Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Princess and the Grand Duke (6)
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“Grand Duke, what will you do now?”
Luhan released his grip on the count's hair and asked. The count was already out of his mind, mumbling incoherently on the ground.
Kasian shook the blood from his sword and gazed coldly toward the direction of the imperial capital.
“We'll hole up in the fortress. I'll lock the gates and send a messenger to the west requesting reinforcements. An escape fleet to take Erin will arrive in two days, so we just need to hold out until then.”
It was a perfectly textbook, safe decision. But Luhan scowled the moment he heard it.
“Closing the gates and holding out might keep us safe for now. But can we really hold against the entire empire?”
“...My soldiers have never lost a single battle. Even if the enemy is the imperial army, we'll stand firm.”
Luhan picked up a trampled Luna Rose from the garden and pointed at Erin.
“Do you plan to make the young lady live as a fugitive for the rest of her life? As long as the emperor lives, no matter where you run, the entire empire will become one giant prison.”
Kasian's shoulders twitched. He had already considered that, of course.
But there was no other way.
There wasn't enough time to stick to the original plan, and this was the best they could do right now.
“Then what do you suggest? March on the capital with just a handful of elite knights?”
“Yes. You already know exactly what I'm thinking.”
“What...? Do you really think that's possible?”
“Don't I exist? I hate slow and tedious things. Holed up here playing defense sounds boring as hell.”
There was no bravado or bluff in Luhan's words. It was the casual confidence of an absolute powerhouse.
Kasian closed his eyes for a moment.
'I know he's strong.'
But how strong exactly?
Kasian still couldn't gauge Luhan's true power, so he had no choice but to hesitate.
“Alright, let's do this. Why don't we ask our princess? Whether to hole up here and then flee, or go straight to the capital and raise hell.”
Luhan turned to Erin, who stood behind Kasian, and asked.
Erin's hands trembled as she clutched Kasian's hand. But her eyes no longer held only fear.
“Even if the place you're going is hell, I'll be right by your side.”
“But Erin, this is too dangerous...”
“And I've always wanted to see the face of that evil emperor who destroyed my country...!”
Erin clenched her fists, her resolve burning bright.
“Just like how Luhan slapped that count. I want to slap that emperor too...!!”
A faint smile spread across Luhan's lips as he heard Erin's words.
“Then, we set out today?”
“...Let's do it.”
Kasian gathered his most trusted elite knights.
“I ask those of you who have served the empire: help me.”
The grand duke's speech continued from there.
Even if they believed in him and followed, he couldn't guarantee they'd return alive.
Still, he was asking for their help just this once.
There were fifteen elite knights standing before the grand duke.
He expected at least half to refuse his request.
“This second life is one you gave me, Grand Duke. Even if I die, I'll follow you into the next life too.”
“Whoa, rebelling for the princess's sake? Now that's a man...!”
“After fighting alongside you all this time, what kind of request is this? Whatever the order, we'll follow without question.”
The soldiers pledged their fervent loyalty, and the grand duke's eyes reddened inevitably.
“Hey, the grand duke's crying~”
“Get ready to depart.”
As Kasian stepped down from the platform after his speech, Erin approached with a grin tugging at her lips.
“Isn't it kind of romantic? A man rebelling for the woman he loves.”
“...”
Kasian's ears turned red at Erin's teasing words.
“No need to be embarrassed. In my eyes, you're the most handsome man there is.”
“...Thank you.”
“Aaaah... Why are your red ears so cute?”
“It's an illusion.”
The distance from the north to the capital normally took three days by horse.
But Luhan had no intention of wasting those three boring days.
“Why is everyone preparing horses?”
As the grand duke and his knights led their horses to the gates, Luhan looked at them curiously.
“How else are we supposed to get to the capital?”
“We'll use magic or something. More importantly, where's the princess again?”
He glanced around, searching for her.
“I can't take Erin to such a dangerous place. The imperial army will take time to arrive, so we can finish everything before then.”
“No. Didn't the princess say she wanted to slap that emperor?”
Luhan soon spotted Erin emerging from the gates.
He snapped his fingers lightly, and in an instant, he forcibly teleported her to his side.
“Wha—Grand Duke?”
Erin suddenly found herself mounted on the grand duke's horse.
In a position where she was fully embraced by him, no less.
“Alright, shall we get going now?”
“Wait, if Erin's here...!”
But the grand duke's next words were cut off.
