Chapter 152
8dl1NThe young servant’s sudden action caused the others to begin murmuring all at once.B9sHTU9
EQdJLucian had already guessed the young man’s identity, but even so, he frowned with an angry expression and rebuked him.c2by1
YMu8Y“And who are you to dare step forward in this place?”RIlX
o2vQy“I…!”U7quZot
mgkLTThe young servant hesitated for a long moment before dropping to one knee and speaking.E5C
smdl“Allow me to introduce myself once again before you, Duke. My name is Denis. I have served as one of the eyes of the previous emperor.”zhS
nkHL“W-what?!”fzV
GNAoExclamations of astonishment erupted everywhere. In noble society, the word “eyes” was an elegant way of referring to spies.dUvMgr
s9CSwnDenis’s words not only revealed his identity, but were equivalent to a confession that the emperor had placed a spy at Lucian’s side.SfK
ZfHazg1Lucian raised his voice, feigning overflowing anger as he pointed at Denis.tqeVNZW
A3iKY“Nonsense! There’s no way the previous emperor would have sent a spy to me! He always showed me absolute trust! Do you dare insult the late emperor?”d3V
160Sic“That’s not it!”Ufj28N
iC6EI“Throw this man in confinement at once! We must find out who is trying to drive a wedge between me and the imperial family by using this bastard!”cMiu0bN
HZV7“Your Excellency!”zlFH
2P2Just before the soldiers could pounce on him—LPCh
lsRKThud!brZ
ZH3BG5Denis slammed his head against the ground and shouted with all his strength.IQrBs2
XXWXmKThe impact was so strong that red blood visibly began to stain the floor of the White Castle.6zY9
eWDxm“How could the previous emperor have distrusted Your Excellency? The only thing he feared was that, being in a land as remote as the north, his gaze might not reach you!”1Noj2rx
GJ8tp0q“This insolent wretch still—!”T5Uh0PU
j3RC“If you wish, I will show you proof! There is an item the previous emperor entrusted to me! You yourself have seen it before!”euSET
qm707dKDenis immediately pulled a red stone from his clothing and held it out in front of him.6hkjT
LH86KIt had exactly the same shape as the stone Glenn had once used to connect Lucian with the emperor.ZlE
erZSeeing Denis present such decisive proof with his own hands, Lucian celebrated inwardly.SzIyeO
hvTe‘If things had gone wrong, I was planning to let it pass while pretending there was nothing more I could do—but this is a stroke of luck!’c2fxU3M
R0KnEeENow it was impossible to deny that the emperor had not fully trusted Lucian and had sent a spy.r2Yf
dcHThis incident would be etched as a permanent stain on the imperial family and as a perfect justification for Lucian to distrust them in the future.avrU
ZfrvJfdTaking advantage of that unexpected gain, Lucian suppressed the smile trying to surface and sighed with regret.NHpw
E9RLC“This can’t be… How could the previous emperor…?”YFYvQ
yMDtJv“Y-Your Excellency! It’s a misunderstanding! As I said before, the previous emperor never doubted you!”Q4YEJy
ukWU5Denis desperately defended the late emperor, but it was already too late.RdDQOw
rAiCNo matter how convincing the excuses offered, the essence of the matter could not be concealed.Xia
P8jCFrom the moment Denis revealed himself as a spy, Lucian had already obtained a legitimate pretext.9Vv
R2pef‘But that’s not what’s important right now. Let’s leave it at that.’fgl5
TJHcpkAlthough he had obtained an interesting benefit, it was still just one of many pretexts he could use in the future.BkJMm
psaAt this moment, he needed something else testimony that would clearly expose Casval’s lies.C9xH8j
ykWKqzLucian spoke in a weak voice, as if he had yet to recover from the shock.j2t
pkrq“Very well… the previous emperor should not have doubted me. It must have been an excessive measure motivated by the concern of those around him.”upN
GZv“Y-yes, exactly!”KVgqF
xiIWFWr“That’s enough. Explain yourself. Why did you suddenly reveal your identity? And what do you mean by saying that this enthronement ceremony is a trap?”CAJ8
9DdJAAt the question, Denis bowed his head once more and replied.GmsBEL
nOSESkQ“Not long ago, His Highness the First Prince contacted me. He said he needed an army to punish the traitors.”xNoJ
yW4C“…W-what?!”nzOKv
I0Ii8rLucian’s eyes widened at such an unexpected revelation.sr2KD
on7yIik***Qxutlf7
Vy57‘Damn it, I never imagined the previous emperor would have told him even something like that.’2kC
JUQFMCasval wiped the cold sweat running down his forehead as he cursed inwardly.QsBzEA
4SyoThat the first prince could activate the magical artifact at any time?FWjhPGE
7ZCUe‘Of course he can. The problem is that we can’t hand it over to him under any circumstances.’cM9TvM
