Chapter 78

Chapter 78

***

In the suburbs of Nibelungen, there was an oak forest, and the Imperial Palace was located there.

The garden preserved the forest to the maximum, trimming it only slightly, so natural beauty was felt more than artificial beauty. It was said that the taste of the 5th Emperor, Bellator I, who built the Imperial Palace, was reflected there.

Rickart stayed at the edge of the Imperial Palace as a sort of dependent guest. In the hallway, big tapestries boasting the history of the Imperial Family hung in a row.

Using gold and silver thread, and red and purple thread unsparingly, they were quite colorful. The past heroes maintained a dignified and commanding appearance even in the tapestry, living confidently within it.

Among them was Caldebert, lifting his sword high. In front of him, corpses of barbarians, dotted entirely with red thread, were piled up.

"What did you do with your tattered red cloak?"

Someone spoke from beside Rickart, who was standing aimlessly in the middle of the hallway appreciating the tapestry. The tone was a little sarcastic.

When Rickart looked back, a young swordsman in light attire, wearing a long side-sword at his waist, was standing there.

With black hair that looked wet and hung greasily on one side, and long eyelashes and distinct features, he was a man with a strong impression. A ruby earring hanging on only one ear shone.

"Who are you?"

Rickart really didn't know who he was, so he asked. Then the young swordsman snorted, hut, and said laughing:

"Liberio di Bonatelli. In my hometown, I'm called 'Water Skipper Liberio'. It would be good to remember it, Red Cloak. By the way, the nickname truly looks like nothing; red fabric isn't that rare on our side, unlike you poor guys."

Hearing the name, it seemed he came from a southern country far away. Or maybe from the Republic. Anyway, he seemed to be a person who came to participate in the tournament like Rickart.

But Rickart didn't know what he wanted him to do about it. He knew he was being sarcastic, but he wasn't particularly angry.

Northern people were on the side of speaking straight. So, when picking a fight, they openly used huge swear words or came out in a 'let's go one round' way, so Rickart really couldn't understand what this opponent meant or wanted.

"Ah, yes...... Is that so."

"The thing called 'Imperial Nine Swords' is just a name ignorant people who know nothing make noise about. If by any chance you are feeling pride, I want to tell you it has no meaning."

"That, well, I will figure it out on my own."

At Rickart's smooth answer, Liberio laughed once more, hut.

"Be humble. If you don't want to hasten the end of your life."

Liberio said those words and walked past Rickart, thud thud. As they passed each other closely, tension seemed to flow briefly, but Rickart didn't freeze or become wary, remaining composed.

Soon he opened a door, walked to the next hallway, and disappeared.

In the Imperial Palace, reputable swordsmen who had no need to play in the preliminaries were staying. Liberio was one of them too.

Rickart didn't have an interest in how other swordsmen lived, but unknowingly, there were things he picked up.

Swordsmen staying in the Imperial Palace were largely divided into two categories. First, people participating in banquets every day, making lines to the Princes and forming factions among themselves.

The children of the Empress were eight people in total; among them, the eldest son had died young, and the current Emperor's 9-year-old grandson was the Crown Prince.

The second child, the eldest daughter, married into a far country, and the third child, the second son, became a Count as the Emperor's direct vassal and was not in the Imperial Palace.

The second son was Rank 2 in succession but was shutting himself in his castle, cutting off exchange with the world and confining himself at home.

Finally, those staying in the Imperial Palace were from the fourth to the youngest. Among them, the Princes were three, and two were Princesses. The eldest Prince among them had just become an adult at 15 years old, and the youngest was 6 years old.

The rest of the Princes or Princesses were all cases entered into the family register from illegitimate children. Even if they were children of the same Emperor, there was a difference as much as sky and earth compared to the children born of the Empress.

Hearing that the fourth child—that is, the Third Prince—seemed to be doing much exchange with swordsmen; whether because of ambition or good sociability, one couldn't know.

