NOVEL NEXT Chapter 84
Episode 84: The Invitation
“Duke Zarfing, it’s good to see you here.”
King Alzeis of the Galveit Kingdom spoke with a dignified voice to Lord Giorg. In the office room, not only Alzeis but also Crown Prince Ilzam was present.
“Let’s get straight to the point. What do you make of this?”
Alzeis handed over a letter, which Giorg took and examined.
“An invitation to the founding ceremony of the Zabeiru United Kingdom… and my name is on it too?”
Giorg raised a small question as he looked at the letter. It was only natural to wonder why the name of a mere vassal like Giorg would appear on an invitation to a state ceremony.
“Indeed. My father and I have concluded that King Jilvol has something he wishes to discuss with you.”
Giorg pondered Ilzam’s words for a moment. Ilzam was essentially asking if Giorg had any idea what that might be.
“…My sincerest apologies. I have no idea what it could be.”
“I see.”
“However, there is something I would like to ask King Jilvol regarding this matter.”
“About the engagement between the royal younger brother and Queen Sosua?”
Giorg nodded at Ilzam’s response. Giorg had received numerous pieces of information from Zabeiru, including the fall of Rekuryaku Castle, Sosua’s surrender, her transfer to Miressbelle, the abdication of the Gildolq throne to Jilvol, and the engagement between Yuan and Sosua. Frankly, Giorg was surprised by Sosua’s treatment. He hadn’t expected an execution, but the decision to engage her to the royal younger brother was shocking.
“Yes. Engaging the royal younger brother to Queen Sosua will only sow seeds of future turmoil. King Jilvol should know this, so why would he deliberately create such a disturbance?”
“Indeed, it is perplexing. Perhaps he is confident in his ability to suppress it… or perhaps he is overestimating himself…”
“I doubt it’s overconfidence. King Jilvol has meticulously planned and executed his strategies, outmaneuvering both the Gildolq Kingdom and the Flastarl Empire. It’s hard to believe he would suddenly overestimate his abilities at this stage.”
“Then… this engagement must be part of his original plan.”
“That is what I believe.”
“I see.”
Ilzam made a troubled expression at Giorg’s response. At that moment, Alzeis spoke up.
“You both still have much to learn.”
Ilzam and Giorg exchanged glances at Alzeis’s words, then turned their eyes to him. Alzeis wore a wry smile.
“Your Majesty, do you understand King Jilvol’s intentions?”
“To some extent, yes.”
“And what might that be…?”
Alzeis shook his head at Giorg’s question.
“Ilzam, you shall attend the founding ceremony as my representative.”
“Understood!”
“While there, thoroughly assess the character of the royal younger brother, Yuan.”
“The royal younger brother? Not King Jilvol?”
“Leave King Jilvol to Duke Zarfing.”
Giorg’s expression turned puzzled at Alzeis’s words.
(Does His Majesty understand something…? What exactly does he see?)
Giorg couldn’t grasp what Alzeis was seeing. Of course, he understood that Alzeis wasn’t withholding information out of malice, but the king’s intentions remained unclear.
(Even these two, who are far more talented than I, cannot see it. How strange. Well, I suppose this is something one cannot understand unless they sit on the throne.)
Alzeis muttered this to himself. As a king, Alzeis had a tangible sense of what it meant to hold the throne, something Giorg and Ilzam lacked.
(One reason is likely King Jilvol’s consideration for his younger brother… and the other is probably due to his awareness of Giorg.)
Alzeis glanced at Giorg as he thought this.
(These two are likely to have a long relationship ahead of them.)
Alzeis felt a pang of pity as he considered the future of Giorg and Jilvol. Their conflicts rarely surfaced, but he knew that fierce battles would unfold between them.
“For this founding ceremony, Ilzam, Duke Zarfing, Lord Reparendas, and Finance Minister Dival will attend.”
“Understood!”
Giorg and Ilzam bowed respectfully at Alzeis’s words.
Later, during the council meeting, it was announced that they would attend the founding ceremony of Zabeiru.
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