< — To the Capital — > (3)
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The discussion that followed was informal but with more crucial people joining, and looking at the faces of the people involved, it was almost like a cabinet meeting.
After the lengthy discussion was over, Hugo stood up and patted the shoulder of the eye-catching man that was standing at the side, and acting like he didn’t know anything for a while now.
“You’ve worked hard.”
The eye-catching man, Roy, grinned as if to say it was just so so. After Hugo left, Kwiz couldn’t bear the sight of Roy who kept glancing at the door like a dog waiting for his master, so he spoke.
“Sir Krotin, do you really have no interest of becoming my knight?”
“I do not.”
At first, when the Duke of Taran said that he would place an escort knight at his side, Kwiz was a bit displeased that the Knight’s former status was that of a commoner.
Moreover, it was one with no manners and unbelievably impertinent. If it wasn’t for the fact that Roy was a close associate and former guard of the Duke of Taran, Kwiz would have driven him away.
However, as time passed, his value was brought to light. In the past year, the amount of times that Kwiz’s life was saved thanks to Sir Krotin was numerous. In front of Sir Krotin, assassins that tried to escape were caught like bugs and slaughtered.
Knowing of his tremendous skill, Kwiz tried to entice Krotin into being his knight at every turn but Krotin didn’t even look like he was considering it.
“What is the reason? If you become my knight, you can receive more power and remuneration that you receive now. You don’t want that at all?”
“I don’t really care for that.”
“Then, what do you get from the Duke? Is it because you admire him as a Knight?”
“There’s a more realistic reason. My Lord lets me duel.”
“Duel? Isn’t that something you can do anywhere?”
“Only with my Lord can I fight to the fullest without caring if my opponent gets hurt. I can’t have such fun in another place.”
“…I see.”
Kwiz felt slightly fed up. Krotin was greatly skilled and no one among his knights could last more than a dozen rounds against him. Nevertheless, it was obvious that Krotin controlled his tempo and adjusted his strength to match his opponents.
This gave a great shock to Kwiz who always took pride in having the best knights around him. But soon, he acknowledged that it wasn’t that his knights were weak, but that Krotin was terribly strong.
‘Is Taran Gong that strong?’
Kwiz had personally seen the Duke of Taran wielding a sword on the battlefield numerous times. He knew it was great but since the battle was so lopsided, like a tiger in the midst of sheep, he couldn’t exactly tell the extent of the Duke’s skill.
‘And now that I think about it, I haven’t ever seen Taran Gong duel with someone since then.’
The only time the Duke of Taran lifted a sword was when he cut down his enemy. When one thought about it, it was quite dreadsome. Warriors liked to show off their strength but the Duke of Taran didn’t do so even though he was a knight.
Perhaps because of that, when Kwiz faced the sword-less Taran Duke, he sometimes forgot that the Duke was a knight.
“Who wins if you duel? Have you ever won by a stretch?” (Kwiz)
Roy rolled his eyes and burst into laughter. Those in attendance were now somewhat used to Roy’s unconcerned and rude attitude in front of the prince so they didn’t have any outward reaction.
“Winning? Who? Me? That’s my goal in life. Although I don’t know if it can ever be achieved.”
“Are you saying you’ve never won before?”
“Honestly, my Lord doesn’t go all out in our duels. Apparently, it’s annoying. He says why should he exert himself for something he can’t kill.”
“…”
“Sometimes, my Lord doesn’t even let me draw the sword. I have to be careful before brandishing the sword.”
“…Why?”
“Because he might be in a bad mood. In that case, battle or what, I just get beat up.”
“…Even with that treatment, you like it there?”
“It means I am one of the few people my lord trusts.”
“Getting beat up?”
“That is the evidence of trust. My lord would rather just kill something than go through the hassle of beating it.”
Kwiz had nothing more to say. Anyways, this was an unexpected harvest. The Duke of Taran had a remarkably more foul nature than he was known for.
* * *
“Taran Gong!”
Hugo stopped walking and turned around. The owner of the voice calling him quickly approached his side.
“If you have some time, would you like to accompany me for a while?”
The young man with an amiable smile was Count David Ramis. When he came of age as the eldest son of Duke Ramis, he received a part of his father’s estate along with the title of Count. He was also the Crown Prince’s brother-in-law.
Once Kwiz sat on the throne, David was sure to rise to the center of power in the future.
David was the same age as Hugo. However, an enormous difference existed between them. Hugo was a Duke and head of his family while David was nothing but a successor to a Duke.
So David calling Hugo by ‘Taran Gong’ was a very rude act. To be able to call Hugo in that manner, you had to at least be a Duke. And argumentatively, even a Duke had to address Hugo with honorifics.
Even formally, the position of the Duke of Taran was recipient to royal treatment. Hugo could see through David.
Outwardly the man smiled amiably but inwardly, he was full of rivalry.
Greenhorn. Hugo sneered inwardly but on the surface, his expression remained taciturn.
“I do not believe I will fit in.”
Hugo responded after briefly staring at David and his followers, who were sticking to him like a tail. In any case, Hugo thought of the Duke of Ramis’ face and treated them with adequate courtesy.
“Ha-ha. What are you talking about? I’m sure if Gong is with us, the occasion will shine even more.”
“I mean I am concerned that only I will shine.”