m6yEThe second prince had taken complete control of the imperial palace, and the first prince did not have a single ally on his side, yet he continued to protest and resist.34NFwDn
ph25BUHe had even recently tried to contact the outside using a hidden magical artifact, only to be discovered.GQuyqx
IHuIf the magical artifact were handed over to him, he would not be satisfied with merely opening the dimensional gate. And above all, Lucian, as a duke, was the greatest support the first prince had within the empire.SUmeCVN
cQC7If Lucian were to learn of the current situation of the imperial palace directly from the first prince, he certainly would not remain idle.Ewc
tA3dWhether out of genuine loyalty or ambition disguised as loyalty.XvTyYgA
xOPiMr‘In the worst case, he could use the situation of the palace as a pretext to rise up in true rebellion.’HLb4Sm
yDw0Seeing no way out, Casval let out a deep sigh.g15
ekPgTN8Judging by how things were going, he would have to abandon the plan of luring Lucian to the imperial palace.L4N
pJAtLIf the dimensional gate did not open, Lucian would continue pressing that point relentlessly.qSPD4nA
clxcu“There’s no other choice. I’ll have to at least fulfill the second mission.”V8u39
9PyY3fMuttering wearily, Casval decided to stop there.2Rx1DO0
aB1VHxIf he kept turning the matter over in his mind, he might even start questioning useless ideas such as only direct members of the imperial family being able to use the magical artifact.vhc
qaaAbB***kjtVC
wpDa5The next day, Casval was standing in the central square of Asagrim, looking around him.BjzVlj
D3uEverywhere, the foreigners who had come from beyond the frozen desert were spread out, gathered there by Lucian’s order.hvo4Q
H5zJRPSeeing those giants filling the place to the brim, Casval swallowed.rAgs
ge1ZV“It’s impressive.”0cep
OiybWDWere all of them really barbarians who followed that young duke?GfynvZ8
Z4NThey had physiques capable of treating an average soldier like a child, muscles that could only be forged by wielding weapons again and again.w3od
5CMcqAdded to that was the smell of blood that only someone with real combat experience could give off, as well as the countless minor scars they wore as if they were decorations.MVZNg5
4Ib8‘They wouldn’t even need training. If weapons were put in their hands right now, they’d all become an army.’tKm
xEeGImagining them all armed, Casval felt a chill run through his entire body.hiGIvyJ
wuuA territory capable of turning most of its inhabitants into soldiers in an instant. At least defensively, that was practically equivalent to invincibility.KDmjHoY
Qmpmy2If they failed to disperse them properly right here, Lucian would become a permanent headache for the imperial family.JRt
HSXhs91Soon after, once he confirmed that the immigrants had gathered to their limit, Casval raised his voice.tns
eKWtf“Listen, you who have come from the frozen desert! Today I have come to explain to you the laws and customs of the Empire!”ZMO97
RgY“The laws of the Empire? And what’s that?”uOLT8
p207N“Looks like he’s going to teach us the customs of this place.”jvPrlrA
tWnG“Isn’t a knight a warrior? Since when does a warrior act as a guide?”ETqpl
2egns“It must be something important if they left it in the hands of a warrior.”bRaIfu
vZmMNlSeeing that the foreigners were not paying attention at all, Casval frowned.MBt3ZyZ
vbfeZnkIn the Empire, even a simple commoner had to remain silent when a knight spoke.GqBh
Lb7“Silence! If you wish to live in the Empire, this is something you must know. Open your ears wide and listen carefully! I won’t explain it twice!”2FvVIG
HxC0OtAt Casval’s authoritarian tone, the foreigners clicked their tongues in displeasure, though they said nothing.y58w
JcDQThey themselves knew better than anyone that in this land they were nothing more than outsiders.upzTRb
QxJGkEven if they didn’t like the other’s attitude, if he was going to teach them something they didn’t know, they had to listen.SrLDTjK
KGKA“First, I will explain how the duke you serve came to rule this land. Several years ago, the great previous emperor…”iDY
oyeV4In the square, which had barely managed to calm down, Casval explained the laws of the Empire in a measured voice.VTT
EZSThat Lucian’s position was not something he had been born with, but a title granted by the emperor.DGQL
Zw6gThat the emperor was an existence above Lucian and therefore deserved respect and loyalty.UOXvnRh
iIvHAmThat the Empire was far more vast than they imagined, and that the north was, even within it, a particularly barren region.iez4wE
BqIMeh“…Therefore, do not forget your loyalty to the imperial family, and take pride in having also become citizens of the Empire.”FwTM
