

Rodrigo said. I agreed with him.

“Go back before I finish writing this.”

I pulled my hand out of Rodrigo’s grip.

“What should we do next?”

After I sent the note, Rodrigo asked. We sat leaning against the cold wall. Rodrigo took off his vest and laid it on the floor, so my hips weren’t cold. Rodrigo was very apologetic even as he spread the vest. Again, like last time, he muttered, ‘I want to give only good things.’

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think it’s something that a high-ranking aristocrat in a kingdom would do. Is he ambitious?”

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Rodrigo shook his head at my words.

“I’ve met him once. To get a business license.”

Rodrigo paused for a moment as if recalling his meeting with Blanche.

“How was it?”

I asked.

“He seemed like a very greedy person. But he was a scaredy-cat.”

“What?”

“It was a time when the tyranny of the Crown Prince was getting worse. He knew it. I mean, he knew that the current crown prince would never be a good king. But he didn’t tell the king. It’s obvious that the glory will come to him. He knew what was right, but he don’t move because he was afraid of what was coming to him. His personal safety comes first.”

“Is it good to make money during that time?”

“The more money, the better.”

Yes, it’s an eternal truth.

I nodded passionately.

“I became more certain after listening to you.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s someone else behind him.”

“And we need to find him.”

“Wow, we’re really on the same page.”

I spread out my hands. He looked at me and his palm alternately.

“If I do this, you’ll hit me with your hands straightened out.”

I grabbed Rodrigo’s flame-free hand and spread it out and put it on my palm.

“No, that’s not it!”

But contrary to my intentions to give a high-five, he clasped my hands.

“I like this better, if it’s a compliment.”

His sudden seriousness shut my mouth. Flames flared in his red eyes. I couldn’t look at the flickering flame for long.

***

After I wrote another note to investigate Blanche, we exited the secret passage of the royal palace. We naturally blended into the crowd going to and from the palace. After we came out of the palace, we headed downtown, not Blanche’s mansion.

“Where are we going?”

Rodrigo moved like a person familiar with the city of the Kingdom of Veloki. We didn’t let go of our clasped hands until then. We strolled around the city looking like a friendly newlywed couple.

“We’re going to a place where information is gathered for cheap.”

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He stood in front of a very small and shabby inn, which was located farther into the alley.

“Is this place open?”

Even the crooked signboard wasn’t properly repaired so I had to worry.

“I think they’re doing business.”

He answered in an ambiguous, unconfident voice.

“Hey, you crazy punk! If you don’t have money for your meal, you have to pay it back with your body!”

With a husky voice, the door opened, and a man who was clutching the waistband of his pulled-down pants popped out with sloppy steps, followed by a middle-aged woman swinging a ladle like a sword.

“Madam! I’ll bring it with money, with money! Please, ah, please! Put on those clothes!”

The man shouted as he ran away. Then I looked at the woman who used the ladle as a sword. One breast was clearly visible through the flowing clothes.

“What are you looking at?”

I quickly turned my attention to the husky voice. At the same time, she stabbed Rodrigo in the ribs.

“Long time no see, Beatrice.”

It was a very aristocratic name. A shabby exterior, a husky voice, and a hot appearance that do not match.

Rather than that, does this man know this woman?

When I saw her, Rodrigo released his clasped hand and held me in his arms.

“You told me to bring her if I have a girlfriend”

He told Beatrice.

***

Beatrice.

I didn’t say anything while she kicked all the guests out and served us food.

“She’s like a family to me.”

Rodrigo thought that I had misunderstood my relationship with her, and he explained it several times, using several words to describe his relationship with her. I didn’t respond to his words. I knew that he had nothing to do with her, or that he was just friends. I remember Beatrice, who she was.

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“Estiya.”

As he was about to speak again, Beatrice approached. She laid out soup bowls and hard bread in front of us very crudely.  In front of her was this glass of beer.

“A lover?”

Beatrice asked sullenly.

“Yes, not yet.”

“Not yet? Are you going to break up?”

Beatrice asked with a subtle hope.

“What are you talking about, Beatrice? I’m going to get married.”

