Chapter 89

Chapter 89
## Chapter 89

The travelers traded uncertain looks before they tentatively began to move forward.

They scanned their surroundings, fully expecting someone to bar their way, but no one stepped out to impede them. Only Rotier remained a pace behind, his features clouded with irritation as he deliberately looked in the opposite direction.

Taking courage from his silence, the pilgrims rushed through the gates in a single wave.

“Oh…!”

As the vista of the Northern Kingdom’s ancient capital opened before them, the air was filled with collective gasps of awe.

Their attention was first snatched by the masterfully constructed edifices and the flawlessly laid stone streets. Even the sectors meant for common residents possessed a refined, storied aesthetic that could have belonged to a district of high-born lords. Further off, the fortifications of the inner citadel appeared even more magnificent than the outer barriers they had just passed.

Yet, the true masterpiece was the palace that rose from the heart of the inner fortress.

“The White Palace.”

A voice whispered the name as if under a spell, eyes locked onto the distant structure.

It didn’t appear to be a building assembled from individual stones; instead, it looked as though a mountain-sized pearl had been carved with surgical precision into a royal residence. While every surrounding structure was lovely, everything else seemed to dim and vanish in the shadow of that pale monument.

Those who had visited in the past drank in the sight once more, while the newcomers shivered with raw feeling.

“…It surpasses every expectation.”

A soft breath of wonder escaped Lucian’s lips. He had heard rumors claiming it outshone the Imperial Palace and had been skeptical, but this existed on a completely different plane of existence. He found himself questioning what sort of ancient craftsmanship could have achieved such a feat a millennium ago.

As Lucian surveyed the area, lost in his contemplations, a jarring sensation began to prick at his mind.

The guard presence is far too intense. This is fortified like a vital military stronghold.

The city was known to be uninhabitable, but it was officially open as a historical landmark. There was no logical reason for such stifling surveillance once the public had been granted entry.

“Sir Rotier.”

“Yes?”

Lucian turned his gaze toward Rotier, who gave a slight involuntary jerk at the sound of his name.

“The level of security here seems remarkably high. Is there a specific reason why a pilgrimage site needs to be patrolled with such intensity?”

“…Your Highness, I apologize, but I am tasked with the defense of a region under the Imperial Family’s direct authority. I am not at liberty to share sensitive military details with those outside the chain of command.”

The knight’s expression remained rigid, showing no hint of a personal grudge despite their earlier friction. Because his response carried a veneer of professional duty, Lucian let out a dry chuckle.

“That is a fair point. I shouldn’t be poking into the Empire’s private business.”

“I am simply glad you understand the situation.”

“However, you should keep in mind that I have been named the lord of this very territory. If I should come to harm because you chose to hide a clear and present danger under the guise of ‘classified information,’ that burden of failure will rest entirely on you.”

“….”

As Lucian delivered the calm rebuttal, Rotier’s features twisted.

It was all a matter of how the situation was framed. If any mishap occurred from this moment on, Lucian could simply point a finger and say, “You knew and you hid it!” and Rotier would be the scapegoat. If he had just played dumb, he might have been safe, but by claiming ‘secrecy,’ he had painted himself into a corner.

“Sir Rotier, is this truly something that must be kept even from me?”

Even Glen, who was standing nearby, took Lucian’s side and began to lean on the knight.

This city was the gift the Emperor had bestowed upon the First Prince to solidify his path to the crown. If the prince felt the Emperor’s favor was being undermined by a single knight’s pettiness, the political fallout would be disastrous.

“It isn’t exactly that, but…”

“If it isn’t a state secret, then you should explain it to His Highness. Asagrim is his domain now. Even if the details are sensitive, if they involve this ground, he has a right to know.”

Worn down by Glen’s persistent questioning, Rotier finally spoke with a look of surrender.

“Truthfully, we came across a barrier not long ago.”

“A barrier? Are you speaking of a magical ward?”

“Yes. That is the case.”

A barrier was a mystical shield set up to repel intruders or safeguard a location. Often they were just solid walls of energy, but the lethal varieties could vaporize a person on impact. Such defenses were common in ancient ruins, frequently turning unwary explorers into piles of soot.

“To be clear, it is not the lethal kind. It was designed for the city’s preservation and can be turned on or off. It remained hidden because the power sources were tucked away in very obscure places.”

