Chapter 63

Chapter 63
## Chapter 63

Heide collapsed to his knees, his body trembling with intense fear.

“Lo—Lord Lucian. Please, have mercy. My words were misunderstood.”

“Misunderstood? They seemed perfectly clear to me. Are you implying my hearing is failing me, or are you simply mocking me?”

“No! That isn’t what I meant at all…!”

Even as the verbal lashings continued, Heide felt no indignation, only a paralyzing sense of terror.

The primary source of his dread was the casual manner in which the word ‘Emperor’ had been invoked.

‘Spreading falsehoods and invoking the name of His Majesty the Emperor is a capital offense of disrespect. Even as a scion of the House of Valdek—no, precisely because he is of the House of Valdek, this situation is catastrophic.’

As a Great Family with close ties to the throne, any scandal involving them would inevitably reach the Emperor’s desk. Furthermore, any son of a Grand Duke who spoke so recklessly of the sovereign would surely be stripped of his right to the succession.

Knowing the stakes, if he still spoke so freely of the Emperor, the Imperial children, and the inner circle…

It meant every word was the absolute truth.

‘He even possesses the medallion of the Black Scale Knights, the elite guard of the First Prince…’

“I can almost hear the frantic clicking of your thoughts. Are you already plotting your next set of demands?”

Lucian’s icy tone dragged Heide back to the present. He immediately struck his forehead against the floor with a dull thud.

“I beg for your forgiveness! I have traveled far beyond my station!”

“You most certainly have. A pathetic parasite surviving on the crumbs of the Imperial Family’s benevolence presumed to act as the Emperor’s own voice. I am certain His Majesty would find that revelation fascinating.”

“…!”

“In fact, this timing is excellent. You seem immensely proud of your alchemical breakthroughs, so why don’t we visit the palace together? His Majesty expressed a desire to speak with me again recently; you can simply accompany me.”

Cold perspiration erupted from Heide’s skin, drenching the floor beneath him.

The Alchemist Guild was already viewed by the Imperial Court as little more than a collection of leeches. If word got out that a guild member had weaponized the Emperor’s name to intimidate a brother-in-arms who had bled on the same battlefields?

The Alchemist Guild would execute him and display his head on a spike in the public square long before the Emperor even had the chance to voice his displeasure.

“Do you have any final words before we depart for our audience with His Majesty?” Lucian inquired with chilling indifference, looking down at the broken man.

Grasping the lethal reality of his predicament, Heide spoke without lifting his face from the ground.

“I will grant you anything! Whatever you desire! Just… I implore you, let me live…!”

—

With the power dynamic firmly established, Lucian waited calmly for Ian to regain consciousness.

Heide, despite being the master of the residence, was relegated to a corner, where he huddled in silence, tracking Lucian’s every motion with wide, nervous eyes.

“Um, if it pleases you, I could brew some tea…”

“Be silent and do not move. I doubt you possess the competence to even boil water correctly. Don’t speak to me of hospitality.”

“….”

Wincing at the harsh reality of the remark, Heide retreated further into his corner.

Lucian had no intention of letting Heide out of his sight.

‘It would be a disaster if he stumbled upon the data regarding Nectar. The vital records are likely on the upper floor, but there is always the risk of stray notes being left behind.’

Heide was a miserable excuse for a human, but he was a trained alchemist. If he laid eyes on Ian’s research, he would immediately grasp its monumental worth. Lucian was determined to stand guard until every last scrap of information concerning Nectar was secured.

A short time later, Raymond, who had been monitoring Ian’s condition, exited the room.

“The youth has awakened.”

“What is his state?”

“He suffers from exhaustion, but otherwise he is stable. He is capable of holding a conversation.”

“Excellent. I will speak with him. Keep a sharp eye on our host here.”

“As you command.”

“Excuse me? But this is my own home…”

Lucian paid no mind to Heide’s weak objection and stepped into the bedroom.

Ian was propped up against the pillows, his gaze fixed on Lucian.

“You’ve only just come to, so you are likely disoriented. Allow me to clarify the situation.”

“There is no need.”

“What?”

“I wasn’t entirely blacked out. I lacked the strength to speak or move, but I was drifting in and out of awareness. And truthfully… the walls in this house provide very little privacy.”

Understood.

It was an unexpected development, but if it bypassed the need for a long explanation, it was a welcome one.

Ian bowed his head, his expression clouded with deep apprehension.

“Am I to be taken to the Grand Ducal House of Valdek now?”

“Correct. Your master has consented to the arrangement. You mentioned you have no other kin to look after you, yes?”

“I suspected as much. You recognized the brilliance of my discovery and wish to claim it as your own.”

“…Beg pardon?”

“I am aware. I have created the invention of the century. It is only natural that someone would covet such a prize. Since I have achieved the impossible, you naturally want the secrets of my mind.”

Lucian stared at him, momentarily speechless.

