My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 66

§ 66. Two Choices (1)

“What is the reason?”

The question came from Durac’s mouth.

A simple question without any further explanation.

However, Cyan knew what that question meant.

Cyan calmly opened his mouth.

“Because there is no place for me in the family.”

Durac’s gaze turned to Cyan.

In his eyes, not even a hint of emotion could be seen.

“You are Elan Dur.”

“I am also an Elan Dur in name only.”

Cyan slightly raised his eyes again to look at Durac.

A still, expressionless face.

Cyan spoke again.

“There is a place where I should be.”

Durac was silent.

Again, a silent stillness descended.

How long had passed?

“You were overly obsessed.”

Durac spoke again.

Cyan said nothing.

To be precise, it would be accurate to say that he couldn’t say anything.

“Ruben was the land that Elan Dur had protected since distant ancestors.”

Durac looked at Cyan and slowly opened his mouth.

“It was a useless land, but the previous family heads protected Ruben. I had long questioned that. It was too strange. There is a territory in the Forest of Darkness. This doesn’t make sense from the start.”

Durac began a short story about Ruben.

And it was a story that even Cyan didn’t know.

“Nevertheless, Elan Dur protected Ruben. But no one, no one knew why they had to. What I found out was one thing. Ruben has existed since before the Elan Dur family began.”

The origin of the Elan Dur family goes back hundreds of years from now.

It wasn’t exact, but.

As far as Cyan knew, it was about 400 years earlier.

At that time, the empire faced a great crisis of destruction.

It was the time when the unprecedented event of the assassination of the emperor of the empire occurred.

It was the day when Charlotte’s swordsmanship, which had been passed down through the imperial family, was lost.

And it was also the moment when Elan Dur was able to become the prestigious family of the current empire.

“There was no reason, no purpose. As if someone had given them a duty, the previous family heads simply protected Ruben. I questioned such things, and in the end, instead of protecting Ruben, I decided to use it for other purposes for the family.”

Durac abandoned Ruben.

In that way, Ruben was thoroughly neglected, and in the end, it became the current Necro-territory [a territory associated with death and undeath].

To put it indirectly, it’s a place of exile.

To put it directly, it’s a place of execution.

Durac used Ruben to eliminate his political enemies.

In that sense, Isabel sent Cyan to Ruben.

“Ruben is such a land. A useless Necro-territory. I have no intention of changing that land.”

But.

“From some point on, that territory had changed.”

Durac looked at Cyan.

Cyan said nothing.

To be precise, he hid his emotions inside.

He knew.

Durac knew the situation in Ruben.

The time Cyan stayed at the mansion.

That time was also the time Isabel persuaded Durac.

It was also the time Durac investigated Cyan and Ruben.

Durac looked at Cyan and said.

“Return to the family.”

Cyan met Durac’s gaze.

Eyes in which no emotion could be felt.

That’s why Cyan could realize.

Isabel’s persuasion had failed.

If not, there was no reason for Durac to say those words.

It seemed that Durac was determined to bring Cyan back to the family.

At first, it would have been a simple interest.

A small interest in Cyan being chosen by the Zodiac Sword.

And curiosity about the growth of someone who had been a hopeless dullard.

Then he learned about the situation in Ruben.

And he learned that Ruben had made unbelievable progress.

All of that was done in Cyan’s hands.

With that, Durac seemed to have evaluated Cyan’s abilities even more highly.

So he must have thought that he should hold on to Cyan even more.

If he had developed that Ruben, which was like ruins, to that extent.

If he had turned it into a decent territory in this short amount of time.

The Elan Dur family would have the capacity to revive it much more than that.

Honestly, it was unexpected.

Cyan had never thought that Durac would be so interested and investigate so much.

And if Durac was so interested.

It was safe to say that there were no particular restrictions on Cyan being in the family.

He no longer had to be conscious of Isabel.

He also wouldn’t have to be conscious of other siblings.

He could continue a life in the family that was the opposite of what it used to be.

However, Cyan had no intention of returning to the family.

Now, he doesn’t want or desire such interest from Durac.

Cyan had never thought of Elan Dur as his own family.

That’s why he didn’t want to be involved with Elan Dur anymore.

If Cyan had any lingering feelings for Elan Dur, it would probably be just one thing.

Cyan’s mother, Cecil.

However, Cecil died a long time ago.

With her, all of Cyan’s family related to Elan Dur died.

For Cyan, family is only the people of Ruben.

But now Durac’s command is absolute.

In the end, Cyan is destined to return to the family.

Isabel’s persuasion failed.

Cyan’s plan also went awry.

But.

Not everything is ruined yet.

The proof is right now.

That he called Cyan separately like this.

Isabel’s persuasion was not a complete failure.

To be precise, it was not ignored.

If Durac hadn’t listened to Isabel at all.

There was no need to call Cyan separately.

