Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 412

412 – Prince of the North (not Prince) – 4

Marquis of Barandiga, Batal Gurt of Barandiga.

Count Kaitana, Daran Kjan of Kaitana.

Kychur Darian of Kyrgia, Count Kyrgia.

Count Virs, Nevila Luthun of Virs.

Count Dighera, Haral Mungerte of Dighera.

Count Ikilan, Sarna Shikratiha of Ikilan.

Count Gorming, Gilke Corco of Gorming.

Count Yudhur, Nachab Orlan of Yudhur.

Count Ramandia, Ugan Gorta of Ramandia.

Count Kital, Irad Natlan of Kital.

Count Lakar, Hokor Vieux of Lakar.

Earl of Loromana, Angie Araha of Loromana.

Count Charaul, Jaya Tatakia of Charaul.

Lastly, Count Wirydia, Carl Krasius of Wirydia.

The fourteen great lords have gathered in the county of Wiridia. They were not simple nobles, nor were they titled nobles, but the great lords who managed one great estate gathered.

“The Empire and the North have been at odds for a long time, but this was a sad history because the two powers did not understand each other. Also, there were nefarious people who took advantage of this gap to cause discord between the two powers, so peace was achieved. The wise men who pursued were oppressed by those wicked people and only shed tears.”

A banquet hall where all the great lords of the north gathered, starting with Count Kaitana. At the banquet hall, I raised my glass on the table and opened my mouth.

The unfortunate confrontation between the empire and the north, the traitors that caused the conflict, and the good wise men who died in the midst of the rebellion. The Empire and the North could understand each other and become one, but it was emphasized that they were in conflict because of a small number of traitors.

Of course, it goes without saying who the traitor is.

“However, perhaps even the sky was saddened by the bloody confrontation, and finally the Empire and the North became one. Instead of a cold confrontation, a warm coexistence has come to us.”

With those words, he approached the lords step by step. I approached the lords who were holding glasses like me and smiling lightly.

“This was only possible because of Enen’s protection and the great emperor’s protection, and it was only possible because of the sages who pursued peace. Thanks to this, the empire ended its long history of confrontation and opened a history of harmony and coexistence. “

Then he raised the glass in his hand. As if offering it to heaven, as if showing off to all the world.

The thirteen great lords who were looking at me at the same time—no, the nomads who ended the history of confrontation and were embraced by the empire also raised their cups toward the sky.

“We have opened a new history. Only we are leading the unique history in thousands of years of history.”

This is not an exaggeration. There has never been a time in human history when sedentary people and nomadic peoples were truly united. Only now, when the empire has taken control of the entire northern region and the nomads have given the title of khan to the emperor, is the moment when the sedentary people and the nomads are united.

“Therefore, this Count of Wirydia, Carl Krasius of Wirydia, will swear in front of Enen and the Great Emperor. We will move forward so that this history of peace and prosperity will not collapse. At last, we will become a bridge between the settled people and the nomads who have become neighbors.”

At this declaration, the smiles of the nomadic lords grew even thicker. As a believer of the Church of Dawn, he swore an oath before Enen, and as a nobleman of the empire before the great emperor. This is the highest oath that even death cannot stand in the way of an aristocrat who values face. Perhaps, in the opinion of the great lords, it is no different than announcing that I will lead and protect the northern faction forever.

Of course, I have neither faith nor loyalty. However, for my peaceful life, I must live the rest of my life as the head of the northern faction. If you neglect the north for no reason, you will have to deal with the emperor’s thirst and the rebellion of the north, which is spoiled by cynicism, at the same time.

The reason is rather strange, but the result is a perfect bizarre oath. Under that oath, the fourteen-year-old high lord shouted with all his heart.

“This work, Carl Krasius of Wirydia, will not forget the friendship and cause of the friends gathered here! For the protection of a thousand people and the order of the continent!”

“””For the protection of a thousand people and the order of the continent!”””

Soon after seeing the great lords drinking from their cups, I drank too.

I didn’t specifically build friendships with the great lords of the north, and I didn’t know their cause—– anyway, the northern faction was launched. I have become the head of the North, and as long as I do my duty, the North will follow my orders and respect them.

…Yes, as long as you do your duty.

‘It must be crazy.’

I laughed out loud. To be honest, I don’t often show my face in social circles, but from the moment I become the head of a faction, I have to show active social activities. If I live like I’m dead, there’s a high probability that the great lords of the north will find another faction leader and leave.

Isn’t it that a faction was formed to influence the center and exchange with the nobles of the mainland? However, if the faction leader is a hikikomori, the faction members will be disappointed.

‘The weight of the faction leader…’

I quietly closed my eyes. Not the weight of a head of household, but the weight of a clique leader. How did my life turn out this way?

“Count. I’ll pour you a drink this time.”

As I stood there blankly, the Marquis of Barandigar approached with a bottle of wine before I knew it.

From noble mtl dot net

It’s new, but I think cognitive dissonance will come. No matter how much it is the difference between the native nobility with history and tradition and the new nobility, the marquis bows his head to the count. It is embarrassing to think that they are destroying the order of the caste system.

“Wouldn’t it make sense for me to follow the Marquis first?”