There was no one who couldn’t understand the meaning behind this sarcastic remark. David’s eyes widened in embarrassment and his ears flushed red.
It was the first time he was turned down so blatantly. The people around David always tried to prove their loyalty to him because he was positioned to become the next Duke.
“Hahaha, just as I have heard, you are an outspoken person. Will you oblige and share your valuable opinions with me?”
“Get that from your father. If your father has nothing to say, come and find me.”
The Duke of Taran suddenly spun around and began to walk away so David couldn’t hold him back anymore. He clenched his fists at the humiliation and his followers sensing his mood, began to furtively scratch his back. (1)
“I did hear he was a knight but how rude.”
“It would have been more harmful if he went to our meeting.”
David smiled widely.
“Even if he is knight-born, he’s an excellent individual. Hence why His Highness, the Crown Prince is so trusting of him.” (David)
“Even so, can he be compared to Elder? Is Elder not the father of the future Queen of this nation? If one looks further, Sir will become the uncle of the one that rises to the throne of this nation.”
David smiled, pleased at his follower’s flattery.
‘Indeed. No matter how arrogant he acts, he can’t surpass my father. After all, we are tightly bound with His Highness by blood.’
Hugo didn’t give a crap about David at all but David was burning with rivalry against the Duke of Taran. There were many nobles with higher status and authority than David. But they were all elders, well advanced in their years.
Therfore, there were no competitors around David’s age except for the Duke of Taran. And even though the Duke of Taran was the same age as David, he was already a Duke. He gained a reputation by sweeping through the battlefield and was very famous for how the Crown Prince went through great lengths to acquire him.
Even his father praised the Duke of Taran to the skies. His father warned him several times that the Duke of Taran wore the skin of a bear but in reality was a fox and one should be careful with one’s words and actions before him.
David replied in affirmation but scoffed inwardly. He was very unhappy that whenever the Duke of Taran appeared, everyone’s attention shifted towards him. What was so great about him swinging a sword on the battlefield a few times?
If David had seen the Duke of Taran on the battlefield even once, he would not have had this thought but throughtout last war, he was safely at the rear.
‘No matter what, he is just an ignorant knight.’
David was brimming with groundless confidence.
Translator’s Corner:
1) Do not take this literally.
2) By Elder, he’s referring to David’s father. By Sir, he’s referring to David.
*.*.*
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What is that Gong? Is that Hugo’s title?
It’s ‘a’ title. You’ll see.
gong is ‘duke’ in korean. it’s kinda like senpai but different.
Many thanks
Well, this David… Heh.
Thanks for the chapter. I already feel like David will do something rude to or insult the Duchess forcing Hugo to pay attention to him long enough to cut him down.
Lol the irony is real especially in the last two lines hahaha
His father even warned him. Guess Hugo’s right, a greenhorn.
Introducing the new cannon fodder!
Thanks for the chapter! Just a quick typo : ” In front of Sir Krotin, assasins ….” => assassin
In this instance, it’s plural
Yes it would be plural in this case “Sir Krotin was numerous. In front of Sir Krotin, assasins that tried to escape….”. However, “assasins” was misspelled it should still be “assassins”.
Ahhh thank you!
What an ignorant wannabe lol
Thanks a lot😃😃😃😃
*Ding* Hi David, it’s nice to meet you. Your designated Cannonfodder number is #227, your current Fodder Points Value is 5, once it increases to 50 the ML will have to take action. Have a good day! *End System Announcement*
Hello cannon folder D!!
**Cannon fodder
Heh, Krotin would like a master like Hugh, now wouldn’t he. XD
Some people need to trip before they see common sense
I notice someone’s death flag slowly rising up
Lol david hun, dont even try
Ja =v=
Taran Gong. Ahhh.. I can’t take this part seriously 😂 Gong is used in Chinese Danmei, meaning Top in a Male x Male relationship 😅😂
The crown prince is totally digging his grave… Looking down on the people of the biggest backer of his and then try to snatch hid backer’s people, urgh. There’s a limit to how ungrateful and fearless you can be… Also, a dumber cannon fodder than the crown prince has made it’s entrance xD
Another Dumb David Ah David must you be strong headed and dive into your own pit of death.
Hahahahah Roy!! You masochist xD
David I will tell you your future 🧙♀️🔮.
Hmm. I see green turning to red. Your envy will lead to a “fake” love…
Ah! The globe has completely turned black. This envious “love” will lead to your absolute demise! ☠ And by the hands of someone you had not expected! Red… red..
Does anyone know how old Hue is?
He became a Duke when he was 18. Not long after, he goes to the war (the one where he return in the earliest chapter) for 7 years. He’s been married for a year now. So, 26 going 27 at most.
“After all, we are strongly linked to His Highness by blood. ”
Oh, David. If blood was so important to connect people, the king would have loved and taken care of all his children, but it wasn’t like that, right
This David is an aspiring asshole.
Thanks for the chapter! 💖
Thank you so much for translating! 😍
I feel like the author is using European titles but applying korean customs😁😁
I really like the story tho and the manhwa got me here😄
Count David is the brother of the Queen, and hence tied to the royal family by blood and marriage. But Hugo is married to Lucia who is a royal by blood and directly related to the King. So one is by blood related to someone who married into the royal family. And the other married someone who is by blood related to the royal family. They are literally in the exact same position.