The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 46



Only Krnovel

Episode 46 14. Entering the Palace (3)

5.

The air in the main palace was bitterly cold.

Charon looked up at the throne, which was located at the highest point in the palace.

The throne on which the master he served sat.

The highest seat in the empire, carved from the most precious materials in the empire.

It was the seat where the emperor who invited them here should have been sitting, but the emperor was nowhere to be seen.

instead.

“Welcome to the palace. Leo Reston. Charon Reston.”

A young-looking man greeted them at the foot of the throne.

Distinctive facial features.

Neatly styled short black hair.

And above all, those golden eyes that shone softly allowed me to guess the man’s identity.

A member of the imperial family in their early 30s who can greet guests on behalf of the Emperor at the main palace.

As far as Charon knew, there was only one such being in this empire.

Charon bowed down on one knee, and Leo followed suit.

“His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Crown Prince Iorn Caryen.

The first son of the current emperor and the next in line to the throne.

Iorn slowly approached Charon and Leo.

“His Majesty the Emperor is ill and is recuperating in his bedroom. He has asked me to convey his apologies for not being able to greet you in person.”

A voice full of power and majesty echoed throughout Daejeon.

“Instead, His Majesty has sent me, the Crown Prince, so you should not be angry.”

Iorn had a different vibe from his younger brother, Revelio.

If I felt an uncontrollable freedom from Revelio, I felt the dignity and formality befitting a crown prince from this man’s body.

He looked perfectly suited to the position of crown prince.

“I heard that you have defeated the evildoers that have appeared in the Baronial Territory of Belus. I commend your achievements and look forward to the future that the young heroes will lead.”

“I just did what I had to do.”

“This is a great attitude, worthy of the grandson of Grand Duke Halo. Raise your head.”

At Iorn’s words, Caron slowly raised his head.

And at that moment.

Kwaaaaah.

I couldn’t help but clench my fists tightly without realizing it.

The moment I saw Iorn’s face, the anger I had barely suppressed while climbing the stairs began to resurface.

Resembles.

He resembles the evil emperor who ruined his life and sold his soul to the devil.

But Charon quickly suppressed his anger.

He is the grandson of the evil emperor.

It’s not that strange for a grandson to resemble his grandfather.

“Caron Reston. I heard about you from Revelio. I am grateful to you for being friends with the youngest of the royal family.”

Ioren giving praise.

But there was a thorn in those words.

“Revelio is a very lonely boy. No one in the royal family takes care of him. In the meantime, the grandson of the Halo Grand Duke has become his friend, and as his older brother, I am grateful.”

This was a warning.

Although it was wrapped in semantic language, the underlying meaning of those words was completely different.

Revelio has already fallen out of favor with the imperial family.

I will be keeping an eye on you, who is hanging out with that kind of guy.

‘This is why the royal family members are so bad.’

You always beat around the bush when you could just be honest.

Look at Leo’s expression, he’s actually not used to this kind of speech.

When the crown prince said thank you, he smiled faintly.

I would have liked to tell him not to interfere right away, but this place was right in front of the throne.

You shouldn’t be rude, because you promised not to mess with Halo.

instead.

“I am truly grateful that His Highness the Crown Prince thinks so. I will continue to maintain a good relationship with the 6th Prince and contribute to the friendship between the Imperial Family and the Duke of Reston.”

Return it in royal style.

It was said with a strong nuance that he might openly support the 6th Prince.

Then the crown prince smiled as if he found it amusing.

“Caron Reston, you are as the rumors say.”

Caron replied with a smile to those words.

“What kind of rumor are you talking about?”

“I heard that you taught De Gaulle of the Kian Counts yesterday. I thought you were a very interesting boy when I heard that story. Now that I see you in person, I can see for sure. I think it will be fun to see you in the future.”

“I am honored that His Highness the Crown Prince thinks so.”

“I will make sure to convey your story to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Iorn’s golden eyes scanned every part of Charon’s body.

It was quite a bold battle of nerves for a thirteen-year-old.

Before these two arrived at the palace, information about them was obtained in advance through the imperial intelligence agency.

