Chapter 121
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121
Helen withdrew her objections and decided to stick with the roster Lucian had chosen.
Once the selection was finalized, everything proceeded at breakneck speed. Although the mission was kept secret from the public, preparations had been underway for quite some time. After explaining the situation to his inner circle and finalizing the specific plans, Lucian immediately announced his journey.
“I shall return with our long-lost kin from beyond the snowfields and the Dragon’s Heart they possess!”
The people were bewildered by Lucian’s sudden declaration. What was this about long-lost kin, and what on earth was a Dragon’s Heart?
“Your Highness, I’m afraid I don’t follow. Who exactly lives beyond the snowfields?”
“To understand my words, you must first know the hidden history of the Northern Royal Family.”
Lucian calmly explained the situation to the bewildered officials. He told them how, over a thousand years ago, the progenitor of the Northern Royal Family had migrated from beyond the snowfields. He explained that due to the eternal blizzards, contact had been severed for over a millennium. Finally, he stated that with a mage’s help, a path could now be opened, and he intended to bring those kin back under his banner.
“Above all, they are said to possess the Dragon’s Heart. If such a treasure exists, is it not only right to retrieve it and use it for the prosperity of the Empire?”
“....”
Everyone struggled to hide their sheer absurdity at Lucian’s claim. Bringing up events from over a thousand years ago was one thing, but the content itself was utterly preposterous. To think he would blindly believe such a story without any confirmation—it could easily be a lie concocted by a mage.
‘Is His Highness unwell? He’s not usually like this.’
‘He is quite young, after all. It’s the perfect age to catch a hero complex.’
‘Someone stop him. What if something terrible happens?’
‘Who has the standing to stop him? How are we supposed to do that?’
Opposing a decision made by a monarch was only possible for those with significant influence. One would need to be at least a trusted retainer, if not a member of the inner circle. However, since none of those in such positions were lifting a finger to stop Lucian, there was no other way.
Ultimately, Lucian’s declaration became a fait accompli, and a specific departure date was set before anyone knew it.
“Your Highness, was it truly wise to announce it so openly?”
Ironically, it was Helen, not the inner circle, who was shocked by Lucian’s bold move. Even though she had been the one to goad him, she hadn't expected him to reveal everything so publicly.
“You could have easily used another pretext without revealing the truth. Won’t this just make you a laughingstock?”
“Until I succeed, perhaps. But if you consider the moment I return in triumph, it’s better to tell the truth from the start.”
Lucian dismissed Helen’s concerns casually.
“So what if they mock me? Once I actually achieve it, those who laughed will look like fools. What matters isn't the temporary ridicule, but the aftermath of success. By explaining it beforehand, I won’t have to give long-winded explanations even if I return leading an army.”
Furthermore, revealing the truth would only enhance Lucian’s reputation once the mission succeeded. What Lucian was attempting was a grand adventure straight out of a fairy tale. Right now, at the start, he might be treated like a madman, but the moment he succeeded, it would transform into a true epic. If the beginning of that epic were decorated with excuses, it wouldn't look nearly as good.
“It’s better to state from the beginning that this was an intended adventure. If I use some other pretext, no matter how well I spin it later, there will always be a narrative that I ‘just got lucky by accident.’”
“That is true, but...”
“And this way, you’ll do your absolute best to ensure we don’t fail. Isn't that right?”
Helen swallowed hard at the pointed remark. If this mission failed, Lucian wouldn't be the only one looking like a fool. Helen and the other mages would be branded as 'snakes who seduced the monarch with sweet words.' If she wanted to be a proper advisor, she had to help Lucian succeed by any means necessary.
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Good. By the way, did you say we must arrive within fifteen days once we enter the snowfields?”
“Yes. We cannot be any later than that. My Master will close the path immediately once the appointed date passes.”
“The Master, eh?”
The mage who lived in the lands beyond the snowfields and was the teacher of Helen and Colin. The one who could temporarily calm the cold that could freeze even a knight solid. Lucian felt a surge of curiosity, but he decided not to ask. He would be seeing the man with his own eyes soon enough.
Before leaving, Lucian summoned Gareth, the Captain of the Blue Rose Knight Order, just in case. Gareth arrived with a stiff, tense expression.
“I heard you summoned me.”
“I did. But your expression looks quite grim, Captain. Is something the matter?”
“...Your Highness, I will be blunt. I cannot send my knights into those frozen lands.”
“What are you talking about? I have no intention of taking you with me.”
“Pardon?”
Gareth and Lucian stared at each other blankly for a moment. Soon, realizing the misunderstanding, Lucian burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Did you think I was going on an adventure with the entire Blue Rose Knight Order? I’m sorry, but I only planned to take a few of my inner circle from the start.”
“Ah...”
Gareth’s face turned beet red as he realized his mistake. He had been worrying about how his men would survive the snowfields, only to find out Lucian hadn't even considered taking them.
“Well, I understand your feelings. It looks like a suicide mission no matter how you slice it, so you wouldn't want to push your subordinates into the jaws of death.”
“I—I am sorry, Your Highness.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s only natural for a commander to want to preserve his forces. It’s not as if you are my personal retainer or anything.”
