The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live a Normal Life

Chapter 197: Dmitry Duchy (2)

Henry Albert. How did he live all these years? Well, at first, he was doing just a simple job. As Roman Dmitry’s actions attracted people’s attention, the value of Henry Albert, his point of contact on the Southern Front, also increased.

The fact that he was from the Albert family, which was declining, didn’t matter. He was asked to lecture at the Cairo Royal Academy, which he wouldn’t have even dared to look at, and got the chance to teach the children of famous noble families.

At that time, he didn’t say anything about what happened on the Southern Front and how Roman Dmitry defeated the Hector Kingdom. He just shared what he saw and heard, and the students couldn’t take their eyes off him.

His life had changed so much. Children from noble families approached him to ask for his signature and looked up to him as if he were a hero. They didn’t know the truth. However, the mere fact that Henry Albert was there and experienced war made him appear to be a hero.

Just from one lecture, there was an explosive reaction, and more lectures lined up. Henry Albert just hoped to conduct regular lectures at the Royal Academy in Cairo, but now he was even being given the chance to stand on every high podium too.

But, of course, there was a price to pay. At first, people simply attended the lectures to spend some time knowing the story, but with time, people began to pay money to have Henry Albert speak.

Was it said that one’s position is what makes him a man? People could now recognize him when he walked down the street, so even Henry Albert, who had lived like a fool all his life, began to walk with confidence and a straight back.

He began to study because he was worried the students would ask him difficult questions during his lectures, and he tried to make himself look knowledgeable. Thanks to that, wealth and fame followed.

Everyone in his family was proud of him, and from that point on, they didn’t have to worry about money. Just one lecture brought in tens of gold. Some people would even give him one hundred gold.

“Ah, I am so happy.”

In only half a year, he managed to buy a luxurious mansion in Cairos. In the mansion that he purchased with the help of his acquaintances, whom he met from the lectures, and the nobles living close by, Henry was called a good noble neighbor. He now had the ideal life that he once imagined.

However, Henry Albert, who was sitting on a cozy sofa, suddenly felt like this comfort was all an illusion. In truth, he was nothing. He was lucky enough to live this kind of life, but it wouldn’t be strange at all if everything vanished the next day.

Happiness and unhappiness always go hand in hand. At first, he just enjoyed his happy life, but whenever anxiety rose, he would turn to alcohol. And one day, Henry Albert faced a truly shocking moment.

“Henry Albert. As I listened to your lectures, I couldn’t control my beating heart. It was thanks to the heroes on the Southern Front that Cairo was safe like this. Why are the people in this place not showing their gratitude? Thanks to you, I have come to know the reality of the world. From now on, I will contribute to the defense of Cairo and tell everyone how nice the lectures of Henry Albert are.”

He was a man in his late 60s. With gray hair and a beard, he was a leading professor at the Cairo Royal Academy. He was a man who was recognized for his skills, and such a person looked up to Henry.

It was so shocking. The children might not know much about him, but someone who was older and well-educated was looking up to him.

At that moment, Henry Albert had a realization.

His lectures—were they great? No, definitely not. The reason why people nodded their heads, cheered at every word he said, and went to see him as fans were entirely thanks to Roman Dmitry.

At first, he took advantage of the fame. However, when Roman Dmitry occupied the northeastern area, and the reactions towards him turned more passionate, he had to admit that things had changed.

His interest in himself came from Roman Dmitry. The more fame he gained, the more people wanted to know about Henry Albert, and the more he benefited from it.

‘Why are people going insane about me?’

That was what he thought. Why were his actions and words taken seriously when there were many other people on the Southern Front? The answer was simple—the contact with Daniel Cairo.

When he was reporting back from the Southern Front, Henry Albert once took on the role of relaying information on behalf of Roman Dmitry. And it wasn’t because he was important.

Except for Roman Dmitry, there was no other noble who could face the King there, and so it was his face that appeared on the screen. At that moment, people realized that Henry Albert had taken on the role of Roman’s voice. And unlike the others who had served on the Southern Front, Henry Albert had a clear record.

‘People are projecting Roman Dmitry through me. They do not know who I am, but they consider me great because I took on the role of relaying Roman Dmitry’s message. It’s funny. When I was called the fool of the family, people looked down on me no matter how hard I worked, and even though I am still the same person now, the attitude they have toward me is different. It isn’t because they are stupid. Even the professors in the academy look up to me.’

Just one fact changed his life. Even if he wasn’t so great, he had the confidence to live a great life.

