Chapter 36

Chapter 36
## Chapter 36

“I see.”

Inside the primary office of the ancestral estate, Grand Duke Sigmund gave the document in his hands a very thorough reading.

Standing before the Grand Duke were Lucian and Tristan, who had just arrived back at the manor and were now awaiting his assessment.

The Grand Duke eventually placed the report onto the desk with a dull click, shifting his attention toward Tristan.

“Tristan.”

“I am listening, Father.”

“Your strength has always been your speed of thought. When a difficult choice arises, you sever the knot without delay. Yet, there is a thin line where such decisiveness simply becomes reckless haste.”

“….”

“Your habit of rushing to a conclusion has long been a point of concern for me. You frequently settle for the option that causes the least harm instead of seeking the one that yields the greatest good. Choosing the better of two poor options does not qualify as a wise decision.”

Tristan bowed his head slightly, his features obscured by a growing gloom. It was an unmistakable reprimand, making it clear that his management of the recent crisis had been found wanting.

The Grand Duke observed his son’s submissive posture before continuing his critique.

“I will not claim that trading the few for the many is an inherently flawed philosophy. However, sacrifice should never be your default setting. On occasion, you must discard the scales you carry in your mind. There are things in this existence that simply cannot be measured by weight.”

“I will take your guidance to heart, Father.”

“And as for you, Lucian.”

Turning away from Tristan, the Grand Duke focused on Lucian. As he did, the hardness in his expression seemed to melt away, if only by a fraction.

“Your performance was exemplary. You maintained the integrity of our borders, kept the peasantry safe, and ensured the House did not suffer a single setback. I truly could not have asked for a better outcome.”

“You praise me too highly, Father. Given the amount of family capital I utilized, such a result was the minimum requirement.”

“Gold is of little consequence when you have secured advantages that far outweigh the expenditure. As your benefactor in this venture, I am entirely satisfied. And yet…”

The Grand Duke’s look of approval was dampened by a touch of regret, like a tiny blemish on a polished blade.

“It is a bit unsettling that you made no attempt to conceal the presence of the mage, despite being aware of them. I suppose I may have failed to impress upon you the depth of the Imperial Family’s loathing for those who practice magic.”

Lucian felt a sudden jolt of tension.

Initially, he had dismissed Tristan’s warnings as dramatic exaggeration, but receiving the same caution from the Grand Duke changed the weight of the matter entirely.

Exactly how deep is the Imperial Family’s animosity toward mages?

Lucian was aware of their distaste. Since the onset of the age of chaos, as mages began to emerge once more, the Imperial Family had responded to their return with a physical, instinctive disgust.

Nevertheless, the utility of magic was undeniable, and the Imperial Family no longer held the absolute power they once wielded. In the end, their hatred had been sidelined by pragmatism, forcing them to accept mages out of pure necessity.

Given the turbulent state of the world, that acceptance seemed to have happened quite naturally. I assumed it was a standard prejudice, but is it actually a burning hatred?

For Lucian, who had never encountered a legitimate mage prior to the start of the chaos, the nuances were hard to grasp. It was becoming clear, however, that the Emperor’s disdain was far more volatile than he had guessed.

This was a variable he would have to weigh carefully in his future plans.

“Regardless, the success of the mission stands, and it would be petty to punish you for a complication that hasn’t even manifested yet. I shall say no more on it. Simply try to be more cautious regarding mages in the future—even if you don’t go to the extremes your brother does.”

“I shall remember your advice.”

“Excellent. You have both traveled far; go and take your rest. I will oversee the concluding paperwork.”

“Understood, Father.”

The brothers performed their bows and left the room. The moment the door latched behind them, their eyes met.

One brother wore a broad, triumphant grin, while the other’s face was clouded by the salt of a bitter loss.

Without a word, they turned away from one another and walked toward opposite ends of the hall. No dialogue was required. To any observer, the distinction between the victor and the defeated was absolute.

