Chapter 174
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 174
Clang!
“Urgh!”
Lucian watched as yet another challenger collapsed before his eyes.
He had lost track of how many challengers there had been, but it was hard to call any of these a proper fight.
Nevertheless, the challenger’s eyes were filled with ecstasy. He was the only one who had managed to exchange blows with Felicia seven times.
Felicia, too, offered a faint smile as she commended him.
“Excellent skill. If you continue to hone your swordsmanship like this, perhaps you will be able to truly face me one day.”
“Y-you flatter me, my lady!”
“That is enough for today. I look forward to the day we duel again.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The knight, his eyes welling with tears at Felicia’s praise, scrambled down from the stage.
He looked at least fifteen years older than Felicia, yet their conversation sounded like that of a master and a disciple.
However, no one found the sight strange. Age was meaningless to the one who stood at the pinnacle of all swordsmen. Instead, the onlookers only cast gazes filled with envy and jealousy at the fact that he had received her praise.
“Next.”
“…”
Despite Felicia’s declaration, no more knights stepped forward to the arena.
Felicia spoke as she scanned the knights who had yet to come up.
“Do you not intend to challenge me?”
“…I was taught that challenging someone when you know it is futile is not courage, but foolhardiness. I shall forfeit.”
“It seems you lack the skill to even learn something from defeat.”
The face of the knight who spoke of foolhardiness turned beet red.
Once a swordsman reached a certain level, they learned to recognize their own shortcomings and improve through defeat. To forfeit without even trying meant he didn't even possess that level of competence.
The ones who had forfeited wanted to argue, but they couldn't think of a single word to say. It was true—they lacked the skill to even gain enlightenment from losing to her.
After all, their reason for forfeiting was the fear of losing face without gaining anything. What could they possibly say?
‘Damn it, you have to at least see how you lost to learn something.’
‘All I see is a flash of light and then it’s over. What is there to learn?’
‘Besides, some of the guys who went before us were worse than we are…’
As if reading the dissatisfaction of the forfeiters, Felicia’s voice rang out coldly.
“Pathetic. Is saving face more important to you than a duel with a master that might lead to an epiphany later? Do you still dare call yourselves knights?”
“…!”
“If you wish to play politics from an armchair, unbuckle the swords at your waists this instant. A knight is one who stands at the vanguard on the battlefield to swing their blade, not one who grovels on the floor to pick up their fallen pride.”
The forfeiters trembled with shame, but in the end, they could not offer a single rebuttal and hung their heads.
It was they who had avoided the opportunity to duel the Sword Saint out of fear of disgrace. And that decision was undoubtedly based on political calculation, not chivalry.
When the silence persisted, Felicia quietly turned and left the arena.
The sudden end of the matches left the heads of the families who were watching in a state of bewilderment.
“Wait, even if there are no more challengers, can it really end like this?”
“Why shouldn't it?”
“Pardon?”
Lucian shrugged at the blinking lords.
“Sir Felicia stood here to accept challengers. Since there are no more challengers, she is simply leaving. I see no problem with that.”
“B-but, surely a closing speech of some sort…”
“Do you expect such things from the Sword Saint?”
At the mention of the title 'Sword Saint,' the lords fell silent in unison.
If it were an ordinary 'winner of a swordsmanship contest,' it would be polite to say a few words to the cheering crowd.
But the subject was the Sword Saint. The strongest swordsman, who had no higher peak to climb, had essentially been forced to participate in an event that offered her no benefit.
Before worrying about etiquette, they should be grateful she had even taken the time to accommodate the challengers.
“By the way, I’m asking just in case—does anyone here still believe Sir Felicia is unqualified to be the Sword Saint?”
“…”
How could there be?
She was a knight who had effortlessly defeated numerous opponents without breaking a single drop of sweat. If such a knight wasn't the Sword Saint, then who was?
To deny it now would be beyond shameless; it would be a foolish act that would get one treated like an idiot.
When no one raised an objection, Lucian stood up and spoke.
“Then let us conclude the matches here. In two days, Sir Felicia will hold a ceremony to offer the Fairy Light Sword to Sir Eisen’s grave. I would appreciate it if you all attended.”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
At Lucian’s declaration, the lords bowed their heads, swallowing their bitterness. They realized once again that the title of Sword Saint, which they had briefly dreamed of, was far beyond their reach.
*
Lucian, having left the cleanup to his retainers, was heading toward his office.
He heard heavy footsteps approaching from a distance. Lucian recognized the person and gave a faint smile.
‘Dennis.’
The leader of the spies the late Emperor had hidden among the servants.
The man who had revealed his identity to expose the Second Prince’s schemes and had tried to dissuade Lucian from going to the capital.
He was also the one Lucian had secretly informed about the First Prince’s presence in the dungeon and entrusted with his care.
As soon as Dennis spotted Lucian, he rushed over and shouted before Lucian could even speak.
“Duke Valdek! What is the meaning of this?!”
“The meaning of what? What are you talking about so suddenly?”
At Dennis’s furious words, Lucian shrugged as if he had no idea what was going on. This attitude only made Dennis’s voice grow louder.
