Chapter 74
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74
“…?”
Dane stared at Lucian with an expression that suggested he must have misheard.
Soon, realizing that Lucian was younger than he had initially thought, Dane’s face contorted into a deep scowl.
“What kind of nonsense is this?”
“Do you think it’s nonsense?”
“Your Excellency, this is not a matter to be dismissed as a joke. Do you not know the weight the name Grimaldi carries in the North? If you put forward a baseless proxy, you must be prepared to handle the ensuing backlash.”
“Backlash, you say.”
Instead of answering, Harald let out a short laugh and gestured toward Lucian with his eyes. It was a signal for Lucian to reveal his identity himself, now that things had come to this.
Expressing his silent gratitude to Harald for the opportunity, Lucian spoke with confidence.
“I am Lucian Valdek, grandson of His Grace Duke Klaus and the rightful heir of Grimaldi.”
“…!?”
Dane’s eyes trembled in sheer shock as he stared at Lucian.
After a moment, having barely regained his composure, a shout erupted from Dane’s mouth.
“That is preposterous! It has been over a decade since the Lady of Grimaldi left the North! And now, a grandson appears out of thin air?”
Lucian snorted at the violent reaction. Dane seemed so flustered that he didn't even know where to begin his protest.
“What exactly is preposterous? Are you saying I’m a fake, not a real grandson? Or are you saying that even if I am real, I lack the qualification?”
“That’s…!”
Dane’s lips fumbled as he tried to say all of the above.
He might be able to argue the former, but pointing out the latter in this setting was difficult. The House of Calix, which he served, was also a descendant of the Grimaldi line through a maternal branch. Using clumsy logic risked undermining his own master’s legitimacy.
“…The former. Where is the proof that you are truly the grandson of His Grace Klaus?”
“Do you know into which family his daughter married?”
“Who wouldn't? The Grand Ducal House of Valdek, the pillar of the Empire…”
Once again, Dane’s words trailed off.
It was a fact known to every citizen of the Empire that the symbol of House Valdek was the lion. And there stood Lucian, with a lion crest openly embroidered on his collar. Furthermore, he had just introduced himself as a Valdek in front of everyone.
‘Damn it! Is he truly a Valdek?’
Considering how great a dishonor it was to lie about one’s own family—and how great an insult it was to the other party—the possibility of it being a lie was slim.
As Dane fell into a complicated silence, Lucian gave a cold smile.
“What’s the matter? If you have more to say, go ahead. Don’t you want to properly verify that I am a Valdek?”
“…Why have you come to the North only now? You have never set foot in the North once in your life.”
Unable to find a better argument, Dane lashed out indirectly. It was a jab suggesting it was ridiculous to bring up the Grimaldi name now when he had never shown any affection for the North.
However, Lucian made his declaration without batting an eye.
“To reclaim the name of Grimaldi, which is mine by right, of course.”
“You are a Valdek! Not a Grimaldi!”
“Then by what right does Calix claim the name of Grimaldi? I hope you won't give me some pathetic excuse about a marriage alliance from centuries ago. If we’re going by that logic, my rights should take precedence over anyone else’s.”
“No! Even if that were the case, you have no right to use the Grimaldi name. Northern affairs must be decided by Northerners. You are not a Northerner, are you?”
It was weak logic, but Dane was desperate. The moment he acknowledged Lucian’s rights here, it was certain he would be abandoned by his master. He had to leave at least some room to maneuver before returning.
“If it were material things like wealth, land, or manors, you could claim them as yours all you want. But you have no right to claim the legitimacy of the old royal family. Because you are an outsider who doesn't even know the ways of the North!”
“Well said.”
Harald, who had been silent until now, nodded and joined the conversation.
“No matter if he carries the blood of the late Duke, he is an outsider. Not a Northerner. Northern affairs must be decided by Northerners.”
“T-That is… correct?”
Dane looked at Harald with a bewildered expression. Why was this old man suddenly taking his side? Especially after he had been a thorn in the side of House Calix’s grand plans at every turn.
‘Come to think of it, this old man’s identity as a Northerner was always fierce. Perhaps he thinks Calix is better than an outsider claiming Grimaldi….’
“In other words.”
Harald continued with a cold smile toward Dane, who was inwardly harboring vain hopes.
“There will be no problem if he proves himself a warrior in the Northern way.”
“What…!?”
“One week from today, Lord Lucian and I shall duel. Whether he is a true son of the North or not will be revealed then.”
“This is madness! What does individual martial prowess have to do with one’s place of birth!? House Calix cannot accept this!”
“And what will you do if you don't accept it?”
“Pardon?”
“At the very least, I will accept it. Whether others do is their own business. It is not something House Calix can dictate.”
Dane grit his teeth at Harald’s unilateral notification. As he said, this wasn't a matter of whether House Calix accepted it or not. It was a matter of whether the people of the North would see Lucian as a warrior or an outsider.
If Lucian proved himself according to Northern tradition, many would inwardly acknowledge him, regardless of what House Calix said. They would see him as a kinsman who, though not raised in the North, followed their traditions.
‘It’s a checkmate.’
There was nothing more Dane could do. No matter what, the duel between Lucian and Harald would take place, and a faction would naturally form around it.
“If you have nothing more to say, get out. Looking at your faces any longer makes my stomach turn.”
