Chapter 24: Dorothy

After receiving a vacation from Persian Cherbil, Dien devoted himself to his swordsmanship training.

“Are you not going out today?”

“I take breaks sometimes.”

While he was dripping with sweat, Shilona came out to the family’s front yard and spoke to Dien.

“A child of an administrative family seems to have quite a lot of free time.”

Dien stopped his nimble movements at Shilona’s words. Her comment was quite irritating, considering she was the one who lounged around eating and sleeping all day long.

Moreover, seeing him immersed in training and still calling it ‘leisurely’ made him regret not flicking her forehead harder back then.

“I’m busy, so why don’t you go over there?”

Dien frowned at Shilona.

“Hmm… The reason your sword connections aren’t smooth is because you aren’t familiar with Anbeop. Always keep your eyes on the tip of the blade and use your mind to anticipate the opponent’s movements. Only then can your Bobeop move more nimbly. I’ll teach you the basic Hohupbeop starting today, so get into position.”

“Oh! It seems you’ve finally decided to earn your keep.”

Dien couldn’t hide his gaping mouth as he approached her after hearing Shilona’s words.

Shortly after, Shilona pointed at the sword in Dien’s hand and added another comment.

“By the way, that sword has a short hilt, so it won’t help with the swordsmanship you’re about to learn. Switch it.”

“There is only one sword in the house.”

“Hmm.”

Shilona rested her chin in her hand and sank into thought at Dien’s response. After a moment, she returned from her room and handed her own sword to Dien.

“Here.”

Taking the sword, Dien looked at Shilona with a bewildered expression.

A swordsman handing their sword to someone else was something that could only happen based on deep trust. Furthermore, a knight handing over their sword was something usually reserved for a ceremony to establish a master-servant relationship.

“Don’t get any strange ideas. I’ll take it back once you find your own sword.”

Shilona also spoke while half-hiding her face, looking embarrassed.

“Uh… Thanks.”

“Ahem… Well then, let’s begin. Get into position!”

“Yeah!”

With Dien’s spirited answer, the formal swordsmanship lessons began.

Since Shilona’s body was still uncomfortable, she refrained from moving as much as possible and explained things through words. Dien, in turn, listened as intently as he could and focused on the lesson.

Shilona was a fairly good teacher.

She answered Dien’s minor questions with sincerity and even provided standards for basic physical training.

Before long, a structured melody began to reach Dien’s ears. Confirming through sound that he was receiving proper instruction caused a surge of emotion to well up within him.

“It’s so fun.”

This was how he felt when he first learned chords and played a song. The harmony of notes produced by strings pulled by his fingertips—that pleasant memory came back to him vividly.

“That’s very good. One more time.”

“Understood.”

He felt as if he had grown wings from her praise. Although the sweat poured down like rain despite the chilly wind, he wasn’t tired at all.

‘He is an incredible talent.’

In reality, Shilona was doing her best to suppress the praise swirling in her mouth.

It was the first time she had seen a swordsman perfectly implement Marka Swordsmanship on their first lesson. Dien’s movements looked like the training of a Holy Knight who had already realized the principles of Marka Swordsmanship and was merely correcting his posture.

‘The problem is real combat.’

From what Shilona could see, it seemed Dien would perfectly master Marka Swordsmanship within 6 months. Considering it would take a typical Holy Knight 3 years, it was clear that Dien’s talent was extraordinary. After that, he would have to apply the techniques to real combat.

‘I’m already looking forward to it.’

Seeing Dien absorb her teachings like a sponge, Shilona became curious about what he would look like 6 months from now.

In this way, Shilona also began to find joy in teaching, and the voices of Dien and Shilona echoed loudly throughout the training grounds.

***

After returning from a business trip to the territory of Baron Rams, Persian Cherbil made his first appearance at the Grand Council meeting.

“It took you quite a long time, Chancellor Persian.”

Opposite Persian sat an elderly gentleman radiating a dignified atmosphere.

He had neatly groomed gray hair and simple, unencumbered clothing. His eyes seemed deeper than the deep sea. He was the Minister of Finance, Lapierre Kaniba, who shared the top administrative spot with Persian.

“Yes. I extended the duration of the trip to handle the petition more carefully.”

“I heard that as many as seven officials from the construction department were deployed to create the measures?”

“Yes. It was for the sake of the people’s livelihood.”

“The people’s livelihood, is it?”

Lapierre let the words trail off as if trying to gauge Persian’s intentions, but he didn’t receive an answer that would clear his suspicions.

Lapierre had felt a deep sense of suspicion upon hearing rumors that Chancellor Persian had personally stepped forward to build a fence for a small village, but he had no information other than the fact that he had moved because of a petition that had reached the Royal Castle.

Lapierre’s eyes flashed sharply as he looked at Persian.

Having served for 40 years solely as an administrative official, Lapierre’s experience and knowledge overwhelmed his surroundings with an aura even more powerful than a knight’s. Even Persian, a High Knight, occasionally felt intimidated by his presence.

“It seems Chancellor Persian has no intention of opening his mouth.”

“Hahaha. It is exactly as I said. I simply handled a petition that the Ministry of Finance had not accepted.”

“Is that so?”

As with every Grand Council meeting, the battle of nerves between the two showed no signs of cooling down.

“His Majesty is entering!”

At the commander of the guard’s announcement, all the ministers rose from their seats.

“Let us begin.”

With King Lonas’s characteristically brief words, the council meeting commenced. As usual, each department reported its scheduled tasks for the week and the progress of current operations.

Then, it was Persian’s turn.

