WMT | Chapter 11

The victory celebration was held at an outdoor venue.

It was a place traditionally used for various royal events in Summer. A maze garden and walking paths were arranged nearby, and marble sculptures adorned the surroundings.

Theodore surveyed the venue. It was his habit to position himself near the door in any location. However, this event was to celebrate his victory. He was led to the seat of honor, and such seats were always located further inside.

‘This is uncomfortable.’

If it weren’t for the request of the King of Summer, he wouldn’t have attended such an event.

Palatine had ended the war in a short time. People said Theodore was so exceptional that he couldn’t help but flaunt his abilities, but the reason he hurried his advance was simple.

Palatine couldn’t afford to maintain its military.

The need to manage relations with Summer post-war was for the same reason. Palatine couldn’t sustain a long war.

Palatine was a powerful nation, but the country itself was running on debt. They had spent more money than they earned while expanding the kingdom.

King Riendell of Palatine’s declaration of war was, in some sense, inevitable.

He decided to collect taxes from foreign lands that he couldn’t gather domestically. Just like the great King Wiss of old.

‘His name was Wissmia.’

Thinking of King Wiss led Theodore’s thoughts to Prince Wissmia. The prince was different from what he had heard.

In many ways.

According to his adjutant’s report, Prince Wissmia was a foolish person, but to Theodore’s eyes, he didn’t seem like such a person.

Rather…

‘To call that love.’

Theodore found himself smiling.

Wissmia had the expression of a rational being. His eyes, devoid of warmth, were assessing Theodore’s value. He was probably calculating his own value just as coldly as Theodore was.

To say “I love you” with a face that seemed to think, ‘If I sell myself, will this person buy?‘

Even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe it.

Theodore, being smarter than a three-year-old, of course, didn’t fall for it.

He wasn’t angry with Wissmia. He could understand why he was doing it.

‘It’s for the kingdom, I suppose.’

Theodore was used to people trying to use him. Most people who approached him had an agenda. Adding Wissmia to that list didn’t bother him.

After all, wasn’t King Riendell, who lived by using Theodore more than anyone, right nearby?

“I’ve been thinking, and it seems His Majesty Riendell doesn’t want Your Highness in the kingdom.”

The adjutant said.

The marriage order given by King Riendell was a hot topic in Theodore’s camp.

What on earth was the king’s intention?

Even when the rigid-minded soldiers tried to be creative, their ideas were limited, but the adjutant prided himself on having received a higher education.

“He doesn’t want me to return to Palatine?”

“Yes. A friend in the capital says the atmosphere isn’t quite right.”

“The atmosphere can’t be bad. We won.”

“The victory was achieved by Your Grace, not His Majesty.”

The adjutant said that the citizens weren’t fools. It was a statement filled with pride for his master.

It was clear that his master wasn’t King Riendell. Theodore’s subordinates were loyal, and as much as they were, they hated the king.

“Perhaps he expected you to settle down if he handed over Summer. If you return, it would be like having two kings in Palatine.”

“Is that so?”

Theodore just laughed.

That wouldn’t happen. Theodore would prevent it from happening.

He wouldn’t threaten Riendell. He would stay in the frontier long enough for the excitement of victory to subside among the people, then return to the capital.

Even without Riendell’s orders, Theodore always did so for his brother.

“Anyway, it’s fortunate you refused. I was afraid you might marry such a person to show loyalty.”

“Such a person?”

“Do I have to say it myself? The prince who was about to elope with another man. If you were told to take such a person as your duchess, I would have packed my bags.”

“Well. I’m not sure if that rumor is accurate.”

The grumbling adjutant looked at Theodore with a puzzled expression. At the same time, Theodore’s head turned.

Someone was entering from the entrance.

It was Prince Wissmia.

‘He’s always so pale.’

It was a dazzlingly white impression. His light tan hair seemed to reflect light, and his smooth skin looked as if it was coated with pearls.

His expressionless face remained unperturbed amidst the murmurs.

“His reputation isn’t great even in his own country. I thought it might be the case, but no one is quieting down as the prince enters.”

