Overpowered Extra Noble in a Novel

7.

“Noble Selection?”

“Isn’t that an official document from the Inner Palace?”

“Is this thing fake? They’re forging even royal documents now.”

“It has the seal stamped, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm.”

Amid the darkened armor, murmurs rippled through the crowd.

The wall of swords, which had been sharply raised, now pointed downward as the knights recognized the official seal at the bottom of the document. In an instant, the knights drew back, creating a large circle around me at the entrance of the inner defenses.

“That’s real!”

“Who’s on messenger duty today? Did the Outer Wall guard send any notice?”

“Are we in serious trouble?”

The knights, having stepped back, began muttering amongst themselves in quiet tones. Unfortunately, even at this distance, whispers could still be heard clearly.

As I was observing the growing confusion amongst the knights, a middle-aged knight holding a torch approached.

“Enough! Everyone, retreat. Return to your positions!”

Following the middle-aged knight’s command, the knights dispersed with remarkable speed, quicker even than when they had surrounded me.

After a brief inspection of the scattered knights, the middle-aged knight gave a small bow.

“Sir Macbilian. As the inner defenses are closed after sunset, we had no choice but to be cautious about any suspicious individuals appearing at night. I assure you, no ill intentions were meant, so please forgive us.”

I nodded, lifting my sword from its planted position, and the knight turned to leave.

“Harold!”

“Yes! Novice Knight Harold!”

From among the dispersing knights, someone came hurrying over.

“Weren’t you today’s messenger? Head straight to the palace and inform them that the candidate has arrived.”

“Yes! Understood!”

As Harold, the novice knight, disappeared, the middle-aged knight handed his torch to what seemed to be his adjutant and pointed toward the roof of the Imperial Palace beyond the castle gates.

“Since a messenger has been sent, we can head straight to the palace. The inner defenses are complicated, so I’ll guide you.”

*

With the guidance of the middle-aged knight Jerome Howard, who introduced himself as the Eastern Gate Duty Commander, we entered the palace without any issues.

After enjoying a peaceful night within the Imperial Palace, the next day came.

Knock, knock.

“Master! It’s Rani!”

“Alright, come in.”

The door opened, and Rani stepped in, smelling strangely of fresh laundry. Her previously disheveled face and clothes had been completely transformed.

Since Rani was a maid, she must have been guided to another place.

For whatever reason, she was led to the maids’ quarters by the female attendants, but thankfully it seems they took a liking to her.

Rani approached, holding snacks in one hand and climbed onto my chair.

As I naturally took the snack she was offering, she began to carefully arrange my unruly hair.

Though the place is different, it’s the same peaceful morning scenery I’ve shared with her.

‘Alright, then. We’ve arrived at the palace.’

Though there were a few incidents along the way, we’ve safely made it.

The news that this year’s candidate for the national envoy, who had been mysteriously dying just before arrival in the past year, has reached the palace would already have spread everywhere.

‘Let’s observe the situation a bit.’

It seems there’ll be quite some entertainment.

The fact that someone who was supposed to be dead is now alive and well in the palace surely creates a peculiar atmosphere.

Regardless of others, I have to deal with the person who sent mercenaries after me. While personal attacks on me can be let slide, trying to erase Ruben entirely is unacceptable.

A character with such a whimsical mindset is a danger if left alive.

‘We’ll take care of that after the exam.’

The Brienne Mercenary Corps, was it?

Groups at the unit-level scale operating in or around the capital usually maintain administrative records, including transaction ledgers, quite meticulously.

By going through the ledgers, it won’t be difficult to identify the one who commissioned the job.

Would a mere mercenary corps dare to resist if the royal house itself decides to investigate?

Even if they did resist, it’d make no difference. Actually, it might even simplify matters.

Even without ledgers, there are plenty of ways to find out.

‘We should resolve Brienne’s issue quickly.’

As the national envoy, I’ll be incredibly busy.

The central nobility’s likely to create a fuss, being quite upset about my sudden appearance.

I can see it already. My future as the national envoy…

is incredibly bleak.

In my previous life, I died from overwork, and now I have to work here too?

“Absolutely unacceptable.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“WAH!”

I rumpled Rani’s hair as she blinked her eyes at me, then closed my own.

To be honest, I don’t think I have what it takes to run a country.

I was just an ordinary white-collar worker buried in work day and night. How could I possibly manage national affairs?

Overtime would be a given, study a necessity, and sleep might as well be something you throw to the dogs.

In other words, there’s a good chance I’d die from overwork again.

The thought was horrifying. How can I waste my second life on overwork?

Still, I’m healthier now, so let’s try to live longer this time.

The sudden urge to defect to the neighboring empire was dismissed with a shake of my head.

‘There is a way.’

I don’t need to fear a future as a workaholic.

What if I don’t know how to do the job? Someone else can.

I’ll identify various talents and place them in suitable positions.

If I can convince the existing talents to join my cause, everything should run even more smoothly. Then the capable subordinates will handle everything on their own.

All I have to do is approve things at the top.

