Chapter 42
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 42
Lucian nodded with a dubious expression.
From the rumors he’d heard, it seemed he had acquired the image of a schemer—a man who hid his claws while harboring some secret agenda.
‘Well, I suppose if someone stays holed up in their room for years and then shakes the entire family the moment they step out, people would assume they’ve been plotting something.’
In reality, the soul inside the body had simply changed.
Feeling the awkwardness of the situation, Lucian quickly changed the subject as he looked around.
“Now that I look, there are many people here close to our age. I didn’t realize the Empire had so many young family heads.”
“That’s hardly the case. Most of them aren’t the heads of their houses. They are either heirs acting as proxies or one of the sons currently embroiled in a succession competition.”
“Pardon? You’re saying all of them, not just one or two, are proxies?”
“For the same reason as you, of course.”
The same reason?
Lucian blinked at Nigel’s meaningful words.
Wait, has this man known who I was all along and just been playing along?
Nigel smiled as if telling him not to feign ignorance.
“The commander is His Highness the First Prince. If a family head were to come here in person, it could easily be misconstrued as them joining his faction. Sending an heir or another child provides a convenient excuse later.”
“...Ah, I see. Even if someone tries to link them to the First Prince’s faction, they can easily deny it later if the head of the house wasn't physically present.”
“Everyone thinks the same way. I’m doing it, and so are you, aren’t you?”
Nigel sent him a look seeking camaraderie, but Lucian was at a loss for words.
In truth, the reason Lucian was here was almost the exact opposite of theirs.
‘One side sends their children as proxies to use them as excuses, while the other side makes me a proxy because they’re plotting to marry their children off.’
The sheer irony of the misunderstanding brought a bitter smile to his lips.
Still, he couldn't afford to create friction by denying it, so he was about to offer a vague agreement when a voice interrupted.
“How utterly insolent. To think they look for loopholes to slip through even after receiving a direct decree from His Majesty the Emperor. For men who claim to be masters of their houses, it is a pathetic sight indeed.”
A heavy, dignified voice suddenly rang out from behind them.
Nigel turned around, bristling at the comment that insulted all the family heads who had sent proxies. Since he was one of those proxies, it was as good as insulting his own family.
However, the moment Nigel saw the speaker, his face turned deathly pale.
“Th-that! No, I...!”
“Now, now, calm yourself. Is this not a place where we are all hiding our identities? It wouldn't do for me to receive formal greetings here.”
The middle-aged man waved his hand with a generous tone.
Yet, while his tone was kind, the gaze he looked down with was nothing short of arrogant.
Lucian quickly scanned the man who had suddenly intruded.
‘Navy blue hair and beard, and an eagle carving at his waist.’
That was enough to identify him.
There was only one great family in this Empire with navy blue hair, and their symbol happened to be the eagle.
‘House Roglan.’
Knowing that, the identity of the man before him was obvious.
The current head of House Roglan, Bernhardt Roglan.
The political rival of Grand Duke Sigmund Valdek and the leader of the Noble Faction.
“By the way... who might this young friend be?”
One of the titans who moved the Empire stroked his chin while staring at Lucian.
Lucian smirked at the Marquis’s meaningful gaze.
Who might this friend be?
‘We’ve certainly never met, but there’s no way you don’t know who I am.’
Even if Lucian didn't know the Marquis, the Marquis would certainly know Lucian.
A man of the Marquis’s stature would have one of the best intelligence networks in the land.
Furthermore, Lucian was the one who had utterly crushed the Marquis’s schemes.
Even setting aside the need for information, he would have investigated Lucian thoroughly out of sheer spite.
‘Is he pretending not to know me because he wants to see me bow first?’
The man was practically wearing a sign, between his navy hair and the eagle carving. He clearly had no intention of hiding his identity. He wanted Lucian to recognize him and show deference.
Even if their families were of similar rank, the position of a third son was vastly different from that of a family head.
However, Lucian had no intention of being led by the nose.
“How rude. Who are you to cut in and insult other family heads so freely? Judging by your age, you seem old enough to have learned basic etiquette.”
“...!?”
The Marquis froze at Lucian’s words, which were bordering on verbal abuse, and Nigel’s face turned as white as a sheet.
In the frozen atmosphere, Nigel finally regained his senses and grabbed Lucian’s shoulder, shaking him.
“Y-Young Master! This person is...!”
“Ahem! Have you forgotten that His Highness the First Prince ordered us to hide our identities? I may have made a mistake, but revealing it on purpose would be an open act of deception against the Imperial Family. You must not speak it.”
At those words, the Marquis’s face contorted like a demon’s.
‘This damn brat intends to play dumb until the very end!’
Just moments ago, the Marquis had insulted the family heads who sent proxies, claiming they were looking for loopholes despite the Imperial decree.
If the Marquis were to reveal his identity now, defying the First Prince’s orders, he would be spitting in his own face.
No matter how many hints he dropped, there was nothing he could do if the other party was determined to feign ignorance.
“Why are you like that? Suddenly falling silent. If you have something to say, say it.”
‘Damn it all.’
Marquis Bernhardt ground his teeth at Lucian’s defiant attitude.
He had wanted the boy to bow of his own accord, but at this rate, he would have to endure being spoken to as an equal by a green youth.
If it were another family head, they would at least be of equal rank, but this was a mere third son—not even the heir.
