Chapter 36
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36
“Hmm.”
In the office of the lord’s manor, Grand Duke Sigmund meticulously scanned the report before him.
Lucian and Tristan, who had returned a short while ago, stood before the Grand Duke, waiting for him to speak.
After a moment, the Grand Duke set the report down with a soft thud and turned his gaze toward Tristan.
“Tristan.”
“Yes, Father.”
“You have always been quick to decide. When something needs to be cut, you do so decisively, without a moment’s hesitation. However, there are times when decisiveness becomes mere haste.”
“....”
“I have always worried about your tendency to make decisions too quickly. You often choose the lesser of two evils rather than the best possible path. A less-bad decision is not the same as a good one.”
Tristan lowered his head slightly, a shadow falling over his face. It was effectively a rebuke, pointing out that his handling of the recent matter had been poor.
The Grand Duke watched his son’s bowed head and added a few more words.
“I will not say that the sacrifice of the small for the greater good is always wrong. However, sacrifice is not the only answer. Sometimes, try setting aside the scales in your heart. Not everything in this world can be weighed.”
“I will take your words to heart, Father.”
“And Lucian.”
Having finished with Tristan, the Grand Duke’s gaze shifted to Lucian. Simultaneously, his stern expression softened, if only slightly.
“You did well this time. You defended the territory, protected the commoners, and managed to do so without incurring a single loss for the House. I could not have asked for more.”
“You flatter me, Father. Having spent so much of the family’s wealth, I had to produce results of this caliber.”
“What does a bit of gold matter? You’ve secured gains worth several times the cost. As the one who supported you, I have no regrets. However....”
The Grand Duke’s satisfied smile turned slightly bitter, as if there were a single flaw in an otherwise perfect performance.
“It bothers me slightly that you made no effort to hide the existence of the mage, even though you knew of it. Then again, I suppose you might not be aware of the Imperial Family’s hatred of mages.”
Lucian flinched.
At first, he had thought Tristan was simply overreacting, but to hear the same thing from the Grand Duke was different.
Just how much does the Imperial Family hate mages?
Lucian knew they disliked them. Ever since the age of chaos began, mages had started appearing one by one, and the Imperial Family had reacted to their existence with visceral revulsion.
However, magic was far too useful a power, and the Imperial Family’s influence was no longer what it once was. Ultimately, despite their loathing, they had been forced to recognize the existence of mages out of sheer necessity.
Considering we’re in an age of chaos, the process of recognition seemed quite smooth. I thought they just moderately disliked them, but is it more than that?
For Lucian, who hadn't seen a single proper mage before the chaos began, it was difficult to understand. All he could gather was that the Imperial Family’s hatred far exceeded his expectations.
It seemed he would need to take this into account moving forward.
“Well, the results were good, so it would be ridiculous to reprimand you for something that hasn't even caused a problem yet. I won't say more. Just try to be a bit more discreet about mages in the future—even if you don't go as far as your brother.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Good. You both must be tired, so go and get some rest. I will handle the remaining matters.”
“Yes, Father.”
The two brothers bowed and exited the office. As soon as the door closed, they looked at each other.
One face wore a deep smile; the other was clouded with a bitter sense of defeat.
After a brief moment, the two brothers turned their backs on each other and walked away in opposite directions. There was no need for words. To anyone watching, the winner and the loser were clearly defined.
Edwin sighed as he looked at the secret letter in his hand. He had hoped for good news, but the contents were the exact opposite.
I wonder how His Grace will react.
Grand Duke Sigmund had already been dealing with a string of headaches lately. If he saw the contents of this letter, his accumulated frustration might finally explode.
“Grand Duke, it is Edwin.”
“Come in.”
The voice from inside the office was uncharacteristically bright. Sensing something unusual, Edwin opened the door and entered. It wasn't his imagination; a broad smile was etched on the Grand Duke’s face as he looked up.
“Has something good happened, Your Grace?”
“Read this.”
Grand Duke Sigmund handed a document to Edwin. Edwin scanned the contents quickly, his eyes widening.
“Did the Third Young Master truly achieve all of this?”
“Impressive, isn't it? I knew the boy had a silver tongue, but I didn't expect him to handle every negotiation so perfectly.”
“What is even more remarkable is the battle at Greve City. Even if it was a small-scale skirmish, his command of the battlefield was flawless.”
“I never knew he had such a talent. It seems he was born with it. Of course, he’s still an unpolished gem who needs experience, but the raw talent itself is extraordinary.”
Edwin nodded in agreement with the praise for Lucian. It wasn't just a father overestimating his son. To command so smoothly in one's first deployment suggested something beyond mere talent.
“The First Young Master must be quite shaken, then. Looking at this report, it seems he was on the verge of making a grave error.”
“It’s for the best. To be honest, Tristan has been far too overconfident lately.”
Tristan had already accumulated significant merits, and compared to the second son, who lacked popularity, or the third, whose abilities were unproven, his reputation was excellent. Furthermore, since he rarely made major mistakes in his decisions, he was seldom criticized. Consequently, he had become increasingly dogmatic.
It might be fine for now, but it was a trait that could become a fatal weakness in the future.
“But thanks to his younger brother, he’s gained an opportunity to reflect on himself. Whether he faces his mistake and corrects it, or ignores it and pretends it never happened, is up to him.”
