I Married Because I Wanted To Live A Normal Life Chapter 79

Chapter 79

“Huu…”

The platinum-blond man roughly tore off his helmet, which was soaked in the sticky blood of a monster.

As he cast his gaze down from the city wall, two soldiers looking up at him with awe-filled eyes came into view.

The two men, dressed in dirty, grimy light armor stained with mud and blood, bowed their heads and then disappeared somewhere as if fleeing.

A faint hint of contempt surfaced in the gray eyes watching them.

‘Insignificant fools.’

Normally, Onyx was not someone a mere commoner could dare to offer such trivial thanks to, but for now, it couldn’t be helped.

His current situation was not only worse than that of a lord ruling this barren territory, but he was also in a position where he had to secure the goodwill of such insignificant beings.

That was why, when he was heading south from Carshion, he had deployed his troops at a crucial moment to save the Dimitri lord’s army, which was fighting against the monsters.

He had anticipated that the situation of a crown prince from a fallen nation would not be very optimistic, so he calculated that his treatment would be at least a little better if he helped them before entering.

And now, as well.

Thanks to his selfless fighting and helping them, a subtle comparison between himself and the current king of Kleinin, who had had a tumultuous path to his coronation, began to emerge.

A strong crown prince, born with the destiny to rule an empire, who now fights against the tragedy of having his country stolen by monsters.

A young king who, still surrounded by his vassals, has not taken a single step out of the capital.

For now, it was unthinkable to compare a newcomer who had rolled in from another country with the royal family they had served until now, but if the situation were to intensify, the number of people who would recognize Onyx as a commander to control the situation would surely increase.

Onyx Carshion, not Noah Kleinin.

And since the monsters were steadily growing stronger and more cunning, Onyx was confident that such a situation would not be far off.

“Lord Onyx. I witnessed your valiant fighting again today.”

A light voice floated over. Onyx silently turned his head.

“Young Marquis Firenze.”

The blond man smiled brightly as he approached him, then, wrinkling his nose at the foul smell, he waved his hand.

“Phew, that’s quite atrocious. You should wash up quickly. My, my, these things called monsters are truly troublesome in many ways.”

Onyx looked at the man before him, who was talking nonsense.

The first high-ranking noble of Kleinin he had come into contact with. He had heard that he was the heir to the family that ran the largest merchant guild in the country.

Whether his father had become a senile old man in retirement or not, he saw the Young Marquis before him more often than the Marquis of Firenze.

And he seemed to be subtly supporting Onyx.

When other high-ranking nobles, such as Duke Catlan, tried to find fault with Onyx, he would defend him or even point out the other party’s flaws, speaking on his behalf.

‘Why?’

It wasn’t blatant, but it was an attitude that anyone could see was trying to curry favor with Onyx.

‘Is he planning to keep me close and watch me?’

“…I am grateful for your support, Marquis Firenze ^[1] He really called him Marquis Firenze (피렌스 후작) and not Young Marquis Firenze (피렌스 소후작). . Not only for providing sufficient supplies, but also for coming here in person. It is a great help in boosting the morale of the soldiers here.”

“I am only doing what I can, so you need not be so grateful.”

Miller, who had been speaking in a cheerful voice, soon gave a sardonic smile as he looked at a soldier groaning in pain not far away.

“And in reality, aren’t you the one who is working the hardest for our northern region, Lord Onyx?”

“…..”

At Miller’s meaningful words, Onyx carefully observed him.

From his perspective, the royal family of Kleinin had not yet found its center of gravity, and it seemed that the influence of the Queen Dowager, who stood behind the young king, was stronger.

And they were not only fending off the monsters but also putting all their efforts into relieving the people of the kingdom who had been harmed by them.

At a time when they should be putting all their national power into fending off and driving out the monsters. Onyx found their judgment pathetic.

To be worrying about the lives of insignificant beings in a situation like this. Sacrificing the few for the many was a matter of course, not even worth deliberating.

“Oh dear, I seem to have said something unnecessary.”

Miller smiled sheepishly, but his eyes were fixed on Onyx.

“But I sincerely believe that you, Lord Onyx, are the one who can be of more use to me as this situation drags on. Perhaps even more so than the royal family.”

“…..”

“So let’s just call this an investment.”

I see. Is he saying he’s quick on the uptake, as befits someone who runs a merchant guild?

