Asking me to write poetry again... You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?
Leonard's expression froze for a moment at the sight of Abner's smiling face, but he quickly recovered. He forced a smile of his own and thought, I can't write poetry, but I can recite someone else's! The same trick won't work on me twice!
He composed himself and "sang" with "heartfelt" feeling:
"Ten thousand voices cheer for liberty!
"The day of glory awaits you!
"Behold, the tyrant raises against us
"His bloodstained banner..."
This time, it was Abner's turn to stare. I asked you for a poem congratulating me on becoming a noble, and you give me a revolutionary song about hanging nobles? La Marseillaise?
Oh, right. In this world, La Marseillaise is called Ode to the Republic. Roselle composed it when he overthrew the Soren Dynasty... No, he plagiarized it!
Abner clapped his hands helplessly, cutting short Leonard's performance. Shaking his head with a laugh, he said:
"Mr. Leonard, I personally have nothing against Roselle's poem. I even think its imagery is excellent... But you do have to consider where you are."
As he spoke, he glanced at several people dressed as police officers nearby. They appeared to be glaring at Leonard.
As a monarchy, Loen had not banned Roselle's work by law, but singing it in public was certainly inappropriate.
Leonard had clearly noticed that too. Rather than feeling embarrassed, though, he was delighted to have paid Abner back for the way he had needled him at Fragrant Manor in Bayam.
With the inexplicable pride of a victor, Leonard asked in a show of curiosity:
"Your Excellency, are you here to visit this private museum?"
*This future Mr. The Star singled me out the moment he arrived. Even after I deliberately mocked him, he didn't