Chapter 175
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175
Lucian clicked his tongue as he looked down at Dennis, who remained motionless on his knees.
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“His Highness the First Prince has suffered greatly under the rebels for a long time. His nerves are frayed, so I beg for your understanding.”
Having finished his plea, Dennis pressed his body flat against the floor, touching his forehead to the ground before Lucian. He looked as though he wouldn’t budge until Lucian’s heart softened.
Lucian stared at Dennis for a moment before speaking in a flat tone.
“The First Prince seems to have very little understanding of how the world works.”
“D-Duke, Your Grace.”
“As you mentioned before, I am indebted to the Late Emperor. Even before my duty as a subject, it is only natural as a human being to return that grace to his legitimate successor. However...”
Lucian let out a deep, deliberate sigh.
“Even so, there is a limit to everything.”
“...”
“I can overlook him wanting my head, but branding me a traitor is going too far. To think he would consider wiping out Asagrim until not a single blade of grass remained, simply because he felt slightly slighted.”
“As I said earlier...”
“That his nerves were frayed and he spoke in the heat of the moment? For that to be the case, his plan seemed far too specific.”
Dennis found himself speechless at Lucian’s pointed remark. It would have been better if the First Prince had simply flown into a blind rage and recklessly ordered Lucian’s death. Then, Dennis could have used the excuse that the Prince had temporarily lost his mind in a fit of insanity.
The problem was that it hadn't stopped there; the First Prince had formulated a concrete plan. Regardless of the plan’s feasibility, the moment he revealed a persistent grudge rather than temporary anger, it became a checkmate.
“Dennis, speak up. What am I supposed to do?”
Remember the grace of the Late Emperor; please remain a loyal subject without wavering.
Dennis wanted to say those words, but he couldn't bring himself to utter them. The plan the First Prince had concocted was more than enough to completely erase any debt of gratitude owed to the previous Emperor.
Lucian spoke to the speechless Dennis, who could only gape like a fish.
“Do you understand now why I left the First Prince in that prison?”
“...!”
“What do you think would happen if his existence became known? Other lords would try to contact him, and naturally, the First Prince’s thoughts would be revealed. There’s no need to mention what would follow.”
The First Prince was a man who never doubted his status as the sole legitimate successor and took absolute obedience for granted. If there was no sign of his personality changing despite his dire circumstances, even his remaining supporters would vanish. They supported the First Prince because it benefited them, not because they were willing to sacrifice everything for the Imperial Family.
‘Of course, they wouldn’t betray him openly to save face. Even without doing that, there are plenty of ways to act like a loyal subject while secretly colluding behind his back.’
If played right, one could maintain the title of a loyalist who served the Imperial Family to the end while defecting to another faction. A loyal subject who did his best but failed to prevent the Prince’s death due to an enemy trap. An ambitious leader who, moved by such noble loyalty, persuaded the subject time and again until finally winning them over.
To someone unaware of the secret collusion, it would sound like quite a moving tale. If two factions conspired together, fabricating such a story was child’s play.
Dennis, perhaps sensing a similar future, turned pale and repeatedly struck his forehead against the floor.
“I was foolish and failed to see Your Grace’s grand vision!”
“There’s no need to apologize. I’ve reached my limit as well.”
“Pardon?”
“How can I be at peace when the First Prince treats me like a mortal enemy? I will open the way for you, so take him and go to whatever loyal subject you desire. Anywhere will be better for you than here.”
Dennis’s face turned ghostly white. Currently, Lucian was the most powerful force among the First Prince’s supporters. In fact, to be blunt, most of the others were mere riffraff compared to him.
To leave Lucian’s protection and go under another faction? Before they could even think of reclaiming Tivron and ascending the throne, they would have to worry about whether they would survive until tomorrow.
“Duke, Your Grace! Please, calm yourself!”
“I am perfectly calm. I am still loyal to the First Prince. If you need financial or military support, just say the word. I will provide it immediately.”
“That is not the issue...!”
“Then what is the problem?”
Dennis squeezed his eyes shut at Lucian’s question. In truth, promising to continue support even after hearing such things from the First Prince was an enormous concession. To ask for anything more was excessive, even considering their lord-vassal relationship.
“Don’t worry too much. I don’t intend to throw you out like a beggar. Once Sir Eisen’s funeral is over, I will treat the Prince with due respect and provide him with troops and funds.”
“T-Thank you.”
Even as he answered, Dennis frantically searched for a way out. If the First Prince left Lucian’s protection now, everything was over. He had to pretend to accept the offer for now while finding a way to change Lucian’s mind before the funeral ended.
‘If I can offer him an irresistible benefit, he’ll hold on even if he doesn’t want to. I must persuade the First Prince to do something of that magnitude. If necessary, I’ll act on my own authority...!’
A subject’s duty was to follow the Emperor’s will. However, if the legitimate heir of the Imperial Family they served lacked such a sense of reality, he had to protect the Imperial lineage even if it meant overstepping his bounds. That was the definition of loyalty Dennis had learned his entire life.
