Chapter 82

Chapter 82
## Chapter 82

Lucian presented the correspondence to his subordinates.

While their impressions were mixed, Raymond’s reaction was particularly explosive.

“Sedition? That is absurd! How could the Second Young Master manage a revolt with such limited resources?!”

“He possesses the most stable power base aside from Tristan. Furthermore, with both Father and Tristan currently away, it is not inconceivable for him to act out of desperation, especially since he has been sidelined in the line of succession.”

“That logic only holds if he can actually maintain control. No, I am skeptical if such a coup is even feasible. There is no way the Head Steward would have remained oblivious to such a plot.”

The fact that Head Steward Edwin controlled the spy network was a closely guarded secret, but as a veteran of the Black Lions, Raymond was intimately acquainted with the man’s reach.

If a genuine conspiracy were taking root within House Valdek, Edwin would undoubtedly be the first to know.

“His failure regarding Hugo occurred only because that matter was so minor in scale. If it were a scheme as massive as a rebellion, the Head Steward would have detected it long ago.”

“I am not so certain.”

“Beg pardon? Do you truly believe the Second Young Master could blindside the Head Steward?”

“If he were shifting battalions and resources through standard channels, you would be correct.”

However, Lucian had recently witnessed several things that defied the norm. Among them were phenomena he once believed to be mere myths.

Magic.

A hidden craft that warped the physical world, ignored logic, and produced wonders.

If Jordi had somehow obtained the assistance of a sorcerer or those linked to them, bypassing Edwin’s surveillance would be simple. Since the Throne had been aggressively hunting down mages, even high-ranking aristocrats lacked a functional grasp of what magic actually entailed.

“Naturally, my own knowledge of magic is limited, so this is just a suspicion.”

Even so, as long as the threat wasn’t zero, caution was the best policy. Despite Lucian’s reasoning, Raymond remained doubtful.

“Admittedly, using such tactics might let him occupy the family seat for a brief window. But the issue is the aftermath. What is the point of playing sovereign for a day when His Grace the Grand Duke remains alive and active?”

At its core, any revolt was a move that destroyed one’s own legitimacy. Consequently, managing the inevitable retaliation was more crucial than the initial takeover. Without a plan for stability, the pretender would be toppled instantly by internal chaos and external threats.

And yet, he would attempt a coup while the current Patriarch lived and held the total devotion of his subjects?

“It is obvious the people would turn on him the second His Grace the Grand Duke speaks a single word upon his return. The Second Young Master isn’t so dim-witted that he wouldn’t see that.”

“That is a fair point.”

Judging by pure logic, Raymond’s assessment was a hundred times more grounded. However, the world did not always bow to rationality.

“Nevertheless, if there is even a minute chance, we must keep it on our radar. More importantly, if Hans went so far as to use a term as heavy as ‘rebellion,’ it suggests there is a foul scent in the air, even if it ends up being a false alarm.”

Therefore, rather than spreading himself thin, Lucian intended to prioritize solidifying his foundation in the North. If the threat never materialized, he could simply return to the race for succession later. It was better to brace for a long shot than to be caught off guard and forced into a panicked response.

“If that is your command…”

Raymond didn’t look fully persuaded, but he bowed, signaling his commitment to Lucian’s path.

Having aligned his retainers, Lucian settled into a quiet reflection.

*Having fewer paths to walk actually clarifies my thoughts.*

Luckily, Lucian had left very little of value at the central manor. To be blunt, as long as he managed to extract Hans and Ian, the rest was expendable. Even then, Hans was managing his end skillfully, allowing Lucian to devote his full attention to Northern politics without distraction.

The Hundred-Day Hunt suggested by Calix, the reclamation of Asagrim, the rank of Margrave, and the inheritance from my mother’s father.

As the disjointed elements clicked together, a faint smile touched Lucian’s lips.

“Viscount Harald.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“The House of Calix has called for a Hundred-Day Hunt. What is your take on us acting as the hosts for this event ourselves?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“To celebrate the restoration of Asagrim, the seat of the ancient Northern Kingdom. I suspect it would be a very lively occasion.”

Harald blinked, quickly deciphering Lucian’s underlying goal.

They would take part in the Hundred-Day Hunt, but the venue would shift from Calix territory to their own? And it wouldn’t be framed as a mere trial, but as a grand festival for the return of Asagrim?

“I suspect the Calix family might be ‘overjoyed’ to the point of madness.”

Despite his dry remark, a wide grin spread across Harald’s face.

—

“That boy took the bait? Well, I suppose he didn’t have much of a choice.”

Norbeck, the patriarch of the House of Calix, gave a short laugh while stroking his chin. A person with such a glaring vulnerability had to agree, even if they smelled the trap.

“The real work begins now. He knows it’s an ambush, so he will arrive well-armed. We cannot be sloppy; we must pin him down for good.”

“You are correct.”

Norbeck signaled his agreement with his heir, Godfrey. They had successfully pulled him toward the pit, but he hadn’t fallen in yet. For a flawless kill, they needed to sync up with their partners to set layers upon layers of deception.

“Still, there’s no cause for extreme concern. As long as the event is held in our own backyard, there’s only so much preparation he can manage.”

“U-Um, My Lord… regarding that…”

Marcel, who had just come back from his trip as a messenger, was sweating profusely. Noticing his lack of composure, Norbeck’s expression darkened.

“What is it? Did the mission fail?”

“Well… he agreed to join the Hundred-Day Hunt… but he expressed a desire to be the host himself…”

“…?”

Norbeck and Godfrey stared, wondering what kind of lunacy they were hearing. Host the event himself? How could a youth who didn’t own a single patch of land for a gathering possibly make such a claim?

“I am hearing the strangest things today. I get that he’s scared of a trap, but saying that is basically a polite way of refusing, isn’t it? Such a move will only push him deeper into a corner.”