The boy wasn’t technically wrong, but his level of self-assurance was startling.

After a moment of visible internal struggle, Ian began to shake, forcing his next words out through gritted teeth.

“I beg of you. I will surrender the complete formula to you. Just… please allow me to continue my work.”

“What are you implying?”

“I know how these things end. A nameless orphan like me possesses world-changing knowledge, so you will drain the recipe from me and then discard me. You will use torture to ensure you have every secret, and then you will cut my throat to ensure I never speak of it again…”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Lucian cut him off before he could spiral further.

He had thought it a relief not to explain, but the boy had constructed an entire dark tragedy in his head.

“What sort of madness is this? Why would I resort to torture to steal your mind?”

“Eh? Did you not come here specifically because you desired the formula for that elixir?”

“I do want it, certainly, but it is far more logical to simply employ you. And naturally, I would expect you to continue your advancements.”

“B-but once the knowledge is in your hands, I am a liability. Would it not be safer to eliminate me…?”

“That is the fate of people who find themselves with information they cannot protect. You are the pioneer who built this from nothing. Why would I be so foolish as to destroy the source? I would get far better results by letting you continue to innovate. That would be like slaughtering the goose that lays the golden eggs.”

“….”

Ian blinked rapidly, his face flushing a deep crimson. It appeared he finally understood that the grim future he had envisioned was merely a fabrication of his own mind.

“Truly, where do you get such dark ideas? It seems to me you’ve done nothing but lock yourself away and study.”

“F-from *The Tragedy of the Silverfall Family*.”

“*The Tragedy of the Silverfall Family*?”

“It was a popular novel in the capital a few years back…”

Lucian let out a dry, incredulous laugh. It seemed that for this young genius, a lesson in social reality was far more pressing than a lesson in alchemy.

—

“I shall serve you with all my heart, my Lord!”

The moment the misunderstanding was cleared, Ian’s demeanor transformed entirely. He bowed with such enthusiasm that Lucian was nearly startled by his total lack of hesitation.

“Just to be clear, being hired does not mean you return to pure research immediately. For the coming years, your primary focus will be the mass production of the elixir you perfected today.”

“That is perfectly acceptable. I have only conducted a single clinical test so far. Constant production will allow me to gather a wealth of data for further refinement.”

“We are also lacking in high-level alchemical texts. Unlike the guild, there will be times when the references you need simply aren’t available.”

“I have already exhausted every book I could get my hands on. To access the restricted archives, I would have had to climb the guild ranks, and there was no telling if I would ever be allowed.”

Couldn’t you have vaulted to the top of the guild the moment you revealed that medicine?

As Lucian looked at him with confusion, Ian caught his drift and offered a pained, knowing smile.

“To present my findings to the guild, I would have to go through my master. And I am well aware of his character. He provided for me, yes, but if I gave him this data…”

“He would have stolen the credit and claimed the achievement as his own. I see the situation clearly.”

Ian remained silent, focusing instead on gathering his research notes. It was clear he still felt a lingering sense of conflict about speaking ill of his mentor.

“There. I am ready.”

In the time they had been speaking, Ian had packed his essentials. The notes he intended to keep filled only three thick volumes; the rest were cast aside in a heap.

“What about those?”

“Those are failed paths—incorrect theories and experimental errors. They are useless; they can be discarded.”

“We will incinerate them before we depart, just to be safe. It would be a nuisance if a passerby found them and gained some half-baked inspiration.”

Lucian signaled Raymond, who moved the discarded papers into the hearth. Only when the last scrap had turned to gray ash did Lucian allow himself to relax.

‘Now, the secret of Nectar belongs to me alone.’

He could not share it with the world just yet, but he finally possessed a strategic advantage that no one else could match.

It was a magnet for talent, a cure for the sickly, a tool to forge an elite army, and a commodity to revolutionize his wealth. Regardless of the application, Nectar was a treasure of immeasurable power.

“We are leaving. There is no need for a formal farewell; remain inside.”

“Um, Lord Lucian… if I may, the research stipends that boy pilfered from me…”

“Would you prefer to discuss that during our audience with His Majesty?”

“No! My apologies!”

Heide, attempting one last time to recoup his losses, scurried back at the sharpness of Lucian’s stare. Ian, who had been watching the exchange, gave a final bow to his old teacher.

“Master, I thank you for your past care. Though our paths diverge so suddenly, I will not forget the opportunities you gave me.”

“You speak of not forgetting, yet you stole from your master’s purse? You have a truly shameless spirit!”

“I am deeply sorry for that. However, Master, you squandered the state-funded research grants on your own pleasures. While I took the funds, I produced a miracle. Please try to understand me as a man of science.”

“How dare you utter such…!”

“….”

“…such profound and moving words. I am truly proud to have been your teacher. May you find great success.”

“Yes, Master.”

