Chapter 37

Chapter 37
Chapter 37

“I’m sorry for the interruption.”

“Think nothing of it. Felicia is currently occupied with her lady’s training, so my schedule was open regardless.”

Even though the Sword Saint had recently committed to a personal student, it didn’t imply he was unavailable to others. Regardless of how gifted a protégé might be, they were only human and incapable of practicing around the clock. This was particularly true for Felicia, who was required to balance her martial studies with noble decorum.

“My time is plentiful, so I wouldn’t dream of turning away the Third Young Master. Should you have a pressing need for me, I would move heaven and earth to be present.”

There wasn’t a hint of mockery in his voice; he spoke with total earnestness. From the moment Lucian had paired him with Felicia, Eisen had harbored a profound sense of gratitude. At times, his appreciation for Lucian seemed to surpass even what one might feel for a savior.

“I’m glad to hear you say that. On another note, how has Felicia been progressing lately?”

“Her drive to master etiquette is just as fierce as her devotion to the blade. It’s slightly painful to witness, however, as her inspirations appear to stem from a different source.”

When questioned about Felicia’s advancement, Eisen flashed a pained grin. He clarified that while she practiced swordsmanship for the sheer love of the art, her obsession with social graces felt more like a fueled vengeance—a reaction to the years she spent marginalized as an unrecognized child.

“That’s to be expected. Just recalling how she used to serve her brother makes it clear what her life at home was like. The internal trauma she carries must be quite extensive.”

“Do not let that weigh on you. I fully intend to make those who overlooked such a brilliant talent pay dearly. Witnessing their downfall with her own eyes should provide some solace for her grievances.”

“Haha, I shall look forward to that day with great interest.”

Following Lucian’s comment, Eisen stroked his facial hair and gave a sharp, chilly laugh. The Marquis had attempted to stifle a genius that would have shaped the course of history rather than fostering it. As a teacher, a guardian, and a fellow warrior, Eisen was eager to see that man face his reckoning.

“It seems we’ve talked long enough. Now, let us examine your progress. Perform the Lion Heart Sword forms I showed you earlier.”

“Understood, Master.”

Lucian executed every maneuver of the Lion Heart Sword he had recently acquired. Technically, he should have still been refining his foundational movements, but Eisen chose to skip over that. Lucian’s core skills were already incredibly stable, and he maintained a rigorous solo practice without needing to be prompted. Given that half the efficacy of a technique is rooted in the basics, he was essentially halfway to mastery.

The issue lay with the remaining half.

“I have finished.”

“Hmm.”

As the display concluded, a soft grunt vibrated in Eisen’s throat. After a period of silent reflection, Eisen turned to Lucian with a grave look.

“From my perspective, the Third Young Master possesses a physique favored by the gods. Your internal energy is exceptionally refined, and the resulting impact you generate is unmatched. Your fundamental skills are flawless, and your ability to read an opponent is top-tier.”

“Ah… I appreciate the compliment.”

“Furthermore, the Lion Heart Sword aligns perfectly with your nature, as it is a discipline that prizes raw power. While it possesses as much intricacy as any other style, there are moments when it is wiser to lean into one’s natural strengths.”

Lucian tilted his head, confused by the sudden stream of flattery. He wondered what the point of such an elaborate setup was. After trailing off into further scrutiny for a moment, Eisen finally beamed and pointed Lucian toward a specific philosophy.

“Consequently, I believe it is in your best interest to prioritize explosive power over technical finesse. This will allow you to capitalize on your unique physical gifts. With that alone, the majority of warriors will be brushed aside like dry grass.”

“…Sir Eisen. If I’m following you, you’re essentially saying that because my technical skill is lackluster compared to my strength, I should just focus on crushing everything with blunt force.”

“Hahahaha!”

“Please stop laughing.”

“Hahahaha!”

