The Blood Knight’s Villains

My Villains Episode 321

57. Preface (2)

Marquis Eabon’s palace was quite spacious and luxurious, befitting its name ‘Palace’. A tall and thick wall served as a fortress, and a small forest and a wide courtyard spread out in the middle of the four buildings facing each other from a distance.

I followed an attendant whose expression I couldn’t read across the courtyard. On the way, I saw a peaceful forest with trees covering my feet with dry leaves.

Piririk-

A sparrow with black plumage protruded from a small nest perched on a thick branch. The bird, which had been crying for a while, met my eyes as if it had noticed the gaze directed at it. And then it flew away somewhere.

Beneath it, a squirrel with puffed cheeks was busily running somewhere. It’s still winter, so where did they get their food?

Contrary to the common sense accumulated while living as Kim Seung-soo, the forest was not a very peaceful place in this world. This is because beasts and thieves, as well as all kinds of monsters, move secretly under the thick leaves and branches.

However, there was no way that goblins or murderers were hiding in the forest built in the middle of the palace. In short, it is a safe forest where you can walk unarmed, which is extremely rare in this world.

Perhaps noticing my admiration for the forest, the servant who was leading the way suddenly opened his mouth.

“His Excellency the Marquis loves this forest very much. Make sure to go for a walk at least once or twice a week.”

“……is it so?”

“However, they have been trying to widen the forest for several years, as if they feel that the size is a little lacking. I’m clearing the Buchon street north of the fence, and that’s because of the forest.”

“If you clear the streets.”

“Of course, I am not forcibly kicking them out. It’s about giving them enough money and persuading them.”

Uhm.” The owner of the city asks to vacate the building, but can it not be coercive?

I looked back at the forest again with a wry smile.

It looked like a peaceful place until just a moment ago…

but now it looks like something that symbolizes the strength and will of an old powerful person.

“Welcome Sir Phoenix.”

The Marquis, wearing a silk tunic and a dressing gown,

greeted me in a large room.

The large space covered with marble was filled with all kinds of objects, and dozens of paintings were hung on the walls in four directions.

“dismissal. This is…

“It’s an exhibition room. It is the place where the history of the Arya family is contained.”

It feels more like a museum than an exhibition room… Yeah, what. that or that

After a quick glance, there were old weapons and crosses on display, as well as many stuffed animals and monsters. Most of the paintings on the walls were portraits, except for a few landscapes.

There were only about 10 people in the exhibition room, including escort knights and attendants, but the exhibits and paintings made the hall feel cramped.

“Wait a minute.”

With a wrinkled smile on his face, the marquis approached the chest-high bedside table and placed his hand on the crystal ball placed on it. A ring glowed, and the mana contained in it flowed into the crystal ball.

Flash!

In an instant, the exhibition hall lit up.

After adjusting to the bright light by frowning, I looked again to see the paintings hanging on the walls were emitting colorful light.

“How is it? Have you ever seen anything like this?”

“…No, what is this?”

“It’s called ‘Kolbian Magic Paint’. If you infuse it with mana, the painting looks alive like this.”

As he said, the strange light added vitality to the painting.

The paintings did not move, but the people in the portraits flashed their eyes and their faces came alive. It was as if dozens of people were surrounding and watching this side.

” Come this way.”

The Marquis guided me with a beckoning gesture.

On the northern wall, three large paintings each occupied a large space. One was a painting depicting dozens of warriors charging at the teeming monsters, the other two were portraits.

“They are like the roots of Arya’s family… Do you know who they are?”

Of the two, the one on the right was a handsome blond man. Her scarlet eyes gave off a somewhat intelligent light, giving her a calm look.

The one on the left was the same blonde, but with a shaggy beard and a face full of scars, he was stern. Her auburn eyes were dark in tone, but they looked like they would burst into flames at any moment.

I immediately recognized his identity.

“…This is the Zeot of Zeore. “That’s accurate.” “Then the person on the right must be the Marquis of Osu, the only younger brother of the King of Conquerors?”

“That’s right. Arya is the one who opened the family.”

After examining the two portraits blankly, he turned to the marquis.

“Did you really draw this after seeing the King of Conquerors and Marquis of Os?”

“Ha, isn’t it natural? Could it be that he hung up a copy?”

“Well… but it’s a bit strange.” Is it because of the effect of magic paint or because of the artist’s excellent skill? It was a vivid picture, as if the king of conquest would jump out and shout at any moment.

“I’m glad that Lord Huhu is interested. Would you like to see this?”

The Marquis pointed at the taxidermist, who stood facing the portrait of Marquis de Os. It was a stuffed giant orc with red skin.

“It’s ‘Mkawe’. A very legendary orc.”

Hearing that explanation reminded me of a story Heila had told me.

“It’s the same orc that the Marquis Oss killed.”

“That’s right.”

The Marquis nodded in satisfaction and continued.

“Currently, most of the greenskins in the kingdom have been subjugated, but in the distant past, hundreds of thousands of these hideous creatures gathered to form huge groups. This place, Antrum, was also plagued by such a group, and Mkawe was the leader of that group.”

He pointed to the stuffed Mkawe’s stomach, chest and neck in order.

“The father of the family roared the ship of this great orc with a polearm, drove a longsword through its heart, and cut its neck with a dagger.”

Marquis Eavon, who had reached out and touched the scar on Mkawe’s chest, turned to me and smiled.

“At that young age of only fourteen.”

“Incredible.”

“The men of the Ariaga family listen to this anecdote. Because that courage, determination and composure are the most important things for a noble.”

