I Am a Low-Class Aristocrat of a Perishing Country

36 – An Unjust Duel (1)

Shady eyes embracing distrust pour into the gymnasium. It was me who made the most of it.

‘Maybe the fact that the inspiration was always quiet was a foreshadowing for this time.’

If you’ve been patient until this moment to f*ck me… Sir, you won. Congratulations, damn it.

When I first saw Bartlante, the old man shed tears, but now it seems like tears of blood will flow from my eyes.

I desperately closed my eyes and slowly looked back on the past to see how I had gotten to this point.

Yes, it is. It was definitely a crack that started from the time Ir Elfi and her entered the palace this morning.

◇

I asked in the carriage running towards the imperial palace.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“Are you worried?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“Irlp?”

Irlp’s mouth fell shut at the simple answer. The sunset seemed to linger on both of her cheeks, as if she had accidentally hit her head.

“Neffi oppa has improved a lot too.”

“I can’t believe…”

Mirren praised her with a proud expression. What makes you so proud?

If you are talking about aesthetic sense that sees through the psychology of IrLP, it might be the correct answer. She lived with her for more than half a year, and it was time for her to come to terms with her heart and soul.

“But why did you bring Mirren? She probably isn’t the right place to show off.”

“Of course, she didn’t come with the intention of having her attend. She said that Mirren wanted to tour the palace alone, so she brought her.”

“If Elfie gets fired, there won’t be a chance.”

“Mirren, what about getting fired? To her sister…”

As I bludgeoned me low, IrLP also joined in.

“I’ve been saving all sorts of novels these days, and that’s it. I’m seriously considering banning reading for the time being.”

“I don’t want to be constrained, but I can’t help it. Especially since the novels on the streets can be bad for the mood.”

“What do you mean? Nefi brother! Elfi sister! Books are innocent!”

“The book is innocent, but Mirren’s mouth is guilty.”

“Oh, you’re quite determined? First of all, I’m of the same opinion as Illelpi.”

“Thanks Nefi.”

Ir Elfi was firmly establishing her sister’s dignity. I thought she would be soft as she usually accepts Mirren’s pampering, but she is unexpected.

“Uh… Uh… Uh…”

Then Mirren’s golden eyes shimmered as they refracted her light. She lowered her head and covered her face with her hands, ready to burst into tears.

Mirren appealed in a voice blessed with her sorrow.

“I, I… Just… A lot of things changed while I was asleep… It was because it was amazing. To me, who couldn’t go out much, books… Novels were my only communication channels. Ugh… Black…”

“Mirren? My sister just…”

Before Ir Elfi could reach her hand over her brother’s head, I got close to Mirren and knelt down on one knee with her.

“Let’s stop talking about Mirren? What should we look at first? Shall we get the forbidden book from the confidential library of the imperial palace? Would you like to read the emperor’s diary or memoir?”

“Neffi oppa, I want to read the romance novels sold at the central plaza bookstore.”

“Yes, let’s buy everything from this side to the other this time.”

“A promise?”

“Of course!

As I was sweating and trying to soothe Mirren, Irr.P showed off that he was tired of it.

“Perhaps the worst thing for Mirren’s emotional education is Nefi. Haa…”

Irr Elf lamenting in despair. I tried ignoring it and wiped Mirren’s dry eyes.

… Dry? Mirren’s eyes that were about to burst into tears?

No no, I didn’t explode it, so that might be the case.

We buried our doubts deep in our hearts and eventually set foot in the imperial palace.

We took Mirren to the Imperial Palace Garden and found a meeting room for the hearing. Ir Elfi didn’t show any special inspiration even when he went looking for a cushion of thorns to sit on.

“Even if it’s a hearing, there’s nothing that touches me. Can I just see it as a place where I get cursed at?”

“It’s an extreme expression, but it’s not wrong. It would have been different if it had been a hearing about the allegations, but the reality of my mistake is clear.”

“…”

“Neffi? Your complexion suddenly darkened.”

I struggled to face her worried stare. Ever since I got involved with Illelfi, her honor has always been adhered to.

If I had made better choices and been as strong as Siegharun, she would still be the envy of society.

From living together, to the incident at Duke Peita’s residence, and to the day I wasn’t in the island.

