878 – The Royal Family’s Ramp

My heart was pounding. Has my heart ever been pounding like this since I realized my royal duty, since I was crowned crown prince, since I became the king of Armenia?

It felt like I had gone back to the days when I was a child who knew nothing. Back to the days when I enjoyed listening to the adventures of brave knights written in fairy tales and the stories of great generals sung by bards. Back to the days when I did not recognize ideals as ideals, but thought of them as realities that existed somewhere.

‘Was I the kind of guy who could get this excited?’

My heart is pounding like crazy and the corners of my mouth are rising uncontrollably.

I feel very sorry for Ruthie, but honestly, I was more excited than Ruthie getting married. If I try to make excuses, I’ve already seen two sons and one daughter get married, so the marriage of a fourth child might feel relatively bland.

But this is not it. This sight is something even I, the king, have never seen before.

‘Cutting the sky.’

A real sky split, not a scene saved as an artifact. A wondrous sight of the blue, blue, high, high sky splitting apart by human power.

If there is anyone who remains indifferent after seeing this sight, they must be heartless. Even those who do not walk the path of nothingness will admire it, and even magicians who secretly look down on inspectors will bow their heads in awe at this feat.

I got to witness such a feat from up close. How could I not be happy?

‘I’m going to get a little jealous when I die.’

Even with my beloved sword, of all things.

“Khuh.”

Finally, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and started laughing.

But I guess I should be thankful for that, because everyone’s eyes were turned to the sky, and no one was paying attention to me. Because their hearts were probably pounding just like mine.

‘I am a distinguished guest brought by this descendant, so please forgive me for this much.’

Anyway, I offered a small apology to my ancestors who must have been extremely jealous.

Surely, if it were our ancestors, they would have protested, asking why you cut the sky with your sword. Of course, you should have cut it with your own sword. Of course, there would be hundreds of conflicting opinions about who that ‘self’ is.

But what does that matter? At this point, I am the King of Armenia. He is a heavenly benefactor who requested it, and he is a guest of honor who has ties to my son. Honestly, such a powerful stake is enough to make me greedy.

‘Congratulations on your victory, my treasure.’

Count Tilglehen smiled happily as he looked at my beloved bottle in his hands.

The king of Armenia, known as the Kingdom of Knights. He was destined to ascend to such a noble position, and if he had actually ascended to it, then the sword of the knight himself was an outstanding sword. Perhaps, within Armenia, one would have to search through history to find a sword better than this one.

The legendary sword that split the sky has now been given to the once beloved soldier. In terms of titles, the duke has risen to at least the rank of grand duke or king. This is truly a great achievement.

“…Over there, Your Majesty.”

“Well, feel free to talk. What’s going on?”

While I was wondering if I would become naked when I die and become a spirit, or if I could take the clothes and swords I used in life with me, Count Tylglehen approached me and cautiously opened his mouth.

I greeted the count with the brightest smile I could muster. He was the one who reawakened my childlike innocence that had grown cold. He was the one who showed me the wondrous realm that a prosecutor could reach. He was a hero, so I would gladly accept whatever you said.

“I am truly sorry to say this, but there is a crack in the sword Your Majesty entrusted to me for a moment.”

“What?”

At those words, I hurriedly looked at my beloved bottle.

‘That’s true.’

It was very fine, but there was a crack just as the Count had said.

“It’s been a while since I’ve used the Sky Knife, and I was nervous because I was showing it to you all. How can I say anything if I break something that belongs to Your Majesty? Even if I apologize a hundred times, it’s not enough.”

As I quietly looked at the gold, the count bowed his head.

This is unbelievable. Our Armenian hero and the pinnacle of the sword bowing his head for something like this.

‘It’s actually better.’

A sword that was damaged while cutting the sky. It makes my heart ache as if it were a war hero who was injured while fighting in countless battles.

My beloved soldier is the king of all weapons and a war hero? I can’t stand this. Even if I die and meet King Zabel I, I can still raise my head proudly.

‘What should I do with this?’

It’s a happy situation for the person who is embarrassed to even call themselves the victim, but the person who actually gave the gift considers themselves the perpetrator.

Here, if you act a little, you can get several concessions from the Count. You can get more Sky Slash, get a sword with a signature like last time, and spar directly with the best swordsman on the continent. There are many things to ask for.

But that is a petty and cowardly act. The Count has awakened in me the childlike innocence of an Armenian man and a warrior, so I too should act like a man and not a monarch now.

“Raise your head, Count. Thanks to you, I have become the only sword in this black continent. It’s a sword that will never be of any use anyway, as it only exists in the Geommyo.”

That’s why I patted the count on the shoulder and smiled.

This happened because I asked for it. If there is any responsibility, it is primarily mine.

The process and the result were good. If you like only one of the two, you can take it into consideration, but if you like both, what is there to say?