“Oh, is that so? It’s embarrassing to think that the titles have changed.”

It’s a joke no matter who hears it, but I couldn’t help but laugh. Even when I think about it, the faction where the count is the head of the faction and the marquis is the member of the faction is too strange.

The emperor said, ‘This is an absurd phenomenon.’ To the point of fearing that he would raise the county of Wiridia to the rank of marquis.

“…Coming to think of it, there’s no point in arguing the high and low ranks between friendships.”

I barely opened my mouth, leaving behind the terrible imagination of the seal in my bosom evolving into a white seal that symbolizes the Marquis.

The current marquesses are all giants boasting powerful prestige. Even the Marquis of Barandiga, who had a weak power, had almost no fear of being demoted due to the symbolism of being the only Marquis in the north.

So don’t worry too much. As for my title, Count is the bottom line.

I’m sure it will.

After the banquet commemorating the formation of the northern faction, the great lords showed us the room to stay.

Fortunately, as this Wiridia used to be a gathering place for the northern subjugation forces, there were enough rooms for high-ranking officials to stay. Although it is ironic that the northern nomads, not the northern punitive forces, now stay.

– This must mean that the era of harmony, not conflict, has arrived. I’m just glad that Carl is at the forefront.

“That’s too much praise, Your Excellency.”

I smiled awkwardly at Jeon Seung-gong’s words. It is an embarrassing compliment to be at the forefront of reconciliation in the position of being beaten by the implicit order of the emperor.

‘I wonder if he’s the first slave.’

I ended up objectifying myself bitterly, but I tried my best to keep a smile on my face. At best, I couldn’t show a gloomy face in front of Jeon Seung-gong, who was congratulating me on the formation of the faction.

‘The news is fast.’

For a moment, I felt a wonderful feeling. As a duke and the head of the northern faction, he was a legend who wielded great influence, but now, perhaps because he became the father-in-law of the emperor, the speed at which he acquired information was insanely fast. It is not normal for him to receive news about the northern faction that only the emperor and the faction parties know about, and congratulate him on the day of the faction’s formation.

Of course, Jeonseunggong is not someone who will play tricks with the information he first encountered, but it’s embarrassing to think that Jeonseunggong will know about my every move from now on—

– By the way, Carl-kun will now be called the Grand Duke of the North.

…?

“Yes?”

Unbeknownst to me, I ended up asking a question.

‘The Grand Duke of the North?’

It’s a terrible word to hear. There is only one title of grand duke in this empire. There is only one grand duke of Kavaschleitz attached to the heir to the throne.

However, despite my reaction, Jeon Seung-gong just burst into laughter. No, isn’t he doing too much by throwing bombs at others and just laughing?

– That’s my childhood nickname. Maybe it’s because the territory is in the north, so he was nicknamed the Grand Duke of the North before he knew it.

“…Is it okay for a noble to be nicknamed the Grand Duke?”

– Even if others call me grand duke, isn’t my title duke? Don’t worry, His Majesty didn’t care too much about the situation.

Jeon Seung-gong laughed all the time, but he was never something to laugh at. It is too rebellious for a mere noble, no matter how duke, to be nicknamed the grand duke. But the situation of being a suspicious patient has passed?

This is impossible. Regardless of the suspicious illness, it makes no sense for a collateral emperor to sit by and watch the duke’s rise.

And, as if he had noticed my question, the Jeon Seonggong continued with a smile on his face.

– Among the romance novels popular in the past, there was a character called the Grand Duke of the North. It was a historical novel set in the period of the Muno Empire, and it was also a character who eventually succumbed to the imperial family, so it was not a big deal.

‘Ah.’

I came to understand that. Seriously, isn’t it a nickname that was given to her by highly appreciating her power and authority, but because of the novels that noble ladies enjoyed reading? It’s also funny that the emperor overreacts because of such a nickname.

‘The Grand Duke of the North?’

I briefly glanced at the image of the Jeon Seung-gong reflected in the communication port.

Maybe because of his age, he has gray hair, but he has brilliant silver hair, and blue clothes that are the symbol of the Duke of Nuren. The position of deputy commander of the Imperial Army, which decisively oversees the Imperial Army.

It’s really the Grand Duke of the North, as if drawn in a painting. Besides, I think I heard that when Jeon Seung-gong was young, he was a handsome man who was courted by many ladies.

‘Now I’m the Grand Duke of the North?’

The admiration for the Grand Duke of Jeonseung has turned into chaos. As Jeon Seung-gong said, the nickname of the Grand Duke of the North will be handed down to me.

Two war experiences, a faction leader who leads energetic northern nomads in a territory north of the battleground.

‘f*ck.’

Unfortunately, I was also the Grand Duke of the North, as if drawn in a painting. He is also an active northern duke who is still in his 20s.

‘…Then the Golden Ball is the Grand Duke of the South?’

Suddenly, I had an idea. In romance novels, there are cases where a sly and wealthy southern grand duke appears instead of a cold and forceful northern grand duke.

It’s perfect. No matter who sees it, the golden ball is the southern grand duke. Even the Golden Ball’s wives are twelve.

‘That’s Romance.’

I suddenly realized the true identity of this world.

In a strange place, it reminds me that this world is a romance.