Chapter 41
wmVT“Don’t tell me the First Imperial Prince isn’t present?”0iy
kEi0mJf“No, it’s not that… but… huff.”MSV
4XQUzUnder Lucian’s pressure, Jurgen let out a deep sigh, as if he would almost prefer the prince to actually be absent.yod
pvy92After a moment, he tightly shut his eyes and pulled something out.J6L8wQK
773R“Please accept this first.”R4S
kv2“What is this? A mask?”3Cd2Gn
mPlLucian took the mask with a perplexed expression.0lpF3
TuAeAt first, he thought it might be some kind of artifact, but it wasn’t.G4bqr
7OxWgIt was an ordinary mask—thin and fragile—the kind used at parties.8ZX
cFQd“Why are you giving me a mask all of a sudden?”YBU9yYg
enSKJE“Until all the lords participating in the alliance have gathered, I ask that you wear it. And, if possible, that you don’t reveal your identity.”cYVnD4
ro2yKt“What kind of nonsense is that?”VWD
F5Hb“It’s a game that has recently become popular in high society. People socialize while hiding their identity with a mask, and at a certain point, they reveal who they are.”YlMjV
gBl5kFc“A game?”O4AGHi
hujMLucian frowned at Jurgen’s explanation. There was one word he couldn’t overlook.YK5oM
FgF4“Did you just say ‘game’?”BY8Ua
NYVF“Yes. I don’t quite get it myself, but they say it’s very effective for fostering camaraderie. It allows people to connect regardless of title rank…”R2o6
8TD5“That’s not what I’m asking. We’re here to suppress a rebellion, not to enjoy a party.”VaG4dlb
gSgD62RWith an almost resigned expression, Jurgen nodded.CAD
vFeAs if he knew Lucian was completely right, but there was no alternative.BUSKGT
Mqk“In fact, it was a direct proposal from the First Imperial Prince, aiming to foster camaraderie among the allied army.”y2qmT
imFZx“From the First Imperial Prince himself?”lDhg
lUTxz“Yes. So please, I beg you. I understand it’s not to your liking, but there are underlying reasons…”eux9
smi87nM“Ha.”1Y7
LtM0Lucian let out a dry laugh.Hpz7
ICpUnderlying reasons, my ass.epdUN
rXFEverything pointed to the First Prince just wanting to amuse himself.8rzX1
KcqUMHe probably wanted to watch the lords clash without knowing who was who.chtJm
V2hdsX‘Does that man even think? This might work with court nobles, but pulling this kind of stunt on territorial lords…’MtpUGMQ
M4dCourt nobles, without lands of their own, were mere extensions of the imperial palace.LkekY7k
jypbEven if they were the butt of such jokes, they couldn’t rebel.HIqgG
HTaBut the territorial nobles gathered here were a different matter.G5Kp
bUPfEThey had their own military power, and their loyalty wasn’t absolute.PuWte
tP9Under normal circumstances, they should at least be treated with a minimum of respect.79n
TD9tLsO‘Even if I take a hundred steps back and accept this being done to lesser houses, doing it to me, the representative of the Duke of Valdeck, is another matter. This could be taken as a humiliation.’ixl8r90
GzObIRIt could be brushed off as a joke, but it could just as well be interpreted as an insult.uIRt9u
LQTJRb1The First Prince’s “game” was treading a dangerously fine line.SSVyRZ
3htctt0Jurgen knew that—hence his pale face.lOBOeZ
Om55mClicking his tongue, Lucian took the mask and said.ClR0
LaiPjW“Well, easing the fatigue a bit before the war isn’t a bad thing. I don’t know how effective it will be, but if His Highness desires it, as a vassal I have no choice but to comply.”D15
jKz“Th-thank you! Truly, thank you very much, Lord Lucian!”KaLd
Tq59dJurgen bowed repeatedly, looking like someone whose life had just been spared.2V5V
XsFAfter all, Lucian had chosen to let something that could easily have escalated into a major conflict over insulting the Valdeck family pass as a mere joke.JEmC
06iH0“The Valdeck family is truly a pillar of the Empire! With a successor as wise as you, Lord Lucian, the Empire will prosper alongside Valdeck for a long time!”UaBO
8k4“I’m not the successor.”skEbOr
TBXH“Not yet, you mean. Just based on what you’ve shown today, it’s obvious. The day the Valdeck family needs someone to lead it, without a doubt, it’ll be you, Lord Lucian.”0Q9f
JOZMKpOnce again, Jurgen continued showering Lucian with compliments.tMpI1x
xKT9WjLucian nodded absentmindedly and tried to enter, but Jurgen, startled, blocked his path.DOc
gjEveS“W-wait a moment, please. There’s something else I need to tell you.”i56
UyZsVOe“Again? Are you going to check if I’m wearing the mask right here?”LJN6217
ZipTw“I’d appreciate that. Also, I’ll give you a cloak to further conceal your identity. There are rules—when moving around the area, your identity must be hidden as much as possible, and your escort limited to one person…”hAHM0
CSvX5PQAfter that, Jurgen spent a good while explaining meticulous rules, sweating the whole time.glJ0
Qn2mTnAs he listened to the never-ending list, Lucian pressed a hand to his temple in frustration.ZoC
M6cfWhat a circus the allied army had become.Hi5
eUWSFHQ***jCRv
