Chapter 175

Chapter 175
## Chapter 175

Lucian clicked his tongue, his gaze falling upon Dennis, who remained kneeling and motionless.

“I have not even uttered a word yet.”

“His Highness, the First Prince, has endured immense suffering at the hands of the insurgents for a long duration. His spirit is pushed to the brink, so I implore your compassion.”

After finishing his appeal, Dennis pressed his frame flat against the stones, bowing his head until his forehead touched the floor before Lucian. He appeared as though he intended to remain there until Lucian’s resolve softened.

Lucian observed Dennis for a moment before replying in a neutral, detached voice.

“The First Prince appears to possess a very poor grasp of how the world functions.”

“D-Duke, Your Grace.”

“As you previously stated, I am beholden to the Late Emperor. Even setting aside my obligations as a subject, it is only natural for a human to repay such kindness to his rightful heir. However…”

Lucian exhaled a heavy, pointed sigh.

“Even so, there is a boundary that must not be crossed.”

“…”

“I can dismiss his desire for my execution, but labeling me a rebel is an extreme step. To think he would contemplate the total annihilation of Asagrim until not a single blade of grass survived, merely because he felt slightly insulted.”

“As I mentioned before…”

“That his nerves were frayed and he spoke impulsively? If that were true, his strategy seemed far too detailed.”

Dennis found himself robbed of words by Lucian’s sharp observation. It would have been simpler if the First Prince had merely erupted in a blind frenzy and demanded Lucian’s head. Then, Dennis could have claimed the Prince had temporarily succumbed to a fit of madness.

The issue was that the outburst hadn’t ended there; the First Prince had drafted a specific roadmap. Regardless of whether the plan was practical, the moment he displayed a calculated grudge instead of a passing tantrum, it became a checkmate.

“Dennis, speak. What is expected of me now?”

*Recall the benevolence of the Late Emperor; I beg you to remain a steadfast and loyal subject.*

Dennis desperately wanted to speak those words, but he could not bring himself to say them. The scheme the First Prince had devised was more than enough to completely nullify any debt of gratitude owed to the previous ruler.

Lucian addressed the silent Dennis, who could only gasp like a fish out of water.

“Do you perceive now why I confined the First Prince to that dungeon?”

“…!”

“What do you imagine would occur if his presence became common knowledge? Other noblemen would attempt to contact him, and inevitably, the First Prince’s true nature would be exposed. There is no need to describe the chaos that would follow.”

The First Prince was a man who never questioned his status as the only rightful heir and viewed absolute submission as his birthright. If there was no indication of his character evolving despite his grim circumstances, even his remaining loyalists would desert him. They backed the First Prince for their own gain, not because they were prepared to lose everything for the Imperial Family.

‘Naturally, they wouldn’t renounce him openly to save their reputations. Even without doing so, there are numerous ways to play the part of a devoted subject while secretly betraying him.’

If managed correctly, one could keep the reputation of a loyalist who served the Crown to the bitter end while actually jumping ship to another faction. A faithful servant who struggled but failed to save the Prince from an enemy’s snare. A driven leader who, moved by such tragic loyalty, persuaded the servant repeatedly until finally winning their allegiance.

To anyone unaware of the hidden deal, it would sound like a very stirring saga. If two groups conspired, crafting such a narrative was child’s play.

Dennis, perhaps recognizing a similar fate, turned ash-gray and repeatedly struck his brow against the floor.

“I was dim-witted and failed to grasp Your Grace’s profound strategy!”

“There is no requirement for an apology. I have reached the end of my patience as well.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“How can I find tranquility when the First Prince regards me as his greatest foe? I shall clear the path for you, so take him and seek out whatever loyal subject you prefer. Any location will be superior for you than this one.”

Dennis’s complexion turned ghostly. At this moment, Lucian was the most formidable power among the First Prince’s allies. In fact, to be blunt, most of the others were insignificant compared to him.

To abandon Lucian’s protection and seek shelter under another banner? Before they could even dream of retaking Tivron and taking the throne, they would have to worry about whether they would last through the night.

“Duke, Your Grace! Please, restrain your anger!”

“I am entirely composed. I remain loyal to the First Prince. If you require gold or soldiers, merely say the word. I will grant them at once.”

“That is not the concern…!”

“Then what exactly is the trouble?”

Dennis shut his eyes tightly at Lucian’s inquiry. In reality, promising to maintain support even after enduring such insults from the First Prince was a massive compromise. To demand anything further was greedy, even considering their bond as lord and vassal.

“Do not fret excessively. I do not plan to cast you out like a beggar. Once Sir Eisen’s rites are concluded, I will treat the Prince with appropriate honor and equip him with battalions and resources.”

“T-Thank you.”

Even as he replied, Dennis frantically hunted for a solution. If the First Prince departed from Lucian’s care now, all was lost. He had to feign acceptance of the proposal for the time being while discovering a way to shift Lucian’s perspective before the funeral ended.

‘If I can present him with an irresistible advantage, he will stay involved even if he is reluctant. I must convince the First Prince to agree to something of that scale. If I must, I will act on my own authority…!’

A subordinate’s obligation was to carry out the Emperor’s commands. However, if the rightful successor of the Imperial Family they served lacked a sense of reality, he had to safeguard the Imperial bloodline even if it meant exceeding his station. That was the definition of devotion Dennis had studied his entire life.