If he continued this conversation as an equal, mask or no mask, it would be an eternal embarrassment.
“...My apologies. I have made a mistake. However, I believe I am quite a bit older than you. Could I not ask for at least a minimum level of respect?”
The Marquis’s tone shifted from condescending to a more formal, neutral style. It was a hint: I will respect you, so you should show at least basic courtesy.
Lucian nodded promptly and adjusted his tone.
“You are right. I was in a foul mood and acted rudely. I apologize.”
“No, I understand. It’s only natural to be upset when someone interrupts so suddenly.”
You miserable brat.
The Marquis maintained a bright smile while cursing inwardly. He had tried to make the boy yield, but instead, he had been the one to lower himself just to receive basic politeness.
“Ahem! Actually, the reason I came over was because I wished to speak with you. A certain problem has arisen recently, and I was thinking of seeking another’s opinion.”
“May I ask what the problem is?”
“It is a trivial matter. A sword belonging to an eagle was taken by a lion, who then encrusted it with brilliant jewels. Now, the lion claims the sword is his because its value has changed. To whom, then, does that sword belong?”
It was a strange metaphor, but Lucian understood it instantly.
The eagle and the lion were the symbols of House Roglan and House Valdek, respectively.
The sword referred to Felicia, and the brilliant jewels represented her status as the Sword Saint’s disciple.
‘So he’s saying Felicia was originally a person of House Roglan? That I took her to House Valdek without permission, so I should return her? His skin is thick as a castle wall.’
Most people, hearing that metaphor, would say the sword belonged to the original owner regardless of the jewels added.
The Marquis was demanding that Felicia, now the Sword Saint’s disciple, be handed over.
Considering the mistreatment Felicia had endured until now, it was a laughable demand.
“Well, now. If the eagle had cherished the sword, then the lion would certainly be a thief. But if the lion took a discarded, trash-like object and polished it, only for the eagle to demand it back later, wouldn't the situation be different?”
“No, I do not think so. Whether the sword was cherished or not, it was the eagle’s property from the beginning. The moment it was taken without the owner’s permission, the lion lost any claim to ownership.”
“I wonder if the sword would even like its original owner. If it is truly a masterpiece, it would choose its own master.”
“For a mere tool to choose its master is the height of arrogance. Regardless of what the sword thinks, it is enough for the owner to use it as he sees fit.”
“Is that so? Hahaha!”
“Indeed it is. Hohoho!”
Invisible sparks flew between Marquis Bernhardt and Lucian.
Nigel, caught between the two, broke into a cold sweat at the heavy subtext of the conversation.
As their dry laughter echoed for a long moment, Lucian spoke with a hint of amusement.
“Actually, there is a very simple solution.”
“A solution? And what might that be?”
“The eagle didn't even know if he had the sword or not until now, did he? He can simply pick up a random stick, wrap it in cloth, and tell himself, ‘This is that sword.’ He wasn't using the original anyway, so it’s all the same.”
“...!”
“The lion, who recognized the masterpiece’s value early on, will make good use of it, so there’s no need to worry. Isn't this the ultimate solution where both the eagle and the lion are satisfied?”
The smile vanished from the Marquis’s face.
It was a blatant mockery, pointing out that a man who didn't even know the value of what he had was now talking nonsense.
After a moment, the Marquis glared sharply at Lucian and spoke.
“And what if the eagle cannot do that? What if he is determined to reclaim his sword? Even if it means a bloody fight with the lion?”
Lucian gave a cold smile and replied to the Marquis.
“Then the eagle will have to come to the lion’s den. If he had kept the sword close to his heart, the lion might have visited the eagle’s nest, but things have changed. I wonder how much strength the eagle will have in the lion’s backyard.”
As soon as he finished speaking, both the Marquis and Lucian came to a dead halt.
The Marquis no longer bothered to hide his hostility; a murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
After staring Lucian down for a long time, Marquis Bernhardt turned away and muttered.
“We shall see soon enough.”
It was unclear whether it was a monologue or a warning.
After the Marquis left, Lucian snorted and whispered to himself.
“See the eagle get covered in blood, you mean? The greed of a man who couldn't even recognize a treasure.”
“Y-Young Master....”
Drenched in cold sweat, Nigel called out to Lucian in a trembling voice.
Having heard the entire conversation, there was no way he hadn't guessed Lucian’s identity.
Lucian waved his hands dismissively with a bitter smile.
“Calm down. I’m not angry.”
“I... that is... I was rude to you....”
“I said I’m not angry. This kind of entertainment is always like this. I’ll forget it all by tomorrow morning.”
“Th-thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Don't mention it. I had a good time.”
After patting the shoulder of the repeatedly bowing Nigel, Lucian headed toward his tent.
Now that his identity was out, they wouldn't be able to converse as comfortably as before.
It was when Lucian reached his tent and removed his mask.
“Young Master, was it wise to provoke the Marquis like that? Knowing his personality, he won't let this slide.”
Raymond, who had been watching silently from behind, approached and whispered.
Tossing aside his hood, Lucian shrugged at Raymond.
“Let me ask you something. Between a man who is dragged around by his rival hoping not to be touched, and a man who prepares to take a hit but lands the first blow himself—who is more worth serving?”
Raymond blinked blankly at Lucian’s words before breaking into a wide grin.
He then bowed exaggeratedly and said with a chuckle.
“It is truly an honor to guard someone so worth serving.”