Chapter 182
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 182
At this point, calling Lucian’s growth "unrivaled" felt like an understatement.
It wouldn't have been strange for ambitious men, sensing a threat, to move against him. However, Lucian wasn't worried about the other families—at least not the House of Roglan.
The reason was simple.
A massive power like the House of Roglan would find it more profitable to consolidate the surrounding territories than to waste effort trying to keep me in check.
Alongside the Grand Ducal House of Valdek, the House of Roglan was one of the two great pillars of the Empire. Since the House of Valdek’s influence had long since waned following Jordi’s rebellion, Roglan was the only family that could still claim such status. In terms of the raw power of a single house, they were arguably the strongest in the current Empire.
In terms of pure strength, they might fall behind me, but my faction is a new power built on a foundation of talent gathered from all over. In terms of cohesion and stability as a political entity, the House of Roglan is likely superior.
In other words, they had the capacity to handle rapid expansion through conquest. Even if they felt threatened by Lucian’s growth, attempting to suppress him all the way in the distant North would be a waste of resources. It was better for them to use that time to leverage their strengths, quickly pacify the surrounding powers, and grow their own influence.
Marquis Bernhardt surely knew this, yet he had sent an envoy the moment the Kingdom was revived.
Did he send them to propose a non-aggression pact or an alliance? Surely he didn't come all this way just to attempt some futile intimidation?
While Lucian was lost in thought on his throne, the envoy from the House of Roglan, having finished his preparations, entered the hall. He wasn't a mere knight close to the family, the kind smaller houses often sent, but a proper herald.
The herald knelt before Lucian, strictly adhering to the demanding protocols of etiquette.
"Ernst, herald of the House of Roglan, greets Your Highness."
"Your Highness, is it?"
Lucian smirked at the herald’s choice of words.
He doesn't call me 'Your Majesty.' He hasn't technically breached etiquette, but he's very cleverly sidestepping the crucial part.
The king of a vassal or tributary state is addressed as "Your Highness," the same as a duke, rather than "Your Majesty." Unlike the king of an independent nation, their rank is considered one step below the Emperor, and thus their title is lowered.
The herald had likely aimed for that, subtly omitting the formal title of King and using only "Your Highness." It was a truly ambiguous response that left the listener uncertain of how to interpret it. On one hand, it seemed to acknowledge his kingship, but even if they only recognized his ducal rank and denied his crown, the title wouldn't be incorrect.
So, they won't recognize the title granted by the First Prince, but they don't want to start a conflict with me either?
Then again, Marquis Bernhardt probably had no other choice. Since he had put forward a different member of the imperial family as the successor to the throne, he couldn't very well recognize a title bestowed by the First Prince.
In that sense, it was a sufficiently moderate response, as it didn't signal overt hostility.
"You have worked hard to travel all the way to the North, Herald. If possible, I would have liked to host a grand banquet to welcome you, but your visit was so sudden that I could not prepare one."
"As a herald with a duty to perform, how could I seek luxury? I am merely grateful that you did not turn me away and allowed me entry during such times."
"I appreciate you saying so. Now, tell me, what business brings you here?"
Lucian quickly dropped the pleasantries and got to the point. He was facing someone whose intentions—whether good or ill—were still unknown. Rather than letting the conversation drag on and risking unnecessary misunderstandings, it was better to state the business clearly and concisely.
Ernst, acting as the herald, seemed to agree, as he answered immediately without showing any surprise.
"My lord, His Grace Marquis Bernhardt, wishes to invite Your Highness to a banquet."
"...An invitation? Are you telling me to travel all the way to the West, where the Marquisate is located?"
"I am aware it is a difficult request, but he earnestly hopes you will accept."
A hollow laugh escaped Lucian’s lips. To come all the way to the heart of the North only to ask him to walk into the West on his own two feet... What was even more absurd was that the location of the invitation was the Marquis's own backyard. If they were meeting at a midpoint or in a neutral zone, that would be one thing, but he couldn't fathom what they expected him to trust.
Anyone with a brain would refuse such a request, so they probably don't actually expect me to come.
They had likely brought this up assuming he would decline. The true objective wasn't this ridiculous invitation, but something hidden behind it.
Lucian, having roughly guessed the opponent's intent, continued.
"First, I would like to know the purpose of this invitation."
"His Grace stated that he wishes to join forces with Your Highness for the peace of the continent and the smooth flow of trade."
"The peace of the continent aside, what do you mean by 'smooth trade'?"
"We live in a world where all sorts of subversive elements and bandits run rampant. Because of this, many trade routes have been cut off, and commerce has been hindered. It is a situation where one cannot know when the repercussions might reach His Grace or Your Highness."
"So, we should meet and think of a solution together?"
"Precisely."
"I see. I understand."
A bitter smile formed on Lucian’s lips. As expected, the invitation was merely bait. The real goal was to remind Lucian of the current situation—where most of his food supply relied on trade—and instill a sense of crisis. They were signaling that while direct military action might be difficult, they were more than capable of interfering with his supplies.
No, that’s not all. They’re also aiming to provoke the other Northern lords. Unlike me, who can endure a temporary disruption in trade routes, a brief halt in food supplies would be a fatal blow to the weaker houses.
