SOTBW - 140

The king drank to the point where his chin reddened. Rodney, the king of the Kingdom of Bastronia, had reached a point where he could not fall asleep without alcohol ever since the war with the Serith began.

Rodney was afraid that his reign might witness the disgrace of the kingdom’s downfall, and with a troubled expression, he continued to empty his wine glass. Edwin Elgort watched the king’s excessive drinking with a concerned gaze.

Rodney’s young mistress refilled his wine glass whenever it was empty, and without hesitation, she fed him snacks, her face covered in a rough beard. Sighing silently, Edwin once again stopped the mistress from reaching for the wine bottle.

The mistress hesitated, glancing at Rodney for approval. The old king waved his hand as if telling her to leave.

In the spacious office, only the king and Edwin remained. Edwin tidied up the scattered documents, then spoke kindly.

“Your Majesty, I believe you’ve been drinking far too much lately.”

After organizing the desk neatly, Edwin glanced at Rodney. The king stared longingly at his empty glass, then dropped his tired face and slumped his thin limbs. The throne, excessively luxurious and extravagant, made Rodney appear even more disheveled.

“I can’t sleep without drinking. The kingdom is in this state, and there’s no one to ask for help... My relatives are only eyeing the throne while pretending to be cautious. It’s truly lamentable, Edwin. I have five children... yet none of them have offered to go to Noctis, and I can’t face my subjects.”

Rodney lamented in a hollow voice.

Edwin smiled gently, as if comforting a child, in response to the king’s complaints.

“Going to Noctis is a frightening task for anyone.”

“Yes, that’s why your adopted son is a great example to all of this nation. To the cowardly princess and prince, who fear being consumed by the Serith... even to me.”

Rodney’s eyes glinted sharply. The old king, while relying entirely on Maximón to defend the fortress, also viewed him with suspicion, almost as if he were a competitor.

Edwin lowered his head submissively to ensure that Maximón wouldn’t fall victim to unnecessary suspicion.

“...That’s not the case. Maximón is just an ordinary man. He is simply dedicated, like anyone else, to protecting the country. No matter how outstanding my son may be, how could he compare to the glory that you, Your Majesty, have built?”

Rodney didn’t respond to Edwin’s words but instead gazed at the empty office.

The king was excessively distrustful of people. The nobles sent their beloved children to the Noctis fortress to prove their loyalty and sincerity to the royal family, but there was also an underlying desire to avoid Rodney’s persistent suspicion and questioning.

No one could control Rodney’s doubt and anxiety. The person who had fallen victim to it was the former court steward, Rockbell Hardison.

The nobles watched as several powerless baronial families were crushed by the king’s whims. Rodney easily distrusted the nobility, having experienced two rebellions in his lifetime.

The nobles didn’t lack grievances toward the king, but with the Serith monsters swarming beyond the Noctis fortress, they couldn’t easily oppose Rodney.

“How many soldiers are guarding the Noctis fortress right now?”

Rodney asked, fiddling with his empty glass.

“About eighty thousand.”

Edwin answered immediately. However, the number of eighty thousand was a lie. It included soldiers who could not fight, those who had gone mad from excessive drug and sedative use, the wounded who could no longer wield swords, and the noble sons who had fallen into the rear due to bribes and corruption. Adding mercenaries, it would total around one hundred thousand, but considering only pure Bastronian soldiers, it was not a large number.

Before Maximón descended to the Noctis fortress, the soldiers were essentially used as cannon fodder for the Serith, thrown to defend the walls. Many people had died in the process. This damage had somewhat decreased thanks to Maximón, but at some point, Rodney became consumed with the absurd suspicion that Edwin’s adopted son might one day turn on him.

Edwin had persuaded the king and the royal family to send supplies and reinforcements for Maximón, but even that was reaching its limits.

The nobles, anticipating possible setbacks, manipulated the number of soldiers and held firm, saying they could no longer send any more reinforcements, and the king refused to send any of the garrison troops to defend the royal castle for his own safety.

Edwin had sent soldiers from his own territory to Noctis. In Elgort territory, a militia made up entirely of women had taken over maintaining order in the city.

At that moment, Rodney spread the documents Edwin had neatly organized back out in a messy fashion. The king tossed a letter onto the desk as he skimmed through the letters. It was a letter from Sword Master Taylor.

