Chapter 154

Chapter 154
## Chapter 154

In the world of the high-born, ‘legitimacy’ is the single most essential pillar of existence.

To be without it is to be stripped of the right to claim any ancestral heritage, including the very title of nobility itself.

Consequently, it was common practice for Great Families to eliminate anyone privy to information that cast doubt on their lineage. This was not merely about masking a disgraceful transgression; it was a systemic emergency that could dismantle the very foundation of a house.

Conversely, even the most bitter of rivals seldom targeted an opponent’s legitimacy. Such an accusation could provoke a desperate, scorched-earth retaliation, threatening the continued existence of both noble houses involved.

‘To think the question of bloodline would emerge within the Imperial Family of all places.’

The aides, paralyzed by the revelation, found themselves speechless.

In a time of peace, simply being aware of such a secret would have been a permanent death sentence. Even in the current climate, the gravity of the truth made the air in the room feel suffocatingly heavy.

“Y-Your Grace… who else is aware of this?”

Raymond finally forced the words out. Lucian responded with a noncommittal shrug.

“I have no way of knowing. It was a monumental decision for His Majesty to disclose this to me; why would he provide a list of other confidants?”

“Does the Second Prince realize the truth of his own ancestry?”

“That is also a mystery. Personally, I suspect he is in the dark. I doubt the Late Emperor would have enlightened him.”

Confidentiality regarding one’s birth is often kept from the individual in question. Being the center of a secret and being a reliable keeper of one are entirely different prospects. If the person involved were to be blindsided by the reality, they might betray the truth through their own instability, exposing it to the public.

“From my observations, the Second Prince displays no lack of confidence in his right to rule. If he understood his true origins, he wouldn’t be this composed.”

“Phew… Haa!”

Raymond cut the conversation short, gasping as if the weight of the information was physically crushing him. The other retainers followed suit, drawing ragged breaths and tugging at their collars. Their garments, soaked with cold sweat, clung to their frames.

“Isn’t this path too treacherous? No matter the angle, this isn’t the kind of leverage one uses just for a political win,” Hugo remarked, being the first to find his footing after several minutes of silence. “If this comes to light, the Second Prince’s base will undoubtedly shatter. But even then, could the First Prince actually reclaim his seat?”

“It would be a grim prospect,” Lucian answered without hesitation. “He never possessed the people’s favor. From the start, there was a deficit of court nobles who truly backed His Highness the Crown Prince. Compounding that, the Second Prince has already tasted absolute power, meaning the Crown Prince likely views the entire court as a den of turncoats.”

And the Crown Prince was not a man to offer clemency to those who had abandoned him. Should he seize the throne, he would undoubtedly initiate a Great Purge, soaking the Imperial Palace in blood. To ensure their own survival, the court nobility would have no choice but to ensure the First Prince stayed down.

“They would likely attempt to install a puppet from a branch of the imperial family with a tenuous claim. However, I doubt the provincial lords would ever bow to a figurehead with such weak standing.”

“Then what becomes of the Empire?”

The Second Prince is devoid of legitimacy, while the First Prince is devoid of political support. Most lords in the territories would refuse a branch royal due to their lack of a direct claim. With the throne in a state of flux, the administration of the provinces would disintegrate, and the Imperial magical artifacts would be rendered useless.

Lucian could already envision the coming era.

“A period of absolute chaos is about to begin.”

—

“Why in the name of hell haven’t the Black Lions reported for duty?!”

Slam!

In Kelheim, the center of Valdek, an incensed Jordi slammed his fist onto the table. The antique rosewood could not endure the impact and splintered apart.

“I am the master of Valdek now! I am the commander of the Black Lions! Why are they ignoring my summons?!”

“I believe the explanation has been provided multiple times already.”

It was Head Steward Edwin who replied. Even when faced with a man radiating lethal fury, Edwin’s face remained an unreadable mask.

“The Black Lions are those who bolster Valdek from the shadows, keeping their identities masked. To put it simply, their pride is not wounded by a change in leadership. Because they operate outside the bounds of chivalry, they possess the luxury of choosing their own master.”

Essentially, they had deserted because they had no desire to serve under Jordi. Jordi flared up again at the insulting implication.

“Choose their master?! Since when does a knight get to pick his lord?!”

“Have you forgotten, Second Young Master? Unyielding loyalty is a hallmark of a knight. Since the Black Lions are those who abandoned chivalry to perform the dirty work, they are granted a corresponding level of autonomy.”

“Call me Grand Duke! How many times must I warn you before you start listening?!”

“My apologies. It seems my mind is failing me in my advanced years.”

Jordi’s temper flared at Edwin’s blatant disrespect, yet he was powerless to act. Edwin managed the entirety of Valdek’s intelligence networks and clandestine operations. If he were purged without a plan, the entire infrastructure would fail, and more than half of Valdek’s influence would evaporate.

‘Dammit, if only I had someone to take this old man’s place…!’

Gnashing his teeth, Jordi eventually exhaled and slumped back into his chair. Even replacing Edwin wouldn’t solve the core issues. The Black Lions had turned their backs on him, and even the standard knightly orders were showing signs of resentment toward his command.