OGtZY5After finishing his speech, Casval looked around once more to check their reaction.4bLaFQ
M2wykQVHowever, contrary to what he expected, there were no murmurs or surprise.AQaL8
sbkYOnly a cold, listless silence that stretched on endlessly.viYY
Ei5ooAs Casval felt bewildered by that strange reaction, a voice rose.UaIuLl
CF4f8i“We listened carefully to what you said. But we have a question.”pAllV
ztRNhA“W-what?”QHMznWF
OOo“Are the people of the imperial family you’re talking about stronger than our lord?”1cz1
VRKe“……”yyg
qHosAnnoyed by the insolent tone, Casval was left speechless as he grasped the meaning of the question.pMLC4
hMNFIt had been enough for Lucian to release just a little of his mana for Casval to feel pain comparable to being struck brutally by a blunt weapon.lUW8
FBMHe was practically an unparalleled monster in the human world.3K3
ZCOKAnd now they were asking whether there existed someone of imperial blood stronger than Lucian?Exln1
2RP“…Strength and nobility are different things. Do not try to impose your customs on the Empire.”eYqZ
XwGRul6“So it’s not that they’re a bit weaker than our lord, but that they aren’t even warriors at all. And yet we have to serve them?”CQ9K
8x7Tp9“Watch your words! Insulting a member of the imperial family is a major crime punishable by immediate execution!”9C62O
MNX7Y“That’s exactly what we want to say to you.”evyg
r2EqJFHearing another voice from behind, Casval shuddered. When he came to his senses, he felt the killing intent of the barbarians surrounding him from all directions.nnkQ
Xnu“You have belittled our king, forced us to serve someone weaker, and mocked the land he granted us. Is there any reason we shouldn’t kill you right now?”lLoagKX
nSo“…!”qZXRM0
4inAIt was not a threat, but a notification. At those words, Casval’s face turned pale.sljt
VZLxIIf he said something wrong, they would tear him apart right there.mDiqN
XXcAt the same time, he realized that he had started from a completely mistaken assumption.hMXNpM
xB0HkK‘Damn it, these people never intended to leave. They’ve already put down roots long ago.’qEj
4Nwp3J9For those who had lived in the frozen desert, the north or any other place was still foreign land.z1nLpwq
qaRfI3That was why he had planned to entice them with the prosperity of other territories and scatter them far away from Asagrim.gfOH2e
7s5OBut those foreigners already regarded the land promised by Lucian as their second home.Iihj
WO7‘If you love your home, telling you another territory is better will only stoke your anger. It would have been better to say nothing.’p5D8Hb
SXt8xSurrounded by countless gazes, Casval desperately turned his mind.iA4VcZp
VKadBHis life or death depended on the next word he spoke.Uh97d
WWcFinally, a brief phrase left his lips.sGU4KRJ
X4hW“…I am a guest of the duke.”C7yhdw
Q8NcIn that instant, the killing intent dissipated as if it had never existed.UYdUl
TzeEIn any culture, a guest was under the protection of the land’s owner. In other words, killing a guest was equivalent to directly insulting the host.9SPk
yCbF1Those who served Lucian could not kill a guest of Lucian.BH45
Lt7EThe foreigners who had been staring at Casval until just moments before took a step back.3nsyfzr
eimwHBz“Get lost.”XnKm
hk0QVx5At someone’s brief command, Casval ran out of the central square without even catching his breath.zCgXn
ONAiaiIf he hesitated for even a second longer, he didn’t know how the mood of the crowd might change.HeLpOY
24BHowever, upon entering the fortress and reaching the entrance of the White Castle, renewed fury welled up inside him.ZTOi1
nyCuruR‘Just mere commoners daring to threaten a knight, and on top of that me, who serves His Highness the prince…!’faZXEe
hFFfgAlNo matter how barbaric they were, once incorporated into the Empire their status was that of commoners.JzKd
EYViAnd yet, unable to abandon their old customs, they had dared to threaten Casval, a knight of an imperial prince.oW4UFg
yCbDnT‘When I return, I’ll have to say something to the duke. This can’t be left like this.’xo7TN5K
fFkWhile Lucian would likely side with the barbarians, he was still a noble.XznU
ONovIf Casval protested on the grounds that the order of status was being violated, the other side would not have much to say.shF
u1AJust as Casval reached the entrance of the White Castle—gkfO5L
Xd9E“Seize the traitor!”0cAs
xeks“…?!”GmWS0Ek
wDYSurrounded by the Knights of the Blue Rose who lunged at him from all directions, and hearing the word traitor, Casval froze on the spot.uwDTQg2
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!