However, Onyx spoke as if the thought was preposterous.

“I believe that is an overly generous compliment. Besides, I think you are in a position where you should not be making such remarks so carelessly.”

“Is that so? But before I am a servant of the royal family, I am the leader of the north, and a lord who must lead the people who have made their homes here.”

“…Unexpected. I heard that the high nobles of Kleinin are extremely loyal to the royal family.”

“…..”

“That they have a special bond, tied by abilities different from others.”

Onyx had never actually witnessed the abilities that the high nobles of Kleinin were said to possess. He had only been aware of it as a well-known fact.

At those words, the blond man gave a twisted smile.

“Abilities. That’s right, abilities.”

“…..”

“But did you know? That ability has not manifested in me.”

A strange light glinted in Onyx’s eyes.

“Only me. Among the heirs of the families called the five pillars of Kleinin, I am the only one who cannot use that strange ability.”

“…..”

“A bond? I don’t know. They may have one, but I do not.”

Miller bared his teeth and said, “If anything, I’m sick and tired of it.”

Onyx silently looked at Miller. Listening to his story, a thought came to his mind as well.

The one thing that Onyx, who was born a prince without wanting it, did not have compared to his other siblings.

Bloodline.

The days when he was ignored and treated poorly just for that one thing.

The platinum-blond man, who had been responding curtly to Miller’s words, finally raised the corners of his mouth and said, “…Young Marquis, I think you and I have some similarities.”

“Is that so? I am not as strong as you, Lord Onyx.”

Even though he should have been able to clearly understand what he was talking about if he connected the content of their previous conversation with Onyx’s upbringing.

Miller spoke smoothly and then smiled brightly again.

“I seem to have rambled on with my personal stories while holding up a tired person. Well then, Lord Onyx. I hope you will relieve your fatigue and have a good night.”

Onyx also paid his respects, and Miller turned on his heel and walked away.

Watching him leave, Onyx thought.

‘Perhaps he’s a decent choice.’

He had been planning to win over a noble with a foundation in this country and keep him by his side anyway. The more followers he had, the greater his say would be.

‘Since he runs a merchant guild, he should have sufficient funds and resources, and his loyalty to the royal family… well, it doesn’t seem particularly high.’

In any case, Miller was also trying to use him to protect the north. Didn’t he openly call it an ‘investment’?

So as long as they could give each other what they wanted and benefit from the relationship, that should be enough, right?

In the process, even if Miller was used by him, it would ultimately be a result of his own making.

Just as Miller was unaware of Onyx’s calculations, he too was unaware.

That the blond man, who had been smiling, had wiped the smile from his face as soon as he turned around and his eyes gleamed coldly.

***

I was holding my breath right now.

I felt like this was a childish thing to do at my age, but when Ensis came into view, I suddenly wanted to play a little prank.

To be honest, it wasn’t so much that I was feeling playful, but rather that I didn’t want Hisch or the vassals, whom I was seeing for the first time in a while, to notice my gloomy mood from when I left the capital.

“Liddell?”

The carriage had finally arrived in front of the lord’s castle and stopped. And Hisch, who must have come out to greet me, called my name loudly, but I didn’t answer, just crouched on the carriage floor and listened.

When I didn’t get out even after the carriage had been stopped for a while, Hisch, who must have been puzzled, was heard talking to Sir Ted, who had returned with me.

“Sir Roelich. I don’t see Liddell…”

To which my inflexible but diligent knight replied.

“She is inside.”

“Pardon?”

“I can feel her presence.”

My little prank was on the verge of being foiled by an unexpectedly skilled person.

Fearing that this would just turn into an embarrassing situation, the moment Hisch tilted his head and opened the door, I shot up and threw myself into his arms.

Hisch looked startled for a moment, then, fully embracing me, he beamed.

“Liddell!”

“How was that, were you surprised?”

“I was surprised, but…”

Hisch muttered with wide eyes, then, with a smiling gaze, he said, “More than that, I’m so happy to see you.”

And then he lifted me up and showered my forehead and hair with kisses.

Honestly, I knew this was behavior unbecoming of my station, but when I was with Hisch, I couldn’t help but become childish.

The problem, more than anything, was that Hisch was so good at accepting this childish side of me.

• 1. He really called him Marquis Firenze (피렌스 후작) and not Young Marquis Firenze (피렌스 소후작).