The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 23



Only Krnovel

Episode 23 7. Heading to the Capital

One.

After the consultation with Baron Belus, preparations for the trip began in earnest.

The emperor himself summoned the children of the duke’s family.

As the Duke of Reston was one of the pillars supporting the Empire, it needed to have a proper ceremony.

“For this expedition, the 3rd platoon led by Hans will be in charge of escort.”

“I think it would be better if we just went by ourselves, Lord Jeras.”

“These are special instructions from the Master. It also means that you two are to do your utmost to prevent any actions that will bring disgrace to the Duke’s family.”

“If someone saw us, they’d think we were just causing trouble.”

“A leaky bucket inside leaks outside too.”

Charon shrugged at Jeras’s words and turned around. Then he raised his hand slightly and said,

“water.”

Then, the man who was waiting behind her, holding a water bottle, Urhan, quickly handed her the bottle.

“Here you go, Young Master. Hehe.”

It was Urhan who had gained a lot of energy in one day.

I don’t know what happened last night, but at least the smile on his face was genuine.

The reason was simple.

‘If a deserter and bandit becomes the servant of a nobleman of high reputation, isn’t that considered a success?’

If I had been unlucky, my life would have disappeared like the dew on the execution ground.

He may be a young master with a bad personality, but in a way, isn’t he the one who saved my life and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime?

That is why Urhan intended to serve Charon with all his heart.

Bam.

Charon glanced at Urhan while drinking water from his water bottle. Then he spoke in a languid voice.

“Lord Jeras. While I’m away, I need you to take good care of this guy. It looks like he’s trying to suck up some honey. Can you make that vicious bandit into a human?”

“I want to make other people human first. Wasn’t it you, Caron, who took the alcohol from my room yesterday?”

“Ah, since Sabina herself came, I think it would be better for you to ask her. Oh, but the alcohol tasted good. Expensive alcohol is the best after all.”

“Yeah, that’s right. It was tasty.”

“Brother Leo knows how to taste alcohol?”

At that moment, Jeras felt a vague fear.

Even if we assume that Caron was like this from the beginning, Leo is increasingly becoming like Caron.

That’s why it’s dangerous to release these two into the capital.

It would be strange if they didn’t cause an accident that could tarnish the reputation of the Duke’s family.

Is it really the right decision to send these two to the capital?

In the capital, there is the Imperial Guard, the traditional rival of the Knights of the Sea.

If I were to show myself in such a pitiful state in front of them… … just the thought of it makes my blood boil.

But now there is no other way.

This is a matter that the head of household has already made a decision on.

All we can do is hope that Hans’ squad, who will accompany us as escorts, will prevent the young masters from causing any trouble.

“Have you finished discussing the schedule for heading to the capital?”

To Charon’s question, Jeras nodded slowly.

“You can take the train again this time. It’s a line that passes through the Theban Autonomy. It’s the fastest way to the capital.”

“If it’s the Theban Autonomy… … . It’s where the citizens elect their own mayors, right? I hear it’s a lot of fun.”

“The Lord has forbidden you from operating outside the capital. Wake up from your dream.”

Charon shrugged at Jeras’s firm answer.

“it’s a shame.”

Thebes Dominion.

When I heard that there was such a region in the empire, I thought it would be a really interesting place.

A place where people elect their own leaders to lead the city.

It is said that while the loyalty to the imperial family is the same as that of other territories, it is the commoners who lead the place.

A place where social status doesn’t really matter whether you’re a noble or a slave.

But Caron did not believe such utopian stories outright.

Professor Julius, a famous professor at the Academy and my childhood tutor, used to say this about the city:

-Where money is class.

The Theban territory is a place where human desires are alive and well, including the empire’s largest entertainment district and gambling halls.

“We have arranged a separate train to go directly to the capital. You will be able to take a quick look outside the window.”

“How long does it take?”

“I think it would take about 6 hours to get to the capital.”

It’s going to be a boring six hours.

Although the train is a fast means of transportation, it does not provide the freedom that riding a horse provides.

Caron let out a small sigh and stood up from his seat.

And then he picked up the wooden sword that had been leaning against the wall for a moment.

“Is the briefing over?”

“yes.”

“I don’t want to be ignored when I go to the capital, so I should train before I go. Brother Leo. Take the sword.”

“……suddenly?”

“You said you wanted to get noticed at the social gatherings, hyung. Do you know? Maybe there will be a duel in the capital? If you win the duel, the noble ladies will probably show interest in you.”

At the word duel, Leo jumped to his feet and spoke with a voice full of enthusiasm.

“If you are of the Reston Dukes’ blood, you cannot afford to lose a duel. My father always told me to keep my sword sharp. Alright, I am ready.”

“Good posture.”

As the days passed, Caron’s Leo training skills improved by leaps and bounds.

Jeras looked at the sight and shook his head again.

“Lord Jeras.”

“Yes, Caron.”

“Wouldn’t it be nice if you could call the 3rd squad as well? It would be great if we could all train together.”

“We have already arranged an emergency drill for this afternoon in preparation for an emergency.”

At those words, Caron smiled faintly.

“I heard that Lord Jeras is always prepared. Until then, please guide us. We can’t afford to be ignored by the Imperials when we get to the capital.”

“If that happens, you two will have to prepare yourself for hellish training as soon as you return to Cheonghae Castle.”

Jeras lifted his wooden sword and looked down at the two boys.

