NOVEL WEB chapter 240
240 – Sinners of History Shining With Gold (3)
A time close to dawn.
After returning to the villa, I recorded the carriages disappearing one by one from the banquet room on the second floor of the mansion, and then took out two wine glasses from the cupboard on one side of the banquet room.
The size is the same.
There are different types of wine glasses and each has a different shape, but since the craftsmen of Nostrum made this wine glass with great care, the shape is almost 99% the same.
Instead, what goes in is different.
My glass is non-alcoholic, made by pouring carbonated water into the Somnus concentrate prepared in advance.
And in the empty glass-
“What are you doing if you’re not going?”
“I have a personal question.”
A wine with a blue tint from someone who brought his own wine.
“There is no one other than Astasia who accepts drunk people acting out.”
A man not with black hair and black eyes, but with shades of blue.
“Seeing as you are dressed in uniform, it looks like you are going to an official event early in the morning?”
“I have to go to work.”
“To the Marquis of Claydoll?”
“If anyone hears it, they will think that Marquis Claydoll is the actual emperor.”
The Emperor, Habsburg von Tersian, lightly shook his wine glass.
“Why did you come? I have to clean up here now and go see Astasia.”
“I came here to ask a few questions about Astasia.”
“…”
The emperor suddenly wants to ask about Astasia?
“…What are you trying to ask?”
“I’m nervous. There’s no need to worry. I’m just going to sort out a few things that people are curious about and things that will happen in the future.”
The emperor grinned while clutching the wine bottle.
“When are you going to get engaged?”
“Already with Astasia…”
“The engagement ceremony. Getting engaged in front of everyone.”
“If you are talking about an official procedure, we are currently coordinating with the Academy.”
“Orosol?”
“Yes.”
I filled the empty wine glass with somnus tea.
“Every Kingdom Academy holds a ‘festival’ before graduation. It means enjoying a grand banquet together before graduation.”
“Orosol Academy, haven’t you held such banquets often?”
“There was a small banquet, but there was no case where the entire Orosol Academy was opened to the entire academy to enjoy the festival.”
“Uhm…”
The emperor cries out.
“Why do I think an accident will happen again then?”
“It is self-evident that festivals are accompanied by accidents.”
“Are you going to have an engagement ceremony there?”
“Yes. There is a reason.”
The reason why the engagement ceremony was postponed until now.
“It was at the pre-graduation banquet that my father, Crimson Gibraltar, ‘officially proposed’ to my mother, Charlotte Lembourg Gunther.”
“Hmm. Official?”
“Yes. There was already talk about getting married before, but we made it public in front of everyone to get rid of ‘a certain stalker.'”
“Indeed. It is truly a declaration. A declaration to the world that I will marry this woman.”
“That’s it.”
It is symbolic.
Students will envy the romance of the time, and outsiders attending the banquet will reminisce and say, ‘It was like this back then.’
However, the target is not the woman of the kingdom, but the princess of the empire.
The male participating is not a student, but a count and governor.
“I have already asked Astasia for permission. And since it is an engagement party, there is no need for you to come.”
“It’s Gray and Astasia’s engagement, wouldn’t it be most meaningful for the emperor to come to congratulate him?”
“I don’t really want the lead role to change.”
“Hmm… If that’s the case, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Yes, that’s it.”
When the emperor comes, naturally everyone’s attention is focused on him.
Or the empress, or someone else.
The main character of the banquet should be Astasia, and I have no intention of leaving that role to someone else.
“I see. So…If you get engaged and get married, are you newlyweds? Are you planning to open a honeymoon home at the Government General in Barcelona?”
“I’m still thinking about that.”
“Why?”
“Because the Barcelona Governor-General does not yet have proper shower rooms in each room. It would be better to go to Gibraltar and stay at the old count’s castle.”
“Hmm… Then.”
The emperor pointed to the bottom of the forest.
“Let’s create a special economic zone.”
“Special economic zone?”
“After forming a sisterhood relationship with an imperial city, we will build an imperial-style city on the land of Barcelona.”
“Is it even a city with Master Kvers as mayor?”
“It’s one of the cities of someone close to the emperor. All you have to do is stamp it.”
“Did your ancestors do the digging, development, and laying the foundation?”
“I’m sure Nostrum’s ancestors want their descendants to live in a comfortable and good environment, whether it’s imperial style or whatever, right? Rest assured, there’s no budget you have to pay. In the first place…”
The emperor pointed with his eyes at the carriages leaving below.
“Isn’t it the same when they later try to plow empty land with nothing?”
“…”
“Whether it’s a road, a hotel, or anything else, it’s up to you to decide on the location of infrastructure that brings convenience to life. And all such infrastructure is a way to increase the value of the land.”
“I just decide on various sites through careful consideration with the administrators of the Governor-General. Things that are not in the kingdom but are in the empire.”
“Interesting. Are you planning to create an amusement park for Astasia?”
“A velodrome would be better than a racing track. The empire’s magic cars run on the track at a faster speed than flying dragons. We will give the first place a pure gold trophy mined directly from the Barcelona Government General.”
Hehe. And then Saint Geo Nostrum will invade the track again?”
For a moment, I felt a sense of foreignness in the emperor’s voice.
“…”
“Ah, yes. You know. I’ll be honest.”
The emperor was clearly irritated.
“Saint Geo Nostrum is not faithful to the present. All humans live in one direction, but only he lives as if he can turn the arrow sharply and live again.”
