Royal Capital Elesina (1)
Calix muttered to himself as he sifted through the various documents stored in the late Count Collin's study.
"Servio Viscount will probably resort to diplomatic measures."
Krout, who had been grunting in frustration while wrestling with paperwork on knight order supplies nearby, asked in a bewildered tone.
"What brought that up out of nowhere, my lord?"
"By now, the viscount must know about Gerard's betrayal. He's likely figured out that we helped with the escape too."
"So you're saying they'll opt for diplomacy over war to settle their grudge against us."
"Exactly. War is expensive."
"Fair enough... But what exactly do you mean by diplomatic measures?"
"Most lords with territories rarely leave their castles unless war breaks out. But they need to dip into the capital's political scene to represent their domain's interests."
Krout nodded.
"That's why there's the Noble Assembly, and they send proxies there, right?"
"Correct. Who is our county's proxy right now?"
"Obviously Orsel Tiggrim... Wait, Young Master?"
Krout's face twisted in shock.
Orsel Tiggrim was one of Countess Stera's key allies.
He had vaguely assumed the man had been replaced during the recent purge, but upon second thought, that wasn't the case.
"Isn't this a big problem?"
"A huge one. He'll serve Servio Viscount's interests, not mine."
Only then did Krout notice the utter calm on Calix's face.
"No way...! Did you do this on purpose?"
"Heh, remember this well. It's good to show your enemies just the right amount of openings. If you're too perfect, they'll desperately hunt for weaknesses—and you might get hit with something unexpected."
Royal Capital Elesina.
The capital of the Lock Kingdom, boasting a 500-year history and a population of 250,000.
In the heart of the city, the audience chamber of the palace had just begun its morning council.
On the jade throne sat Clibuo Krakuf, the king hailed as the Wise King, wearing a weary expression.
"What is the first item on today's agenda?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The first matter is the succession of the Szczecin County title."
"Szczecin... Count Collin was too valuable a man to lose like that. So, who has been chosen as successor? Is the county's proxy present?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The proxy for Szczecin County is Orsel Tiggrim."
"Good. Speak."
At the king's question, Orsel bowed his head and glanced sideways.
Antonio Holtshtain Marquis, meeting his gaze, gave a subtle nod.
"The county is currently... in great turmoil, leaving the people anxious and suffering."
"Turmoil?"
"It's embarrassing to say, but Young Master Calix Szczecin of the count's family seized power by force. He framed the widowed Countess Stera with an assassination charge, confined her, and crippled his half-brother's mana hole."
"Such events occurred? How peculiar. From your words alone, he sounds like a madman."
"I suspect his attempted suicide left scars on his mind and soul, barely surviving with damage intact."
King Clibuo's face soured.
He too was a seasoned politician who had navigated brutal court intrigues for over thirty years.
He couldn't possibly be ignorant of the circumstances.
"If he seized power by force, that means at least the county's knight order supports this Calix. Does that mean all those knights follow a madman's orders?"
"Th-that is..."
The House of Szczecin was a prominent royalist faction.
But Count Collin's exceptional talent at a young age had become an issue.
The noble faction feared it would upset the balance of power and sought to nip it in the bud before he grew stronger.
To avert civil war, King Clibuo had brokered a grand compromise.
He married Collin to women from both factions simultaneously.
Then Count Collin met a disgraceful end during monster subjugation, and Gramvine—bearing the blood of the noble-aligned Kosalin Viscountcy—emerged as the frontrunner heir.
Naturally, this irked the king.
Yet now that things had unfolded this way, the king secretly wanted to summon Calix and plant a kiss on his cheek.
At that moment, Marquis Antonio stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, even so, framing someone for assassination without proof, confining her without proper trial, and destroying a viable heir's mana hole is a grave overreach."
"So what do you propose?"
"Summon Young Master Calix to the capital and have the Noble Assembly verify his mental and physical health."
The king scoffed inwardly at Marquis Antonio's words.
'Hah! As if the Noble Assembly would investigate fairly.'
"I approve summoning him to the capital. But the investigation will be handled by the palace administrative bureau."
"Your Majesty..."
"However, the Noble Assembly may dispatch observers."
"...A wise judgment, Your Majesty."
After the meeting, Marquis Antonio summoned Servio Viscount once more.
"There's a problem."
"Please enlighten me, Marquis."
"The king is shielding that Calix brat. He doesn't like the idea of Szczecin falling into our hands."
"I see. Not a difficult issue."
"Oh? Got a good plan?"
"Become the king's father-in-law."
"Marry my daughter to a dying old man?!"
Marquis Antonio's mustache quivered in rage.
