Chapter 156
‘He wants something from me.’
This seemed like it would be easier than expected. I didn’t need to make a good impression, or grovel, or invest time. It was a situation where I could give Theobalt what he wanted and, in return, ask him to do what I wanted.
‘Let me hear what his request is first.’
I entered the room, casually unbuttoning my coat one by one. Then I turned around, offered it to Theobalt, and smiled brightly.
“I’ll accept your kindness. However, I don’t like being bored.”
I’ve noticed your intentions, and I’m willing to talk, so follow me in.
“You won’t have a moment to be bored.”
Theobalt smiled confidently as he followed me in and rang the bell.
Shortly after, a servant entered the room nervously. He looked quite surprised to see me, took the coat, and left.
“Now rumors will spread among the servants that I had a private audience with you. It’s only a matter of time before my brother hears of it too.”
He still seemed cheerful. Judging from his attitude, I could guess the nature of his request. Between us, who had no connection, what Theobalt likely wanted from me probably involved his brother.
“I take it you don’t get along.”
“Weren’t you the same, lord? Well, I’ve heard that at some point you started getting along well, which was a bit surprising. I was also curious. How did the one who was robbed forgive the robber?”
His downcast eyes clouded over. I could feel the boiling anger hidden within them.
“The young lord and I are different people. Different environments, different mindsets. Even if you heard my story, it wouldn’t provide you with an answer, but do you still want to hear it?”
“It wouldn’t provide an answer…”
Theobalt repeated my words, snickering.
Indeed… he’s similar to me. If I hadn’t realized my sister’s love, I would be saying the exact same things he is now. Amidst the uncomfortable sense of kinship, a small pity raised its head.
“I doubt you called me here to talk about that. May I ask what your business is?”
Not wanting my pity to grow any larger, I changed the subject.
“Won’t you comfort me?”
“Why should I?”
“Usually when this happens, people prattle on with platitudes.”
“Do you want to hear that despite knowing what it is? You have strange tastes.”
I was about to take a sip of the slightly cooled tea but put it back down. Perhaps I had too much wine. The rising intoxication made me disinclined toward hot tea.
“Hahaha!”
Theobalt suddenly burst out laughing. He seemed like a madman.
“Lord. I’m not someone with idle time.”
Enough of this pointless talk, let’s get to the main point. We both want something from each other, so it would be nice to make a clean transaction.
“Hehe. Yes, alright. I invited you here because I wanted to propose a deal.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“You don’t usually show up at social events like this. Yet you suddenly attended our ball. Well, you say you came as the Duke’s representative.”
Theobalt shrugged.
“You rebuffed Walter.”
“Is that strange?”
“No, it’s not strange. However, Walter has been interested in you for a long time. So I’ve watched you a few times, and our eyes met.”
“I remember.”
Didn’t it end with just eye contact? If it had been multiple times, maybe, but it was just once. I was careful to avoid arousing suspicion. How could this be an issue?
“The protagonist of this house is always Walter. People who seek me out instead of him usually have a purpose. What about you?”
It was a purely emotional inference. When surveying a ballroom, couldn’t eyes meet by chance? To think he assumed I was seeking him out based on that one instance.
But in a way, he had guessed correctly, which troubled me. It was true that I was looking for Theobalt, not Walter, because I had a purpose.
As I debated whether to pretend ignorance or acknowledge it, I quickly decided on a direction. Eventually, when I made my request about Luwen, it would be revealed anyway. If I revealed the truth then, he would feel betrayed for being deceived now.
“Since you ask so directly, I’ll answer honestly. That’s right. I had a request for Lord Theobalt, or rather, Inspector Theobalt. However, I should correct one thing. If I didn’t have business with you, I wouldn’t have been interested in either of you.”
“Then should I understand that you responded to today’s invitation solely to see me?”
“Yes. So let’s get to the point. Now that we know we both want something from each other, is there any need to beat around the bush?”
Theobalt seemed pleased. He hummed softly while sipping his tea. Then he smiled with a refreshed expression.