Rodrigo clasped his fingers in my hand as if he were looking for them. Rodrigo, who met Beatrice, was a little different from usual. Normally, he looked like a very serious adult, but now he looks like a boy.

Maybe it’s because she saved his life when they met when he was young.

Beatrice was one of the women selling their bodies on the battlefield in her youth. She accidentally saved Rodrigo. And she took pity on the poor boy soldier and gave him something to eat. In winter, warm gloves were also provided. When the boy soldier later became a captain, she would become a merchant who supplied goods to the army. And after the war, she settled down in Veloki.

There were countless relationships like that for Rodrigo. As there were many ups and downs in his life, he was helped by a lot of people, and he helped a lot. But other people barely stayed in my memories. The main reason I remember her is that she is the one who introduced Rodrigo to the heroine.

Come to think of it, was the female protagonist also a member of the Veloki Kingdom?

My memories are fuzzy.

“Marriage, don’t mortgage your life at such a young age.”

Beatrice said so and drank a cold beer. In fact, it was only my imagination that it was cool, and it was obvious that beer drank in places where ice was hard to get would be lukewarm.

“Why are you here? I thought you were eating well and living well.”

Rodrigo smirked as he ate the food Beatrice had given him.

“I’m curious about the Blanche family.”

Beatrice’s eyes shook for a moment. Ah… Is the female lead from the Blanche family?

“Why? Suddenly?”

Beatrice rummaged through her pockets and pulled out a cigarette.  Maybe it was just chewing, but biting in the mouth was a mess.

“Why don’t you buy a chewing cigarette?”

Rodrigo asked as if he would change her habits, and drank water.

“Estiya, does it not suit your tastes? The food is pretty good.”

Rodrigo asked anxiously. It was then that I realized that I had not touched the food that Beatrice had brought. There is no such thing as an excuse.

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“Yes, I will eat.”

“If you don’t want to eat, don’t eat. Do you think I poisoned it? Where did you bring a girl like that?”

Beatrice’s poor evaluation made me unwilling to respond. From the moment I realized who Beatrice was, my heart was in turmoil.

“Beatrice. stop it.”

“Stop what? Find the right girl for you. A woman who sits gracefully and drinks tea doesn’t suit you. Hey, miss. That guy is…”

Kwang.

It was Rodrigo. He put the glass of water down hard. Both Beatrice and I looked back at him in surprise.

“Stop it, Beatrice. Please don’t make me regret my act of visiting a close friend after a long time.”

He said so and grabbed my hand and got me up.

“Rodrigo?”

“I’m sorry.”

His apology had several implications. But I didn’t want to break his heart.

“If there’s any information I need, I’ll get it. I just wasn’t feeling well. I want to get some fresh air.”

I dragged Rodrigo back. He gently followed my hand.

“I’ll be back.”

I let go of his hand and got up, and Rodrigo hurried to get up. I gently pressed his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. You know me well.”

I can protect my body.

I left Rodrigo behind and walked out. I saw Rodrigo mess his hair roughly, but I didn’t want to worry about that.

The back street was quiet. I walked carefully to avoid the dirt on the floor. I’m about to go back home after smelling the disgusting smell, let alone the fresh air. Like everywhere I went, I noticed a bunch of beggars crouching down like a pile of garbage in one of the back alleys. They glanced at me and raised their hands without expectation.

I was dressed as a commoner now. I rummaged in my pocket. Something to give… 

There were gold coins in hand, but throwing it at them meant fighting to the death. Thinking if there was anything suitable, I remembered the bread I had left behind in Beatrice’s dining room.

Beatrice will be furious if she finds out I’m going to give bread to the bums. Because she would think her bread was ignored. But I wasn’t complaining about food earlier and I didn’t disregard her good intentions even now.

“Ooo, lady.”

Suddenly, the beggars became noisy. They got up from their seats and moved to one place, who had been sitting with their buttocks stuck together like nails in a board. My eyes naturally followed them.

I saw a woman standing at the end. The heroine I killed, with an extremely aristocratic elegance that oozes from her body, and her face is full of goodness. 

Anheine Blanche.

TL/N: Omg wild FL finally appeared!!

PS. Feel free to let me know if there’s any glaring errors! (or if you think my translation sucks LOL)