Chapter 47

Chapter 47
## Chapter 47

Lucian did not stop his reprimand there. Turning his attention toward the gathered nobility, he continued, “This goes for all of you as well. While your suggestions were born of devotion, they have caused offense to the Commander-in-Chief, His Highness the First Prince. Everyone must be prepared to accept the fallout of their own choices. There is no requirement for anyone to stand up for me.”

“Ah, but…”

“This is truly…”

“I will state it once more: I acknowledge and submit to this decree. Consequently, ensure that no idle gossip or protest stems from this matter.”

As Lucian departed the tent following that stern command, the lords felt the blood drain from their faces.

Though his words were wrapped in a thin layer of etiquette, the underlying threat was unmistakable: if they ever attempted to thrust him into the vanguard again, there would be hell to pay.

With those words, they were effectively barred from trying to sway the First Prince’s opinion later by claiming they were acting in the interest of the House of Valdek.

‘This is insanity. What are we supposed to do now?’

‘What else? We can only place our lives in the hands of the Eight Gods of Heaven.’

‘Perhaps it would be better if I also offended His Highness and took my leave…’

‘Do you wish for your kin to be executed as rebels? Stay quiet and avoid any more blunders.’

Amidst the panicked murmurs of the nobility, the Marquis pulled himself up, trembling.

How had the situation spiraled so far out of control?

In the beginning, his sole objective had been a swift conclusion to the conflict to preserve his coffers.

But now, financial costs were the least of his concerns—he had to face the reality that the family’s most elite soldiers might be discarded in a senseless slaughter.

‘If only I hadn’t been so dismissive of him at the start.’

Had he shown even a shred of solidarity with Lucian’s perspective, or simply offered some hollow validation of the young man’s points.

If he had, he might have been able to use those same points later to argue for a retreat, pointing out that the very dangers they feared were manifesting.

However, because he had publicly and harshly rebuked Lucian, that path was now blocked.

Now, regardless of the disaster ahead, they were tethered to the whims of that arrogant fool, the First Prince.

‘…I recall a saying about how a ruler who is either a genius or an idiot is equally ruinous for his servants.’

The Marquis thought back to a lesson his father had imparted many years ago.

A brilliant sovereign keeps his subordinates in an iron grip, whereas a foolish one drags his followers down into the very abyss he falls into.

The majority of his father’s wisdom had proven vital, but that specific proverb had always eluded him.

He had long believed that a dim-witted monarch was a blessing, as it would provide a puppet he could pull the strings of as he pleased.

‘So, this is the reality of those words.’

A bitter, empty laugh escaped the Marquis as he contemplated his situation, seeing himself being pulled toward destruction.

He had championed the First Prince, assuming he would be a manageable tool due to his lack of wit, and now he was a prisoner of his own machinations. It was the ultimate irony of reaping what one has sown.

He could only hope that the depth of the pit they were tumbling into was not bottomless.

—

Despite the blatant tyranny displayed by the First Prince, not a soul dared to speak up for Lucian.

To be more accurate, they were essentially paralyzed.

The First Prince, who gave the command, and Lucian, who was the subject of it, both made it clear they wanted no interference.

Attempting to defend him at this stage would only result in drawing fire from both the Prince and the man they were trying to “save.”

The nobility could do nothing but watch with heavy hearts as Lucian made his exit.

Only one individual broke the silence.

“Brother, this is a mistake.”

The following day, as they prepared to coordinate the next movement, the Second Prince—who had been a shadow until then—made his move.

As he drew himself up, his tall frame and striking features—which had been masked by his submissive demeanor—suddenly commanded the room’s attention.

At the sight, the First Prince’s expression twisted into a look of pure loathing.

“You’ve sat there like a statue this entire time, so why are you making noise now?”

“Because I held onto the hope that after a night of reflection, you would have regained your composure and revoked the decree, Brother.”

“And since I haven’t, you think it’s your place to lecture me? By what right? Do you even possess a rank high enough to have a voice here?”

The Second Prince had participated only as a subordinate to the First Prince, holding no formal command in the army.

While his royal blood placed him second only to his brother in rank, he lacked the technical authority to dictate terms in a council of war.