Lucian observed Dennis’s eyes shifting back and forth and permitted a subtle smile to grace his face. It seemed the moment when ‘discussion’ would be feasible without involving the First Prince was drawing near.

—

Two days later, Felicia presented the Fairy Light Sword she had used in the competition to the tomb of the late Sword Saint, Eisen. Since a lengthy period of mourning had already passed, the rite itself was succinct, but its importance was significant. It signified that she had earned such solid approval from those around her that no one could protest her leading the ceremony.

“With this, we finish the funeral of the former Sword Saint, Sir Eisen. I thank you all for arriving to show your honor. To the magnificent Sword Saint, Sir Eisen!”

“To Sir Eisen!”

When Lucian called out a brief toast at the parting feast, everyone lifted their cups. Since the formal proceedings were finished, the banquet itself was quite humble—more of a meeting to trade final farewells than a lavish celebration.

As the parting feast showed signs of concluding early, Lesta and Harald, who were positioned among the heads of the houses, traded glances.

‘It is best to move forward now.’

‘Is this not too abrupt?’

‘It cannot be avoided. This is essentially our final opportunity.’

‘I suppose stalling any longer is futile. Very well, you begin.’

At Harald’s nod, Lesta stepped out and raised his voice.

“Duke, Your Grace! Forgive my boldness, but there is something I must declare in this hall!”

“…?”

At the unexpected shout, all gazes shifted to Lesta. Lucian, not having anticipated Lesta’s timing, merely blinked in quietude. Taking that stillness as consent, Lesta went on.

“The Empire currently encounters a crisis without precedent! Insurgents run wild in every corner, the Imperial Throne has been taken by one of unknown heritage, and outlaws control the paths. It is no hyperbole to claim the very pillars of the Empire are trembling!”

“Hmph.”

A few mourners and lords scowled at the confrontational tone, but Lesta was not discouraged. In fact, he projected his voice even louder, as if he had been anticipating that very response.

“To suppress this disorder, we must restore the honor of the Imperial Family and crown the rightful heir, the First Prince. However, the North lacks the strength to achieve this!”

“And? What point are you trying to make?”

At Lucian’s demand to stop stalling, Lesta spoke with a grin.

“I believe it is vital to consolidate the might of the North for the sake of the Empire’s stability. Therefore, I entreat you, please restore the Northern Kingdom! Take the crown, end this turmoil, and seat the First Prince upon the Imperial Throne!”

“…!”

A wave of silent shock washed over the center of the banquet hall. It was certainly a time where driven men grew their power using their own logic. But to think someone would suggest the rebirth of the Northern Kingdom.

‘Does this man even comprehend the weight of his words?’

‘Reviving a kingdom, not just a noble house? He wants to unite the entire North under one banner?’

Cold perspiration ran down the brows of the gathered guests. It was a radical concept, but if achieved, it was truly daunting. The entire Empire had turned into a theater for the ambitious. While there were greater and lesser houses among the Great Families, there was no single, overwhelming force.

But if a kingdom were reborn here and claimed all the resources of the North? It would mean the lead in this chaotic age would fall to a single individual.

‘Of course, it is impossible. Who would return to being a subject of a crown that fell ages ago, rather than the Imperial Family?’

‘I recognize the ancient prestige of the Northern Royal Family, but honoring a proud history and actual submission are two different matters.’

‘Perhaps if our clans were on the brink of ruin, but everyone has room to breathe now. No one here would back the rebirth of the kingdom…’

“Those are truly honorable words! I, too, request the restoration of the kingdom. Please, for the sake of the greater mission, take the throne!”

“…!?”

Those who had been feeling secure were stunned to see Harald step forward next. And it did not stop with those two. Soon, several house heads among the guests began to emerge one by one and cry out.

“Restore the Northern Kingdom and take the crown!”

“End the Empire’s chaos and crown the rightful successor!”

Though advocates appeared here and there, their voices did not dominate the banquet hall. There were at most a dozen or so men shouting, and most of them came from lesser clans. Since the number of quiet house heads was much larger, the ones making noise stood out even more.

If the situation remained unchanged, Harald, Lesta, and their followers would only face mockery. It would appear as if they were making empty demands that no one else supported.

The problem was that such a development was by no means beneficial for the lords of the North.

‘This is lunacy. What should I do? Should I at least feign agreement?’

‘Are you out of your mind? What if the Northern Kingdom is actually restored?’

‘If we act as if we don’t see this and the Duke loses his cool, that will be a far worse catastrophe! He has already displayed his drive openly; how long do you think he will leave us in peace?!’

Lucian’s drive was already famous throughout the Empire. In other words, if required, he could try to take other lands by force to expand his reach. Until now, he had only concentrated on internal matters and hadn’t looked beyond his borders, but if the motion to restore the kingdom was rejected like this, his perspective would certainly shift.

It would be proof that there was no path for Lucian to govern the North through peace. He might dismiss it for now, but if conflict started later, they would not be able to count on Lucian’s compassion.

Just as everyone was wavering, uncertain of which path to take—

“That is enough.”

Lucian’s deep voice echoed throughout the banquet hall.