Chapter 178
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178
‘Shut up! How dare you…!’
First Prince Claude, having barely regained his senses after seeing Lucian’s smile, roared.
But for some reason, no sound escaped his throat.
Though his vocal cords vibrated so violently they ached, the surroundings remained deathly silent.
“Haha, it seems His Highness the First Prince is exhausted. He finds it difficult even to speak.”
A snickering voice reached Claude’s ears as he reeled from the bizarre phenomenon.
Turning his head, he saw Marius, the man known as the Court Mage, wearing a meaningful smile.
Only then did Claude realize what had happened to him.
Magic! This black mage bastard used magic!
It wasn't that his voice wouldn't come out.
Even though his vocal cords were vibrating and sound was being produced, Marius was blocking it from reaching anyone else's ears.
Just as the enraged Claude reached out to grab Marius by the collar, Hugo and Raymond seized him.
“Indeed. He can’t even steady his own body.”
“We must move him quickly. Your Highness, please follow us.”
Let go of me, you bastards! How dare you… Ugh!
Claude, who had been struggling, suddenly froze, letting out a silent scream.
It was because Hugo, while pretending to support him, had stepped close and pressed hard against the area just below his ribs.
While he was momentarily paralyzed by the shock, the two men quickly hauled Claude toward the inner chambers.
“D-Duke…!”
Just as the horrified Dennis was about to say something, Lucian’s gaze snapped toward him.
That gaze, more piercing than a thousand words, forced Dennis to shut his mouth and fall silent.
The brief farce, which no one could find funny, came to an end.
In the middle of the now-silent banquet hall, Lucian clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.
Clap, clap.
“Now then, with the authorization of His Highness the First Prince, the Northern Kingdom has been revived. This is truly a joyous occasion.”
“C-Congratulations! Now, no treacherous group will dare oppose Your Grace’s ascension to the throne!”
Herman was the first to rush forward, bowing deeply.
It was a desperate struggle to make up for his previous blunders, even if only a little.
Lucian’s lips curled upward as he looked at Herman.
“It is all thanks to you. Because you showed me how to maintain principles without being swept away by the fervor of others, I was able to avoid making a fool of myself.”
Cold sweat poured down Herman’s face at Lucian’s words.
At first listen, the tone seemed to be praising his merit, but the underlying meaning was ominous.
He was able to avoid making a fool of himself thanks to Herman?
In other words, he was saying he desired the revival of the kingdom so much that he was willing to make a fool of himself to get it.
Which meant Herman had stood in direct opposition to the very thing Lucian coveted most: the revival of the Northern Kingdom.
As Herman trembled at what felt like a precursor to a purge, Lucian continued.
“Continue to correct me from my side if I ever stray onto the wrong path. Those who speak only honeyed words may find favor on this earth, but it is the truly righteous who are blessed by the Eight Gods of Heaven.”
Herman’s eyes snapped open.
The other words were difficult to interpret, but he knew exactly what this last part meant.
If I follow his will from now on, I’ll be given crumbs, but if I keep trying to hold him back, he’ll personally send me to the afterlife.
The metaphor was too blatant to be misunderstood.
Lucian likely wasn't just targeting Herman, but issuing a warning to the entire opposition faction.
Realizing Lucian’s intent, Herman quickly lowered his head and shouted.
“I am overwhelmed by such undeserved praise! I shall never forget the words you have spoken today, even when my back is bent and age spots bloom upon my face!”
Even when my back is bent and age spots bloom.
It was a declaration that he wanted to live a long life and a vow that he would never do anything to incur Lucian’s wrath.
Satisfied with the answer, Lucian gave a deep nod and stood up.
“Though an unexpected blessing has occurred, it would be frivolous to suddenly turn a farewell banquet into a celebration. We shall celebrate this joy later; for today, let us keep to our original purpose and make this the final day of mourning for Sir Eisen.”
The mourners nodded as if nothing were wrong, matching Lucian’s refined tone.
However, no matter how much they tried to feign composure, they could not hide their pale complexions.
Because today’s events had clearly decided who held the reins of power in these troubled times.
Lucian, the host of the farewell banquet, left the hall shortly after.
He used the excuse that he was worried about the First Prince’s condition and needed to check on him.
Once Lucian departed, a loud cheer erupted from one corner of the hall.
“Hahaha! Excellent! Truly excellent!”
“Long live the Empire! Long live His Highness the First Prince!”
“And long live the newborn Northern Kingdom!”
These were Lucian’s supporters, led by Lesta and Harald—the group that would now be called the ‘Royalist Faction.’
As if they had forgotten this was a place to honor Sir Eisen one last time, the Royalists even clinked their glasses in a toast.
A few nobles frowned at the frivolous behavior, but none dared to speak up.
Now that the revival of the kingdom was a reality, the North effectively belonged to the Royalists.
The members of the Royalist Faction knew this well, so they chatted loudly without caring about the eyes around them.
“I never imagined His Highness the First Prince would come all the way to Asagrim!”
“I wonder what method was used. Was there some secret magical artifact?”
“Who cares what the method was! What matters is that we now have unlimited legitimacy…!”
“Shh, watch your tongue! You might find yourself out of favor with the Duke if you keep blabbering!”
“Oops, my mistake. I suppose I lost my head for a moment because I was so happy.”
Though there was a brief stir due to the slip of the tongue, the smiles never left their faces.
Even before this, Lucian had held an advantage over other ambitious men in terms of military justification because he supported the First Prince.
But now, he had gone beyond having an advantage; he had secured the First Prince himself, a man who could manufacture legitimacy at will.
Any noble who had declared support for the First Prince was now irrevocably tied to Lucian.
