Chapter 333. How to Use Revelation (1)
Since when had it started?
Believing you were my son.
Loving you as my son.
Cherishing you more than anyone else.
Yet, suppressing the sudden doubts that surfaced in my heart.
‘When did it really begin?’
I don’t know.
No matter how much I try to remember.
No matter how hard I try to recall.
The Earl of Frontera thought he couldn’t pinpoint when it started.
He couldn’t help it.
‘No. Perhaps, from that day, from the very beginning.’
The memory of that evening a few years ago suddenly came back.
It was a particularly stifling and despairing evening.
Burdened by an enormous debt that fell into his lap.
His eldest son constantly causing trouble.
Those were days that only brought sighs upon reflection.
Then, he heard unexpected news.
His eldest son was undertaking some strange construction project with the estate’s residents.
So, he called his son to dinner.
Facing his eldest son across the table.
He asked about the strange rumors that were spreading.
What was he doing behind the village tavern?
He asked with suspicion.
At the same time, he inwardly prayed.
Please, no more trouble.
Just grow up, even a little.
He wanted to pray to the heavens.
But what was the eldest son’s reaction?
‘It was unexpected. Astonishing.’
The usually rebellious eldest son.
Lloyd, who had always shown a defiant attitude.
Surprisingly, he calmly and serenely tried to persuade him.
He said he had a plan for what he was doing.
Even if he couldn’t believe him right away, he asked for his trust.
With an unexpected demeanor, he withdrew.
‘Maybe I…’
Maybe he had hoped that day was a miracle.
Maybe he wanted that day’s behavior to be the start of a remarkable change.
The Earl of Frontera looked up at the sky.
The time that had been frozen finally began to flow again.
For the first time in months, he gazed up at the night sky.
The moonlight, starlight, clouds, and shooting stars filled the sky.
And walking silently beside him was his eldest son, Lloyd.
“Is the night wind cold?”
“Oh, no.”
Lloyd smiled.
He looked at him and asked back.
“As you know, I’m a Swordmaster now. Are you okay? You’re wearing a thinner coat than I am.”
“I’m fine. If I get too cold, I can always take yours, can’t I?”
“Ah. That’s one way.”
“Right. It’s the privilege of having a sturdy son.”
“Hahaha.”
Lloyd laughed.
The Earl smiled too.
A sturdy son.
He really hoped so.
If the son who had changed since that dinner was really his.
It would be wonderful if he had just come to his senses that day.
If he had finally grown up.
If he had truly become a diligent son.
It would be great if he could say that.
‘If it wasn’t just my wishful thinking, if my desire hadn’t blinded me, that would be wonderful.’
A sigh almost escaped.
He struggled to suppress the heavy breath.
He recalled the words the Jewel of Truth had once shown in the air.
Words that others would find amusing.
Lloyd’s habit of picking his ears.
The gem had revealed it.
Everyone laughed and found it fascinating.
But his heart broke.
The son he knew hated picking his ears.
He didn’t have such a habit.
The Earl unknowingly held his breath.
Suppressing the sigh that was about to escape.
After a moment, he finally spoke.
“So, you’re going to the capital tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Have you already amassed so much iron?”
“Yes. I’ve been collecting it bit by bit. But selling and disposing of it all at once is tricky.”
“Do you mean to the Queen?”
“Yes. It’s strategic material, after all. If I sell large quantities locally, the royal family might investigate. Exporting it abroad is out of the question. No one was willing to buy it all at once.”
“Indeed. I contacted several places, but they all turned me down. But the royal family wants to buy it?”
“I’ll make sure they do. Otherwise, we’ll be in trouble.”
“You mean the stockpile of food.”
“Yes. Because the royal supplies were cut off during the months of frozen time.”
Lloyd spoke frankly.
It was true.
The monster domino crisis that had swept the entire east.
Tens of thousands of refugees flocked to the estate at the end of the crisis.
With the population exploding, the estate had to take them all in.
And over the past few months, hundreds of orc warriors and elf archers were mobilized for the dam and gem construction.
Feeding them all was no small task.
‘We managed to hold on thanks to the Marez reclaimed land and the terraced fields. But that’s at its limit. At this rate, the stockpile will run out soon.’
So they needed to pull large quantities of supplies from the royal family.
But just asking for it?
There was no excuse.
‘Of course. The royal family wouldn’t know about the frozen time. To them, it would seem like we’re whining despite receiving regular supplies.’
So he thought of selling the iron.
By supplying a large quantity of iron to the royal family.
They could bring in a large amount of food and other supplies.
This was the surface reason Lloyd presented to the Earl for going to the capital.
‘But the real purpose is to obtain the Eye of Summer.’
Lloyd kept his true intentions to himself and looked up at the night sky.
“Anyway, I’m not sure how things will go. But I have to try. Thanks to Yongyong, carrying the iron bundles to the capital won’t be hard.”
“Indeed. That’s true.”
“Yes. And once in the capital, I’ll visit Julian too.”
“Please do. Pass on our regards to him and his wife.”
“Of course.”
He recalled the recent news of Julian and his wife arriving in the capital.
They had returned from their honeymoon a while ago.
Since then, they had been staying at the Sultanate’s palace.
‘It was due to the Sultanate’s tradition. The Sultan’s son-in-law must spend at least a year in the Sultan’s palace.’
Thanks to that, Julian had only recently returned to the capital, Magenta.
He had just begun working for the royal family.
‘Tsk. That guy must be totally under Seherazade’s thumb.’
A wry smile spread across his face.
Thinking of Julian, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, Lloyd spoke.
“So don’t worry too much. If it comes to it, I might just kidnap him for a day.”
“Oh no. You can’t do that to someone who just started working.”
