I Am a Ruined Noble of a Ruined Kingdom

Chapter 22: Two Overgrown Children (2)

Thump, thump, thump!

"Ugh..."

I spread out my senses, wondering if there was anyone nearby, and looked around. The maze-like structure of the garden perfectly sealed off the surroundings, blocking the gaze of others.

Still, I checked two, three times, just in case, before finally relaxing.

So I could wallow in self-loathing in peace.

"Auuuugh...! Why did I do that?"

It couldn't have been more than a day since I said I would trust Nephi!

No, no. Nephi is bad for trying to hide and evade something that's not a big deal.

Of course, I trust him.

Burying something in the ground must have been done with good intentions. It's just that the fact that I absolutely mustn't know is upsetting.

"I was just going to end it with a pout... But suddenly, my emotions swelled up like a torrent!"

It was a situation where I would normally just scold Nephi a little and be done with it.

The pout that started once gradually invoked wicked thoughts like, "Huh? Now that I think about it, it really is unfair?" and my emotions were naturally heightened.

Pushing away Nephi, who was trying to follow me, was good, but the aftermath was the problem. When I regained my senses and looked back, I wondered if it was something to get this angry about.

"Haa, Charles is in danger, but I'm fighting over useless emotions."

No matter what the future plans are, Charles's rescue will inevitably be led by me and Nephi. If we conflict due to personal feelings, we'll make an easy path difficult.

"I have to... apologize. Apologize. Yeah, apologize... I have to... but..."

I twisted the white hair that flowed over my ears. Like the curling hair, my heart was spinning around and around.

I had already come to a conclusion with a cool head, but my chest was still radiating heat.

"I don't want to apologize first! When you think about it, it's not even my fault, so why should I? You're always just hiding things and making me feel bad! Calling me an unreasonable creature and seeing me as a monster! And... You don't even know how to give a proper compliment!"

I recalled my conversation with Nephi the night before and became even more indignant.

"What? You unconsciously skip over things that aren't impressive? Who are you calling flat!"

Even if it was Nephi, he didn't utter the last word, but it didn't matter. Wasn't that the same thing!

Of course... I'm a little less than my sister Charles, but still! It's like he's going to die before he can give a sweet talk.

"Besides, for some reason, His Majesty trusts Nephi more than me! It's like I'm the only one who's an oblivious outsider... In the first place, you're the one who ordered Nephi to be suppressed, so what's the truth! Am I wrong? Am I the one who's oblivious?"

In conclusion, it led to a self-deprecating reflection that my eye for people is worse than an awl-hole.

I slowly faced the reality that nothing would be solved by staying here.

Now was the time to go back to the main palace and discuss Duke Fayta's interrogation and Charles's rescue.

Calm down and think rationally, just like always. Isn't that how I've lived so far? I have to do that in order to fulfill my duties.

"It's unfair..."

The complaint that slipped out from my lips without me realizing it left a deep lingering feeling.

◇

"Iruealfi..."

I whispered her name near the main palace. The workers had already finished everything I had asked for and disappeared.

'I'm sorry, I heard everything!!!'

I put my hand on my forehead and closed my eyes tightly.

Netionpies's five senses already reached the realm of the inhuman even in normal times. If I mobilized sensory activation there, I would have the ability to sense even the vibrations deep underground.

The example was that I sensed the secret passage underground from the banquet hall of the Fayta Duke's residence.

'I opened my senses to use as reference when apologizing, but this is...'

There was also a reason why Iruealfi, who said she would go to the main palace, suddenly turned her direction to the garden.

I couldn't believe Iruealfi had already managed to control her emotions. As expected of Iruealfi's mental training.

That's why I'm even more sorry. Because I heard all of Iruealfi's cute appeals that weren't wrong.

The Emperor, who ordered me to suppress Nephi, had long since switched his stance with his ability to read emotions. From the point of view of Iruealfi, who was the person who received the order and the Head of the Escort, it would be absurd.

'Especially that scathing evaluation...'

Even if there are circumstances of a possessed person, it was a reason to feel bad enough. I think Iruealfi has been putting up with it well so far.

"But I'm honestly a little upset about being treated like a monster, too."

From the point of view of single-handedly suppressing the disaster called the Chainreach phenomenon, I had already wonderfully shed the shackles of humanity.

To make matters worse, in the original work, she was the person who destroyed the Eld Empire. Moreover, Iruealfi in the Destroyer period was the strongest boss in the world even though she was going through a period of decline.

All of this was obtained just by being born that way without a single stroke of luck. It wouldn't be strange to see it as an error in the world.

"The old man inside got this much power after all sorts of nonsense, though."

Lastly, a proper compliment... huh. Should I have pretended to be embarrassed after looking at Iruealfi's chest back then?

With a little compliment?