The banished Tristan was constantly lurking around Kelheim, waiting for a chance to strike. Even Joshua, who had fled to his maternal family for sanctuary, was watching like a predator, waiting for a moment of weakness to exploit. Despite seizing Valdek, he was far from being able to enjoy his victory.

‘And now that wretch Lucian, who went to the North, is causing an uproar. It’s making my head spin.’

Thinking of Lucian brought back Jordi’s migraine. When word first arrived that Lucian had been granted Asagrim in the North by the Late Emperor, he had laughed. Regardless of its lineage, it was currently nothing but a frozen wasteland of ruins. What could a man do in a territory without a standing army or a population to tax? It seemed certain it would take a lifetime just to attract settlers and establish a proper lordship.

‘I was relieved by that thought, but to think he would dismantle House Calix and subjugate the tribes beyond the northern wastes in under two years.’

Watching Lucian rise as the Conqueror of the North in a single stroke was infuriating. Ruling a territory wasn’t just a display of raw power. It meant he was now a figure that the neighboring lords were forced to negotiate with and follow. In other words, if conflict arose, he wouldn’t arrive solo; he could lead an entire coalition.

To Jordi, this Lucian was a much more tangible threat than any of his other siblings. This was especially true because, unlike Lucian, Valdek had lost nearly all its allies save for the Second Prince.

‘But now he’s making a move against the Second Prince? What the hell is he aiming for? Is this loyalty to the First Prince? Or just a ladder for his own greed? Or maybe, Valdek is…’

“Ah, there is a matter I must bring to your attention, Second Young Master.”

Jordi, deep in his musings, glared at Edwin’s interruption. Despite the previous threats, the steward was still ignoring his title. However, he was too drained to start another argument over names.

“What is it now?”

“An enigmatic visitor has arrived after a long absence. He remains completely obscured from head to toe in a dark cloak.”

“…Why are you only mentioning this now? Escort him in immediately!”

Jordi barked, standing up with a suddenness that erased his earlier fatigue. The ‘enigmatic visitor’ Edwin described was the code for a courier from the Second Prince.

—

“I cannot fathom the Grand Duke’s reasoning. Does he truly believe that using my brother as leverage will trap me?”

Second Prince Cedric whispered with a complicated look as he walked the palace halls. Based on the Lucian he knew, this political maneuver seemed uncharacteristically toothless.

“If I simply deny the claims and keep my brother hidden, the Grand Duke’s accusations might hold some weight. But that alone won’t move the needle.”

—His triumphs in the North must have clouded his judgment with arrogance.

The response came from a shifting silhouette following him. As if unable to grasp his master’s tension, the shadow spoke with a hint of disdain.

—The sooner a person finds success, the easier it is for them to miscalculate their own reach. Having achieved several nearly mythical feats, it is only natural for him to fall prey to his own ego.

“There are too many inconsistencies to dismiss it that easily.”

Despite the reassurance, Cedric’s brow remained tightly knit.

“Pride and idiocy are distinct. The Grand Duke has always been a gambler, but his bets were always calculated to yield massive returns. And he has won every single time. By comparison, this move carries immense risk for very little reward.”

If anything, even if the imprisonment of his brother were confirmed, the fallout would be worse for Lucian. His reputation as a loyalist might be boosted, but hadn’t he burned all bridges for negotiation with his own words? At this rate, once Cedric took the throne, Lucian would find himself completely sidelined.

“Therefore, for the Grand Duke to actually win, he can’t just stop at making a claim. He has to completely nullify my path to the crown.”

The catch was that such a result seemed impossible. Lucian had to be aware that Cedric had already secured the succession. What kind of hidden card could he be holding to move with such audacity?

—I have already dispatched an operative to the Grand Duke for surveillance. If any significant intelligence surfaces, I will notify you at once.

“I’m relying on you.”

Cedric acknowledged the shadow, though his hopes weren’t high. Even as brothers sharing the same father, they were merely competitors for the headship of the family. Since they weren’t close, Lucian likely lacked deep insight into his personal life.

‘Truly, if just one person were willing to cooperate, I wouldn’t be in this predicament.’

A sigh escaped him as he thought of a specific individual. No matter the scenario, he couldn’t imagine that person ever lifting a finger to help him.

Buried in thought, Cedric reached his destination sooner than expected. Taking a calming breath, he knocked on the door of a modest room tucked away in a corner of the Imperial Palace.

“It’s Cedric. I’m entering.”

Cedric didn’t wait for permission and swung the door open. Immediately, a white blur shot through the opening toward his head at high velocity.

A normal person would have flinched or ducked, but Cedric remained motionless and caught the object with his face.

Thump.

As anticipated, the white missile was just a soft pillow. Since all dangerous or sharp items had been confiscated long ago, this was the only projectile available. Based on the force, the thrower had given it everything they had, but a pillow was hardly a threat.

With a slight grin, Cedric caught the pillow, tossed it aside, and spoke.

“Are you proposing a pillow fight with your little brother after all this time? I hadn’t realized you still possessed such a youthful spirit, Brother.”