21st Century Archmage

Chapter 81: In a Garden of Flowers

Translator: Lei

Proofreader: Imagine

After the sudden noble appointment during the Emperor’s congratulatory ceremony, a cheerful tune began playing through the hall, signaling the start of the party in full-force.

‘Haah…’

At the pleasant music, the nobles swiftly took up positions inside the enormous hall as if there was a rule to where you should stand.

‘A ball, huh. How suffocating.’

The scene before me clearly showed that the nobles were just here to celebrate the emperor’s birthday. Whether they were young or old, female or male, the nobles were giving off as much enticing aura as was within reason. They walked without hesitation towards their match as if it had all been decided beforehand. Despite being chilled with magic, the hot ardor of the nobles seemed to fill the hall in an instant.

“Um… Count Kyre…”

‘Hm? W-Who are these ladies?’

A woman, or rather, several women, approached me after I stepped off the Emperor’s dais and watched the ball begin. Around ten ladies clearly giving off high-born elegance surrounded me in no time, their eyes sparkling with curiosity. Like girls full of curiosity towards a celebrity, these young noblewomen were sending me ‘Oppa, I’m available’ signals.

They were pretty cute. The group was made up of young girls just coming of age, not infirm aunties who were old and fully matured.

“How may I help you, my lady?”

A professional smile bloomed naturally on my face.

“Oh my….”

“The eyes are black, too… How fascinating, like a demon’s.”

Today, my general concept was ‘black.’ It was no wonder that I looked like a demon to these girls.

“If it does not offend, my hand…”

A girl with striking red hair plucked up her courage and extended a gloved hand towards me.

‘Isn’t that something the man should do first?’

I looked around, but for the most part, the men were the ones approaching women with their wagging tails.

‘The Emperor looks tired…’

While I was turning to look at the red-haired girl, I saw the Emperor leaving. Supported by the knights, he was quietly leaving with the Empress.

‘Ara? That bastard!’

I was about to give my very first dance to the brave red-haired girl when I suddenly spotted something on the other side of the hall just as I took my eyes off the Emperor. The most repulsive creature in this hall was giving a greasy smile as he approached a certain woman.

“I apologize, my lady. I have a previous engagement…” I said, lowering my head respectfully in order to avoid humiliating the lady.

“N-No, it’s alright. You are probably very busy.”

“Thank you very much for your deep consideration. Then, goodbye…”

I wasn’t born with noble blood, but thanks to all the movies I had seen, this level of conversation was nothing.

‘My goal today is completely fulfilled anyway. That rotten bastard.’

Slipping past the people dancing in circles, I quickly approached the woman the Crown Prince was aiming for.

We had only shared a single meal together, but I couldn’t just watch her be dragged into the wolf’s embrace.

* * *

‘To think he was the Lord of Nerman….’

Princess Rosiathe, who had come to the Bajran Empire’s birthday celebration as the representative of Havis Kingdom, was shocked when she saw the owner of the hybrid wyvern she had met recently near Havis borders. She had already thought his identity was special because he wasn’t ordinary in appearance, but she was stunned to find out that he was the lord of the territory that was inseparably attached to Havis Kingdom.

‘He’s quite unique to confidently ask the emperor for a count peerage.’

As she thought about the man named Kyre, a happy smile appeared on her lips. They shared a brief memory of eating boar meat together after meeting at the border. Rosiathe’s heart had thumped when she saw Kyre here, the same Kyre who had offered her meat without hesitation.

She had meant to go to Nerman once, anyway. Because orders from Nerman suddenly increased, the taxes (including transit tolls) that Havis Kingdom was able to reap nearly doubled. Rosiathe was well aware that if this continued, Havis Kingdom’s national power would be greatly strengthened in just a year’s time.

“Haha, it greatly pleases me to meet the Flower of the North again, Rosiathe-nim.”

Rosiathe was happily thinking about the eccentric Kyre when a man’s voice suddenly came from behind her, making her turn her head.

“I humbly greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Startled back to her senses, Rosiathe held the hem of her dress to greet the Crown Prince.

“What kind of thoughts were you enjoying so dearly? It was enough to make my heart tremble as an onlooker,” said the Crown Prince, acting like a courteous noble.

