Chapter 162

‘Wow…’

The moment Malcolm sensed Vincent’s gaze, he immediately understood that his son had made a mistake.

Unlike him, who had been through all kinds of situations in life, his son was still young and not accustomed to this kind of conversation.

If he tried to clumsily hide the secret, it was inevitable that it would show on his face.

Just as he expected, Vincent formed a peculiar smile and spoke.

“So even if you fail at forging, what matters is trying, because that’s what makes a blacksmith? Admirable. And yet it seems you don’t even have money for the return journey, and still you’re willing to spend everything just for a chance.”

“…How many things in this world can one be certain of succeeding at? Sometimes you have to bet everything just to get the chance to try.”

“Very true. The sad thing is that one almost never succeeds on the first attempt.
And yet, for some reason, I have the feeling that you will manage to forge something.”

“…!”

Even Malcolm, who until then had kept the conversation as calm as possible, could not hide his bewilderment.

Was it possible that, with just a few phrases, Vincent had grasped exactly what his son reacted to?

He knew he was facing a seasoned knight, but he had not imagined him to be so perceptive.

‘This is bad.’

Malcolm felt his back soak with cold sweat.

In the past, that knowledge had only been a source of ridicule, but now it concerned a forging technique for ancient metals turned into treasures of incalculable value.

If the knight before him discovered that Malcolm possessed that method, he did not know how he might react.

In the worst case, he might try to kill father and son to seize the secret.

Just as Malcolm was seriously considering flipping the table and fleeing immediately, Vincent spoke again.

“Forgive me. My tone may have caused a misunderstanding. Even if you have some secret, I have no intention of forcing you to reveal it. So relax a little. You look like you’re about to kill someone.”

“…”

Even so, Malcolm did not lower his guard.

As long as Vincent kept his hand near the hilt of his sword, everything could end in an instant if he changed his mind.

Finally, Vincent clicked his tongue and decided to speak frankly.

“Since I see that you don’t trust me, I’ll tell you the truth. We didn’t come only to pay our respects to Sir Eisen. We also came to request a position in the service of Duke Lucian.”

“…?”

Malcolm blinked, bewildered by the sudden revelation.

It did not seem that the duke was in need of knights, much less that someone could apply so lightly without recommendations or connections.

Noticing Malcolm’s expression, Vincent gave a bitter smile.

“The truth is that in the past I had a brief connection with His Excellency the duke. It was short, but at least enough that, if I request an audience, he won’t reject me outright.”

“…!”

“The problem is that it’s not a relationship that guarantees favorable treatment. There’s a good chance the duke will reject my request, so I wanted to secure an alternative.”

“An alternative…?”

“For example, earning his favor by recommending him an exceptional blacksmith.”

Then Malcolm understood.

At this moment, the duke needed someone capable of refining ancient metals.

If Vincent found such a blacksmith and presented him to the duke, the merit would be his.

“I don’t think it’s an unfavorable proposal for you. If you have the skill, wouldn’t it be better to show it directly before the duke rather than competing in a public selection?”

“Hmm…”

Malcolm fell into deep thought at such an unexpected proposal.

It was true that, if he could demonstrate his talent directly before Lucian, there would be nothing better.

Unlike a competition, a single failure would not mean the end.

The duke would probably give him some time to see whether he could produce real results.

And if he managed to show even a small advance while that patience lasted, the recognition would be immediate.

‘The problem is whether I can trust this knight.’

Although Vincent spoke with apparent frankness, no one could know another person’s true intentions.

Accepting a good offer without caution could lead them into an even more dangerous situation.

But at the same time, rejecting it did not guarantee that they could leave safely.

“…Then, could we see the duke immediately?”

After thinking it over for a long time, Malcolm proposed what he considered the best possible compromise.

If Vincent truly had a connection with the duke, it would be enough to request an audience to verify it.

If he hesitated or dodged the answer, they would flee immediately.

Vincent smiled at the question and nodded.

“As soon as my companions who went outside return, we’ll go request the audience.”

***

“What? The Black Lion has come?”

“Yes. They say their names are Vincent Daegil, Widro, Jude, and Martin.”

Upon hearing those names after so long, Lucian’s eyes opened wide.

Weren’t they the ones he had traveled with to Bornholm by order of Duke Sigmund?

He had thought they would not meet again unless he himself advanced to the gates of the Valdeck house, and yet they had come first.

“They say that Your Excellency would only know their names, so they did not mention their surnames. There is a possibility that they are impostors…”

“No, that matches. When I met them, I only heard their names. In fact, that’s what gives me certainty. Bring them in immediately.”

At Lucian’s order, the administrator bowed his head and moved quickly.

Soon after, four familiar faces, with whom he had shared adventures long ago, appeared before Lucian.

“It’s been a long time, Your Excellency. Do you remember us?”

“How could I not? It really has been a long time. It feels like yesterday when we set out together for Bornholm.”

“For us as well. Is Raymond, the captain, doing well?”

“Too well, for his own good. And you? Have you been well?”

“…Unfortunately, no. Since the second young master proclaimed himself head of the family, everything fell apart.”

