The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 108

14. Selection: The Recommending Scoundrel

The King officially recognized me as a candidate for Royal Consort.

This was a major upheaval.

The banquet hall instantly became a cauldron of chaos.

The nobles’ murmurs grew louder.

“Your Majesty!! What are you saying!!”

The loudest objector was Duke Arnold.

“In the eight-hundred-year history of the kingdom, no one born out of wedlock has ever received even a baronetcy, let alone the position of Royal Consort! It is preposterous.”

“I think this way.”

The King, with a profound gaze, looked down at Duke Arnold and opened his mouth.

“Does it matter to consider the origin when the eight-hundred-year history you mentioned might soon disappear?”

“Your Majesty! That is an extreme statement.”

“Anyway, I will prohibit further discussion on this matter. Continue with the selection ceremony.”

King Alfonso did one thing right when it was needed.

Riding the momentum, I told Count Hornet my name.

“Henon Lloyd. Please register it.”

“Understood.”

Hornet nodded and wrote down the name.

Steps returning to my seat.

I felt a sharp gaze from the side; it was Charlie Hilton glaring at me with burning eyes.

“If you insist on struggling, go ahead. The water has already been spilled, and you cannot put it back. The tide has turned.”

I scoffed and ignored him.

As I took my seat, Andre, who had also finished registering as a candidate, bombarded me with questions, making a fuss.

Since the plan related to today’s actions was kept secret except for Zion and Campbell, Andre was very surprised.

“Baron! What is going on?”

“Can’t you tell by looking? I registered as a candidate for Royal Consort.”

“The Baron is supposed to inherit the Lloyd Marquisate in the future. If you become the Royal Consort, who will inherit the Marquisate?”

“I wonder.”

“For now, if you just put your name on the list of Royal Consort candidates to check [to hinder or observe] Charlie Baron, it is not a good move.”

“Don’t worry too much. It will work out somehow.”

Andre couldn’t say anything more to my carefree appearance and sat next to me, trying to understand the situation.

The registration ceremony for Royal Consort candidates ended.

The remaining order was the self-promotion time for the Royal Consort candidates.

Count Hornet, who was in charge of security and event management at today’s banquet, explained how the appeal would proceed, which can be briefly summarized as follows:

1. The Royal Consort candidate must answer a total of three questions.

2. The first question is, ‘What is the charm of the Princess?’ Answer this.

3. The second question is, ‘How will you lead the country as the Royal Consort?’ Answer this.

4. The last question is, ‘What abilities do I have?’ Answer this.

In short, you just need to say how beautiful the Princess is, what you will do in the future, and how great you are.

Count Hornet called out the names in order.

“Dodo Ebner.”

The called Royal Consort candidate swallowed hard and came out.

Even though the result was already decided as Prince Charlie Hilton, it was not easy to introduce oneself in front of so many people.

Moreover, from the self-promotion time, they could talk with Princess Rebecca for the first time.

“Greetings, Princess.”

Rebecca looked at Prince Ebner, who was speaking in a trembling voice, with an emotionless gaze and lightly waved her hand.

Seemingly moved by that alone, Prince Ebner shrank his shoulders.

“Princess Rebecca’s beauty is a brilliant light that brightly illuminates the entire Elden and a hope that defeats the dark night. If I, Ebner Dodo, am given the honor of being by the Princess’s side, I will never disappoint…”

Following this, Ebner Dodo’s praise of Princess Rebecca’s beauty continued for over 15 minutes.

He seemed to have prepared in advance, reciting fluently.

“Andre, is the Royal Consort appeal usually conducted in this way?”

“I don’t know well either since it’s my first time.”

“Did you also prepare for more than 15 minutes like that?”

“I didn’t have much hope, so I prepared for about 5 minutes.”

Next, Prince Ebner’s answer to how he would lead the country followed.

“I will govern the people of all nations comfortably, strive for the harmony of the lords, and always show a dignified appearance as the Royal Consort.”

