Chapter 436 - Receiving the Crown 3 (2/2)
Reynold pulled back the sword, and Mayers fell to the floor struggling.
“…!”
Unlike the rebellious brother, Reynold always showed loyalty to Mayers.
The nobles were shocked by the scene where Reynold acted without hesitation to their King.
But for Reynold, it was only a natural thing.
Mayers was the one who fired him as the commander of the Iron Fist Knights, he broke the rules of the contract, and the only reason for his loyalty had disappeared when the contract was violated.
Reynold turned to the nobles who were staring at the bloody body of their King.
“I think that making a decision is much easier now?”
However, no one responded.
No, it would be right to say they couldn’t because their head could be cut off immediately.
And frankly, there were every few nobles who wanted to object.
“Then, let’ stop the flow of blood right here.”
Reynold, who took the silence as a consent, finally formed a decision.
Luke was flustered watching the situation unfold in the Milton army.
He didn’t give them any limited time, but he never even thought about how long the talks for surrender would go.
But sooner than expected, a white flag came out of the Milton camp.
The representative for the surrender delegation was Reynold Gram, the one who fought with Luke the other day.
“I guess we meet again.”
“That is what this looks like.”
At the words of Luke, Reynold had a bitter smile on his face.
“The decision of King Mayers had been made, I assume. He must have been very greedy for a person who just builds the nation.”
“Your Majesty was self-driven.”
“He said that?” Asked Luke.
“Yes, unfortunately…”
Shocked at the unexpected words, Luke looked at the faces of the nobles who came to surrender alongside Reynold.
Looking at their complexions, he thought that it was unlikely for Mayers to be self-driven.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter to me.’
He was anticipating for an inside battle, and he entrusted the work to Sebastian, his demon.
Whether Mayers committed suicide or was killed by his men, the end result was good enough for Luke.
“As of now, the Milton army unconditionally surrenders to the Rakan estate. And…”
“What is this?”
When Count Lao offered a gold-wrapped wooden box, Luke took it and opened it after a careful inspection.
He wondered if there was any hidden meaning behind it and used his magic, however, he couldn’t feel anything dangerous, such as poison or gunpowder in it.
Instead, what was inside the box made Luke’s eyes go wide of shock.
It was an old fashioned luxuriously designed crown, and the jewel in the center of the crown radiated in its own light.
“Isn’t this a crown?”
“It is the treasure which has been passed down since the time of the Milton Duchy.”
A treasure that has been handed down since the time of Milton Duchy, almost the same as a legacy.
“Why are you giving this to me? Is there any reason for…?”
When Luke asked, the Milton nobles knelt down in front of him.
“Be the new king of Milton. And please take us all in!”
“Please accept it!”
The retainers of Rakan, including Rogers were flustered and embarrassed at the request made by the Milton nobles.
Even if they surrendered, there was no reason for them to give up their nation.
However, Luke was able to grasp the situation. However, instead of running ahead, he asked them.
“Why leave the crown to me? Mayers surely had kids under him?”
“That is true, but the sons and daughters of the King aren’t good enough to deal with the threats of the Baroque Empire and the fate of the nation.”
That was the truth.
Luke had previously investigated Milton’s royal family through his Argos sources, and he couldn’t find anyone who was intimidating or remarkable.
‘But that can’t possibly be the only reason. Maybe they don’t want to embrace the death of the king and the defeat of the battle on themselves.’
That was what Luke thought.
Honestly, the nobles taken in were war prisoners and were released. It seemed like the kids of Mayers were going to rave about the defeat and the death of the king.
But there was another reason for the nobility of the Milton Kingdom to ask Luke to take over the crown.
‘It is highly likely for the throne of greedy Mayers to be taken away by his blood and then be ruined.’
‘I’d rather have Marquis Luke become the King. He has a good background, and has enough virtue to release the prisoners of war and avoid battles and he is a man of force…’
In that manner, the nobles of Milton had calculated their move.
And Luke spoke.
“Fine. Let’s say that I did accept it. But can’t there be anyone in here who represents the Milton Kingdom? Surely there needs to be someone who will object to this.”
Count Lao coldly replied.
“Then we will have to convince them. Anyway, the nobles of Milton Kingdom have no other choice.”
The southern nobles who helped Mayers and founded the Milton Kingdom were all because of their ill intent towards Emperor Rudolf.
And now they can’t go back to Rudolf, and even if Rudolf did take them back, they would be declared as rebels.
Surely, there were other options of seeking asylum in the other nations, but throwing away everything they worked hard for and starting anew in a strange nation wasn’t so easy, not even for the nobles.
And realizing that they had no choice, they all agreed for Luke.
However, Luke couldn’t fully trust the nobles of the Milton Kingdom.
‘A desperate move. They are very eager to protect what they have invested in.’
It wasn’t an unfamiliar scene for Luke.
He had witnessed the defeat of Count Monarch in the past.
At that time, the retainers and the lords under the Count pledged loyalty to Luke and his aides under the condition that their estates and lands along with their titles would be taken away.
It took time for Luke to tame them and turn them loyal, however, it wasn’t an impossible task.
‘Well, this is sudden yet a good opportunity. If I can take in the Milton kingdom which is intact, my power would turn stronger.’
And that power would help fight Emperor Rudolf and Arsene.
Of course, there was a huge task for Luke to stabilize the Milton Kingdom, however, it wouldn’t be so difficult since he was the main culprit for such situations to unfold.
He would stop the raids of the monsters, improve the security of the nation.
“Sire, please accept it. We know the grudge the Marquis had on the Baroque family.”
“That is right. In the future, we will become the spears fighting the Baroque Empire!”
As the nobles of the Milton asked Luke for succession, the retainers of Rakan all had absurd expression not being able to understand, and soon they wanted their Lord to take it.
“Lord, accept it.”
“Now the time has come to take down the Baroque family!”
“That is true. A complete independence!”
The retainers too went ahead, however, Luke didn’t open his mouth.
The decision was already made.
However, only when you make a child wait long will they turn earnest.
Of course, he couldn’t act too late.
Luke who pretended to be in thoughts, revealed his intentions when he thought it was the right moment.
“Understood. I will accept this according to your will.”
“Thank you, Sire. No, Your Majesty!”
“We will serve you with our hearts!”
The wealthy Milton nobles swore their heads and allegiance.
The war with the Milton Kingdom had come to an end, and Luke had earned a tremendous spoils of war, the crown.
That gave him a new start and an indication of his transition.