How to Live as a Wandering Knight
Chapter 299: ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ (3)Johan was just as surprised as Lumahr. Who would have known that, while visiting the tribes, holding banquets, and building relationships, it would suddenly turn into a trial?
Although the trials between commoners were bothersome, the trials among nobles were even more complex and troublesome.
The two families would start by arguing about all sorts of laws and hiring lawyers to fight for them, then they would manipulate witnesses and testimonies, and if the fight got worse, they would even raid each other and start a sword fight.
Since each had enough power, it was not easy for them to back down.
Therefore, one had to be careful when intervening in such a situation. If one was not careful, one could end up being hated by both sides.
โYour Highness. Please be careful. In a situation like this, Your Highnessโs words will carry even more weight.โ
โI know.โ
If it were an ordinary knight, a single word from him would not have turned the situation upside down, but the words of a feudal lord like Johan carried different weight.
It was possible for the situation to be reversed with a single word.
โ. . .The situation has become troublesome.โJohan frowned. Looking back, the situation was much more complicated.
It would be easy if he simply said that Valeon was right, but if he did. . .
โ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ด ๐ธ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ง๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ๐ญ๐บ ๐ต๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ ๐ธ๐ข๐บ.โ
Even without this, they would have built up some resentment after capturing the rogue, and if Valeon sided with them in this situation, that resentment would surely explode.
However, if he were to side with the Hundred Kingdoms, the old king would be disappointed.
There was only one answer. Somehow, mediate between the two and bring it to a close.
. . . The problem was how to do it. Johan, who was known as a master of politics among his close acquaintances, could not immediately come up with an answer to this problem.
โI apologize, Your Highness.โ
After talking to himself for a while, Valeon calmed down and came back to apologize.
โThose guys are knights, but theyโre talking nonsense. I couldnโt hold back my anger. Iโm sorry for involving Your Highness in this useless quarrel.โ
โHmm. Do you know what the situation is now?โ
โ???โ
Valeon looked at Johan with questioning eyes, not understanding what he was talking about. From the look in his eyes, Johan, who had figured it all out, nodded his head.
โI see. I understand.โ
โ. . .?โ
โIโd rather speak to His Majesty directly than tell you.โ
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โWhat have you been doing?!โ
As soon as Valeon entered, he was greeted by a silver chalice thrown by the old king. As the heavy chalice flew towards him, Valeon hurriedly bowed his head to avoid it.
โYour Majesty!โ
โDonโt โYour Majestyโ me! Why are you causing unnecessary chaos?!โ
The old king threw the chalice but seemed unsatisfied as he breathed heavily. The chamberlain had to hurry over to calm him down.
โAre you scared of those Hundred Kingdoms dogs now?!โ
Although Valeon argued in his own way, the old king was simply getting more and more furious.
He completely failed to realize that this wasnโt the issue at hand.
โ๐๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ข๐ช๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ. . .โ
The king had hoped his unfavored son would learn something by travelling with the young duke. And that expectation was reasonably met.
According to the news he heard, the Zurebek family they visited was also quite satisfied with this trip. There had been much discontent over the constant rude demands despite their marriage alliance. . .
Yet now he comes back with such gossip.
The gossip itself wasnโt the problem. The old king wasnโt scared of petty rogues like the Tragalon family either. If they had provoked him first, he would have immediately drawn his sword against them.
However, in this case of gossip, shouldnโt the duke and the Hundred Kingdoms take care of it themselves as none of his business? What was the point of getting involved and making it his problem?
โCalm yourself, Your Majesty. As a knight, he clearly could not tolerate what happened.โ
โThat foolish. . . Fine. Whatโs done is done, nothing can change that now. I have no intention of yielding to those petty thief gangs! You better prepare properly for the trial.โ
โPrepare. . . you say?โ
Valeon was bewildered.
