The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 44



Only Krnovel

Episode 44 14. Entering the Palace

One.

Late at night, Cheonghae Castle.

Knock knock.

“My lord, this is Jeras.”

“Come in.”

Jeras opened the door to the office and stepped inside.

There, Halo was sitting on a chair, pouring a glass of wine.

“I have sent a letter to the Imperial Guard. I have requested a duel between the Dukes and their grandsons, and they have gladly accepted.”

“You’ve worked hard. Sit down.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Jeras sat down carefully and accepted the cup Halo offered him.

Urrrrr.

Halo poured wine into Xerath’s cup.

The amber liquid filled half the glass.

“Caron is unpredictable, isn’t he?”

“I think I finally found someone I’m interested in.”

“interest?”

“Yes. He asked me if I knew about Amy Altura. I told the lord about it once.”

“I remember.”

“He is an apprentice knight belonging to the Imperial Guard. There was an attempt to bring him to the Knights of Haerang because his talent was wasted.”

“You?”

“It seems that Caron-nim also had similar thoughts to me. Caron-nim has always had a good eye for things.”

Amy Altura.

Jeras briefly recalled an old memory.

She was an impressive girl.

The girl who said she respected Cain Lathor the most. She promised to give her unsparing support if she joined the Knights of Haerang, but she chose to remain in the Imperial Guard.

“Miss Amy is a special person. She had a great respect for Lord Cain Rathor.”

“Cain… … . What a nostalgic name. Quite an unusual name for a young knight. Even within the Imperial Guard, isn’t it common to refrain from mentioning Cain?”

“Because it must have been one of the histories that I wanted to erase. If the Lord had not stepped forward, Lord Cain would have been recorded as a great villain.”

Halo nodded slowly, agreeing with Xerath’s words.

“I guess so.”

“Didn’t your Majesty not want his friend’s name to be tarnished?”

Halo laughed at those words and shook her head.

“You’re mistaken.”

“……yes?”

“Cain. He wanted to be forgotten by people. He wanted to die there, without leaving a trace.”

Halo slowly recalled old memories.

The day my best friend’s life was lost.

The face of that stupid guy who didn’t even show any remorse until the very last moment.

It was a moment that still remains as regret in his memory.

“It was my way of getting revenge on that son of a bitch.”

I wanted to punch that guy for making such a selfish choice.

So he made people remember Cain’s name and left a trace of him.

Fifty years had passed since his death, but Cain’s name still remained in the history books.

“Then why did the Lord help rebuild the Imperial Guard…?”

After dethroning the Emperor, one of the things Halo led was to rebuild the decimated Imperial Guard.

“Someone in the Imperial Guard wanted Cain to succeed him. Idiot. If he hadn’t died, that would have been his job.”

Halo smiled bitterly.

History books record that all the Imperial Guards were killed that day, but that was not true.

Many of the last surviving members of the suicide squad that guarded the evil emperor survived.

Many of the suicide squad members who faced Halo survived. That was because Halo did not intentionally take their lives.

Halo rebuilt the Imperial Guard around those operatives.

Thus, the Imperial Guard’s unique swordsmanship, ‘Imperial Sword’, and the magical power training method, ‘Loyalty Ritual’, were able to be passed down to future generations through this process.

“I secretly hoped that someone would emerge to succeed Cain.”

But the Imperial Guard quickly degenerated.

They have colluded with politicians and are now fighting among themselves as factions.

It wasn’t the picture Halo had expected. But Halo wasn’t involved with them anymore.

The image of himself exerting influence over the Imperial Guard was probably not what Cain had wanted.

“Maybe that’s why Lord Caron became interested in Miss Amy. Lord Caron… …wasn’t he particularly interested in Sir Cain?”

“Because he’s Pale’s son. Pale also liked Cain since he was little.”

One day, I called Caron’s tutor and asked him several questions.

Professor Yuris, who was Charon’s tutor, told us that Charon’s interest was Cain.

That was the point that made Halo special.

“If you have similar interests, it’s easy to become friends.”

“That’s right.”

“Have you done any separate research on the Altura family?”

“It’s a noble family from the provinces. The only thing that’s special about it is that the family name changed 50 years ago.”