“Why is that person being treated in such a manner?! If Your Grace is a true loyalist of the Empire, you should immediately provide him with treatment befitting his status!”
Despite his rage, Dennis referred to the First Prince as 'that person,' hiding his identity. It meant that while he didn't know why the First Prince’s presence was being kept secret, he would follow Lucian’s lead for now.
Lucian breathed a sigh of relief at Dennis’s display of political discretion.
“I’m glad. It seems you’re still someone I can talk to.”
“Do not dodge the question! What Your Grace has done is…!”
“Hardly the act of a loyal subject. But I have my reasons.”
“What reason could possibly take precedence over loyalty to the Imperial Family?!”
Even Dennis wouldn't dare say such a thing in front of other lords. Telling someone to remain loyal regardless of what happened to their family was a verbal assault that would make even the most devoted loyalist turn their back.
However, Lucian was someone who had received so much from the late Emperor. He had an obligation to prove his loyalty to the Imperial Family in proportion to what he had received.
Even if that process involved dealing with spies like Dennis.
“If Your Grace cannot provide a proper explanation, I will have no choice but to reveal his existence to others!”
“Feel free to do so. However, before you do, serve by his side for just three days.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Even if I explain it myself, you won't understand. I want you to experience it firsthand. After three days, you will naturally come to understand.”
Dennis looked at Lucian with a bewildered expression, but Lucian’s answer remained unchanged. He simply repeated that Dennis would understand why he made this decision once he stayed by the First Prince’s side.
In the end, Dennis had no choice but to sigh and nod.
“I will do as you say for now, but I hope there is a point to this.”
“Don't worry. I’m not just making things up to buy time.”
To be honest, Lucian doubted it would even take three days. Given the First Prince’s personality, he would likely blurt out his inner thoughts without even properly sizing up his companion.
After confirming that Dennis had left for the underground prison, Lucian gave an order to a servant waiting near the office.
“Call the knights from the Black Lions who were commissioned recently.”
The stage was set; now it was time to gather testimony. Not to show it to someone else, but solely to prove that 'Lucian had heard it.'
*
The reason Lucian specified three days to Dennis was simple. He assumed that even the First Prince would have his guard up after everything he had been through.
He thought that even with someone as devoted as Dennis, the Prince would spend at least a day testing the waters.
However, Lucian’s prediction was quickly shattered. In less than a day, absurd nonsense began pouring out of the First Prince’s mouth.
“So… His Highness the First Prince told Dennis to kill me?”
“Yes.”
Vincent, a former Black Lion who had recently entered Lucian’s service, bowed his head. Even while reporting, Vincent couldn't hide his dumbfounded expression.
“The sound echoed a bit since I was listening from a distance, but I clearly heard him ordering to cut off Your Grace’s head and hang it on the castle walls.”
“Was it not just something said in the heat of the moment? He has always had a tendency to lash out and say whatever comes to mind when he’s angry.”
“It would have been better if he were just being stubborn. The problem is that the plan was quite specific.”
The First Prince’s plan was as follows:
First, he would send handwritten letters to the Northern lords to make his whereabouts widely known. If the lords demanded an explanation, even Lucian would have no choice but to let him out.
The moment he appeared in public, he would designate Lucian as a traitor and order the other lords to assist in his summary execution.
Of course, he expected Lucian to pressure him into silence before letting him out, but he intended to ignore all of it. He claimed he wasn't afraid of a traitor’s threats.
“…Setting aside the fact that the plan is childish, it wasn't something said just because he was angry.”
“I see. It seems His Highness has put quite a bit of thought into this.”
Sarcasm naturally flowed from Lucian’s lips.
What? Declare him a traitor and execute him the moment he appears in public?
‘Don't make me laugh. There’s no way he could kill me in the middle of Asagrim, no matter how much justification he thinks he has.’
The premise itself was flawed, but the most absurd part was the execution.
Let’s say everything went perfectly and all the Northern lords actually came to Asagrim to pressure Lucian. If the Prince declared him a traitor then and there, would they all jump at the chance to help the First Prince?
‘That’s ridiculous. They’d be slaughtered on the spot.’
Regardless of the pressure, the lords would have to come with a minimal escort to enter Lucian’s territory. In other words, the moment the First Prince appeared in public, everyone’s lives would essentially be in Lucian’s hands.
In such a moment, who would step forward just because he ordered a summary execution?
Even if they intended to follow the order, they would keep quiet, return to their own territories, and then raise an army. Naturally, the First Prince would remain in Lucian’s custody after ordering the execution.
There was no need to explain what would happen to the First Prince in Asagrim after that.
“What did Dennis say to the Prince’s order?”
“He tried to dissuade him a few times before giving up. Then he tried to come here immediately.”
“He tried to come here?”
“I intentionally showed myself to him and told him to wait since I would report first. He is currently waiting outside to see Your Grace.”
“Well done.”
Lucian smirked at Vincent’s quick wit. As expected of someone from the Black Lions who specialized in such matters, he was efficient.
Lucian sent Vincent out and had the waiting Dennis brought in. The man’s previously flushed face was now completely pale.
Before Lucian could say a word, Dennis fell to his knees and cried out.
“Duke Valdek! Please, quell your anger and remember the grace of the late Emperor!”