The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

“It’s true that Stefan Greenwall will be in Cerritian.”

 

Nereus said, looking at the map under the torch.

 

Although he had never spoken to Stefan, Nereus was familiar with the rumors about him.

 

As the deputy commander of the Knights, he is a power comparable to the leader.

 

In addition, thanks to his tireless efforts to gain trust and support within the Knights, the number of knights following him increased considerably.

 

It is not known why he came to the change at this time, but Nereus is unfazed by his presence nonetheless.

 

“Don’t worry. After all, isn’t this the place that you really want?”

 

Then a soft voice came from Nereus’ side.

 

Nereus’ gaze shifted to him.

His eyes met the golden eyes of a beautiful man.

 

“Yes, you are right.”

 

Nereus nodded at Ethan Bronte’s words.

 

* * *

 

About two months ago, Ethan, who was expelled from Lampas, was headed to River South.

 

If Cerritian is adjacent to Hark by land, River South is in contact with Hark through a narrow strait.

 

Although River South faces a border with Hark militarily, economically, it has frequent trade with Hark and has a pro-Hark tendency.

 

In the harbor of River south, a ship larger than a mansion was moored, thick ropes and nets were piled up, and porters were busy loading and unloading foreign goods.

 

The tavern was full of people since noon and noisy.

 

It wasn’t Ethan’s favorite atmosphere, but he’s here for a reason.

 

He watched one of the large ships anchored in the harbor. It was a ship with the coat of arms of the Hark royal family engraved on the side.

 

He counted the date with his slender eyes and looked up to see the white mansion perched on a high hill.

It was the residence of the lord of this place, Marquis Dmitry.

 

‘They said he was going back to his estate from Lampas a while ago, so he must be staying there.’

 

He turned the carriage to the marquis’ mansion.

 

* * *

 

“Ethan Bronte?”

 

The Marquis widened his eyes when he heard the name of the unexpected guest from the butler.

 

“I hear he’s been driven out of Lampas under the emperor’s name.”

 

The butler whispered into Dmitry’s ear.

 

‘Oh….’

 

‘After sticking close to the princess, in the end, he was abandoned.’

 

Dmitry nodded as if he knew it.

 

And soon Dmitry’s eyes turned to his guest sitting opposite.

 

“Take him to the drawing room.”

 

“Yes.”

 

When the butler left his seat, the woman sitting opposite Dmitry asked.

 

“Ethan Bronte?”

 

With hair as light as the deep sea, she responded to the name with sharp eyes.

 

“Ah, Briel, do you know him too?”

 

“Yes. His name is known in Hark, at least. It is said that His Majesty was mesmerized by his skill on the violin.”

 

Briel smiled and spoke about him, then sat up straight, with his legs crossed all the time.

 

At that moment, Dmitry realized how widespread the rumors of Ethan Bronte were.

 

Briel, who sat in front of him, was Hark’s treasurer, and to Dmitry, she had been a valuable customer and had done business with her for many years.

 

But even Briel knew Ubera’s bastard, Ethan.

 

He was said to be the most famous bastard in the world, and it doesn’t seem to be wrong.

 

“I want to meet him too, can you introduce me?”

 

Briel’s eyes gleamed with interest.

 

* * *

 

Ethan followed the butler up to the drawing room.

 

“Your Highness, this is Ethan Bronte.”

 

With the guidance of the butler, the door to the drawing room opened.

 

Marquis Dmitry’s drawing room was gleaming everywhere with rather excessive gold decorations.

 

“Welcome, Ethan Bronte. You even become more handsome!”

 

Dmitry stood up and greeted him.

 

“It’s been a long time, Marquis Dmitry.”

 

Ethan’s eyes, who greeted him politely, turned to the woman next to Dmitry.

 

As if surprised to see Ethan, she stood there, forgetting to greet him.

 

Dmitry chuckled at the sight.

 

“You are very surprised, Lady Briel! I was shocked the first time I saw him, too.”

 

Briel couldn’t keep her mouth shut at the sight of a much more handsome young man than she had expected.

 

Each person has their own preferences, but his face was not something that could be discussed with her ideal type or taste.

 

No other beautiful painting in the world could be more beautiful than this, so his existence could be called an art in itself.

 

“Ethan, this is Briel Consilia from Hark. She asked to meet you, so I’ve brought her here.”

 

At Dmitry’s introduction, Briel belatedly bowed to greet him.

 

Ethan pretended to be surprised that there was another guest, but with a soft smile, he bowed his head to Briel.

 

“Nice to meet you. My name is Ethan Bronte.”

 

His soft voice surprised Briel once again.

 

‘Hearing her sweet voice that matched her looks, I could fully understand why Monica Aponita liked him, why Nereus was jealous of him, and why so many rumors followed only one bastard.’

 

“Nice to meet you, I’ve heard so much about you from Monica.”