Finally, I got an unexpected and wonderful side effect: my beloved soldier will be remembered until the moment Armenia falls.

‘Okay then.’

I can’t suppress this joy just because of a crack in my sword, aam.

The wedding was a perfect success from start to finish. Even the after-party, called the Sky Bake, was a success, so it must have been a happy wedding for Ryutis as well.

So I understand that this father has fulfilled his small desire. He is also a man, so he can cut the sky with his sword, not his son’s sword. After all, didn’t Ryutis receive a sword with the count’s signature as a gift?

After finishing the wedding ceremony, he felt comfortable as a monarch, a warrior, and a father.

“On behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to the House of Robbens on your great occasion, Your Highness.”

“Thank you. I am also grateful for Your Majesty’s congratulations.”

I had a private meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs who came as the head of the congratulatory delegation from the empire.

The minister himself came to the wedding of a mere prince, not even the crown prince. It was a friendly relationship that I could not have dreamed of in the past, so I couldn’t help but smile. This beautiful and peaceful friendly relationship will be one of my achievements.

At the same time, I was curious as to why the Minister of Foreign Affairs had requested a private meeting. If the Minister of Foreign Affairs had visited to show the friendship between the two countries, he had already fulfilled his duty. Even if he had not asked me to meet him privately, all the Armenian nobles would have been clamoring for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit.

Still, I requested this exclusive interview. It is by no means a light matter.

“This year has been a truly auspicious year for both countries. We have recovered lost treasures and achieved prosperity for our families.”

“Oh, I heard the news. The Emperor of the Empire also had a child, I hear? He will be His Majesty’s first nephew. It’s late to congratulate you.”

“Haha! Marquis Idrafen will be very pleased to hear His Majesty’s congratulations!”

There were ceremonial exchanges of words of wisdom and thanks, but both the minister and I knew that this was not the point.

The prosperity of the two houses. This is the marriage of Luteus to our royal house of Robens, and the birth of a collateral royal line to the royal house of Livnoman. This is the most clear and undisputed matter, and it is not fit for a private meeting between the king and the minister.

In that case, the minister’s business automatically becomes one.

‘treasure.’

The Scepter of Emperor Trika, discovered by our Armenian by chance. That is why the minister came in person and requested a private meeting.

But it is strange. The discussion about the Scepter has been over for a long time. In exchange for handing over the Scepter to the Empire, Armin was guaranteed various benefits and was able to see the heavenly slash of the continent’s best sword. Is there anything more to discuss now?

“I am sure His Majesty the Emperor will be pleased to be able to present such a precious gift to His Highness, who has celebrated the birth of his nephew.”

‘ah.’

Surprisingly, there was.

The bag that the Minister of Foreign Affairs did not let go of even during the wedding ceremony. The jewel taken out of that bag.

It seems that just as we discovered the ancient Scepter, the Empire has also discovered a jewel with deep ties to the Armenians, huh…?

‘no way.’

There was one thing that immediately came to mind when I heard the words Armenian and Boju.

Could it be, could it be? Is it the jewel that King Zabel III threw away, saying he would rather entrust it to God than lose it to traitors?

It’s unbelievable. Why is the object that the Royal House of Robens has searched for with all their might for hundreds of years in the hands of the Empire? No, but it’s not impossible, since we’ve found the Scepter of Trika.

“The treaty concluded between the two countries is valid.”

‘Ugh.’

My head, which had been spinning busily, suddenly stopped as I listened to the Foreign Minister’s words.

Yes, what matters now is not validity. What matters is that the orb of Zabel III came to me through the hands of the Empire.

‘The treaty is valid.’

A treaty that stipulates that if treasures related to the other country are discovered in the territory of the two countries, they will be unconditionally handed over to the other country. In fact, it was a treaty signed in order to legally deliver the Scepter to the empire, and in return for the treaty, various benefits were received.

But the treaty that I thought would end as a one-time thing began to shine again. If I receive the orb here, the Empire would hand over the orb unconditionally according to the treaty, but Armen would be handing over the scepter in return for a price.

That is a difficult matter. Even though I and the Emperor who signed the treaty could not have foreseen this situation, if Armenia receives one-sided favor from the Empire, it will be a long-term problem.

‘This time, we’ll have to give it to them.’

If so, just as the Empire paid various prices to receive the Scepter, we too must pay a price. The unconditional transfer of the relic is a story that comes after that.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Of course, I am willing to pay any price. The royal family’s long-cherished wish has been fulfilled, so is that price really worth it?

“It is the duty of a leader to ensure that a valid treaty lasts forever, isn’t it?”

“Your Majesty’s words are indeed correct.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs bowed his head slightly as he indirectly declared active cooperation.

Following the prince’s wedding and the heavenly slaughter at the sword tomb, we are reclaiming our ancestral treasures. Today is truly the day when God smiles upon our royal family of Robens.