Nevertheless, the Second Prince did not waver, locking eyes with the First Prince.

“I have no formal rank. However, as a scion of the Imperial Family, it is my obligation to guide you when you veer away from the path of honor.”

“What? Veering from honor?”

“Indeed. The Grand Ducal House of Valdek is the pillar of our Empire and its most steadfast ally. Even if you perceived a fault in them, they do not deserve such disrespect—yet you have exiled them simply for providing an honest assessment. I beg you, reconsider.”

“Are you trying to school me? Are you claiming to understand honor better than I do!”

The First Prince bellowed in a towering rage, but the Second Prince did not back down.

Instead, as a demonstration of his feigned devotion, he dropped to his knees and raised his voice even higher.

“No man is infallible! True strength lies in the bravery to listen to advisors and rectify a flawed course of action!”

“Silence! You are clearly just trembling with fear because the Valdek legion is no longer at your side. If you are so terrified, then you can rot in the rear as well! I shall conclude this campaign on my own!”

“Brother!”

“Prepare to move out! We will press forward at maximum speed, replenish our supplies at the next settlement, and then lay siege to Bodium to take the fortress!”

The First Prince cut the meeting short, acting as though the mere sound of another voice was unbearable.

The lords were left in a state of profound discomfort following the explosive confrontation between the royal brothers.

They were stunned that the Second Prince, who had been so quiet and unremarkable, possessed such hidden steel.

‘What was the motive behind that? Was it a genuine plea for justice? Or a calculated move to gain influence now that there’s an opening?’

‘It is impossible to tell if the Second Prince harbors ambitions for the crown or if he truly possesses no thirst for power.’

Had it been a trivial matter, they might have gossiped, but this was a situation so precarious that they dared not even whisper about it.

In the heavy, awkward quiet, the lords began to filter out of the tent.

Lucian was among those leaving when he was intercepted.

“Lord Lucian.”

The Second Prince, Cedric, moved toward Lucian with a scripted look of regret on his face.

Lucian promptly inclined his head toward the approaching royal.

“I offer my greetings to His Highness the Second Prince.”

“Please, let us dispense with the formalities. I have come to offer my apologies, and your deference only adds to my burden of guilt.”

“An apology? For what reason would Your Highness need to apologize to a man like me?”

“I wished to express my deep regret for failing to protect your reputation. I am truly sorry.”

“You should not let it trouble you.”

“How could I not? To witness a faithful servant of the throne being cast aside so shamefully…”

“That isn’t what I was referring to.”

Lucian allowed a faint, knowing smile to touch his lips as he met Cedric’s persistent gaze.

“I meant that since you have successfully achieved your aim of staying safely in the rear, there is no further need for this performance.”

“…!”

Cedric was struck motionless.

Before he could find his voice to demand an explanation for Lucian’s bold words, the young lord continued.

“His Highness the First Prince is walking toward a precipice. Now that the Grand Accord is a dead letter, the enemy’s potential moves are limitless, yet he is marching blindly into their snare.”

“Are you suggesting that I used your misfortune to ensure my own safety?”

“You surely heard my request that no one defend me. Even if you hadn’t, a man with the intellect of the Second Prince could not possibly have missed the implications of the situation.”

“Lord Lucian, I believe you are laboring under a serious misconception.”

Cedric spoke with intensity, staring directly into Lucian’s eyes.

“I only intervened because I feared the bond between the crown and its subjects would be irreparably damaged. I did not exploit you for my own protection. You may despise me if you wish, but I will not have you believing you were a mere pawn.”

“I ask for your pardon if my bluntness was offensive. But as the dice have been cast, I should go and begin my own preparations for the march.”

“Preparations? You have been ordered to stay behind by my brother, have you not?”

“But the moment for us to move will come soon enough, will it not? Fear not; I shall deploy as reinforcements the moment the summons arrives.”

With those cryptic parting words, Lucian turned his back and strolled away from Cedric.

Cedric stood frozen, his eyes fixed on Lucian’s retreating figure until he was long gone.

—

A short while later, once Lucian was out of sight, Cedric dropped his mask of concern and let out a long, weary breath.

“Lucian Valdek… what a truly formidable man.”