“You know that Taylor Elderketh requested reinforcements, don’t you?”

“Yes, I am aware.”

“I heard that Maximón Elgort went on a reconnaissance mission and discovered some unusual signs. Quite a remarkable achievement.”

Rodney spoke in a flat tone. The king disapproved of Maximón gaining recognition for his accomplishments. Edwin lowered his gaze, pretending not to understand.

“Thank you for acknowledging my son’s hard work.”

“Do you think it is appropriate to send reinforcements?”

“…Your Majesty.”

Edwin, feeling uncomfortable, lowered his head. Rodney knocked over his wine glass. The silver-crafted glass rolled under the desk and came to a stop at Edwin’s feet.

Edwin closed his eyes with an apologetic expression. Drunk, Rodney nervously tapped the desk, which had drops of wine on it, and asked Edwin repeatedly.

“Answer me, Edwin. What should I do? Since my adopted son has achieved something, I will follow your wishes, especially for your son.”

“…I am but a humble servant who follows the royal orders. How could someone like me decide the country’s matters?”

Edwin, lowering himself, seemed unsure, but Rodney finally smiled as though he were satisfied.

“There are about fifteen thousand soldiers in the royal garrison. Taylor Elderketh requested that these soldiers be sent. In his letter, he mentioned that a powerful entity, exceeding conventional expectations, is planning to attack the fortress... Perhaps that is also your son’s opinion?”

Although Taylor had requested the royal garrison to be sent to Noctis, Rodney suspected it was Maximón’s scheme. Edwin, still with his head lowered, subtly avoided the king’s probing.

“Lord Elderketh seems to believe that additional troops are necessary to protect the country.”

“Indeed... that may be the case. Taylor has fought as hard as Maximón, after all. However, no matter what happens, I cannot send the garrison to Noctis. Those soldiers are not just defending the fortress; they are the last shield protecting me.”

Rodney revealed his true feelings, flashing a narrow smile as he looked at Edwin. Yet, seeming to struggle with the idea of neglecting the soldiers fighting at Noctis, he patted Edwin’s shoulder and sought his agreement.

“Edwin, you understand, don’t you?”

Rodney asked a question to which the answer was already clear. Edwin, forcing a smile, picked up the wine glass Rodney had knocked over.

“…Of course, Your Majesty. I agree with your wishes.”

As Edwin raised his head, he smiled more gently than ever before.

Seeing this, Rodney finally felt at ease.

“Ah, by the way, I heard that the soldiers defending Noctis agreed to help with the eradication of the bandits occupying the Elbision Territory, and most of those soldiers belong to the Romsoa Knights.”

Rodney, who had been stumbling as he got up from his chair, mumbled as though he had just remembered. Edwin supported him. Although surprised by this news, he didn’t show it.

Rodney, walking with a smug grin, seemed to have found another reason not to send the garrison.

“Your son is truly loyal. Even while defending Noctis, he sends troops to assist. A man like Maximón could surely face the Serith without reinforcements. Am I wrong?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty is correct.”

Edwin, supporting the heavy, old king, left the office. In the king’s bedroom, his naked mistress was lying seductively on the bed.

The king, upon seeing his mistress, joyfully rushed to the bed. Edwin averted his gaze as the door closed behind him. From beyond the door, the sound of the mistress’s seductive laughter could be heard.

Edwin glanced at the embarrassed court steward before quietly walking away. When he returned to the guest room, the steward Phaelo, who had been waiting for Edwin, approached with a bright smile.

Phaelo quickly took Edwin’s coat. With a weary expression, Edwin sank into the sofa. Phaelo carefully removed Edwin’s shoes and gently asked.

“What did you discuss with the king for so long?”

“Well, just this and that...”

Edwin trailed off, letting out a long sigh. Reflecting on his conversation with the king, his head began to throb.

“The king is constantly trying to keep Maximón in check, and I’m very concerned.”

“Isn’t that kind of a mental illness?”

Phaelo, who had put slippers on Edwin, said sharply.

Edwin looked down at Phaelo with a bitter smile.

“Having gone through two rebellions, it’s understandable that he doesn’t like the people treating Maximón as a hero.”