“That’s impressive, though not unheard of in old ruins… But wait, a city-wide defense? Just how massive is this thing if it shields the entire area?”

“It encompasses the whole of Asagrim in a dome-like shape. Its durability appears to be as formidable as any recorded in the ancient texts.”

“…!”

The members of Lucian’s group let out a collective breath of shock.

Typically, a ward was only large enough to seal a doorway. A shield that draped over an entire city, even guarding the sky? Such a thing was legendary; they had never encountered anything like it.

“I still don’t see how that relates to this level of security. You said it wasn’t a death trap.”

“If an unauthorized person meddles with the artifacts, we could all be sealed inside. To minimize that risk, we cut down on the number of visitors and put these restrictions in place.”

“That sounds odd. Usually, those control systems are inside the walls for the inhabitants to use. Were these really placed on the outside to trap people?”

“No. But we aren’t sure what would happen if the barrier was triggered and the artifact was then destroyed.”

“Actually, a barrier would usually—”

Lucian began to argue but then went silent. The knight’s logic was paper-thin. If you broke the power source of a ward, the ward would simply fail.

That was the standard way to clear ancient ruins, so what was he talking about?

As a trained knight, Rotier had to know that. Just as Lucian began to ponder why the man was spinning such a lie, a realization hit him.

“Sir Glen, may I ask you something?”

“What is it, Your Highness?”

“Does Tivron possess a magical ward like this one in Asagrim? A shield that can protect the entire capital?”

“That is… a sensitive topic. It relates to the core defense of the capital.”

“I understand. My apologies for asking.”

Even though Glen sidestepped the question, the answer was written on his face: no such technology existed in the capital city.

Lucian gave a small nod and looked back at Rotier. As expected, the knight’s face had turned a deep shade of crimson, even though Lucian hadn’t uttered a word of accusation.

Was this nothing more than a bruised ego?

The Imperial knights took immense pride in serving the center of the world. And yet, they had stumbled upon a city that—size notwithstanding—was far more grand than the Emperor’s own seat of power. To make it worse, they found proof that Tivron’s famous White Walls were just a poor copy of Asagrim, supplemented by a defense system the capital couldn’t dream of matching.

Rotier likely felt that as the prestige of the capital and the Emperor slipped, his own standing went with it.

The heavy-handed surveillance was probably a desperate attempt to stop anyone else from finding more “superior” ancient technology. If something even more miraculous than the barrier was found, it would make Tivron look like a backwater by comparison.

How pathetic. The North doesn’t suddenly rule the Empire just because of a few old stones, and I’m not challenging the Emperor.

Lucian felt like laughing at the absurdity of it all. It was just knights and their obsession with status.

“Based on what you’ve said, I see no reason for this level of military presence. Dismiss the guards.”

“Your Highness, if we allow these commoners to wander without oversight, there is no telling what—”

“This land is mine now, and I will be the one to answer for whatever happens.”

Faced with Lucian’s sharp command, Rotier was silenced. There was nothing left to argue when the rightful lord had given a direct order.

“I can’t believe I’m actually standing within the inner castle walls!”

“Oh, the White Palace! The lost majesty of the North has returned!”

Sobbing with joy, the pilgrims followed in Lucian’s wake. Even when the gates had been “open” in the past, the inner sanctum had always been off-limits. This was their first time standing in the presence of the White Palace. A few people even dropped to their knees to kiss the ancient paving stones.

“Your Highness, is it your plan to go directly into the White Palace?”

“Do you have an objection?”

“Not an objection, but even our unit is barred from entering the palace interior. I won’t be able to lead you inside.”

“Then there’s no help for it. Lead me to the doors, and I’ll take it from there.”

“As you wish. But what about… them?”

Rotier cast a look of pure disgust at the trailing crowd. The sound of their celebratory shouting clearly grated on his nerves.

“I assume you don’t plan on letting them trample through the halls. In this state of hysteria, they’re likely to break something.”

The truth is he can’t stand seeing them take pride in a palace that makes the Emperor’s look small.

Lucian read the man’s true feelings and gave a knowing smirk.

“Of course. Even if they are faithful pilgrims, the palace interior is off-limits. However, I will let them accompany me to the main entrance.”

“A very gracious choice.”