—Formidable? From where I stand, he appeared to be nothing more than a prideful brat. Not only did he fail to appreciate your stature, but he also dared to presume your intentions, did he not?

The shadow beneath Cedric’s feet seemed to ripple, and a low, gravelly voice drifted up from the darkness.

It was a chilling phenomenon, as if a ghost were lurking within the silhouette, conversing with him.

Cedric walked toward a more private clearing before answering the shadow.

“A prideful brat, you say. That’s quite funny. In reality, he was the one who just exposed my own arrogance during our little chat.”

—…I apologize, my Lord, but I am too dim to grasp the meaning of your words.

“Anyone with a shred of intuition could see that I used him as a shield. But deducing what lies beyond that move is a different level of perception entirely.”

—What lies beyond, you ask?

“The necessity of stepping in to save my brother.”

The original strategy had already been tossed out the window.

Was it possible for the First Prince, Claude, to crush the uprising simply by throwing superior numbers and better-armed soldiers at the problem?

“It is a fantasy. Everyone is aware of it, even if they lack the spine to say it aloud. This campaign is already a disaster. My brother will inevitably face defeat. The only variable is how devastating that loss will be.”

In a perfect world, the rebels would dismantle the imperial forces and take Claude captive.

But what if the enemy, fueled by years of bitterness, lost their senses and executed Claude on the spot?

To Cedric, that was a nightmare scenario he could not permit.

“If it only results in the Empire losing face, that is manageable. In the worst case, His Majesty might lose his grip on reality in a fit of grief and vow to eradicate Krepelt, burning through the Empire’s last remaining resources to do so. And what follows such a path?”

The Empire was already pushed to its limits.

If the very pillars of the state were pulled down just to satisfy a grudge, the Empire would fracture and fall.

Thus, Cedric was obligated to rescue Claude at any cost.

As long as Claude was breathing, the Emperor would maintain some semblance of logic.

“My brother will eventually see reason and pull back once he tastes failure and his life is in jeopardy. However, I must ensure reinforcements arrive at precisely the right moment, just in case.”

—Are you saying the one you planned to use as that safety net was that man?

“It is the one thousand elite warriors of the Grand Ducal House of Valdek. They are more than capable of pulling my brother out of the fire.”

Having assessed the danger, Cedric had used the excuse of Lucian’s treatment to secure his own spot in the safe rear.

There was no sense in risking his own neck in a doomed vanguard.

Simultaneously, he had approached Lucian, the commander of those troops, to cultivate a sense of obligation and friendship.

When the crisis hit, wouldn’t it be easier to ask a favor of a “friend” rather than trying to force a disgruntled lord into battle with a royal command?

“But he looked right through me. He saw that I used him to retreat, that I was performing a charade of empathy to win his trust—and that I intended to cash in that trust later to save my brother’s life.”

—…

“When he mentioned he was preparing for the march at the end, he was laughing at me. He was telling me to stop pretending to be sincere when I’m doing something I never wanted to do anyway. He was telling me not to fret, because he’ll provide the muscle when the time comes, without the need for my little theater.”

Cedric exhaled deeply, his gaze drifting up to the clouds.

Had he ever had his internal clockwork so accurately dismantled by another?

He had prided himself on being the master of the board when it came to reading and leading people.

“The world is a vast place. I should be embarrassed for ever thinking I was the only one playing the game.”

—What is your move?

“In regards to what? Lord Lucian?”

—If he possesses such insight, he is a threat. Perhaps it would be wise to eliminate him before he becomes a problem…

“Don’t even breathe such a thought. If you disturb a hornet’s nest like that without a plan, neither of us will live to regret it.”

Cedric offered a pained smile at the shadow’s suggestion.

This was a man who had decoded his entire plot and then shoved the pieces back across the board at him.

If Lucian had revealed his hand knowing full well it would make him a marked man, he was undoubtedly prepared for any retaliation.

“He is the most dangerous enemy one could possibly make. I must ensure he becomes an ally, no matter what it takes.”

More than anything, having a mind like that on his side would be the ultimate asset when he finally claimed the throne.

As Cedric stared at the path Lucian had taken, his eyes burned with the cold ambition of a predator looking to claim a rare and valuable prize.