Chapter 89
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89
The pilgrims exchanged hesitant glances before cautiously stepping forward.
They looked around, half-expecting to be stopped, but no one moved to block their path. Only Rotier stood a step back with a troubled expression, pointedly averting his gaze.
Emboldened by this, the pilgrims surged inside all at once.
"Ah...!"
As they beheld the ancient capital of the Northern Kingdom, gasps of wonder erupted from the crowd.
The first things to catch their eyes were the exquisitely crafted buildings and the neatly paved roads. Even the commoners' residential districts possessed an elegant, antique style that rivaled the quarters of nobility. The walls of the inner castle, visible in the distance, were even more beautiful than those of the outer castle.
But the crowning jewel was the palace peeking out from within the inner castle.
"The White Palace."
Someone murmured the name as if possessed, staring blankly at the structure.
It didn't look as though it had been built brick by brick; rather, it looked as if a pearl the size of a mountain had been meticulously carved into a palace. Everything surrounding it was beautiful, but in the presence of that white palace, all else seemed to fade.
Those who had visited once before savored its beauty anew, while those seeing it for the first time trembled with emotion.
"...It exceeds all imagination."
An exclamation escaped Lucian’s lips. He had heard it was more beautiful than the Imperial Palace and wondered how that could be possible, but this was on an entirely different level. He wondered what kind of technology could have built such a structure a thousand years ago.
As Lucian scanned his surroundings, lost in thought, he suddenly felt a sense of dissonance.
The security is too tight. It’s almost at the level of a strategic military stronghold.
He had heard the city was uninhabitable, but it was still open to the public as a historic site. There was no reason for such heavy surveillance once civilians were permitted entry.
"Sir Rotier."
"Yes?"
Lucian looked at Rotier, who flinched at the call.
"The security seems excessively tight. Is there a reason a tourist site open to pilgrims needs to be guarded this heavily?"
"...Your Highness, I apologize, but I am in charge of defending a territory under the direct jurisdiction of the Imperial Family. I cannot disclose classified information to outsiders."
His expression was firm, as if he held no personal grudge over the previous incident. Since his words held a modicum of logic, Lucian let out a short laugh.
"You’re not wrong. I shouldn't pry into the Empire's secrets."
"I am merely grateful for your understanding."
"However, I have been granted the very land you are guarding as my fief. If I come to harm because you deliberately withheld information about a clear danger, remember that the responsibility will fall squarely on your shoulders."
"...."
As Lucian lightly countered, Rotier’s face contorted.
Justifications were a matter of framing. If any accident occurred from this point on, Lucian could simply shift the blame by saying, "So you were hiding this!" and Rotier would be the only one in trouble. Had he feigned ignorance from the start, it might have been different, but by citing 'classified information,' he had left himself no room for excuses.
"Sir Rotier, is this something you cannot even tell me?"
Even Glen, standing nearby, sided with Lucian and pressured Rotier.
This was the city the Emperor had gifted to the First Prince to help him ascend the throne. If the prince felt less of a sense of debt because of a single knight's personal grudge, the loss would be immense.
"It’s not that, but..."
"If there is no reason to keep it from me, then speak to His Highness. Asagrim is now His Highness's territory. Even if it is classified, if it pertains to this land, he must be informed."
At Glen’s continued prodding, Rotier spoke with a resigned expression.
"To be honest, we discovered a barrier recently."
"A barrier? Do you mean the magical kind?"
"Yes. That is correct."
A barrier was a protective shield installed in a specific location to block intruders or protect something. Usually, they were just physical membranes that blocked passage, but dangerous ones could fry a person the moment they touched them. Some ancient ruins had such barriers, which would turn unsuspecting soldiers into ash.
"For the record, it is not a dangerous type. It was installed for the protection of the city, and it can be activated and deactivated at will. It seems it went undiscovered until now because the magical artifacts were hidden in obscure corners."
"That is surprising, but such things are occasionally found in ancient ruins... Wait, protection for the city? Just how large is it if it protects the entire city?"
