37 - The Bookworm’s Second Life

The Regenerated Life of a Dedicated Reader - Episode 37 > Bookrabbit - Web Novel Archive <Intoxication!> Most nobles keep a villa in the royal capital for their family. It's not as if all of them swarm into the palace in broad daylight just because there's a party. The palace simply doesn't have enough space to accommodate everyone. Even if it did, it would be improper for the ruler of a kingdom to lodge his subjects in his own home. Thus, it was customary for nobles arriving in the capital to wait in their family villas until it was time to enter the palace. However, there were times when they would head straight to the palace—such as when they needed to discuss urgent matters with the king or align their narratives for official events. "Welcome, Sion Clausen. Welcome to the royal palace." The palace's head chamberlain came out to greet the protagonist of this palace-hosted party. If the rumors were true, he was a deplorable noble known as a wastrel, or rather, a good-for-nothing. Yet this young man had rallied soldiers to victory against Nudia and had managed to drive back their enemies in subsequent defensive battles. He achieved incredible success in negotiations, nearly forcing an unconditional surrender. The conflicting reputations left the chamberlain's head spinning in confusion. One of these assessments had to be false, and in such cases, it was usually the accolades that were exaggerated. Namely, the public's tale often became one adorned with achievements stolen from others. 'Honestly, even His Majesty and the prince have their doubts.' It was only natural for the chamberlain, the king, and the prince to harbor suspicions. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed just a bit too convenient, even three times over. "It’s been a while, Chamberlain." "A few years have indeed passed. You've grown to become quite dashing since coming of age. The noble maidens will swoon over you." "Hahaha." Sion could laugh wholeheartedly at the chamberlain's compliment on his appearance. According to the setting, Sion Clausen was considered to be 'top tier' when it came to looks. It was a refreshing change from the typical 'manly,' 'robust-looking,' or simply 'hmm, he looks okay' appearances he was used to. What a pleasant surprise! "And the friends accompanying you...?" "The lady is Lucia, daughter of the former court magician, Raido. The gentleman beside her is Lucia's escort." "Oh, so you're Lady Lucia? My apologies for not recognizing you. I've hardly had the chance to see your face." "No need to apologize, Chamberlain. My father was quite peculiar and kept me away from the palace. The man next to me is Yuhyeon, my father’s student." "What? Master Raido took a disciple?" "Not for magic but other things," she clarified. Upon hearing this, the chamberlain expressed admiration and offered a handshake to Kim Yuhyeon. Raido, who had passed down neither magic nor martial arts to anyone, had taken on a student. It seemed time had mellowed the old magician. Meanwhile, Lilith and Lysikita waited at the Clausen family's villa within the capital. Though Lysikita had surrendered, it seemed premature to bring someone who had recently been a knight of Nudia into the palace. Lilith, wary of being recognized in a palace teeming with magicians and elite knights, opted to stay behind. "So, what brings you to the palace? The party is still quite a ways off, after all. His Majesty is currently busy with affairs of state." Did he ask knowingly or out of genuine curiosity? 'Of course, the chamberlain knows. He lies without so much as wetting his lips.' Reports of Sion Clausen entering the capital would have already reached the palace. And as soon as he entered, the chamberlain was there to greet him, as if on cue. This was practically a declaration that the king was expecting him. "I've come on behalf of Lichten Clausen, the Margrave, to report on the progress and aftermath of the war affairs. Moreover, I've come to request a private audience with His Majesty regarding the royal party." He isn't just some country noble; the heir of a marquis asks for a private audience. The chamberlain, a seasoned man who had served the politically charged palace scene for over a decade, immediately discerned this young man's intentions. 'He's saying that if we listen to him, there's something beneficial for the royal family.' Had Sion Clausen become this savvy in political matters? Ignoring rumors, the chamberlain recalled seeing Sion in the past. Back then, he was a boy of handsome visage but with actions that often disappointed. But now, he was different. Very different. Having directly met countless nobles and foreign dignitaries, the chamberlain had a knack for gauging a person's nature and emotions from first impressions alone. 'What on earth happened? I remember hearing concerns about the future of the Clausen Margraves not too long ago.' People who say they want to change, or resolve to start anew, are plentiful, yet more than half, if not most, fail to discard their inherent nature and ultimately remain unchanged. A coward who fled the battlefield continues to fear death; one who violated women remains shackled by lust, and those smothered with dissatisfaction eventually seek upheaval. But this young man, Sion Clausen, had clearly changed. Sion used to have dull eyes, but now they gleamed with sharp intelligence. His previously contorted expressions had shifted to a confident smile, and above all, there wasn't a single stumble in his speech or actions. It seemed as if he had anticipated every circumstance and was maneuvering everything according to his intentions. 'The Margrave must finally be enjoying life now.' Perhaps he truly had made significant contributions in the war. He wasn't like the other noble heirs who gave grand speeches with pompous phrases and stayed safe in the rear ranks, only to return unscathed. "...Follow me." The chamberlain led the way into the palace. Sion followed, entering the palace of the Hispania royal family for the second time as 'Sion Clausen,' but for the first time as himself. The royal guards, the only ones allowed to bear arms in this weaponless space, patrolled the vicinity, while the secret royal guard kept a vigilant watch from unseen places. The palace was equipped with skilled magicians, ensuring it was fortified against any assault. 