‘Probably these are the nobles that are against Brantley.’
Brantley was now the head of the Eisen Duchy.
Ironically, it was the young nobles of the Temple faction who were the most hostile towards him. On the other hand, most of the Emperor’s faction nobles were actually quite favorable towards him.
I looked at the man leading the group of young nobles who were standing there with a slanted posture.
He had disheveled red hair, a face full of freckles, and large ears that stuck out like lids. He was Talizan, the once right hand of Jacob. (ch. 29 incident)
He had also been involved in Jacob’s misdeeds. However, his father paid enormous compensation to the victims, which narrowly saved him from a sentence of forced labor.
So it was no surprise that Talizan didn’t like Brantley, who had become the new Duke of Eisen.
‘Besides, the Duke of Eisen was the leader of the Temple faction, ‘their faction’.’
Considering the behavior of the young nobles who hung out with Talizan, it was obvious that they never thought of someone of illegitimate birth as equals.
“Oh? The Princess is here as well.”
“You guys probably didn’t know, but the two of them have been close since childhood.”
Talizan spoke in a mocking tone.
Brantley and I stood up and took a step away from each other. As if waiting for this moment, Talizan approached Brantley. Pretending to stumble, Talizan fell towards Brantley.
Brantley instinctively caught him, and Talizan smirked slyly.
“I made a mistake, Your Grace. But the way you supported me is similar to how my servant holds me up.”
“…”
“Could it be that the habits of the lower class have rubbed off on you from living at the bottom for so long?”
The young nobles began to snicker at Talizan’s words.
It was a clear mockery.
‘He was just as childish as when we were kids. Only the method has changed.’
I was about to confront Talizan, but Brantley released his grip on him. Then he slightly turned his body towards the lake.
Talizan, who had been leaning on Brantley, suddenly tilted towards the lake.
“Ah! N- No!”
Splash!
In an instant, Talizan, who had been flailing like a turtle, was plunged into the lake.
“Help! Pff! Save me!”
Talizan frantically shouted as he desperately kept his head above the water. It seemed he didn’t know how to swim.
But none of the young nobles dared to jump into the lake.
“You should save him.”
“Hey, I can’t swim either. Why don’t you do it?”
“Are you telling me to look like a drowned rat in front of His Majesty?”
They were scared and didn’t want to get wet in such a setting.
‘They had no sense of loyalty.’
Brantley stood with his arms crossed, looking down at Talizan with pity. The young nobles started whispering among themselves.
“Duke Eisen, you should save him since it’s your fault he fell…”
Brantley turned his gaze towards the young nobles. Under his cold, silver eyes, they all fell silent.
Things were at a stalemate and I had to step in.
I extended the fishing rod towards Talizan.
“S-save me… Ah!”
“Grab onto this.”
Talizan hurriedly grabbed the fishing line.
But it was so thin that it kept slipping out of his hands. Moreover, because of his weight, every time he gripped the line, my body swayed with it.
Brantley, with a hardened expression, took the fishing rod from me.
“Don’t do things like this. It’s dangerous.”
“Then what about you?”
Brantley threw the fishing rod toward the young nobles.
“Pull him out.”
The nobles, who caught the fishing rod by surprise, started struggling to pull Talizan out. When the fishing line wasn’t enough, they had Talizan grab onto the rod itself to pull him out.
“Ugh, you’re too heavy! Talizan, hold on gently!”
“Ack! The water’s splashing on my clothes! Do you know how much these costs?”
After a long struggle, they finally managed to pull Talizan out of the lake.
“You, you b*stard! Are you out of your mind?”
Talizan, now drenched, revealed his true colors. The other nobles, afraid of getting wet because of him, hurriedly stepped away as if he were some kind of filth.
Unaware of this, Talizan approached Brantley with a fierce look on his face. His soaked hair was hanging like seaweed.
Brantley was barely holding back his laughter.
“You!”
But as soon as Talizan snorted, his seaweed-like hair moved up and down. Brantley couldn’t hold it in any longer and let out a small laugh.
Talizan’s eyes flared with anger.
“Are you laughing at me? Do you think you’re something special just because you stole the Duke’s title? Do you really think high society will accept someone as low-born as you? I’ll personally make sure that—”
“And what will you do? Banish me?”
Brantley coldly sneered as he asked.
Talizan turned bright red with rage.
“Do you think you’re something just because you stole the Duke’s position? Without the recognition of high society, you’re nothing! Do you think we’ll let a lowly mercenary like you strut around?”
“And if I don’t?”
Brantley took a step closer to Talizan with a leisurely smile on his face. The angrier Talizan got, the more composed Brantley became.