“I’m a human just living life.”
“I’m not talking in principle. Shall we tell the story as it is?”
The emperor took out an object from his bosom
“Nostrum’s most powerful weapon is ‘rewinding time.'”
I thought it might have been the pocket watch that Penelope was carrying, but the emperor started turning the hour and minute hands ‘reversely’.
“And in some cases, it has the power to restore not only Nostrum’s blood, but also others. What do you think?”
“I see. Well, I thought so.”
I didn’t really deny it.
“Saint Geo Nostrum has a way to go back in time. Just not right now.”
“Yes. I think so. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to live your life in such a mess. It is said that humans live oriented toward the future, but they are people who are faithful to the present and prepare for the future based on traces of the past. “
“I don’t think it really matters.”
“Why?”
“Because Astasia is by my side in the past, present, and future.”
“Hmm… “
The emperor was looking at me with an expression on his face, but I did not avoid his gaze.
“Your Majesty can live in a world without Gray Gibraltar, but I cannot live in a world without Astasia.”
“So, did you wind it?”
“Because I didn’t wind it.”
I lightly shrugged my shoulders.
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t know?”
“Yes. When I opened my eyes, I was sitting at the table.”
“…”
A lie gives birth to another lie.
In that case, all I have to do is peel off the layers of myself that are wrapped in the shell of truth, layer by layer, only when necessary.
“I thought maybe I was drunk on a dream. “I denied that I had another chance and thought it was nonsense.”
“…”
“But since I came back like this, I have to be faithful to the present and the future.”
I held a glass of somnus.
“Whether this is a dream or not, or whether it was before rewinding for someone, whether it means everything was never there, or whether I am forced to rewind again, I will be faithful to the present.”
“…”
“And Astasia will always be by my side.”
“That’s interesting. Have you ever thought about having another woman?”
“If that happens, you’ll end up dead.”
“…”
The emperor seemed lost in thought, but I just smiled slightly and tilted my glass.
“You just have to be careful to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Because that’s what happened…” ” “
“Yes. For example… “
Jja-an.
“Suddenly-“
The moment we clinked glasses.
Flap.
With the sound of the cloak flapping, my vision was momentarily blocked.
The moment I realized that it was the robe the emperor was wearing, the strange magical power I could feel beyond the robe naturally gave me strength.
“Die—–!”
With a scream, something falling from the sky towards us with a magic power that seemed like it was about to collapse somewhere.
“Traitor, Gray—!!”
It was a shooting star.
All she is wearing is a white dress, and what she is riding is a drake wearing magic armor with a black rose engraved on it. The drake’s eyes are colored red and she is being forcibly controlled –
“Use explosion magic on yourself…?”
He was created as a human and had the name ‘Etrand Barcel’, but a being with a magic core as himself was flying towards us like light with the light of man emanating from the veins of his entire body his.
Both eyes filled with joy and madness.
Holding a huge sphere in both hands that looks like it might explode at any moment.
The silver light is shining all over the body.
“Tsk.”
The emperor clicked his tongue.
The speed was so fast, there was no time to react.
“Grey.”
The emperor spread his cloak.
“Don’t come out-“
Kwa—–!!
A black mass resembling a meteor broke through the window and fell, causing a huge explosion.
* * *
“It’s gorgeous.”
On the cliff overlooking the villa, a blond man was whistling and giggling, holding an imperial telescope in his hand.
“If you played around with someone else’s villa, you probably thought something would happen. Hehe. Are you going to die?”
“Even if you cast the magic of an advanced wizard, you won’t die easily.”
“Zeros. You are too pessimistic.”
“…It’s because I know this because I have dealt with him directly. If the Sword Master were to die from advanced magic, wouldn’t he have blown up the Marquis of Gibraltar Castle right away?”
“Hehe…”
Saint Geo Nostrum, the blond-haired, red-eyed man, turned around as he put the telescope in his arms.
“Zeros. How much time is left until the 100th year of the imperial calendar?”
“…The moon will wax once more until the dawn comes, signaling the beginning of gold ripening and the world turning golden-“
“Just say there’s about a year and a month left. Tsk tsk. I mean, I don’t know anything else, but I don’t even want to mention that damn calendar.”
Saint Geo Nostrum sarcastically picked up something that was lying next to him.
“That’s it. Ah. Is Naria safe?”
“Yes. It’s safe.”
“Yes. Until that day comes, stay safe and watch carefully.”
St. Geonostrum put a golden spear-like staff on his shoulder and took out a paper bag from his arms.
“As long as Naria is safe, it doesn’t matter.”
“If Gray Gibraltar dies, they will not sit still.”
“If I don’t stay still? Are you going to start a war again?”
Saint Geo put a white paper bag to his nose, took a deep breath, and looked up at the night sky with drowsy eyes.
“The one who caused the terror was Ertrand, who escaped from Morgania, stole the drake, cast a self-destruct spell on himself, and charged at Gray Gibraltar.”
Rustling.
“Who will say that she gave her orders? It’s not like anyone came back from her death.”
“…”
“Anyway.”
Giggling.
“Even if only one Gray Gibraltar died, in the end it would be as if nothing had happened.”
* * *
Imperial calendar, November 22, 1998.
There was a brief controversy because the emperor, who was returning from his vacation at the Marquis of Claydol, had a small scratch around his eye that looked like it had been cut with a knife.
“There was just a little commotion. Haha.”
Nothing happened.
Nothing happened.