Chapter 436
Chapter 436
Chapter 436
'A duel with Duke Craven?'
Zeke pondered the meaning behind Arthur Draker's new mission delivered by Baron.
Duke Craven di Panion, the Wise King.
He was a legendary figure known as one of the five strongest knights across the continent and the greatest warrior of the Rom Empire.
In Zeke's mind, there was only one reason why Arthur Draker specifically ordered him to meet and duel Duke Craven.
'He probably wants to see me lose to Duke Craven.'
Although Zeke was Draker's guardian knight and black knight, he wasn't at the level to face off against Duke Craven, who held the title of the Wise King.
Assuming Arthur didn't know his true power, this order could only be seen as a mission given with defeat, not victory, in mind.
There were two reasons why Zeke thought this way.
'First, it's to quell dissatisfaction within the Rom Empire.'
Although Rom was liberated from Jiemens' control, this process was achieved by the Draker family, who could be considered an outside force.
And at the center of it was Zeke Draker, renowned as the Knight of Salvation.
While Rom's citizens praised Zeke as the Knight of Salvation, not all reactions from the Rom Empire were the same.
There were also negative views that the Draker family, an outside force, had stirred up the Rom Empire, ultimately leading to its division into two forces - Rom and Jupiter.
In such a situation, if Zeke were to duel and lose against Duke Craven, who was like a symbol of the Rom Empire, it would create an image of preserving the empire's pride, albeit somewhat late.
Simultaneously, it could naturally draw Duke Craven to Prince Leo's side and promote the legitimacy of succession and entry of other imperial noble families.
The practical benefits gained from Zeke's defeat were quite substantial.
'Second, it's to adjust my position within the family.'
Arthur Draker probably never expected Zeke to actually occupy Rom's imperial palace.
His original plan was likely to create a pretext for the Draker family to intervene in the Rom Empire, using the armed conflicts and Jiemens' illegal activities that would occur if Zeke failed this mission.
However, Zeke succeeded in the mission meant to create a pretext, occupied Rom, and drove out Jiemens. Moreover, he even established a new imperial throne with Julius at the helm, making the Draker family's position overly elevated.
Since Zeke had achieved remarkable feats that others could hardly imagine without a single failure, it was understandable for the head of the family, Arthur Draker, to be wary of him.
If Zeke were to challenge Duke Craven and lose when his reputation might surpass Arthur Draker's, it would be possible to somewhat suppress his soaring reputation.
Though the Knight of Salvation had been unstoppable so far, they wanted to make the entire continent aware that he hadn't yet reached the level of the continent's strongest.
After understanding Arthur Draker's intentions regarding this mission, Zeke looked up at Baron.
"Did the head of the family mention any reward if I were to defeat Duke Craven?"
Baron nodded at Zeke's words.
"Yes, the head of the family said this."
After pausing briefly, he looked at Zeke with a meaningful expression and spoke again.
"He said that if Sir Zeke wins the duel against Duke Craven, he will pass down the position of family head."
* * *
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
A group of knights was rushing toward Rom, the capital of the Rom Empire.
Several imperial lances, shorter than regular spears, were attached to the sides of the knights' horses.
Leading these knights was a veteran with sharp eyes.
The battle-hardened knight heading toward Rom in modest imperial active wear.
This was Duke Craven di Panion, known as the Empire's First Lance and the Wise King.
NEEEIGH!
The knight order led by Duke Craven entered Rom and headed straight for the location of the imperial tomb.
The site of the imperial tomb, considered the Rom Empire's holy ground, was now just black ruins with everything burned down.
Upon arriving at the imperial tomb site, Duke Craven lightly jumped off his horse.
The imperial knights guarding the front approached to stop Duke Craven from entering the imperial tomb site.
"You cannot enter here..."
The knight who tried to stop him stepped back, turning pale as he recognized the Panion family crest and Duke Craven's face.
"L-Lord Duke."
Duke Craven ignored the knight who tried to block his path and entered the burned ruins of the Imperial Tomb.
Duke Craven stood rigid and silent, looking at the complete destruction of the Empire's sacred ground that had endured for centuries.
Someone approached behind Duke Craven who had been standing there for a while.
"Lord Duke."
It was Daria Calvi, Commander of the Horse Palace Knights.
Even when Daria arrived, Duke Craven remained silent, just staring at the ruins of the Imperial Tomb.
After a moment, he slowly knelt on one knee, paid his respects to the vanished tomb, then rose again.
Only then did he look at Daria and speak.
"It's been a while."
Daria was the one who had previously taught Duke Craven don Panion style spear technique, the King's Spear.
Daria spoke while looking at Duke Craven.
"I was surprised to hear that you personally came to Rom."
Duke Craven rarely left the Panion family territory.
Even when the mad Emperor Nero ordered him to enter the Imperial Palace, he wouldn't budge.
It was shocking that such a Duke Craven personally led knights to Rom.
Duke Craven spoke while looking at the ruins of the Imperial Tomb.
"Before Nero's ascension, His Majesty the previous Emperor brought me here when I had just joined the Imperial Guard."
The previous ruler before Emperor Nero, who was called the Mad Emperor, was the one who led the Rom Empire's revival.
Duke Craven continued speaking while remembering the previous Emperor.
"His Majesty showed this sacred place to me, who had just received my knighthood, and said that the Empire's spirit and soul were contained right here."
