849 – Meaning is what you give it – 6
After meeting with the Emperor, I returned to the mansion and stared blankly at the garden.
Cutting the sky in the sword tomb. It’s a plan that ordinary people can’t even imagine, so my head is still spinning. As expected, it’s not something that just anyone can do, being the emperor of the empire and the king of the second largest country on the continent. How can they successfully conclude such a crazy plan?
‘Is this right?’
I drank tea over and over again, trying to calm my heart that was beating like crazy. They say tea has a relaxing effect, but how many times would I have died of a heart attack if I didn’t have tea in my life?
Anyway, I sighed as I felt the warmth of the tea flowing down my esophagus. Because of the trickery of the Emperor and the King of Armenia, I became a madman who would be remembered in Armenian history. A madman who would probably be remembered by future nations that would follow Armenia.
Cutting the sky in a tomb is like swinging a sword in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Black Stone of Mecca, a national cemetery, or a palace or parliament of a country. Even putting your hand on the hilt of a sword, let alone cutting the sky, is an atrocity that will have you arrested as a criminal.
“Don’t worry too much. It wasn’t Jim who suggested it first, it was Armen who requested it first. If they both want it, what’s the problem?”
The emperor himself was embarrassed that he had forgotten this important matter, but he kept on clicking his tongue, telling him not to worry.
At that moment, I almost blurted out, ‘Then can I cut the sky first in the palace?’ If only the emperor was among the imperial family members, I would have cut him without asking. The empress, the crown princess, the prince, the princess, and even the situation. I let it slide because there were many innocent victims living in the palace.
“Besides, as I said before, the King of Armen has effectively signed a treaty to hand over the Scepter of Trika for free. Shouldn’t he grant this favor as a favor for that treaty?”
“If you gave a favor in exchange for concluding a treaty, wouldn’t it be gratuitous?”
“How about we move on from such trivial matters? It’s already frustrating that the jewel was discovered after the treaty was signed. If the jewel was going to be discovered anyway, it would have come out long ago. Then, we could have just traded the scepter for the jewel and proceeded smoothly.”
And the emperor also seemed to want to avoid the big event of cutting the sky at Geommyo as much as possible.
In this disaster, the Emperor is not the instigator but the victim. He made his decision as a monarch based entirely on the national interest. He showed an unusually sorry expression for that b*stard. If even one of these three things had been missing, I would have been punished, but I decided to let him go because they formed a trinity.
“More than that, Count. After all, it’s not the first time that a Count has cut the sky in a foreign country.”
“No, that’s─”
“Was it when the sky was cut in Balcross? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hurriedly consulted with the Balcross Foreign Ministry in response to the Earl’s sudden request. I also had a meaningful time talking with the King of Balcross at that time.”
The fact that there was no reason to refuse also played a part.
As the Emperor said, this is not the first time I have cut the sky in a foreign country. For Allen, who is still diligently writing, for Allen, one of Lize’s favorite writers, I cut the sky in a hurry.
Even then, the incident was an act for personal gain, not national interest. An incident where an imperial noble on vacation caused a commotion in a foreign country, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suffered unexpectedly. An incident where the Imperial Foreign Affairs Ministry had to consult with the foreign foreign ministry because of the noble’s personal business.
‘Was I the one who struck first?’
It’s bitter to realize the truth. At least in terms of the Heavenly Sword, I was the one who struck first against the Emperor. The Emperor struck first against me, and it took almost a year before he struck back.
It’s just a shame that even that counterattack wasn’t a voluntary counterattack, but an involuntary counterattack. Anyway, maybe it’s because I have a neighbor who’s crazy about swords, but all these strange things happen.
‘This time I’ll just follow along silently.’
From the moment you protest to the Emperor, it’s far from the expression ‘keep quiet’, but let’s go to Armenia and swing our swords without saying a word.
Yes, this is the work of the nation. Collecting the scepter for the authority of the empire and the emperor. It is an extension of that. I cut the sky for my own benefit, so I should cut it even more for the national interest.
‘Fuck.’
From now on, if I want to do something outside the border, I will have to check at least three times whether it is okay to do it.
A government employee on vacation is not an official, but a private traveler. Because of that invincible shield of responsibility, I did something crazy without even realizing it.
Let’s not forget. No matter how much it is in my personal capacity, it is ultimately my karma that I must bear. The sword of a public servant and the sword of a private person are, in the end, no different.
…
‘No, but fuck.’
I tried to calm my mind but failed.
Anger against the Emperor is now meaningless and can be overlooked. But the Armenian atrocities are simply unacceptable and incomprehensible.
A nation obsessed with swords would want to see the Sky Slash? That’s natural. On the contrary, if I went to Armenia and didn’t ask for the Sky Slash, it would have been more unfamiliar. Even if I had asked for the Sky Slash at Lute’s wedding, I would have been convinced.
But I can’t understand the specific location requirement for the sword tomb. In a place that is like a national sacred site, a warrior from a country that was once a potential enemy would swing a sword… I just can’t understand it…
‘The Fifth Reich didn’t just appear out of nowhere.’
Now I think I understand how the Fifth Reich came to be.
I wondered why such a crazy hawkish person would show up, but it was simply because the soil of Armenia itself is warlike and full of traitors. Since the soil is like that, even if only one seed out of 100 germinates strangely, it will look like that.
