Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Chapter 8: Black Mountains (1)
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Marquis Crayer had deliberately sent out the escort late.
He had been blinded by resentment over a notorious imperial wastrel coming to the border and committed the arrogance of testing him.
'He's definitely testing me.'
It was a sudden thought as he spotted the escort appearing only after they'd arrived near the lord's castle.
The escort's commander was the arrow-shield Marquis Crayer had put forward. He glanced nervously at Raymond, his face tense.
How would Raymond, the wastrel before possession, have reacted? Would he have exploded in rage? He might even have drawn his sword like when he killed that maid.
Since the man was a local army escort commander, summary execution would be impossible, but he would have made a show of it and aggressively appealed to his anger.
'But things are different now.'
The wastrel was dead. He was gone.
"Commander, you stand before an imperial prince without dismounting to show proper respect. Is this a challenge to the Philius Imperial Family? Or an insult to me?"
He spoke in a voice laced with restrained fury. It asserted the dignity of an imperial prince appropriately without overdoing it into vulgar tantrums.
"How rude before His Highness the 5th Prince! Commander, dismount at once and show respect to the imperial blood!"
The imperial army commander bellowed at the top of his lungs.
Along the way here, Raymond had shown a side different from the rumors. To save even one more soldier dying at the border, he'd increased the march speed. He'd cut back on his own rest and abandoned the carriage to ride horseback.
"Was your action a challenge to His Majesty the great Emperor and the Imperial Family?"
A sharp metallic ring echoed as a sword was drawn. It was the natural response of an imperial army commander sworn to protect the Imperial Family.
"Ah, no... This is..."
The escort commander panicked greatly at the imperial army commander who raged even more wildly than the famously wastrel 5th Prince.
But regardless of the flustered escort, the imperial commander's reaction was entirely justified.
Unlike this remote border region embracing the frontier, the capital widely knew tales of the 5th Prince's prowess.
Moreover, the imperial commander had been moved by Raymond's humane side during their shared journey.
'You picked the wrong person to mess with, you fool.'
"Unbelievable. The North I remember wasn't like this..."
Gestain said, radiating a sharp aura. Though his voice was low, the escort soldiers heard it clearly.
"One-Arm?"
"You...!"
"Sir Gestain?"
A few escort knights recognized Gestain's face. He was a famous knight in the northern border regions beyond the capital.
'Well, of course. No way they'd forget the high knight closest to Swordmaster before losing his left arm.'
Raymond smirked inwardly. Things seemed to be resolving even more easily than expected.
"H-how are you here, sir...?"
"How are you not dead yet! Are you truly insulting the Imperial Family?!"
The imperial commander raised his voice again toward the knights murmuring at the sight of Gestain.
Only then did the escort commander and knights snap to attention, dismounting to show respect to the imperial prince.
In the Philius Empire, the dignity of the imperial family was paramount.
Raymond hadn't acted out of mere stubbornness but to uphold that dignity, and everyone present recognized it.
"That's respect enough. With the Empire's forces falling even now at the border, hurry and guide me to the lord's castle."
The escort had tested the imperial prince's pride, but Raymond didn't use it as an excuse to crush them. Instead, he showed magnanimity.
He knew that excessive intimidation or brute force would only breed backlash.
Besides, the loyalty of local armies following border lords to the Emperor and Imperial Family wasn't as blind as that of the imperial or central armies.
Acting excessively on the name of imperial blood alone could backfire badly.
"Yes, Your Highness the 5th Prince. We'll escort you to the lord's castle!"
The escort commander replied in a strong voice. He also signaled a subordinate to dispatch a messenger to the lord's castle.
To inform the lord, Marquis Crayer, that the 5th Prince was wiser than expected.
The messenger departed first. He galloped toward the lord's castle at full speed, followed by Raymond heading there under local army escort.
By the time they passed through the central city's gates, the messenger had already arrived at the lord's castle, relaying the escort commander's words.
"This is undoubtedly true?"
"Yes! My lord!"
"Oh ho."
Marquis Crayer's face showed more curiosity than displeasure at his plans going awry upon hearing the report.
He'd intended to test the 5th Prince boldly but harbored no great malice.
If he differed from the rumored wastrel, that was cause for joy.
"Where is His Highness the 5th Prince now?"
"He should have just passed the central city's gates."
"Good. I'll go out personally."
He'd delayed a decision he should have made sooner. But since he hadn't planned to outright humiliate the 5th Prince from the start, preparations for ceremony were complete.
"I never thought I'd end up doing the honors..."
Marquis Crayer muttered as he draped a cloak over his uniform.
He'd prepared the ceremony, but if the 5th Prince remained the wastrel, he'd planned to treat him coldly despite his imperial blood.
Harboring such thoughts was disloyal in itself, but Marquis Crayer held no fondness for the 5th Prince who'd pained the Emperor so.
That he'd now lead the ceremonial unit out meant he somewhat acknowledged the prince and began trusting the capital rumors of change.
The border with the Free Isiria Kingdom and the northern domain embracing the Black Mountains. As expected, there was no grand welcoming ceremony.
Despite the imperial banners fluttering, only a few people came out to offer light respect—no extravagant response like in the capital.
"The city's bustling, but the overall mood feels dark."