Finally, the time to show his abilities.

“I… I don’t have any special abilities, but I have a talent for making bird sounds. I will show you right now.”

Prince Ebner put his hands together and brought them to his mouth, then made a cuckoo sound.

Cuckoo~ Cuckoo~

The venue becomes a sea of laughter.

“Hahaha!!!”

“That is a truly amazing talent.”

“It is unlikely, but if you become the Royal Consort, the Princess might find it amusing.”

Starting with Prince Dodo Ebner, other Royal Consort candidates began their appeals in succession.

Like a flash in the pan.

The rest were worse than the first.

They praised the Princess for over an hour, and the King even yawned. There were also Royal Consort candidates who said they didn’t know how to lead the country.

Still, the pro-Imperial candidates were better.

They had at least some response, but the anti-Imperial candidates were met with unilateral jeers and coldness.

Overwhelmed by the bleak atmosphere, the anti-Imperial candidates stammered and babbled, failing to deliver even half of their prepared remarks before stepping down.

Princess Rebecca had been expressionless from beginning to end.

She showed no response whatsoever, except for occasionally waving her hand.

Even when everyone around her laughed at the witty remarks of some Royal Consort candidates, the Princess never showed a smile.

So much so that the King even urged her from the side.

“Rebecca, I understand you are nervous, but you don’t need to be so stiff.”

“Yes.”

She answered curtly and stiffened up again like a stone statue. As she showed no particular response, the other Royal Consort candidates also became passive.

“Next is Andre DuPont!!”

“Do well.”

I cheered for Andre.

As Andre stood on the stage, trembling, Duke Arnold nonchalantly threw a word.

“How can he take responsibility for the country when he trembles like that? It’s obvious without even looking.”

“Wahahahaha!!!”

“Sing a song!”

They were openly causing a ruckus, and Andre, who was already shy, fidgeted and began to speak.

“The Princess’s beauty is…”

“I can’t hear you! Speak louder!”

“No! Just go down.”

Eventually, the commotion was calmed down only after Count Hornet intervened.

“Ladies and gentlemen. The Royal Consort candidates here are taking this seriously, so please refrain from unnecessary actions.”

Only then did it subside, but the atmosphere had already become chaotic long ago.

In the atmosphere like a marketplace, Andre couldn’t do anything and came down disappointed.

I encouraged Andre.

“Good job.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be sorry to me.”

Next was finally the highly anticipated Baron Charlie Hilton.

Unlike Andre, the attention of those around him was focused on him every time he walked.

Even Duke Arnold, who had openly sneered earlier, now applauded enthusiastically and induced the surrounding response.

“Waaaaah!!!”

“Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!”

“Handsome!!”

With such different reactions from those around him, confidence could not help but arise.

Charlie slowly opened his mouth.

“I have admired Princess Rebecca for a long time. In that sense…”

Charlie, who took out a red rose from his pocket, suddenly went down from the stage and walked up to the head table.

Since this was the first Royal Consort candidate to show such behavior, the knights who were guarding the close quarters also hesitated and could not react.

Charlie, standing in front of Princess Rebecca, lightly swept back his hair, knelt on one knee, and handed the rose to the Princess.

“It is a humble flower compared to the Princess’s beauty, but if you accept it, I will cherish it as a lifelong grace.”

Although somewhat sudden, Charlie’s actions were very romantic.

Everyone, young and old, swooned at this.

“Waaaaah!!”

“Accept it! Accept it!”

“Wonderful!”

Charlie, intoxicated with himself, gave Princess Rebecca a greasy wink.

It was truly an atmosphere where she could not help but accept it.

Princess Rebecca, letting out a small sigh, reached out her hand.

As her fair and beautiful hand got closer to the rose, Charlie’s smile grew thicker.

‘Baron Lloyd won’t even get a chance.’

The Royal Consort selection ceremony would be over as soon as the Princess received the rose, no matter who appealed in the later order.

