While the conference hall was buzzing, Mercedes quietly observed the Count.
‘There’s no evidence… I thought he would give it up on his own. Seeing him bring it out under this much pressure, he seems confident.’
In any case, what the Count was spreading about her was just a baseless rumor.
It was just a rumor created and believed by people who didn’t know the details of what happened in Shame, those who witnessed Mercedes pushing her father hard. The old Duke and the Empress Dowager also fanned the flames eagerly.
Anyway, since there was no substance, decisive evidence had to come out at least once.
Mercedes wanted to push the atmosphere to the extreme until the Count produced that evidence.
In fact, there was no need to drag everything out this far. Carlos said assassination was possible if desired.
But Mercedes.
‘He’s intoxicated.’
The Count intoxicated with victory. No, she wanted to capture the moment her father collapsed in an instant.
It was greed if anything.
But moving together at the other’s eye level, and falling from the tower the other had built up.
That was the completion of revenge Mercedes wanted.
Because the members of the Count’s family were always arrogant in her old memories. She wanted to see their faces crumple properly at least once.
Childish as it may be, that was her desire, and she asked Carlos.
“…A banner, you say. That’s quite strange.”
Carlos deliberately hardened his face.
“My banner is not given except to soldiers who fought together in war. But that banner looks like a genuine one.”
“I thought you would recognize it. Yes. I believed in this alone, and I believed in Your Majesty… But whatever the Empress ordered – that knight brought me greater shame and made me lose everything.”
“…”
The Emperor was at a loss for words. The interior of the grand conference hall became taut with suffocating silence and tension. If that was really genuine…!
The sound of someone swallowing could even be heard.
“So, Your Majesty. Please judge all rumors coolly and accept this banner as evidence.”
The Count knew how to ride the mood.
Supported by his son, he approached the Emperor a little closer, placed the banner on both hands and held it out to Carlos. Bowing his head deeply to show respect to the Emperor.
The Emperor reached out and picked up the banner placed on the Count’s hands.
The Count returned to his place after submitting the banner.
Carlos let out a sigh and frowned as he examined the banner.
Is the Empress really going to be dethroned?
Can a woman who betrayed heavenly ethics be placed in the important position of Empress of Rum?
Is the Emperor really crazy about his concubine?
Everyone’s attention was focused. The Count was clenching his fists, feeling an unparalleled sense of elation.
“But Count… This is truly. Strange.”
Carlos, who had been examining the banner for a while, slowly opened his mouth.
He’ll probably insist it’s a fake after hearing something absurd. The Count pretended to be surprised, though he thought it would be useless.
“…Yes?”
“The pattern, the shape, everything is accurate. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this level of engraving was made by a master craftsman under my command. The delicate craftsmanship is praiseworthy.”
“Then you accept the evidence as genuine-”
“But there’s one secret about the banner.”
“…Yes?”
A secret? The Count was momentarily flustered. Something was odd.
“Actually, the banner I gave… Ah, yes. The captain of the imperial guard is here. You, come here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You were the fifth person to receive a banner from me. At first, I gave them symbolically to the captains, then to all the soldiers.”
“Yes. I remember exactly when Your Majesty pinned the banner on my chest. That’s correct.”
The metal banner proudly hanging on the captain of the imperial guard’s chest was indeed the same shape as the one the Emperor held. Carlos stood up as the necks of the nobles in positions where it was not easily visible were about to snap.
“Now. Look. The outside is the same.”
As the large man stood up, the sense of pressure intensified.
The captain stood beside the Emperor and moved so that the banner on his chest was clearly visible.
“They really are identical.”
“Yes. Even you, the captain of the imperial guard, think so. Then, in your opinion, is it genuine?”
“May I touch it for a moment?”
“Hmm. I want to get your agreement. You might think my answer lacks objectivity… What do you think? How about having the captain and vice-captain of the imperial guard, and the knight commander at the far end inspect it?”