So the factions were largely divided into the Crown Prince Faction and the Third Prince Faction. Funnily enough, other Lords of the Empire were also divided into exactly those two factions from old days. The current Imperial Palace looked like a miniature of that state.

Just, Empress Dowager Barsilia, mother of the current Emperor, was leading the political situation as the head of the Crown Prince Faction. So looking outwardly, the Crown Prince Faction was superior.

Among the swordsmen staying in the Imperial Palace, the rest of the category were people living quietly, ignoring factions and whatever. Rickart was so.

Liberio was one person among the Third Prince Faction, and on the side of passing quite closely with the 3rd Prince. So whether his spirit rose, he said one word to Rickart just to pass by.

Rickart, thinking he just encountered a person standing in the hallway, quit his tapestry appreciation, packed his sword in his room, and went outside.

Resulting in passing not that wide a courtyard and exiting the main gate, the fresh air of the forest seemed to wash his lungs coolly.

There were many oak trees hundreds of years old; some grew in weird shapes that felt like excellent artworks in themselves. Shapes seemed split in half long ago and grown separately.

Moss attached to the trees grew, and being wet slightly, vitality overflowed.

It seemed one would lose their way if walking the forest seobeok-seobeok. Ranger guard posts existed here and there but didn't watch separately or so.

Their main mission was chasing away beasts and gardening this forest garden. Namely, they were Gardeners and Rangers.

Rickart did not enjoy banquets, so other than walking, he had nothing to do. So occasionally, if boring, he went to the city briefly and returned. Observing a fight was even fun.

Still, killing time while walking was the most common activity.

By the way, when coming here on the first day, like the Imperial Knight's advice, it didn't look that dangerous. Is it because he had no work to be involved with Princes, just having no problem living leisurely?

Until yet.

"Look here, Swordsman."

Someone called from above Rickart's head. Looking up, a child looking down sitting on a thick branch of an old oak tree existed. He looked about 10 years old. Rickart left home at exactly that age.

By the way, looking at the attire he was wearing, he seemed exactly one person among the Princes. On the purple tunic, the Imperial Family's crest, the Holy Oak, was embroidered with gold thread.

"Yes, Prince."

"What is your name?"

"It is Ricky."

"Is it? Hmm, didn't hear of it."

"Excuse me, but I also don't know the Prince's noble name."

"What? Hahaha, can be so. I am Bellator. The same name as my grandfather who built the Imperial Palace."

Roughly he seemed to be the fifth or sixth son of the current Emperor.

"I see. Bellator I seemed to be a person knowing true beauty well. Seeing he preserved the forest's original form maximally not cutting old trees."

"I think so too. By the way, seeing a person thinking the same as me for the first time."

Age young, mimicking an adult tone, he laughed stealthily.

He came down riding the tree slowly. His extremely expensive clothes got dirty with soil and scratched by crumbs. But Bellator didn't mind at all.

Coming down from the tree and seeing, his height came to Rickart's neck. Rickart was currently over 170 centimeters.

Calculating Marie and him being half-brother and sister, perhaps so, Bellator had bright blond hair and skin white like snow, like Marie. To the current Crown Prince, he was an Uncle.

"I am possessing a weapon. It does not seem an appropriate place."

Rickart said. Because he was holding a sword in one hand. Without another companion, a Prince meeting a stranger like this was literally not good for safety.

"So, will you harm me?"

"No."

"Then done. You become my guard."

Rickart, surprised a little, opened his eyes roundly. Whether daring, or having no fear. If counting those with no fear, almost no person was able to beat Rickart.

Whether living in the Imperial Palace, did a sort of Insensitivity to Safety occur? In Rickart's view, living in a place like the rough wild, he seemed not to know worldly wisdom somewhat too.

Bellator, putting his hands behind his back, strolled the forest slowly. Rickart was somewhat dumbfounded but followed that back first.

"Where do we go?"

"To see the witch. I was also curious, but in the meantime, it was not a place to join, so. Now a guard appeared, so going is okay, won't it be?"