Desia whispered, rolling her round eyes around.
Gestain remained taciturn as always, and the Crimson Tower Lord and Azure Tower Lord were too exhausted to respond.
Only Alex, the northerner, gave an awkward smile and scratched his cheek.
"Lady Desia."
"Yes, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
"Brace yourself. Compared to what's ahead, this unfriendliness is nothing."
Desia nodded tensely at Raymond's words.
He felt a bit sorry for scaring her, but what could he do? A little ahead, upon reaching the border zone, they'd witness hell—best to give her the preventive shot now.
"Gestain."
"Yes, speak."
"Thanks to you, things are going smoothly."
"I'm glad to hear that."
He'd spoken to break the silence, but the exchange was brief.
Ten minutes after conversation lapsed, they arrived right before the lord's castle.
"Marquis Crayer, huh..."
Knighted horsemen gathered before the castle gates. The flag one bore was unmistakably Marquis Crayer's.
Raymond calmly composed himself and urged his horse forward. As the distance to the flag narrowed within 3 meters, the man who appeared to be Marquis Crayer dismounted first. The other knights followed suit.
"I see you, Your Highness the 5th Prince. I am Sand Crayer, lord of the Crayer Marquisate."
"Pleased to meet you, Marquis Crayer."
He used informal address but tempered it with a friendly gaze and dismounting courtesy to avoid seeming overly arrogant.
Did it work? Marquis Crayer smiled and nodded. Something unspoken passed between the two men.
"You arrived earlier than scheduled."
"I heard the border situation was urgent. As a prince of the Philius Empire, I couldn't afford even a moment's delay, so I pressed the imperial commander."
"Is that so?"
Marquis Crayer knew it wasn't empty words. Without action to match, the imperial army couldn't have arrived this timely.
The 5th Prince Raymond's concern for the border endeared him sufficiently to northerners, and Marquis Crayer was no exception.
'Are the rumors of change true? No... too soon to judge.'
It required careful judgment.
As his favor toward the 5th Prince rose slightly, the marquis adjusted his plans.
He'd intended some rudeness to test Raymond boldly, but now opted to withhold judgment without offense.
"The wind bites. Let's head into the lord's castle."
"I'll accept your hospitality."
Marquis Crayer guided Raymond and his party into the lord's castle.
Imperial soldiers excluding the Imperial Guard and officers were directed to temporary barracks in the central city.
Upon entering, a prepared ceremonial unit honored Raymond. After receiving it, he headed to the banquet hall with Marquis Crayer.
True to a mighty northern house, the table overflowed with luxurious dishes ill-suited to the harsh North.
"Delicious."
"Glad it suits your taste."
Raymond's brief impression after tasting drew a satisfied nod from Marquis Crayer.
As the banquet progressed, empty plates piled before Raymond.
"You must have been famished."
"To quicken the march, Your Highness the 5th Prince left behind all unnecessary attendants like maids and cooks, my lord marquis."
Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior answered in Raymond's stead, who was focused on eating.
"Ah... Truly?"
Raymond felt the marquis's gaze on his cheek.
He paused eating and nodded in lieu of reply.
"Minimal attendants..."
The marquis murmured blankly, entranced. No wastrel could make such a decision.
Even nobles, let alone princes, often brought convenience staff like maids and cooks to war zones.
A wastrel prince would never skimp more than them. Marquis Crayer revised his assessment further.
"A fine meal, well enjoyed."
"Glad it suited you."
After the banquet, Raymond moved with Marquis Crayer to the drawing room.
The group was small. On the marquis's side, an elderly knight and a mage; with Raymond, only Guard Captain Gestain and the Azure Tower Lord.
Tea time began—but it was reconnaissance by another name.
"Well then, marquis... Shall we get to the point?"
"What do you mean?"
As Marquis Crayer set down his teacup and looked up at the sharp question, Raymond stared him down coldly.
"Why did you test me?"
Heavy air pressed on shoulders. The bright room chilled.
Raymond's silent gaze on Marquis Crayer seemed to drip with chilling blade edges.
Only after facing the cold wind of fury did Marquis Crayer realize how audaciously he'd tested imperial blood.
'I was reckless.'
In the Philius Empire, no noble dared test an imperial prince.
It would've been fine if Raymond were truly the wastrel, but his wise demeanor ruined everything.
The accompanying imperial army backed him, with Crimson and Azure Tower Lords at his rear.
'Rumors of Crimson and Azure Towers backing him are true...'
Were the change rumors real? But as a border lord, he was ignorant of capital affairs. He must act cautiously without knowing what brewed there.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince..."
"No need for an answer now."
Raymond smirked, leaning back on the sofa.
Overpressing a northern marquis gained nothing. He'd never sought an answer to begin with.
Raising it was a warning: cease recklessness from now on.
"We'll discuss this alone later."
No need to humiliate before subordinates. Marquis Crayer accepted the consideration.
He nodded slowly with a faint smile.
"Thank you for understanding my circumstances, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
Such men don't bow to pressure—they break.
Raymond had no intent to oppose him. Precisely, he didn't want to lose him.
House Crayer had shielded the Philius Empire from Black Mountains and Free Isiria Kingdom threats since ancient times, the North's bulwark.
'And Marquis Sand Crayer is a dead man soon.'