When Duke Gezell visited, the mealtime in the royal palace extended considerably. The evening meal, starting before the sun set and lasting until late at night, resembled a non-dancing banquet. Uneaten dishes kept coming, and drinks and tea were continuously refilled.
This year, the Emperor, with hair sparsely graying beyond fifty, praised Gezell and Ivet without counting how many times. “You two really suit each other. As I age, seeing young people find their match and blossom makes me happy. Your father, who hesitated to send his daughter away, would be satisfied seeing this.”
The dining table was occupied by several people. The Emperor at the center, the Empress on his left, and his younger brother and the crown prince on his right. Gezell and Ivet sat in the next row, while nobles, diplomats, and various influential figures from different countries were seated in a line, engaging in conversations.
“I apologize for sending the princess so far away suddenly. However, seeing this, I feel like I should be grateful. Aldrant is truly a beautiful place.”
“Whether it’s good or not. It’s been a while since my last visit, but I always thought it was beautiful whenever I came.”
Ivet smiled genuinely as if truly pleased. Despite her perfect portrayal of a quiet and elegant princess, her inherent liveliness and modesty subtly revealed themselves in her voice and gaze. Her bright demeanor set a positive atmosphere for the dinner table from the beginning.
On the other hand, rumors spread throughout the continent about Gezell Jivendad, the ruler of Aldrant, being a rough and taciturn man who spent most of his time locked in his research lab. Thus, everyone had no particular doubts about him silently toasting his glass and sipping tea.
As the conversation flowed, a messenger approached the Emperor. When he bent down to report something in a low voice, the Emperor chuckled and smiled broadly. “Already? They arrived earlier than expected. Inform them to come in.”
It was already late, and everyone was just holding their drinks and pastries, confirming that all the expected guests had taken their seats. Ivet tilted her head in confusion. “Another guest has arrived?”
“Well, King Felix of Cornia finished his investiture ceremony and expressed his desire to pay his respects.”
Ivet’s eyes widened. Gezell, too, fixed his gaze on the Emperor. “A relative from the Grand Duchess’s family is visiting. You two should be pleased. Although it’s rare to grant a request so quickly, I allowed it for Ivet’s sake. Enjoy some time with your brother after a long while. Consider this my gift.”
“F-Felix has come?”
Before Emperor could respond to Ivet, a hefty and large door swung open. The newly arrived guest and the attendants he brought with him entered the hall.
The gazes of those who had been casually passing the time, now naturally shifted towards the new guest. However, it wasn’t merely to alleviate the boredom. The man who appeared through the door was an unquestionably eye-catching, young man who could attract attention anywhere.
With confident and lively footsteps, he approached the long dining table. The visitor stood tall, fixed his gaze, and walked straight to the Emperor. His posture, slightly wetting his red cloak and bowing gracefully, resembled a dance. The Emperor, with a smile, offered the first greeting.
“I thought you would arrive tomorrow night. You came quickly.”
“It’s been a while. I greet you, Your Majesty. I departed a bit hastily.”
“Well, you must have wanted to see your sister for once.”
Instead of replying, Felix raised his body with a bright smile. His gaze went straight towards the seat where the Duke and his eyes met in midair.
The hair of the Cornian young king was dazzlingly blond. His violet eyes made one think of someone who wasn’t present in this place. Compared to his bright violet eyes, the red hue in them was stronger, almost close to purple, but…
‘He resembles him.’
It was Gezell’s first impression. Unlike Rensley, there was a reminiscent air, and perhaps because of that, overall lines and impressions were thicker and stronger. Anyone who knew both of them would likely think the same.
As the new guest looked at them expressionlessly, his lips moved first.
“Nice to meet you, Duke Gezell Jivendad of Aldrant. I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Pleasure.”
Approaching closer, he maintained his cheerful smile and, lowering his head, looked at Ivet.
“How are you, sister? It feels strange and satisfying to see you well in your place.”
“Thank you for your concern. As Your Majesty can see, I’m doing very well.”
Ivet also responded with a smile and poured tea into the somewhat empty cup of the Duke. It was obvious that the reason for her whimsical and satisfying demeanor, sitting as the Duchess after fleeing before the impending marriage, was amusing and intriguing.
Felix’s mouth corners lifted even higher as he observed this scene. Bright and flamboyant appearance, a face that became more arrogant as the laughter deepened.
“Since there are many gathered here now, let’s postpone the reunion for later. Well then.”
