Chapter 64
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64
It is not uncommon for an oath of loyalty to follow immediately after a knighting ceremony.
Usually, the new knight chooses to serve either the person who performed the ceremony or the benefactor who recommended them for knighthood.
However, that is only the case when an agreement has been reached beforehand.
To abruptly demand an oath of loyalty without consulting the individual’s will was a grave insult.
‘Yet, seeing as these rumors are already circulating, they must be feeling quite desperate.’
As the disciple of the Sword Saint, Felicia’s knighting ceremony was bound to be a grand affair.
The brothers likely thought that if all three of them stepped forward in front of everyone, she would be forced to choose one of them.
The ceremony would be presided over by Grand Duke Sigmund, and since her master also served House Valdek, she was deeply indebted to the family, both directly and indirectly.
‘If she refuses to choose any of Valdek’s children, she’ll be labeled an ingrate. They’re trying to corner her by exploiting that.’
They certainly had a knack for petty schemes.
Lucian let out a short laugh and waved his hand at the kneeling guards.
“Thanks for the explanation. You may return to your posts.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
At Lucian’s dismissal, the guards scrambled back to their duties.
Once they were out of earshot, Lucian whispered to Raymond.
“What do you think? Do you think my brothers will actually try to force an oath out of Felicia?”
“It is highly probable. Such forced oaths are not entirely unheard of in practice.”
“And it’s usually a tactic used by minor lords trying to snag a talent far above their station. It’s the kind of thing you only do when you lack the confidence to recruit someone fairly.”
“It only goes to show the weight of Sir Eisen’s name. If they succeed, it could overturn the succession race in a single stroke.”
“Though Sir Eisen himself will likely find such cheap tricks utterly repulsive.”
A bitter smile played on Lucian’s lips.
Eisen wouldn’t be the only one offended.
Grand Duke Sigmund, who had respected and stood by Eisen for many years, wouldn’t look kindly upon it either.
And yet, they were making their greed so obvious that rumors were spreading even before the event had begun.
“They must be feeling the heat.”
“Your recent actions have likely made the other young masters anxious, my lord. They probably feel they need a decisive masterstroke to turn the tide.”
“A decisive masterstroke, huh? Funny, I was just thinking I needed one of those myself.”
No matter how much Lucian’s stock had risen over the past year, it was hard to say he held an overwhelming lead over his brothers.
Tristan and Jordi had the foundations they had built over years, and even Joshua, the latest entry, had the full backing of his mother’s family.
Lucian had come closest to the position of successor thanks to the fame gained from suppressing the rebellion, but he was still within reach of being overtaken.
If he could secure an unshakeable advantage this time, it wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.
‘Since my brothers have graciously set the stage, I might as well help myself to the feast.’
“Tsk.”
The Sword Saint, Eisen Brightner, clicked his tongue and folded the letter in front of him.
Sure enough, today’s letter was no different from yesterday’s.
‘Please understand if I step forward during the ceremony? Give the disciple a heads-up so she isn’t flustered?’
The sender changed between Tristan, Jordi, and Joshua, but the content was always the same.
If they knew it was such a rude act, they should simply not do it. What kind of hypocrisy was it to apologize in advance for the rudeness they intended to commit?
Especially when the rudeness was born of nothing but greed, not a matter of life and death.
‘Above all, they are asking for "understanding" from the wrong person. If they want to apologize, they should be doing it to the girl, not me. They only care about my reaction while completely ignoring her feelings.’
Did they think that as long as they had Eisen’s permission, they could bend the girl’s will to their liking?
Having served House Valdek for a long time, he couldn't bring himself to curse out loud, but he couldn't suppress the rising tide of disgust.
“Felicia.”
Whoosh.
“Yes, Father.”
Felicia, who had been mid-swing, immediately corrected her posture at Eisen’s call.
Eisen felt a sense of pride seeing her balance remain unshaken even by a sudden interruption.
“Read this. It was addressed to me, but it’s essentially for you.”
Felicia took the letter and scanned it quickly.
A moment later, her voice drifted out, thick with suppressed annoyance.
“They never change. Do they really think I’ll just accept if they pressure me in front of a crowd?”
“It is a common tactic in the world, after all. They likely learned it by watching others. It’s a pity.”
Jordi was the type who never hesitated to use such schemes, but the other two were different.
Tristan was someone who didn't just dislike schemes—he loathed them. Joshua might cross the line because he didn't know where it was, but he didn't usually do it intentionally.
But now, even those two were starting to resemble Jordi’s worst traits.
‘Is it because they’ve become so desperate to win Felicia over that they’ve temporarily bent their convictions, or have they completely shifted toward a "by any means necessary" approach?’
The former was one thing, but the latter would be truly terrible.
While Eisen swallowed a sigh, Felicia finished the letter and spoke with a determined look in her eyes.
“I will not swear loyalty to any of them. The person I will serve for the rest of my life was decided the moment I became your daughter.”
“If that is your wish, then do as you please. There is no meaning in forced loyalty. A knight must choose their own lord.”
Eisen nodded lightly, already knowing her answer.
He knew exactly where her loyalty lay.
The Grand Duke, who would be presiding over the ceremony, likely knew as well.
‘Is His Grace allowing the young masters to proceed with their reckless plan just to show them how futile their backroom dealings are? The Grand Duke is truly a strict man.’
Despite the thought, the corners of Eisen’s mouth curled up slightly.
He, too, wanted to see the look on the young masters' faces when their attempt to pressure Felicia blew up in their faces.