Rotier lowered his head, his words dripping with insincerity.

A few moments later, when the group arrived at the massive front gates of the White Palace, the entire procession came to a halt. It was the moment a sacred northern site, sealed away for centuries, was finally being reclaimed.

In the heavy silence of the historic moment, a shout suddenly tore through the air.

“Take your place on the Jade Throne!”

The cry jolted the quiet crowd. People spun around in surprise to see the same young man from earlier, his face flushed as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Throw open the doors and take back the power of the Grimaldis! Sit upon the royal throne!”

“…!”

The crowd went stone-cold at the young man’s words. Because this was the seat of the Northern Kings, there was undoubtedly a throne inside. While Lucian was technically a Margrave, he would naturally rule from that seat. But using terms like ‘Jade Throne’ or ‘royal throne’ was a dangerous provocation. The Empire might swallow other lands and turn them into provinces, but it didn’t allow for the crowning of new kings.

“Take the Jade Throne! Rule from the royal throne!”

“Take the Jade Throne! Rule from the royal throne!”

The chant spread through the pilgrims like a wildfire in dry grass. To their eyes, Lucian was already the king who would restore the North’s broken pride.

As the Imperial guards and Glen grew visible anxious at the crowd’s sudden, dangerous fervor—

“Stop.”

Lucian spoke the word softly, but the chanting died out instantly.

In the sudden hush, Glen swallowed nervously. Though they had stopped shouting, the pilgrims were still watching Lucian with eyes full of fanatic hope.

Prince Lucian, please, don’t let this crowd push you into saying something you can’t take back.

He hoped the prince wasn’t reckless enough to claim a crown and declare war on the Imperial Family. But he might try to use this energy to solidify his power. If Lucian showed even a hint of that kind of hunger for the throne, Glen wouldn’t be able to ignore it.

In the middle of that thick tension, Lucian began to speak.

“For generations, the Grimaldi line looked toward the White Palace with longing. To my family, this place was the home they were destined to return to—the ultimate dream of my fathers.”

“….”

“For hundreds of years, that dream was out of reach, but with my generation, the return has finally happened. This is a moment of overwhelming weight. Because of that…”

Lucian paused, his gaze sweeping over the gathered pilgrims.

“Today, as a sign of respect for my grandfather and all the ancestors who never saw this day, I will enter the White Palace alone.”

“Ah…”

“Though they are gone, their legacy is in my blood. I want my eyes to be their eyes and my hands to be theirs. Today, I wish for nothing but quiet reflection.”

Hearing those words, the pilgrims bowed their heads in a collective show of solemnity. They had been caught up in the mindless joy of the North’s reclamation of the palace. But when they considered it, how many of their own ancestors had died in exile without ever seeing this glory? In light of that sacrifice, a period of mourning and reverence was the only proper response.

My behavior was disrespectful.

The pilgrims backed away, their faces burning with regret. All talk of kings and thrones vanished.

Lucian offered them a small, sad smile and placed his hand against the great gate.

“That was masterfully handled, Your Highness!”

Glen, who had entered the palace gardens alongside Lucian’s personal staff, spoke with genuine admiration.

Lucian had managed to avoid offending the Northerners by rejecting a crown, while also avoiding the suspicion of the Empire by not claiming one. By invoking his ancestors, he had calmed the mob, strengthened his own support, and given the Imperial observers exactly the kind of answer they wanted to hear.

“You are a true Grand Duke in the making! With your sharp mind, Your Highness, taking over the leadership of House Valdek will be an easy feat!”

“I thank you for the compliment, but I meant what I said. I truly wanted to experience this palace in solitude, just once.”

“I can understand that. Once today is over, you likely won’t have a moment of peace to yourself again.”

Even if it was through his mother’s side, this was the land his family had yearned for over a millennium. Even the most stoic man would be moved; for a normal person, it was a profound homecoming.

“However, as a safety measure, please take one protector with you. Even if the halls are empty, there’s no telling if some ancient security systems are still functioning.”

“Then I will take one. Sir Glen, would you mind staying here at the entrance?”

“I will do that. Please, take all the time you need to explore.”

As Glen moved aside, Lucian immediately looked toward Felicia.

“Felicia, come with me.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Felicia stepped forward at once to follow him.

The time had finally come to seek out the ancestral secret hidden beneath the throne.