There was nothing special about Leo Reston. The only thing that was unusual was that he was close to Caron Reston.

What was more special was the younger brother, Caron.

The youngest grandson who did not stand out when he was young.

After three years in Cheonghae Castle, a thirteen-year-old boy who succeeded perfectly from his first mission.

One thing that is unique is that everywhere Charon has set foot on, everything is changing.

The Barondom of Belus, which was nothing more than a barren land, joined hands with the Duke of Reston to develop mines, and the Dominion of Thebes was no different.

According to information received today from Thebes, the knights of the Duke of Reston are expanding their influence in the Theban Autonomy.

It’s hard to dismiss it as a coincidence.

A giant who had not exerted any influence for nearly 50 years was moving along with the footsteps of this thirteen-year-old boy before his eyes.

‘Dangerous.’

The contact with the 6th Prince may also have been a plan that came from this guy’s head.

Could it be that the reason Grand Duke Halo has never appointed a successor is because of this guy?

Iorn looked at Charon with a soft smile.

“I will be hosting a banquet for you tonight. I hope the young heroes of the Duke of Reston will enjoy the banquet to their heart’s content.”

This was enough exploration.

If such a talent had come from somewhere other than the Duke of Reston, I would have certainly been greedy, but I had to put that thought aside for a moment.

The Duke of Reston and the Royal Family are like oil and water, they don’t mix.

They are a rebel force that once invaded the imperial palace, and are another sun to the people of the empire.

There cannot be two suns in the same sky.

“I will attend the banquet with a grateful heart.”

Charon smiled and bowed his head, following Iorn.

He felt a faint hostility emanating from the crown prince’s body.

‘It was said that Crown Prince Iorn’s maternal family was the Marquis Diaz.’

I have a rough idea of ​​how the game works.

Even though many years have passed, the relationship between the imperial family and the ducal family has not changed.

There was no room for the Duke of Reston in the palace.

Perhaps they still regard the Duke of Reston as their enemy?

But that wasn’t much of a problem for Caron.

Because Caron hated the royal family as much as they hated the Duke of Reston.

‘… … It’s a bit ambiguous to call them enemies, though.’

Still, they are the descendants of the person who had their life completely taken away from them.

Of course, it would be unfair to hold them responsible for the evil emperor’s sins. But I don’t like to just let it go either.

“Thank you, Your Majesty the Great Emperor, for your grace.”

So Caron looked at Iorn with a smile.

‘Still, I can’t just let it go.’

The old subordinates who died while protecting the evil emperor will also be expecting him to strike them with a blow.

Now that they’ve been reborn, shouldn’t we appease their souls?

‘Be prepared, you royal bastards.’

It’s definitely not because this crown prince resembles the evil emperor.

……never.

6.

After meeting with the Crown Prince, Charon and Leo headed to the palace provided for them by the Imperial Family.

A palace given to us to rest in before the banquet begins.

It was a palace that was incomparably splendid and spacious compared to my maternal grandfather’s mansion.

Caron looked around the palace with the guillotine in his hand.

“Guillotine, are there any traces of eavesdropping magic?”

-It’s neat. But it’s unpleasant to use me as a detector?

“It’s better than using a magic sword.”

-That’s true.

“I’m resting.”

After confirming that there was no eavesdropping magic, Charon immediately threw the guillotine to the floor.

And then I closed my eyes and buried myself in the soft sofa.

“I’m tired, Brother Leo.”

Then Leo answered while picking up the snack in front of him and eating it.

“I have a question.”

“What?”

“Your grandfather dethroned the evil emperor.”

“yes.”

“But isn’t His Majesty the Emperor the son of the evil Emperor?”

“that’s right.”

“Usually when a rebellion is successful… … .”

“I didn’t know that you could say such irreverent things in the palace… … My brother has grown up a lot. Still, you need to be careful about when and where you speak. That tongue will be a cause of trouble.”

“… … That’s not what you should be saying.”

Caron continued talking while taking a bite of the cookie Leo was eating.

“It’s unnatural compared to other kingdoms. Usually, even the direct blood relatives of the deposed king are kicked out. That’s usually the case. That’s usually the case… … If the crown prince directly intervenes in the rebellion, it’s a different story.”