“We’ve wasted enough time on nonsense. There’s still time before the ceremony, so let’s resume your training.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Um... Sir Eisen, another letter has arrived.”
Eisen, about to resume the lesson, furrowed his brows.
Who was it this time?
He snatched the letter without hiding his irritation, but his expression changed when he saw the sender.
“The Third Young Master?”
Felicia flinched at Eisen’s murmur.
She heard he had gone to the capital on business—had he returned already?
A moment later, after checking the contents of the letter, Eisen burst into laughter.
“Ha! The Third Young Master is as bold as ever!”
“What did he write?”
“See for yourself!”
Eisen laughed jovially and handed the letter to Felicia.
Before long, a smile also formed on Felicia’s lips.
The letter foretold the storm Lucian intended to stir at the afternoon ceremony.
As soon as Lucian returned, he summoned Hugo and entrusted Ian to him.
Keeping a suddenly appearing alchemist right by his side would surely draw suspicion.
To manufacture Nectar away from prying eyes, he needed to provide Ian with a separate hideout.
‘I’d like to get him a comfortable house if possible, but I’m short on funds because I spent everything on Moonlight Grass. I’ll have to leave it to Hugo for a while.’
Upon hearing the situation, Hugo laughed and spoke with confidence.
“That’s easy enough. I’ll have it ready immediately.”
“Let me know if you need anything. I’ll provide whatever support I can.”
“Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Hugo who once built a medicine workshop right under the Grand Duke’s nose. A hideout with alchemy equipment is nothing.”
Lucian chuckled and nodded at the boastful assurance.
Indeed, having done it once, the second time would be even easier.
Ian, the man in question, also seemed pleased, saying he was looking forward to exploring the big city for a while.
His passion for research hadn't cooled, but it seemed he had a latent desire to see the world.
“I’ll procure the ingredients as best I can, so get used to Kelheim in the meantime. It won’t take long.”
“Yes, my lord. I’ll have everything ready so I can start manufacturing whenever you give the word.”
As Ian bowed and left, Hans’s expression became complicated as he watched the boy's retreating back.
Unlike the other talents Lucian had gathered, Ian looked like an ordinary boy, which seemed to stir doubt in Hans.
“Young Master, was that kid really worth going all the way to the capital for? Did you just bring him back as a consolation prize because you couldn't find who you were looking for?”
“It’s the opposite. I went looking for a chicken and found a phoenix. I got lucky. Anyway...”
Lucian trailed off, scanning Hans from head to toe.
Not much time had passed, but Hans looked so gaunt he appeared sickly.
“Are you alright? You’re not sick, are you?”
“Haha, I’m perfectly fine. I’ve just lost some weight because the butler lessons are a bit intense. I’m learning a lot, and it’s truly... truly...”
Hans stopped mid-sentence, his body trembling.
Just thinking about how difficult the lessons were made his complexion turn pale.
“If it’s too hard, do you want to rest for a few days? I can tell them you’re unwell.”
“No, I’m fine.”
Hans quickly shook his head at Lucian’s concerned offer.
“It’s tough, but I feel a sense of achievement every time I learn something new. To keep standing by your side, Young Master, this much hardship is nothing.”
“Stubborn as always.”
Lucian said it firmly, but he couldn't hide the smile tugging at his lips.
Whether it was Hugo or Hans, their attitude toward life was exactly what he wanted in his retainers.
After chatting with Lucian for a bit, Hans seemed to realize something.
“Come to think of it, the knighting ceremony is starting soon. Will you be attending, Young Master? No one would blame you if you skipped it due to travel fatigue.”
“I might have missed it if I were still away, but since I’m back, of course I have to attend. Sir Eisen’s successor is making her debut—how could I miss that?”
It would be entertaining enough just to watch, but he had already set his own plans in motion.
For Lucian, this was a spectacle he couldn't afford to miss.
Lucian checked the time and began heading toward the ceremony grounds when he ran into someone.
“...Brother?”
“Oh, Joshua.”
Lucian greeted him warmly.
In contrast, Joshua’s face soured the moment he saw Lucian, and he took a step back.
“I heard you went to the capital. I see you’ve returned.”
“It was close. I almost missed the ceremony.”
“I’m asking just in case, but surely you aren't aiming for Sir Eisen’s disciple too, are you, Brother?”
“Why? Am I not allowed? I heard you and our older brothers are all gunning for her.”
At Lucian’s answer, Joshua scoffed and shook his head.
“You’ve been quite active lately, Brother, but you should probably just give up this time.”
“And why is that?”
“Why would someone of the Sword Saint’s lineage bother serving you? To be blunt, it’s not like your finances are overflowing enough to treat a knight of that caliber properly.”
“Well, it’s true I’m a bit strapped for cash.”
Among the three brothers, Lucian was the only one without support from a maternal family, and the reward money he’d received from Jordi had all gone toward purchasing Moonlight Grass.
When Lucian agreed, Joshua spoke firmly, as if teaching him a lesson on how the world worked.
“True talent never sells itself cheap. It’s not just about the money; treatment is a way of publicly acknowledging one’s worth. If someone doesn't receive treatment befitting their abilities, they are essentially declaring themselves to be mediocre.”
“Hmm.”
“Furthermore, why would the Sword Saint’s successor lower her value by serving under a penniless lord who can’t even pay a proper salary? Unless you had saved her life in the distant past, there’s absolutely no reason for her to join you.”