Chapter 82
4f9Lucian showed the letter to his vassals. The reactions were varied, but the one who responded most vehemently was Raymond.dq40G
VS7JS4“A rebellion? That’s absurd! With what power could a mere second son attempt a rebellion?”64ekj
567Q“Except for Tristan, he’s the one with the most solid foundation. And right now, both Father and Tristan are absent. It wouldn’t be strange if, impatient after being left out of the competition for head of the family, he risked acting.”zV5zqf
CJgUD“That would only make sense if he could succeed and secure his position. No, I even doubt that a rebellion is viable. The butler wouldn’t fail to detect it in advance.”hiBeD
pDlThat Edwin, the head butler, was in charge of the information network was a secret known only to a few, but Raymond, a former member of the Black Lion, was well aware of his capability.t13a62L
L4KEIf a rebellion really were brewing in Valdeck, his ears would undoubtedly be the first to catch wind of it.RNz1RRd
BS3m“The error with Hugo only happened because the scale was too small. If it were something as big as a rebellion, the butler would’ve noticed long ago.”RhQ
LTZmRF“I’m not so sure.”s6ZsJf
HNYmhBF“Huh? Are you suggesting the second young master could slip past the butler’s eyes?”XHTTIeQ
Pn5aLNV“If he had moved troops and funds normally, I’d agree with you.”rOMHD
nwnvWfBut Lucian had recently witnessed scenes that were anything but normal—miracles he’d thought impossible in reality.ggc
eAub“Magic.”tfpq
lqqX8An art that distorts the laws and reproduces miracles while ignoring common sense.S4mOn
XCzr0wIf Jordi had received help from a mage or someone connected to them, evading Edwin’s surveillance wouldn’t be that difficult.9JXT
IwPaByAfter all, the Empire had hunted mages so ruthlessly that not even many nobles truly understood what magic was anymore.YcdyCMx
UKS2Fi“Of course, I don’t know much about magic myself, so it’s still just a guess.”mfJl
AIo64Even so, it wasn’t completely impossible, so it was worth staying alert. However, Raymond still seemed skeptical.b2ko
Pz5vMmp“Even so, using that method, they could only occupy the family estate temporarily. The real issue is what comes after. As long as the duke is alive and well, what’s the point of playing king for a moment?”IWABK
vcyHAPEvery rebellion destroys legitimacy. That’s why, more important than the initial success, is the ability to suppress the aftermath.yYuuf4h
ea8skRIf not well-managed, it would be overthrown by internal conflict and external pressure.IMd6fKF
sOeEEm“The moment the duke returns and says a single word, everyone will turn on him. The second son can’t be stupid enough not to have thought of that.”VrVvZO8
cCUP7p“That’s true.”YN8
8EWSfXLFrom a purely rational standpoint, Raymond was absolutely right. But the world doesn’t always run on logic.Yr4
hhVVwn8“Even so, if there’s even a slim chance, we must consider it. Especially because Hans went so far as to use a word as extreme as rebellion. Even if it’s a misunderstanding, it means something suspicious is going on.”6oWAM
3i1jSTThat’s why Lucian decided to focus on establishing himself firmly in the north, rather than trying to juggle everything. If in the end nothing happened, he could always return to the race for family leadership later. Better to prepare for the slightest possibility than relax and get stabbed in the back.eMQg7bT
x5PmI“If you put it that way…”kpoAsL
UJPRaymond didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he still bowed his head, willing to follow Lucian’s will.nDXOc
CTHqy7After organizing his vassals’ opinions, Lucian fell into thought.kbx6T
KDBB‘Curiously, having fewer options makes me feel more at ease.’J4qn
pbddbxFortunately, Lucian had left little behind in the family.vAUDw
KitYjD8If they could get Hans and Ian out, the rest was dispensable. Besides, Hans was handling the situation skillfully, so he could focus entirely on the north without worries.R6P9WW
pJQ8WNU‘The hundred-day hunt proposed by Calix, the return of Asagrim, and the title of margrave alongside my grandfather’s inheritance…’CNWXPc
qv9As all the scattered pieces came together, a smile formed on Lucian’s lips.4nGvyrC
8nk8“Baron Harald.”H2G3U6
8mPj“Yes, my lord.”b3f9
Eo598I“The house of Count Calix proposed the hundred-day hunt. What would you say if we hosted it this time?”jvyOJ
g63T9ye“What?”HhyvhM
