Chapter 314: Proclamation (3) (1/2)
I’m back. I’m still not a 100% fine, so expect this week’s chapter releases to be slow.
The next morning, Jude and Cordelia requested for an audience with the emperor and empress dowager.
The two were technically neither citizens of the empire nor the emperor’s vassals, so they had no reason to ask for permission from the emperor, but they still had to talk directly to the emperor.
‘As I expected, their looks aren’t good.’
After all, the elves had betrayed them after the Chancellor.
It was very hard to trust nobles from the Sälen Kingdom, a country they were hostile with, as they could not even trust those who were in the same country as them.
Moreover, the two were not just nobles.
It was natural to be wary since it was a Grand Sword Master and an Archwizard, or as what the empire called it, a Grand Wizard.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Are you trying to do something behind the scenes?’
‘It’s just two people, but they’re the Grand Sword Master and Grand Wizard…’
‘Their cooperation so far may be a trick to betray us in the future. We must not let our guard down.’
It felt like the two could hear the chaotic thoughts from the eyes of the others.
Among those people, the most alarmed one was Marquis Buckingham, who seemed like he was going to shout at any moment to detain Jude and Cordelia.
But no one could hastily open their mouths.
Even Marquis Buckingham could only fiercely stare at them, but did not say a single word of disagreement.
‘Because we’re a Grand Sword Master and Grand Wizard.’
They would be in trouble if they acted wrongly.
Moreover, there was clearly no Grand Sword Master in the emperor’s camp now.
Absolute Knight Galahad had been captured by the enemy, and Elune had not once in her life ever left the Shadow Forest, the land of the elves.
In the case of Sword God, it was impossible to even know where he was, and it was also questionable if he would take the side of the emperor in a civil war as it was not a war with a foreign country.
‘The last Grand Sword Master of the empire is Beast King Crassus who is on the side of the Chancellor.’
In other words, there was no one in the current emperor’s camp who could beat Jude on a one-on-one basis.
And what if Cordelia, a Grand Wizard, was added here?
There was no need to think about it.
It was recklessness in itself to pick a fight with them.
‘To begin with, we’re allies. There is no need to turn us into enemies for no reason.’
Marquis Buckingham was a man who had long protected and developed a barren yet vast estate for a long time.
He was naturally hot-tempered but also very patient, and had accumulated a lot of experience in his life that he did not let his emotions cloud his judgment.
‘We’re not enemies. They honestly want to control us, but now is not the time yet.’
Jude was a monster less than 20 years old who was on equal footing with Grand Sword Master Elune.
But Jude was only one person.
If the Sword Masters loyal to the emperor and a sufficient number of wizards gathered in one place, it would be possible to fight back somehow.
So he had to be patient now.
He must not turn into enemies those who might become their faithful allies due to his unnecessary suspicion.
‘He’ll overlook it to some extent.’
A person from the kingdom, and not the empire, had said that he would go to another place other than helping the emperor.
Moreover, it was not peacetime.
It was right before a civil war – no, they were pretty much in a civil war already.
So it was normal to stop a suspicious move, but Marquis Buckingham decided to take a step back.
It was what Jude had expected.
‘Marquis Buckingham is just like what I have thought.’
Because Jude had profiled even the insignificant mid-ranking demonic humans.
Marquis Buckingham was a fairly important figure on the empire’s side, so Jude was already familiar with his character and behavioral patterns.
He was bald but had a rich beard. He was a veteran of a hundred battles but not a fool who focused on the trivial things and missed the big picture.
‘And if Marquis Buckingham allows it…’
Jude turned to the empress dowager.
Again, her reaction was exactly as he expected.
The empress dowager exchanged glances with Marquis Buckingham before softly whispering in the emperor’s ear, and the emperor nodded with an uneasy face and said.
“I understand. I will allow it. But you two have to come back soon. Do you understand?”
“We understand.”
“Thank you for your permission.”
When Jude and Cordelia politely answered, the empress dowager’s expression brightened a little.
Although it was pathetic that they had to depend on foreigners, it was reassuring to have Jude and Cordelia as their allies when one thought of it.
“You may leave if you’re done.”
At the words of Marquis Buckingham, the emperor bit his lips and looked at Jude and Cordelia. The two once again bowed to the emperor before leaving the room.
And twenty minutes later.
After saying their goodbyes to Lucas and the others who were waiting outside, Jude and Cordelia got on their horses.
Jude by himself, and Cordelia with Kirara.
[Didn’t the emperor look a little down?]
[It seems like he has grown attached to us.]
It was natural when one thought about it.
From the young emperor’s perspective, Jude and Cordelia were his benefactors who had saved his life several times.
[And because my beast is so pretty? Young children like pretty people.]
[Hmm, well… my scammer also has a good-looking face.]
Cordelia answered with a grin, and Jude slightly tilted his head and asked with a sly smile.
[Only the face is good-looking?]
[Huh?]
[Only the face is good-looking?]
At Jude’s question, Cordelia smirked as if she found it absurd, and soon said with a hmph.
[I haven’t seen other places yet, so I don’t know.]
[Ahem, you’re right.]
Cordelia’s cheeks turned red as Jude grinned.
For some reason, she felt like she would be embarrassed again if she continued their present conversation.
“Anyway, let’s go.”
She deliberately raised her voice, and Jude accepted it instead of dawdling further.
[Yes, let’s go. Let’s go have a fun trip.]
He had to reply with magic because of Kirara.
As a child who grew up unwelcomed, even words like this might sound depressing for Kirara.
‘Frankly, I wanted to go with Cordelia alone.’
He wanted to ride a horse together and stay close to her.
But it had already been decided.
So instead of grumbling in vain, Jude cheerfully smiled while Cordelia was pleased with his looks again, and said as she hugged Kirara’s waist.
“Then let’s go, Kirara.”
“Yes, Master!”
“Okay, okay. Let’s go!”
“Let’s go!”
Kirara shouted with a flushed face, and Cordelia laughed before she spurred the horse.
‘Well, good things are good.’
They knew well that a civil war would soon begin wherein the fate of the world as well as the empire was at stake, but that did not mean they should keep a frowning face.
“Let’s go.”
Jude silently spoke and spurred his horse too.
***
Not long after Jude and Cordelia’s group left, the emperor’s group and Marquis Buckingham also prepared to move again.
Their destination was Grand Penn, the most fertile land in the Buckingham March and a big city where vassals from all over his territory had gathered.