Eisen merely chuckled and steered the conversation elsewhere, never actually disputing the claim. Soon, however, a genuine look of warmth replaced his laughter as he moved past the teasing.

“But what I’ve told you is the honest truth. Most combatants won’t be able to stand against you with that approach alone. Above all, there isn’t a singular path to reaching the peak. Rather than through grace, there might be a way to attain the rank of Sword Saint through absolute overwhelming force.”

“A Sword Saint who is merely powerful but lacks elegance. That doesn’t sound very impressive.”

“You shouldn’t be so dismissive. If you reach the summit of martial arts with a body like yours…”

“If I reach it?”

“You might be capable of felling even the great dragons of myth with a single blow.”

Lucian gave a start and looked at Eisen, shocked by the magnitude of the praise. He waited for the man to break into laughter again, but Eisen’s face remained perfectly composed—as though he were simply stating an objective truth, regardless of whether Lucian chose to accept it.

Lucian resolved to take the Sword Saint’s counsel to heart. Putting the comments about dragons aside, he couldn’t deny that this path suited him best.

‘If you aren’t born with a gift for intricate technique, it takes a lifetime to perfect. It’s far more efficient to double down on power.’

In practical terms, amplifying the force of a blade was a legitimate strategy. Being powerful usually meant being swift, and it meant a foe would struggle to mount a proper defense. If you drive a blade through a straightforward path and they still lack the means to deflect it, isn’t that the most effective strike?

‘In my previous life, I faced several situations where I nearly died in exactly that manner.’

Because those strikes were so elemental, the Lucian of that time had no way to counter them. One requires a baseline of power and velocity to mount any defense. This time, Lucian thought it would be gratifying to make his rivals experience that same helplessness. With his current physical advantages, it wouldn’t be a difficult goal to reach.

Two months slipped by.

“Whew.”

Completing his energy cycle, Lucian exhaled a long breath and surveyed his room. The space was littered with drained vials and the remnants of his work creating Diluted Nectar. He had plenty of secondary supplies, but he had entirely run out of the vital component: Moonlight Grass.

“Damn. I can’t really force them to bring more if they claim it’s nowhere to be found.”

Regardless of how much he pressured the supplier, the man did nothing but cry that more stock was impossible to secure. Moonlight Grass was pricey and had a limited market compared to the difficulty of harvesting it, so once a shop obtained some, it usually stayed on the shelves for a while. But now that the supply in the nearby regions had been sucked dry, getting more would be a challenge.

‘If I possessed the formula for the concentrated Nectar, I wouldn’t need to compensate for quality with such massive quantities.’

Lucian felt a renewed sting of frustration. To be fair, the tonic he was consuming was effective, but it was incredibly watered down compared to the authentic version. After burning through it all to bolster his own capabilities, nothing remained.

‘It’s a pity. If it were possible, I wanted to share the surplus with the others, but there simply isn’t enough to go around…’

“Young Master.”

The voice of Hans snapped Lucian out of his thoughts. After a quick change of clothes, Lucian shoved the flasks and herbs into a corner and stepped out.

“What’s the matter?”

“The, uh, Grand Duke has sent for you. He says there is a vital topic to discuss and is convening a family meeting.”

“A family council? Does that include the other ladies as well?”

“It would seem so.”

Lucian’s face grew solemn. Unlike the earlier occasion which was presented as a casual meal, the Grand Duke was explicitly calling a “family meeting.” That indicated a matter of extreme gravity for Grand Duke Sigmund and the lineage of Valdek—something that would likely affect every person in the household.

‘Could it be starting?’

A specific theory formed in Lucian’s mind. It was the nearest major historical shift and the crisis Lucian had been training to join. While there was still a bit of a buffer before the event truly peaked, it was exactly when the high nobility would start making their moves.

“I’ll dress and head over immediately.”

Once he was ready, Lucian made his way to the Lord’s Manor. For the first time since he began learning the Lion Heart Sword, his pulse was racing. If his intuition was right, his involvement in this looming conflict would be the turning point that decided his ultimate fate.