—

Edwin let out a heavy breath as he stared at the confidential missive in his hand. He had been holding out for positive developments, but the text suggested the exact opposite.

I can only imagine how His Grace will take this.

Grand Duke Sigmund had been plagued by a series of complications lately. If he were forced to digest the contents of this letter, his mounting pressure might finally reach its breaking point.

“Grand Duke, it is Edwin.”

“Enter.”

The response from the office was unexpectedly lighthearted. Feeling a sense of cognitive dissonance, Edwin pushed the door open. It wasn’t a trick of his ears; a genuine smile was visible on the Grand Duke’s face as he looked up from his desk.

“Have you received some pleasant news, Your Grace?”

“See for yourself.”

Grand Duke Sigmund slid a report toward Edwin. Edwin scanned the lines rapidly, his eyebrows climbing toward his hairline.

“Did the Third Young Master truly accomplish all of this?”

“Quite a feat, isn’t it? I knew the boy was persuasive, but I didn’t think he could navigate every diplomatic hurdle so flawlessly.”

“What strikes me as even more impressive is the engagement at Greve City. Though it was only a minor clash, his tactical control of the field was without error.”

“I was unaware he possessed such a spark for command. It appears to be an innate gift. He is still a rough stone that needs the friction of experience to shine, but the core talent is undeniable.”

Edwin bowed his head in concurrence with the praise. This wasn’t merely a case of a father’s pride clouding his judgment. To exhibit such poise during a debut command indicated a natural brilliance that went beyond training.

“The First Young Master must be reeling from this. Based on this account, he was very close to committing a catastrophic blunder.”

“It is a necessary wake-up call. To speak plainly, Tristan has become far too insulated by his own confidence recently.”

Tristan had already built a formidable record of success. When compared to the second son, who lacked social standing, or the third, whose talents were unproven until now, his status was untouchable. Because he rarely faltered, he was rarely challenged, leading to an increasingly stubborn and unilateral way of thinking.

It might be manageable for now, but such a flaw could easily turn into a death sentence in the future.

“But thanks to his sibling, he has been given a mirror to see himself. Whether he confronts his failures and adapts, or buries them and hides behind his pride, is entirely up to him.”

“If I know the First Young Master, he will face the truth. He is a sharp man, even if his path has blurred slightly of late.”

“I hope you’re right. Now then, what brings you to me?”

Edwin paused. The information he carried was about to incinerate the Grand Duke’s rare moment of joy.

“…It is a confidential dispatch from His Majesty the Emperor.”

“From the Emperor himself?”

“The news is far from favorable. You should read it personally.”

Edwin presented the letter, which had already been unsealed. Opening an Imperial secret message before the lord was a breach of protocol no other servant would attempt, but for Edwin, it was an accepted privilege of his station.

Grand Duke Sigmund took the parchment and spread it open with a casual flick.

“…Curse it all.”

A few seconds later, his face twisted into a mask of anger, and an oath slipped through his teeth. The letter was violently crushed in his fist.

“Bernhardt, that slippery snake is born under a lucky star. Because a revolt is brewing, he is granted a full pardon on the condition that he finances the entire campaign to crush it? A pittance for his life, truly.”

“It is no small sum, Your Grace. Krepelt, the state that has turned traitor, is one of the more powerful vassals. The expense will be a staggering blow to his treasury, and his standing abroad will certainly crater.”

“But his station at court remains untouched. The man will continue to strut through the palace with his head held high, poisoning the Emperor’s ear. I never imagined His Majesty would agree to such a compromise.”

Grand Duke Sigmund sank back into his leather chair, massaging his temples. He understood the strategic need for funds given the looming rebellion. But shouldn’t there be a point where one cuts out the rot, regardless of the price?

Despite his decades of loyal service, there were times like this when the Grand Duke felt the Emperor’s indecision like a physical weight.

“He isn’t the type to trade justice for coin… is the matter of the throne influencing this? It seems his fixation on the First Prince remains absolute.”