โI saw it clearly with my own two eyes, and there were many other witnesses to that scene. What preparation is needed?โ
โWhat if the duke testifies that it wasnโt him?โ
โIf he testifies that it wasnโt him. . .โ
Valeon was at a loss for words. He had no rebuttal to the old kingโs statement.
โStop spouting nonsense and properly persuade the duke! You travelled together so you must have built some rapport. If you mess things up and smear our family name, I will not let it go easily!โ
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โAre the supplies secured?โ
โYes. Everything is ready as you said.โ
โThereโs a port, but just in case, make sure to prepare more than enough. We canโt trust the feudal lords around here.โ
Ulrike gave instructions to the knights and looked around. She could see more and more people gathering around the huge camp.
Those who came as individuals would often follow the famous feudal lords when the situation turned serious. For the feudal lords, it was like getting free army, so there was no reason to refuse.
โ. . .Wait. Are those envoys from the Hundred Kingdoms?โ
Ulrike wondered as she watched the envoy group of the Hundred Kingdoms passing by in the distance.
It wouldnโt be strange if they were going to the old kingโs fiefdom, but that direction wasnโt the castle.
โIsnโt that the Dukeโs camp?โ
โWhy would the Hundred Kingdoms give something like that to the Duke?โ
The feudal lords around here were people who had nothing left but their pride. If foreigners from afar offered them gifts, that would be one thing, but there was no reason for them to offer gifts first.
โ. . .Could it be out of respect?โ
The knight who somehow managed to come up with an answer didnโt seem to believe it himself.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โThis kind of crafted silver is something youโve never seen in the west, Your Highness. Wouldnโt such a beautiful treasure suit a noble of honor?โ
โI see. Thank you.โ
The noble who led the envoy group from the Hundred Kingdoms had a faint arrogance in his voice that was hard not to notice.
It was arrogance that came from the conviction that those from the west were poor and lived in a harsh environment compared to them.
โ๐๐ฆโ๐ด ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ญ๐ถ๐ค๐ฌ๐บ.โ
It wasnโt something he did intentionally, and he couldnโt ruin the mood, so he just let it go, but it was true that he was unlucky.
Caenerna seemed to think so as well, as she clicked her tongue very softly.
โIs it okay for an envoy to be so arrogant?โ
โHe might be the most humble one.โ
Caenerna smiled broadly at Johanโs words.
โCome to think of it, I promised to give you a gift when we enter the city. I havenโt found anything decent yet, but can you take whatever you want from the gifts they brought?โ
โNo. . . Iโm not interested in ordinary gold and silver.โ
Caenerna declined without hesitation. What the envoys brought were, at best, gold and silver, which she didnโt really need.
Jyanina made an expression close to shock when she heard that. Refusing gold and silver. That was almost a sin.
โIโm not not interested in the gift Your Highness will give me, but right now, Iโm most interested in that crown.โ
โYou mean the thing the spirit gave me? Itโs old, but I donโt think itโs worth that much.โ
If it didnโt have a strong magical power, there was no place to use it.
However, Caenerna seemed to be looking forward to the antique charm hidden in its old and rusty appearance. She was asking the craftsmen in the city to experiment with it.
โSo. Is there anyone who can give me advice on this matter?โ
โ. . . . . .โ
Johanโs strength was his humility in honestly asking his subordinates for their opinions when he encountered a problem that he couldnโt solve, but this time, no one answered. Even Suetlg just had a troubled expression on his face.
When everyone avoided his gaze, Johan turned his head and met eyes with Iselia. Iselia hesitated to meet his gaze, and then, a beat too late, said with cold sweat,
โW-What about a trial by combat?โ
โYou donโt have to force yourself to say something if you canโt think of anything, Iselia.โ
Johan gently teased Iselia, who looked gloomy.
At any rate, since the other party had such high expectations, he thought he should show some sincerity.
They were openly offering bribes. . .