He found an empty seat and sat down, while Gezell silently stared at him. He realized anew that, just like different results could come out of carving the same thing depending on the sculptor, a similar appearance could give a vastly different feeling, like the sky and the earth.
Gezell absentmindedly gripped the handle of the teacup. The lamentation of being tied outside all night in a downpour with thunder and lightning, a distant memory already, vividly surfaced again, just as he had heard moments ago.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Like a light joke, like an insignificant rumor. Back when heard, it was casually dismissed as just another quirky person in the world, but now, the story resonated somewhere in the chest like a burning flame.
“What is it?” Ivet called out to him in confusion. Gezell, who had momentarily lost himself in thoughts, quickly snapped back to reality. In the hall where all the windows were closed, without even a hint of breeze, the tea inside the trembling cup was causing small ripples. Gezell adjusted the cup and answered in a low voice, “It’s nothing.”
“…It’s better for him not to meet with Ren. Their relationship isn’t good.”
“I think so too.”
Since it wasn’t a dangerous time, substantial protection was more than enough with Anton, the head of the knights, and other high-ranking knights. They also mostly took care of diplomatic matters. However, bringing several knights with the envoy was for the sake of future events.
Even those who had just joined the knights now would later become leaders, commanders, and some would even become heads. To achieve that, they needed experience, and to gain experience, there had to be something to observe and learn, even in positions that didn’t provide immediate assistance.
While the person who would become the Grand Duchess might no longer need the experience of a knight, Gezell still didn’t want to exclude him from his current duties. It hadn’t been a long time since he had seen the figure of Rensley Maelrosen, who used to sparkle with excitement at the thought of becoming a knight. It wasn’t just because of duty; there was also no thought of leaving him in Aldrant while eagerly anticipating Pheraira’s visit.
The new visitor was an unexpected variable. In the long year, at the same time, in the same place. But Gezell’s gaze quickly became calm.
“It doesn’t matter. There’s no need for the companion of the King of Aldrant to fear others and bend his will.”
Gezell brushed his finger over the blue gemstone he had crafted as a sleeve ornament. Rensley Maelrosen was with his comrades at Molbessa Square as planned. He was probably enjoying a pleasant time.
At Molbessa Square, a small gambling den. People were crowded, making a lively scene around a gambling table in one corner.
“I won again! Hey, brother, your skill is amazing!”
“Thanks to my brother, those who say this place uses tricks will all shut their mouths.”
The last die rolled, making a rattling sound, and then stopped. Rensley’s face was filled with a triumphant smile.
“I hit it!”
People cheered, but the owner of the establishment had a disgruntled look. He threw a bag of silver coins in front of Rensley.
“Today’s business is over. Take this and leave. You, too. Instead of going to a dice house like this, why don’t you go to a noble party and enjoy yourself? The stakes there are different.”
“Don’t be too upset, landlord. Thanks to me, there won’t be rumors about cheating in this market anymore. In the long run, wouldn’t it be more profitable to shed the reputation of being a deceitful establishment, even if you incur some losses today? I’m just a traveler who will leave this place soon anyway, so relax about that.”
“Ah, stop babbling and get out quickly!”
Ignoring the shopkeeper who waved his arms like chasing away flies, Rensley threw his bag and left the shop. His comrades, who were watching, excitedly followed him.
“Ren, if you’re so good at dice, you don’t need to work, right? Just playing could make you money.”
“You can earn money by stealing, cheating, or gambling. But that doesn’t mean living is all about making money. Since I was born, I want to live doing something meaningful.”
“What are you going to do with this? It’s quite a sum.”
“Well, let’s have a drink together before we go in. The money we won in gambling needs to be spent quickly, that’s my motto.”
“Yeah, that’s right! You’re generous.”
With his comrades, Rensley returned to the square. Looking up at the central clock tower, he smiled contentedly. Now that he could read the time, he felt satisfied.
The knights made good use of their short free time. They explored the market, ate snacks from street vendors, and Rensley bought a bundle of gifts at the general store for his worker friends and drinking buddies in Aldrant.
It included a necklace with a wooden pendant, hairpins adorned with fake gems of various colors, multi-purpose straps with patterns, small beads and bells suitable for children to play with, razors, nail scissors, a woodcut painting depicting the landscapes of Hwangdo, dried fruits, pretty bottles of scented liquor, fragrant soap, rosewater for the face, and cream for the hands, as well as various-colored chalks.
The budget for gifts was much more generous than he had initially thought, thanks to the windfall from the gambling den.
“Is this a bear?”
Rensley asked, holding up a brooch made of dark wood. The shop owner nodded.