“The farming method currently developed by the Chancellor’s Office has entered trial cultivation. The location for the trial is the Roybin region in the southern part of the capital. We intend to observe the results and later compile them into a book to distribute to local territories. Furthermore, the construction of the piers for the Curse River bridge, which has been under construction since last year, has been completed. Shoring work is currently underway, and the project is proceeding without a hitch to meet the completion ceremony schedule.”

“Yes, excellent work.”

Persian sat down after finishing his brief report. And then, King Lonas’s words continued when everyone thought it was over.

“How is the fence construction in the territory of Baron Rams proceeding?”

“What?”

At Lonas’s words, Lapierre shifted in his seat. To think that Lonas would specifically mention the fence construction among the dozens of petitions received daily — especially one that Persian had handled personally.

‘Something is up!’

Lapierre’s uneasy mind began to swirl like a storm.

“Yes. A large number of construction technicians have been deployed. We are currently building a concrete wall with a height of 777 around the village.”

“Hahaha, you’ve put a lot of care into it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lapierre’s eyebrows twitched noticeably. To think the fence construction case that had left a bad taste in his mouth would be brought up so prominently in the council meeting.

“It seems Chancellor Persian does not shy away from even the most menial tasks. I am a man truly blessed with good people, seeing as you care so much about a single petition.”

“You… You flatter me, Your Majesty!”

“I see the petition was a request for a budget?”

“Yes, it was.”

Lapierre felt his body freeze at Lonas’s words. Because his aides had passed the petition to the Chancellor’s Office, he hadn’t even read the one regarding the fence.

“Thinking it was more related to the Ministry of People’s Livelihood under the Chancellor’s Office, we handled it.”

Persian took a sidelong glance at Lapierre and continued.

Having received an unpleasant favor from Persian, Lapierre bit his lip and his hands trembled.

“Anyway, it seems the Chancellor is overworking himself lately. Please keep your health in mind.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Persian was the only one to receive such high praise from Lonas during the council meeting. Lapierre gnashed his teeth as he thought of his aides who had missed the petition Lonas was concerned about.

The meeting thus ended, and Lapierre headed straight for his office without hiding his discomfort.

On the other hand, Persian maintained his poker face until he left the Crystal Palace. Eventually, when his office came into view, he could no longer hold back his laughter.

“Hehe… Hahaha!”

He looked quite comical as his body shook with laughter. When he opened the door to his office, he saw Dien, and Persian instinctively gave him a tight hug.

“Whoa! Chan… Chancellor, why are you doing this?”

Dien didn’t know what to do at his behavior.

“You did well! We really landed a solid blow!”

Dien chuckled, and only then did Persian release his arms from around him.

“Do you have a special schedule for tomorrow?”

“Me? Tomorrow is my day off from the Academy as well.”

“That’s perfect. Tell me, are you interested in music?”

“Pardon? A little…”

“There’s a symphony orchestra concert tomorrow. If you have time, why don’t you come with me?”

“Eh?”

Dien did not welcome the suggestion. It was his one day off in a week, and yet he couldn’t even rest comfortably at home.

If it had been a concert scheduled during a weekday afternoon, he would have welcomed it with both hands. It would have meant enjoying a performance instead of working during office hours. However, since it was a superior’s call on a day off, he could only think of it as an extension of work.

Even in his previous life, he had detested the pressured requests of superiors who suggested going hiking together on the weekends.

“It is a concert hosted by Baron Pablo Celler, the Court Musician and composer. He is a once-in-a-century genius who served as the concertmaster of the Imperial Kemple Symphony Orchestra and even received a title solely for his talent. You will surely like Pablo’s concert as well.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”

It was just that he didn’t want to see Persian even on his day off; in truth, he was looking forward to seeing an orchestra performance. Perhaps he should be thankful that the word ‘hiking’ hadn’t come out of Persian’s mouth.

“I’ll send a carriage to the House of Portran tomorrow afternoon.”

“No, Chancellor! I’ll make my own way there!”

“Do not refuse.”

In fact, Persian had a separate reason for wanting to accompany Dien to the concert.

It was an old custom in the Kingdom of Delos to pre-arrange a fiancé for children when they were around 20 years old. Persian happened to have a daughter around Dien’s age. Persian hoped the two would form a friendship before they turned 20.

If it were Dien, the successor of the House of Portran, he would be a perfect fit as her husband.

And…

‘Dien is much better than that street musician!’

Persian had been suffering from a headache because of his daughter, Dorothy, who went out to the Central Plaza every night to see a street musician.

At some point, Dorothy started leaving the house with a maid whenever night fell. It was as if she were possessed, and she had turned the family upside down by insisting she would marry the street musician, which caused Persian no small amount of distress.

At the time, Persian was furious and had banned Dorothy from leaving.

However, perhaps stubbornness was hereditary, for Dorothy had even gone on a hunger strike, demanding to be allowed to meet the street musician.

Fortunately, the street musician she mentioned had not appeared in the Central Plaza recently.

According to rumors, the street musician had become a servant for a noblewoman and was being overworked… Anyway, thanks to that, Dorothy’s tantrums had finally quieted down.

Persian thought that now, with the street musician gone, it was the perfect time to bring Dorothy and Dien together.

“Chancellor, how about having our officials from the Chancellor’s Office handle the protocol for the banquet hosted by the First Prince? Shouldn’t we take this opportunity to show the provincial lords that the Chancellor’s Office supports the First Prince?”

“That’s a good idea.”

Persian sat down and watched Dien as he checked the schedule. Dien had already become an excellent strategist. Persian knew Dien’s abilities better than anyone.

“About tomorrow’s concert…”

“Yes?”

Dien turned his head to look at him at Persian’s words.

“Make sure you come, no matter what.”

“Pardon? Hahaha…”

At his sudden remark, Dien tilted his head and let out an awkward laugh.