‘If I look back in the past, there have been heroes who made a name for themselves in the world. How did they all get their reputation? It wasn’t because they made some great achievements. It was because their neighbors talked about them. They became famous because many people shared stories about them. What I need to do to hold on to this wealth is now clear. It is to announce the achievements of Roman Dmitry to the world. If he continues to remain great like he is now, the fact that I shared a moment of joy and sorrow with him on the battlefield will give me a comfortable life.’

Spreading rumors wasn’t difficult because Roman Dmitry was constantly talked about.

The Hector Kingdom and the Dmitry Alliance. From the Public Ranking Match to the Civil War, the grounds were overflowing with talks. He just made them all known to the people, and everyone considered Roman Dmitry a hero. As a result, Henry Albert naturally turned into an ally of the hero.

He laid down on the sofa.

“Roman Dmitry. I am not as great as people think. But you continue to live the life that others look up to. I will let the world know who you are for the sake of my comfortable life.”

Top quality wine was sweet. The mansion he lived in, the sofa, and the wine—they were proof that Henry was on the right path. It was the new life of the guy who was once called a fool.

Henry’s methods worked. Thanks to the rumors that were circulating, attention on Roman Dmitry increased. And, of course, the biggest concern was the declaration of the Dmitry Duchy.

During the time when Roman, the hero of Cairo, was taking his first step into history, even people from other nations expressed their intention to attend the proclamation ceremony. All of them were longing to hear more about Roman Dmitry. Even if the rumors were only half true, it was worth the distance.

Days before the announcement, Dmitry was distracted by people flocking from all over the continent. In particular, the Knights’ Captain Jonathan, who was in charge of guarding the castle’s gate, showed admiration as he confirmed the faces of the people.

‘To see so many people from other nations flocking to see Roman Dmitry. There are even key figures from other nations among them. People from the Frank Kingdom came yesterday, and the representatives from the three kingdoms of the alliance arrived this morning. That just shows that the Kingdoms’ Alliance acknowledges Dmitry’s existence.’

It was such a new feeling. Until a few years ago, Dmitry was just a bug in the Northeast. The nobles wouldn’t recognize them since they originated as a commoner’s family, and when Jonathan swore his allegiance to Dmitry, his friends were shocked.

It was a natural reaction. A 3-star aura test would be a guaranteed future, but his choice was what they didn’t understand.

But now things had changed. Dmitry’s value soared to the point where his colleagues asked if they still had any vacancies.

‘Roman Dmitry. It is all thanks to him.’

He knew it as well. Baron Romero’s greed wasn’t that great, so they might still have had a bad relationship with Barco if Roman hadn’t stepped forward and made a change.

A change made by one man. It changed everyone’s attitude towards them, and Dmitry’s people were no longer bowing their heads because they were commoners. Their existence became great.

All those who went to visit Dmitry wanted to meet one person, and Roman Dmitry became the pride of Dmitry.

‘Jonathan. Keep your mind straight, and do not get drunk with joy.’

With that in mind, he chose to be the sword that protects Dmitry. He had to prepare for unexpected variables.

Meanwhile, as he carefully inspected the visitors, his eyes widened when he discovered an unexpected person.

“… you are?!”

The man in front of him was not someone who deserved to be in Dmitry.

At that time, Baron Romero summoned his two sons.

‘Before the announcement of Dmitry becoming a Duchy, I need to settle the issue of succession. If I give more hope to everyone halfway, there will be problems after the dukedom has been declared.’

A conflict between blood relatives was not an outcome he wanted. Some fathers watched their sons compete and passed everything to the winner, but he didn’t want that. In fact, his mind was already tilted to one side.

Rodwell Dmitry had dedicated his entire life to the family since he was a child, but could he be sure that if he declared him as the successor, there wouldn’t be any resistance from other family members?

So he called for a meeting. The youngest wasn’t invited because he wasn’t competing in the succession.

Knock. Knock.

“Father, I am coming.”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and at the sight of the two siblings entering, Baron Romero showed a heavy expression.

“The reason I have called you all here is to clear up the issue with the succession. As you all know, in a few days, the Dmitry estate will be declared a dukedom. It doesn’t simply mean that we will become more powerful; our responsibilities will change. Many lives will depend on us. That is why I want to make a decision right now.”

He spoke in a loud voice. This position was for the head of the Dmitry house.

Baron Romero looked at Rodwell Dmitry. The fact that he had to say something bad to his son, who had lost an eye on the battlefield, made him uncomfortable.

Actually, he had a right to the position. If he said that the decision was unfair, then he would just summon the main people of the estate and conduct a fair election.

It was at that moment…

“Father. I have something to say first.”

Rodwell said.

When Baron Romero looked at him with a questioning look, he said with a calm face,

“I will give up the position of the successor. Rather than me, Brother Roman is a better fit for it.”

When he arrived at Dmitry after the war, he had been through a lot in the last few days.