 

“If it’s Monica…Are you talking about Monica Aponita?”

 

“Oh! You remember that kid. I’m sure Monica will be delighted.”

 

Brielle explained that she was very fond of Monica.

 

‘I’ve seen Monica since she was young and I was very sad when she said she was going to Episteme.’

 

Ethan nodded as if he were interested.

 

‘I already knew it. The reason I came here was to meet Briel.’

 

“Please sit down, both of you, so that I don’t become a rude person to keep my guests standing.”

 

Dmitry led the two, who were standing in the doorway talking, to a couch in the drawing room.

 

The tea that Dmitry and Briel were drinking was already on the table.

 

As they exchanged greetings and introductions, the servant brought Ethan’s teacup and poured the tea.

 

“But Ethan, what are you doing here?”

 

“The Marquis has good ears, so I’m sure you know how I came to be here after the way I was treated in Lampas.”

 

Ethan’s expression, who had just been talking with a gentle smile, turned cold.

 

Dmitry nodded his head with a sad expression on his face.

 

Briel, who was beside him, looked at Ethan with curious eyes, not knowing what was going on.

 

“The Emperor gave me money and ordered me to break up with the princess. He also made it impossible for me to enter Lampas for the rest of my life.”

 

Ethan said in a voice that seemed to contain his somewhat angry feelings.

 

Then Briel looked at him with a pitiful expression on his face.

 

“I am very sorry about that.”

 

Although Dmitry expressed regret on the surface, he thought the emperor’s choice was right.

 

‘No matter how handsome and romantic he is, we can’t bring a bastard, even a man from a bar woman’s belly, into the imperial family.’

 

Perhaps if Dmitry had a daughter, and she had insisted on marrying Ethan, Dmitry would have done something about it.

 

However, Dmitry was not ignorant enough to stand up for the emperor in front of Ethan.

 

“I left after receiving money from the imperial family, not because I wanted money. As you know, although I am a bastard, I have grown up well and I am not foolish enough to sell myself for a few bucks.”

 

“I know you well.”

 

“I left because I couldn’t stand having my humanity insulted.”

 

“Yeah, you must have been upset.”

 

Dmitry didn’t seem to agree, but he nodded in response.

 

‘A bastard has no humanity in front of the emperor. You should thank the Emperor for his patience.’ Dmitry thought to himself.

 

“So, why did you come here instead of going to Cerritian?”

 

“To leave.”

 

“To leave?”

 

At that moment, Dmitry’s eyes shone with an exciting light.

 

“I’m not accepted in Ubera, so I’m going to go somewhere far away.”

 

Ethan’s golden eyes shone resolutely.

 

“I understand your heart, but think again. Living in another country is not easy.”

 

Dmitry tried to calm the spirit of the energetic young man.

 

‘The current insult is temporary. You can eat and live well in the Bronte family, so why do you need to go to another country and suffer?’

 

‘He might be able to choose wisely when you get older, but it’s hard because he is still young now.’

 

“I think the Marquis also knows that my brother and I have a bad relationship.” Ethan said.

 

It would not be long before Jonathan returned to Ceritian. After that, Jonathan will take over the Dukedom, and Ethan should be under him.

 

“Rather than that, I want to go to a land that welcomes me.”

 

At Ethan’s words, Dmitry shook his head in disbelief.

 

It was well known that Ethan and Jonathan had a bad relationship.

 

“So…”

 

Ethan, who had been talking for a while, turned to Briel.

 

“I was just thinking about going to Hark.”

 

At Ethan’s words, Briel’s face turned red.

 

“Are you going to Hark?”

 

“There’s an offer that His Majesty Nereus gave me the other day.”

 

Ethan recalled that Nereus had promised full support for his musical career when he came to Hark.

 

Nereus’ interest in music was still there, and there is also a street of musicians in Huidor, the capital of Hark.

 

“It was a long time ago, but if His Majesty hasn’t forgotten about it, I think I’ll ask for help…”

 

At Ethan’s concern, Briel nodded with a happy face.

 

“Then why don’t you go with me?”

 

“What? Are you sure about that?”

 

Ethan’s eyes widened, pretending not to have been expected at all.

 

“Sure! His Majesty will welcome you, Ethan.”

 

“Still, I can’t be unilaterally indebted to you, so….”

 

Ethan called to the servant who had followed him.

 

Just then, the servant came in, grunting and carrying a large box of gold coins

 

“Yeah, I have to pay for it.”

 

The money Carnan threw at him shone at River South.

 

Ethan said he would thank not only Briel, but also Dmitry for connecting him to Briel. And to keep it a secret that he had crossed over to Hark.

 

Dmitry’s cheekbones, who was watching the conversation between the two of them with a displeased expression on his face, rose up.

 

“You are a young man who knows manners!”

 

Ethan smiled at Dmitry’s praise.

 

* * *