“That’s right. Bear decorations are popular as symbols of courage among hunters and soldiers. If you take it now, I’ll give it to you at a low price.”
It wasn’t an expensive item, but Rensley included it in the total. He hadn’t thought of buying gifts for the Grand Duke to wear but considering them as toys wasn’t a bad idea. As he said, jewelry didn’t necessarily have to be worn; having them was enough.
They also saw lamps along the Hwangdo River and an amusement park. It seemed like the perfect time to share a drink now.
“Hwangdo is really a nice place. Can I come again next year? His Grace doesn’t come to see the Emperor every year, right?”
“I’ll come back on vacation. I should plan ahead. It’s such a long way, I should start preparing from now on, so I can come again next year.”
As they chatted along the way, Rensley and his comrades entered a famous and large old pub popular among travelers. The lively atmosphere inside the pub, filled with people dancing and singing, made the mood even more exciting.
When they clinked their beer mugs, the spirits of the young knights quickly rose. Following the songs sung by people, eating jokes with no nutritional value, and emptying a glass of alcohol one by one, Rensley also became lively, forgetting the worries and unease he felt briefly at the Imperial Palace.
“Ren.”
At that moment, a voice calling Rensley came from an unexpected direction. At first, he thought it might be a mistake or someone calling a different person with the same name.
“Ren. Rensi!”
However, the voice persisted, and Rensley, still caught up in conversation and laughter with his comrades, turned his head without fully adjusting his expression. As he looked where the voice came from, people sitting at a nearby table were all staring at him.
“Ren, right? Rensley Maelrosen.”
The people at the other table were not Aldrant locals. Wearing completely different attire, a few soldiers donned in red cloaks were staring at Rensley with incredulous eyes.
Rensley’s eyes, blurred by alcohol and banter, focused sharply.
“Theo… Noah… you guys…”
The stiff confrontation, resembling that of opposing enemies, lasted only a moment. Rensley stood up from the table. Opening their arms slightly, the soldiers also approached with similar expressions. Their arms spread out on both sides, and at one point, they warmly embraced each other.
“Ren! You rascal! You should have sent a letter or something if you were alive!”
As soon as they got close, the soldiers, without holding back, hugged Rensley. They patted his back and even roughly ruffled his hair. In the midst of their assault, Rensley, unable to straighten his waist and stooping, laughed out loud.
Several accusations followed, suggesting how heartless he was, how people speculated about his fate, and how rumors about him were abundant. After becoming a punching bag, Rensley could finally stand up properly.
They were soldiers from the royal palace in Cornia, who used to spend time together with him. Rensley expected that there might be acquaintances among the embassy staff but meeting them so quickly was beyond his imagination.
With mixed emotions, teary-eyed but laughing, Rensley suddenly turned around. His Aldrant comrades, who were watching the unexpected reunion scene, had gathered behind him. Rensley made a big gesture.
“These are my friends from the time I lived in Cornia! Since we met in the same place, let me introduce them. We saw the Cornia embassy staff when we went out.”
The young men, who were subtly watching each other, shook hands and exchanged greetings as Rensley introduced them.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“The pleasure is ours! We had no idea we’d meet Ren here. How have you been in Aldrant?”
“As you can see.”
The invisible walls between the young men of similar ages crumbled quickly, making national borders seem insignificant. The separate tables were completely merged, and, more excited than before, they clinked their glasses together for a toast.
“Ren, what happened to you? How could you disappear without saying goodbye? Do you know how worried we were? Later, there might have been a warrant for your arrest. There were even rumors spreading that you were dead.”
“I had no choice because I had to come urgently. You know that Princess Ivet went to Aldrant. His Majesty sent me along at that time. After that, I had to find a way to contact Cornia again. Some things happened.”
“Now he’s not the king but the former king. Have you heard? He abdicated not long ago.”
Upon hearing those words, Rensley nodded and cautiously spoke.
“I see. Felix has become king.”
“That’s right. The coronation ceremony is over. So today, he has come to see the Emperor.”
“Theo, how’s the atmosphere in Cornia these days…?”
At that, he glanced around, then lowered his voice. Rensley also furrowed his brow and bowed his head slightly.
“Well, you know… surprisingly, it’s good.”
“Really?”
Rensley widened his eyes and reflected on this unexpected news. The Cornian soldier raised his forehead, nodding.