Lucian watched Dennis’s eyes darting back and forth and allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. It seemed the time when ‘negotiation’ would be possible without going through the First Prince was not far off.
Two days later, Felicia offered the Fairy Light Sword she had wielded in the contest to the grave of the former Sword Saint, Eisen. Since a long period of mourning had already passed, the ceremony itself was brief, but its significance was by no means small. It meant she had received such firm recognition from those around her that no one could object to her presiding over the event.
“With this, we conclude the funeral of the former Sword Saint, Sir Eisen. I thank you all for coming to pay your respects. To the great Sword Saint, Sir Eisen!”
“To Sir Eisen!”
When Lucian shouted a short toast at the farewell banquet, everyone raised their glasses. Since all the formal events were over, the banquet itself was quite modest—more of a gathering to exchange final goodbyes than a grand party.
As the farewell banquet showed signs of ending quickly, Lesta and Harald, who were mingled among the family heads, exchanged glances.
‘It would be best to step forward now.’
‘Isn’t this too sudden?’
‘It can’t be helped. This is practically our last chance.’
‘I suppose waiting any longer would be pointless. Very well, you start.’
At Harald’s agreement, Lesta stepped forward and shouted.
“Duke, Your Grace! Forgive my intrusion, but there is something I must say in this place!”
“...?”
At the sudden shout, all eyes turned to Lesta. Lucian, not having expected Lesta’s movement, simply blinked in silence. Taking that silence as permission, Lesta continued.
“The Empire currently faces an unprecedented crisis! Rebels run rampant in every direction, the Imperial Throne has been seized by one of unknown origin, and bandits rule the roads. It is no exaggeration to say the very foundation of the Empire is shaking!”
“Hmph.”
A few mourners and family heads frowned at the aggressive tone, but Lesta remained undeterred. In fact, he raised his voice even louder, as if he had been hoping for that reaction.
“To quell this chaos, we must restore the dignity of the Imperial Family and enthrone the legitimate successor, the First Prince. However, the North lacks the power to do so!”
“And? What is it you want to say?”
At Lucian’s prodding to stop beating around the bush, Lesta spoke with a smile.
“I believe it is necessary to unite the power of the North for the sake of the Empire’s peace. Therefore, I beg of you, please rebuild the Northern Kingdom! Ascend the throne, quell this chaos, and place the First Prince upon the Imperial Throne!”
“...!”
A silent shock struck the center of the banquet hall. It was certainly an era where ambitious men expanded their influence using their own justifications. But to think someone would discuss the resurrection of the Northern Kingdom.
‘Does this man even realize what he’s saying?’
‘Resurrecting a kingdom, not just a house? He wants to bind the entire North as one?’
Cold sweat trickled down the foreheads of those gathered. It was an absurd idea, but if realized, it was truly terrifying. The entire Empire had become a battlefield for the ambitious. While there were superior and inferior houses among the Great Families, there was no overwhelmingly dominant power.
But if a kingdom were resurrected here and seized all the power of the North? It would be the same as the initiative in this chaotic era passing to a single person.
‘Of course, it’s impossible. Who would go back to being a subject of a kingdom that collapsed long ago, rather than the Imperial Family?’
‘I acknowledge the old glory of the Northern Royal Family, but respecting a proud tradition and practical submission are two different things.’
‘Maybe if our families were on the verge of collapse, but everyone has breathing room now. No one here would support the resurrection of the kingdom...’
“Those are truly righteous words! I, too, petition for the resurrection of the kingdom. Please, for the sake of the greater cause, ascend the throne!”
“...!?”
Those who had been feeling relieved were shocked to see Harald step forward next. And it didn't end with those two. Soon, several family heads among the mourners began to step out one by one and shout.
“Resurrect the Northern Kingdom and ascend the throne!”
“Quell the chaos of the Empire and enthrone the legitimate successor!”
Though supporters emerged here and there, their voices did not overwhelm the banquet hall. There were at most a dozen or so people shouting, and most of them belonged to minor families. Since the number of silent family heads was far greater, the ones making noise stood out even more.
If things remained like this, Harald, Lesta, and their supporters would only end up humiliated. It would look as if they were making baseless claims that no one else agreed with.
The problem was that such a situation was by no means a good thing for the lords of the North.
‘This is madness. What do I do? Should I at least pretend to agree?’
‘Are you insane? What if the Northern Kingdom actually gets resurrected?’
‘If we pretend not to see and the Duke loses his temper, that’ll be an even bigger disaster! He’s already shown his ambition openly; how long do you think he’ll leave us be?!’
Lucian’s ambition was already known throughout the Empire. In other words, if necessary, he could attempt to seize other territories by military force to grow his power. Until now, he had only focused on internal affairs and hadn't looked outward, but if the proposal to resurrect the kingdom was crushed like this, his mindset would surely change.
It would be proof that there was no way for Lucian to rule the North peacefully. He might laugh it off as nothing for now, but if war broke out later, they wouldn't be able to hope for Lucian’s mercy.
Just as everyone was hesitating, unsure of which side to choose—
“Enough.”
Lucian’s low voice resonated throughout the banquet hall.