“Actually, shortly after my arrival, the Emperor bestowed upon him a rank and a territory.”

“What? What are you talking about?! Why would the Emperor suddenly—?!”

“I am unaware of the motive. What is certain is that he was granted the title of Margrave along with Asagrim, the ancient capital of the Northern Kingdom.”

“…!?”

The two men were struck dumb. Asagrim, which the Emperor had guarded as crown land and refused to relinquish for years, had been signed away? While they stood in shock, Marcel pushed on.

“A-And an Imperial Inspector has been sent out, declaring they will go to the Grimaldi lands for a formal handover of the estate. They mean to transfer the house and the fortune left by the previous Duke to his heir through legal channels…”

“That is madness!”

A panicked Norbeck stood up abruptly, shouting. Taking over the personal wealth of Duke Grimaldi was one thing. Giving up Asagrim was bizarre, but maybe plausible. But granting both simultaneously?

“That is Grimaldi, the line of the old kings! and he’s giving him Asagrim on top of the Grimaldi birthright?! That is essentially rebuilding the royal house! Unless the Emperor has lost his mind, there is no way…!”

“I questioned it too. I doubted it a thousand times over. But the Inspector was legitimate, and he carried a private letter from the Emperor himself.”

“It’s impossible, simply impossible! This defies all logic!”

“Control yourself, Father! Let us look at the facts for a moment!”

Godfrey grabbed Norbeck, who was shaking as if he could physically push away the news, and forced him back down. However, he was just as stunned. The Emperor, who should be on high alert because of Krepelt’s move for independence, was handing Asagrim to a Grimaldi?

*It almost looks as though he is blessing the unification of the North.*

No matter how he analyzed it, he couldn’t grasp the intent. Shouldn’t the Emperor be stoking rivalries so the lords couldn’t band together? To intentionally give them a reason to congregate under the banner of the Northern Kingdom…

To what end? Surely he doesn’t think that boy will rule a united North and remain a puppet of the Throne?

If that worked, the Throne would have a massive power block on its side. In a time where they were desperate for support, it would be a godsend. But even if he swore fealty now, there was no promise the next ruler would follow suit. Taking such a massive gamble to build a support base made no sense.

“T-This is no time for puzzles.”

Norbeck, barely finding his voice, gripped his son’s arm with a trembling hand. Godfrey pulled himself out of his trance at his father’s call.

“Father.”

“If that boy actually holds the title of Margrave and Asagrim, our Hundred-Day Hunt is irrelevant. The event will turn into a party, and we will be sidelined as mere guests coming to bow to the new Master of the North.”

“Is there another path?”

Norbeck looked toward Marcel in silence. Taking the hint that he was dismissed, Marcel gave a quick bow and exited. Once the door was shut and a beat had passed, Norbeck spoke in a low voice.

“I have to summon that sorcerer. If it is him, he can manifest his power anywhere as long as the sky is visible.”

“Father?! That is too risky! Are you trying to make an enemy of House Valdek?!”

“We don’t have the luxury to worry about that. Why do you think the Emperor gave that boy such a massive gift? It’s to wipe us out and hand the North to him!”

“….”

“The man who sees us as a nuisance has even gained the Emperor’s quiet approval. If we do nothing, our house will surely be brought to ruin by his hand!”

Consequently, they had to strike first. While it was reckless to ignore the long-term fallout, it was more foolish to let a killing blow land while worrying about tomorrow. Norbeck whispered again to the stunned Godfrey.

“We have no other options. We will hire that sorcerer and then shift all the blame onto him.”

Godfrey gave a solemn nod. He didn’t know if the world would buy the story, but since only one path remained, there was no point in holding back.

—

“Ugh!”

“What is it?”

“Nothing, I just felt a sudden shiver down my spine.”

Colin, a practitioner of the Celestial School, trembled. It wasn’t his first trip to the North, and he was bundled in heavy furs, yet a ghostly chill had pierced through him. As he checked to see if he was falling ill, he heard soft laughter from ahead.

“So even you care about your health now, Senior. You used to be so reckless, claiming it didn’t matter when your time was up.”

“That was a young man’s talk. Now that I’m older, I’ve realized the value of staying alive.”

“Oh my. I never expected to hear those words from you.”

“Stop poking fun at me and just give me the reading. How long are you going to keep me waiting?”

At Colin’s grumpiness, Helen, a fellow practitioner from the same order, gave a gentle smile.

“Be patient. The stars haven’t moved into their specific alignments yet. The shifts in the firmament are endless, and their complexity is infinite.”

“‘Therefore, do not seek to master it, but experience it with your spirit. If you try to measure the infinite with a mortal mind, you will lose yourself.’ I haven’t forgotten the Master’s teachings either.”

“That is a relief. You used to push back against Master’s lessons so much that I wondered… Ah.”

Helen cut herself off and started rapidly dealing cards. It was likely because the ‘stars’ she mentioned had reached their destination. To Colin, who belonged to the same Celestial School but had no talent for astrology, it was a strange sight. Even with the cards out, the timing of the flip was everything.

*Well, since her predictions land with perfect accuracy every time, I assume there’s a method to the madness.*

“Hmm.”

As Colin watched, Helen, having revealed all the cards, pinched her brow. Since this was her reaction to a dark omen, Colin’s stomach turned.

“What is it? Please tell me it’s not a sign of my imminent demise.”

“It appeared.”

“What did?!”

“But it is a puzzling result. I’ll write it out for you; have a look.”

Helen gazed at the cards with intense focus before scribbling a line with her pen. Moments later, Colin, looking at the finished text, tilted his head at the cryptic message.

“Three meetings and three chances. Two failures and one window. If you seize it, he is your savior; if you fail, he is your end?”