Iron Blood Earl Riccianne

“Yes. That's what nobles do. They surrender. In the unlikely event that I make an order that goes beyond that, I have the right to refuse it. If he wants to punish me, I will fight him too. ”

“Mmmm... ”

Rudy tilts his head in an unconvincing look. I know what Lycaen is saying, but it's a little hard to accept. I understood it, but it was such an unacceptable feeling in my mind.

Lycaen, who realized Rudy's heart, suddenly asked with a nasty smile.

“Then let me ask you one question. What would you do if the King ordered you to kill your parents? ”

“Yes?! Isn't the word too much?! ”

“Let your head cool and listen. The example is extreme, but what would you do if such an order came down? ”

“Is there any way the king would give such an order? ”

“I've never actually given such an order, but there are times when it's even worse. Answer me, what are you gonna do? ”

“Of course not. ”

“Of course. But if the world under Circus comes, we must follow its orders, or we will perish." Now you can stand up to the king, who gives the orders, but when the time comes, there won't be any power left to stand up to them. ”

“Mmmm... I understand.”

Rudyl grunts and nods, bringing the original topic back to life.

“I'm not asking you to make a decision right now. But we don't have time, and we have a lot to prepare. Oh, I'll tell you one more thing. ”

Lycaen pauses and looks at the two of them. Seyna and Rudyl were focusing on Lycaen's story with a complicated look, whether she had a lot on her mind or not.

“I'm secretly building a force to fight them off. Many lords and military groups that occupy the entire continent will be included in that force. ”

I can see Rudy's face with a genuine shock. Even though I am living as a soldier now, domestic politics and the flow of nobles were constantly gathering and analyzing information. It's because I didn't feel a thing about what Lycaen was saying.

Lycaen, who read Rudyl's mind, smiled and said.

“No need to be surprised. The nobles of Bren Kingdom didn't even smell it before the Conquest War. ”

“Ahhh!”

“And that's why I want you two to get married and help me do that. ”

“Yes?”

“If I gather forces from the Kingdom of Bren, no matter how secretive I may be, rumors will follow. ”

Rudy agrees too. That's why I was surprised a moment ago. During the last Conquest War, Lycaen had a lot of eyes on her. So, if we start to gather power, we will have to stand out somehow.

“Once I gather the forces, which have no power base in Bren's kingdom, I will inevitably have to be restrained. But you can't use your strength before you fight the real enemy. That's why I need you to gather the forces. Even if the Earl of Poldenbine is a traditional prestige and there are original forces, he will not be severely discouraged like me. ”

Rudy asked with a skeptical expression.

“It won't do any good to talk to me about it. I think my father is the one who's going to tell the story. ”

“Yes, it is. But you've grown a lot in this war, too, and you're old enough to go back to your territory and participate in the territorial work. Then you will have no choice but to enter your opinion on the direction of operation or political orientation of the territory. Besides, since Lord Poldenbine is now of age, I think you will soon be succeeded...? ”

Rudy nods slowly. It was because my father often told me to inherit the land immediately when I got married.

“Anyway, that's all I have to say. You don't have to answer right now, but be sure to set your mind to it. Ten days later, there's an issue with Earl Gronst's wedding, so I'm going to have to stop by the capital for a little while, and then Rudy should leave with me and go back home. So I hope you answer by then. ”

“Yes? Well, so soon? ”

Rudy looks back startled. I have just become a knight candidate and am qualified to be a Knight of the circus. I thought I'd be a knight soon, and I'd see the face of the Frost Knights, who have built up a revolutionary battle in the past. I thought it would be a source of strength for the army and knights of the Earl of Poldenbine, his territory, but I was disappointed to think he had to leave so soon.

“I think we need to move quickly and get ready. Sena, you have until then to think. I'm going on this journey with you. ”

“Oh, umm... ”

“Mmmm... ”

Rudy takes something seriously, thinking about it for a moment.

“Then there is one request. ”

“Blue?”

“This is a personal request, completely unrelated to your marriage to Senna. ”

“Tell me.”

“Joe's soldiers, who are with me now. Give them to me. ”

A very unexpected request made Lycaen look faint for a moment. Suddenly you ask for soldiers.

But Rudy's face wasn't as serious as it looked.

Not long ago, Rudy didn't answer Senna's question, "Why do you live here and suffer?" It was not for any particular reason, but suddenly I was stumped. And in the past few days, when I've been alone, I've always wondered why.

And as I was talking to Lycaen, I suddenly realized why.

‘You've got too much here. ’

At first, of course, it was to gain Senna's heart. However, Rudyl was gradually changing as he was assigned to Joe as a soldier, screwed with his crew, fought in the battlefield, and protected each other's lives. And we got a lot out of it. When I saw the image of Ricaien leading the army, the image of soldiers looking at Ricain, the image of the battlefield with blood splattered, torn flesh and screaming, and the image of Earl of Procus because of him, I realized that I could not compare the valuable things I had gained.

He did not realize it, but he did not say 'because of age’ because he knew that he had obtained many things unconsciously. It's only because the other things he got were too big to say he was the only reason.

And as soon as I heard that I was leaving, Hurley and his crew came to my mind. They led themselves through vomiting exercises and saved each other's lives on the battlefield of Abigail.

Most of what I got here was in my head and mind, so I could take it with me, but not as much as the rest of my crew.

And Lycaen could see in Rudy's face just how much he valued his crew.

That's why I didn't give it much thought.

“Fine. But whatever they follow is their free will. ”

“Yes?”

“I won't force them to go to Earl Poldenbine. Tell them to do everything in their power to convince them to reveal who you are and come with you. ”

“I understand.”

“Then, let's finish the story later. ”

“Brother, what's wrong with him? ”

Jess points to Rudy and asks. After training, I finished dinner because Rudy asked me to meet him in Holly's room.

Hurley tilts his head, smiling strangely at Jess' question.

“I don't know?”

“Well, I don't know. You look like you know something. ”

“What do I know? ”

“I think the Earl called for him during the day and entered the fortress.... Did he pick up any important stories? ”

“Well, I don't know. Anyway... ”

The gaze of two people who lived and received each other returned to Rudy at the same time. The rest of the crew also looked at Rudy.

“Oops, oops! ”

Rudy clears his throat as everyone's gaze settles on him. It's because I was about to say something, and I felt embarrassed and worried about how I would react, so I couldn't speak well.

“Come on, man. I'm tired of training. Are you going to announce something? Or," I love you so much, Holly. Are you trying to say something? ”

“Kick-kick!”

“Hehe! I thought you loved Rudy. ”

“Really? That's how you confess your love? ”

“At that point, my brother took good care of Rudy, unlike us. I mean, do you want something special? ”

Hully's jokes whisper jokes in tribute. Thanks to this, Rudy's face reminds me of a smile as the atmosphere cleared up slightly. And I opened my mouth.

“Well, I mean... Actually, this is a bit... I feel like talking... …. ”

But it was still not easy. To put it bluntly, I've been deceiving everyone.

However, I couldn't take them to their territory just because they were complaining.

“Phew!”

Rudy takes a deep breath and starts speaking in a clear voice.

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