Chapter 93
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 93
The North was abuzz with the great migration of its powerful lords.
While the gathering was officially a banquet, it was, in truth, a grand council that would dictate the future landscape of the region. Consequently, no one held high expectations for the banquet itself.
‘His foundation isn’t solid yet, so it’ll likely be a modest affair.’
‘The banquet is just a pretext; it’ll probably be quite bleak.’
A banquet is not something one hosts alone. It requires a vast array of specialists, from simple laborers to experts in various fields, and an inexhaustible supply of provisions and materials. Logically, it seemed impossible for such preparations to be made in Asagrim, a city so recently reclaimed.
However, the sheer impact of Asagrim itself was enough to blow away any thoughts of discomfort.
“Good heavens... is this truly the fortress our ancestors built?”
“One could move in and live here this instant. To think it remains this sturdy after a thousand years...”
“To think I would set foot in the White Palace in my lifetime! Grandfather, are you watching?”
Regardless of their rank, the lords were dazed as they took in the sights of Asagrim. Some were even moved to tears, kneeling to kiss the floors and walls. A few grumbled that it was nothing more than past glory, but even they could not suppress the fluttering in their chests.
It was at the moment the lords reached the White Palace.
“You are from the House of Birne, I see. Please, allow us to take charge of your carriage and horses for the duration of your stay.”
“...!?”
Attendants suddenly appeared, guiding the nobles with impeccable poise. They were clearly professionals with decades of experience, not mere recruits with a few days of training. Even the servants scurrying about inside moved with seamless efficiency.
‘Where on earth did he find such people? I never even heard news of him recruiting servants, let alone attendants.’
‘There are too many for them to have been borrowed from another house. And their skill... each one is as capable as a personal retainer.’
It wasn’t just the servants and attendants that were surprising. The soldiers standing guard with ironclad vigilance were undoubtedly elite, and the few knights present moved with the unmistakable gait of high-level experts. To top it all off, the dishes being carried out were incredibly lavish.
“The Duke’s capabilities are remarkable. To think he could manage such preparations so soon after reclaiming Asagrim.”
“Do you really think he prepared all this on his own? It’s obvious he borrowed from someone. What ‘capability’ are you talking about?”
“The act of borrowing all this is a capability in itself. Would you blindly hand over this much material to just anyone?”
“....”
Those who tried their best not to acknowledge Lucian were left speechless when that point was raised. Creditors are no fools; they verify a person’s ability to repay before parting with such vast sums. If someone had provided this much support, it meant they believed the recipient had the means or the value to justify it.
With that realization, the lords’ thoughts naturally drifted in another direction.
‘Is there anyone in the North with this kind of wealth? Even Calix couldn’t provide this much.’
‘It was too quiet for him to have borrowed from multiple sources. That leaves two possibilities.’
‘Either there’s a hidden power backing him, or he secretly brought them from his own family.’
For those who could not conceive of magic—specifically, spatial teleportation—it was a natural conclusion. Whenever the lords gathered with their acquaintances, they spoke incessantly of Lucian’s abilities.
As time passed and the majority of the invited lords had gathered...
“Welcome to Asagrim.”
Lucian appeared at the very center of the storm’s eye.
*
‘A green boy.’
The moment the Northern lords saw Lucian, the same thought crossed all their minds. This was true not only for those allied with Calix but even for the lords favorable to Lucian. Regardless of his capabilities, his youth was written plainly across his face.
‘The rumors that he’s sixteen were true. He’s clearly just a boy in the middle of a growth spurt.’
‘The New Year is in fifteen days, so he’ll be seventeen soon? To be the master of Asagrim at that age...’
‘He defeated Harald Osgor, the Wolf Slayer, with those thin arms? Does that even make sense?’
Shock, disbelief, suspicion, and disappointment. Amidst the sea of diverse emotions, Lucian gave a thin smile.
“It’s quite quiet. I haven’t even started my speech, yet it’s so silent. Where are your greetings?”
“...!”
“In case you’ve forgotten, I am Duke Grimaldi and the Margrave of Asagrim. Have you forgotten something?”
“G-Greetings to His Grace the Duke!”
“We humble ourselves before Your Grace!”
Snapped back to reality by Lucian’s prodding, the lords hurriedly bowed their heads. As the wave of greetings followed, Lucian burst into laughter.
“Yes, it is good to see you! Welcome to the White Palace! Please, enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content! By the way, is the food to your liking?”
“It is truly delicious. I have never tasted such magnificent cuisine before.”
Someone let out a cry of genuine admiration. It wasn’t mere flattery; in the North, where food was scarce, such delicacies were rarely encountered.
“How did you manage to obtain such food? If possible, I would like to try making it in my own territory.”
A sharp question was hidden within the praise. Depending on the answer, they might discover who was backing Lucian. While everyone swallowed hard in anticipation, Lucian replied with a smile.
“Why should I hide it? It is all thanks to the grace of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Pardon? The Emperor’s grace? To move this much material all the way here would take so much time...”
“It was spatial transport using a Dimensional Gate. It’s a type of magic; perhaps you aren’t familiar with it?”
At the mention of spatial transport, everyone froze in their tracks. Did he mean he had moved all these troops and supplies across space in an instant?
‘To leap such a vast distance at once? Is such a thing truly possible?’
‘If it’s true, it means a large-scale force could be summoned into my front yard at any moment.’
‘This is insane. I thought he had hidden strength, but I never imagined it was to this extent.’
Watching the pensive lords, Lucian shouted loudly once more.
“Thanks to that, I am able to host you all without embarrassment! Since this is all the grace of the Imperial Family, I intend to repay His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the First Prince, who shall succeed him, with my utmost loyalty!”
“...!”