After the Crown Prince appeared, the Bajran nobles who had wanted to speak to Rosiathe backed off, retreating far away. They were fleeing because they knew of Crown Prince Poltviran’s tyrannical disposition and knew there was nothing good about catching his eye. As they left, they pitied the poor princess of the neighboring kingdom who was the target of the desire slithering in the Crown Prince’s eyes.

“I was thinking of the empire’s great grace,” she responded, hiding her unease.

Rosiathe was also aware that the Crown Prince in front of her pretending to be courteous had a violent temperament and was a lecher lusting after women. Poltviran already had a fiance appointed to become the Crown Princess, but it was well known in the Havis Kingdom as well that the number of women who had lost their virginity to the Crown Prince was immeasurable.

“Haha, so that’s the case. I heard that the neighboring kingdoms these days have been harboring unpleasant thoughts about our empire, but it is a relief that the Havis Kingdom is different. When I become the emperor…. I will make it so those kinds of rumors never appear, you see.”

Tremble.

It was an unveiled threat. Rosiathe was an ambassador sent to represent her country, so she clearly understood the Crown Prince’s intent. Poltviran was saying he would punish the kingdoms neighboring the Bajran Empire if they did something he didn’t like one day.

“O-Our kingdom will never become a cause of worry for the Crown Prince.”

Her voice trembled like a deer frightened by the deathly white fangs of a wolf. This was the sadness of the powerless. A kingdom that did not even have a tenth of the empire’s power was hardly a kingdom. If the Bajran Empire did not protect them, the Laviter bastards would tear Havis to pieces in an instant. The life of the Havis Kingdom had been already scraped away bit by bit, and now there was only a thread left.

“Of course. The things I despise the most in the world are bastards who jump out without knowing their place. Hahaha.”

What exactly did the Crown Prince want to say? The wolf’s claws slowly stripped away the defenses of the trembling young princess of the Havis Kingdom. No one here would help; they would only glance and predict the fate of a pitiful woman.

“Princess Rosiathe, let us dance now. We should fully enjoy the ball my Father arranged. That is the path his vassals should take, is it not?”

His lion of a father had left, making the Crown Prince the master here. Instead of trying to get the lady’s consent, he disrespectfully ordered her to dance. Rosiathe clenched her hands into fists and endured the shame. She was all too aware that the kingdom’s future would disappear the moment this wolf of a Crown Prince became the emperor if she rejected him and left.

Rosiathe extended a trembling hand to the arrogantly smiling wolf, biting her lip as she tried to control her emotions.

At this moment, she cursed her wretched body, the powerless body that would be taken into the embrace of a beast that reeked of blood.

“Huhu…”

The Crown Prince’s dark laughter was full of desire. His covetous eyes were staring greedily at Rosiathe’s white nape.

As soon as he took her hand, tonight, no one would know what would become of Rosiathe.

‘Kyre….’

And just then, Rosiathe thought of a certain man.

Without Rosiathe herself fully realizing it, she desperately wished to see the simple smile of the man who had passed over a boar hind leg to her.

* * *

“Haha! It has been a while, Rosiathe-nim.”

“….Kyre-nim!”

‘Look ‘til your eyes drop, why dontcha!’

The dirty bastard’s desire was obvious even from afar. The disgusting stench he exuded had sent all the other males running with their tails tucked.

Trembling in front of him was a poor woman.

I loudly called Rosiathe’s name as I reached her side.

“Y-You bastard!”

“Haha, Your Highness the Crown Prince, thanks to you, I have become a count. I will never, ever forget your favor.”

Even after the Emperor’s congratulatory ceremony ended and I greeted the Imperial Family, this Crown Prince bastard spent the whole time glaring at me. Because I suddenly showed up and interrupted his pleasure-seeking, his brown eyes were blazing with a show of his nasty temperament.

“Grr…. You are truly a bastard whose guts have grown outside his body.”

“As if that could happen—how could someone live with their guts outside their body? I am merely thanking Your Highness the Crown Prince for granting me Bebeto. It is only because you readily gave me Bebeto and even sent me to Nerman that I have reached my current position, is it not? I, Kyre, am not a man without conscience. I will surely, surely repay your great favor.”