Everyone thought so.

Until the Princess’s hand, which was about to take the rose, stopped.

“I guess… I can’t. I will receive flowers when you become the Royal Consort.”

The venue became instantly chilly at Princess Rebecca’s refusal.

Charlie, flustered, quickly recovered the situation.

“O-Of course, you should. I was too hasty. I will wait, eagerly anticipating that time.”

Charlie, who returned to the stage, tried to maintain a poker face, but inwardly, he was grinding his teeth.

‘You’re playing hard to get. Let’s see how long you can be so haughty.’

The surrounding nobles also tried to smooth things over and started talking nonsense.

“Indeed, you are the Princess. Your fairness is worthy of the noble bloodline of the Elden Kingdom. I am impressed by your foolish conviction today.”

“Come on! Shall we have a drink? Isn’t it a good day?”

“Long live His Majesty the King! Long live Princess Rebecca!”

The atmosphere was refreshed.

Charlie Hilton’s speech continued.

“The kingdom I will create will be completely different from what it has been until now. How long will you be trapped in this stuffy and narrow land? The continent is vast. If you stay still, you will only be left behind. We must join the new order. That is ultimately the shortcut to making the eight-hundred-year kingdom an eight-thousand-year kingdom.”

Eloquent.

Charlie Hilton’s words were unhindered.

He expressed it indirectly, but to summarize, it was an argument to incorporate the Elden Kingdom into the Calon Empire.

The pro-Imperial nobles actively agreed with this and nodded.

“That’s right!”

“Well said!”

“That’s it.”

Finally, the time to appeal his abilities.

Charlie did not speak at length.

He simply drew his sword.

Then, a faint aura flowed along the sword’s blade.

It was a Mana Sword, the symbol of an Expert [a skilled magic user].

Surprise followed from those around him.

“How can this be!”

“Such a young man is already an Expert.”

“A prodigy has appeared. Prince Charlie Hilton is the treasure of the kingdom.”

“He is more than qualified as the Royal Consort. It has already been decided who will inherit the lineage of the Seven Stars in the future.”

It was an atmosphere that everyone acknowledged.

Charlie Hilton became elated, puffed out his chest, and returned to his seat.

The selection ceremony was already a sensation.

“Last is Henon Lloyd!”

Finally, it was my turn.

I went on stage.

It was similar to when Andre went up.

The majority of people did not even look at me and were talking among themselves.

Some openly uttered words such as bastard, lowly bloodline, and lack of roots, clearly intending for me to hear.

“Attention.”

I spoke briefly, but they did not even listen with the corner of their ears.

“Attention.”

As expected, they did not listen.

If that’s the case, I have no choice.

I drew the Demonic Heavenly Sword and stuck it into the stage.

Then, I shouted, putting mana into my voice.

“Aaaatttteeeeennnnntttioooooon!!!!!”

The resounding sound echoed throughout the hall.

I put so much mana into it that the sound spread out, shaking the window frames and chandeliers of the banquet hall, and those nearby reflexively covered their ears.

It’s impossible not to concentrate when I’m drawing aggro like this.

Duke Arnold burst into anger.

“What is this rude behavior! You almost made my ears fall off.”

“Everyone is deliberately blocking their eardrums, so I directly pierced them. Can you hear my voice now?”

“Cough cough!!”

Everyone had dissatisfied expressions, but I succeeded in focusing their attention anyway.

Now they couldn’t openly make noise and only whispered.

The word scoundrel was often heard in my ear.

Count Hornet said.

“Baron Lloyd, please tell us what you like about the Princess that made you apply.”

The first question.

I take out the prepared answer.

“Princess Rebecca’s appearance is beautiful. This is an undeniable fact. But her true beauty is not external. It is internal.”

The nobles tilt their heads.

They don’t understand what I’m saying.

I explained to them.

While tapping my head.

