Chapter 154
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154
In noble society, one of the most vital elements is 'legitimacy.'
To lack legitimacy is to have no right to inherit anything from one's ancestors, including the very status of a noble.
For this reason, it was not uncommon for Great Families to silence everyone involved if any doubt was cast upon their legitimacy. It wasn't merely a matter of hiding a shameful secret; it was a crisis that could shake the very identity of the house.
At the same time, even families that despised each other rarely attacked the other’s legitimacy. Doing so could drive an opponent to a desperate, life-and-death struggle that risked the survival of both houses.
‘And to think a question of legitimacy would arise in the Imperial Family, of all places.’
The retainers, frozen in shock, could not find their words.
In peaceful times, simply knowing such information would have been a lifelong threat to their safety. Even now, the sheer weight of the secret made it feel as though the air had grown thin.
“Y-Your Grace… who else knows of this?”
Raymond finally managed to find his voice. Lucian simply shrugged.
“I wouldn't know. It was an extraordinary move for His Majesty to share this with me; would he really give me information on who else knows?”
“Does the Second Prince himself know about his own bloodline?”
“That’s also uncertain. But in my opinion, he likely doesn’t. I doubt the Late Emperor would have told him.”
Secrets regarding bloodlines are often kept strictly hidden from the parties involved. Being the subject of a secret and being someone capable of keeping one are two entirely different matters. If the person involved were to be shocked by the truth, they might fail to hide it properly, revealing it to the whole world.
“From what I saw, the Second Prince didn't doubt his qualifications in the slightest. If he knew the truth of his bloodline, he wouldn't be so composed.”
“Phew… Haa!”
Raymond paused the conversation, seemingly unable to bear the gravity of the information any longer. At that moment, the other retainers also began to breathe again, fanning their collars. Their clothes, damp with sweat, clung uncomfortably to their skin.
“Isn't this too dangerous? No matter how I look at it, this isn't the kind of information one reveals just to win a political struggle,” Hugo said, being the first to regain his composure after several minutes. “If this truth comes to light, the Second Prince’s faction will certainly be shaken to its core. But even so, would the First Prince be able to seize power again?”
“It would be difficult,” Lucian replied instantly. “He was already a man who lacked public support. From the beginning, there weren't many court nobles who truly supported His Highness the First Prince. To make matters worse, the Second Prince has already held power once, so the First Prince likely views everyone as a traitor.”
And the First Prince was not the type of man to leave those who turned their backs on him in peace. Once he seized power, he would likely drench the entire Imperial Palace in blood with a Great Purge. To survive, the court nobles would have no choice but to drag the First Prince down.
“They would probably try to put up a member of the branch imperial family with a distant claim to the throne as a puppet. Though I doubt the territorial nobles would ever recognize such a puppet.”
“Then what on earth will happen to the Empire?”
The Second Prince lacks legitimacy, and the First Prince lacks the support of the court nobles. Most territorial nobles would refuse to recognize a branch royal due to their weak legitimacy. With the throne unstable, control over the provinces would naturally crumble, and the Imperial magical artifacts would become useless.
Lucian already knew the future that awaited them.
“A true age of chaos will begin.”
“Why the hell haven't the Black Lions arrived yet?!”
Slam!
In Kelheim, the heart of Valdek, a furious Jordi struck the table. The old rosewood table could not withstand his strength and shattered.
“I am the master of Valdek now! I am the lord of the Black Lions! So why aren't they responding to the conscription order?!”
“I believe I have explained the reason several times already.”
It was Head Steward Edwin who answered Jordi’s question. Even standing before a man radiating murderous intent, Edwin’s expression remained perfectly flat.
“The Black Lions are those who support Valdek from the shadows, hiding their identities. To put it another way, their honor is not tarnished by changing lords. Because they are free from the constraints of chivalry, they are free to choose their master.”
In other words, they had simply fled because they did not wish to serve Jordi as their lord. Jordi erupted again at the provocative words.
“Choose their master?! Does it make any sense for a knight to choose his lord?!”
“Have you forgotten, Second Young Master? Loyalty that never wavers is a virtue of a knight. Since the Black Lions are those who discarded chivalry to dirty their hands, they are naturally granted that much freedom.”
“Call me Grand Duke! I’ve warned you how many times now, yet you still refuse to listen!”
“My apologies. My memory seems to be failing me in my old age.”
Jordi’s blood boiled at Edwin’s brazen attitude, but there was nothing he could do. Edwin was the one who oversaw all of Valdek’s intelligence and shadow operations. If he were to be kicked out recklessly, the chain of command would collapse, and more than half of Valdek’s power would vanish into thin air.
‘Damn it, if only there were someone to replace this man…!’
Grinding his teeth, Jordi eventually sighed and sat back down. Even if he found a replacement for Edwin, it wouldn't solve all his problems. The Black Lions had openly turned their backs on him, and even some of the regular knights were clearly dissatisfied with his leadership.