Smiling coldly, I stared right into the Crown Prince’s bulging eyes.

“Grr…..”

The nasty-tempered wolf audibly ground his teeth.

It was truly a shame to see the crown prince of a nation losing his cool after a few words. His father was a real emperor, but it was crystal clear that the Bajran Empire would be reduced to a sorry state in no time at all if this bastard became the emperor.

“Rosiathe-nim, didn’t we make a prior engagement?”

Rosiathe’s eyes went round at my words.

It was cute. Just looking at the surprised eyes of a stunner called the Flower of the North made me happy.

“His Highness the Crown Prince will also understand. The great Crown Prince of the empire would not be so narrow-hearted as to take the hand of a lady with a previous engagement. Isn’t that so, Your Highness?”

Since I was going to chew him out, I might as well do it properly.

“You…. You bastard…”

Instead of responding, the Crown Prince glared at me once before whirling away.

With his injured pride, his heart was probably one step away from exploding from rage. But no matter how much of a temper tantrum-throwing, ill-tempered crown prince he was, he wouldn’t reveal that nasty temper of his at his father’s birthday party.

“Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince. May great fortune find itself your way.” I mercilessly unleashed a sarcastic goodbye to the guy’s back.

* * *

* * *

“Pft….” Looking at the person who had taken the air right out of the Crown Prince’s sails, Rosiathe finally let out the snort she’d been holding in. “Thank you,” she said with an uber cute smile, the panic visible when she had been facing the Crown Prince nowhere to be seen.

“We’re acquaintances, after all.”

“Yes.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you here. You have become even more beautiful since the last time we met.”

“T-Thank you very much.”

‘Ehh?’

My ‘diligent’ attitude always kicked in with no regard for time or place, but even I was embarrassed by the words slipping out of my mouth without a hitch.

“Shall we go for a spin?”

“Pardon? A-a spin?”

“Haha. That’s what we say in Nerman when asking a lady for a dance.”

“Ah….”

Rosiathe nodded to acknowledge my ridiculous words and gave me her permission.

‘But man, what’s this bloodthirst I feel on my back?’

I had saved the pretty Rosiathe from the Crown Prince and was just about to enjoy the legendary ball when I felt two stabbing gazes.

I turned my head a little.

The very first things I saw were the big gossiping mouths of the nobles as they looked at Rosiathe and me.

And then…

‘Igis!’

Since I had escorted her all the way to the hall, most people had probably expected that my first dance would be with Igis.

And that wasn’t all.

‘Irene!’

7 o’clock to my left, around 10 meters away, Countess Irene was watching with an “I expected this” expression. I was irreversibly stamped with the playboy title now. The girl I came in with and the girl I was dancing with were different, so I really had no words to refute it…

“Please.”

Her white nape and face covered with a faint blush, Rosiathe extended her hand.

“It is an honor.”

The milk was already spilled. I looked away from the two womens’ gazes and took Rosiathe’s hand.

‘Sigh, it would be nice if I had two bodies….’

I regretted the fact that I only had one body as I took Rosiathe’s hand and lightly placed my left hand on her pencil-thin waist.

‘Hng!’

My hand perceived the elasticity of Rosiathe’s waist, and the cheerful waltz of the ball’s music played in my ear.

‘You only live once! You should live every moment to the fullest!’

Right now, right here, this was the best decision I could make.

I would never regret it.

Life was too short to have regrets.

There would only be passionate steps moving forward in my life.

* * *

“What? Eleven Gold Wyverns? And dozens of Greys?”

After the Emperor left, Duke Ormere was busy dealing with the countless nobles in the stead of the Crown Prince, who didn’t have much interest in politics.

Suppressed by the Emperor’s authority, Duke Ormere was unable to do anything about the bastard named Kyre receiving a count peerage, so all he could do was seethe. He firmly suppressed his rage with a vicious heart as he strengthened ties with the nobles at the ball.

The Bajran Empire was very large. Ormere was well aware that there were still nobles who did not support him, so he made full use of this opportunity.

But then, Viscount Parkess had hurriedly approached with some ridiculous news.