Vincent let out a deep sigh and began to recount the hardships they had endured up to now.

How Jordi showed not the slightest respect for honor or appearances.

How the Black Lion had become a private organization serving exclusively his interests.

And how they, unable to endure the corruption into which Valdeck had fallen, had decided to leave.

“We still don’t regret that decision, but the reality is that now we’re suffocating from lack of money. That’s why, though it embarrasses us, we’ve come to rely on an old connection and present ourselves before Your Excellency.”

“I see. You’ve come to ask me for a position?”

“Yes. It’s an impudent request, but…”

“Understood. Swear loyalty here and now.”

“Eh?”

The immediate response, without the slightest hesitation, left Vincent and the others completely dumbfounded.

They had come prepared for a cold and outright rejection, but this was far too easy.

“Your Excellency… are you sure?”

“Sure of what?”

“Of accepting us. At this moment, Your Excellency is pursuing a great cause, and if word spreads that you have taken in the Black Lion, it could affect your reputation…”

“Affect it, you say?”

Lucian let out a mocking laugh at Vincent’s concern.

From his point of view, it was practically meaningless.

‘No matter how much one values pretexts and legitimacy, everything has its limits.’

In chaotic times, there are no loyalists without the slightest stain.

Trying to be perfect and rejecting even what could be beneficial only leads to ending up as a faithful servant annihilated by vile intrigues in the history books.

Moreover, the Black Lion were top-tier knights, skilled both in combat and in shadow operations.

Rejecting such talent just to maintain a clean image would be proclaiming to the world that one is an idiot.

“Stop saying nonsense and swear loyalty right here. Once you’re done, I’ll put you to work immediately.”

“Y-Your Excellency…”

“You must be tired, so for the next month, rest well. I’ll prepare lodging for you in the White Castle. Ah, and as compensation, I’ll advance you two months of salary. Use it for whatever you need.”

Faced with such generous treatment, far beyond what they had expected, Vincent and the other members of the Black Lion looked at Lucian with reddened eyes.

For an instant, the face of Duke Sigmund seemed to overlap with Lucian’s.

Vincent was about to kneel right then and there and swear loyalty, but there was still something he had to convey.

“We are deeply grateful for such undeserved treatment, but before swearing loyalty there is information we must pass on to you.”

“Information?”

“At an inn in the outer city, we met a blacksmith who claims to be able to work fairy metal. More precisely, he says he has inherited, generation after generation, a book with forging techniques. Isn’t that the kind of talent Your Excellency is looking for?”

“…!”

***

“So you can’t help me with anything? Not even to avenge our father?”

“Elder brother, please calm down. What do you want me to do if I have no way to help you?”

Joshua, who had once been the fourth young master of Valdeck, was on the verge of madness.

He had thought he barely escaped Jordi, only for Tristan to burst in now demanding money.

‘Damn it… if it were up to me, I’d tell him to get lost.’

But Joshua’s eyes cautiously shifted toward the outside.

Beyond the window, the spears and swords of the army Tristan had brought gleamed under the sunlight.

If he gave in to anger, those weapons would turn against him.

As repugnant as the situation was, if he didn’t want to die, he had to choose his words carefully.

“I can hear the gears turning in your head. Are you looking for an excuse to throw me out?”

“Please, have mercy. There really is nothing I can do for you. What do you expect from such a small baronial house?”

“You exaggerate too much. From where I stand, you seem quite comfortable.”

With a sharp smile, Tristan ran his hand across the ebony table.

It was silent pressure—there was money for luxurious furniture, but not to help him.

Unable to bear that pressure any longer, Joshua exploded.

“I didn’t buy that! It was my maternal grandfather, the former head of the family! Now you’re going to use furniture bought decades ago as an excuse to ask me for money too?”

“The former head of the family…”

Upon hearing those words, Tristan closed his eyes.

The difference between Joshua’s situation and his own was far too cruel.

“So now you’re a baron. Impressive. Despite being expelled by Jordi, you managed to recover and inherit your maternal family.”

“…I was just lucky. If my maternal uncle hadn’t died of illness a few years ago, none of this would have happened.”

“Exactly. Your luck is extraordinary. Unlike mine.”

Joshua could not respond to Tristan’s bitterness-laden voice.

And it was no wonder.

Tristan had witnessed with his own eyes the death of Duke Sigmund, had been stripped of the position of head of the family, and even his mother, Veronica, had been captured.

To make matters worse, recently his maternal grandfather had died, and an uncle with whom he had a poor relationship had taken control, cutting off any support from the maternal family.

The difference with Joshua, who had escaped together with his mother and even inherited the title, was abysmal.

‘I’ve even heard rumors that Lady Veronica died long ago and that Jordi is just hiding the truth…’

They were only rumors, but Joshua felt they carried more credibility than they seemed.

If Veronica were still alive, Tristan would not be throwing himself so fiercely against Valdeck.

At the very least, he would have restrained his fangs for fear of endangering his mother.

That he still attacked head-on could only mean that the rumor was true, and that Tristan knew it as well.

Seeing the fall of the one who had once been considered the principal heir alongside Lucian, Joshua could not help but feel deep pity.