Chapter 201: Revenge (1)

“The reason I called you here is simple. Someone has to succeed Genard.”

Then, several of those who had kept their heads down suddenly looked up.

Yuri curved a smile.

“Starting to get interested? You, the ones who just lifted your heads, stand up.”

Yuri gathered Genard’s relatives and decided to name the successor right then and there.

He wanted a puppet.

Ideally, he would control Bordeaux, and Bordeaux would wield the power of the new duke. That’s why he sought a relative with a weak character or young in age.

“Those who stood up, line up over there.”

They looked at each other, but soon stood and formed a line as Yuri ordered.

“Good.”

Yuri clapped his hands.

“Now we’re going to choose the new duke among ourselves.”

According to Yuri’s standards, anyone who volunteered was automatically disqualified.

Someone who raised their head the moment a successor was mentioned after Genard’s death was clearly someone who, left unchecked, would become another Genard.

Therefore, Yuri intended to choose as the new lord of Yuzes someone who kept their head down as if they were dead.

“Wait, just a moment.”

One of the relatives excluded by Yuri protested.

“If you’re looking for a candidate, why exclude us? We’re also legitimate blood of the Zaetheri family.”

“Because I feel like it.”

“What kind of answer is that? This isn’t some baron’s house, it’s a ducal house! This is unfair…”

Meanwhile, Yuri’s knights were dragging something into the hall.

It was Genard’s corpse. The protesting relative fell silent instantly.

“Prince, shall we leave it here? It might be unpleasant to look at.”

“Leave it there.”

When the body was dropped in the center of the hall, the relatives held their breath. Some with weaker hearts paled and tightly shut their eyes.

Yuri looked at them again.

“So, what were you saying?”

“That…”

“Speak properly. I didn’t come to play with you. Quite the opposite. You want to be duke? Be duke and end up lying next to Genard?”

“No, no…”

“That’s better.”

Yuri smiled as he gripped Guilty’s hilt. The metallic sound of the blade being drawn echoed through the hall.

With the sword resting on his shoulder, Yuri said,

“I’m in a bad mood. As prince of Briol, if all the Zaetheri bastards who conspired with the Empire were executed, it would be perfectly legal. So don’t provoke me.”

In the end, the relative who had stepped forward fell silent and lowered his head.

Yuri nodded.

“That’s good. Stay that way.”

He once more examined the remaining Zaetheri family members.

They shouldn’t have ambition, but they also couldn’t be complete fools. Living as if dead still required some instinct.

Yuri reviewed the documents Jared had handed him. They detailed the identities of the gathered relatives.

“Hm, hm…”

Then, he found a noteworthy detail.

“Josephine Zaetheri?”

“Yes?”

The woman who had been sitting expressionless looked up, startled. She seemed uncomfortable, constantly moving her fingers.

Yuri said,

“Genard’s niece. And you’ve tried to run away many times, haven’t you? Always headed to the imperial capital.”

The Empire and Briol were at war. Josephine’s face turned pale.

“No… it wasn’t for that reason…”

“The culture and art of the capital are unmatched, that’s true. You wanted to be an artist? Learn music in the Empire?”

“Yes…”

Josephine Zaetheri was someone who, despite family opposition, had dreamed of becoming an artist.

“That’s a fine dream. Do you still hold that passion?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m asking if you haven’t given up on your musical dream.”

“I…”

She looked around and nodded shyly.

Yuri asked,

“What instrument do you play?”

“The piano, mainly… but more than performing, I’m interested in composing…”

“Perfect. You are now the duchess.”

“Ex… excuse me?”

The hall fell silent. Yuri closed his eyes.

“What a lovely silence. Music would be perfect. Come on, Duchess of Yuzes, Josephine Zaetheri, play me a piece?”

“Ah… uh…”

“There’s a piano right over there, so please. If it’s too uncomfortable, you may refuse.”

Josephine stared at him in astonishment, then awkwardly stood up.

She sat at the piano, placed her hands on her knees, scratched her thigh, and looked back.

“What would you like to hear?”

“Today is your day. An original composition would be nice. Something cheerful, if possible.”

Josephine hesitated a moment, then placed her fingers on the keyboard. She closed her eyes, thought for a few seconds, and began to play.

Even for Yuri, who knew nothing of music, the level was high.

Her music, which had never been heard nor accepted, now floated sweetly through the hall of Yuzes, where Genard’s corpse lay.

She no longer needed approval.

She was the duchess.

“Beautiful.”

Yuri closed his eyes and enjoyed the melody.

“An excellent artist. Perfect to be duchess.”

Many didn’t understand what he meant and tilted their heads, but the more perceptive ones sighed in realization of Yuri’s intention.

If Josephine became duchess, she wouldn’t govern the territory. Therefore, someone appointed by the third prince would handle the administration.

And just then, that person appeared.

“I, Bordeaux! I have fulfilled the prince’s order! The nearby lords have arrived! What shall I do?”

“Bring them in.”

“Yes!”

Bordeaux’s radiant expression made it clear to the Zaetheri family that he was now fully on Yuri’s side.

Soon, the doors opened, and several nobles entered, their faces confused.

Seeing the Zaetheri corpses on the floor, they were horrified.

“Good heavens!”

“What happened here!”

“This is insane…”

They displayed the horror and panic the Zaetheri relatives should have felt.

One even showed outrage.

“What is this? Prince, did you do this?”

“I’m listening to music. Be quiet.”

“Even if you’re royalty! How can you treat a duke like this?”

“They conspired with the Empire.”

“Ev… even so… this is too much!”

