162. ask one’s resolve (4)

In the eyes of Count Agon, Michelle looked very pitiful. Michelle’s face was drawn thin due to a series of events that happened within a few days, no, just two days. Anxiety lay beneath the strong, straight voice, and the hands were gathered together calmly, but trembled slightly.

“The situation is not good.”

To the Count’s words, Michelle nodded as if agreeing.

“They will tie our hands and feet like this and choke us without a break. If you look at Leon Benning’s progress so far, he was slowly and carefully seizing power… .”

It seemed that there was nothing rough about Leon Benning and the 2nd Prince, who took action that night. It seemed that he wasn’t just staring at the king’s counterattack because he was weak. There was a justification for military action, and there was also military power to overturn the palace. It must have been the psychology of not wanting to take action while leaving a stain on Leon Benning.

“Things are different now. They will try to eliminate any room for us to wriggle.”

Count Agon, who was watching the process together, let out a quiet voice.

“The option to successfully transfer the throne and take control of the kingdom has been erased, and the sword is starting to get stained with blood anyway.

It was the words that came out of his own mouth, but the count frowned as if he was uncomfortable.

“The only hopeful thing is the news that the army of the Marquis, who is coming from the east to rescue the first prince, is getting closer… Even then, there is no guarantee that they will reach the royal capital safely.”

The situation was forcing Michelle to make a choice. To stand up with their knives before their blades touch our uvula.

“After tidying up, it looks even more bleak.”

Michelle sighed bitterly. Suddenly, he turned his gaze toward Count Agon, who had suddenly disappeared. He looked at Michelle and seemed to be choosing what to say in his head. Michelle watched him quietly, then opened her mouth.

“So, Count. What do you mean by wonder?”

Michelle closed her eyes to erase the pity in Count Agon’s gaze. The count was silent for a moment, as if looking at the first princess, then let out a short sigh.

“God is ready to move at any time for Your Highness. Right now, the vassal of God will be gathering together the soldiers stationed there and the knights of Murat who have followed me.”

Michelle nodded. The weight of a new life rested on her shoulders. Michelle’s words and actions could kill dozens of people at once. Perhaps realizing that fact, the shadows encroaching on Michelle’s eyes began to reveal a deeper darkness. Count Agon felt sorry for the princess, but he couldn’t express it. In the current situation, easy pity for her was poison.

“But I would like to ask you one question.”

The greatest disrespect that can be committed. Count Agon decided to play the villain for now. To calm the princess now, to help her stand up alone.

“Is Your Highness prepared to become the owner of this country?”

Michelle put on a blank expression at the unexpected question. I never expected to be asked such a question. She had never imagined herself sitting on the throne of the kingdom.

“Your Highness’ brother, aren’t you raising an army out of a desire to save His Highness, the 1st prince?”

“Yeah sure… .”

1 The princess’ expression hardened. Naturally, Michelle’s only goal was to save Louis. Using Count Agon’s soldiers and the knights who followed her to rescue Louis and restore the kingdom to normal was all she could think of.

But, what next? If she succeeds in rescuing Louis, what will happen next? The father who would hold the center of the kingdom had passed away, and all that remained were candidates for the succession to the throne supported by two great nobles.

“… I am.”

“If you’re lucky enough to defeat the 2nd Prince and Leon Benning and regain the palace, does Your Highness just think that everything will end?”

Count Agon’s voice gained strength.

“Reclaiming the palace again is impossible with our own strength. Now, the help of the Marquis, who is advancing west with his troops, is essential and indispensable.”

As if to press Michelle, Count Agon’s voice was full of momentum. Adeline, who was watching this from behind, rallied and tried to respond, but was stopped by Maxim’s hand.

‘… Why are you stopping me?’

Adeline raised her eyebrows and looked at Maxim. Maxim shook his head slowly. Count Agon would never have pressured Michelle and sincerely wished for her to ascend the throne. On the contrary, it would be much less likely to drive Michel into a corner with words and try to get on top of her head. Maxim looked blankly at Count Agon. The old nobleman’s forehead was deeply wrinkled by the years.

‘Wait a minute.’

Maxim gave a small answer and grabbed Adeline’s wrist. Adeline shut her mouth, then lowered her head, lowering her momentum.

“Answer me, Your Highness. I want you to know that this is not a question for me personally, Ray Agon, but for Count Agon, and all soldiers, knights, and vassals who follow Her Highness.”

Count Agon’s gaze seemed to be testing Michelle. What kind of answer did that person ask me this question?

Michelle bit her lip. When the difficulty was over, another difficulty stood in front of her like this. Are you really ready to be king? Michelle looked at Maxim, Adeline, and Yvonne, who personally escorted her to the mansion where Count Agon was.

Why are they following me?

A sudden spark of doubt dragged Michelle into a sea of thoughts.

Maxim, Adeline and Yvonne. Not only them, but the 4th escort, attendants and Marion on standby at the Adventurer’s Guild. Do these people really want me to be king and serve me? In order to suck a little bit of that candy called power?

Michelle’s shaking eyes captured Maxim. Louis’ teacher and knight shook his head slowly as he looked at Michelle’s eyes that seemed to be asking for help. And the golden eyes he could see were very straight. I looked into Adeline’s black eyes and into Yvon’s green eyes.

I was not anxious. He had the will to follow whatever choice he made.

“No matter what the ending is, we won’t regret it, and we won’t blame it on Your Highness.”

It was Yvon’s voice. Michelle turned her head from Yvonne to Adeline.

“Even if what Your Highness wants to do is not to become the king and right the wrongs of the royal family, but to save the first prince, we are ready to comply.”

like that. I was thinking wrong from the start.