“It is true. The knight who went to Nerman and returned confirmed the veracity.”

Ormere and Parkess spoke privately in a corner of the hall.

“Mm… For golds to show up there so suddenly…”

After dancing with Havis Kingdom’s Princess Rosiathe, the black-haired man named Kyre had at some point made his way to Bajran’s Princess Igis and was merrily dancing hand-to-hand with her.

Somehow, he became the center of attention in the Hall of Honor. It was custom for the Crown Prince to dance in the center in balls like this, but Poltviran was nowhere to be found, and Kyre was the one dancing with everyone’s gazes on him.

Even Ormere had to admit that it was a rather dashing sight. The bastard had a mug that didn’t pale in comparison to Princess Rosiathe, who was recognized as a true beauty in the empire. Moreover, the bastard had overflowing charisma that overwhelmed the crowd. Considering that he had just become a count, it was impressive that his actions resembled that of a king.

“What would you like to do? With this much evidence… We would have grounds to accuse treason.”

Since he had already attempted to kill Kyre once, Viscount Parkess freely accused Kyre of treason.

“Now is not the time. In any case, he will… not be able to escape this place.”

Duke Ormere was granting mercy to a man enjoying his last feast.

“Ohh! Count Halbastro, it has been a while.”

Turning his gaze from Kyre, Ormere walked towards a politically important noble.

The moment the party ended, the bastard would be given a tour of hell.

* * *

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

‘In times like this, you really see how much of an angel she is.’

Igis was the second woman to take my hand. In front of others, she was a dignified princess, but in front of me, she became a woman who didn’t conceal her jealousy.

“I, Kyre, believe I am a truly bad person.”

“….?”

My turn of speech made Igis look questioningly at me.

“How could an ordinary mortal like myself dare to gaze upon the Princess, a bright star from the heavens?”

“Pft….”

As the Princess and I danced, the nobles naturally made space.

“Oh my goodness, this time it’s the Princess?”

“Who in the world is Count Kyre? How can he dance with Princess Rosiathe and the Princess?”

“Looking closer, he has really manly good looks.”

“Looks like that rumor that he was the savior of the soldiers who returned from Nerman was true.”

Noblewomen from all over the place were busy whispering in admiration.

“Hmph! It is a mistake to think all nobles are the same.”

“Impudent country rat with unknown origins….”

“How dare he put his dirty hands on the Princess’ body.”

And of course, I could also hear the childish mutterings of the male nobles.

‘If you’re jealous, just say so, jerks.’

It felt like this ball had been made for me, and I enjoyed it to my heart’s content.

‘The atmosphere isn’t that great, though….’

Even as we danced, I could feel rough auras from various places. It was obvious that the Emperor would not live much longer. And if the Emperor passed away, the lives of Igis and Prince #2, the kiddo, would surely be endangered. It was impossible that the scumbag Crown Prince would be considerate towards his half-siblings from a different mother.

‘So that guy is Duke Ormere, huh.’

Even I knew that he was the Bajran Empire’s big shot. Apparently, Duke Ormere’s power had reached the skies even when the Emperor was healthy.

‘He’s also the fucker who sent me to Nerman.’

Duke Ormere, the maternal uncle of the Crown Prince, had schemed behind the scenes against me. He was a person capable of utilizing most of the authority an emperor could exert. Anyone with half a brain could tell that he was directly or indirectly involved with my expulsion to Nerman.

‘What to do?’

Her anger dissipated by a single cheesy compliment from me, Igis enjoying the dance. The Princess with golden hair similar to Rosiathe’s hair was holding onto my hand and immersed in happiness, heedless of the fate she would soon meet.

“Igis….”

“….?”

Igis gazed at me with joyful eyes.

“If you ever need a place to rest, come to Nerman. I will protect you.”

Tremble.

She wasn’t a fool, so she understood what I meant. Igis nodded, her eyes growing moist.

“Thank you.”

‘!!’

As she thanked me, Igis rested her head slightly against my shoulder in front of all the nobles.

The music had changed from a waltz to the blues.

Igis’ sweet scent tunneled into my nose like a hot spring breeze.

