Skip to content 
𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐭 (2)
When the promised date came, the city and nearby nobles all came as expected. It was an opportunity to get on the emperor’s good side.
There were no fools stupid enough to miss such a joyous occasion celebrating victory.
“We hope the glory flowing through the dragon’s bloodline continues endlessly, Your Majesty!”
“We thank you once again for saving the city, Count.”
People gathered around Johan as much as around the emperor. Everyone in the city knew the role Johan had played.
“. . .Thank you for overlooking this matter, Count.”
“It was nothing.”
The young emperor seemed more nervous than Johan. His expression was unchanged, but his hands were sweaty.
Come to think of it, the emperor was as young as Johan. He kept mistakenly thinking he was old because of his aged face, but it was natural for him to be nervous.
‘𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘳’𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴.’
While the highest position was coveted by all, sometimes a rural feudal lord could be more carefree.
“Do you have any other advice?”
‘𝘞𝘩𝘺’𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥?’
The emperor seemed to have strange expectations of Johan’s abilities. While the high regard was good, the burden was also real.
If he were to fail and flee. . .who would they blame?
Johan decided to give some safe advice.
“Are you wearing armor underneath?”
“I’m not.”
“Anyway it’d be hidden by your outer garments, and with the fighting over, who would scowl if you had some armor on.”
It was traditional to remove weapons and armor at feasts, but this much could be overlooked if discovered.
Besides, the emperor had a reputation for not following orders and fraternizing with his own soldiers. This rumor wouldn’t change much.
“I guess there’s no harm in wearing it. . .”
The emperor calmly put on the armor. It seemed unnecessary and could draw pointless complaints, but he trusted Johan’s advice.
What meaning could it hold!
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
The plan was simple. The chamberlain sits down and when the alcohol circulates a bit, the emperor rebukes his rudeness and disloyalty and throws a glass to send a signal.
━𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲.
━𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲.
━𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭. . .
━𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞.
Leoanos arrived at the front.
Despite recent mistakes, the political authority held by the chamberlain was considerable. The surrounding nobles flocked to somehow get a word.
Leoanos was pleased with the reaction.
Whenever he saw this, he felt the power he had. Power is like a drug, once you grab it, you can never let it go.
“Leave your weapons outside. The chamberlain can only bring one escort in.”
“I know.”
Leoanos obediently left the escorts outside and went inside. A lower nobleman chamberlain followed him inside, holding Leoanos’s hem.
Seeing that, Johan wondered, holding a silver cup and stretching his neck.
‘𝘐𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳?’
No matter if the escorts were swordsmanship masters or not, they had to get closer to do something. Shouldn’t they be able to run right up and intervene?
But the distance was too far.
‘𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. . .’
The chamberlain knelt down in front and kissed the emperor’s hand. It was a sign of obedience and loyalty.
“Thank you for coming like this. Your Excellency.”
“It was something I had to do.”
“I appreciate the other people here as well.”
“Does the person who knows that send an insult?”
Johan was sarcastic. Considering the major he set up this time and the soldiers he was leading, Johan was qualified to say this.
He was sarcastic openly, but the chamberlain couldn’t refute. He nodded his head in acknowledgement.
“I’m sorry. Your Excellency. It seems there was a misunderstanding. Would you accept my apology?”
“Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, we’ll have to check later to find out. I’ll decide whether to accept the apology then.”
He could have bothered him more, but Johan decided to leave him alone. The host of this place was the emperor, not him.
Since Johan didn’t say anything more, the chamberlain spat out a relieved curse mixed with profanity and withdrew. The music that had been interrupted resumed and the liquor began circulating again.
“Didn’t you request a duel?”
“What duel. . .not even the Holy Empire. . .and even if I requested it, they would only send out the decent warrior.”
An unusual scene entered Johan’s eyes as he chatted with Iselia next to him.
The fingertips of the attendant Leoanos brought were darkly discolored. The eyes of the attendant and Johan met as he stared at it. The attendant quickly bowed his head, but Johan felt uncomfortable.
The discomfort of meeting a colleague who can do the same skills!
‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵? 𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯?’
He wondered if he had seen it wrong, but that possibility seemed small. Besides, if that attendant was the assassin Leoanos brought, it would be the right guess. It would have been more surprising if that sly guy came without any thoughts.
‘𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘩, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯. . .𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.’
The customs of Vynashchtym were really amazing. Johan was suddenly reminded of Kaegal’s teachings.
━𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐲. 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭. 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭. . . 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧?
━𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭?
━𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭. 𝐀𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 – 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞. 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 “𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐨?”
━𝐍𝐨, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.
Johan called Jusvan. Jusvan was so absorbed in the Vynashchtym dancer that he was clapping and laughing, but he came to his senses when he heard Johan’s call.
“What is it?”
“Just in case, please tell His Majesty not to eat or drink anymore.”
“I understand.”
Jusvan had some tact. He quietly passed the message on to the emperor. The emperor looked like he wanted to ask ‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵?’ but he didn’t ask again.
‘𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘺?’
The emperor had a surprised expression then nodded slightly at Johan. He seemed to have misunderstood something, as his eyes were full of gratitude.