Lucian wasn’t the only person stirred by the call for a family gathering. The others reached the manor at roughly the same time.

The three brothers and their respective mothers, the three wives. And then Lucian, the lone member whose mother had passed away. The stares of the seven individuals clashed in the air, and a heavy air of friction permeated the hall.

“Now that everyone has arrived, take your seats. That includes you, ladies.”

Luckily, the tension broke before it could boil over, thanks to the arrival of the Grand Duke. At the sound of Grand Duke Sigmund’s deep, resonant voice, the family members took their places in silence. Sensing no reason to waste time, the Grand Duke went straight to the heart of the matter.

“An insurrection has begun in Krepelt.”

“What?! You can’t mean…!”

“Indeed, the same Krepelt that commands the most influence in the East. Their military might is the most potent among all the vassal territories.”

As his suspicion was confirmed, Lucian’s hands tightened into fists. The Krepelt Rebellion. While it didn’t mark the start of the era of total chaos, it was the opening shot that signaled its arrival. The conflict that played the biggest role in the collapse of the Royal Line had finally commenced.

“To be exact, full-scale combat hasn’t started. But it is imminent. They have ignored the Royal tax demands and have even begun a mandatory draft.”

“That’s essentially a declaration of hostilities. It seems doubtful the Royal Family can put down Krepelt on their own. Will you be leading the forces, Father?”

Jordi asked the question as if the answer were obvious. When an uprising reached this scale, a grand alliance of lords was typically organized. In those instances, the leader of the alliance had to have prestige equaling the Emperor or his direct representative. Unless the Emperor himself went to the front, there was no one better suited than Grand Duke Sigmund. He was the only one with the Emperor’s complete confidence, a lifetime of combat experience, and the necessary rank.

“No. It is not I.”

However, the Grand Duke shook his head and identified someone completely out of left field.

“The individual who will oversee the suppression of this revolt is His Highness the First Prince.”

“What?!”

The brothers, and even the wives, looked on in shock at the Grand Duke’s announcement. While the First Prince certainly had the status, he had virtually no experience on a battlefield. To put such an individual in charge of a massive military operation was unprecedented.

“Then… surely you aren’t implying you will be going to support His Highness…?”

“Neither. His Majesty desires for one of you to participate.”

A thick quiet filled the room. In place of the Emperor, the First Prince; in place of Grand Duke Sigmund, one of his offspring. This was a transparent and aggressive political play.

‘He wants to bolster the First Prince’s standing while simultaneously trapping us into supporting him.’

‘Damn it, isn’t this going too far? Why pull us into this mess instead of our father?’

The Emperor’s plan was obvious. While the devoted Grand Duke was a known quantity, his heirs were unpredictable. The Emperor meant to tether them to the First Prince during this campaign. No matter what they actually felt, once they were associated with him, the public would categorize them as his loyalists.

The issue was that none of the Grand Duke’s heirs had any desire for that right now.

‘It’s an open secret in the capital that the First Prince has no talent. Being linked to him now will be a burden for years.’

‘I might gain the Emperor’s favor, sure. But what I care about right now is inheriting the Family Head position, not the Emperor’s approval.’

‘Once I’m the head of this house, he’ll be the one begging for my alliance. Why should I lower myself now?’

Watching the expressions of his three sons, the Grand Duke sighed as if he had anticipated this resistance.

“I’ll ask, just to be sure. Is there anyone here who wants to volunteer?”

“Is there a need to search for a volunteer? It seems we already have the ideal person for the task.”

The moment the Grand Duke stopped speaking, one of the wives who had been quiet finally chimed in. It was Lady Veronica, a striking woman with the fiery red hair of the Southern regions and the mother of Tristan. Under the Grand Duke’s inquiring stare, Veronica shifted her gaze to Lucian and spoke.

“Send the third son.”