Yuri swung his sword.

With a simple slash through the air, a thin line traced across the noble’s neck, and blood immediately gushed out.

His head fell to the ground. The body collapsed an instant later.

A noble’s life was ended with terrifying ease.

Both the Zaetheri relatives and the hastily gathered nobles fell into absolute silence.

They were experiencing firsthand what kind of human being Yuri Briol was.

“Still defending him, even though he’s accused of conspiring with the Empire? Damn bastard…”

Yuri cast a glance at the nobles, then placed Guilty on his knees and closed his eyes again to enjoy Josephine’s melody.

“Josephine, what’s that piece called? It’s lively and majestic.”

“It’s titled Song of Victory.”

“Song of Victory…”

Josephine stopped her fingers for a moment and explained.

“It’s a piece I composed when Your Highness returned after defeating the orcs.”

“Was it for the allied army?”

“Yes. For the allied army… and for Your Highness as well. A-actually, I was thinking more about you. It’s originally a symphony, but now just…”

“Thank you, Josephine.”

“I-I thank you too.”

With her face flushed, she nodded and resumed her performance. Now that he knew the title, it was even more pleasant to listen to.

“I chose the right duke.”

The bloody purge continued.

Yuri executed without mercy all those who displayed an insolent attitude. Those who survived swore loyalty to the royal family of Briol.

“If anyone conspires again with the Empire or endangers Briol from the shadows, you’ll see me again. Understood?”

“Yes!”

“Cooperate.”

The floor of the hall was already covered in corpses.

The Zaetheri family members and nobles were terrified.

Though they had heard of his fame on the battlefield, they never imagined that Yuri, despite his youth, would handle matters with such brutality.

And they understood something. The disappearance of Fiore Briol did not mean a loss of control for the royal family.

On the contrary, someone worse had emerged. The most terrifying thing was that it wasn’t a fit of emotion.

Yuri Briol wielded his sword as an efficient tool to achieve his goals.

“You know something?”

Yuri, with his bloodied sword on his shoulder, spoke.

“Near the Empire, up north, slave traders still abound. So if an entire family disappears overnight, who’s going to notice? Even if they’re nobles, there’ll be no way to find them.”

It was a clear threat, but no one dared to protest.

They only lowered their heads in silence.

“Josephine, I’ll be expecting more good music from you. Someday, you should come to the royal palace.”

“Thank you very much.”

“As for managing the territory, work with Bordeaux. If that bastard does anything stupid, come straight to me.”

“Your Highness, I would never do something like that!”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, sir…”

Yuri summoned the knights he had brought. Among them was also Vicious, recently recruited.

“Good work, everyone. We’re heading back.”

“Yes!”

Yuri led his order of knights and left the castle of Yuzes.

Even though dozens of soldiers were watching, not one dared to stop them as he and his men passed through the gate after having killed the lord of the castle.

In a single morning, Yuri had not only subdued the Duchy but also its entire subordinate faction.

Yuri’s unstoppable advance filled his knights with pride. The protagonist of a new era was their leader.

“Wait, Your Highness. Your Highness! Your Highness!”

Yuri was at the front, riding his horse, but someone called him persistently from behind. Only Jared was bold enough to do that.

“What do you want?”

“We’re thirty gathered now, right?”

“And?”

“Since we’ll be acting together, I think we need a name.”

“A name?”

“Yes.”

The knights nodded.

After all, it was an order formed under Yuri’s leadership.

Knights place great value on honor, and when an order becomes famous, its members’ reputations grow too.

Yuri tilted his head, thoughtful.

“I hadn’t thought about it. Got any suggestions?”

Jared responded immediately.

“How about Order of the Invincibles?”

Yuri clicked his tongue.

“Pff, next.”

“Why?”

“Another one?”

Then, one of the silent knights raised his hand.

“I recommend the Unmatched Order!”

Yuri looked at him for a moment, then shook his head.

“Next.”

“How about the Victorious Order?”

“Next.”

“Death Order!”

“Pff, fine, fine. Say what you want, let them all out.”

As if they had been waiting for it, the knights began shouting names that reflected their own tastes.

“Advanced Order, because we always move forward without stopping!”

“Storm Order, like a sweeping wave!”

“What about White Skulls Order, like we kill everyone?”

“Key Order! Because we’ll open any castle door!”

“Blue Star Order! A shining star in the sky!”

“Better the Order of the Seven Stars, inspired by the northern constellation!”

“How about the Rising Order? Because even if we fall, we always get back up!”

Yuri sighed. They were all just spouting names they’d heard somewhere.

For a random order, those names might have been fine. But this time was different.

“I’ll decide.”

Yuri closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

He had a clear goal in mind. The order would fight for that cause.

“Vengeance.”

Yuri looked at them.

“I gathered you for vengeance. The disappearance of the former king, Fiore Briol, my father… The fall of Française and the massacre of its innocents… The loss of our lands in Bezos… And the comrades fallen in war… It’s all the fault of those imperial bastards. I won’t forgive them.”

Until now, it had only been rumors. No one had officially confirmed the Empire’s involvement in all those events.

But in that moment, Yuri had declared it. Briol’s enemy was the Empire.

Though he didn’t mention it, his brother Cedric was included as well.

Yuri thought of them all, ground his teeth, and proclaimed:

“That’s why we’ll be the Order of Vengeance.”

The weight of that name was solemn.

The knights wore serious expressions. A knight must avenge the fallen.

And if the debt is written in blood, it can only be paid with blood.

Thus was born the Order of Vengeance, led by Yuri Briol, the third prince of Briol.