Another massive shockwave rocked the banquet hall. Generally, any talk regarding the imperial succession was considered taboo. Yet, Lucian had mentioned the next occupant of the throne without hesitation. Even the knights belonging to the Imperial Family who were moving about showed no reaction.
This was proof not only that the Emperor had chosen the First Prince as his successor but also that Lucian supported him. While everyone’s minds were racing at the unexpected mention of the throne...
“Your Grace, you say such strange things.”
Someone stepped forward, the sound of their footsteps sharp against the floor. Lucian turned his head to look at the old man approaching with a cane. Though he had never seen the man before, he could guess his identity based on the descriptions he’d heard.
‘Norbeck Calix.’
The current head of House Calix. And the thief who had dared to usurp the Grimaldi name. The very reason Lucian had come to the North stood right before him.
*
“....”
“....”
A heavy silence descended with Norbeck’s appearance. No one there was ignorant of the relationship between the two. If things went sideways, a war could break out right then and there.
Lucian, who had been staring at Norbeck with a crooked posture, was the first to break the silence.
“If you’re going to offer an opinion, shouldn’t you identify yourself first?”
“My apologies. I am Norbeck, the head of House Calix. May I offer a few words?”
“No, you may not, so keep them to yourself.”
“...Pardon?”
Norbeck blinked, stunned by the unexpected answer. Asking for permission was merely a formality; it didn't mean the other person actually had the right to deny him. Yet, Lucian had shut him down as if he were dealing with one of his own vassals.
Lucian chuckled at the sight of the dumbfounded Norbeck.
“I can tell exactly what you were going to say. You were going to claim that mentioning the succession is an insult and suggest we all take a step back, weren't you?”
“...!”
Norbeck flinched, his point hit dead center. Just as Lucian said, he had intended to use logic to act as a representative for those who didn't want to get caught in the Imperial Family's internal conflicts. However, Lucian shook his head as if to say such logic no longer applied.
"I was able to stand in this position through His Majesty's grace, and it is only right that I repay that debt. Therefore, what matters is not my choice, but yours."
To align with Lucian was to be loyal to the Imperial Family. To oppose Lucian was to oppose the Imperial Family. Lucian declared once more that the choice was entirely up to them.
“I shall say it again! I intend to loyally assist His Majesty the Emperor and his eldest son, His Highness the First Prince! It may seem like an overambitious goal for a green boy, but isn't that the privilege of youth?”
Lucian burst into a loud laugh as he looked around at the lords. However, the lords could not laugh; they only looked at each other, their faces pale. The one whose complexion had turned the most ashen was Norbeck.
‘What a madman! He’s redrawing the factions with a single word: choice!’
Calix had argued that while they weren't seeking independence, they needed to draw a line between themselves and the Imperial Family. Because of this, they were able to keep the neutral factions as potential supporters, in addition to the radicals. The thing neutralists hated most was the Imperial Family demanding sacrifices from them by forcing the duties of a subject.
But with Lucian’s statement, this dynamic had been completely overturned.
‘He’s gone far beyond just making polite conversation. He’s declared unwavering support for the Imperial Family. By extension, I, who oppose him, have become an adversary of the Imperial Family.’
Now that the framework of being an adversary to the Imperial Family was established, it was certain that the neutralists—Calix’s potential supporters—would abandon him. After being forced to sacrifice, the thing they hated second most was going to war with the Imperial Family. They might not side with Lucian, but they would certainly refuse to side with Calix.
‘Damn it, I thought he would maintain an ambiguous stance so as not to disappoint his own supporters.’
He never imagined the power of the Imperial Family revealed here would be so terrifying. To be capable of the absurd feat of transporting troops and supplies across space... It meant that if the Imperial Family set its mind to it, destroying a single house would be trivial, regardless of the distance.
This information was enough to make even the lords who would normally be disappointed by a declaration of support for the Imperial Family change their tune and call it a wise decision.
“Why the long faces? This is a joyous banquet, yet no one is laughing.”
Despite Norbeck’s murderous gaze, Lucian merely looked around with a nonchalant air. Some lords tried to force a smile, but they simply couldn't. How could they laugh when a single wrong word could drag their entire family into a war for the throne?
As the silence stretched on, Lucian nodded with a serious expression.
“As I thought, the entertainment is the problem. I focused only on the food and neglected that aspect. However, I have prepared one pleasure for you all!”
The lords instinctively flinched. They were simply terrified of what might come out of his mouth next. Enjoying their reaction, Lucian gave a wide grin and shouted.
“It is the Hundred-Day Hunt!”
“...?”
The lords looked bewildered. Could he possibly be talking about that Hundred-Day Hunt?
“Your Grace, are you perhaps referring to the tradition of surviving in the snowy mountains for fifteen days without food...?”
“That is exactly it. Surprisingly, this proposal didn't come from me, but from Calix.”
In an instant, the eyes of every lord turned toward Norbeck. Norbeck gritted his teeth under the weight of the gazes pouring in from all sides. At this rate, even if they succeeded in an assassination, they would be the primary suspects.
“Originally, Calix was going to host it, but since Asagrim has been reclaimed, I’ve decided to host it myself in this area. Such things are no fun without a rival, so how fortunate it is that Calix is participating.”
Looking at Lucian’s beaming face, Norbeck gripped his cane so hard it nearly shattered. It was a clear warning: if he attempted an assassination, Calix would be the only suspect, so he had better think carefully.
‘But you’ve made a mistake, boy.’
Suspicions be damned; if he did nothing, House Calix would crumble. In that case, he would have to make a move, even if it meant resorting to extreme measures. Norbeck forced the corners of his mouth up into a smile.
“It is an honor to revive an old tradition with Your Grace. I truly hope it will be an occasion where we can test each other’s capabilities in a healthy manner.”