aTYQQ6“As a celebration for the return of Asagrim, the capital of the old Northern Kingdom. I think it would make quite the statement.”QBf1
xs12agvHarald blinked a few times before catching the true meaning.GliRhiB
2BQ“I worry they’ll go mad with joy—or rage.”pf30F
RKa2Though he said that, a deep smile spread across his face.ACYUu
wYA3Y09***MjNsHD
P1ala7“That brat accepted the proposal? I suppose he had no choice.”vpjJY
MZP8emlNorvek, head of the House of Count Calix, stroked his beard with a smile.vkN
K0CTQZWith such an obvious weakness, even knowing it was a trap, he couldn’t refuse it.AdG5k3
Ecm“Now is when it really matters. He’ll know it’s a trap too, so he’ll come well-prepared. We mustn’t get overconfident and need to corner him without a single opening.”GO3
0IOl6v“You’re right.”OIDf
CfmmAEyNorvek nodded at the words of his eldest son, Godfrey. They had managed to lure him into the trap’s location, but he had yet to fall into it. For a perfect hunt, they needed to coordinate with their allies and set multiple traps.RFa
qjE6“Even so, there’s no need to worry too much. As long as the location is our own backyard, his preparations will have limits.”Mx4vC
DwDGVO“U-uh, lord… about that…”m2FUFOh
e5bMarcel, who had been sent as an emissary, returned drenched in cold sweat. Seeing his unusually tense expression, Norvek frowned.QjA6e
tYN“What’s wrong? Did something go wrong?”mOkUL
gipAwP“He agreed to participate in the hundred-day hunt, but he says he prefers to host it himself.”cZm
Ri0pn“…?”0yti
9PZt6Norvek and Godfrey were left stunned. Host it himself? With what territory, when he doesn’t even have one of his own?tx40yf2
T5RiU7q“Everything I hear gets more ridiculous. I understand he might fear a trap, but saying something like that is practically rejecting the proposal. It only puts him in a worse position.”ovk
RExRv“Actually, shortly after my arrival, the Emperor granted him a title and a territory.”uBoIp0x
IeK“What? What are you saying? Why would the Emperor suddenly do something like that?”TZu
QM220“I don’t know. But it’s certain that he granted him the title of Border Margrave and Asagrim, the former capital of the Northern Kingdom.”ywolE4
qA3H“…!?”U9L
ZRjBoth were left petrified. Asagrim, which had been a domain directly under the Emperor and had never been ceded?43tejr
ejJsDaMarcel continued, his voice trembling.b6Kk
Ec2R“A-and, an imperial inspector has been dispatched to oversee the legal inheritance process. He said he’s heading to Grimaldi territory to properly transfer the mansion and assets left by the former duke to his maternal grandson…”GUyZ
qqp0DuN“This is madness!”NU58M
SkBoyNorvek shot up, shouting.Rmud
VhW7AiZ“That he inherits personal property from Duke Grimaldi is acceptable! Even granting Asagrim is something that, while absurd, could still be tolerated! But both things at once?! That’s practically the restoration of a royal house! The Emperor must’ve gone mad to allow something like this…!”PBE
HCP3rtJ“I doubted it too. Dozens, hundreds of times. But the inspector was real, and the letter had the imperial seal.”1zCm5a
gEy“It can’t be, it can’t be! It’s impossible!”0W4Q
D1qSpy“Father, calm down! Let’s think clearly.”QVNSyfT
sybNGodfrey forced Norvek, who trembled in denial, to sit back down.9fqvInP
xnCHBut even he couldn’t believe the situation.iTA
agvWith the Emperor already irritated over Krephelt’s declaration of independence, to cede Asagrim to a Grimaldi descendant?hQ2BonJ
jf1hb‘It’s like he’s encouraging the unification of the north…’CuB98
lCBhQNo matter how he looked at it, he couldn’t find a reason. If it were the Emperor, shouldn’t he be trying to prevent the feudal lords from uniting by encouraging division?7ykH
r9SsOQeAnd yet, he was deliberately causing them to group under the name of the former Northern Kingdom.WkTMhGW
Zkhho‘For what purpose? Don’t tell me he expects that brat to lead a unified north and ally with the Empire.’EfoIG8E
dnP9dGKIf that happened, the Empire would gain a massive support force. In a situation like the current one, where allies were desperately needed, it would be a huge help.dpjuhnH
WXrVJyBut even if loyalty was sworn in this generation, who could guarantee that future ones would remain loyal?QK9
cwc8Building a support base at the cost of such forced moves made no sense.V8o
UnuD5“T-this isn’t the time to just sit around.”VED
yBK51Norvek, barely having pulled himself together, spoke as he staggered, leaning on his son.Z2W
