Chapter 158

Chapter 158: Patriot

Valdemar Golt.
House Golt was a founding family of great merit, and its descendants upheld a reputation commensurate with that status.
As is typical in hereditary nobility, when the preceding generation is outstanding, expectations for the next generation naturally expand.
However, nine times out of ten, they fail to meet those inflated expectations.
Valdemar Golt’s father was one such case.
He had left behind the greatest achievements in House Golt, and it was said Valdemar would never surpass him.
Nevertheless, he surpassed even such a father to become a Grand Archduke.
He never hesitated.
That was the reason Archduke Golt managed to succeed.
Having displayed active elitist politics and a heroic demeanor, he was equally ruthless in his machinations behind the scenes.
If something appeared to be an obstacle, he cast it aside; he repeated the act of eliminating threats.
As Valdemar grew older and accumulated experience, he rarely overestimated those younger than himself.
That rare individual was none other than Ferda.
‘Ferda Valdrova.’
Ferda Valdrova’s reputation within the imperial capital was not favorable.
Being presented as the Archduke’s fiancé meant a low-ranking son who could not be put to use, and Ferda was precisely that sort of figure.
Those who genuinely believed he was a capable regent and lord were no different from fools who still believed in childhood fairy tales.
Furthermore, what about this procession?
“The one who ought to be the face of the Archduke’s domain doing something so foolish…”
“As expected, rumors regarding the nobility turn out to be nothing more than rumors.”
Because he proceeded with a cold expression and without smiling in a somber manner, the nobility’s reaction was all the more severe.
It was no different from dampening the mood at a festival in full swing with a funeral-like atmosphere.
Failing to read the room is a significant issue.
He is a clueless bastard, as the world would say.
‘That was true—until he refused to yield.’
The murmurs when he refused to back down sounded just like that to Valdemar.
He had cornered him.
Refusing to accept the conclusion of the Crisis Countermeasures Headquarters was an act that eroded authority.
No one in their right mind would do such a thing.
It was an insolent act showing no respect to Valdemar, who was hailed as the Hero of the People.
‘Yet I should not have allowed him to speak there.’
Valdemar recognized it was his own mistake, born of complacency.
He never imagined the man would flip the board with the narrow opening provided for his self-destruction.
That mechanical, oblivious human—within the words he spoke for his fiancée, there was genuine emotion.
That emotion carried a greater cause and seized the power to captivate the audience.
As though kneeling were merely to gather momentum, he struck through the gap and soared upward.
Because of that, he failed to shape public opinion to believe that this disaster occurred because the Far East failed in its defense.
He had to alter the tilting atmosphere.
Thus, he postponed the ruling and called a recess.
‘Ferda Valdrova…’
Valdemar recalled that name and information in his mind.
He weighed the value on the scales of his heart.
How much is that bastard worth?
“Elder.”
It was then.
Alexander approached and interrupted him.
Valdemar read Alexander’s eyes.
They were brimming with discontent.
“I have no business with you right now. Begone.”
Valdemar brushed him aside and stepped forward.
“Is this not different from what we discussed?”
“What did we discuss? Was it not that I would spare your life?”
“That is so.”
“For a severed head, it remains attached quite well. A Dullahan would be envious.”
“That is not true…! If you hand the regency over to my younger brother, that bastard who is receiving all the expectations right now, how is that any different from giving me a time limit?”
Alexander yelled in a shrill voice.
Valdemar sighed and turned his head.
His expression shone with chilling contempt.
“Fool. How can you not see that this is the best option?”
“The opportunity shifted to my younger brother; how is that the best?”
“If you had fathered a prince in your spare time, there would have been no need to go this far.”
Alexander’s face flushed bright red.
“Th-that is…”
“Why? Ashamed? True, it must be shameful. Rumor has it the Crown Princess’s body is unfit for pregnancy, yet you know the issue truly lies within yourself.”
“…”
“Your current appearance, with your head bowed like that, looks exactly like what hangs between your legs.”
He merely clicked his tongue, yet Alexander’s shins tingled with numbness.
Completely crushed in spirit, Alexander could not even muster a retort.
“I will say it again. I gave you an opportunity, boy.”
“An opportunity, you say?”
“The throne is a seat that endures every humiliation. Tearing someone down is easy; enduring is arduous. How many years did you last there?”
“Ten… ten years.”
“Indeed, ten years; you are at an age where you can write characters with your eyes closed. Simply by glancing at the imperial map, the landscape should be vivid. You would know where the rotten parts lie, where crises are on the verge of erupting.”
Valdemar patted Alexander on the shoulder.
“In terms of information, you already stand above Ureas. It is a game where you are five moves ahead and three points up. If you cannot win from that position, would it not be easier on your heart to give up?”
“I apologize, Elder. I spoke out of turn…”
“Enough.”
He held no expectations for Alexander.
“Did you do as I instructed?”
“Yes, of course. He cooperated very actively.”
“Good, as it should be…”
The plan was progressing smoothly.
Yet his troubled expression did not ease in the slightest.
His mind was consumed by a single woman.
“There is one thing that intrigues me.”
“Please, speak.”
“Regarding Olivia.”
Valdemar leaned in and asked.
“What is that girl’s relationship with the Regent?”
“Eh? Well… they have spoken often and grown close, but not as man and woman.”
“Are you certain?”
“O-of course! After all, I see that woman most of the time; how could I not know her heart? The Regent is merely one fish among many in her pond.”
He claimed to be certain, yet those words only stirred further suspicion.
Valdemar was a man lauded as the Hero of the People.
To maintain that standing, he needed the ability to see through people’s true intentions, and he believed he possessed a sharp grasp of it.
Thus, he also knew Olivia’s condition well.
She constantly wore a mask, turning men into her allies to escape predicaments.
Olivia was splendidly performing that tightrope walk where a single misstep meant a fatal fall.
Her warm smile held coldness; her fluttering voice harbored a stubbornness that lingered in the ears.
‘Such an Olivia…’
Yet the look in Olivia’s eyes as she gazed at Ferda was different.
Seeing that expression, a woman kept deep in the recesses of his memory came to mind.
Stella Arken.
‘The woman of destiny who should have been mine.’
Yet that destiny scattered futilely like cherry blossoms.
Valdemar lamented.
Over his selfishness that denied destiny.
Over the cold death that destiny tore apart.
Once was enough for such grief.
There would be no further tragedy.
Valdemar decided to dispatch a letter.