“Rebecca is surprisingly brilliant and intelligent. Moreover, she has the effort to strive tirelessly towards her goals. She is an explorer who tries to break the limits set by people and pioneer a new world. I want to purely support the Princess as a human being, leaving aside the position of Royal Consort.”

Clang!!!

A sharp sound of a glass breaking was heard.

The sound came from the head table.

Princess Rebecca, who heard my words, dropped the wine glass she was holding.

“Princess! Are you alright?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

Her fingertips, which had taken her back off the backrest, were trembling slightly.

She was trying to maintain her composure, but it was clear to anyone that she was greatly shaken.

It was the first intense reaction seen since the selection ceremony began.

The nobles, who were about to sneer at the absurd sound, became tight-lipped at the reaction of Princess Rebecca.

“Ahem! Well said. Then, please tell us how you plan to lead the country in the future?”

Count Hornet’s second question.

To this question, I simply shrugged and answered like this.

“Nothing.”

Exactly four letters.

Count Hornet, who doubted his ears, asked again.

“Baron Lloyd, answer sincerely.”

“It is as I said. I have no plans to do anything. After all, I can’t even pay attention to state affairs because I’m taking care of the Marquisate.”

Charlie Hilton, who was listening from behind, foamed at the mouth and argued.

“There should be a limit to nonsense. You’re saying you’ll abandon the country after becoming the Royal Consort. Are you saying you’re going to neglect your duty now?”

“If there is no one to work, I will do it. But there is someone much smarter than me who will take good care of the country, so why would I need to get involved?”

“Who is that?”

At Charlie’s words, I slowly raised my arm and pointed to one person.

At the end of my finger was Princess Rebecca.

“I am going to let the wise woman who is the protagonist of this place and whom we have all courted all day long run the country herself.”

As soon as my words were finished, a moment of silence flowed. But soon, the sound of laughter filled the banquet hall.

“Puhahaha!! You’re going to entrust the household to the Princess!”

“That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard recently. Baron Lloyd has quite the sense of humor.”

“At this point, can’t we say he’s given up being a man? It’s the first time I’ve heard of making a woman do politics.”

Despite everyone’s ridicule, I just stared at Rebecca.

Rebecca was also watching me.

She had an expression as if she had seen a ghost.

In her trembling red eyes, I confirmed surprise, wonder, curiosity… and a slight joy.

That was enough.

I grabbed the Demonic Heavenly Sword stuck in the floor with both hands and infused it with mana.

Then, the Two-Origin Mana drawn from the dantian [an energy center in the body, according to traditional Chinese medicine] enveloped the sword and burst into a dazzling sword aura.

Paaaaat!!!

It was a bright emerald light at a level that was embarrassing to compare with Charlie Hilton from earlier.

The Mana Sword was burning almost like a torch.

As the tremendous energy covered the hall, the nobles who had been ridiculing me until just now were greatly shocked.

“N-No way!”

“Is that really a Mana Sword?”

“I’ve never seen such a clear Mana Sword before.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“More than that, was Baron Lloyd really a Sword Expert? I’m more surprised by that.”

There is no more certain demonstration than a show of skill.

The whispering grew louder.

Only then did the word bastard disappear, and the words demon slayer, holy destroyer, and elf slaughterer began to appear frequently.

To give the watching nobles an even clearer impression, I opened my mouth boldly.

“I think I have properly informed you of what strengths I have to this extent. Nevertheless, if anyone is still in doubt… please come up to the stage at any time.”

I glanced around the pro-Imperial Royal Consort candidates and made eye contact with each of them.

Most of them avoided my gaze, hiccuped, or went to the bathroom saying they had an urgent need.

The only one who didn’t avoid it was Charlie Hilton.

He frowned, full of displeasure with the way things were going, so I formally recommended him.

“Baron Charlie Hilton. I thought you had some insight into swords when I saw you earlier. How about we have a conversation with our bodies as fellow swordsmen?”