‘It’s fortunate that I’m an imperial citizen.’
If the House of Crassius had been an Armenian noble house rather than an imperial one, it would have been one of two things.
Either I’ve turned around in the world of one-eyed people, or I’ve been Arminized and turned around in a different sense.
Either way, it’s a terrible thing.
‘ah.’
As I was looking at the garden with such bitterness, I saw a familiar shape and started walking.
The Crown Princess, Henrietta, and Helen. The three sisters who are properly fulfilling the role of older sisters to our children have arrived.
‘You came at just the right time.’
My mind, which had been complicated by the circumstances of the adults, quickly became calm. As expected, the heart that was hurt by the adults can be healed by the children.
Of course, when three sisters of different social classes gather together, there will be a lot of commotion that cannot be described as chaotic, but that level is bearable.
***
The king summoned the royal family to Geommyeo.
Every year on National Foundation Day, the royal family gathers at Geomyo to pray for the first king, his loyal subjects, and the heroes who followed, but it is not uncommon for the royal family to gather at Geomyo even on days other than National Foundation Day.
This tomb is the pride of the Armenians and a symbol of the Robbens royal family. It is a place that all royals should love and be familiar with.
“Everyone, come quickly. I’m sorry for calling you all of a sudden when you must be busy.”
“It’s okay. The tomb is not far away, so it’s a perfect place to stop by and catch your breath.”
The older brother smiled faintly and answered his father’s words.
True. Even if His Majesty the King did not call, the eldest brother or second eldest brother would often come to Geommyo to take a walk and then return. Even if His Majesty the King suddenly called, there would be no problem.
“Your Majesty. Why have you come to us? And in the tomb?”
At the older sister’s words, the mother and siblings’ gaze turned to His Majesty the King.
In that silent attention, I smiled alone. I had already heard the situation from my father.
“I have called you here to tell you good news. It will go down in royal history.”
“Oh, that’s really embarrassing to ask.”
“This is good news, with Ruth’s wedding just around the corner. Good news keeps coming.”
His Majesty the King nodded slightly at the reactions of his eldest and second oldest brothers, then turned his gaze to me.
“It’s about Rutis’ wedding. As you know, Rutis had a connection with Count Tylglehen at the Imperial Academy.”
“Did you only build it with Count Tailglen? You built it here and there. Your personal opinion, Ryutis, should be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“Let’s discuss Ryutis’ future later. Anyway, because of that relationship, Count Tylglehen is also planning to come to congratulate Ryutis on his wedding.”
Then this time, my family’s eyes turned to me.
“It’s a little embarrassing when you look at it that way.”
“It’s embarrassing. My mouth is stuck to my ear.”
I touched the corners of my mouth in embarrassment at my older brother’s comment.
“And when Count Tylglehen enters Armen, he will cut down the sky at the sword tomb.”
Of course, it was meaningless since His Majesty the King had already drawn his attention to it.
“…yes?”
“yes?”
“Father, Your Majesty. What did you say just now─”
“I plan to cut the sky from this tomb.”
Silence fell upon His Majesty the King’s declaration.
I understand. When I first heard the news from His Majesty the King, I was so happy that I couldn’t say anything for a while.
“majesty.”
“Speak.”
It was my older brother who broke the long silence first.
“Count Tylglehen… Are you saying that the greatest sword on the continent cuts the sky in the sword tomb?”
“Yes.”
“To celebrate Ruth’s wedding?”
“It’s not just for congratulations. As you know, we recently concluded a small treaty with the Empire. This is one of the things we got in return.”
“ah.”
The eldest brother nodded as if he understood His Majesty the King’s explanation.
“It is truly a wonderful thing.”
He welcomed this slope with a big smile.
“Cutting the sky here where the spirits of our ancestors and heroes sleep! Isn’t this the greatest courtesy that an Armenian descendant can show to their ancestors? Surely the spirits sleeping here will be happy to see the end of nothingness!”
“Your words are correct, Brother! It is regrettable that these descendants cannot cut it themselves, but if we have invited the best swordsman on the continent, we can raise our heads before our ancestors!”
“I knew you guys would understand right away.”
The friendly atmosphere made the corners of my mouth go up again.
The words of the eldest brother and second brother are correct. As a warrior of the knight kingdom of Armen, as a member of the royal family of Armen, this is the highest courtesy that can be shown to the sword tomb. It is to show the spirits the end of martial arts.
“No, don’t talk nonsense.”
My older sister opened her mouth in a hurry, but neither the King, my eldest brother, nor my second eldest brother seemed to hear and there was no response.
“I don’t care if you cut the sky! But it’s not a swordsmanship! How can a foreign warrior demonstrate force in a place that is like the heart of Armenia─ When people speak, listen!”
I ignored my sister’s screams and looked at the sword that was particularly clean among the swords in the tomb.
A great sword that my mentor gave me as a gift. A precious treasure containing the signature and teachings of the best sword on the continent.
[ I will bear the sword for the sake of example, draw it for the sake of righteousness, and swing it for the sake of loyalty. Karl Crassius of Tailglehen. ]
After reading the words written on the greatsword, I closed my eyes gently.
I am so happy to finally see my mentor in person after such a long time.