"It covers the entirety of Asagrim in a hemispherical shape. Its defensive power seemed as sturdy as any found in ancient ruins."
"...!"
Lucian’s party gasped in unison.
Usually, a barrier was only enough to block an entrance. A barrier that covered the entire city, even the open sky? They had never even heard of such a thing, let alone seen it.
"Wait, what does that barrier have to do with this heavy security? You said it wasn't dangerous, unless it fries people on contact."
"If an outsider tampers with the magical artifacts, we could end up trapped inside. As a precaution, we reduced the number of pilgrims and strictly limited access."
"Strange. Usually, those kinds of artifacts are designed to be controlled from the inside. Were they placed on the outside to catch people off guard?"
"No. But we don't know what might happen if someone activates the barrier and then destroys the artifact."
"No, a barrier usually..."
Lucian started to say more but closed his mouth. The man’s reasoning was incredibly flimsy. Destroying the artifact that powers a barrier? Usually, that would just cause the barrier to deactivate.
That’s how people enter ancient ruins by disabling barriers, so what is he talking about?
As a knight, he should have known that much. Just as Lucian wondered why he was lying, a possibility flashed through his mind.
"Sir Glen, I have a question."
"A question, Your Highness?"
"Does Tivron have a magical artifact like the one in Asagrim? A barrier that covers the entire city?"
"That is... difficult to say. It concerns the defense of the capital."
"I see. My apologies."
Though Glen dodged the question, his reaction made it clear: such an artifact almost certainly did not exist in the capital.
Lucian nodded and glanced at Rotier. Sure enough, Rotier’s face was flushed bright red, even though Lucian hadn't said a word to him.
Was it an inferiority complex?
Knights of the Imperial Family naturally took pride in serving under the master of the Empire. Yet, they had discovered a city that, size aside, was more magnificent than the capital where the Emperor resided. To make matters worse, they had found evidence that Tivron’s White Walls were a clear imitation of Asagrim, along with a siege-defense barrier device the likes of which had never been seen.
He must have felt that as the prestige of Tivron and the Imperial Family fell, his own prestige fell with it.
The strict restrictions and surveillance of the pilgrims were likely to prevent any further discoveries. If something even more incredible than the barrier device were found, it would only make Tivron look more inferior.
How ridiculous. It’s not as if the North becomes greater than the Empire because of this, or that I stand above the Emperor.
Lucian let out a hollow laugh as he realized the true reason. Knights and their obsession with prestige.
"From what I’ve heard, there seems to be no reason to maintain this level of security. Withdraw the soldiers."
"Your Highness, if we let outsiders roam freely, we don't know what trouble might—"
"This is my land, so I shall take full responsibility."
At Lucian’s blunt declaration, Rotier was left speechless. What more could he say when the owner of the land gave his approval?
"To think I would actually step inside the inner castle!"
"Oh, White Palace! Oh, ancient glory of the North!"
Tears of emotion streamed down the faces of the pilgrims following Lucian. Even when security had been lighter, entry into the inner castle had never been permitted. This was their first time seeing the White Palace from such a close distance. Some even knelt and kissed the ground.
"Your Highness, do you intend to go straight to the White Palace?"
"Is there a problem?"
"There is no problem, but even we are forbidden from entering the interior of the White Palace. I am afraid we cannot guide you inside."
"Then it cannot be helped. Just take me to the entrance, and I will handle the rest."
"Understood. But what do you intend to do with them?"
Rotier glared at the following pilgrims with a dissatisfied look. He clearly didn't like the pilgrims shouting in excitement.
"I trust you don't intend to show them the interior of the palace. In their state of excitement, there's no telling what damage they might cause."
His real reason is that he hates seeing them take pride in the White Palace, which rivals the Imperial Palace.
Lucian saw through Rotier’s intentions and smirked.
"Of course. Even if they are pilgrims, I cannot allow them inside the White Palace. However, I do intend to let them see up to the entrance."
"A most merciful decision."
Rotier bowed his head, uttering words he didn't mean.
