Chapter 80
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 80
Harald’s expression stiffened.
An Inspector. An official dispatched by the Imperial Family whenever there were signs of tax evasion, rebellion, or conflict among the territorial nobles.
Since they were only sent for significant matters, the position was a temporary one with a different person appointed each time, yet their authority was absolute. No matter who the Inspector was, the words from their mouth were as good as a judgment from the Emperor himself.
‘But an Imperial Inspector in the North?’
This was a sensitive matter that could cause the North—already restless with anxiety toward the Imperial Family—to explode.
However, Lucian smiled and patted Harald on the shoulder.
“Do not worry. I was the one who requested this from His Majesty.”
“You requested an Inspector?! When...!”
“Just before I left the family.”
Harald snapped to attention at Lucian’s words. Come to think of it, if he had made the request after arriving in the North, they couldn't have arrived this quickly. Considering the time it took for the Imperial Family to appoint a suitable candidate, make preparations, and travel to the North, it would have taken a considerable amount of time. If he hadn't made the request before coming to the North, they wouldn't be arriving now.
“Just what kind of plan have you set in motion?”
“It’s merely insurance I took out just in case. Well, as it happens, the timing turned out to be quite exquisite.”
“Insurance?”
“For now, let us go greet the Inspector together. We cannot keep His Majesty’s proxy standing outside forever, can we?”
“Mmm.”
Harald nodded, though he still felt a lingering sense of unease. As Lucian said, keeping an Inspector waiting outside could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings. He had many questions, but the contents of the Inspector’s arrival would surely reveal the answers. He could hear the details then.
*
Lucian was surprised when he went out to meet the Inspector. A very familiar face was staring at him with a smile.
“Sir Glen!”
“It has been a while. Or perhaps not long enough to say that?”
He was a knight belonging to the Black Scale Knights. He was the one who had assisted Lucian during his previous visit to the capital and guided him through the secret passage. Lucian had expected a friendly official, but he never imagined Glen would be the one sent.
‘Don’t they usually send court nobles for things like this? Even if he is a trusted individual, to send a knight...’
Even if the Inspector was a temporary post and regardless of one's original status, this was an unconventional appointment. In a way, it could be seen as an excessive level of consideration for Lucian. No matter how friendly an Inspector might be, they wouldn't act as warmly as someone with a personal rapport.
“I am glad I found you so quickly. When His Majesty told me to just go to the North and find you since he didn't know your exact destination, I was at a loss.”
This was a side effect of Lucian making the request before departing for the North. He had asked for them to come without a fixed destination. From Glen’s perspective, he had to find Lucian’s location first just to deliver the decree.
“Still, your fame made it easy to find you. As they say, a sharp awl in a pouch cannot be hidden.”
“You flatter me. But what did His Majesty say...?”
“Oh, I got carried away in my excitement. I shall deliver His Majesty’s words first.”
Glen pulled out an Imperial Decree, his smile vanishing as he shouted toward Lucian.
“Lucian Valdek, son of Sigmund Valdek, receive the command of His Majesty the Emperor!”
At the solemn voice, Lucian promptly knelt. An Imperial Decree required the same etiquette as meeting the Emperor in person.
“Karl von Bay Astria, Master of the Empire, recognizes the legitimate rights of Lucian Valdek over the remaining legacy of the Duke Grimaldi’s House! As the maternal grandson of the late Duke, your rights shall be guaranteed, and any who defy this shall face My army!”
The corners of Lucian’s mouth curled up at the words he had been longing for. No matter how much Calix tried to block him, they would have no choice but to surrender the legacy now that such a decree had been issued. All that remained was to stand upon the rightful legacy of Grimaldi and look down upon them.
‘I’m glad I took out that insurance in advance. Still, I suppose I owe the Emperor a debt for this, so later...’
“Furthermore.”
Glen’s voice, continuing on, snapped Lucian out of his thoughts. The Emperor’s message, which he thought was over, had a few more lines.
“I bestow the title of Margrave upon Lucian Valdek, and simultaneously permit the revival of Grimaldi and the use of a double surname! You are both Grimaldi and Valdek, and your legitimate rights as a Valdek shall also be maintained!”
“...!?”
Lucian’s eyes widened at the completely unexpected content. A Margrave and a double surname? While he was dazed with shock, Glen smiled broadly and bowed his head.
“Congratulations on your appointment as Margrave, Your Excellency. Or should I say, Lord Margrave Grimaldi? Or perhaps I should call you Your Grace the Duke?”
“....”
Despite Glen’s well-wishes, Lucian couldn't pull himself together. The reason he had refused the title of Margrave before was that the moment he became one, he would lose his succession rights to Valdek. He couldn't bring himself to ask for both while the Emperor was watching with hawk-like eyes.
But not only was he appointed Margrave, he was allowed a double surname, and even his rights to Valdek were recognized? This was beyond unconventional; it was a level of privilege that defied common sense.
‘At this point, I’m starting to suspect there’s some other conspiracy lurking rather than him just having a liking for me.’
When he looked up, sure enough, everyone else was also in a state of shock. Not only the retainers, but even Viscount Harald couldn't close his gaping mouth. While everyone stood in a unified silence, Glen grabbed Lucian’s shoulder.
“Your Grace, pull yourself together. I will tell you the details once we are inside.”
Glen’s smile had vanished. Seeing his incredibly serious gaze, it was clear there was some behind-the-scenes story.
“Your Excellency—no, Viscount Harald. May we borrow the drawing room for a moment?”
“Ah, yes, of course... I mean, please do!”
Harald, who had been answering blankly, quickly corrected his tone. Lucian was now effectively holding both the titles of Margrave and Duke, making him officially higher in status than Harald.
