Chapter 82
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 82
Lucian showed the letter to his retainers.
Their reactions varied, but Raymond’s was by far the most explosive.
“Rebellion? That’s preposterous! How could the Second Young Master possibly stage a rebellion with the forces he has?!”
“Excluding Tristan, he has the most solid foundation. Moreover, both Father and Tristan are currently away. It wouldn’t be strange for him to act out of desperation, especially since he’s been pushed out of the succession race.”
“That only matters if he can actually succeed and hold his position. No, I question if a rebellion is even possible in the first place. There’s no way the Head Steward wouldn’t have caught wind of it beforehand.”
It was a secret known only to a few that Head Steward Edwin managed the intelligence network, but as a former member of the Black Lions, Raymond was well aware of the man’s capabilities.
If a true rebellion were brewing within House Valdek, it would undoubtedly reach Edwin’s ears first.
“His mistake regarding Hugo only happened because the scale of that incident was so insignificantly small. If it were something as massive as a rebellion, the Head Steward would have sensed something long ago.”
“I wonder.”
“Pardon? Do you truly believe the Second Young Master could evade the Head Steward’s eyes?”
“If he were moving troops and funds through conventional means, you would be right.”
However, Lucian had recently witnessed several unconventional sights. Among them were miracles he once thought impossible in reality.
Magic.
A secret art that twisted the laws of nature, defied common sense, and manifested miracles.
If Jordi had somehow secured the help of a mage or someone associated with them, evading Edwin’s notice would not be difficult. Since the Imperial Family had been ruthlessly purging mages, even most nobles lacked a proper understanding of what magic truly was.
“Of course, I don’t know much about magic either, so this is merely a guess.”
Even so, as long as it wasn't entirely impossible, there was no harm in being cautious. Despite Lucian’s explanation, Raymond remained skeptical.
“Certainly, using such methods might allow him to seize the family estate temporarily. But the problem is what comes after. What use is playing king for a moment when His Grace the Grand Duke is still alive and well?”
Fundamentally, any rebellion was an act that shattered legitimacy. Therefore, suppressing the inevitable backlash was more important than the initial success of the revolt. Without proper damage control, the usurper would be dragged down in no time by constant internal strife and foreign invasion.
And yet, he would stage a rebellion while the current Family Head was alive and commanded everyone’s absolute loyalty?
“It’s obvious everyone would turn their backs the moment His Grace the Grand Duke utters a single word upon his return. The Second Young Master isn’t so foolish that he wouldn’t realize that.”
“That is true.”
If one were to judge by logic alone, Raymond’s words were a hundred times more sensible. However, the world did not always operate on rationality.
“Still, if there is even a sliver of a possibility, we need to keep it in mind. Above all, if Hans went as far as to use a word as radical as ‘rebellion,’ it means there’s at least a suspicious scent in the air, even if it turns out to be a misunderstanding.”
Therefore, rather than trying to chase two rabbits at once, Lucian intended to focus more on establishing his roots in the North. If nothing actually happened, he could simply rejoin the succession race then. It was better to prepare for a slim possibility than to rest easy only to be stabbed in the back and forced to move in a panic.
“If that is your wish...”
Raymond didn't seem entirely convinced, but he bowed his head, signaling his willingness to follow Lucian’s will.
Having settled his retainers' opinions, Lucian fell into quiet contemplation.
Having fewer options actually puts my mind at ease.
Fortunately, Lucian had left almost nothing behind at the main estate. To put it bluntly, as long as he succeeded in getting Hans and Ian out, the rest could be ignored. Even then, Hans was handling things well on his own, so Lucian could focus entirely on Northern affairs without anxiety.
The Hundred-Day Hunt proposed by Calix, the return of Asagrim, the title of Margrave, and my maternal grandfather’s legacy.
As the scattered pieces came together, the corners of Lucian’s mouth curled upward.