If Lucian issued an order in the First Prince’s name, they would have no choice but to follow.
“I’d love to see the faces of those bastards who claimed they’d support the First Prince.”
“They probably expressed their support thoughtlessly, assuming he’d remain imprisoned in the capital forever.”
“Aren't you being too harsh? Surely there’s at least one true loyalist among them.”
“Wouldn't a true loyalist be even better? They’ll follow the First Prince’s orders faithfully without questioning anything.”
“That’s true. Hahaha!”
With a sharp clink, the Royalists shared another toast.
Harald and Lesta frowned slightly at the overly boisterous behavior of their faction, but they didn't stop them.
If they forced them to stop now, they would only gather elsewhere to talk, and even more dangerous remarks might come out.
‘Let’s let them chatter moderately in front of us and only intervene when it goes too far.’
‘That would be for the best. If we stop them now, they won't be able to stand the itch to talk.’
‘Once they’ve talked to their heart’s content, we can ensure they keep their mouths shut later.’
‘It’s a struggle dealing with those who can’t see the big picture. The great cause is still far from finished.’
The two men let out deep sighs, but in truth, their own hearts were pounding with excitement.
Following the revival of the Northern Kingdom, they had even secured the person of the First Prince.
Lucian would not miss this opportunity to begin exerting influence beyond the North.
Countless ambitious men, who had thought they had plenty of time, would be thrown into a panic by the sudden appearance of a ‘King.’
Just imagining the chaos gave the two men a thrill of pleasure.
For the first time since the Empire’s founding, the North, which had never been on the main stage, was becoming the protagonist that would dictate the Empire’s fate.
“…”
“…”
Unlike the noisy ‘Royalists,’ those who had stood in opposition to Lucian were drowning in gloom.
Lucian, already called the Conqueror of the North, was now officially ascending to the throne with the title of King.
It wasn't just a matter of pressure anymore; he was now in a position to openly command them.
Their hearts were heavy, but they had no clear solution.
As long as Lucian held the First Prince, it was impossible to stop the revival of the kingdom through any legitimate means.
“…I shall take my leave and rest.”
“As shall I. I’m not feeling well.”
“Then, I’ll see you all later.”
They scattered without engaging in long conversations.
There was no reason to maintain a faction to oppose the Royalists after the kingdom’s revival was already set.
Factions only existed as long as they were mutually beneficial.
It was better to disband now than to risk incurring Lucian’s wrath by clumsily maintaining an opposition group.
In effect, the very forces that had opposed Lucian were being completely extinguished.
Not just the revival of the Northern Kingdom, but even the First Prince is in his hands…!
Am I dreaming? How is this possible?
There’s no time to dally. I must return immediately and inform my lord!
The mourners from outside the North rushed out of the banquet hall, trying to steady their trembling bodies.
With the revival of the Northern Kingdom decided, the initiative in these troubled times was now firmly in Lucian’s grasp.
They needed to return as quickly as possible to meet their lords and devise countermeasures.
While the external mourners were hurrying their preparations to leave, Tristan frantically searched for Lucian.
How could this happen? How could this happen…!
Tristan felt the blood drain from his body due to the shock.
He had thought that no matter how powerful Lucian was, he wouldn't have the capacity to directly rule the Grand Ducal House of Valdek.
The distance was great, and he assumed Lucian would need time to completely stabilize the North.
But Lucian had ascended to the throne, unified the North, and secured unlimited legitimacy through the First Prince.
He could now stabilize the North and exert influence over the Grand Ducal House all at once.
For Tristan, who had secretly believed he would never be discarded by Lucian, this was maddening.
At this rate, I’ll truly become useless to Lucian. If I’m not careful, forget the support—I might just disappear from here without a trace. If he intends to rule the Grand Ducal House directly, I’m nothing but a nuisance.
Tristan’s mouth felt bone-dry with tension.
Being discarded wasn't even the main problem anymore.
He had to worry about whether he’d be marked as a rival and lose his head.
He had to meet Lucian before a decision was made without his knowledge.
However, just before Tristan reached the office, someone blocked his path.
“Well, it’s been a long time. Do you remember me?”
“…Sir Hugo.”
Tristan’s brow furrowed as he recognized Hugo’s face.
The back-alley trash who had been clinging to Lucian’s side in Bornholm.
Because he had mediocre skills and wasn't even a knight back then, Tristan hadn't given him a second thought.
But now, not only had he become a knight, he was looking down at Tristan as Lucian’s closest confidant.
Feeling a surge of humiliation, Tristan clenched his fists and glared at Hugo.
“I don’t know what you want, but if you have no business with me, move aside. I have urgent matters to discuss with the Duke.”
“Oh, come now. You know exactly why I’m here, so why play dumb?”
“What do you mean?”
“The First Young Master’s usefulness has run out, hasn't it? It’s time for you to go.”
At Hugo’s slyly smiling face, Tristan felt his heart drop.
He had considered the possibility of being disposed of, but he hadn't expected the decision to be made so quickly.
“Did… did the Duke truly give such an order?”
“No, I’m joking.”
“……”
A vein throbbed on Tristan’s forehead.
No matter how much their positions had shifted, to be toyed with like this by a commoner from the back alleys…
“…You, you—!”
“He said to get ready, as we’ll be heading out to claim the Grand Ducal House soon.”
“…!?”
Tristan, who was about to scream, froze in his tracks.
It was shocking news, but he couldn't tell if it was the truth or another taunt.
Seeing Tristan’s ambiguous expression, Hugo continued in a flat tone.
“I’m not joking this time.”
The smile had long since vanished from Hugo’s face.