"Witch?"

"Right, Martelia. My half-sister."

Rickart's impression frowned slightly.

"Why is Marie a Witch?"

"Marie, you mean?"

"Marie and I are in a close relation as Academy Alumni."

"Is it? That I didn't know. Heard Sister doing Academy life. Just Brother or Crown Prince Highness all calling her Witch, so I also inadvertently said so. Spoke carelessly, forgive me."

Surprisingly apologizing quickly, so Rickart's anger rising slightly subsided quickly.

"No, don't mind. By the way, was Marie here?"

"Didn't you know? From 2 weeks ago she has been staying in Irmin Castle. As a Winner's Trophy, she has to be stored specially, doesn't she?"

If 2 weeks ago, it was about one week before Rickart came to the Imperial Palace. It meant she came at an almost similar time.

By the way, the word 'Trophy' annoyed his ears.

"Trophy, you mean. The word is excessive."

"Mm? Why?"

Seeing Bellator's reaction, malice didn't look to be there at all.

"Marie is not a bird trapped in a cage, and even more not an object. She is also a person. But how, not considering a person's will, do they determine fate completely?"

"Can think so too. Didn't know at all. Interesting."

Bellator grew up watching treating persons as tools in the Imperial Family only; hearing Rickart's words just now, he encountered a common sense view for the first time.

"Then all humans have Free Will, you mean?"

"Of course. When God created humans, he didn't create dividing Noble and Commoner separately, did he? Noble and Commoner dividing is because respective roles exist. Potentates fulfill duty as protectors, and Commoners engage in living, having a duty to protect their family only. Thus combining strength mutually, they can block powerful enemies too. Like the First Emperor defeated the Salamans and crushed the Orcs."

"Hmm...... Is it? Maybe so. Thanks for speaking honestly. Ricky. Other people perform flattery to me or have no interest, one among two. You are speaking with sincerity."

"Just heard from my Father, a man should regard honesty like life."

"That truly is envious. I have no story heard from Father Majesty at all."

His situation was better than illegitimate children, but even a son of the Empress was the same in not receiving Father's interest.

"......"

Regarding this part, Rickart had nothing to say. Living as a Prince seemed not easier than thought. Pitiful too. Looking outwardly, isn't he a kid yet?

Moreover, Bellator was the 5th Prince; above him older brothers three existed, and the Crown Prince was a nephew. Namely, his Succession Rank was currently 5th, but virtually he was an existence having no strength.

The rest of the sons not related to succession were treated coldly or sometimes lived miserably; it seemed the same in the Imperial Family too. Just, as having the dignity of the Imperial Family, they were decorating like pretty dolls outwardly only.

By the way, Bellator seemed not caring about such power sort of particularly. Looked like he had no greed too. Should say like a kid playing well alone even if others do not have interest.

He, putting hands behind his back, walked to somewhere continuously. From some moment an uphill path started, and a defense tower built on a low hill was seen.

It was a thick cylindrical shape and the roof was a pointed cone shape. It looked weak for a Castle, but in the very far past, labor force was insufficient, so mostly they were this degree of scale.

As time flowed, moving places to build anew, or increasing scale more and more through extension ways, Irmin Castle seemed abandoned long ago.

Vines grew on the wall dizzyingly, and as a building built for defense, surely the windows were small. Virtually it looked like a prison. Marie was existing there.

By the way, surrounding the defense tower, twenty people, a little more, were gathered. Among them, the persons seemingly doing the Captain roles were exactly the young Crown Prince and a Prince. The rest were attendants or swordsmen gathered for the tournament.

"Look here! Witch! Show your face!"

The Crown Prince, calling his Aunt a Witch, shouted. He picked up a stone and threw it toward the window, but it didn't reach for a long time.

Then the 3rd Prince, making ridicule, said:

"Now my turn, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince panted as if resentful, but as the 3rd Prince was older in age, surely he didn't say anything.