The adjutant commented. It was true. Even as the prince entered, the commotion didn’t subside. No one intended to show respect to the prince.

However, no matter how he thought about it, Wissmia wasn’t someone who deserved such treatment.

Theodore found himself smiling wryly. Was he really someone who was so easily swayed by appearances?

He recalled his first meeting with Wissmia.

A white and beautiful person. The blood splattered on his skin made it appear even redder.

He looked up at Theodore with blood-soaked, bright red lips.

Theodore flinched as if he had been stabbed.

Even after that, seeing Wissmia made him uneasy. He wasn’t naive enough to show it outwardly, though.

“A beauty trap is a brilliant strategy. Don’t you think?”

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

“Because even knowing, you want to be deceived.”

If Wissmia had shown even a hint of love for Theodore, he would have been troubled. He had never thought he had an ideal type, but Wissmia was a beauty that captivated people regardless of preference.

Theodore tried to look away from Wissmia. But he missed the timing as Wissmia approached him directly.

“…Is he coming this way?”

“It seems so.”

‘Another proposal, perhaps.’

He was always a beautiful person, but today he was dressed as if he had made up his mind. Even the gossiping nobles fell silent as Wissmia approached.

Even the adjutant was left dumbfounded, showing the extent of his impact. Theodore suppressed a wry smile and picked up a glass. It was to offer it to Wissmia. He had to maintain decorum.

But Wissmia, who had come close, grabbed Theodore’s wrist.

“Put that glass down and follow me.”

“…?”

“Let’s get out of here.”

It wasn’t a tone suggesting a private conversation.

The moment Theodore’s puzzled gaze met Wissmia’s, an explosion was heard. Tables overturned, and smoke billowed.

Soldiers emerged from the maze garden.

“There! Capture the duke!”

The man leading them pointed at Theodore. Soldiers charged forward. Simultaneously, screams erupted from all directions.

“Your Highness, over there!”

Theodore witnessed an unbelievable sight.

The sculptures decorating the venue were moving.

── .✦

Wiss received a report from the Royal Guard Knight.

“He was just gambling and drinking.”

Count Morre hadn’t met with any suspicious individuals or secretly visited any hidden forces.

Wiss hadn’t expected much from the guard.

The people frequenting the gambling den wouldn’t be recognizable to the guard. Palatines didn’t have three eyes or anything, and if they exchanged signals while gambling, it would have been hard for the guard to notice.

‘What are they planning?’

It was puzzling.

The only army stationed near the palace belonged to Duke Akazel. There didn’t seem to be any forces capable of attacking him.

Even if Count Morre had some forces, it would only be part of the defensive garrison. He wouldn’t be foolish enough to launch an attack with that.

Was his prediction off?

Wiss felt uneasy as he attended the banquet. The outdoor venue within the palace was ironically not open despite being called an outdoor venue.

It was enclosed by decorations and fences, with one entrance leading in and another leading to the maze garden.

As soon as he entered, Wiss looked at the most prominent decoration.

“…”

It was a marble sculpture.

It looked like a statue of a god, but he didn’t care about the aesthetics. He just thought that if it hit someone, they’d surely die.

‘It was probably made to kill in the first place.’

That was because it was a golem.

Wiss looked around. He was trying to count how many golems were in the venue.

He gave up after counting a few because there were so many golems scattered around that counting them was meaningless.

Wiss felt a chill run down his spine.

The nobles present must have had nerves of steel. They were laughing and chatting under golems that could decapitate them at any moment.

He briefly considered whether the golems were for guarding the venue.

‘No way.’

Golems were difficult to control.

Even a skilled golem master couldn’t control more than five at a time. But bringing in dozens?

Even with dozens of masters, they couldn’t prevent a rampage.

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

Wiss tried to approach Theodore without drawing attention. Unfortunately, he was seated in the innermost part, making a quiet approach difficult.

“Let’s get out of here.”

‘Let’s leave as naturally as possible…’

It was when he grabbed Theodore’s wrist.

The sculpture behind Theodore, holding a sword in a solemn pose, moved its eyes to look at Wiss.

‘Damn.’

An explosion occurred.

“Run!”