Luhan placed his hand on the ground and infused it with mana. The massive vines enveloping the surroundings writhed and burrowed into the earth.
Soon, tree roots extending beyond the walls intertwined like a massive wave, forming a vehicle to carry Kasian, Erin, and the north's elite knights.
“What in the world...”
“No charge, so ride comfortably.”
Luhan cracked the ground like a whip with a grin. The massive plant wave surged forward at terrifying speed, riding across the terrain.
“Grand Duke... I think I'm going to fall...!!”
Erin cried out urgently from in front of Kasian, who pulled her tightly into his arms.
“Hold on tight.”
“...Warm!”
What should have taken three days...
Thanks to Luhan's wondrous magical vehicle, only a few hours later, the imperial capital came into view.
The checkpoint on the opposite side witnessed the supernatural sight and could scarcely believe their eyes.
“Halt! Halt! Aaaagh!”
The checkpoint soldiers raised their spears to block, but with a casual wave from Luhan, thorny vines shot out and disarmed them.
Luhan's vehicle pressed on toward the capital at breakneck speed.
By sunset, they finally reached the golden main gate, the symbol of the imperial capital.
As the plant wave halted and the dust settled, the imperial guards stared in shock.
“The grand duke has rebelled! Stop them!!”
Archers on the palace walls loosed a volley of arrows. Thousands of arrows darkened the sky, blotting out the sun.
But Luhan traced a large circle in the air with his finger.
A massive whirlwind of mana erupted, sweeping away the thousands of arrows in one go. They scattered like flower petals, falling harmlessly.
“Wh-what is that monster?!”
As the knights on the walls panicked, Kasian stepped forward.
“Theodore! Stop cowering behind your walls and come out! Shouldn't you welcome your brother properly?!”
Kasian's shout echoed loudly.
But the palace gates remained firmly shut.
He drew his sword and pointed it at the massive palace doors.
“Knights, are you ready to charge with me...!”
The elite northern knights behind him drew their swords in unison. The grand duke's loyal retainers, who had fought alongside him for years.
Even if they died here, they were prepared to lay down their lives for their lord.
Kasian led the charge toward the gates, his blade surging with blue mana as he swung fiercely.
Kuoooong—!
The mana-infused strike slammed into the golden doors, sending a heavy shockwave that shook them violently.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the marble floor, and small stones rained from the walls.
Kasian struck again. His knights followed suit, slamming shields into the doors and pouring in their mana.
Kugugugoooong—!
The palace gates, an impregnable fortress built with imperial technology, were mere flimsy obstacles before them.
On the third strike, the iron doors finally screeched open with a agonized groan.
The massive doors toppled inward, kicking up enormous clouds of dust. As it cleared, the opulent interior of the palace was revealed.
Inside the plaza stood ranks of imperial guards.
Their faces were filled with determination.
With only about twenty opponents, they didn't even consider defeat.
“Grand Duke, go to His Majesty alone. We'll handle things here.”
Luhan's face, usually playful, was deadly serious.
“Take care of Erin.”
“Yes, I've already put up a protective barrier.”
Kasian nodded at Luhan's words and charged forward at full speed.
Many tried to block his path, but he broke through the encirclement and plunged into the palace depths.
“Damn it...! The grand duke's entered the palace. Catch him...!!”
The guards tried to rush after him at their captain's shout, but a massive barrier sprang up before them.
“Who gave you permission?”
The palace was eerily quiet. Not a single soul could be seen in this vast place.
Kasian strode unhesitatingly down the central corridor. His footsteps led to where the emperor would be.
He arrived at the deepest part of the palace, where a massive golden door blocked his path.
Beyond this door waited his brother—the source of all tragedy—Emperor Theodore.
Instead of grasping the handle, Kasian struck the door with his sword.
Kwajajak—!
The gold-embellished door shattered into pieces.
Beyond the rising dust, a dazzling jade throne gleamed.
And seated upon it...
Was Emperor Theodore.
Wearing no armor or ornate decorations, just simple golden silk robes.
He had been waiting, lightly tapping the throne's armrest with his finger.
“You've come, my foolish little brother.”
“Yes. I've come, brother.”
Kasian stared at the emperor, still lounging leisurely.
For decades, he had lived like a hunting dog beneath him.
Now was the time to end that loathsome history.
“Do you even know what you're doing?”
“Yes, I know perfectly well.”
He raised his sword tip, pointing it at the emperor.
“I am ascending the throne.”