Even so, they were the Emperor’s people, so it seemed to lack objectivity all the same.
The Count mumbled.
“…But aren’t all those people Your Majesty’s knights? I think… they could lie. I apologize for saying this.”
Carlos shook his head at the cautious words.
“Of course, I understand your concern. But only my people can prove whether that banner is counterfeit or not. I can show evidence that everyone will accept.”
“Counterfeit…?”
The Count replied blankly.
“For now, may I hand over the banner to my knights?”
The Count felt strangely cornered, but nodded his head, gritting his teeth at the sharp gazes of the nobles.
“…Yes. For now, I’d like to hear what Your Majesty is trying to prove.”
“Good. Everyone. Gather here and examine the banner.”
So the knight commander, the captain of the imperial guard, and the vice-captain gathered to closely examine the banner placed on the table.
And they answered simultaneously.
“It’s a fake.”
“That’s right. It’s a fake.”
“I can stake my knighthood on it being a fake.”
At the end, Gregory, the knight commander, overreacted a bit, so Carlos gave him a look while smirking.
“To prove that this is a fake, we must reveal the secret that my great soldiers kept. If that happens, the damage on this side will be immeasurable. If counterfeits run rampant in the future and this kind of situation happens again, how do you intend to compensate? What price will you pay?”
Carlos pressured the Count sharply once again.
The Count raised his head, his hands trembling.
“I did not tell a single lie about this not being a counterfeit, about Your Majesty personally sending a knight!”
“Yes. I see you’ve decided to pay a hefty price. I understand well.”
Carlos took his eyes off the Count and looked at his knights.
“Since the Count says he will pay the price, tell me. What’s the reason you judged this banner to be fake?”
“Your Majesty gave this expensive banner to all soldiers. One reason was to honor the great spirit that participated in the conquest war. The other is-”
“So we wouldn’t get lost.”
Gregory cut in while the captain of the imperial guard was answering splendidly. The captain frowned and glanced at Gregory.
Gregory shrugged.
“I think it’s better to explain simply. Your Majesty didn’t just give us a banner.”
Gregory removed the banner he was wearing on his chest. The captain sighed and the vice-captain silently followed suit.
“This banner is a compass. A very accurate compass that Your Majesty put great effort into making.”
“…!”
When the three pressed the banners, there was a click sound and they opened like pendants.
The inside was indeed a compass.
At the same time, the Count struck the desk and stood up. His eyes were trembling madly. And slowly… his gaze turned to Mercedes.
Mercedes was staring at the Count with a dry face. There was a strange vitality on the face that until just now seemed about to collapse from pain.
“In battle, it’s easy to get lost while chasing and being chased. Your Majesty cared even for the seeds of knights, and declared that he would not lose a single person in the army. Of course, there were precious young people who lost their lives due to the war…”
Gregory paused for a moment, seemingly remembering the past.
And he opened his mouth again.
“Find your way back somehow. Don’t throw away your life. That’s what he said. This compass was comfort and proof in the midst of fierce battle.”
“…”
“We didn’t tell the enemy that there was a compass inside. Maybe because it became a habit, everyone naturally kept it a secret. Even after returning to the capital. Knowing how noble a heart Your Majesty had for us, we didn’t open our mouths carelessly.”
When the captain of the imperial guard finished explaining, Gregory laughed a little casually.
“Honestly, we were also worried about counterfeit incidents. Aren’t there all sorts of reputations attached to Your Majesty’s army? It was the perfect secret to filter out the riffraff. As Your Majesty said earlier, it was a secret that you’ll have to pay a great price for. I’m very. Regretful that it had to be revealed.”
The collaboration between the captain of the imperial guard answering with neat organization and refined language and Gregory speaking easily though not so politely made people understand quickly.
And finally, Carlos stepped forward.
“Anyway, this banner has no part to press.”
He picked up the banner on the table, twirled it around, tried pressing and opening it, but to no avail.
It was truly a perfect counterfeit.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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