It was all a scandal involving me, or a stain caused by my misjudgment.

I humbly apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

When she first apologized, her face was filled with wonder.

“I feel like it’s all because of me. The mistakes you made. The various scandals.”

“I wondered why you were down, but was that all it was?”

“Only.”

“All the blame for the mistake is on me. It was the result of poor judgment and outrage. I assure you, it’s not Neffi’s fault.”

“…”

Ir Elfi, who had been arguing, suddenly turned her head away from her. The moment she tries to pay attention to whether there is something interesting to see.

She muttered, muttering her pronunciation.

“Above all, it’s no longer a scandal about Neffi…”

“Hmm? Ill Elf?”

“… No. Nothing.”

No matter how good my hearing was, I couldn’t restore and recognize the mangled pronunciation.

Besides, she gave off a strange atmosphere and seemed to refuse any further conversation.

We walked in silence for the rest of the time, and finally opened the door to the meeting room full of officials.

The first people to catch my eye were the giant Bartlante and the emperor sitting in the high seat. The officials who looked at me with bloody eyes were a bonus.

Elfi completely switched on her work mode and took her seat. When I also took the seat next to her, the emperor declared the meeting open.

“As of this time, the hearing of the Marquis of Ir Elfi Justiha, the leader of the Knights of Nelfrugia by the right of no confidence, will be held. The Little Duke of Chester, Battlelante, speak.”

At the same time as the Emperor’s dignified declaration, Bartlante spoke.

“The imperial palace I witnessed after quelling the system’s bandits was empty. I heard that Captain Justiha said he would be in charge of guarding the palace alone. Does Captain Justiha agree?”

Battlante’s demeanor was quite different from the pleasant and polite young man I had seen the other day. He had a lot of intentions to clearly distinguish between public and private affairs, so I got the impression that it was the answer.

“I admit it.”

At one word from her that could be described as pleasant, the ministers shuddered.

“The Knights Commander of Nelfrugia is the last bastion responsible for the peace of His Majesty the Emperor. Why is Commander Justiha absent?”

“I was lured in by weightlifters and that’s all.”

‘Are you trying to keep quiet about the space jump?’

It would be considered unconvincing to mention the existence of a divine creature that was actually fought 400 years ago.

As if Chester’s officials and ministers did not like the overly plain attitude compared to the fault, they gradually stepped up their offensive.

“That’s what you’re going to say as the captain of His Majesty’s bodyguard?”

“It doesn’t make sense to send all the knights to the system. Shouldn’t it have been a priority to evaluate one’s skills objectively?”

“Not even bringing an excuse. A deplorable laxity.”

At their scolding, Ir Elfi did not bat an eye and affirmed in a calm voice.

“I will not deny all my responsibilities. I will also accept the disadvantages of the results.”

Her low profile was close to resignation. A clean demeanor without any excuses. If he pushed on like this, he was ready to take on even the sins he didn’t have.

Bartlante had been scolding Ir Elfi fiercely, perhaps because she didn’t like it.

“Every single word of Captain Justiha is dishonorable, so I doubt his qualifications as a knight protecting His Majesty.”

“The Duke of Chester is right.”

“Isn’t she putting a woman with unclear skills in too high a position in the first place?”

“See how a knight who should prioritize honor wears a scandal. Even shameless to sit with a scandalous partner…”

Most people readily agree with Bartlante’s questioning. I felt guilty for the sparsely heard sarcasm between me and the Irlp.

‘I want to refute something, but I can’t say anything because IrLP doesn’t seem to want it.’

She seemed to want to get fired and leave as quickly as possible.

Bartlan Te watched us keep her mouth shut, and she appealed to the Emperor.

“There is no way to know why Your Majesty trusts the two Marquis. However, this time, Your Majesty’s eyes are no different than your original cleverness.”

He dominates the atmosphere in the venue and asserts himself with force.

“Therefore, I, Bartlante Chester, in accordance with the four major dukes’ right of no confidence, request the dismissal of the Marquis of Irelfi Justiha from his post as general manager.”

“Hmm…”

The Emperor let out a drool and turned his eyes in our direction. Elfi nodded slightly, and I closed my eyes.

After confirming our intention, the emperor opened his mouth with difficulty.