‘That’s right, just believe in your oppa.’

Right now, I was comforting a powerless and pitiful woman, no, a world-class beauty. In this situation, most men would resolve themselves to become a sturdy shield.

Life was short.

Living dashingly, with style—that was a true man’s dream, right?

* * *

“Goodness gracious… this time it’s Ice Countess Irene?”

“So cool….”

“Looking closer, his dignity is no joke.”

My sensitive ears picked up the admiration of the noblewomen.

The grass was always greener on the other side. After dancing with big fish instead of minor characters, my stock price was skyrocketing.

“Rotten bastard….”

“Even Countess Irene….”

On the other hand, the male nobles had finally lost their fighting spirit. There were still a few guys muttering with jealousy, but for the most part, it was just awed murmurings from the women and the sighs from the men coming in 360° surround sound.

“Playboy.”

“You flatter me.”

This time, I was dancing with the completely unreadable Irene. The way her neatly tied-back silver hair reflected the magic lights as she danced gave her a mystical aura.

She flatly called me a playboy, and I accepted it with a grin. I might think I was blameless, but my actions were definitely ‘playboy’ worthy in the eyes of others.

‘Older sis, don’t look at me like that. You’ll make me wanna kiss ya.’

There was a hint of a smile on her charming red lips. When I locked eyes with her slightly joking look, my heart thumped wildly. And then, I was reminded of that electrifying first flight. She had been wearing an airplate, but my hands had touched Irene’s sacred hills. As I recalled the feeling of Irene as she flew without hesitation on the winds, my heart grew warm.

“Do you intend on becoming a king?” said Irene out of nowhere as she danced to the instruments playing at a suitable speed.

“I wonder….”

“If you want to take multiple women as your formal wives, then don’t you have to become a king? You playboy Skyknight count gentleman.”

BABAM!

‘OH! So there was a way like that!!’

Irene said it like a joke, but her advice made a bang of realization reverberate in my head. On this continent, unless you were a king or an emperor, polygamy was outlawed under the decree of the gods.

‘If I become a king, then…. Huhuhu.’

I wouldn’t have to agonize about which person I would marry. In Korea, this kind of thought would get me stabbed to death by the countless single ‘monks’ living in hell found over the internet, but this was the Kallian Continent, not Earth. As long as I could become a king, I could do whatever I pleased.

“If you’re interested, I can sign you up for a spot.”

“Shameless,” she muttered, mercilessly pinching me with the hand she was resting on my side.

‘Ahh!’ I screamed in pain inside, but resisted a groan. All the nobles were currently watching Irene and I. I had to clench my teeth and endure the pain.

‘But she didn’t say no?’

Even after berating me, her face reddened a little. I felt her slender waist tremble slightly under her dress.

“You should leave today.”

“….?”

“There are many who are after you,” she whispered in a moment when our bodies came close during the dance.

‘It must be bad if Irene took notice.’

I had already decided to leave, anyway. There was no need to stick around, since everything was done.

“Please take care of Razcion and Princess Igis if something happens in the palace. You are the only person I can trust, Countess Irene.”

I had zero connections here in the Bajran Empire. Irene was their only hope in a crisis.

“I will do my best.”

“Thank you.”

We could not discuss any longer. To my regret, the piece was already coming to an end.

‘It’s time to go now, I guess.’

I looked at Igis, who was looking at me like Cinderella bidding her Prince adieu, Rosiathe, little Razcion, and finally, Irene.

‘When leaving, you’re supposed to go without saying goodbye, right?’

A few gazes had bothered me this whole time. There were several nobles who were watching my every move.

“Then…”

“Be careful…”

I bowed after the piece ended, and Irene told me to be careful. She only said two words, but I could feel that they were filled with her worry.

I grinned at Irene’s sky-blue eyes.

‘Even playing around is work.’

I didn’t dislike being with Igis. However, I wasn’t so inclined to entertain the sneaky mob aiming for my life. And besides, it was now time to return to what had become my home, Nerman.

Putting my feelings of regret behind me, I carefully walked into the crowd of nobles, holding a glass of wine from one of the servants’ trays and pretending like I was taking a break.

Like an act of deception from the spies in the movies….