“But you must want to see him.”
“Well, yes, but.”
“Then just say the word.”
“…”
The Earl fell silent.
As he chuckled at Lloyd’s boldness, he couldn’t help but think of things he couldn’t say.
Once again.
Seeing Lloyd brought a mixture of sadness and complexity to his heart.
The son he believed had grown up and changed since that evening.
The son who saved the family.
Saved him and his wife.
The proud son who saved the estate.
No words or expressions could fully convey his gratitude.
The Earl looked at Lloyd with a mix of regret, gratitude, confusion, and affection.
He had to swallow all the words in his heart.
‘…I want to say it too. But I don’t know how to say it, how to ask. To you, whom I already see as a grateful and precious son.’
The Earl looked up at the sky.
He didn’t know what to say.
The deep, dark blue night sky.
The moonlight, starlight, clouds, and shooting stars.
A heart full of sighs, doubts, and regrets.
And his eldest son, Lloyd, walking silently beside him.
In the end, the Earl reached out wordlessly.
He firmly grasped Lloyd’s hand.
To wish him a safe journey.
No matter what he did.
No matter what he was hiding.
He was already thankful and cherished him.
As if conveying the unspoken truth, he tightly held Lloyd’s hand.
The night breeze was cool and cozy.
Their hands tightly clasped, making the moment more tender.
It was a walk between a father and son, or those who hoped to be.
♣
The next day, Lloyd departed from the Frontera estate as planned.
Yongyong carried bundles of Frontera iron for sale.
Of course, Javier accompanied him.
They flew all day.
The sun rose high.
And began to set in the west.
Finally, as the moon rose.
They arrived on the outskirts of the capital, Magenta.
“So now we’re going to see the Queen. But you’re too big to come in. So what did I tell you to do?”
Creak! Crack!
In response to Lloyd’s question, Yongyong creaked and gestured energetically.
A satisfied smile spread across Lloyd’s face.
“Good. That’s right. Wait here and play until we come back. So, how should you store the iron?”
Crack!
“Exactly. Keep it wrapped in the oil paper to avoid moisture. See that flat rock over there? Stack the iron bundles there to pass the time.”
Creak!
“Good. You’re a good boy. Now go and play. And remember, don’t follow strangers. Even if they offer you sweets. But don’t bite or stomp on anyone either. Got it?”
Creak! Boom, boom!
Yongyong, having received his instructions, happily ran off with the iron bundles.
Leaving him behind, Lloyd and Javier entered the capital.
The bustling capital was just as lively as ever.
They made their way through the crowds to the palace.
Fortunately, the entry process was simple.
“Welcome, Lloyd Frontera, the eldest son of the Frontera family and a royal contributor. This way, please.”
As soon as his identity was confirmed.
The attitude of the guards changed.
And that wasn’t all.
A palace official quickly ran out to personally escort them.
“It is an honor to escort a royal contributor. What brings you to the palace today?”
“I’m here to see the Queen.”
“The Queen?”
“Yes. I have urgent matters to discuss. Did I arrive too late?”
He asked just in case.
The official waved his hands.
“Oh no, not at all. However, the Queen is currently in a meeting with his ministers, so I’m not sure if an immediate audience is possible… But I will notify them.”
“That’s more than enough. Thank you. Please do so.”
“Oh, and by the way, I am just an official. Please speak casually.”
“No, I’m comfortable this way.”
“I understand. Please wait here for a moment.”
The official bowed and quickly walked away.
He conveyed Lloyd’s request for an audience to the main palace.
Fortunately, the wait wasn’t long.
The official returned with a bright face.
“The Queen will see you now. This way, please.”
“Thank you. By the way, did the Queen have any message for me?”
“Oh, the Queen did have a message.”
“What did the Queen say?”
“He said, ‘Lloyd Frontera, you only come to see me when you’re in trouble. Truly, you are a troublesome and annoying fellow.’”
“…”
Today wouldn’t be easy either.
Lloyd suppressed a wry smile.
He followed the official into the main palace.
Through numerous corridors and staircases.
They arrived at the grand and majestic ‘Hall of the Ruler.’
“Lloyd Frontera, royal contributor, is here to see the rightful ruler of this land.”
It was a vast hall.
A grand and overwhelming space.
Following the red carpet in the center.
He knelt at a position where he could see the Queen’s throne.
He knelt on one knee as per the protocol and paid his respects to the Queen.
While doing so, he scanned the surroundings.
‘Still in a meeting?’
Indeed, the Hall of the Ruler was filled with many people.
At the highest seat of honor sat Queen Alicia.
And on either side of the red carpet were dozens of people.
Some faces were quite familiar.
‘That person is the head of the noble council. And the others are all influential nobles from the capital.’
It was almost a gathering of the royal court’s high officials.
Thanks to this, Lloyd?
He smiled inwardly.
‘Perfect.’
Thinking about what he was about to do.
The more eyes watching and ears listening.
The more witnesses there were.
And the higher their status and influence.
The more favorable it would be for him.
That was the ideal scenario for the big picture he envisioned.
With that thought, Lloyd waited.
“Lloyd Frontera, raise your head.”
The Queen commanded.
Lloyd raised his head.
He prayed earnestly inwardly.
Recalling the terms of his negotiation with the archangel.
Hoping for the cooperation he was promised.
And finally, anticipating the acquisition of the royal sacred relic, the Eye of Summer.
‘Now, Archangel? Right now. Three, two, one!’
As Lloyd counted down inwardly.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the hall was filled with a holy light.
An angel of the heavens descended with wings of light in the middle of the hall.
At that moment.
A pleased smile spread across Lloyd’s face.
The faces of the high officials turned to awe and reverence.
Everything was going according to plan.