Caron recalled old memories.

The current emperor’s name is Pelin.

He was the third prince and crown prince of the evil emperor, who was once personally protected by Charon.

I remember him as having a rather gentle personality.

Small stature and thin voice.

The crown prince was evaluated as being somewhat less powerful than his father.

But the current emperor had one thing innately innate.

It is the ability to seize opportunity.

“His Majesty the Emperor made a great contribution to overthrowing his father, the evil emperor.”

The crown prince was the first among the royal family to criticize his father and join the rebels.

Thanks to this, the nobles, including the Duke of Reston, gained justification and were able to depose the evil emperor with the full support of the people.

Because the crown prince was a very popular figure among the people.

In return, he sat on the throne.

It was his fate to become a sinner along with the evil emperor, but that one moment of choice changed his life.

‘Opportunist.’

At least that’s what Caron thought.

Thinking about it now, it may have been thanks to his unique sense that he, who was only the third prince, became the crown prince.

The current emperor used that sense to sort out the chaotic situation and has continued to lead the imperial family for the past 50 years.

It was also the current Emperor who gave Halo the title of Grand Duke and appointed him as a great hero.

“Does His Majesty the Emperor hate our family?”

Caron shrugged at Leo’s question.

“You may not like us. We are a thorn in your side. But that doesn’t mean we are hostile. Your Majesty knows the power we possess.”

“… … I don’t know if it’s because of my mood, but His Highness the Crown Prince just now… … .”

“Wow, you’ve really grown up a lot, hyung.”

Caron looked at Leo and smirked.

Still, it seems like Leo has become quite perceptive.

“If you go so far as to issue a direct warning, it can be considered hostility for a member of the royal family who is known for being polite.”

“why?”

“That’s why it’s not difficult.”

Bam.

Charon briefly picked up the guillotine he had thrown on the floor.

“Humans are creatures who depend on experience. If there is a person who does not take out his sword from the scabbard for a very long time, then we think, ‘That person does not take out his sword. There is no need to be so afraid.’”

A full 50 years have passed since the abdication of Emperor Ak Hwang.

Many of those who remember those days have died, and new people have taken their place.

And the Duke of Reston kept as quiet as possible during those fifty years.

Tracking the traces of the Demons and stopping the monsters of the North Sea.

“Then, some people start to think like this. It’s not that that person doesn’t draw his sword, it’s that he can’t draw it.”

Srrrrrr.

Charon laughed and pulled the guillotine out of its scabbard.

“You absolutely must draw your sword against such men. It would be better if you could swing it while you’re at it, and it would be the best if you could just cut them down. Those fools only realize it then. Oh, I was wrong.”

Charon swung his sword in the air a couple of times, then put the guillotine back into its scabbard. Then he looked at Leo and smiled broadly.

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“… … More or less.”

“It’s all because Grandpa raised them like that. If he had beaten them with a club and beaten them to the point of death, they wouldn’t have crawled this far. Tsk.”

Of course, from now on, Halo will not stay still.

I’ll show them exactly what kind of family the Duke of Reston is.

Charon threw the guillotine to the floor again, then sank back into the sofa, thinking.

‘Your Majesty, that opportunist could not possibly have second thoughts about Halo now.’

Could it possibly have something to do with the Emperor’s illness?

Considering the emperor’s age, he was over seventy, it wasn’t all that unusual for him to be sick. But something still felt off.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of banquet His Highness the Crown Prince has prepared for us. Isn’t that right, Brother?”

“I saw a lot of beautiful ladies earlier. They will be attending the banquet too, right? Yes, I brought a wedding dress… … .”

“Brother Leo.”

“huh?”

“Just go out and die.”

Charon let out a small breath as he fired his magical power towards Leo’s back.

The situation was not good, but it was good in its own way.

“It has been said since ancient times that this is what a palace should be like.”

The imperial palace where all kinds of trickery run rampant.

“It’s perfect for causing trouble.”

Caron was having a hard time deciding what to choose to eat.

The break time passed quickly, and the time for the banquet was approaching.

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