The 3rd Prince, picking a suitable stone, threw it hwik toward the window. The height fit roughly but it was not accurate. The stone just hit the wall and fell.

It seemed they were doing a bet: the person drawing Marie's attention, making her look outside the window, winning.

"My turn!"

As the 3rd Prince missed, again the Crown Prince stepped forward quickly. By the way, one among the people wearing a sword on his waist said:

"Your Highness, can I try throwing once? I am a servant of Your Highness, so if I succeed, it is nearly the same as Your Highness succeeding."

"Ung? Mm......"

The Crown Prince looked at the stone he was holding and the window existing that high alternately. Surely, height was impossible even thinking himself.

"Good, okay."

"Look here, this is a game of Crown Prince Highness and the Prince. Do not intervene carelessly."

The swordsman existing on the 3rd Prince's side, frowning, stepped forward. It was the shape of adults intervening in a kids' fight.

"I received Your Highness's permission just now. Raising an objection to Your Highness's will?"

"......Chit."

Because the Crown Prince becomes the next generation Emperor even in name, the 3rd Prince's side swordsman stepped back one step. The 3rd Prince soothed him.

"I am fine. Concerned you seeing damage because of me."

"Prince......"

As the 3rd Prince was age old surely, he seemed better than the Crown Prince at handling people. But things not sincerity were seen obviously in his eyes. He seemed to be doing clumsy acting. How about taking an Acting Class from a Vampire?

Anyway, the Crown Prince's side swordsman, receiving the stone from the Crown Prince, threw it hwik toward the window of the Castle. The stone flew like lightning, operating Mana, passed the window accurately, hit the ceiling claiming sound Ddak, and bounced.

"Oh!"

The Crown Prince was delighted noticeably. In the view of swordsmen operating Mana, it was nothing special, but they envied him because of the Crown Prince's reaction. 'I can do it too. Will smash it at all.'

But Marie didn't look outside. Then this time, on the 3rd Prince's side, someone holding a dagger stepped forward. It was Liberio, the Water Skipper.

"I also will step forward as a Champion."

Throwing stones was also a bad act, but one could consider it as a naughty joke to an extent. But a blade wasn't. Like just now hitting the ceiling and bouncing wrong, it could inflict injury.

That anyone, seemed not caring about whatever feeling Marie feels. Didn't have interest if she was injured or not properly. Just had interest in only the thing the Crown Prince and Prince like.

Liberio laughing confidently, tilting his upper body to the back slightly, aimed at the window of Irmin Castle. And he also raising Mana Drive threw the dagger hwik.

By the way, a stone flew from somewhere; the dagger bounced in the middle and flew away.

Chaeng-gang!

People were surprised heumchit. And the swordsmen all looked back in the direction the stone flew. It was Rickart.

Angry Rickart, glaring, said:

"Stop."

People with bewildered expressions, or with expressions regarding him as impudent, stared at Rickart.

But how they were staring, Rickart walking seobeok-seobeok stood blocking the Castle. He seemed a small human trying to protect a big Castle.

"This idiot-like act, stop it."

Rickart said once more. It was an obvious warning.

"You, who?"

The young Crown Prince just blinked his eyes, and the 3rd Prince, frowning, asked.

A Prince's question. According to the answer, Rickart could be punished severely.

Although in public calling Princes 'Sons of bitches', no crazy guy spoke carelessly in front of their eyes.

What to have to answer. Servilely kneeling down appealing asking please not doing this? Or have to beg forgiveness even now?

Both weren't it. Rickart, enraged, pulling his sword, screamed. Like past heroes existing in the Tapestry, dignified and confident.

"I am Rickart of the Stormhearts Caldebern Family! To the person threatening the Castle, I will request a Duel with Noble's Right!"

Except for close friends, it was the first time Rickart revealed his own real name and origin publicly like this.

At Rickart's shout overflowing force, the 3rd Prince was momentarily surprised and shut his mouth tight.

And, that shout was heard to over the window in the expensive place. Loudly like thunder.