"Yes, I am the bad guy. I never knew that the Bone Dragon would move like that..."
"Oh, but that was the same for everyone at the Termina Garden construction-"
"However, it was also evident that I did not know..."
"So, I felt responsible. Had I foreseen the disaster ahead of time, had I gone to the prophet and learned about the incident sooner! I believe the Bone Dragon wouldn't have jumped in the middle of the capital and caused such an awful disaster."
"Look here, excuse me, Lord Frontera," huffed Marquess Cordova with dismay after hearing Lloyd's continuous repentance, "I did not mean it that way-"
"I am aware," interrupted Lloyd. "You were asking why I put myself down as a co-developer when I only participated in the construction of the waterway and nothing else."
"Surely-"
Lloyd raised his hand. "That is the reason why I am repenting. Even when the queen generously allowed me the honor of putting myself down as the co-developer here, I leisurely engrossed myself in the waterway construction, unaware of the impending doom."
"I did not mean it that way-"
"Yes, indeed," affirmed Lloyd with a nod. "I must repent. I must lament my faults and lack of accountability. As such, I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Marquess Cordova for allowing me to reflect on my past mistakes."
Marquess Cordova was dumbstruck. This was not what he had expected to hear. What he wanted was for Lloyd to fight back. To drag him into a messy fight and make him show the worst sides of him. He wanted to provoke an emotional reaction out of Lloyd.
So... why does he keep making guilty confessions with even tears in his eyes? Why?
Marquess Cordova, the representative of the opposing faction, stared intensely at Lloyd with dismay.
Wait, is he doing this on purpose?
Watching over him, that seemed to be the case. Suddenly, a shaft of hatred came over his heart.
Ha! A fool like you can never win against me even if you're the meritorious retainer of the imperial family!
Marquess Cordova regarded himself as a devoted subject and patriot. He was proud of the House of Magentano's prosperity and rejoiced as the imperial family rose to power. He hoped that this peace and prosperity would last for many years to come. That was why he didn't have a fond view of Lloyd Frontera.
Fine. I admit that you have many accomplishments. But what now? How could there be an obligation to give you the Tears of Summer, one of the imperial family's divine items? It is undeniably improper for you to receive the Tears of Summer solely because an angel randomly dropped from the heavens and delivered such a prophecy!
Marquess Cordova was not pleased. The Tears of Summer was one of the invaluable divine items of the imperial family. Despite the fact that it had never been used before, just having it in their possession made them stronger.
Swords do not need to be drawn to demonstrate their strength. The mere presence of one in a sheath can be enough to intimidate an opponent.
To Marquess Cordova, the divine item was exactly that. It was a strong deterrent, so he couldn't understand why the prophecy should prompt the bestowal of the item to a lowly subordinate and hurt the imperial house.
Lloyd Frontera. I must sully that man's reputation, whatever it takes.
Marquess Cordova thought he had come well-prepared. He had come up with a series of questions designed to provoke Lloyd, and he wasn't afraid to distort some facts along the way, believing that these would be enough to embarrass Lloyd and set off his temper. Reality, however, betrayed his conviction.
It isn't working. He must have deduced what our plan was. What is going on inside his head that... he can keep his calm in the face of my humiliating questions?
Marquess Cordova couldn't get his mind around it. He was a nobleman whose honor and pride were far more important than his life. Lloyd, he assumed, would be the same as a noble like himself. So, he couldn't understand him. It was only now that he realized that this young man's value system was radically different from his.
Tsk. I expected them to mock and provoke me after making me come all the way here, but no. Now that I have gone through everything, I don't think I was affected in any way.
Marquess Cordova, who was across from him. Lloyd inwardly smirked as he stared at the man. It was true. Most of the questions he barraged on Lloyd during the entire session tried to subtly distort the truth about his actions and intentions in a negative light. It seemed like an extremely vicious media tactic. However, once Lloyd listened to him speak, he didn't sense that there had been any damage inflicted at all. The reason was simple.
The compliments my teammates inside a video game threw at me had more burn to them.
The questions Marquess Cordova had seemed to prepare in advance to obliterate Lloyd fell flat. They were nothing but soft baby jabs, which only made him enjoy the situation. And each time the marquess accused him with sharp and aggressive questions, Lloyd didn't fight back or give excuses. Instead, he accepted everything, even going the extra mile of putting on a tearful performance to show his guilt!
"Yes," Lloyd exclaimed, "Everything is my fault. Mea culpa. I wasn't up to the task. I should have known the queen was going to be poisoned sooner. This would have saved her from being poisoned. The same is true in Cremo. It never occurred to me that the Gigatitan would scale the mountain. I had no idea, which only added to the damage. I failed to evacuate the people, and the buildings collapsed and caught fire."
"No, that's not the answer I'm looking for..."
"No," Lloyd said as he wiped his eyes. "I am fully cognizant of your concerns and worries, Marquess Cordova. You might wonder how such an incompetent person like me could dare be bestowed the Tears of Summer. Yes, I have the same question. I am a severely undeserving man with infinite flaws, as you can see. I am only curious. Curious why the heavens gave me such a tribulation, no, prophecy."
“...”
"If I could, I want to dare ask the holy angels for what great reason they have placed such a heavy responsibility on my shoulders by giving me the divine item."
"That is what we want to ask-"
"No. I am more curious. That is the reason why my heart is filled with pain and sadness! The prophecy should have been directed at you, Marquess Cordova, who is far more excellent and devoted to the imperial family than I am!"
"Ha?" A perplexed look appeared on Marquess Cordova's face.
"I genuinely think so, Marquess Cordova. You have spent every day of your life devoting yourself to the imperial family, day in and day out, and you plan on doing that for the remaining time you have."