BI6oVK“Is the First Imperial Prince even aware of what he’s doing? This is a direct insult to the Valdeck family!”KBKUrS6
GxSrcFAfter finishing the explanation and setting up camp, Gerard entered the tent with a deep frown, visibly upset.LtvkOFb
qSGuMlUnlike Lucian, Gerard couldn’t seem to accept all of this as a mere “joke.”NMM
5URoveD“Third young master, there’s no need to tolerate the antics of the First Imperial Prince. Even if we flipped the table right here, both the Duke and His Majesty the Emperor would understand.”1wJUEU
cHeBysm“And then the mood within the allied army would go straight to hell. Do you really think someone capable of pulling a stunt like this would back off quietly if his game is ruined?”Rvcecrq
Q7C5“That is…”Qy1
Ny1Confronted with Lucian’s direct remark, Gerard fell silent.16e85Di
8LWcl5This was a First Prince capable of playing such jokes on territorial nobles.ryi9
PS3rJEven if things blew up, it was far more likely he’d react emotionally rather than rationally.ax3EU
eiZzXBf“For now, it doesn’t seem like His Highness has bad intentions, so let’s let it go. Besides, this mask game also has its advantages.”RCq
6ojtN“Advantages? Is there really such a thing?”Iu1
nGIj“It’s easier to probe each lord’s true intentions. If we were to gather while openly displaying our status, everyone would just put on a carefully calculated façade.”iRF
GVJCThe Valdeck family was, excluding the imperial family, the highest-ranking house in the Empire.4mfs0v
mSlQxYyIn other words, aside from declared enemies, no one dared show their true thoughts in front of them.YBbAxue
drVNo one knew what kind of retaliation might come from offending a ducal house.Dq7I7
Ux46iHowever, with a mask on—even temporarily—one could conceal their identity.dhz0hre
lbsY“Of course, it won’t take long before everyone figures out who’s who, but until then, people can speak more frankly than usual. Since we’ve decided to go along with the First Prince’s game, I plan to make the most of this opportunity.”JSC0
uzd3yLs“Hmm… is that really necessary? From my point of view, this will only stir up unnecessary conflict.”tfdCJDA
keI9“Of course it’s necessary.”NCb
HX30More precisely, not for the future head of the Valdeck family, but for Lucian.0o3h
3VU0LIf he became the duke, the intentions of the small and mid-level lords would no longer matter.OCRD
AS6hBefore the head of House Valdeck, they would never dare reveal them.vvx
IhnBut Lucian, who had the possibility of acting independently, saw value in using this chance to assess the lords’ inclinations.uGRWD
0Yd‘You never know when it might be useful. The more information, the better.’m9ooBkJ
W8jXj“If the third young master sees it that way, then do as you please.”Pzra
MmhHaving no way of knowing Lucian’s true motives, Gerard calmly nodded.tdB
DjxGWxuSince Lucian held full authority, once he made a decision, there was no way for Gerard to stop him.S8VM6l
MIIsI“However, according to the rules set by the First Imperial Prince, he may only take one escort when moving around.”CuwM
B4v0Cy“That’s right. Unfortunately, Sir Gerard, you’ll have to wait here.”UcalV
7jiSxh“Whom do you intend to take as an escort?”Gti
OVm“Obviously, Sir Raymond.”JPF8OXC
X8C2IEHugo had ability, but as an escort, he was far inferior.O8F5Gt
gGD1eAll nobles were accompanied by knightly escorts; Lucian couldn’t be the only one walking around with a commoner.uORT80U
0h44If he could only take one person, there was no better choice than Raymond, a former member of the Black Lion.mhfAkiW
Ufkqd“Well, now that we’re in, why not start observing right away?”6U4CC
GvkNU09Lucian put on the mask and headed toward the “open-air ballroom” prepared by the First Imperial Prince, determined to see how the other nobles would react to this absurd game.7dhh
gbBg***sGux
7flS5Jz“…There are far fewer than I expected.”Tt3P
aEljLucian let out a sigh without realizing it.l8ce2sp
ppZB0Despite wearing a mask and cloak, the nobles present barely made up half of the number of visible banners.3wbPXRT
PJkOyRaymond, summoned as escort, also looked around and smiled bitterly.Jqmr7
um4qA6n“If you think about it, this is normal. There’s no reason to go along with the First Prince’s joke.”xEDQbX
TiVk“So, without flipping the table, it’s enough to stay locked in one’s tent and not come out.”PX1
H88“Exactly. In fact, the fact that half even showed up is impressive.”hu3Dn
f6LKCWnTrue.KQZZja
ZRAf8uA seasoned noble would prefer not to get dragged into unnecessary trouble by playing along with a prank.jH7NX3
gILx6v9Even if the First Prince felt slightly offended, they would likely consider that the most profitable choice.8lv
nRf6at2“Then, those who did come are either weak houses that rely too much on imperial favor, or people without the ability for political calculations. Or else…”LVnNqi
DOzF8“They’re desperate for contacts.”emBYb
knMpcpUThe voice that cut in made Lucian and Raymond turn their heads at the same time.8G0