As Lucian continued to praise him, Gareth bowed his head deeper and deeper. No matter how one looked at it, what Gareth had just attempted was an act of insubordination. Watching him with satisfaction, Lucian eventually pulled something out from below.
“Anyway, I’m glad the misunderstanding is cleared up. Actually, I wanted to entrust you with this.”
“This is...!”
Gareth gasped when he saw what Lucian had produced. It was a set of White Armor with runes engraved between the plates. It was the same kind of treasure Felicia had used in her duel.
“Wh-why are you entrusting this to me?”
“To be precise, I’m not just entrusting it to you. I want to lend this armor to every member of the Blue Rose Knight Order.”
“...!?”
It was shocking enough that multiple sets of this armor existed, but to lend them to the entire Blue Rose Knight Order? As Gareth stood there, nearly fainting from shock, Lucian spoke calmly.
“I do not know how long this adventure will take. I plan to return as quickly as possible, but it might take longer than expected. Scavengers tend to gather around a mountain without a master, so I want you all to use this armor to drive those scavengers away.”
“How can you trust us with such treasures...?”
“I pride myself on having a very accurate eye for people. The men I have seen so far are true knights who have lived without shame. Why would I worry about not getting my equipment back when I am lending it to honorable knights?”
Lucian spoke with a silver tongue, mixing half-truths with sincerity. While he did trust Gareth’s character, he actually placed more trust in the pact he had made with the Emperor. Thus far, the Emperor had treated Lucian well to secure him as a supporter for the First Prince. If the Blue Rose Knight Order, dispatched by the Imperial Family, were to steal Lucian’s treasures and flee? Setting aside the reputation of being thieves who abandoned knightly honor, they would be branded as traitors who destroyed the relationship between the Imperial Family and Lucian.
“Your—Your Highness!”
However, Gareth seemed to take Lucian’s words as pure, heartfelt sincerity, as tears suddenly welled in his eyes. He knelt before Lucian and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“I, Gareth, swear by the Eight Gods of Heaven that until the day Your Highness returns, no ruffian shall ever set foot in Asagrim!”
“Haha, how reliable. I shall place my trust in you.”
Lucian gently patted Gareth on the shoulder. As he felt the slight trembling of the captain's shoulder, the smile on his lips deepened. He could feel the hearts of the Blue Rose Knight Order leaning more and more toward him.
When the day of departure dawned, Lucian left Asagrim with his inner circle. Following close behind were the Blue Rose Knights, fully armed in their shimmering White Armor. Although they couldn't accompany him beyond the snowfields, they intended to escort Lucian as far as they could. Their spirit was so fearsome that even those who had come to watch Lucian’s 'adventure' out of mockery were left stunned.
“What is that armor? It’s clearly no ordinary equipment.”
“Wait, he’s leaving to get more soldiers even though he commands such elites?”
“I understand his desire since they aren't his direct troops, but still, relying on legends is a bit much.”
“I don't know what those mages whispered in his ear. This is why you can't trust those tricksters.”
Ignoring the murmurs around him, Lucian headed toward his destination: Raugrad. Even in the North, where unnatural cold persisted year-round, Raugrad was a remote wasteland known as an icy hell. It was the very edge of the North, a place where anyone who attempted to cross was certain to freeze to death, and from which no one had ever returned.
“Damn it, this is brutal.”
A few days later, as they entered Raugrad, a curse escaped Lucian’s lips. Despite warming his body with a warming stone, the cold was so intense it felt like it was freezing his very marrow. The onlookers had long since dropped off, and even the Blue Rose Knights, who had left the castle so gallantly, were reaching their limit.
“Your—Your Highness. I am sorry, but it seems this is as far as we can go....”
Lucian looked pityingly at Gareth, whose teeth were chattering. He wanted to reach out and pat his shoulder, but he didn't dare for fear that the blizzard would crawl into his sleeves.
“Helen! How much longer do you intend to make us wait?!”
“Please wait just a moment. It’s almost...”
When Lucian’s irritation finally boiled over, Helen clenched her hands tight as if waiting for something. A moment later, sensing something, she snapped her head up and shouted.
“It’s opening!”
Whirrrrrrr!
“...!?”
The Blue Rose Knights looked around with wide, shocked eyes. Everywhere else, the blizzard was so thick it was hard to take a single step, but directly above them, the snow and wind had abruptly ceased. While everyone else was speechless at the miraculous sight, Lucian spoke.
“Thank you all for your hard work escorting us this far. As I said before, I am leaving to bring back our kin from beyond the snowfields.”
“We wish you luck, Your Highness. Please, stay safe.”
“You all must guard Asagrim well in my absence. Even if the Acting Family Head falls short in some areas, please be understanding.”
“Of course! We shall serve with all our might!”
Lucian looked at the instantly responding Gareth with satisfaction, then turned his back and headed toward the snowfields. The sight of him walking down a windless path amidst the raging blizzard was like a hero from a fairy tale. Only after Lucian’s back was no longer visible did the Blue Rose Knight Order turn back toward Asagrim.
As they had sworn, they would drive away any wolves that might circle the masterless land.