“Then let me state my request first.”
He put down his teacup.
“Become my friend.”
“Pardon?”
I reflexively responded stupidly. It was like expecting to lift a heavy object only to find it was light—so light that the excessive force made me fall backward.
“Not just a simple friend, I presume?”
It shouldn’t be. If this is the entirety of the request, the balance is off. Mine is much heavier.
“Your request must be quite difficult.”
He read me immediately, though I didn’t think I had given many hints. Well, I suppose one must be at least this perceptive to persuade the politicians in the Sword Affairs Department. It’s not just about intelligence. One also needs good intuition. Like Theobalt in front of me.
“It seems you’ve guessed correctly. But my request isn’t that light either, so don’t worry.”
“I would appreciate a proper explanation.”
“Visit me occasionally. But don’t even glance at Walter, and be friendly only to me. This is the friend I desire.”
Ah, now I understand clearly. Theobalt wanted the experience of being chosen instead of his brother. And from someone his brother showed even the slightest interest in. As if stealing.
‘How childish.’
Yet I could understand his feelings. I also behaved quite childishly and tormented my sister and Luwen. Jealousy is like that. Being such a primal emotion, it’s not something one can control. It seemed that Theobalt’s driving force was a desire for recognition stemming from jealousy.
“Until when?”
“I’ll leave that to your conscience.”
So he wants me to gauge the weight of my request and be a friend for as long as necessary. Pushing the responsibility onto me like this.
“What if Lord Walter loses interest in me in the meantime?”
Theobalt smiled meaningfully.
“That won’t happen.”
It was a confidence I couldn’t empathize with, but since his request itself wasn’t difficult, I nodded.
“Now it’s my turn.”
I began to tell him my story. But I didn’t immediately bring up Luwen. Some packaging was necessary. So… in the sense of reform.
The current situation mired in tradition. The impact of Sword Masters on national power. Different treatment compared to other countries. The positive chain reaction that could occur from one exception, and so on.
As I calmly continued my explanation, Theobalt showed interest. Belatedly, it occurred to me that he too was a victim of tradition, so he might be seeking change more than anyone.
“I definitely agree with your point that if the knight examination at the Imperial Palace is opened to qualified commoners, it could motivate commoners who had to give up the sword because they couldn’t enter the academy.”
Among the various examples and explanations, this seemed to touch his heart the most.
“Nobles would also become more vigilant and devote themselves more to training. They wouldn’t be able to tolerate falling behind commoners. Knights who have grown that way, and soldiers who couldn’t become knights, will become the strength of the Empire.”
As I smiled while adding my opinion, Theobalt nodded.
“It would also be good to reform the academy side.”
This time he was lost in thought. He muttered that the high proportion of nobles in the Academy’s swordsmanship department was indeed a problem.
‘…It seems I could have confronted this directly.’
I hadn’t expected him to be this enlightened. But I also thought that if I had truly confronted it directly, perhaps the conversation would have ended before it properly began. Because he was consumed by an inferiority complex toward his brother, he wouldn’t look favorably on someone approaching with the sole intention of using him.
Well, it seems I’ll get what I want in the end, so what does it matter? What’s important is Luwen’s exam.
“Very well. I will definitely handle your ‘request’.”
Theobalt emphasized “request,” perhaps thinking I might change my words.
“Let’s set the friendship period until the day Luwen takes the senior knight examination. If the proposal passes, I’ll visit more frequently, but if it’s rejected, I won’t come.”
There’s no food for the failed. As if he thought this was natural, he agreed without any particular objection.
This is nice and clean.
Right on time, my coat returned from cleaning. Since the conversation was over and Luwen was waiting, I stood up immediately.
As I put on my coat, my vision swayed. Perhaps because the tension had eased after resolving everything at once, the intoxication hit me hard. Due to this, I stumbled, and Theobalt volunteered to escort me to the entrance.
“I think I’ll take an advance payment.”
Though it was annoying, I nodded reluctantly, knowing I had to feed him for him to do the job properly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
