Chapter 97
Sudden chaos erupted thanks to Lillia's unannounced arrival, but the news she brought caused an even greater stir.
"Is that for real? The Heaven God Cult is gearing up for war with the Northern Grand Duchy?"
"It's real, I tell you! I nearly died contacting His Imperial Majesty after hearing it!!"
Lillia had grown curious about the unusually hectic atmosphere within the cult and investigated. From the low-ranking members, she'd learned they were preparing for a massive war against this grand duchy. Shocked, she'd urgently contacted the emperor, but somehow the higher-ups caught on, and she'd barely escaped with her life.
Now that I looked closely, her body was covered in big and small wounds, confirming her tale of a near-death escape wasn't exaggerated.
The grand duchess, finally assessing Lillia's condition, seemed to have plenty to say but couldn't leave an injured guest untreated. She ordered immediate medical care.
"Hehe. Forget that—let me just suck some of Mars's essence, and I'll be fine in no time... Mmph!"
"Shut your mouth and get proper treatment."
I stuffed a fruit from the get-well gifts into Lillia's mouth as she spouted nonsense amid the confusion, then gathered with the others to discuss the situation.
"We have no guarantee that what she said is true. How do we know she wasn't sent to scout us?"
"Lillia was bound by restrictions when she contracted with the imperial family. She can't betray us. I understand the suspicion, but her words are likely true."
"But declaring war out of nowhere... What the hell do they even want?"
I fell deep into thought as well. If they harbored grudges, they'd see me—the one who disrupted their plans—as their greatest enemy, making a declaration of war on the empire logical. But why the grand duchy all of a sudden? Did they know I was here?
"...Isn't Lady Prazia the target?"
"Hm?"
Polo, who had been quietly listening among us, spoke up.
"Mars, think about it. You saved Lady Prazia before, right? One of their executives personally tried to kidnap her."
"Yeah. That's right."
Polo furrowed his brow in contemplation again, then glanced at Prazia, who stood there blankly.
"I don't even want to imagine what they'd do after kidnapping her... but if their goal ties to her bloodline... it wouldn't be just a simple war, would it?"
"So you're saying they're storming in to kidnap the grand duke's family?"
"Just a hypothesis... but probably."
"Whoa...."
Polo's response hit on my own suspicions, but given the madhouse those cultists came from, I couldn't dismiss it outright. The mere idea of casually plotting to kidnap a nation's lady proved their insanity, and predicting the mindset of lunatics was impossible by definition.
"Is this true? They're coming to the grand duchy?"
Unlike her chatty demeanor moments ago, the grand duchess's playful eyes turned deadly serious, recognizing the gravity. She no longer resembled a gossipy neighbor auntie; now I understood how she'd become the grand duke's wife.
"Nothing's confirmed yet, but the possibility is high...."
"Hm... The chance she's lying...."
Tap, tap, tap—
Urgent footsteps echoed from outside the room, and the infirmary door burst open.
"M-Ma'am! I heard you were here—!"
"Yes, I'm here. What's the rush?"
A soldier rushed in, drenched in sweat, face frantic. Barging in without knocking was grave insolence under normal circumstances, but his desperation suggested something dire.
"Th-The grand duke's dispatch! All high command to the audience chamber! You're to come too, ma'am!"
"What could warrant this?"
"I-I don't know the details! But... from His Grace's expression, it didn't look good...."
The grand duchess's eyes sharpened at the soldier's trailing words, recalling our recent conversation.
"Understood. We'll go immediately. And... these guests will join the meeting as well."
"Y-Yes? B-But it's only for grand ducal affiliates—"
"I'll handle that. Lead the way."
The soldier hesitated at her firm tone but sighed in resignation and guided us back to the audience chamber.
* * *
The audience chamber, revisited after just a few hours, buzzed with frenzy. Nobles with grave faces huddled in discussion; ministers dashed about clutching stacks of documents and maps. The grand duke had descended from his throne, gripping papers amid them, glaring fiercely.
"Dear."
"...Ah, my lady! Sorry to summon you so abruptly. Actually...."
The grand duke approached with a soft gaze at her voice, then spotted us trailing behind and cleared his throat awkwardly. He reverted to a stern expression, but we'd seen it all—it just felt awkward now.
"These people...."
"They might help with why you called me."
"Well... that's not wrong."
Rubbing his temple like he had a headache, the grand duke eyed us.
"First... a letter from the emperor via the imperial side."
"What?!"
Before our eyes, stamped with the imperial seal. Given Lillia's recent contact with His Majesty, we could infer the full story had reached the grand duchy through him.
"According to imperial intelligence, that Heaven God Cult or whatever is mobilizing for war against our grand duchy. I thought it absurd at first, but...."
He produced another letter—a plain black envelope, unmarked, yet radiating unusual mana that hinted at grave contents.
"Secret missive from border sentries. It's enchanted to reach me directly in dire peril—and now it's in my hands...."
Gripping it tightly, the grand duke scowled and continued.
"It reports much the same. An external army-like force has tamed some invading monsters beyond the border and is advancing south rapidly."
"!!"
His words drew sharp intakes from us, the duchess, and the ministers, chilling the air.
"And you bringing these people amid this... means they hold key intel on the invasion."
"Yes. Not certain, but...."
"What do they want with our grand duchy?"
The grand duchess glanced at her daughter, then voiced our hypothesis.
"I can't say for sure, but... they seem to want the Auros bloodline."
"Blood? You don't mean...."
"As you know, Prazia nearly got kidnapped by them before. They likely seek the dragon heritage dormant in our Auros blood."
Her theory—that their aim wasn't mere conquest but capturing those inheriting ancestral Auros blood—made the grand duke's already fierce face twist goblin-like in rage.
"Those worthless scum, not fit to drink my piss... even after my daughter, what?!"
I stepped forward as he seemed ready to charge enemy lines axe in hand alone.
"Your Grace, we'll join the fight this time—"
"All of you, leave. I'll invite you back once it's over."
But he flatly refused our offer. Our group included key imperial figures; losing even one could irreparably damage relations between nations.
"I trust your skills, but this is our affair. Thanks to you and the emperor for the advance warning, but your role ends here. You didn't come to fight in the first place."
His points hit home one by one. Speechless, I turned to Prazia.
Beneath her usual stoic face, her emotions shone clear. Her trembling, clenched fist reeked of guilt.
"...Your Grace can't protect Lady Prazia."
"What?!"
He loomed in my face, glaring murderously.
"Your shoulders bear not just people, but the grand duchy's future. Even you can't shield family while safeguarding it all."
"You bastard...!"
"I'll protect her."
Halt—
The grand duke's fist froze mid-swing.
"Fool me once, shame on you; twice? Besides, leave the blood of this castle to us and go save the grand duchy."