Ian smiled sadly as he watched Heide, who looked on the verge of tears under the suffocating pressure radiating from Lucian and Raymond. His master remained, as ever, completely subservient to those with power.

—

With his objectives secured, Lucian made one final attempt to contact John of the Thieves’ Guild before departing the capital. He hoped to maintain a quiet channel of communication with the underworld as a safeguard for the future.

However, John had vanished into the shadows and refused to appear.

“Curious. He certainly knows I am here. Why does he hide?”

“It is the instinct of a thief. He has likely deduced your proximity to the Imperial Family, my Lord, and he wants no part of that light. The transaction is complete, and he wishes to sever the connection.”

“I suppose that is the way of things.”

He felt a brief moment of regret; perhaps he should have used more pressure to ensure a future meeting. But since it was only intended as insurance, he let the matter drop. If the fates didn’t intend for the connection to last, he wouldn’t force it.

Taking Ian with them, Lucian returned to the barracks of the Black Scale Knights. He handed back the bronze medallion and offered his thanks.

“My gratitude. Because of this token, I was spared a great deal of bureaucratic headache.”

“It was our privilege to be of service.”

The knight beamed as he accepted the token. He seemed genuinely pleased to have been able to offer some small repayment for Lucian’s actions on the front lines.

When Lucian went to retrieve his mounts, he was quietly astonished.

‘They have been treated like royalty. They have even put on weight in just a few days.’

The horses had been pampered far beyond basic necessity. It was yet another testament to the high regard the Black Scale Knights held for him.

“May your journey be safe, Lord Lucian.”

“And may you all remain in good health.”

With a respectful parting, Lucian rode toward the secret passage in the city walls. Ian let out a soft gasp of wonder at the massive mechanical gate, a sight he had never imagined.

“Incredible… to think such a mechanism was concealed within the walls themselves…”

“Keep your voice down. This is a secret born of the trust our Lord has earned. You must never speak of it.”

“Yes, sir!”

Ian responded to Raymond with a sharp, disciplined tone. He was clearly trying to adapt to the role of a loyal retainer, moving beyond the mindset of a simple student.

Lucian found his seriousness endearing and chuckled. “Don’t be so rigid. You will learn the ways of our house in time by watching the others. Your priority should be your research. That is how you can best serve me.”

“Understood, my Lord!”

Ian’s reply was full of vigor, his joy at being allowed to continue his life’s work evident. Satisfied, Lucian spurred his horse forward.

It was time to head back to Kelheim.

—

The return journey was as uneventful as the trip to the capital. It took slightly longer to account for Ian’s lack of physical conditioning, but the pace was steady and the weather held.

A few days later, as the skyline of Kelheim came into view, Ian couldn’t hide his amazement.

“I had no idea a city of this scale existed outside the capital.”

“I would think a resident of the capital would be harder to impress.”

“I grew up in a very small town. My master brought me to the capital when I became his apprentice, but I always assumed everything outside the central province was primitive.”

According to Ian, his life in the capital had been extremely sheltered. His world had been limited to Heide’s workshop, the local markets, and apothecary shops.

“Master forbade me from exploring, claiming that if I saw the city’s temptations, I would waste his money on frivolities. Will I be permitted to walk the streets here?”

“As long as you avoid the dangerous districts, I have no objection. I’ll pair you with a senior member of the staff to show you the layout.”

“Thank you, my Lord!”

As Lucian passed through the outer fortifications and moved toward the inner citadel while talking with Ian, Raymond—who had been silently scanning the crowds—leaned in and spoke quietly.

“My Lord, something feels off about the city today.”

“Off?”

“It’s a subtle shift in the air. Look for yourself.”

Noticing the shift in Raymond’s tone and his use of the formal ‘my Lord,’ Lucian sharpened his focus. He noticed clusters of citizens huddled together, their hushed conversations creating a low, buzzing hum throughout the streets.

The atmosphere was charged with an unusual energy. Lucian signaled for a nearby patrol of guards to halt.

“Wait a moment, soldiers. A word.”

“Who goes—L-Lord Lucian! Welcome back!”

“Dispense with the formalities. Tell me, the mood in the city is strange. Has something occurred in my absence?”

The guards dropped to their knees, appearing startled. One of them looked up, confused by the question.

“You haven’t been informed? Today is the day the protege of Sir Eisen, the Sword Saint, is to be formally knighted.”

“Ah, so the day has arrived. I imagine the people are eager to see the man of the hour.”

“That is part of it, but more importantly, the other Young Masters are… Gack!”

The guard slapped a hand over his mouth, realizing he had said too much. But the secret was out. Under Lucian’s intense, unyielding gaze, the guard stammered out the rest of the story.

“The rumor is… that the other Young Masters are moving to recruit Sir Eisen’s successor. Since he can choose his own lord once he receives his knighthood today, they are all planning to use the ceremony to secure his oath of fealty…”

“Is that so?”

At the guard’s words, Lucian’s eyes sharpened into thin slits.