To be precise, there was no reason to say the words to return to the family one more time.

He could just give Cyan the job.

Nevertheless, the fact that he calls Cyan separately to talk.

Not yet.

Not everything is ruined.

So now.

You have to make a bet.

“One year.”

Cyan slowly continued.

“Give me a year.”

Durac’s eyebrows twitched.

“After a year, I will return to the family without saying a word.”

Durac was looking down at Cyan without saying anything.

“Why should I do that?”

Durac’s one word that followed.

Cyan said immediately.

“Weren’t you going to entrust me with the family’s affairs?”

“That’s right.”

“Then give me a year.”

Durac was silent.

And Cyan knew what that silence meant.

Rejection.

In the first place, there was no reason for Durac to give Cyan a year.

Cyan continued.

“If not, I will not take on the family’s affairs.”

Durac’s lips twisted.

A clear emotion of anger dwells within.

‘Cough…!’

An unimaginable murderous intent washes over him.

A terrible restraining force that binds the whole body is felt.

“Did you think you would have a choice?”

Sensation is suppressed in his voice.

And as Durac said, Cyan had no choice.

In Elan Dur, Durac’s command is absolute.

If Durac says so.

He had to do it.

But one thing.

There was a choice left for Cyan.

So he makes a bet here.

Cyan gritted his teeth.

“One thing…! I can choose…!”

Cyan said, breathing heavily.

And facing Durac straight on.

“If you can’t grant my request…!”

Cyan forced himself to open his mouth.

“Cut off my head now…!”

The energy grew even stronger and bound Cyan.

The whole body doesn’t listen as if it’s paralyzed.

Durac said nothing.

The bet Cyan made.

It forced Durac to choose.

Whether to cut off Cyan’s head here and lose the tool to revive the family.

Or to wait a year and get such a tool.

Durac maintained a chilling silence.

Cyan held on to his mind in that silence.

How much time had passed?

It felt like decades had passed.

In an instant, the energy that had been binding Cyan subsided.

At the same time.

“Half a year.”

Durac’s voice was heard.

Piercing gaze.

“Get out.”

Durac turned his back on Cyan as if he had nothing more to say.

#

Click.

Cyan, who came out of the office, quickly moved his steps.

And when he thought he was far enough away from the office.

“Hoo…”

He was able to exhale the long breath he had been holding back.

The one-on-one with Durac.

Even though it was just a conversation, it consumed a lot of mental strength.

He was also worried that things might go wrong.

Especially when he was suppressed by energy…

There was a reason why he was called the No. 1 sword in the empire.

He was truly a monster.

Well, still.

Fortunately, he was able to avoid the worst-case scenario.

If he had been caught in the family like this, he would have had to run away in the middle of the night.

Fortunately, he bought half a year.

That’s why.

“It’s not a problem to just let it go.”

Even if the work was over, it wasn’t a problem to just let it go.

It was half a year.

After half a year, Cyan has to return to Elan Dur again.

Durac was still holding the knife.

And even though it was half a year.

He didn’t know when that knife would be wielded again.

Anyway, in Elan Dur, Durac’s command is absolute.

Durac knew that, so he gave Cyan half a year now.

If he wanted to, he could overturn this situation again.

The current situation was somehow able to be avoided.

But he was still in Durac’s palm.

“Hmm…”

Cyan’s head was filled with complicated thoughts.

Right then.

“What are you doing here?”

A voice was heard calling out to Cyan.

A voice that was somehow familiar yet unfamiliar.

Cyan slowly turned his head in the direction the voice came from.

There, a handsome man with a cold impression was standing and looking at Cyan.

A man like a noble wolf.

Kai Elan Dur.

The first son of the Marquis Elan Dur family.

He was Cyan’s eldest brother, called the star of the empire.

Well, it was natural for Kai to be in the Elan Dur mansion.

But had they ever faced each other and talked like this?

First of all, there was almost none in Cyan’s memory.

No, it seemed like this was the first time, not almost none.

Kai didn’t pay much attention to his younger siblings.

He was no different from Junior Durac, except for his name.

‘Junior Durac isn’t wrong either, is it?’

Well, anyway.

“It’s been a while, Brother Kai.”

Cyan bowed slightly and said.

Kai also nodded slightly.

Soon, Kai opened his mouth again.

“I heard you’re coming back to the family this time.”

Durac and Isabel.

And it was an event that happened between Cyan.

Kai seemed to know that fact too.

Isabel might have told him.

Above all, Cyan had been staying at the mansion for more than two weeks, so he couldn’t not know.

It was a fact that the people of the mansion all knew while keeping quiet.

But he didn’t know, and couldn’t know, what had just happened.

“I’m on my way out after refusing the head of the family.”

At Cyan’s words, Kai raised his eyes slightly.

It was an expression that he was hearing that fact for the first time, and it was quite unexpected.