Johan felt a little embarrassed because he still wasn’t sure if the other party had poisoned the drink yet.
“I didn’t even consider that. Your Majesty. It should be enough for the slave to taste it first. But you’re certainly right to be cautious.”
Once someone builds a reputation, their actions tend to be interpreted favorably. Bold actions become decisive, while timid ones seem prudent.
Jusvan and the emperor seemed to understand and appreciate the misunderstanding.
The one feeling anxious because the emperor wouldn’t even lift the cup to his lips was Leoanos. He had gone through the trouble of pouring the wine, but the emperor wouldn’t drink it.
The poison he had brought with the assassin was quite intricate – it would take effect only after drinking several cups, twisting in the stomach before spewing out poison. But if he didn’t drink at all, there was no poison to speak of.
Leoanos licked his lips and waited, but the emperor didn’t budge.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s nothing we can do if he doesn’t drink it.”
Leoanos was sharp. From the emperor’s stiff expression and tense posture, he sensed preparations in place.
After the banquet ended, he might be ambushed on his way out or arrested. He had to make the first move.
“If poison doesn’t work, don’t you have a dagger?”
“They’ll stop me as soon as I get close.”
“. . .Fine. Hand over the dagger.”
Having secretly received the assassin’s hidden dagger, Leoanos slipped it into his sleeve. He wanted to finish the job with poison if possible. . .
But it couldn’t be helped now. Once the emperor collapsed, it would cause chaos, allowing him to escape with his guards in the confusion.
That was why he had summoned guards in the first place – not to launch an attack, but to escape safely.
When the song ended and the dance stopped, Leoanos approached the emperor with the box he had brought.
“Your Majesty. I want to present you with a treasure fitting of that song, as an expression of my gratitude. Please accept it.”
Leoanos carefully opened the box. The gems inside shone dazzlingly. Seeing nothing suspicious, the emperor nodded.
At that moment, Leoanos swiftly pulled out his dagger and stabbed the emperor’s chest. A dull thud – the dagger was blocked and didn’t pierce him. But Leoanos’ body moved instinctively. This time the dagger moved towards his face and neck.
𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠!
Instead of the sound of a dagger piercing flesh, there was the dull thud of something smashing into a head. Still clutching his dagger, Leoanos dropped dead. Beside his head, a crushed silver cup had fallen.
“. . .”
“. . .”
The sudden series of events stunned everyone. Jusvan was the first to scream.
“Assassination attempt! Escort His Majesty inside!”
Belatedly, the imperial guards behind rushed over.
“Cut down anyone who moves! Don’t move!”
“Your Majesty! Are you alright!”
“I. . . I’m fine. What happened?”
“The count saved Your Majesty’s life. He. . . threw that cup.”
Jusvan explained the situation then tripped over his words, seemingly finding it unbelievable himself.
Jusvan, beside Johan, saw it clearly. The moment Leoanos stabbed with his dagger, Johan picked up a silver cup from the table and hurled it squarely at his head.
He threw it with such force that his opponent smashed heads and couldn’t get back up. It would have been legendary material for war annals if it hadn’t been a mere silver cup. . .
“I-I don’t know anything! Today was my first time meeting the chamberlain.”
“We’ve only met once, years ago. . . we barely know each other.”
The nobles seated there hurriedly spewed excuses, afraid they might get involved with the chamberlain.
The emperor shoved them aside and had all of the chamberlain’s attendants arrested. He had no intention of interrogating the nearby nobles, but not the chamberlain’s subordinates.
“On your knees!”
“We. . . we didn’t know anything either! About his plans. . .”
Violence rained down in response to their pleas. Screams erupted from all sides as Johan’s slave troops rushed over. Johan signaled he was alright.
‘𝘕𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.’
And the belt.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
While the emperor and his subordinates were oppressing guilty and innocent people alike, Johan waited. It was natural for there to be chaos for a while in such tumultuous times.
When the situation had calmed down somewhat, Johan went with Jusvan.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
“Thanks to you I survived, Count.”
It was not merely courteous words, but heartfelt sincerity. Those who had interrogated the emperor’s attendant were shocked at first when told poison had been prepared.
If not for Johan’s advice, he could have collapsed much sooner.
“Not only the poison, but the armor too. Did you happen to have some information beforehand?”
“How could that be so?”
“Your Majesty, if I’d had such information, I would have told you first.”
Jusvan spoke with the pride of a republican. The emperor nodded.
The emperor chatted about this and that before sending Jusvan out. Then he asked Johan,
“Count, I heard from the viceroy that you’d be staying in the city until autumn after receiving payment. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to buy out that contract.”
“Your Majesty, my soldiers are expensive and great in number.”
“I don’t intend to hire them all. Half of the soldiers here would be sufficient.”
With only a thousand or so soldiers, what could be accomplished was limited. Johan immediately grasped what the emperor wanted.
‘𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯?’
When one’s position was unstable, reliable soldiers were necessary.
“I will pay three times the amount the viceroy mentioned. And I will promise privileges at the harbor. Would this be enough as payment for the count and his brave subordinates?”
“. . .!”
For a moment, Johan envisioned piles of gold coins behind the emperor.