“Viscount Harald.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“The House of Calix proposed a Hundred-Day Hunt. What do you think about us hosting that hunt ourselves this time?”
“Pardon?”
“To commemorate the return of Asagrim, the capital of the old Northern Kingdom. I imagine it would be quite a boisterous festival.”
Harald blinked, soon catching on to Lucian’s true intent.
They would participate in the Hundred-Day Hunt, but the host would change from Calix to them? And not just as a simple trial, but under the pretext of celebrating the return of Asagrim?
“I worry the Calix family might go mad with ‘joy.’”
Despite his words, a thick smile played on Harald’s lips.
*
“That brat accepted the proposal? Well, I suppose he had no choice.”
Norbeck, the head of the House of Calix, chuckled as he stroked his beard. A man with such an inherent weakness would have had to accept, even knowing it was a trap.
“From now on is what matters. He knows it’s a trap, so he’ll come thoroughly prepared. We must not be careless; we have to corner him for certain.”
“You are right.”
Norbeck nodded at the words of his eldest son, Godfrey. They had succeeded in luring him to the site of the snare, but he hadn't stepped into it yet. For a perfect hunt, they needed to coordinate with their allies to lay double and triple layers of traps.
“Still, there’s no need to worry excessively. As long as the venue is our front yard, there’s a limit to how much he can prepare.”
“U-Um, My Lord... about that...”
Marcel, who had returned from his mission as an envoy, was breaking out in a cold sweat. Seeing his usual composure gone, Norbeck furrowed his brows.
“What is it? Did something go wrong?”
“Well... he said he would participate in the Hundred-Day Hunt... but he expressed a desire to host it himself...”
“...?”
Norbeck and Godfrey wondered what kind of nonsense they were hearing. Host the Hundred-Day Hunt himself? How could a brat who didn't even own a single inch of land for a venue possibly do that?
“I’m hearing all sorts of strange things. I understand he’s worried about a trap, but saying that is no different from a roundabout rejection, isn't it? Such a suggestion will only drive him further into a corner.”
“Actually, shortly after I arrived, the Emperor granted him a title and territory.”
“What? What on earth are you talking about?! Why would the Emperor suddenly—?!”
“I don't know the reason either. What is certain is that he was given the title of Margrave along with Asagrim, the former capital of the Northern Kingdom.”
“...!?”
The two men froze where they stood. Asagrim, which the Emperor had kept as a crown land and refused to give up until now, had been handed over? While they were speechless with shock, Marcel continued.
“A-And an Imperial Inspector has been dispatched, stating they will head to the Grimaldi estate for a legitimate inheritance process. They intend to transfer the manor and legacy left by the late Duke to his grandson through proper procedures...”
“That’s insane!”
A horrified Norbeck leaped to his feet and shouted. Inheriting the personal legacy left by Duke Grimaldi was one thing. Giving away Asagrim was nonsensical, but perhaps it could be swallowed. But giving both at the same time?
“That is Grimaldi, the bloodline of the old royal family! And he’s giving him Asagrim on top of the Grimaldi legacy?! That is practically the resurrection of the royal family! Unless the Emperor has gone mad, there’s no way...!”
“I doubted it too. I doubted it dozens, hundreds of times. But the Inspector was real, and he carried a personal letter from the Emperor.”
“It can’t be, it just can’t be! This makes no sense!”
“Calm down, Father! Let’s try to organize the facts for a moment!”
Godfrey grabbed Norbeck, who was trembling as if denying reality, and forced him back into his seat. However, he himself found the situation equally unbelievable. The Emperor, who should be highly sensitive due to Krepelt’s declaration of independence, was handing Asagrim to a descendant of Grimaldi?
It almost looks as if he’s encouraging the unification of the North.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't understand the reason. Shouldn't the Emperor be working hard to sow discord so the lords couldn't unite? To deliberately make them gather under the name of the Northern Kingdom...
For what purpose? Surely he doesn't expect that brat to lead a unified North and side with the Imperial Family?