โ๐๐ต ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ช๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ช๐ง ๐ธ๐ฆ ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ข ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ญ.โ
โFor now, Iโm going to have them sit down together and give them another chance to talk.โ
โIt doesnโt seem like a good idea. . .โ
โIโm not expecting much either.โ
Johan was sincere. He was just going to see how it went, and he didnโt have high hopes.
If it really didnโt work, he would have to induce a trial by combat. . .
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โDid the conversation end well?โ
โHmm. Yes. His Highness the Duke seemed to be completely satisfied.โ
The noble from the Hundred Kingdoms who led the envoy group, Galvar, smiled with satisfaction at the words of the slave.
He was from a lower-ranking noble family, but Galvar was recognized for his abilities and held an important position in the court of the Hundred Kingdoms. He had successfully negotiated difficult negotiations several times, so the other nobles in the envoy group trusted Galvar.
โI thought it would be quite difficult, but Iโm glad it turned out well.โ
โOf course, he wasnโt an easy opponent. But donโt you all know? How greedy those from the west are. Theyโre like gluttons who have turned all their manners into greed.โ
Galvarโs joke made everyone laugh.
Galvar was not particularly arrogant, but all the nobles around him thought similarly.
Those from the west, from slaves to nobles, were obsessed with the treasures of the east.
Although trade was taking place, there was naturally a limit to the amount of goods that could flow to the west. Thanks to this, the nobles around here had arrogance mixed with pride.
โIโve been invited to a small banquet hosted by His Highness the Duke this time. That knight will probably be there too.โ
Galvar and the others felt sorry for Valeon.
If it was a matter of crossing swords on a battlefield or in a duel, Valeon would have had a chance, but if it was a matter of talking at a banquet, Valeon was at a great disadvantage.
Considering the eloquence and manners of the two, Valeon was like fighting with his arms tied behind his back and his eyes covered.
โGalvar-nim. You should go easy on him. What if the knight gets angry later and challenges you to a duel?โ
โHaha. If you donโt respond, thatโs it!!โ
Galvar and the envoys laughed cheerfully and finished their preparations. They believed that the banquet would go as they thought.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โIt looks like our preparations are a little late.โ
โIs that so? Oh my. . . I wonder if I came too early.โ
When Galvar and the envoys arrived first, Johan had them sit down first.
Perhaps because Valeon wasnโt there, the atmosphere was a little more cheerful.
Galvar greeted him politely and praised the Dukeโs achievements. Johan also accepted them appropriately and returned the compliments.
โ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ช๐ด ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ง๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.โ
Galvar smiled to himself. It was worth coming a little early. If he could completely control the atmosphere of this place with his eloquence, the young knight who arrived late would have to leave without saying a word.
โYour Highness. Before we drink, I would like to say a word of blessing.โ
โNot bad.โ
Galvar began to recite the blessing in ancient imperial language. Originally, such words should be spoken in ancient imperial language to make them sound more authoritative.
If it was something that everyone understood, then there was no special value in those words.
Galvar, who had finished his rather long blessing, cleared his throat slightly before explaining what it meant.
In that short moment, Johan nodded and took the floor.
โIโve heard good words. Now, letโs all have a drink. . .โ
โY-Your Highness. . .?โ
โ?โ
He was not a person who was easily embarrassed, but Galvar couldnโt help but be embarrassed when his words were so smoothly taken away from him. Galvar thought he had made a mistake somewhere.
โWhy?โ
โThe blessing isnโt over yet. . .โ
โItโs over, isnโt it? When you said to believe in forgiveness and believe in eternal life, wasnโt that the end?โ
โ. . . . . .โ
For a moment, Galvar felt like he had been hit in the head. Surprisingly, the duke in front of him understood everything he was saying.
Johan seemed to have belatedly realized Galvarโs intention.
โOh. Were you going to explain it to me? You donโt have to. Thereโs no one here who doesnโt know ancient imperial language.โ
โ. . . . . .โ
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