“Let’s check how much you two have grown through the mission. Come in at the same time.”

As soon as those words were spoken, Leo and Charon simultaneously rushed towards Jeras.

After a while.

Kwaaaaaaaang-!

A loud noise began to echo through the training grounds.

2.

Late that evening, Pale straightened his clothes and knocked on the door in front of him.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

Inside, his father’s voice, Halo, echoed. Pale entered the headmaster’s office, hiding his nervousness.

“Father. Did you call me?”

“okay.”

In front of Halo sat a half-filled glass.

It seems he was drinking alone.

Pale knew full well that this was a sign that Halo was troubled.

This is because his father was the type of person who would not even touch alcohol unless he had something to worry about.

He sat quietly on his father’s left side.

Halo held out a glass in front of Pale, then quietly picked up the bottle.

Tsk tsk.

Whiskey was poured into the glass that Pale held politely.

“The negotiations with Baron Belus went well.”

Pale answered the question quietly.

“The other side made many concessions. It wasn’t a difficult negotiation.”

“They transferred some of their shares to Leo and Caron?”

“I felt strongly that I was investing in advance.”

“What an interesting bunch of people. The Baron Belus I knew would never have made such a bold decision.”

“It seemed like the Baron’s opinion was strongly reflected.”

Halo nodded with interest as he listened to those words.

“I am that guy.”

“Now that we have wings from the Magic Stone Mine, we can look forward to the development of the Baron Belus Territory.”

“It is good for us that our close neighboring territory is developing. It will be important to build a solid alliance in the future. I will leave that part entirely up to you, Pale.”

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“Of course it should be like that.”

Halo took a sip of the wine in his glass. Pale followed suit and drank his wine down his throat.

I don’t think my father called me simply to congratulate me.

He is a person who is stingy with praise.

There must be another reason.

for example.

‘Something to do with Charon.’

Something to do with the grandson who makes a fuss about Cheonghae Castle.

Perhaps we will talk about the story of this Charon’s journey to the capital. And Pale’s prediction turned out to be quite accurate.

“His Majesty has never personally summoned any of the Duke’s family members, except for me. In that sense, this trip is extremely unusual.”

The royal family has been wary of the Duke of Reston for generations.

They were also the Dukes of Reston, who had been influential since the early days of the empire, and in this generation, they had a record of dethroning the Emperor.

Although it was a dethronement supported by all the nobles and the people of the empire, in the end, a dethronement is still a dethronement.

Naturally, the relationship between the royal family and the Duke of Reston cannot be good.

To be precise, it would be correct to say that the royal family is afraid of the Duke of Reston.

In that atmosphere, the royal family was the first to extend a hand.

“Father, you recently had a private meeting with His Majesty the Emperor. Perhaps that has caused a change in His Majesty’s mind.”

“hmm.”

At Pale’s words, Halo remembered the expression on the Emperor’s face that he had seen last time.

Although his words were outwardly gentle, fear still lingered in the Emperor’s eyes.

The fear that he might be dethroned just as he had dethroned his father, who was called the Evil Emperor.

Such an emperor suddenly changes his attitude and extends a friendly hand?

‘That can’t be true.’

Calling Leo and Caron was not a simple favor.

There may be many circumstances beyond that favor that we have not yet figured out.

For example, political reasons, things like that.

It may be a difficult task for young children to handle.

“father.”

As Halo began to lose herself in thought, Pale spoke in a low voice.

“Isn’t this something that the father could have refused? Even so, he left the choice up to the children.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“May I ask why?”

Halo glanced at Pale at his son’s question.

The third son is always like this.

He reproaches her by asking why she made that choice even though she knew everything. However, she probably expected it even without him telling her.

“I’m curious about Charon’s bowl.”

Every time this happens, Halo answers honestly, confirming his son’s guess.

“Charon is a man with an unfathomably vast sea. Perhaps the sea could become a chain that binds him. I honestly wonder how far he can see.”

“It’s a test.”

“If you are a child chosen by the guillotine, then it is something you should endure.”

Aida is walking into the middle of a storm.

A child who has no choice but to move towards the center of the world, whether he wants to or not.

That’s why Halo wanted to give Charon as many different experiences as possible.

How many enemies does the current Duke of Reston have, and what choices are in his best interest.

If you are Caron, who is smart and mature for his age, you will realize many things during this retreat.

“The movements of the powerful nobles are unusual.”

“The guy who knew that was able to stay still.”

“I believe in the family. If there are any who dare to challenge the reputation of the Duke of Reston, they will surely regret it. And above all.”

Pale drank the remaining alcohol in his glass. Then he spoke with a voice full of confidence.

“I trust my son.”

Halo let out a small breath at her son’s answer.

He was the youngest son who hated his family and this place, Cheonghae Castle. He was the youngest who would show a timid appearance whenever he entered this place, but at some point, I felt a sense of confidence in my son.

Halo was secretly happy to see his youngest son like this.

Some say Pale regained his confidence thanks to Charon’s incredible talent, but Halo knew that wasn’t the case.

That’s what a father is like.

Pale only changed to protect his beloved son. This is Cheonghae Castle, and there are many who are jealous of Caron.

“I trust my son… … That’s a good answer.”

Halo poured another drink into his son’s empty glass.

After that, the father and son drank in silence for a long time.

So the time was approaching for Charon and Leo to go to the capital.

There’s a mad dog living in the duke’s house