"That is, of course-"
"I certainly think so, and I believe it, too, for you are a man of outstanding character incomparably better than a mere novice with some luck like me."
"No, this is not the time for you to say-"
"I understand that now is not the time. But I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart. Truths, a wise man once said, are sharp and pointy, and they come out no matter how you cover them. The same is true for me right now. The more I try to close my mouth, the more the truth in my heart escapes and spills out."
Lloyd's eyes traveled around the room. "I am well aware that Marquess Cordova, Count Montego on your side, and the man across from you all deserve to be respected. How can I not? You are true patriots who genuinely care about the royal family while maintaining honor even when no one is looking."
"Um..."
"No, Marquess. No need to act humble. With that, I..." It was as if he had an advanced motor or turbo engine attached to his mouth. He couldn't stop the compliments and praises that poured out of his mouth toward his opposition without a break. "I think that I do not deserve to receive the divine item."
"Excuse me?! Lloyd Frontera!" came a booming, impatient voice. It belonged to Marquess Alcante, the representative of the advocates. There was a sense of panicked alarm in his voice. "What are you on about? You've been given a prophecy! For Pete's sake, a prophecy! What do you mean you'll give it up because you don't deserve it? Do you think this is child's play?"
"That is obviously not the case," said Lloyd coolly.
"So, what is it? I'd like to emphasize once more that this is not a joke. It's the will of the heavens. Are you saying this with the knowledge of what will happen if you interpret or reject the prophecy arbitrarily?"
"I..."
"I'm not interested in your excuses!" he yelled again. "When you reject the prophecy on your own accord, you never know what punishment awaits you. Is it your intention to punish the royal family in this manner? This cannot be!" roared Marquess Alcante. "I will never allow such bad luck and a curse to fall on us! How dare you dismiss the prophecy so casually!"
Lloyd sighed at length, casting his head down in dismay and not knowing what to do.
Suddenly feeling guilty, Marquess Alcante calmed himself by clearing his throat. "I apologize if I lambasted you for a split second there. But, as I previously stated, you received the prophecy, and your lack of seriousness may endanger the royal house. So, with a slight sense of pressure and responsibility, I ask you to accept the prophecy. That is the only option for the royal family."
"Wait a minute, Marquess Alcante!" protested Marquess Cordova as soon as his remarks were made. "Why are you acting as if following the prophecy is the only option here? How could you make such a treacherous statement about giving that young man one of the divine items of the imperial family?"
"What...?" Marquess Alcante's face flushed with anger. "Treacherous? What did you just say?"
"I am correct here!" bawled Marquess Cordova. "It's the divine item! Even if the prophecy was made, you cannot think lightly of the divine item of the royal house!"
Marquess Alcante slammed his fist into the desk in front of him. "But you never know what might happen if you defy the prophecy!"
"But the imperial house will suffer a huge loss by following it!" retorted Marquess Cordova louder.
"Watch your mouth, Marquess Cordova! You are putting the royal house at risk with your blasphemy!"
"Watch your mouth, Marquess Alcante! You're inciting mutiny so openly now!"
"Now, you listen!" screamed Marquess Alcante, unable to control his anger anymore.
"What...?" Marquess Cordova froze a second, taken back. "You listen?"
The two nobles started to scream at each other, quickly destroying the chamber room's atmosphere. Lloyd, on the other hand, smiled but only on the inside. He lowered his rising lips and put on a troubled expression, pleading with both parties to calm down and stop this. His bright-eyed attempt to mediate the situation nearly impressed the entire audience. Except for three people.
I knew that was how this man would react.
Javier sighed at length. Julian, on the other hand...
Wow. Lloyd Frontera. Seriously. I know he's my brother, but how can a person be so despicable?
The two realized right away that everything Lloyd was doing at the time was part of his deception and plan. The last person to see through his ruse was Queen Magentano, who entered amid the commotion.
"Queen Alicia Termina Magentano is entering! Pay your respects to Her Majesty!"
The voice of the guard commander echoed across the room, freezing everyone and forcing them to bow. There was now complete silence in the room, and when the doors opened, Queen Magentano entered, scanning the advocates, opponents, and Lloyd. Her lips curled into a faint smile.
I knew it. I knew you would do this.
Even before she entered the room, she could hear what was going on inside. She realized something as she picked up on the noises, disagreements, and quarrels.
Your lies, flattery, and trickery. I pity those fools who have been fooled by you.
Her gaze moved back and forth between the supporters and detractors. She was well aware that all of them were devoted subjects intent on following her and her imperial house. She also knew that each made sense and that they couldn't find common ground in their opposing arguments.
Lloyd Frontera. You are setting up a stage for me to put an end to this entire situation.
Her mind flashed back to two days earlier when Lloyd had asked her to decide whether to accept his proposal and present it in front of the House of Peers.
I told him I would think about it.
She gave a bitter smile. Lloyd had clearly had this situation in mind the entire time. His initial plan was to present her with an avenue of mediation to the extreme clash and division that would occur as a result of the prophecy.
Is this your gift for me? Once again, you are trying to protect my political reputation and uplift my image.
If everything went as planned, she would increase her authority by successfully mediating between the two parties, while Lloyd would earn the opportunity to acquire the Tears of Summer. Depending on Lloyd's work, the kingdom would also have the opportunity to see the trade route in the Pantara region. Everyone would benefit in the grand scheme of things. She turned to face Lloyd.
She caught a faint smile on Lloyd's face in the split second her eyes met his. She realized it now. She knew what he was thinking and why he kept looking after her even though he seemed to always behave so selfishly. And so, she began to develop a desire for Lloyd Frontera.
Somehow, I am growing excited over the possibility that you may become more important to me beyond your role as a retainer.
"I hereby order..." she solemnly declared after making a firm resolution.