“His Majesty has never wavered on the idea that the law of the firstborn is essential for the stability of the Imperial throne. He likely bought the Marquis’s loyalty to secure that transition.”

“The firstborn, always the firstborn.”

A cynical twist touched the Grand Duke’s mouth. Recently, he had begun to wonder if the Emperor was defending the right of the firstborn for the Empire’s sake, or for some personal ghost. Countless reports had already confirmed that the First Prince lacked the temperament of a leader. To hold so rigidly to tradition in the face of incompetence was reaching the point of absurdity.

“Is he still haunted by the memory of the late Empress?”

“….”

“To call it devotion is one thing… but the cost he is imposing on the realm is far too high. I fear he has lost sight of that.”

In his younger years, the Emperor had been a man of sharp vision. His only true weakness was a deep-seated hatred for internal conflict. Because of this, the Empire had watched several chances for a golden age slip through its fingers. This could have been the final opportunity to set things right.

And yet, he let it pass again. I find myself wondering if another chance will appear before I am in the ground.

A long sigh echoed from Grand Duke Sigmund. As the room fell into a heavy silence, Edwin spoke again, his tone cautious and somber.

“Your Grace, I am pained to add to your burden, but there is one further detail.”

“What more could there be?”

“It was omitted from the letter, delivered as a verbal command by the courier. It is confirmed that His Highness the First Prince will be leading the suppression of this revolt. And… His Majesty requests that one of the Young Masters from our House joins the First Prince’s retinue for the duration of the war…”

Gods have mercy.

At the mention of the one order he dreaded most, the Grand Duke finally covered his eyes with his hands.

—

By the time Lucian settled back into the manor after his mission, the way people looked at him had shifted entirely.

His prestige had been climbing, but he had now solidified a level of influence that was beyond dispute. The domestic staff, who were already mindful of his presence, now bowed with deep reverence, and the knightly order began making transparent attempts to gain his favor.

As a side effect, the status of his personal aides, Hans and Hugo, rose in tandem.

“The same guys who used to treat me like dirt can’t even look me in the eye now. It feels like every bit of stress I’ve carried is just being washed away. Hehehe!”

“I’m sure it’s not all pleasant. Aren’t you being bombarded with requests for favors?”

“Of course I am, but I’m shutting them all down. If I start taking every bribe or favor offered, I’ll end up with a political stomachache, won’t I?”

“A wise perspective.”

To Lucian’s surprise, Hans was navigating his new social power with grace, refusing to let it go to his head. It was partly due to his naturally humble nature, and partly because his years of service had exposed him to the rot of internal power struggles. For Lucian, who had been concerned about his aide becoming power-hungry, it was a great relief.

If he continues to develop this way, I can rely on him as a high-ranking advisor later.

Even if they didn’t reach the legendary synergy of Grand Duke Sigmund and Edwin, having a circle of trust was essential. A leader required more than just soldiers and scribes; they needed a steward to manage the intricate heartbeat of the household.

In contrast to Hans, Hugo remained unimpressed by his better treatment, choosing instead to double his training to keep his combat instincts sharp.

“I have to ensure I don’t lose my edge; I know the day is coming when I will have to stand on your wing in a real war, Young Master. My only regret is that the blade techniques I know are of a common grade…”

“It’s unavoidable for now. The Lion Sword is a discipline restricted to those who have attained knighthood. Until then, you must master the fundamentals you have.”

Unlike the Lion Heart Sword, which was strictly for the bloodline, the path of the Lion Sword was available to the knights of the House. However, regardless of his loyalty, Lucian could not legally teach it to someone who hadn’t officially been dubbed, meaning Hugo had to wait.

Lucian felt the same frustration, but based on his knowledge of the future, an opportunity for Hugo to earn his spurs would arrive soon enough. For the moment, the goal was for him to refine his current skills so he would be ready when that door opened.

And the same applies to me.

After completing his rounds of the manor, Lucian went straight to seek out Sword Saint Eisen. To survive the battlefields on the horizon, he was in desperate need of a master’s guidance on the Lion Heart Sword.