It wasn't out of love for his daughter.
He meant why waste a card that could yield greater gains.
But even under his superior's blazing glare, the viscount smiled faintly.
Because the king he referred to wasn't the current one.
"In ten years. Or perhaps five."
"Hm? Haha, I see!"
Szczecin County.
Late afternoon, Thomas entered the study, saluted crisply, and reported.
"Young Master Calix. A royal decree has arrived from the palace."
"Oh? What's it say?"
"Well..."
"I can guess, so spit it out."
"You must appear before the palace administrative bureau at the earliest possible date to clear the charges against you."
"Charges?"
"Ahem! It's... to verify if your soul was injured from the suicide attempt..."
"Pfft! In other words, check if you went nuts after cheating death?"
"Urgh..."
He averted his gaze uncomfortably.
"No need to bother with that. Tell Russell to send a polite refusal."
Krout, standing by, looked incredulous.
"Defying a royal order?"
"Do I have to saddle up and race to the capital like lightning just because the king calls? Especially to prove I'm not crazy?"
"W-well, not to that extent, but..."
He flashed a mischievous grin at Krout.
"Right now, Servio Viscount's probably counting the days till I obey the summons. If I go like this... sure, I'd be an idiot, but Gramvine's still alive, so they could achieve their original goal."
Calix mimed slitting his throat with his thumb, prompting Krout to flare up.
"How dare they! Assassinate the direct heir of the great House Szczecin on the roadside? I swear on my life, I'll protect you—no such thing will happen."
"No need. I'm not going anyway."
He soothed Krout, turning back to the documents with disinterest.
"Don't worry. Didn't we send someone to fight our battles in the capital recently? It should be going well."
"Who do you mean... No way! Gerard, that traitor?"
Calix just smiled without answering.
When Calix ignored the summons, the royal capital Elesina erupted in outrage against him.
"Your Majesty, over two weeks have passed, yet Calix Szczecin makes excuses and refuses the summons. I suspect ulterior motives."
"Haha, ulterior motives... What might they be?"
King Clibuo asked with a benign smile.
"Without proper evidence, he rashly destroyed a legitimate heir's mana hole. Now, fearing repercussions, he might be plotting to flee."
"Hmm, what a mess. Marquis Antonio, what do you suggest?"
Several nobles in the audience chamber doubted their eyes and ears.
Not only had the king courteously entertained a noble faction member's words, but he sought advice from his political rival, Marquis Antonio.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will personally visit the county to uncover the truth. No need for concern."
"Haha, I'm grateful for your vigor, Marquis."
"It's only my duty, Your Majesty."
Their exchange even felt cordial.
Before the suspicious nobles could voice opinions, the king waved them off.
"On to the next item."
"The next item is...!"
The palace chamberlain flinched upon seeing the agenda document.
A note had been slipped between pages that wasn't there before the meeting.
"Chamberlain?"
Realizing whose intent the note carried, the chamberlain bowed.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. Proceeding. The next item concerns the Fifth Prince's betrothal."
The audience chamber buzzed before he finished.
King Clibuo had ambushed them with the agenda and rushed discussion before they could gather thoughts.
"I've heard the marquis's daughter is wise and beautiful. How about betrothing her to Fifth Prince Siel?"
"Oh, Your Majesty! It would be our house's greatest honor!"
Only then did the nobles realize a secret deal between the king and marquis.
Staying silent would mean a blow to the back of the head.
Ferguson Raslapf, the palace grand chamberlain and key royal advisor, spoke up.
"Your Majesty, royal marriages have long been chosen from the king or queen's maids, vetted through years of interaction."
Positions as maids to the king or queen offered high chances of royal ties, fiercely competitive with bribes flying.
Suddenly picking an outsider felt like a parachute drop, so their uprising was understandable.
The irritated king snapped.
"Are you saying the Holtshtain marquis's lady is lacking?"
"Not at all, but tradition and procedure..."
"Royal marriages are for the king and queen to decide. Noble interference is improper."
Not wrong, but the real issue was elsewhere.
The noble faction and royalist core—bitter enemies—had suddenly allied.
The nobles' minds raced, soon grasping the hidden meaning.
'Damn it!'
The royalist mainstream backed the First Prince.
But the current queen's son was the Fifth Prince.
The king had chosen Fifth Prince Siel as heir.
The royalists, abandoned by the king.
Their faction's core identity crumbled.
At that moment.
A man strode into the audience chamber.
A young man in his late twenties, clad head to toe in black.
"Your Majesty. I have words to say."
Gail Krakuf. The First Prince of the Lock Kingdom.