As expected, Kai asked Cyan.

“Does refusing mean… you’re not coming back to the family?”

“That’s right.”

Of course, he had to come back after half a year…

He didn’t bother to mention that fact.

Kai was silent for a moment at Cyan’s answer.

After a little time passed, Kai opened his mouth again.

“I heard that the head of the family directly proposed it. So if you come back to the family, the same thing will not happen as before.”

Kai said something quite unexpected.

He thought he had no interest in Cyan at all.

But it seemed he knew the situation to some extent.

“Also, you will be able to receive the family’s support. Nevertheless, what is the reason for refusing?”

“You have a brother in the family. Being the lord of Ruben is enough for me.”

Kai’s eyes changed at Cyan’s words.

Well, he seems to be thinking about what it means…

But there was really no special meaning.

Cyan was really satisfied with being the lord of Ruben.

“Is it because of your mother?”

“Well… I won’t deny it.”

Cyan answered awkwardly.

Isabel’s reason was not without reason.

Kai quietly looked at Cyan.

And.

“If that’s what you mean.”

With those words, Kai left the spot.

Cyan looked at Kai’s back.

Anyway, now and then.

“…He’s someone I can’t figure out.”

Kai was really someone you couldn’t know the inside of.

“Eh, I don’t know.”

Cyan moved his steps again.

#

Cyan, who parted ways with Kai, went straight out of the mansion.

There was no reason to be in the mansion.

He didn’t have any luggage to take separately.

Even if he did, it was all in his inventory.

Above all, there was no one to say hello to.

“If I run into Roswell, he might cling to me again.”

There were only a lot of people who would be annoying and troublesome.

So Cyan came out of the mansion on the road he parted ways with Kai.

Cyan who came out like that.

Even though it was only a few steps away.

For some reason, it felt like the stuffy heart was뻥뚫린 [a Korean expression meaning ‘relieved’ or ‘liberated’].

“Was my mother feeling like this too?”

It would have been more.

Cyan smiled and shook off the thoughts that were rushing in.

Then he took out a piece of paper he had prepared in his arms.

He also took out a pen and wrote a letter to Hans.

It was a letter saying that his return to Ruben would be delayed a little.

The situation was already later than expected.

Nevertheless, the reason for writing an additional letter was simple.

Cyan was not going to return directly to Ruben.

And this reason was also simple.

“Half a year might be a little tight.”

It was none other than the knife that Durac was holding.

It was to take away the knife that he might wield again at any time.

In fact, Cyan had been anticipating that this situation would come someday.

Anyway, Cyan was Elan Dur.

Ruben was also Elan Dur’s territory.

So he was calmly preparing.

But he thought it was still too early.

And that’s why he put it off.

He was going to develop Ruben a little more and settle down before doing it.

But the time left was half a year.

He needed to move quickly.

So it seemed like the time had come to execute the plan he had in mind.

A plan to escape from Durac’s palm.

Of course, in this empire, on the continent.

I wondered if there was anyone who could stand against the name of Elan Dur.

That’s why there was no way to take the knife in Durac’s hand.

Only two families in this empire had the potential to threaten the knife in Durac’s hand.

Rothschild, the two pillars that support the empire like Elan Dur.

The heart of the empire, the imperial family.

And only one of these families could ‘suppress’ Elan Dur.

The heart of the empire, the imperial family.

No matter how much Elan Dur was, he had no choice but to give in to the imperial family, who was the owner of the empire.

So now.

Cyan headed to the capital of the empire, Darkan, not Ruben.

It was none other than to meet the crown prince, Conrad.

And the reason was the one promise the crown prince had made to Cyan in the past.

‘I will grant you a special wish. It doesn’t matter what it is, so tell me anything. I promise this in the name of the imperial family.’

Conrad’s promise and debt that he received as a gift of the highest-grade mana stone at the founding day event.

It seemed like he had to go get that debt now.

So that the knife in Durac’s hand could not be wielded towards Cyan and Ruben.

Of course, it would be a difficult request even if he was the crown prince.

But since he said something, he wouldn’t be able to refuse it.

So he had to go and rub against him somehow [ingratiate himself].

That’s why Cyan is not Ruben.

He headed to the capital, Darkan, where the imperial palace was located.

Before that.

“Ah, right. I have to exchange the bill.”

He didn’t forget to cash the 1.5 million gold bill.

#

The capital of the Charlotte Empire, Darkan.

The center of the Charlotte Empire, which boasts a vast territory.

It is the heart where all the major events of the empire are decided.

And this place can be said to be the heart of the heart.

“The imperial palace is amazing no matter when I see it.”

Cyan muttered, looking at the vast imperial palace.

Cyan’s residence, the lord’s residence in Ruben, as well as Elan Dur’s mansion, did not reach the imperial palace.

“Is it natural?”

Cyan smiled and walked to the entrance of the imperial palace.