Thinking of the managers who randomly picked up projects and tossed them down to underlings makes me recall their leisurely demeanor as they browsed coin exchange platforms.

‘If I knew I would die, I should have punched the manager in the chest.’

I chuckled at the thought and was interrupted by a gentle knock on the door.

“Baron Macbilian, may I enter?”

To the steady but slightly raspy voice, I gave my reply, and an elderly man dressed neatly in a butler’s uniform entered.

The old man, with silvery white hair swept back, looked gently at Rani whose hair had become unruly again, smiled warmly and began speaking.

“You’ve endured a long journey, Baron Macbilian.”

The silver-haired elder presented a graceful bow.

“My name is Alberto. One of those who humbly assist His Majesty.”

‘Alberto?’

That name rings somewhat familiar.

I arose from my seat and returned the gesture with an equally polite bow.

The emblem of the royal family on the lapel.

Among those who wear a butler’s uniform within the palace, there is only one who holds the royal emblem.

“Kain Macbilian. A humble administrator from the borderlands. It’s an honor to meet the royal chamberlain.”

In response to my answer, Alberto indicated an empty chair with a nod, then moved.

Seated, with round eyes observing Rani holding snacks, Alberto handed her a treat.

Taking a seat across from him, Alberto glanced over me and gave a small nod.

“Spitting image of your father. However, there’s something rather stern about your expression. Is there anything troubling you?”

“…No, this is just my natural face. I have no discomfort.”

“Ah, well then, good.”

As if reminiscing about old memories, Alberto closed his eyes for a moment.

“Carlos’ death was most unfortunate. Had we paid closer attention to the north…”

“My father’s death was… due to natural disaster. It wasn’t anybody’s fault, perhaps blame can be attributed to the heavens.”

Father, Carlos, his demise, without the deployment of a Swordmaster to the Northern Front, was a foregone conclusion. The Altain Empire had no Swordmasters at the time, making such an outcome inevitable.

Not only Carlos, but most who participated could not escape death. At the time, the situation on the northern front was that dire.

While reflecting on the Northern Front still struggling against monstrosities, Alberto’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Indeed. Baron Macbilian, I’ve called on you this early hour regarding the Noble Selection.”

Alberto’s serious gaze prompted me to sit up straighter.

“Let’s first proceed to the audience with His Majesty. I’ll explain on the way.”

***

Unexpected news descended upon the central nobles who had anticipated another tranquil and peaceful morning.

The candidate for the national envoy had arrived at the palace.

Hearing this, the central nobles had no choice but to gather early in the morning in the meeting rooms of the various factions. Among these, the eastern and western factions were the noisiest.

The faction leader of the Western Regions.

In the grand manor of Duke Vanell Schrantz, the western nobles discussed heatedly.

“We certainly had assassins placed in the capital. What went wrong?”

“The Outer Wall defenses were secured, and assassins were hired.”

“The southern factions also dispatched mercenaries to Ruben. There must have been help from the shadows. Otherwise, it would be impossible for someone from the borderlands to survive.”

After a while of analyzing the reasons for the failure and identifying possible conspirators, the Western faction nobles reached a single conclusion.

“It must be the Eastern group!”

“This candidate belongs to the East faction. They’re from the northeastern region, so there’s a connection. Has Baron Hasen finally aligned with the Eastern group?”

“No matter what, we will attack the money bags from the East.”

As the nobles’ conversation drew to a close, Baron Vanell Schrantz, seated on the highest seat, spoke.

“Strengthen operations against the East. Deal with the candidate during the trials. Adjust the knights’ deployments within the palace.”

On the other hand,

The Eastern faction was just as lively this morning.

In the main trading house of the Eastern region faction leader Baron Kiersen Lucanov, a serious atmosphere enveloped the gathered Eastern nobles in the basement.

“The candidate has entered the palace. It’s been a year, hasn’t it?”

“Despite spending a great deal of money and relying on the Guild for information…”

“We’ve heard that Sir Parnell has disappeared.”

“Could they have lost to the candidate? Sir Parnell is a mana awakener. How could that happen?”

As the Eastern nobles recalled the content received from the Guild, they nodded.

“The Western faction has interfered. Those brutish ones could have… deployed a capable fighter against Sir Parnell.”

“Baron Hasen has aligned with the Westerners. That explains his stiff-necked stance.”

“Perhaps the candidate has defeated Sir Parnell?”

“The boy from the borderlands? Hahahaha!”

A burst of laughter rippled through the Eastern nobles.

“A mana awakener isn’t some wandering vagrant in the lower classes. There’s no way.”

“With the hired mercenaries sent by the South all dead as well, it’s definitive. This candidate is affiliated with the West. They’re protecting the candidate. We need to focus on the foolish Westerners.”

Reviewing documents at the highest seat, Kiersen Lucanov looked over the gathered Eastern noble faces.

“Contact the ones we’ve placed within the palace. If necessary, use poison provided by the trading house. Eliminate the candidate within the palace, and focus on keeping the Western faction in check.”

Thus, the two factions planned their schemes, mocking each other all the while.

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