Duke Craven recalled the voice of the previous Emperor he had heard long ago.
In his seemingly emotionless eyes, Daria could read feelings of nostalgia.
For Duke Craven, the sacred ground was an especially meaningful place that held memories with the previous Emperor.
Though now no one dared oppose his words as the Empire's Greatest Spear, long ago he too was just a rookie knight.
The previous Emperor had given him much support then, encouraging him to rise again even when he wanted to give up.
Duke Craven felt a great emptiness seeing this sacred place, filled with such memories, completely burned away.
After briefly looking at the tomb ruins, Duke Craven turned his gaze to Daria and spoke.
"Zeke Draker called for me."
Daria was startled when Duke Craven mentioned Zeke Draker's name.
Duke Craven asked Daria with sharp eyes.
"Daria, what kind of person do you think Zeke Draker is?"
Daria couldn't answer Duke Craven's question for a long while.
After contemplating, she finally spoke slowly.
"Zeke Draker... is someone I cannot judge."
Though it was a cowardly way to avoid answering, Daria couldn't find any better response.
Hearing Daria's answer, Duke Craven silently looked at her.
Daria felt indescribable tension as the extremely stern Duke silently looked down at her.
Duke Craven slowly spoke.
"Daria, I'm surprised you would judge an enemy knight from Draker that way."
Daria was flustered by his words whose exact meaning was unclear.
"L-Lord Duke. That is..."
"If you had made any judgment, I would have returned to my territory immediately. And that was my intention. However, hearing your words has actually piqued my interest."
Duke Craven leaped back onto his horse.
Then he said to Daria.
"Lead the way, Daria. I will meet this Knight of Salvation myself."
Since she hadn't expected her reserved judgment to win the favor of the demanding Duke Craven, Daria mounted her horse with a complicated expression. But she couldn't disobey his command either.
And so Daria Calvi and Duke Craven headed toward the Imperial Palace.
* * *
"You say Duke Craven has come to Rom?"
Calito, who was busy reviewing documents in the Regent's office, gaped at Prince Leo's words.
Calito was currently serving as Acting Regent in place of Julius.
After nearly dying once due to the Golden Taboo of the Abyss, Julius had experienced rapid aging and hair loss, severely damaging his health.
As a result, Calito, who had exceptional talent in administration and diplomacy, came in as his successor.
Though Calito, who had been Vice Commander of the Scorpion Knights, had never met Duke Craven in person, he knew well how rigid and stubborn the man was.
Even when the Emperor himself called, he never moved, as he was someone who stayed confined to the Panion territory from the start.
Even when Siemens occupied Rom, Duke Craven had never expressed any opinion.
For such a person to suddenly come to Rom without any prior contact was naturally shocking.
Prince Leo, who was preparing for his coronation, asked Calito with a worried expression.
"Acting Regent, do you have any idea why Duke Craven suddenly came to the Imperial Palace?"
Calito shook his head at Leo's words.
"Hmm, Duke Craven is truly unpredictable. It's difficult to easily guess his intentions."
Then Carus, who had followed Leo and was lying on the office sofa with his legs stretched out, shook his head and spoke.
"I don't understand why both Prince Leo and the Acting Regent are thinking so hard about this."
As attention turned to him, Carus took a bite of fruit from the table and continued.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Leo tilted his head and asked at Carus's words.
"What do you mean obvious? What exactly are you talking about, Carus?"
Leo had grown much closer to Carus than before.
Carus sat up on the sofa and spoke.
"Well, he's probably come to check things out subtly, hasn't he?"
Leo shook his head at his words.
"Carus, you must not know Duke Craven well. He's not someone who would ever concern himself with what others think."
Carus smiled slightly at those words and said.
"No matter how strong a knight is, they're still human in the end. Even Duke Craven must be concerned about the Knight of Salvation being firmly established in Rom."
At those words, Leo turned to look at Calito and spoke.
"Acting Regent, what do you think Duke Craven's opinion of Zeke Draker might be?"
Calito made a complicated expression at Leo's question.
"If it's Duke Craven... he probably won't like it. In Abel's case, there were various justifications, so the Duke's side showed no particular reaction, but the current situation will appear to be completely intervened by Draker."
It was Julius who helped Abel gain recognition of his succession rights.
Perhaps they were bothered that Julius's side had switched allegiances again to try to put Prince Leo on the throne.
Behind them stood Zeke Draker, the guardian knight of House Draker.
For someone as strict and fastidious as Duke Craven, this could not possibly look good.
Calito held his head and spoke.
"If he came because of Sir Zeke, there's a high chance he'll intervene and point out issues with the succession... Hmm, if not that, then what else could it be..."
Watching the worried Calito, Carus shook his head.
"It seems the Acting Regent doesn't know Duke Craven well either. Does that Duke seem like someone who would care about such things? He's the type who wouldn't care even if a monkey came to handle state affairs instead of a regent, as long as things run smoothly."
Though Calito internally agreed with those words, he couldn't easily feel relieved and showed an anxious expression.
That's when it happened.
An aide rushed in urgently.
"A-Acting Regent! Lord Duke Craven has entered the Imperial Palace!"
At those words, Calito jumped up from his seat in surprise.
"The Duke? W-Why is he here?"
The aide spoke with a slightly confused expression.
"He says he's here to meet the Knight of Salvation, Sir Zeke Draker."