If that happened, the Imperial Family would gain a massive support base. In a situation where they desperately needed allies, it would be a huge help. But even if he pledged loyalty in this generation, there was no guarantee the next generation would remain loyal. Taking such a reckless risk to create a support base made no sense.
“T-This is no time for this.”
Norbeck, barely regaining his senses, grabbed his son’s arm with a staggering grip. Godfrey snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of his father’s voice.
“Father.”
“If that brat truly received the title of Margrave and Asagrim, the Hundred-Day Hunt means nothing. The hunt will just become a festival, and we will be reduced to mere extras who came to congratulate the new Conqueror of the North.”
“Do you have another way?”
Norbeck silently gazed at Marcel, who had finished his report. Realizing the look was an order to leave, Marcel bowed slightly and withdrew. After the door closed and a moment passed, Norbeck whispered.
“I must call for that sorcerer. If it’s him, he can exercise his power in any territory as long as the sky is open.”
“Father?! That’s dangerous! Are you planning to make an enemy of House Valdek?!”
“This is no time to worry about that. Why do you think the Emperor gave that brat such an excessive gift? It’s to crush us and hand the North to him!”
“....”
“The man who views us as an eyesore has even received the Emperor’s tacit approval. If we stay still, our family will surely be brought to its knees by his hand later!”
Therefore, they had to strike first. While it was foolish not to think of the consequences, it was even more foolish to die from an arrow right in front of you while worrying about the future. Norbeck whispered again to the speechless Godfrey.
“We have no other choice anyway. We’ll commission that sorcerer and then pin everything on him.”
Godfrey nodded heavily at his father’s words. He didn't know if the world would be fooled, but since there was only one choice left, there was no reason to hesitate.
*
“Ugh!”
“What’s wrong?”
“No, I just got a sudden chill down my spine.”
Colin, a mage of the Celestial School, shuddered. It wasn't his first time in the North, and he was wearing quite thick layers, yet an eerie coldness had washed over him. As he checked himself to see if he was coming down with a cold, he heard giggling from in front of him.
“So even you worry about your health now, Senior. You used to live so recklessly, saying it didn't matter when you died.”
“That was when I was young. Now that I’m older, I’ve learned to cherish my life.”
“Oh my. I never thought I’d hear the words ‘cherish my life’ from your mouth.”
“Stop teasing me and just tell me the prophecy. How long are you going to keep me in suspense?”
At Colin’s grumbling, Helen, a fellow mage from the same school, smiled softly.
“Just wait. The stars haven't gathered in their proper places yet. The changes in the heavens are infinite, and their depth is bottomless.”
“‘Therefore, do not try to fathom it, but feel it with your body. If you try to fathom the depth with a human body, you will fall endlessly.’ I still remember the Master’s words too.”
“That’s a relief. You used to rebel against Master’s words so much that I thought... Ah.”
Helen stopped mid-sentence and quickly began flipping cards. It was likely because the ‘stars’ she mentioned had gathered in their places. To Colin, who was from the same Celestial School but knew nothing of astrology, it was a bizarre sight. Even though the cards were already laid out, she had to time the moment she flipped them.
Well, since she produces prophecies that hit the mark every single time, I suppose there’s some meaning to it.
“Hmm.”
As Colin watched, Helen, who had flipped all the cards, narrowed her eyes. Since this was an action she usually took when a bad omen appeared, Colin’s heart sank.
“What is it? Surely it’s not a sign of my impending death, is it?”
“It did appear.”
“Really?!”
“But it’s a strange reading. I’ll interpret it for you, so take a look.”
Helen stared intently at the cards before beginning to write a sentence with her quill. A moment later, Colin, having received the finished sentence, tilted his head at the ambiguous phrasing.
“Three encounters and three chances. Two failures and one opportunity. If you grasp it, he will be your benefactor; if you let it go, he will be your reaper?”