Michelle’s eyes returned to Maxim.

So, what about Lewis? Would you fight me if I said you wanted me to be king? Will he raise his sword and mobilize the Marquis to kill me? If so, I Should I fight Louis as it is? If not, I’ll take all the burden I’ve been carrying and give Louis a seat.

“His Highness, Prince 1… .”

Maxim spat out his words. Michelle’s eyes widened and stiffened at the mention of Louise.

“I was always worried about Your Highness. Even right before the tribulation broke out, he commanded me to protect Her Highness in his place if anything happened.”

Louis.

Michelle’s eyes were shaking now, not because of uncertainty or fear.

“I don’t know if that would have been a good enough answer.”

Michelle denied the horrible thoughts that came to her one by one. he wanted to believe He said that the link he had with Lewis was special.

“I trust Louis.”

Lewis was devoted to himself to the end. Isn’t Maxim standing right in front of him the proof?

“So, now it’s my turn to repay Louis.”

Michelle firmly believed that even if all of this was over, Louis would not point a sword at her. Even if he pointed the point at himself, Michelle could put down everything in her hand. Since his father knew that fact from the beginning, he must have divided the count of Argon and the Margrave between Louis and himself.

Then, the answer I have to tell Count Agon has been decided. Count Ray Argon was just waiting for him to make up his mind. The calmly subdued mind confronted itself with reality. Michelle took a deep breath and looked straight into Count Agon’s eyes.

“I have no desire to become king right away.”

Count Agon’s expression hardened. But Michelle had no intention of putting a smile on that firm expression right away. Whether it was to test herself, or whether she really thought so, Michelle decided not to wander around, pushed around by the opinions of great nobles like that stupid Kyle.

“Rather than deciding who ascends the throne, saving Louis comes first. And you, too, should prioritize suppressing this tribulation and rescuing Lewis rather than making me king right away. ?”

voice rises Michelle slammed the table and spat out the words.

“I’m not denying everything the Count said, but I want to put out the fire right in front of me. It is not too late to discuss who will ascend the throne after the beheading of Leon Bening.”

Michelle, who had poured out all of her heart, became quiet. Count Agon didn’t seem too offended by the princess’s direct refutation of his question. Rather, as if asking him to say more, he only changed his gaze at Michelle to encouragement. Michelle realized that the Count had not asked her questions in order to pressure her with disrespectful intent.

“Let me ask you again.”

Count Agon’s eyes lit up. When Michelle opened her mouth again, the trembling in her voice disappeared, and there was an emotion like a subtle certainty.

“Count, are you ready to obey whatever order I give you?”

The Count smiled slightly at Michelle’s question in reverse. The owner you should serve may have a much smarter and calmer quality than you think.

“Yes, of course.”

“Then you may consider yourself prepared to make me king.”

“Yes, Your Highness. God is ready to elevate His Highness as the owner of the throne at any time.”

“Then why did you ask me if I was ready to become king? If the count and sir are ready to make me king, then all you have to do is act like that.”

this. The count’s smile deepened. Princess 1 understood all the contradictions and intentions of her question. He was not just a subject blind to the power that the throne would bring, nor was he a coward who hesitated to be loyal to the kingdom, worrying only about the safety of his family and himself. And he wasn’t so stubborn that, even though his master had figured out all his questions, he couldn’t be happy and continued to press.

“… It seems that you are already looking into my thoughts.”

Count Agon raised his hands. Maxim, who was watching this scene from behind, had a small smile on his lips, and Adeline and Yvon opened their eyes wide. Count Agon slowly rose from his seat and knelt in front of Michelle. yes. If, weighed down by Count Agon’s coercion, he went to war with half-hearted determination, he would end up unable to save Louis, let alone rise to the throne.

“God has done a great disservice, Your Highness.”

“No, Count. If it wasn’t for Gyeong, there wouldn’t have been a way to calm my trembling heart.”

There was something rewarding about playing the villain. Seeing the eyes of the princess, who had regained her fighting spirit, the count put her mind at ease.

“Okay then, let’s start a really serious discussion.”

Of course, this was just the beginning. It was not yet a time to laugh, and it was not yet a time to be relieved.

“… It is impossible to gather troops right now and advance to reclaim the palace.”

Michelle nodded. The assortment had to be equipped. At least in order not to be unilaterally crushed by the power of the Count.

“I need to contact the Marquis, who is on his way west.”

Count Agon ordered an attendant to unfold the map of the kingdom on the table. The Count’s fingers pointed to the no-man’s-land, a wasteland farther east from Murat, and slowly drew a line westward, stopping in a forest near the royal capital. Adeline’s expression hardened. It was the forest where the knights of the Marquis were brutally murdered.

“Tomorrow, the margrave will reach the vicinity of the royal capital. Leon Benning will never try to bring a group of Marquis into the royal road.”

“… At the same time, they won’t even try to get us out of the capital. If we do something wrong, there is a possibility that both forces will be destroyed at the same time.”

The corner of Count Agon’s mouth went up.

“It’s a tough situation, but it will be the same for them. We’ll have to deal with the troops in the no-man’s land and at the same time face our forces trying to get out of the capital.”

snap.

Count Agon’s dagger plunged into the map. The tip of the dagger was striking the forest in front of the royal road.

“This will be our last chance left, Your Highness.”

Michelle swallowed dryly.

“It will be the final hurdle for them.”

Michelle nodded. A dagger stuck on top of the map emitted a cool light.

“As soon as the day is over, we will be dispatched.”

Count Agon bowed his head and bowed.

“I will follow Your Highness’ orders.”