The Marquis, who had been looking up at the stuffed oak, guided me and introduced me to other collectibles, stuffed animals, and paintings.

I was curious about the reason for showing this to me, an outsider, but for now, I was silent. It was because the Marquis was eloquent and knowledgeable, so it was a lot of fun to tour the exhibition room with his guide.

Following the marquis as if visiting a history museum, I had to feel a new appreciation when I saw the portraits hanging on the western wall for a while.

“This is a collection of living people, right?”

“It is a little different. It’s just that they were drawn relatively recently, and I didn’t deliberately collect living people.”

Hanging on the west wall were portraits of people of this era.

The first thing that caught my eye was ‘Duke Webelter’, a middle-aged man with a square chin and a friendly atmosphere, the great lord of the north and one of the three best dukes in the Kingdom of Milanol.

Next to it hung another great lord of the north, ‘The Marquis of Friggs’, and next to it was the great lord of Marva, ‘Count Tristan’, who had died a while ago.

“By the way… there is no portrait of Lionel III?”

At my question, the Marquis shrugged.

“Because not everyone’s portraits are available. As you may have guessed, these are all things I have gathered. I and 人】’I couldn’t draw portraits of people with bad teeth or people with whom I had no interaction.”

He said that and gestured to one side. When the waiting attendant handed over the wine, the Marquis moistened his dry lips.

“Thanks to that, there are not many portraits of the lords of the East. Irish is worse. There is not a single portrait of someone with the surname Zahakar or Baluin in the entire exhibition room.”

“…I wonder if the reason why you showed me this place”

“Ah, don’t get me wrong.”

He waved his hand lightly.

“The thing I introduced myself to here is a gift for the debt of Yeongji’s work. In fact, it’s not a place anyone can come in and out.”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

“But, as a separate gift, I have a desire to draw a portrait.”

“yes?”

“Of course, assuming the Lord agrees. As you can see, our family has put a lot of effort into finding skilled painters for generations. It would be a great loss to make fun of him.”

“……O uh w

As I tilted my head with an ambiguous face, the Marquis persuaded me with a smile.

“Don’t think too hard. I just want to leave a portrait of a famous knight. It won’t hurt you either. No, rather, it is beneficial.”

“What if it’s more profitable?”

“We often invite nobles here for cultural exchange. If there are people who have misunderstood the sutra only by hearing rumors, they may change their mind after seeing that handsome face. It will help your reputation quite a bit, right?”

It’s not a suggestion I like very much.

I quietly scratched my eyebrows and asked the marquis just in case.

“Could you please give me the finished portrait?”

“of course. In addition to the painter’s wages, I will put the original in my collection and give the duplicate to you. If you make a sketch today, I’ll even color it with magic paint and give it to you as a present. How is it?”

…Well, it’s a world without cameras, so it wouldn’t be bad to have at least one portrait.

Upon accepting the proposal after much consideration, the Marquis of Ea Bon immediately called a painter. It was not possible to draw a picture among the precious artifacts, so we took a seat in a small inner room next to the exhibition room.

I sat on a chair in my usual shirt and black tunic, and the painter sitting across from the painter studied my face and sketched.

The Marquis of Eavon was sitting cross-legged behind the cooker, sipping wine, as if he had nothing to do. Then, after glancing at the sketch, he said something.

“I think it will be okay to have a conversation soon. Isn’t it?”

Yes sir.” As soon as the Marquis got the consent of the chemist, he poured out a lot of chatter.

It’s not like there aren’t any people to talk to in this vast palace, so why do you keep doing this to me? It’s annoying.

“…so I guess I’ll have to send Osu to college.”

“You mean college? Are you in the royal capital?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t Earl Oss sixteen this year? But are you sending me to college?”

The Marquis nodded graciously.

“My grandson was educated by the greatest scholars of the West. There’s nothing I can’t do to send you to college.”

“No matter what…

I narrowed my eyebrows and then closed my mouth. Tracing Phoenix’s memory, it was because the university that was said to be on the royal road was a little different from the university in Kim Seung-soo’s common sense.

“…but. If it’s Earl Os, there won’t be any problem.”

In the case of commoners, no matter how smart they are, they must be over 20 to enter university, but not nobles.

Aristocrats are those who have to prove that they are superior to the ruling class. For them, entering college at a young age and receiving higher education was a very good resume for authority.

For that reason, it became a kind of custom at some point for the higher the family power, the younger to go to university.

Of course, there were quite a few families who did not send their children to college due to traditional education methods.

There were many aristocrats who were ashamed to show their lacking children outside, and there were many who could not afford the expensive school fees.

“then. He’s my grandson, but he’s a kid who doesn’t lack anything except a little bit of a pulpit.”

However, Count Orth is the grandson and successor of the Marquis of Eavon. If he entered the university, it would be difficult to find a nobler person than him even if he counted both the faculty and students.

“By the way… Actually, I want to give them a different experience before sending them to college.”

“A different experience?”

“Yes.”

The Marquis pursed her lips for a moment before continuing.

“I intend to make him the commander of the troops sent west.”

“…Yes? no. What is that?”

“A nominal commander, of course. The actual command will be left to the expert general.”

“Well, if that’s the case, it doesn’t matter.”

I unconsciously scratched my eyebrows and quickly lowered my hand at the painter’s glaring gaze.

“…Could it be that the decision was made by Baron Luyan?”

Instead of answering, the Marquis wet his lips with wine. Then, he let out a small sigh and sent the painter, attendant, and escort knights out of the inner room.

…uh X-arm. what are you anxious about?