Chapter 212
"This book, where did you get this from?"
Chanton Sousseau asked Perez in a low voice.
The little prince, who is still only 11 years old, stared at Chanton.
His eyes were so mysterious that one couldn"t think of them as the eyes of a child.
The Prince"s swordsmanship cla.s.s teacher, Juves, was injured during training and was currently unable to teach swordsmanship to the Second Prince.
However, it was not possible for anyone to be sent to teach the Prince"s swordsmanship cla.s.s, so the Commander of the Knights, Chanton Sousseau, had visited the Poylac Palace as a temporary swordsmanship teacher.
However, after seeing the t.i.tle of the book on the Second Prince"s desk, Chanton Sousseau felt cold.
He picked up the book.
"Why is this..."
Why does the Prince have this?
The Imperial Family doesn"t have the right to hold possession of this book.
As he watched Chanton Sousseau barely swallowing his anger, Perez said, "It"s mine."
His blunt voice was full of vigilance.
Chanton Sousseau took his gaze away from Perez and looked down at the book in his hand.
And when he turned over one page, he saw the name.
Gerard Braun.
It was the name of the predecessor of the Head of Braun, who died at the hands of Angenas.
A very old memory came up in Chanton Sousseau"s head like it happened just yesterday.
***
"Run away, Master!"
Chanton Sousseau"s father, Ralph Sousseau, cried out to Gerard Braun.
"Ask for the help from the lords around you or the Imperial Knights who follow the Braun family! At this rate, everyone will die!"
Ralph hurried to find his teacher when he heard rumors that Angenas would raid the castle where the members of the Braun family were taking shelter.
At that time, Gerard Braun was watching the swordsmanship of Chanton, the son of Ralph Sousseau.
No matter how much Ralph begged, Gerard Braun devoted his heart to teach the son of his pupil.
"Please, Master!"
Ralph, who was burning inside, cried out again.
"Ralph, you are going back to Sousseau today."
"Sousseau..? Master why? .... No, I won"t! I will remain and fight with the Brauns. I am a Knight of the Braun family!"
"No, you are just one of the many southerners that Braun gets entrusted with to learn the swordsmanship."
"But—!"
"Are you going to let your son die?"
Gerard the Head of Braun Family, who deliberately wrung his student with harsh words, bent one knee and aligned his eyes with Chanton.
"Chanton, didn"t you say you wanted to become a Knight?"
"Yes!"
Gerard, the Head of Braun smiled as he looked at the young boy"s bright eyes.
"Then there is one thing you need to keep in mind. Can you make a promise with this teacher that you will keep it?"
"Yes, Sir!" Chanton nodded vigorously.
"Always wield your sword for the weak. Keep your promises and don"t lie. And lastly,..."
Gerard Braun said as he was looking into the future of the young Chanton, who has a genius talent for swordsmanship.
"Lastly, if your sword is stronger and sharper than anyone else, become an Imperial Knight. And in our stead, protect this Empire and the Emperor Durelli."
At the last words of the Head of Braun, Ralph clenched his fist.
And Chanton answered vigorously without knowing anything.
"Yes, teacher! I"ll do that! I will definitely be an Imperial Knight!"
"Hah! That"s very rea.s.suring!"
Gerard Braun laughed heartily, truly relieved.
***
In the afternoon, Ralph Sousseau returned to the Sousseau family with his son, Chanton.
And that night, Angenas attacked the Braun family.
Eventually, he became an Imperial Knight to keep that promise.
Although he took over the t.i.tle of the Commander of the Imperial Knights, Chanton Sousseau had no loyalty to the Imperial Family.
The Durelli Imperial family was uglier than any other family he has ever seen.
There weren"t the ones to whom he could offer his loyalty.
Chanton Sousseau was unhappy.
In the end, he will resign from the position of the Commander of the Imperial Knights tomorrow.
"Give me this book."
Chanton Sousseau said so to the little Prince.
It would be better to take the book with him when he returns to his family"s territory, rather than with the Prince who might die at the hands of the Empress.
He thought so.
"That book is very precious to me."
The Second Prince replied with a frown, not looking like a child.
Only then did Chanton take a closer look at the book.
How many times did he read it, there were stains and handprints all over the cover. The leash that tied the book was also loose.
Then the Second Prince sighed softly.
"...Take it."
"...Didn"t you say it was precious?"
"Because I promised that if someone asks for it, I will give it."
Chanton Sousseau frowned because he didn"t understand what the Second Prince murmured.
"If I don"t give it, Tia will be disappointed."
However, it seemed quite sad that the young Prince who said so had his shoulders drooping.
Chanton Sousseau felt emotional as he seemed to have become a bully who had taken away precious things from children.