“Young Master is fighting hard to protect the country. It’s not that I can’t commend him for his efforts, but…”

Phaelo was about to say something harsher but closed his mouth, carefully observing Edwin’s mood. However, Edwin, seeming to agree with Phaelo’s words, muttered with a sorrowful expression.

“Yes, that’s true. If the king knew about Maximón’s struggles, he wouldn’t behave like this…”

Even when Rodney was sober, he spent most of his time suspecting others.

When the former court steward Rockbell Hardison was at the palace, he knew everything about suspicious nobles’ private lives, their relationships, and even where they went and what they did. But now, without that kind of information, Rodney began distrusting anyone.

Rodney didn’t openly show his hostility towards Maximón, not because Maximón was the commander defending Noctis, but because Maximón was Edwin’s son. The king couldn’t discern things properly to that extent.

If Edwin hadn’t been the one to serve the king since the coronation, Maximón would have already faced punishment. Edwin frequently traveled between the royal castle and Elgort Territory, soothing the king’s whims like a child.

“Have you heard from the children?”

Edwin, gazing out the window, asked Phaelo. Phaelo, who was boiling water by the fireplace, quickly rose and shook his head.

“No news of any sort.”

“Hmm. The lack of contact usually means the kids are getting into trouble…”

Edwin’s face grew serious.

Edwin was aware that Maximón and Lucas had a strained relationship. When he heard that Lucas had done everything he could to slander Maximón, he was furious. He was so disappointed that he even stopped sending money to Lucas.

He thought that Lucas would soon return to Elgort Territory once the money stopped, but Lucas was just as stubborn as Maximón. Edwin, growing more anxious, realized that it had been a while since he had received any letters from either Maximón or Lucas.

Noticing the shadow of exhaustion on Edwin’s face, Phaelo quickly tried to comfort him.

“If something had happened, Lord Maurice would have contacted us first. Please don’t worry too much.”

“Maurice is too biased in Lucas’ favor, so he won’t report anything that could be unfavorable to the eldest. He didn’t even tell me that Lucas has been making Maximón’s life miserable… Hmm, it’s the first time Maximón hasn’t sent a letter for this long…”

Edwin rubbed his forehead, looking troubled. Phaelo, watching Edwin, hesitated before speaking carefully.

“…Master, actually, I’ve heard a strange rumor, but I wasn’t sure whether it was appropriate to report it, so I kept it to myself.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about Young Master.”

“Maximón? Oh, you mean the rumor about him cutting off Nathan Armunzen’s ears?”

Upon hearing that Maximón had cut off Nathan’s ears, the king didn’t get angry but instead seemed to enjoy it like a child. The feud between the Armunzen family and Maximón was amusing to the king. The more Maximón was hated by the nobility, the more satisfied Rodney became.

In a way, it was a relief. If the king had been in his right mind, he would have punished Maximón severely for harming Nathan Armunzen. Of course, the rift between the Elgort and Armunzen families was undeniable, but Edwin believed that Maximón must have had a good reason for his actions.

However, Phaelo didn’t immediately answer and hesitated. Edwin, sensing there might be another issue he didn’t know about, grew tense.

Phaelo, in a doubtful voice, finally spoke.

“Actually, there’s a rumor going around that Maximón has a woman.”

“…Huh?”

Edwin, completely caught off guard, responded in a stunned voice.

“…Maximón?”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“…My son, Maximón, has a woman?”

“Yes.”

“…He, he has a woman?”

Edwin stood there, stunned, as if struck by lightning.

Could it be true that Maximón has a woman? Is he in love with someone else? Could it be that he’s just pretending to like her in order to use her? If it’s Maximón, he would definitely do that... Oh, Sylin… please…

Edwin treasured Maximón more than anyone and loved him as much as his own son, but he knew that Maximón’s way of thinking was different from ordinary people’s. With a prayer-like gesture, Edwin clasped his hands together and despaired with a complicated expression.

“…Phaelo.”

“Yes, Master.”

“…Prepare to go down to Noctis immediately.”

“Eh?”

Phaelo was greatly startled, but Edwin spoke in a calm voice, more composed than ever.

“I need to meet Maximón after a long time. While I’m down there, I’ll bring Lucas too…”

Edwin trailed off, letting out a deep sigh.

“…Rachel can’t find out about this.”