“What was your original family name?”

“Act. It was the Act family.”

Halo’s eyes lit up when he heard that name.

“Actra… … . Fifty years ago, there was a strange man in that family.”

Halo nodded with a bitter smile as he recalled old memories.

Kerua Act.

A member of the suicide squad that guarded the palace with Cain until the end.

The face of the man who had rushed at her, prepared to die, came to mind.

“Are you related?”

Halo muttered to herself.

“I guess you changed your family name after the Emperor’s overthrow. Well, I guess you didn’t want to have any connection to him.”

“Do you know about the Act family?”

“It was a fleeting relationship.”

It was a funny fate that after 50 years, someone from that family would follow Cain again.

She was just so admirable, since she said she would take after the name of a close friend whom many people would rather forget.

“Keep an eye on her in the future. If you can help, it would be nice to do so.”

To those words, Jeras answered with a slightly stiff expression.

“… … there might be a backlash from the Imperial Guard.”

“It is only natural that I would help a young knight who respects my friend. Who would dare to go against my goodwill? Any resistance can be suppressed by force.”

Do whatever you want.

It is the natural right of the strong.

And that was what the Duke of Reston would look like from now on.

“It is time to sound a warning to the cowards in the capital.”

The grace bestowed upon the Empire by the great Qinghai Star and the splendid Duke of Reston has now expired.

Halo poured himself another glass, looking forward to seeing what his youngest grandson would show him in the capital.

Charon. If he was that clever and cunning, he would have already read my grandfather’s mind.

so that.

“Caron, do whatever you want.”

He decided to watch how far his youngest grandson would go.

2.

The second morning dawned for the Caron party in the capital.

The Gail’s mansion was quite busy since morning, and Caron couldn’t escape the hands of the butlers.

“The sleeves of your shirt are wrinkled! Go and iron them again!”

“Brooch! Give the brooch a little more shine.”

“The wristwatch! And please fix the young master’s karma again!”

It was a truly fiery two hours.

Finally, the preparations to enter the palace were over, and Charon let out a deep sigh with an exhausted face.

“I told you, swinging a real sword is a hundred, a thousand times better. Isn’t that right, Brother Leo?”

“… … It’s been a while since you said the right thing. I agree.”

“What on earth is the palace?”

I wanted to enter the palace wearing only a black suit, but my grandmother flatly rejected that idea.

The blue wolf brooch that symbolizes the Duke of Reston, as well as various other accessories, etc.

So, unnecessarily flashy and unnecessarily uncomfortable clothing.

Caron fiddled with the watch on his wrist.

“I like this one anyway.”

A top-of-the-line wristwatch made using magic stones and gold.

It was my favorite piece of jewelry I wore.

“Caron.”

As Charon was examining the accessories on her body, Leo spoke to her with a nervous look on his face.

“why?”

“Am I the only one who’s nervous? We’re going to meet His Majesty the Emperor today.”

What is an emperor?

He is now the monarch who rules the empire, although he has lost most of his power.

The most noble being in the empire, whom commoners can only encounter once in their lives.

Leo’s reaction wasn’t all that strange.

Anyone would be nervous about meeting the Emperor for the first time.

But Caron wasn’t particularly impressed.

“The Emperor is also a human being, so why should he tremble? There is no need to be nervous, brother.”

“If anyone saw you, they would know that this wasn’t your first time meeting His Majesty the Emperor.”

“It’s roughly similar.”

Of course, that was a past life.

In his previous life, he served as an escort right next to the emperor.

Leo couldn’t help but shake his head as he watched Caron’s reaction.

It’s not like it’s been a day or two that I don’t understand him, and since he’s just like that, let’s just accept that.

While Caron and Leo were waiting in the room talking like that.

Knock knock.

Someone opened the door to the room and came inside.

It was Hugo.

“The carriage from the palace has arrived. Is everyone ready?”

Hugo can’t come with us to the palace today.

Initially, the only people invited by the Emperor were Charon and Leo.

Even if you are the Duke of Reston, you cannot enter the palace without prior permission.

Because the moment an unauthorized person sets foot in the palace, he or she is punished for treason.