“…Understood. But before that, please return at least the captured knights. Though they participated in the rebellion, they are men who swore loyalty to House Calix. We will punish them ourselves.”
“I’ve hung their heads on the castle wall, so go find them. I put them on the far right edge, so you’ll see them soon enough.”
Dane’s eyes widened in horror. They were enemies, so they could have been killed in battle, but to behead knights and display them on the wall?
He was so incensed that a curse almost escaped his lips, but realizing that Harald’s rage was equally formidable, Dane managed only a single sentence.
“House Calix will not forget this.”
With those final words, Dane turned his back and left the lord’s manor.
Just before Dane’s figure disappeared past the door, Harald muttered softly.
“You’d better not. Because I won't forget either.”
Lucian, who had been listening to their conversation from the side, smiled quietly. He felt like he was starting to get a sense of how to bring down House Calix.
After Dane left the territory, Harald spread the word far and wide. The news was that the rightful heir of Grimaldi would duel Harald to prove himself.
At the sudden news, the heads of neighboring territories began to stir.
“The rightful heir? Was there any other place besides House Calix that could claim the Grimaldi name?”
“Have you already forgotten that Duke Klaus’s daughter married into House Valdek?”
“Valdek? No, what would a Valdek be doing in this barren North? They could just live grandly in the Empire.”
“How should I know? But whatever the reason, isn't it true that he has a legitimate claim?”
“I suppose. If it’s true, there’s no closer kinsman than him.”
“Honestly, isn't it also ridiculous for House Calix to use the Grimaldi name? How many years has it been since that marriage?”
If the rumors were true, House Calix’s very justification for unifying the North would crumble. Whether they were families aligned with House Calix or those opposing them, everyone had to be on high alert.
However, some of the older lords only snorted upon hearing the rumors.
“What a ridiculous rumor. Ignore it.”
“My Lord, shouldn't we at least send someone to see the outcome of the duel…?”
“There’s no need. Grandson of the late Duke or not, they say he’s just a sixteen-year-old greenhorn. He’ll be lucky to last a single exchange against Harald the ‘Wolf Slayer’.”
“He doesn't necessarily need to win, does he? He only needs to prove his martial prowess, so the Viscount might hold back.”
“Don’t be foolish. Harald is a true warrior. He’s the type who considers fighting half-heartedly an insult. There’s no way a stubborn man like him would go easy on an opponent.”
Regardless of the truth behind the rumors, if he truly dueled Harald, there was no way a sixteen-year-old boy would win. Thinking so, the old lords lost interest and didn't even send a messenger to watch.
Amusingly, the commoners under Harald’s rule had a similar reaction.
“My Lord, are you truly going to fight our Excellency?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Please, have some of this. It’s fresh deer blood.”
“…Why fresh deer blood?”
“There’s nothing better for a man’s vitality. You might get seriously hurt, so you must be well-prepared.”
Lucian was at a loss for words. Even though he said he was fighting their lord, not a single commoner seemed worried about Harald. Instead, they only worried about how Lucian would be defeated and whether he would be gravely injured in the process.
Some commoners even openly admired Lucian’s courage.
“You are magnificent. To challenge the Lord to prove you are a warrior!”
“If I may offer some advice, do not try to match him with strength. If possible, you must aim for the gaps between his large movements.”
“….”
Lucian and his party could only let out hollow laughs at their kindness. The concern and support were too sincere to be taken as mockery.
“This kind of treatment is unfamiliar. I’ve fought in the vanguard twice, yet here I’m treated like a complete recruit.”
“Information from the outside tends to get buried in the North. Major news might reach here, but the Imperial family openly suppressed the news of the previous rebellion’s suppression.”
“Well, even considering that, there’s no denying that Viscount Harald is a skilled man.”
Lucian recalled the axe Harald had swung previously. It was an honest movement without much trickery, but its power made one not even dare to parry it. Any ordinary knight would be overwhelmed by his spirit and split in two while trying to block those heavy attacks.
‘But I am no ordinary knight.’
Closing his eyes, Lucian looked within himself. The path of magic, which had always been smooth and well-paved, had expanded significantly since his ‘Eye’ opened. His reinforced muscles were also in a state where they could handle far more mana than before.
‘I might actually face an opponent who won't go down in a single blow for the first time in a while.’
Thinking so, Lucian realized his own competitive spirit and gave a wry smile. Somewhere along the way, emotions he couldn't have imagined when he was weak had begun to take root.
On the day of the duel, Lucian waited for Harald in the square, his hand resting on his sword. Usually, a noble’s duel would be held in a training ground, but this time was an exception. Considering the purpose of the duel, it was better to have many spectators.
‘Fortunately, it seems many lords are interested in the duel.’
Lucian’s gaze turned toward the knights scattered among the gathered commoners. They weren't knights under Harald’s command, but proxies sent from other territories to witness the outcome of the duel. Even though there had only been a week, the number of those who had arrived was considerable.
‘It means they’re that interested in my existence. It’s a good start.’
Just by drawing this much attention, half the purpose of this duel was already achieved. All that remained was to defeat Harald and prove his strength before the Northerners.
It was just as Lucian, fiddling with his sword, was beginning to feel bored.
Rumble—
With the sound of the inner castle gates opening, Harald appeared with his axe slung over his shoulder. Lucian looked at Harald with a welcoming gaze, but then blinked upon seeing Torik tied up beside him.
Wait, why is the guy who should be in the dungeon coming along?