“The Duke of Chester’s request is reasonable. Therefore, the right of no confidence is granted…”

[Your Majesty, the little duke’s words and actions are extremely arrogant, and he is good at holding public opinion on his back.

“… Huh?”

“Nefi…?”

The emperor let out a dumbfounded moan. The figure of him looking this way and opening his mouth was like a fish eating food.

Irelp also had the same reaction. She felt astonished as she touched her ear lobe, wondering if she had heard it wrong.

… And it was the same for me too. However, contrary to his will, this guy’s snout was uttering abusive words that he didn’t even have in mind.

[Moreover, it is said that the White Gyeru Elpi’s ability is disparaged, and His Majesty’s eyes are also like a knot hole. Since when did the four dukes look down on the imperial family?]

I was distracted by the fury that burst out of my mouth.

‘This is crazy!’

I was definitely going to call Ir Elfi a white girl.

I mean simplicity.

In this world, there is only one person who called Illelpi a white girl!

It was Netion Peace, the true owner of the body.

‘It’s not even the usual old man’s tone, he’s just imitating me!’

Is this the price for rejecting Holy Memory…?

After the battle with Siegharun, I was able to capture the morale freely.

Besides, as long as Netion Peace’s purpose was not to take the initiative of the body, he didn’t need the help of Irelpi.

That’s why she deliberately refused her guardian ability, Holy Memory. But the result looks like this!

‘Young Gaaam! Do you know what you’re doing?!’

He didn’t even respond to the cries in my heart.

Battlante was the first to wake up to Netionpeace’s unstoppable provocation.

“… Marquis Alteon’s words went too far. How can the Marquis’ ignorant words be persuasive when Captain Justiha himself admits it?”

Immediately after that, opinions sympathetic to Bartlante’s refutation followed.

“The little duke is right! What’s the point of an honorable marquis with a scandal! No, he’s not an honorary marquis anymore, he’s a dishonorable marquis.”

“It’s bullsh*t from someone whose roots are questionable.”

“What do you know about a soldier who used to be a doctor and is like a knight?”

… Just punch the guy who just said he’s a disgraced marquis.

When I was raging on my own, this guy’s snout roared non-stop.

[Shut up those filthy mouths. If the proposition that a superior soldier knows the matter better is true, then Ir Elfi must be an omnipotent knight.]

“Marquis Alteon… No, this?”

“That’s not Neffi.”

The gazes of the emperor and Ir Elfi crossed each other.

The Emperor must have noticed the emotions, and Ir Elfi must have sensed a sense of incongruity since he had seen them for many years.

“I’m not questioning the skill of Captain Justiha! How can a doctor facing a patient prove his qualifications as a soldier?”

Bartlante’s aides vehemently objected. In response, Netty On Peace stood up from his seat as if he had been waiting for that.

[Would the Chester family agree if it was said that an excellent soldier recognizes a true soldier…?]

Bartlante nodded to Netionpeace’s question.

“This is the family tradition that has been passed down from our ancestors. I also do not have a different opinion.”

[Then there is a simple solution.]

I wondered how far the muzzle of calamity would go at this point. That’s why I gave up trying to intervene.

If I had known I would regret it, I should have blocked it at least with a ropeless bungee at the top of the imperial palace.

“Simple solution, what is it?”

Battlante’s dubious question. His green eyes, which imprisoned the violent vitality, were bloody.

However, Netionpeace didn’t care. She raises her index finger again and gazes at each of them vaguely.

After a while, Netion Peace made a bold announcement.

[It’s a duel, Bartlante Chester! I will stake my all and persevere with my beliefs as a warrior.]

‘Who bet everything on their own? What a crazy inspiration!!! What’s the point of talking? Why don’t you shoot a shonen manga by yourself?!’

I’m going crazy. I think I’m really going crazy. When I asked about Irlp, he didn’t even show his nose!

‘Seeing that my consciousness hasn’t been thrown out into the mental world at all, I don’t think inspiration will come out directly!’

Battlante was an NPC with great specs who survived confidently even after competing with the annihilator Irelpi several times. I can’t afford it.

But a duel?

The me who defeated Zeke Harun, who was not even a complete spec and was also subject to location restrictions, with a life-and-death?

… Damn it!

The soundless clamor shook the world of imagination.

There was no one to listen to.