“In his prince days, sometimes he could be cruel… no, violent… no, cold. People outside the palace knew about it, so it’s not something to hide… So, many people were worried. But… it might not have been long since the coronation, but for now, he’s doing great. In his first speech, he apologized for the mistakes of his inexperienced youth and pledged to become a different person with the goal of the Holy Kingdom. He even released political prisoners and magicians held without evidence.”
“Felix… No, King Felix apologized?”
Unexpected words left Rensley bewildered. The Cornian crown prince he remembered was never someone who would bow his head or apologize to anyone.
Oh, it couldn’t be denied. Occasionally, in front of the deceased king, he would behave like a good son, pretending to reflect on his mistakes. However, that was only in front of the deceased king. In front of subordinates, courtiers, commoners, and even Rensley himself, who was lower in rank than the royal family and nobles, it was challenging to find such behavior.
An arrogant, ruthless, and cruel person who considered people as weeds to be cleared from his path. Rensley shivered several times, imagining a future where Cornia became a terrible country ruled by a tyrant.
Was this the power that the crown possessed? Having spent about half a year at the side of the Grand Duke, Rensley had felt how much influence that position could have on a person. If there was a person made into a king, conversely, a throne could also shape a person.
During internal conflicts, when each other restrained themselves, the unstable situation stabilized when a king was decided. Similarly, for the same reason, a person who seemed like a scoundrel could become a decisive and excellent ruler once on the throne. This was a characteristic of the recognized monarchy that many people admitted.
“Well, anyway, I’m relieved.”
Rensley replied in a half-doubtful tone, and the soldier nodded in agreement. As they continued their conversation, time flew by, and before they knew it, it was past ten.
“Hey, we need to go back quickly!”
Suddenly, a member looked at the clock and shouted in surprise. Everyone stood up in a hurry. The Cornin soldiers seemed to have some time left; they waved goodbye to the Aldrant knights who were quickly organizing themselves.
Rensley finished the payment with the coins he won at the gambling den and rushed outside. Riding on Marilyn, he shook the reins, and Marilyn snorted.
“I didn’t drink much! Marilyn, hurry!”
Only then did the horses start to gallop, and the young men, who had been riding through the square for a while, soon disappeared one by one through the central gate of the palace. Putting their horses in the stable and hurrying to the barracks, they found the squad leaders and Captain Anton already waiting there. The squad leaders wore stern expressions and scolded them.
“You’re late. Didn’t I tell you it’s not a place for leisure? Hurry up and go in, prepare for tomorrow.”
“Sorry!”
Hearing the reprimand, the young men rushed to their lodgings as if their tails were on fire. Rensley, too, was about to join them, but Anton gestured for him to come closer.
“Maelrosen, this way. Today, you’re tasked with escorting Grand Duchess ahead of the Main Tower under the orders of the Lord.”
Rensley hesitated for a moment, then quickly ran towards him. Despite insisting before that he wanted to live like the other knights until the public announcement of the Grand Duchess, today, with the sudden change in circumstances, even he felt his own heart weakening.
Anton started walking without saying a word. Rensley didn’t take his eyes off him. Walking beside him, staring at his long green cloak, the anxiety that had been brewing as they got closer to the palace suddenly became firm and settled deep in his heart.
Although there were many stepbrothers, except for Ivet, they were all inferior to him. If there was such a thing as having a big brother, wouldn’t this be the feeling? Anton had a stride that was quick and large, making sure not to fall behind, Rensley followed him, and soon they found themselves inside the Main Tower. Rensley cautiously asked,
“Did His Grace ask for me to come?”
“Yes.”
Rensley’s shoulders sagged with relief. His heart became much lighter.
‘He knows that Felix came.’
Indeed, it was just unnecessary anxiety. Rensley Maelrosen was not alone. There was Duke Gezell, Captain Anton, Ivet, and his comrades.
“The evening reception seems to be gradually coming to an end. If you wait in the room, His Grace will return. It’s late now, so don’t go out and stay quiet.”
“I will. Thank you as always, Captain.”
“Escorting the Grand Duchess is my job, so there’s no need to say thank you each time.”
Although it was a rough tone, it meant that Rensley was also part of the royal family. Anton opened the door to Gezell’s residence, and Rensley, with a shy smile and a slight bow, entered the room. As the large door closed, the tension that had accumulated throughout the day was released in an instant, and he sighed deeply.
After washing up and putting on a robe, he approached the window. The moon was high in the sky, illuminating the night, but the once beautiful forest and lake now appeared only as black shadows. Being alone in the night, memories of the beautiful midday spent with Duke Gezell came back as if it were a daydream.
Thank you! I’m waiting for the confrontation of the brothers 😁