The Second Prince snapped at Chanton Sousseau, who was just standing while holding the book.
"If you"re not going to teach me swordsmanship, go back quickly."
Chanton Sousseau shook his head.
He couldn"t get the book from a prince who was smaller and thinner than his age and go back without doing anything.
"I"ll teach you."
"I don"t need your sympathy."
But it was a cold refusal that the Prince"s hurled back.
"You are sympathizing with me right now."
His blood-red eyes seemed to see through Chanton Sousseau.
"I"ve memorized everything in the book. I can do it alone."
On the back of the Second Prince, who was about to go outside with a wooden sword, Chanton Sousseau asked.
"Why do you want to learn swordsmanship?"
Then the Second Prince replied briefly.
"Because I"m sick of being weak. And I made a promise to someone."
"I promised to study hard and practice swordsmanship every day."
The Second Prince, who said so, went out alone.
Chanton Sousseau, who was standing there for a while, also followed the Second Prince.
His reason to follow was to become his swordsmanship teacher.
Not because he felt sympathy.
It was also because Juves gave the Second Prince praises every day until his mouth went dry and so he became curious.
To that little Prince with decent fascinating eyes, unlike the other Durelli people.
"Head Sousseau."
Chanton Sousseau awoke from his thoughts at the voice of someone calling him.
He was standing in front of the building where the n.o.bles" meeting was held.
"You did a great job. I"ll see you later."
Perez said, patting the Head of Sousseau on the shoulder.
"Is your back all right?"
"Back?"
"The other day..."
The words were cut off, but Perez understood what the Head of Sousseau meant.
His thick eyebrows frowned unpleasantly.
"Do you think I"m still struggling with just a scratch?"
"...No."
Chanton Sousseau bowed his head lightly.
At that time, they could see Lombardy"s carriage parked in the middle of a row.
"Do you not need to follow?" The Head of Sousseau asked Perez.
However, Perez shook his head.
"Tia has something to do now. The same goes for me. I"ll see you later."
The voice that said so was calm.
"If so, I will ask you a question."
Perez paused and turned around at Chanton Sousseau"s words.
"Regarding Lady Lombardy... did you share everything to her?"
Looking back at the meeting, Firentia Lombardy asked Chanton, accurately addressing the problem of the territory.
"No."
"But how did Lady Lombardy know it?"
"Head Sousseau." Perez called the name of Chanton Sousseau who"s confused.
"If it weren"t for Tia, you and I wouldn"t be having this conversation."
At Perez"s words, Chanton Sousseau"s brows furrowed deep, but he didn"t explain any further.
Perez simply left a brief farewell and walked to his carriage.
"I"ll see you at the next meeting."
In front of the building owned by the aristocracy, where most of the n.o.bles still remained, Perez"s carriage was on standby and ready to go.
Nothing has changed.
Four gentle-eyed horses were pulling carriages, surrounded by Imperial Knights.
However, Perez stopped as he approached the carriage.
And at one point, a mocking half-smile hung over the corners of his mouth.
He slowly scanned the Imperial Knights escorting the carriage.
Flinch.
The Imperial Knights looked at any direction and avoided Perez"s intense gaze.
Seeing such Knights, Perez got on the carriage and vehemently ordered.
"To the palace."
As Perez got on, the carriage started moving right away.
Like an imperial object, the carriage was splendid and tranquil.
Perez opened his mouth, listening to the constant noise of the carriage wheel, which sounded small as if it were far away.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
The cold red eyes captured the person sitting across him.
"Empress."
***
At Lombardy"s mansion.
"The Brauns have successfully reinstated and it remains to be determined who the representative family of the West is at the meeting."
"Hah! Well done, well done!" Grandfather laughed loudly.
"When you joined the n.o.bles" meeting, were those aristocrats surprised by a lot?"
"They thought I came to see my grandfather." I replied with a shrug.
"Really? So what did you say to them?"
"I said that I am the Lombardy"s Deputy Head."
"Hahaha! A lot of people must have been surprised!"
"Yes, I am glad that no one has collapsed from a heart attack."
My grandfather burst into laughter at my words. He then asked me in a subtle voice.
"So how was it? Living a day as a Deputy Head of Lombardy."
"It"s perfect. It"s perfect for me." I answered with a smile blooming from the inside.
"Please let me have that life, Grandpa."
I said it lightly, but my grandfather knows that my sincerity is in it.
My grandfather"s brown eyes were looking at me as if he knew everything.
After looking at me for a few seconds without a word, my Grandfather opened his mouth.
"Our Tia said so. What do you all think?"
The meeting room filled with the va.s.sals, who were just listening to the merry conversation between my grandfather and I, looked at me in unison at the question.