“Yes, brother.”

Caron answered, tapping the guillotine he had hanging from his waist.

“Just in case, I also cleaned the guillotine’s blade.”

“… … Well, really?”

“You might get attacked in the palace.”

“It’s a bit scary for a joke, Caron.”

Normally, no one is allowed to enter the palace with a weapon.

But just one family.

Only the Duke of Reston may enter the palace with weapons.

It was a privilege granted only to the families of heroes who had saved the empire from the clutches of demons.

“Don’t worry, you won’t have to pick it.”

“You shouldn’t be bored without us, brother.”

“… … Okay, let’s go.”

Caron and Leo headed to the mansion’s yard with Hugo.

A magnificent carriage from the palace was already prepared there.

A luxurious carriage adorned with platinum.

No, actually, it was a bit odd to even call it a carriage.

This is because a magic engine made at the Imperial Tower was placed where a horse should have been.

And standing next to him was a middle-aged man wearing a suit.

“It is an honor to have you as your guest. I am Karls, a second-class civil servant in the Imperial Household Department. I have been assigned to guide Leo Reston and Caron Reston to the palace.”

He bowed politely in greeting.

“This is the car that His Majesty has bestowed upon you two. You may use this vehicle while you are in the capital.”

“I guess they call it a car?”

“Yes, that’s right. This vehicle has magic built into it, so if you input a destination, it will take you there.”

It seemed to be a similar principle to that of the 6th Prince Rebellio.

The only difference is that Revelio’s private vehicle is a bit bigger and fancier?

Certainly, when you see things like this, you can see that the level of civilization is incomparable to that of 50 years ago.

Caron nodded slightly and then looked at Gail, who had come out to see him off.

“I’ll be back, Grandpa.”

Then Gail smiled and nodded.

“Take care on your way back. You must always be mindful of your conduct in the palace.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The greeting wasn’t very long.

Caron greeted Hugo after Guile, then got into the car with Leo.

Woof woof woof.

The vehicle began to move with the resonant sound of the horsepower engine starting up.

Caron leaned back against the soft cushions of the car and looked out the window.

The vehicle moved quickly and soon entered the road leading to the palace.

And at that moment, a loud cheer began to ring out from outside the window.

“Oh! They are the Duke’s guests from the Duke of Reston!”

“Wow!”

“These are young heroes who defeated the evildoers!”

As if they had prepared in advance, the citizens on the street were enthusiastically welcoming them, even throwing pollen.

It was a fervent cheer, as if a triumphant general had arrived.

“Ahem. I feel a little embarrassed. It wasn’t like this when I was walking around the city yesterday. Isn’t that right, Caron?”

Leo’s face was slightly flushed. But Caron said with a sly smile.

“Your Majesty is demonstrating the influence of the imperial family through us.”

It’s an obvious lie.

Leo opened his eyes wide and asked at Caron’s words.

“Huh? Why is this?”

“It’s not like the old days when things were at their worst. Behind the imperial family, there’s the Duke of Reston. It’s a sort of warning to the nobles who want to shake the emperor. Well… … In fact, your true feelings may be different.”

Charon looked at the citizens of the capital waving at him and thought.

‘Even if it’s a scarecrow, is it true that the senses are alive?’

How much time has passed like that?

Finally, the sight of the imperial palace in the distance came into view.

To be exact, it was the outer wall surrounding the palace.

The outer wall of the palace stood very high, as if separating the palace from the capital.

Charon let out a small breath as he looked at the outer wall covered in all sorts of high-level magic circles. Then he spoke quietly to Leo.

“Get a little nervous, hyung.”

“huh?”

“If you pass that outer wall, you’ll reach the imperial palace. So… … .”

A place where the blood of countless people seeps into the floor.

To be precise.

“Our family once crossed that wall.”

A battlefield from 50 years ago where a terrible tragedy occurred.

A place where a terrible tragedy lurks, where the ancestors of the Duke family and countless others shed their blood.

“There is no one over there to welcome us.”

“ah…….”

At those words, Leo looked at the outer walls of the palace with a complicated expression.

So the two young wolves stepped into the old battlefield of their family.

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