Talizan, seemingly flustered, took a step back.
“You- You’re different from us by birth and experience. It’s not fair that someone like you suddenly rose to a high position!”
He was so lost in his rage that he didn’t notice people approaching from behind him.
“I didn’t know my hunting grounds were this noisy.”
Talizan turned around with a face as if he had seen a ghost.
The other young nobles were just as terrified.
My grandfather was standing there with Dad and other nobles, wearing a kind smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Y-Your Majesty, I…”
“It was just a minor scuffle.”
Surprisingly, it was Brantley who stepped in to protect the trembling Talizan.
With all traces of humor gone, he bowed politely.
“This happened because of my shortcomings. I ask for your mercy, Your Majesty.”
He seemed to be wary of the situation escalating.
A young duke who had only recently been bestowed his title. And with many eyes watching him because of his origins, he had to endure and be cautious, even when wronged.
“I knew it would be Duke Eisen’s fault.”
Several nobles, including Talizan’s father, clicked their tongues.
“So I don’t need to concern myself with this, right?”
My grandfather asked again.
Though he maintained a benevolent demeanor, it was clear he was displeased.
“I don’t think so, Your Majesty.”
I stepped in before Brantley could hastily agree.
Talizan’s father cut in to scold me, “Princess, even if it’s concerning a friend, you shouldn’t act emotionally.”
“Are you certain my daughter acted emotionally? I don’t see it that way.”
My dad asked in a low, cold voice.
Feeling the pressure, Talizan’s father hesitated before replying, “W-Well, if that’s not the case, why would she intervene when the Duke of Eisen is clearly at fault?”
“Because Talizan dared to say that His Majesty’s decision was ‘unfair.'”
The atmosphere froze, and silence fell over the surroundings.
“Talizan claimed it was unfair that Duke Eisen, who is of different birth and experience, suddenly rose to a high position. He even mentioned his time as a mercenary.”
I looked at Brantley, who was staring at me with a surprised expression.
“But that is precisely why His Majesty chose the new Duke of Eisen. Is there anyone here who has accomplished as much as Duke Eisen did in the frontier, aside from my father?”
I glanced at Dad and he smiled faintly, seeming pleased.
The others, on the other hand, couldn’t even open their mouths in rebuttal.
Just as I said, Brantley had made significant contributions by solving the troublesome issues of the demonic cult and monsters in the frontier, which had been a headache for my grandfather.
“Is there anyone here who would sacrifice themselves and leave for a dangerous region for the sake of His Majesty and the empire?”
“……”
No one answered.
Especially the young nobles, who were busy avoiding my gaze.
“My dear Hanelope seems to understand her grandfather’s heart well. You know why I chose the new Duke of Eisen.”
His expression, which had been stern just moments before, now softened, his eyes showing warmth.
It was clear that he was pleased with my response.
“Perhaps Talizan would like to go to the frontier and fight against the monsters? They are about five times bigger than the ones on my hunting grounds.”
“N-No, Your Majesty!”
Talizan, who shouted in fear, couldn’t help turning pale. He was so terrified that he couldn’t even come up with a courteous reply.
My grandfather, as if expecting this, sneered and turned to Talizan’s father.
“It seems Talizan needs to mature a bit more before he can lead a family. Unlike the Duke of Eisen.”
“M-My deepest apologies, Your Majesty.”
Talizan’s father turned beet red and couldn’t lift his head due to shame.
***
The members of the temple faction have been quiet.
Despite its former glory, the place had become shabby, with walls cracked and broken in places due to lack of maintenance.
In this run-down holy ground, the poor came and went constantly.
While the number of wealthy visitors and renowned nobles had noticeably decreased, the temple had become a refuge for the destitute.
Yenna was handing out corn to those who had finished praying.
“There isn’t much to give today.”
“This is more than enough. Thank you.”
“Thank you for understanding. The temple’s situation isn’t good these days.”
“We know that the nobles who used to donate have turned their backs. They’re awful people.”
Yenna looked tired as she saw the people off.
‘How long do I have to keep up this charade?’
After becoming a Saint of this world, I thought my life would change. I expected to be loved by everyone, overflowing with wealth and honor.
But reality was different from what I imagined.
“D*mn it. How long do I have to deal with these paupers?” Archbishop Liang seemed to share the same sentiment.
However, the Pope, or rather Prache, seemed content with the current situation.
Even when the Duke of Eisen died, he remained unshaken.
When I opened the door and entered, I found nothing but discarded clothes lying on the floor. It was the remnant of another sacrifice that Prache had ‘consumed.’
“As expected, the taste of commoners is different from that of nobles. I prefer the taste of nobles,” Prache muttered.