I don't understand, but if that's how people live, there's no choice.

"Haa. I don't know how to start even more."

I embraced my confused mind and entered the main palace.

Troff Fayta was confined in a large and splendid room in the main palace, considering his status as the head of the four great duke families.

On the surface, you would get the impression that Duke Fayta was being treated with utmost courtesy, let alone guessing that he had been confined.

Duke Fayta, who was treating the investigators around him as if they didn't exist and drinking tea and reading a book idly, even felt dignified.

The eyepatch covering his right eye hid much of his face, but it didn't hide his elegant appearance.

Duke Fayta spoke first to us who were just entering the room.

"Well, greetings to His Majesty. And Marquis Yustiha and Marquis Alteon... It hasn't even been a day or two since we greeted each other, but it seems like a very long time."

The Emperor and Iruealfi frowned as if they were displeased with Troff Fayta, who was calm and self-possessed. On the other hand, the other party smiled slyly, as if he was pleased with the two's response.

"Duke, you're very bold. Make sure to realize your situation."

"If I have nothing to be ashamed of, why would I act like a petty person? The incident at the banquet hall is true that the security was lax... but I don't know if that's something to arrest the descendant of the Ruined Noble, though."

Troff Fayta leisurely drank his tea.

"It's a shame about the 'small' commotion of a marchioness's daughter being kidnapped. Who would have known that a noble's daughter from such an insignificant family would be the target? Even if they're from the same marchioness family, there were not one or two marchioness with more wealth and land, it's regrettable."

'This guy... is deliberately provoking the Emperor.'

Troff Fayta was clearly provoking the Emperor. I don't know if it's confidence that he won't be caught, or if he has nothing to lose.

Thanks to that, Iruealfi had to stop the Emperor, whose blood vessels were about to bulge at his temples.

"If you're going to oppress the descendants of the oldest family that is devoted to the Imperial Family so much, I don't know if the other families will feel wronged. God is worried that Your Majesty will lose the trust of the nobles."

'Wow, what an amazing sophistry. I almost wish Netionpies would come out right now and start acting like a know-it-all geezer..'

Listening to his one-sided provocation made my anger rise naturally. He pretended to be polite on the outside and pretended to worry about the Imperial Family, but in reality, it was no different from threatening.

I took a step towards Troff Fayta and said.

"Duke Fayta, you're very confident."

"Isn't it a natural reason since I have nothing to be ashamed of but many things to boast about?"

Troff Fayta shrugged. I looked at him mockingly.

"For example, your family."

"My ancestors' virtue has been protecting the Empire until now, so I'm just following their example."

"The virtue of the first head, Lorian Fayta. It doesn't seem like she would be happy to see you if I saw it?"

"What do you know?"

For a moment, the leisure of Troff Fayta cracked. At that point, I guessed the infinite reverence for his ancestors inherent in Troff Fayta. That's why I blatantly ran my mouth even more.

"Hmm, probably more than all the things your duke family knows combined?"

This body is a comrade of your ancestors.

If I had my way, I wanted to switch personalities with Netionpies and confront him right away.

"Keup."

The Emperor's face, full of anger, was now stained with pleasure.

Iruealfi also seemed amused and covered her mouth with her hand. Judging from her squinted eyes, I could guess the shape of her mouth.

From the point of view of someone who knew the circumstances, Troff Fayta's reaction was like showing off in front of an expert. Of course, it would be impossible for him to realize the meaning of the ridicule of the Emperor and Iruealfi even if it took his entire life.

Troff Fayta, who didn't know our circumstances, retorted with ridicule.

"Hehe, Your Majesty's discerning eye has also fallen. To keep an honorary marquis by your side who doesn't know the ways of the world and runs wild without a root."

"Hheup..."

The Emperor and Iruealfi's cheekbones became loose again at his slander.

'My body is the root of the Empire, and there's an elder of the Imperial Family inside...'

To call the Ruined Noble, who existed above the first heads of the four great duke families, rootless. He was unknowingly insulting his ancestors.

"That. Root. Less. Me is very bold! How can I dare! Commit such rudeness! I'm so grateful, what should I do?"

I conveyed my apology as if reading from a Korean textbook with theatrical gestures. It wasn't that Troff Fayta didn't know that I was openly mocking him now.

"You... Aren't you afraid of future troubles?"

"You should be afraid of future troubles, not me."

"Is there any reason for me to do that?"

'I guess it's enough to scratch him this much?'

I smiled kindly at him and said naturally.

"If I bring Zicharun before your eyes, then a duke family with a five-hundred-year history will be ruined. In your generation, not anyone else's."

"You?"

The moment I brought up the keyword Zicharun, Troff Fayta's face was completely shadowed.

I cheered inwardly and declared clearly to the man before me.

"I will make it happen. Surely."