'And yet, it'll be breached.' Either there's a weak point somewhere, or... 'There's a traitor.' Unfortunately, he didn't know who the traitor was. This wasn't mentioned in the novel either. That's why Sion had deliberated whether to exploit the upcoming palace incident or prevent it. 'I still have two days to spare.' The unprecedented event in the palace would occur two days after the royal party commenced. At least for today and tomorrow, it was a safe zone. Homework has always tasted sweeter when done last minute after all the fun, they said. Sion decided to enjoy the party today, contemplating the issue with Kim Yuhyeon and the princess. In the meantime, he wouldn't forget to solidify his position as the heir to the Clausen Margrave and secure allies who could support him in the future. "Please wait here." The chamberlain stopped before a door adorned with grand decorations. Then, after clearing his throat, he spoke with a cautiousness that reflected a sense of being observed by the king himself. "Your Majesty, Lord Sion Clausen has arrived." "...Let him in." A completely ordinary middle-aged man's voice came from inside. However, the chamberlain bowed deeply, then carefully gestured for Sion to enter, indicating another person's presence in the private office. 'Judging by the fact they're waiting for me here, there must be someone else inside the room. There's about a 90% chance it's the prince.' He contemplated the situation, pondering that he could potentially leave the responsibility of hosting the party to the prince. Even when Kim Yuhyeon attended the royal-hosted party, most responsibilities were shifted to the prince while the king observed from the background. Sion briefly contemplated how best to present himself. The current king of Hispania, Edgar IV, was undoubtedly a man of exceptional caliber as a monarch. He possessed keen political acumen, decent diplomatic sense, and most importantly, he was unafraid to utilize whatever could advantageously serve his interests. The issue was his health, which had been frail since his days as a prince. For a kingdom, having a monarch with poor health was akin to living with a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment. 'In contrast, Prince Erador...' Fortunately, he didn't inherit his father's weak constitution, but regrettably, he also didn't inherit his good qualities. He wasn't foolish or maliciously inclined. By common standards, Prince Erador was a man of competence and kindness. The problem was that when these common standards were applied to the future king of a country, they were woefully insufficient. 'A kind heart becomes a weakness preventing the elimination of useless people. Indecisiveness grows further, and although capable, the emergence of more talented nobles around him sparked rivalry and antagonism, leading them to turn their backs on the prince.' Had the entire royal family not been exterminated by enemies exploiting a gap left by the princess a year later, Prince Erador would have ascended as the king, and Hispania would have descended into chaos. The realm would become a grand disaster externally due to enemies and internally due to mutual opposition. 'Therefore.' A decision had to be made. Should he present himself as a confident and capable noble heir to win the favor of the king? Or should he adopt a more reserved and introverted guise to quell any resistance from Prince Erador, who had a high chance of becoming the future king? It was akin to a newly transferred recruit being asked "who's the most handsome" by the almighty but soon-to-be-demoted squad leader, and the senior about to take charge and rise to power. 'Ha, damn... It was fine to tell parents to not ask those padded questions, to dismiss the debate of pouring or dipping sauce with 'just eat it,' and to answer 'half-and-half noodles' to the black bean noodle versus spicy soup noodle dilemma...' But here I am, having to answer another dumb military-style binary question. Damn it all! Now! Make your choice. Between the current and future powerhouse, which man will you choose? 'Are you asking the obvious here?' Of course, the current powerhouse. Ah, but wouldn’t that mean destroying my life under the future powerhouse, right? 'That's where you change the future powerhouse.' Was this place not a promised land flowing with politics and betrayals for no reason? Even the soldier once called an ace lost the title of future squad leader and ended up in jail due to one wrong move. I witnessed such a comrade right next to me during my military service. Even though he wasn't a poor soldier, his fate was sealed by a single report by his immediate junior. The palace is no different. In fact, it was even simpler and more straightforward. Sion knew exactly what the nobles were thinking, who the current and future power players were, and what weaknesses they had. "Sion Clausen of the Clausen Margraviate greets His Majesty King Edgar Astarius Hispania, the rightful ruler and head of the royal family of Hispania." Unlike the nobility, who maintained a 'sufficient' level of decorum in a somewhat relaxed environment, within the palace and before the royal family, the utmost etiquette was required. Although he was the eldest son of a noble margraviate, Sion had not yet been officially designated as the heir, which made him feel somewhat daunted. He bowed slightly at the waist and waited for the king to speak. "Welcome to the palace, Lord Sion of the Clausen Margraviate." The wait wasn’t long. The response was exceedingly ordinary, akin to the reply you'd get after greeting the kindly gentleman who lived downstairs. "Raise your head. This is not an official occasion, so there's no need for such stiffness." Upon hearing this, Sion slowly lifted his gaze. '...Wait. What the hell?'