“You should come along as well, Viscount. Let’s hear the story together.”
“That is not possible.”
Lucian intended to bring Harald along since he had become an ally, but Glen shook his head. In a tone that was so firm it felt cold, Glen whispered into Lucian’s ear.
“Your Grace, this is a secret letter from His Majesty. It cannot be disclosed to anyone else.”
“...!”
First an appointment as a Margrave of the North, and now a secret letter? At this point, Lucian wondered if this was something meant for Duke Sigmund that had been delivered to him by mistake. After seeking Harald’s understanding with a glance, Lucian entered the drawing room with Glen.
*
“What on earth is going on? A Margrave? I only sought to have my rights to my grandfather’s legacy recognized.”
“You must be bewildered. I will explain shortly. Before that, one moment...”
Glen opened the door to the drawing room to check the surroundings, then attached strange-looking circular plates to various corners of the room. As the four circular plates scattered into a square formation, a reddish aura enveloped the room.
“What is this?”
“It is a soundproofing magical tool that prevents sound from leaking outside.”
Lucian marveled at the thorough preparation. Only after the reddish light faded did Glen breathe a sigh of relief and look at Lucian.
“There, it is done. If there is anything you wish to ask, please do.”
“First, what exactly is my title? I heard that a double surname was permitted.”
“It is exactly as it sounds. Your Grace is a Duke and a Margrave, as well as a candidate for the head of House Valdek.”
It sounded like a play on words, but if one looked closely, each title had a different nuance. Here, 'Duke' referred to the ducal title originally given to Grimaldi. It held high status, but the territory was merely the size of a small village—an honorary position. The land Lucian would receive as a Duke was nothing more than a small, rural estate.
‘Compared to that, a Margrave is entirely different.’
A regional power player with drastically low tax obligations and almost no limits on standing armies. Even if the rank was technically that of a Count, a Margrave’s practical power was above that of most Marquis houses. The Emperor had allowed him to maintain the prestige of Grimaldi while simultaneously holding a title with actual power.
“His Majesty asked for your understanding. He said that if he were to only increase your authority, he would have to appoint you as a Grand Duke or an Elector, but that would be too excessive, so this was the only way.”
“I understand. But you mentioned Margrave... what about my territory?”
“Please read this first.”
Cutting Lucian off, Glen held something out. It wasn't a fancy scroll, but a small, folded piece of black paper. It looked humble, but for some reason, that made it seem even more ominous. When he unfolded the black paper, polite sentences were written inside.
—I shall skip the pleasantries. I trust you are very bewildered by now. You have received far more than what you asked for. You might even suspect I am plotting some kind of trap.
Lucian nodded despite himself. As the letter said, the Emperor’s proposal was suspicious to the point of being unsettling rather than something to be grateful for. As if anticipating Lucian’s reaction, the Emperor kindly added:
—Whether you believe it or not, I have no intention of harming you. In fact, I am in desperate need of your help. To be precise, my son, Claude, is in desperate need of an ally. I want you to build a faction and support that child.
“Phew.”
That damn First Prince. Why was this Emperor so obsessed with the First Prince? Considering the disgrace he showed on the battlefield, he must know the Second Prince is a hundred times better. Barely swallowing a sigh, Lucian’s eyes widened as he read the following content.
—You must be wondering why I am so obsessed with that child. It is simple. The second son cannot use the magical artifacts that only those of the Imperial bloodline can use. I will not offer a deep explanation. Now that you know this fact, I trust you will act wisely.
“...!”
Crazy. Lucian reflexively crumpled the letter and cautiously glanced at Glen. Glen was looking away as if he knew nothing. Lucian wanted to pretend he hadn't seen it either, but it was already too late.
—Become strong. Build a faction. And support that child. Do not forget the gift I have given you. There is no trap, only my intention to bestow grace upon you, so return that grace to my child. That is all I have to say.
Whoosh.
As soon as he finished the last sentence, Lucian burned the Emperor’s secret letter in a nearby candle flame. One might have expected Glen to be startled by Lucian’s sudden action, but he remained calm.
“It seems you have finished reading.”
“Do you know the contents of this?”
“I do not.”
His expression seemed devoid of a single lie, but it appeared that only the contents of the letter were unknown to him. He likely knew a fair amount about the Imperial Family’s secrets and could guess what Lucian had read. Clicking his tongue briefly, Lucian scattered the ashes of the letter and fell into thought.
‘Is the Emperor’s lifespan nearing its end?’
In his past life, he thought the Emperor had fallen ill from the shock of losing the First Prince. But thinking about it now, perhaps his original illness had simply worsened, and his lifespan was already short. Otherwise, there was no way he would suddenly reveal such a private matter. It was clear he was trying to create a firm support base before he passed away, even if it meant taking risks.
“Your Grace, His Majesty told me to make sure I receive an answer.”
Lucian gave a bitter smile at Glen’s sharply shining eyes. If the contents of the letter were true, the Second Prince had no right of succession, so supporting him as the next Emperor was impossible in the first place. On top of that, the Emperor had revived the Grimaldi name for Lucian, given him the position of Margrave, and even left him the succession rights to the Grand Ducal House of Valdek. How could he say anything else after accepting all of this?
“Please tell His Majesty. Lucian Valdek will not forget today’s grace and will devote his loyalty to His Highness the First Prince.”
“A truly wise decision! As expected of Your Grace...!”
“I appreciate the praise, but...”
Lucian stopped Glen, who was about to shout in admiration. Praise wasn't what he wanted to hear right now.
“First, tell me about the territory His Majesty has bestowed upon me. If he gave me the title of Margrave, he must have given me a corresponding territory as well, right?”