Episode 300
Damon Runkvis, King of Burgos, stood by the window, his black hair tied loosely at the nape of his neck as he gazed out.
Unlike his own barren homeland, this was a land flowing with milk and honey, where the people knew how to celebrate. Not even an emperor, yet here they were, so jubilant over the mere investiture of a prince who had barely made a mark.
He sighed and tilted his head slightly, letting the loosened strands of hair slip down his face.
“Looks like we just arrived from Burgos.”
“I’ve never seen such a magnificent black carriage before.”
“Greetings! Burgos!”
“Welcome! We’ve been waiting for you! I’m sure His Highness the Prince has as well!”
“Burgos! Wave your hand!”
Since the procession had just passed through Klipoford, the crowd’s excitement was palpable.
They had witnessed acrobatics atop horses, cheeky winks exchanged with the prince, and even a band that stirred their hearts. Their anticipation was at its peak.
Timothy, seated behind the coachman in the king’s carriage, averted his gaze awkwardly.
Tap tap!
Clack!
The Burgos guards, knights, and even the lowliest attendants marched with solemn precision. There was no room to accept a single flower offered by a child through the gaps.
Apart from the occasional water buffalo horn sounded to keep the rhythm, the Burgos procession was eerily silent.
It felt less like a celebration and more like the tense entry of a conquering army. Those who had been scattering flower petals along the railings suddenly stopped, resting their chins on their hands, the mood deflating.
“Why so grim? Smile a little! Don’t kill the mood!”
“That country never changes. Just leave them be. They’ve always been cold and distant. If I’m honest, a bit unpleasant. I thought maybe with a new king things would be different.”
“Why the king?”
“He’s young. Probably just a bit older than our Minister of Magic. Their royal family is known for being… complicated. I figured he wouldn’t be ordinary.”
“Complicated how?”
“Some say those bastards claim royal blood and act all high and mighty.”
“What? Ha ha!”
Though the Burgos procession was silent, the central street buzzed with thousands of voices, chatter, and song. Even drunken hecklers couldn’t reach the carriage.
Swish.
“Your Majesty, we will soon arrive at the palace.”
In the distance, soldiers of Bariel stood at the end of the main road. Timothy reported through the carriage window, and Damon straightened his posture and fixed his gaze.
‘Is he not here?’
The Gypsy who devours secrets.
One who arrogantly acts as if he knows the truth simply because he claims to see past and future. If he were among the crowd, surely he would be watching mockingly.
Damon bit the inside of his cheek and looked up at the window connecting to the coachman’s seat. Beyond the frosted glass, he caught a glimpse of Timothy’s profile.
‘…What will happen this time?’
Honestly, Damon wasn’t sure yet. Was this Timothy the same man as in his previous life?
Since his return and the twisting of Burgos’s history, many fates had changed. Timothy’s must have been affected as well.
If so, would the outcome be different?
‘There have been big and small changes, but some things remain unaffected unless directly altered.’
If this were his third life, he would know without doubt.
Damon closed his eyes briefly. He felt the carriage slow. Arriving at the palace was like throwing oneself into a storm.
Click. The carriage door opened, and he opened his eyes. His violet eyes, once hidden in shadow, now caught the sunlight of Bariel. In his past life, his father had come here instead.
Creak.
“Welcome, King of Burgos.”
A man who appeared to be Bariel’s prime minister bowed politely, hand over his chest. Behind him, palace officials stood in a fan formation.
As Damon stepped down, they all raised their hands in respect. The wind whipped fiercely at that moment.
“Are you not weary? We understand you have traveled far for Bariel. Please, this way.”
The prime minister turned, and Damon noticed the golden hair of the boy standing behind him.
Surprisingly young.
Damon recognized him immediately from Timothy’s report: Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic and an illegitimate son from the borderlands.
Pale.
That was the first impression the officials had upon seeing Damon.
He seemed sensitive, almost fragile. The prime minister paused as if to beckon him, but Damon stood still, eyes fixed on Ian alone.
“King Damon, is there a problem?”
“…No. Go ahead.”
Ian kept his gaze lowered until Damon passed. There was no need to speak hastily.
Even a simple greeting carries information—tone, breath, gestures, favored words.
If Ian was truly a stranger to Damon, caution was all the more necessary.
Swish.
Damon brushed past Ian. The prime minister led the way, followed by the Burgos delegation and palace officials in a line.
When Timothy’s eyes met Ian’s, he nodded lightly in greeting. Ian smiled back and nodded in return.
“Oh, welcome, King Damon.”
“Pleased to meet you, Your Highness Jin. I sincerely congratulate you on your investiture and wish for a shower of blossoms over Bariel’s future.”
Jin rose from the sofa and extended his hand. Damon took it respectfully, his words surprisingly gentle despite the tense atmosphere.
Jin smiled warmly and gestured for him to sit.
“You are our last guests.”
“Oh, I hope we’re not late.”