“If it is the First Young Master, I am sure he will face his mistake. He is a brilliant man, even if he has strayed slightly of late.”
“I hope so. Anyway, what brings you here?”
Edwin hesitated for a moment. The news he was about to deliver could plunge the Grand Duke’s rare good mood into the abyss.
“...It is a secret letter from His Majesty the Emperor.”
“From His Majesty?”
“The contents are not pleasant. See for yourself.”
Edwin held out the already unsealed letter. Checking the Emperor’s secret letter beforehand was an act of audacity no other retainer would dare, but for Edwin, it was a permitted liberty.
Grand Duke Sigmund took the letter and unfolded it nonchalantly.
“...Dammit.”
Not long after, his face contorted into a scowl, and a curse escaped his lips. The letter was ruthlessly crumpled in his grip.
“Bernhardt, that bastard is lucky. Since a rebellion is imminent, he is pardoned on the condition that he covers the entire military cost of suppressing it? A cheap price to pay, truly.”
“It is not light, Your Grace. Krepelt, which has raised the banner of revolt, possesses exceptional national power even among the vassal states. The cost will be enough to break his back, and his external influence will surely plummet.”
“But his political authority will remain entirely intact. The man will continue to walk through the court with his head held high, saying whatever he pleases. I never expected His Majesty to accept such a deal.”
Grand Duke Sigmund slumped into his chair, rubbing his forehead. He understood that the rebellion made support urgent. But sometimes, shouldn't one cut away what needs to be cut, even at a massive loss?
Though he had served the Emperor with loyalty for a long time, there were moments like this when the Grand Duke felt utterly stifled.
“He isn't the type to act this way just for money... has the succession issue played a part? It seems he is still obsessed with the First Prince.”
“His Majesty has always maintained that the principle of primogeniture must be upheld for the sake of the Imperial Family’s authority. He likely sought the Marquis’s support.”
“Primogeniture, primogeniture.”
A bitter smile touched the Grand Duke’s lips. Lately, he had begun to doubt if the Emperor was pushing primogeniture truly for the sake of Imperial authority. Numerous incidents had already proven that the First Prince did not have the character of an emperor. To cling so stubbornly to primogeniture despite that was becoming farcical.
“Is he still unable to forget the late Empress?”
“....”
“To call it romantic... the burden he carries is far too great. I fear he has forgotten even that.”
In the past, the Emperor had certainly been sharp and discerning. His only flaw was an extreme aversion to bloodshed. As a result, the Empire had missed several opportunities for a resurgence. This could have been the final chance.
And yet, he missed this one too. I wonder if the next opportunity will even come within my lifetime.
A sigh escaped Grand Duke Sigmund. As the silence stretched on, Edwin spoke up hesitantly, his voice heavy.
“Your Grace, I am loath to say this, but there is one more thing.”
“What else could there be?”
“It was not in the letter, but a verbal message from the messenger who delivered it. It is said that His Highness the First Prince will participate in the suppression of this rebellion. And... His Majesty hopes that one of the Young Masters will join the First Prince in the campaign....”
Gods above.
At the mention of the one secret command he least wanted to hear, the Grand Duke finally buried his face in his hands.
When Lucian returned to the estate after finishing his task, his status was entirely different from before.
His standing had already been rising rapidly, but now he had secured an authority so solid that no one could challenge it. The servants, who were already cautious, bowed even lower, and the knights began making overt efforts to catch his eye.
As a bonus, the authority of his subordinates, Hans and Hugo, rose as well.
“The fellows who used to look down on me can't even meet my eyes now. It feels like all the frustration I’ve bottled up is finally being washed away. Hehehe!”
“I doubt it’s all good news. Aren't you getting any requests for favors?”
“Of course I am, but I’m turning them all down. If I eat something someone just hands me, I’ll end up with an upset stomach, won't I?”
“Good attitude.”
Surprisingly, Hans was handling his newfound influence well without being consumed by it. It was partly because he was naturally content with what he had, and partly because he had seen plenty of the ugly side of internal politics while working. For Lucian, who had worried about potential corruption, it was a relief.
If he keeps growing like this, I can use him as a close aide later.
Even if they weren't at the level of Grand Duke Sigmund and Head Steward Edwin, having trusted confidants was vital. A ruler needed not only knights and administrators but also a butler to handle the finer internal details.
Unlike Hans, Hugo focused on training to sharpen his battlefield instincts rather than paying attention to his improved treatment.
“I want to make sure I don't lose this edge, for the day will come when I fight by your side, Young Master. My only regret is that the swordsmanship I’ve learned is third-rate....”
“It can't be helped. The Lion Sword can only be learned after becoming a knight. For now, you have to make do with what you have.”
Unlike the Lion Heart Sword, which was reserved for direct descendants, the path to learning the Lion Sword was open to other knights. However, no matter how much loyalty one showed, it could not be taught to anyone who wasn't a ‘knight,’ so Lucian could not teach it to Hugo yet.
Lucian shared that regret, but according to the timeline, an opportunity for Hugo to rise to knighthood would come soon enough. For now, the priority was for him to polish the swordsmanship he already possessed in preparation for that time.
And the same goes for me.
After surveying the estate, Lucian immediately went to find Sword Saint Eisen. To face the upcoming battlefield, he desperately needed instruction on the Lion Heart Sword.