The exiled Tristan was constantly circling Kelheim, looking for any opening to kill him. Even Joshua, who had barely escaped with his life to his mother’s family, was watching like a hawk, waiting to snatch any advantage. Despite becoming the master of Valdek, he was in no position to relax and enjoy his power.
‘And now that bastard Lucian, who left for the North, is running wild. It’s driving me mad.’
At the thought of Lucian, Jordi felt his headache return. When he first heard the news that Lucian had received Asagrim in the North from the Late Emperor, he had scoffed. No matter how deep its history, it was currently nothing more than a land of empty ruins. What could he possibly do in a land without an army or even a single commoner to pay taxes? It was obvious it would take an eternity just to gather settlers and act like a proper lord.
‘I thought that and felt relieved, but to think he would suppress House Calix and even conquer the barbarians beyond the snowfields in less than two years.’
Seeing Lucian become the Conqueror of the North in one fell swoop was maddening. Reigning as the master of a region wasn't just a badge of strength. It meant he had become a presence that surrounding lords had to constantly appease and follow. In other words, if the time came, he wouldn't be coming alone; he could lead an entire alliance to attack.
To Jordi, this version of Lucian was a far more practical threat than his other brothers. Especially since, unlike Lucian, Valdek had currently lost all its allies except for the Second Prince.
‘But now he’s attacking the Second Prince? Damn it, what is his goal? Loyalty to the First Prince? Or is it a means to further his ambition? Or perhaps, Valdek is…’
“Ah, there is something I must tell you, Second Young Master.”
Jordi, lost in thought, scowled deeply at Edwin’s continued words. Despite his warnings, the man was still pretending not to hear and using the title ‘Second Young Master.’ However, he was too mentally exhausted to fight over titles again.
“What is it?”
“A suspicious guest has arrived after a long absence. He was still wrapped tightly from head to toe in a black hood.”
“…Why are you only telling me this now? Bring him in at once!”
Jordi shouted, standing up hurriedly as if his previous irritation had never existed. The ‘suspicious guest’ Edwin spoke of referred to a messenger sent by the Second Prince.
“I cannot understand the Grand Duke’s mind. Does he really think bringing up my brother will put me in a corner?”
Second Prince Cedric muttered with a subtle expression as he walked down the palace corridor. Unlike the Lucian he remembered, this political offensive was far too weak.
“If I deny it and refuse to bring my brother out, the Grand Duke’s words will carry some weight. But that alone won't change anything.”
—His success in the North must have blinded him with excessive confidence.
The one who answered Cedric was a flickering shadow behind him. As if unable to understand his master’s concern, the shadow spoke dismissively.
—The earlier a human succeeds, the easier it is for them to overestimate their own abilities. Since he has achieved several feats that could be called legendary, it wouldn't be strange for him to fall into the trap of arrogance.
“There are too many suspicious points to conclude it so simply.”
Despite his confidant’s words, Cedric could not smooth his furrowed brow.
“Arrogance and stupidity are different. The Grand Duke has always taken risks, but those risks were ones that guaranteed clear benefits if they succeeded. And he succeeded brilliantly every time. Compared to that, this matter has high risks and little to gain.”
If anything, even if the fact that he was imprisoning his brother were revealed, the loss would be far greater for Lucian. His image as a loyal subject might be further solidified, but hadn't he closed off all room for negotiation with his own mouth? At this rate, once Cedric ascended the throne, Lucian would surely find himself in a position of total isolation.
“So, for the Grand Duke to gain anything, he can't stop at just proving his claim. He has to completely eliminate the possibility of me ascending the throne.”
The problem was that such a thing didn't seem possible. By now, Lucian must know that Cedric had completely won the succession race. So what kind of trump card was he holding that allowed him to act with such confidence?
—I have already sent a shadow to the Grand Duke for investigation. If any noteworthy information about him comes up, I will inform you immediately.
“I’m counting on you.”
Cedric replied to the shadow, but he didn't have high expectations. Even if they were brothers from the same father, they were merely rivals who clashed over the position of family head. Since they were distant, Lucian likely didn't know much about his private affairs.
‘Actually, if only one person would cooperate, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.’
A sigh escaped him as he thought of a certain someone. No matter how much he thought about it, he didn't think that person would ever do anything beneficial for him.
While lost in various thoughts, Cedric had arrived at his destination before he knew it. Taking a deep breath, Cedric knocked on the small room located in a corner of the Imperial Palace.
“It’s Cedric. I’m coming in.”
As he spoke, Cedric didn't wait for an answer and opened the door immediately. At the same time, something white flew through the gap in the door toward his face at high speed.
An ordinary person would have flinched and dodged, but Cedric stood still and took the object to the face.
Thump.
As expected, the white object was merely a fluffy pillow. Since all hard and sharp objects had been removed long ago, this was the only thing left to throw. Judging by the speed, the person had thrown it with all their might, but a pillow was far from enough to cause any real impact.
With a smirk, Cedric caught the pillow, tossed it into a corner, and spoke.
“Are you suggesting a pillow fight with your younger brother after all this time? I didn't realize you still had such a childlike heart, Brother.”