A short while later, as Lucian’s group reached the main gate of the White Palace, everyone came to a halt. It was the moment the holy land of the North, closed for centuries, was finally being opened.
As everyone stood tense before this historic event, a voice rang out.
"Ascend the Jade Throne!"
The shout shook the silent group. People turned in shock to see the young man who had stepped forward earlier, now shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Open the gates and reclaim the rightful authority of the Grimaldis! Ascend the royal throne!"
"...!"
At the young man's words, everyone froze. Since it was the castle of the Northern Royal Family, there would surely be a throne inside. Though his title was Margrave, Lucian would likely conduct his business from that seat. However, specifically mentioning the 'Jade Throne' or 'royal throne' was a different matter entirely. The Empire might conquer other nations and make them vassal states, but it never appointed new kings.
"Ascend the Jade Throne! Ascend the royal throne!"
"Ascend the Jade Throne! Ascend the royal throne!"
The young man’s cry spread through the other pilgrims like wildfire. To them, Lucian already looked like the king who would unify the North.
As the Imperial personnel, including Glen, grew tense at the terrifying momentum of the crowd—
"Enough."
With a single, quiet word from Lucian, the shouting stopped instantly.
In the sudden silence, Glen swallowed hard. Though they had fallen silent, the pilgrims still waited with feverish eyes for Lucian’s next words.
Lord Lucian, please, do not be swept up by the atmosphere and make a rash statement.
He surely wouldn't be foolish enough to say he would become king and provoke the Imperial Family. However, he might reveal a glimpse of ambition to rally his supporters. For Glen, if Lucian showed even a shred of such ambition, he could not simply let it slide.
Amidst the tension, Lucian spoke.
"The ancestors of the Grimaldi family long yearned for the White Palace. To them, this palace was the place they had to return to one day—the dream of our forefathers."
"...."
"For centuries, that wish went unfulfilled, but in my generation, it has finally been realized. It is a moment of profound emotion. Therefore..."
Lucian paused, looking over the pilgrims once.
"Today, in mourning for my maternal grandfather and the ancestors who came before him, I intend to walk the White Palace alone."
"Ah..."
"Though they passed away long ago, their blood flows through my veins. I intend for this body to be their eyes and their hands. Today, I do not wish to be disturbed."
At those words, the pilgrims collectively lowered their heads in a solemn expression. They had been mindlessly rejoicing at the news that the North had reclaimed the White Palace. But thinking about it differently, were there not ancestors who had perished without ever seeing this sight? Considering their sorrow, it was only right to show mourning and respect.
My thoughts were shallow.
The pilgrims stepped back, their faces flushed with shame. No more talk of thrones or kings was heard.
Lucian gave them a faint smile and reached his hand toward the gate.
"Truly remarkable, Your Highness!"
Glen, who had entered the White Palace gardens along with Lucian’s retainers, shouted in excitement.
Lucian had neither disappointed the Northerners by refusing to be king nor provoked the Imperial Family’s suspicion by revealing ambition. By mentioning his ancestors, he had perfectly calmed the excitement while increasing his support and providing an answer that satisfied the Imperial Family.
"You truly have the making of a Grand Duke! With your talent, Your Highness, becoming the next head of House Valdek will be no difficult task!"
"I appreciate the praise, but what I said was also my honest feeling. I wanted to walk through this White Palace alone at least once."
"I understand that as well. After today, it will be difficult to find time for yourself."
Though it was his maternal line, this was the land his ancestors had craved for nearly a thousand years. Even a cold-blooded man would feel something; a normal person would be deeply moved.
"However, just in case, please take one guard with you. There may be no people, but one never knows if some defense devices might still be active."
"Then I shall take just one person. Sir Glen, would you mind waiting at the entrance?"
"I shall do so. Please, do not mind me and look around to your heart's content."
As Glen stepped back, Lucian immediately turned his head toward Felicia.
"Felicia, let’s go."
"Yes, my Lord."
Felicia followed immediately at Lucian’s call.
It was finally time to confirm the legacy of the ancestors hidden beneath the throne.