9eGVGodfrey reacted immediately upon hearing his voice.aJTau8
4iER“Father.”aoZL7E
inRboxr“If that bastard really received the margrave title and Asagrim, the hundred-day hunt won’t mean anything. The hunt will become nothing but a festival, and we’ll be nothing more than side characters celebrating the new victor of the north.”PcRo
ONVhFrq“Do you have another alternative?”nNTZ2xy
BlxYYzNorvek looked silently at Marcel, who had finished his report.OBjOGV
9eK0Understanding that look as a dismissal, Marcel bowed slightly and left.g9b
eQEgFlAfter the door closed and a moment passed, Norvek spoke quietly.yUxMDKd
vSWpTtS“We’ll have to call that mage. As long as the sky is open, that man can use his power from any territory.”SGi
JcH“Father? That’s dangerous! Do you intend to provoke Valdeck?”9jf
ikX“This isn’t the time to worry about that. Why do you think the Emperor gave him such excessive gifts? It’s to crush us and hand the north over to that bastard!”Wdit
p8U2lD“…”del2q
CYbf“That guy, who sees us as a nuisance, even has the Emperor’s tacit consent. If we just sit on our hands, sooner or later our house will fall by his hand.”ljB
V6lzcnzThat’s why they had to strike first.ojkV
1yB4Thinking only about the consequences was reckless—but worrying solely about the future and dying from the arrow already flying toward you was even more foolish.gT8LS
RtaHNorvek whispered again, looking at a speechless Godfrey.IVGLwL9
EL0“Either way, we have no other option. We’ll just have to leave it to that mage and pin all the blame on him.”ffncvqO
rktF2sGodfrey nodded heavily. He didn’t know whether the other would fall into the trap, but if there was only one option, there was no point hesitating.1Zb
cxt5***sDLHd0
C0kX6wK“Ugh!”Va3l1K
yBZysz“What is it?”aoCAi
Q3C“I don’t know… suddenly, I got a chill down my spine.”KugdN
FzbnColin, a mage from the School of Heavenly Astrology, shivered. [1]HOctr51
PNcLIt wasn’t his first time in the north and he wore quite thick clothing, but even so, he felt a strange coldness.puG
jqrooWhile checking his body, thinking he might be catching a cold, he heard a giggle in front of him.Y7kOpL
tmdgkZg“Well, big brother, now you’re concerned about your health? You used to live like you didn’t care if you died any minute.”Xon
lxG“That was when I was young. As you get older, life starts to feel more valuable.”Fwph
Y8H“Oh. I never thought I’d hear you say life is valuable.”KeTt6J
WN3WHi“Enough teasing. Tell me the prediction. How long are you going to keep me in suspense?”WXwTEO
VY4rNk9At Colin’s whining tone, Helen, a mage from the same school, smiled softly.YI0pC4
nb7eNQS“Wait a bit. The stars haven’t aligned yet. The changes of the sky are endless, and its depth has no end.”ldaz1s
boxm“That’s why you don’t measure it—you feel it with your body. If a human tries to measure that depth, they’ll just fall endlessly. I still remember the master’s words.”rLKUQYL
3k8D“I’m glad to hear that. I thought, since you always disobeyed the master… ah.”3xuk
FAk0ahCHelen stopped mid-sentence and began flipping cards quickly.fd965yZ
QtcGMThe stars she spoke of must’ve finally reached the right position.UeR8
gBvkTo Colin, who was from the same school but knew nothing about astrology, the scene looked strange.mePbMk2
ekAPAEven after placing the cards, she seemed to wait for the exact moment to flip them.4HRtIt
3yAfH‘Well, she always gets her predictions right, so I guess there’s a reason.’0mL
zirQtub“Hm…”Apb
DffGuIOAs Colin watched, Helen finished flipping all the cards and frowned.mTAz1Ly
9WApIt was a gesture she made when an unfavorable prediction appeared, and Colin’s heart sank.hJJf
85tcCX8“What is it? Don’t tell me… did a death omen appear for me?”y13l
BUfM“It did.”RMacdH
zHVK7Md“Really!?”TZL4WMz
CzX“But it’s a strange prediction. I’ll explain it, so read it yourself.”ozQ72
Gc8Jt1Helen studied the cards carefully and began writing a phrase with a quill.w9d0gB
e7BxgSoon after, Colin received the finished text and tilted his head at the ambiguous words.RL8
Dd5xVKy“Three encounters and three chances. Two failures and one opportunity. If you seize it, he will become a benefactor; if you let him go, he will become a reaper.”IAsGLv
fq1yiR***F7HJU1J
ZXCJ0w2T/N:CsI5CAG
m7e1: I’m not sure whether to translate this as “school” or “academy.” The term may vary in future translations.wpSX
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