It was a fairly effective move for a "light" check. By spreading anxiety about food supplies throughout the North and stoking those fears, some lords would inevitably seek insurance for a rainy day. If played right, they might even find someone willing to collude with them in exchange for a guaranteed food supply. Compared to the effort of a brief visit to the North to spread rumors, it was a very profitable venture.
"I appreciate the offer, but I simply cannot find the time to travel that far, so I must decline. Please convey my apologies to the Marquis."
"Your Highness, this is a grave matter for the Empire; it should not be dismissed lightly. The future of the Empire rests in your hands."
"It is embarrassing to say, but a journey where even my own safety cannot be guaranteed is out of the question. I have a duty to support the North, so I cannot act recklessly."
"If that is the case, you may bring your escorts with you. I will seek prior understanding from the other family heads in the West."
Lucian narrowed his eyes at the herald’s persistent attitude. They should have already achieved half their original goal; why was he clinging so desperately? If he was rejected, shouldn't he just stay in the North and spread rumors?
As Lucian stared silently at the herald, puzzled by his behavior, the true objective finally surfaced.
"I apologize for my repeated requests. However, this is a matter deeply connected to the logistics of the North. If Your Highness refuses, I would at least like to invite the other family heads to engage in dialogue."
"Ha."
Lucian scoffed in spite of himself. It seemed they weren't just planning to spread rumors in the North; they intended to openly invite the lords to the West to whisper in their ears. This was beyond brazen; it was downright shameless.
To think they would independently invite the family heads for talks when Lucian had already ascended the throne. Furthermore, they intended to hold these discussions in a place where his surveillance couldn't reach.
"Do not speak such nonsense. If even my safety cannot be guaranteed, which family head could possibly travel to the West safely?"
"That is why we will place no limit on the number of escorts. Even if it is only one or two people, if several of them gather, they will surely form a force comparable to an army. Would that not make the journey safe?"
"What...!"
Lucian’s eyes snapped wide just as he was about to argue that it was ridiculous.
No limit on the number of escorts? They would just let them in even if they gathered a force the size of an army?
"Wait, does that apply to me as well?"
"Pardon?"
"You said I could bring as many escorts as I want."
"Uh... yes, that is correct."
The herald nodded hesitantly at Lucian’s sudden question. He couldn't very well deny what had just come out of his own mouth.
Having received confirmation once more, Lucian stood up from his throne with a bright smile.
"Fine! I accept the invitation!"
"Wh-what?"
"I said I will accept the Marquis’s invitation. It would be rude to keep refusing when your side is making such concessions. I shall head West as soon as preparations are complete!"
Ernst the herald stared with wide eyes at Lucian’s unexpected answer. He had brought up the topic assuming a refusal, yet Lucian was actually going to come to the West.
Watching the stunned Ernst, Lucian burst into laughter.
"Since your side invited me first, I trust the hospitality for your guest will not be disappointing."
"This is madness! The West is Marquis Bernhardt’s backyard!"
"A banquet when we should be leading an army there! Absolutely not!"
When Lucian informed his retainers of the Marquis’s invitation, they were aghast. What would a powerful rival in a time of chaos think when his competitor walked into his own territory? He would surely take the opportunity to assassinate him and eliminate the competition.
Furthermore, Marquis Bernhardt was a family head who had reigned for decades in a political arena rife with schemes. He was an expert in backroom dealings, making him an even more dangerous opponent.
"We absolutely cannot let you go! If you must go, you will have to step over our corpses!"
"Listen to the end. Who said I was going empty-handed? I’m taking an army with me."
"Pardon? An army?"
"They said I could bring as many escorts as I want. They said it wouldn't matter even if it was the size of an army."
"...Did they really say that?"
"Yes. It seems the original intent was to use it as a pretext to persuade the other family heads."
In fact, the pretext itself wasn't bad. There was a clear limit to the number of troops a single family could produce. If you only counted the troops that could be sent abroad, that number became even smaller, as they had to subtract the troops needed for maintaining public order and defense in case of emergencies.
The Marquis likely believed that no matter how many men Lucian brought, it would be a level they could easily handle. He probably assumed Lucian knew this as well and would never accept the invitation.
"If the other lords and I were to unite, it might be dangerous, but he probably wasn't too worried. If I accepted the invitation, the other lords would back off to avoid trouble, and conversely, if only the lords gathered, no matter how much they united, they wouldn't dare bare their teeth at the House of Roglan."
If a few Northern lords accepted the invitation, they would be coaxed and prodded into becoming informants. If they were turned away without a word, the Marquis would criticize Lucian’s coercive attitude to incite internal strife. And if Lucian actually showed up with only a small army, they could simply kill him.
It was a perfect scheme that would yield profit no matter how things turned out. The problem was that Marquis Bernhardt had overlooked one fatal fact.
"He didn't realize that the Northern Kingdom is more united than he thought."
"To be precise, he didn't know that the hierarchy is perfectly established."
Actually, regardless of which part he missed, it made little difference to Marquis Bernhardt now. Soon, the West would have to face Lucian’s massive army.
"I’ll have to ask the First Prince to write a personal letter."
Lucian’s smile deepened at the unexpected opportunity. What kind of expression would Marquis Bernhardt make when a grand army, far exceeding his expectations, entered the West?