“Not at all! As long as the central road is open, it’s never too late. Please, everyone, have a seat.”
Following Jin’s lead, Damon took the seat opposite him.
The prime minister and Jin sat as well.
Shuffle.
Jin glanced at the rising cup of tea and smiled awkwardly. How many cups had he had today? The King of Eriphoni, the Mei delegation, and now snack time—it was already the fourth tea break.
Xiaoshi, standing behind, noticed and frowned with concern. With three nations gathered, they couldn’t afford to swap cups carelessly.
“Your Highness.”
“Hm?”
“If you don’t mind, may we postpone the tea? I just stepped down from the carriage and don’t feel well.”
A perfectly timed request. Jin was inwardly surprised but quickly composed himself, showing no objection.
“Of course.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Damon took a polite sip but set the teaspoon down on the saucer, signaling he wouldn’t drink more.
Since the guest wasn’t drinking, Jin didn’t need to either. The boy smiled lightly in response.
“I’ll send a doctor to the palace. Spending too long on the road must be hard on you.”
“…Thank you.”
As Timothy placed a box of gifts on the table, Damon lowered his gaze slightly. The young prince had likely never left the palace grounds. How could he understand the fatigue of travel?
Was there a problem with any of the other arriving delegations?
‘That would be troublesome.’
Ian watched him closely. Unlike in Luswena or Klipoford, this time he stood shoulder to shoulder with the other officials. Some noticed the difference and exchanged awkward glances.
Click.
“These are gifts. Selected carefully by Burgos’s nobles from across the realm. Please accept them with sincerity.”
“Let me see.”
“This is dried leaves of the Dugwaja plant. We prepared fifty bundles, each weighing ten kilograms. It’s a representative crop grown in the arid lands of Burgos.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of it. Mostly used as an anesthetic. Usually called ‘Brudodugwaja’ leaves, not just Dugwaja.”
“Brudo is the family that leads the largest production of this crop. Dugwaja is the official name. Next, we have golden diamonds from Kakelga. A treasure passed down from the governors, offered to celebrate Your Highness’s investiture. Over there.”
Damon gestured, and a man among the delegation bowed his head. Jin examined the small gem with fascination. Only one was presented, indicating its rarity.
“I accept with gratitude.”
“And next…”
The small box held so many samples that the gifts far surpassed those from the previous two nations. Jin and the officials expressed intrigued murmurs as they listened.
“Oh, so that’s where this crop comes from.”
“Yes. Burgos is harsh and dry, but many things grow and thrive accordingly.”
Click. Ian glanced at his pocket watch and signaled the prime minister. The man who had been laughing caught the cue and cleared his throat. Dinner was scheduled soon; it was time to wrap up.
“Your Highness.”
“…Hm?”
“I believe all gifts have been inspected. Perhaps it’s time to conclude. King Damon’s rest will make the upcoming banquet all the more enjoyable.”
“Indeed. I was so pleased with the gifts I almost forgot. The Burgos delegation will need time to settle as well.”
He said too much, especially considering the guest’s poor condition.
“No, Your Highness. Seeing you pleased makes the long journey worthwhile for me as well.”
“I will guide you to the secondary palace. As for the banquet, you will receive separate instructions, Prime Minister.”
“Yes, Your Highness. King of Burgos, allow me to escort you.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. I look forward to seeing you at the banquet.”
After exchanging polite greetings, just as he had when they first met, Damon left the reception room.
From his outward demeanor, he seemed like someone who never bowed his waist, but his attitude toward Jin was quite the opposite. The officials followed the delegation and left the room one by one.
Creak.
Thud!
Once the last official had exited, only Ian and a few close companions remained in the reception room.
Jin stretched out his legs with satisfaction, cracking his knuckles. The quality of the tribute gifts was good, and the king seemed better than expected. Most importantly, the official daytime schedule was finally over. Just the banquet left, and then he could rest properly!
“Ian? What’s wrong?”
But at Romandro’s question, Jin turned his head. Ian was rubbing his chin, smiling, but there was something off about his expression.
“Sir Ian?”
“…Your Highness.”
What was going on?
Ian sat close to Jin and clasped his hands tightly. The awkwardness from earlier still lingered faintly, but Ian’s smile was so sharp it almost erased the memory.
“Listen carefully. Among the three kingdoms, you must be most wary of Burgos.”
“Hm? What do you mean? Is it because they’re cunning?”
Ian immediately noticed that Jin didn’t want to drink tea. He was quick-witted, but judging by the overall attitude, wasn’t Eriphoni the most dangerous?
“Your Highness, take a close look at the tribute gifts you’ve received so far. Don’t you notice something unusual?”
At Ian’s words, Jin and Romandro tried to recall, but with such a variety and quantity, it was hard to pinpoint what was different.
“…The other kingdoms prepared their tribute gifts independently. But Burgos? All their offerings came from the nobles. Don’t you understand the significance of that?”