WySxfIn front of them stood a noble wearing a mask and cloak, accompanied by his escort. From his visible skin tone and voice, he seemed to be around Lucian’s age.w1IQF
PgIH“…Nigel Crayce?”Drs3
DLUEgNUpon seeing the familiar scar beneath the lip, Lucian muttered without thinking.sUhyjRO
lE3JxThe other man flinched.COjW
4GlIMM2“You know me?”0TpgQc
tTUblOf course. How could he not know Nigel the Bat, a minor baron who, despite being just a baron, had managed to protect his territory until Lucian’s death in his past life thanks to his diplomatic mastery?wneYgX
JEJGLucian had even briefly worked under him in that previous life.uGp1GCh
zYHQVm8‘He had an almost artistic talent for applying just enough pressure to bring enemies to the negotiation table, then retreating.’eES9YXV
55FLHe could bluff just enough to dissuade stronger enemies or hint at outside support without ever fully committing.dhHvb5g
w6lmvHe lacked military power, but thanks to near-supernatural diplomacy, he maintained independence until the end.G6m
cyHGvR‘But I can’t start mentioning past life stories here.’A2iz1a
MNjLucian opted for a simple excuse.Pg4q
NhN“Apologies. I noticed the scar near your mouth and took a guess. Looks like I got it right.”mbY
v9W“Ah… this thing, huh? Seems like something so trivial ended up making me unintentionally famous.”rdPSGfK
RjieNigel smiled bitterly, touching the scar—a souvenir from when a falcon had torn his lip.aKHp
rSdcPcThe falconry story, in which his brother accidentally tossed the prey toward his face, was well known.LShC
z4l3Though rumors suggested that the “accident” might have been intentional.8HNjuv
kpN“Then allow me to guess your identity. Since you got mine right, it’s only fair. Let’s see—House Dampierre?”qLS
dfP5gR“No.”mwsquVX
bZhP3“Then House Kleist?”Bs8hta
3Nj“Also no.”9CR
MKOCFNigel listed several house names, but didn’t guess correctly.KjSPgd8
yfjT5RHe didn’t even consider houses ranked above a county. In the end, he raised both hands with a sheepish smile.LrygXj
yHFpfyd“I give up, I give up. This is embarrassing. I thought I was good at reading people, but I couldn’t even guess your family.”cm5BZ64
IrmTe9X“I find it more impressive that you know so many houses and their traits. You’re not just naming them randomly, are you?”33d
sjYUlo“Ah, busted?”Cbo
UreVE6tNigel scratched his neck, looking slightly embarrassed.bT1yn
nyzsDespite Lucian’s initial lack of manners in blurting out his name, their first meeting wasn’t a bad one.MIGb
8d0RQxSeizing the moment, Lucian asked about something Nigel had mentioned earlier.fph
g2m“By the way, you said nobles gathered here either because they need contacts or to prepare for changes in the Empire. I understand the first part, but what did you mean by the second?”RSAGJ
DDQT“Exactly what it sounds like. The Empire’s been restless lately.”RUE
wRWAs they walked casually, Nigel lowered his voice as if discussing something sensitive.wVOh
M8Y“The succession issue with the First Imperial Prince, the incitement by the Imperial Liberation Alliance, the movements of the vassal states, and to top it off, even the hidden black mages are stirring. Nothing has happened yet, but no one knows when it’ll all blow up. In times like this, a single contact can be worth its weight in gold.”ZJ8
Rhdi66“To help each other if something happens?”I2Y92
oPi0n“More like because you never know when those contacts will disappear. When a storm blows in, it’s not uncommon for acquaintances to be swept away suddenly.”zJRq7
n4HrI see. Even a paper-thin connection is better than none.r46czy
TZzC0a“The veteran lords think this is all exaggerated youth talk, but I can’t shake this unease. If it were just the imperial family, that’d be one thing—but even the Valdeck Duchy is in turmoil.”ChYCnXV
UwpLucian tensed.ldB
ScPi“Something happened in the Valdeck family?”fFezit
xu5x“Haven’t you heard? They say the third young master, who had been retired for a while, suddenly reappeared and started making waves. He uncovered the conspiracy of Marquis Roglan in advance, exposed the Imperial Liberation Alliance’s plans, and even gained the support of Swordmaster Eisen.”TJpSc
WBeuuH0“R-really?”7gNHv
6xevDBD“That’s not something to brush off with a simple ‘I see.’ Now there are even rumors he came as the duke’s representative with full authority to suppress this rebellion. That alone shakes the entire line of succession. No one can predict what kind of impact this will have.”NLFwIOn
7s37aTD“…”sISwR3i
KU1UF“This might be unnecessary advice, but people like us need to act with caution in times like this. When whales fight, shrimp get crushed. I’ve heard the third young master is quite young—don’t be fooled by appearances. Even young, a lion is still a lion. He may hide a terrifying nature behind an innocent face.”i4gcg
YDkqlIX“That’s… very sound advice…”dfnt7jb
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