Trash of the Count's Family

“We will now end the awards ceremony.”

The band started to play after Alberu Crossman motioned to the administrator. The crown prince looked toward the video communication device and the nobles as he continued to speak.

“Today is a joyous day, I hope that the people in the plaza and the people in this hall all truly enjoy this moment.”

The nobles who had their heads bowed avoided Alberu’s gaze as if they were at a loss for words.

‘Enjoy? Truly enjoy? Do you think that is possible?’

‘…This is bad.’

A joyous and upbeat song was playing, but the atmosphere inside the hall was oddly calm.

“I'm sure none of you will be able to fully enjoy yourselves if I am here, so I will make my leave.”

The crown prince told the nobles to relax as he headed toward the hall's entrance. Everyone tried to focus on him and walk him out but Alberu rejected all these offers.

However, the nobles could not relax. There was one person who stuck behind Alberu as he left. The person who moved like a shadow as if it was natural started to walk next to the crown prince after seeing Alberu motion him forward.

If the crown prince would allow him to walk next to him, then that meant that the two of them were very close and that the crown prince respected him.

“…Choi Han is that person.”

One noble started to frown after looking toward the crown prince and Choi Han next to him.

The crown prince was standing close to and chatting with Choi Han, who would henceforth be known as his instructor. However, the nobles could not hear their conversation as the music continued even after the crown prince left.

Marquis Ailan, the leader of the Roan Kingdom's southeast region's nobles faction. He was also looking at the crown prince and Choi Han. One of the Counts in his faction walked over and asked in a serious tone.

“…Those two sirs look very close.”

Choi Han had now reached a status where the nobles were addressing him as, 'sir.’ Marquis Ailan could see Alberu’s relaxed smile and Choi Han’s calm yet faint smile.

They truly seemed close.

“Marquis-nim, is it really okay to let things be like this?”

The Marquis slowly blinked after hearing the Count’s question. It was not okay. How could it be okay when Marquis Ailan had not received anything from the results of this war?

‘…But I do not have the justification to oppose it.’

The southeast region’s Marquis Ailan and the central region's Duke Orsena were going to do everything in their powers to prevent the Henituse household from rising from a Count’s household to a Duke's household.

‘…Marquis Stan and Duke Gyerre were already on Count Henituse's side.’

It was not a fight between the crown prince and the Dukes and Marquis; it was realistically a 3 on 2 battle.

‘No. It could even be called a conflict between the Henituse household and the Ailan and Orsena households.’

And they had lost. Marquis Ailan peeked toward Duke Orsena who could not hide his disappointment as he recalled what crown prince Alberu had stealthily told him.

‘Marquis Ailan. Do you want to miss out on something larger because you wanted to protect your power in this puny Roan Kingdom?’

The person who would become the next king had called power inside the Roan Kingdom to be puny.

‘You are aware of the news spreading through the Indomitable Alliance, the Mogoru Empire, Caro Kingdom, Breck Kingdom, and the Eastern continent, right? Are you not?’

Marquis Ailan had heard about the stories spreading through the Western continent.

There was a hidden puppet master behind everything that had happened this year on the Western continent, and that person was trying to throw the Western continent into chaos while Cale Henituse was moving around to stop him.

‘Do you have your eyes closed, your ears shut, and live without any thoughts?’

Marquis Ailan recalled the cold gaze that had looked down on him. Those eyes had told him something. Think straight.

‘Cale Henituse is not alone. He already has his own faction that neither you nor I can have.

Come to grips with reality. Does the Henituse household, no, does Cale Henituse look like just the young master of a Count’s household?

If you want to put everything on the line to protect this puny power, then stay quiet. Aren’t you a smart person?’

Marquis Ailan whom the crown prince had called smart realized that Cale Henituse was now someone whom he could not do anything about with his powers. Of course, it would be possible if all nobles worked together to suppress Cale Henituse.

But that might make Cale Henituse go elsewhere.

“…We can’t lose him.”

They couldn't let that happen.

“Marquis-nim?”

“It’s nothing.”

He shook his head while saying that it’s nothing to the Count while looking at Choi Han and Alberu’s friendly conversation.

many people looking at them. One of

they get

Alberu seemed close no matter how many times he looked. Human! Choi Han does not seem to be acting! It’s unbearable

‘Exactly.’

and turned away. Choi Han and Alberu were quietly chatting at

shouldn't you enjoy the celebration as

at least

a faint smile was on Choi

“Mm, instructor?”

“Yes, your highness.”

my instructor-nim

to be

before asking

you really thinking about taking me as a

“…Please take this.”

of papers out of his uniform

“What the…?”

confusion as Choi Han erased the faint smile from his face and responded

am great at

nonchalantly looked through the pile of papers. There were images of the basics for multiple simple sword arts. Choi Han seemed

really going to

on being his sword

had never had an instructor in his life. The closest he had was

heard a stiff voice

know how to protect

and stared at Choi Han. Alberu was thoroughly observing Choi Han to

observed for a while before

actually pretty good with the

as good as me, your

you are asking

long life without getting

focused even more on Alberu, but he didn't care

like similar people move

put the papers into the

back and enjoy yourself

Choi Han slightly bowed.

deliver. I will

me some sword arts

and Alberu made eye contact. Alberu had a bright smile as

“For real.”

“Of course, student-nim.”

like us,’ before heading out of the banquet hall alone. The knights and servants stationed outside started to follow

around. He could see the gazes of the nobles looking

Is

were staring at a new treasure. He greeted Mary, Tasha, and

quickly walking through with plates full

quietly followed behind him. Human! I

‘Yes, yes.’

head and headed to a terrace at the corner of the second

“…Umm-”

his head after hearing a voice. The noble who was reaching his hand toward Cale

he

looking at him. Cale was giving off an aura that made it difficult to approach him, making the

a slacker as

feel like he deserved

I do

“…Ah, never mind.”

and stepped back after hearing Cale's cold voice

his way. Human! You

listening to Raon’s

that his fingertips were shaking once Cale left before finally managing to let out a relaxed breath. One of his friends came over

really different

know, right? Such presence… It

Like a ruler.

say such words. The other noble pointed elsewhere as if to

of our control and choose the

was pointing toward Count Henituse, no, Duke Henituse and his family, as well as the northeast region’s

we should pursue other avenues rather than trying to win the hero-nim over and facing his wrath. What do you

"Sounds good.”

northeast region's

busy doing the same thing such that none of them noticed Mary and Tasha slowly exiting out of the

Tasha were leaving so early,

play all

prince gave

This is a great day! Who knew

However, there were some people stealthily leaving the plaza

people who were covering their faces with hoods