After the recess, Ferda made his way to his lodgings.
The place where they stayed was a luxury inn designated for nobles.
A single room was quite spacious, yet Ferda rented the entire establishment.
That was not all.
For secondary security, he pitched tents to completely block any information leaks.
Consillus led his men to inspect security and returned to the tent to report.
“I have checked all the windows, and there are no suspicious individuals within the surrounding radius.”
“Good work, Count.”
“It is nothing that could be called hard labor. A simple task like this.”
“Not only the security inspection, but I also express my gratitude for your fine performance at this Golden Congress.”
At that, Consillus let out a soft chuckle.
“That matter is rather something I am grateful for. Ever since arriving in the Far East, I have rarely had the opportunity to present myself at the Golden Congress…”
Had other nobles said it, he would have considered it an obsession with the Golden Congress, but coming from Consillus, it sounded purely like the desire to stand as a representative of the Far East.
“Now we must prepare for tomorrow.”
“If there is anything this old man can assist with, please let me know. I shall gladly follow.”
Consillus placed a hand over his chest and bowed politely.
“I apologize, but moving forward, it is best that you do not involve yourself in this matter.”
“May I ask the reason?”
“Protecting it clumsily could trigger an adverse reaction. At this stage, simply keep watch over me.”
“Mmm…”
Consillus could not easily say he understood.
The future of the Far East rested upon Ferda’s shoulders.
He looked at Ferda with concerned eyes and ultimately replied.
“Understood. This old man shall keep watch over the Regent.”
Consillus paid his respects and attempted to withdraw.
Just as he was about to step out, a guard knight lifted the tent flap and spoke to Consillus.
“Regent.”
He returned to Ferda’s side and handed over the item the knight had delivered.
Consillus’s expression darkened.
“A letter has arrived.”
Ferda unfolded the letter.
The content was brief and sharp.
— I shall prepare a carriage. Come alone.
The signature line bore the name of Valdemar Golt.
Ferda decided to gladly play along with the summons.

A carriage pulled up before Ferda, and he entered the imperial palace.
He had clearly come by Golt’s invitation, yet there were three to four times more attendants welcoming him than when Olivia had received him.
It was the very picture of irony.
He was a guest here, yet they treated him as the host.
Ferda proceeded to the reception room where Valdemar awaited.
“Welcome, Regent Ferda.”
“Greetings to the Archduke.”
“Let us not waste time on useless greetings or formalities. People like us have no need for that, do we?”
If he put it that way, Ferda could only be grateful.
“Understood.”
Ferda straightened his back and approached.
Valdemar gestured to a servant.
The servant prepared a teapot and liquor as if already prepared.
Properly brewed black tea was placed before Ferda, and whiskey on the rocks before Valdemar.
Ferda drank the tea first without a word.
“Observing what you do, I am truly impressed.”
Valdemar swirled the ice and downed a glass in one gulp.
“I did not underestimate you, but neither did I overestimate you. I thought I was adequately prepared, yet you struck my blind spot.”
“Is that so?”
“Rookie, you may rejoice a bit more. Receiving praise from me is exceptionally rare. You are far better than that bastard Alexander.”
“Being compared to the Crown Prince makes it sound even less flattering.”
“That bastard possesses the temperament of an idiot, but he has common sense. He knows full well which side to cling to in order to survive.”
Valdemar let out a chuckle.
“So it appears you have already prepared for a scenario like this postponement, and I have a rough idea of what you are plotting next, so let us speak of that.”
It felt as though he were probing for information.
Yet it was different from mere fishing.
“Regarding Lord Urey.”
Ferda was startled by those words.
He never anticipated he would bring it up so openly.
“Your informants have likely noticed already, but Duke Urey has arrived.”
“Is that so?”
“Since incurring debts, he is no different from a toothless tiger. But that does not mean he can be disregarded. Do you know why?”
“Because he has nothing left to lose.”
Valdemar nodded.
“The world says the grief of losing a child is that profound. Those who end up like that take on extreme aspects. Rage or resignation. Consillus chose resignation, and Urey chose rage.”
“Is that so?”
“Do you believe you can halt that rage?”
Unknown.
Rage is like fire.
A flame grown to its peak is something not even Ferda could take lightly.
Faced with Ferda’s inability to respond easily, Valdemar continued as though the silence itself were an answer.
“You seem wiser than I envisioned, so this conversation should proceed smoothly. Let us have another drink first. How about you?”
“Half of mine still remains.”
“I see. I shall simply drink mine.”
The attendant removed the glass containing only ice and placed a fresh one before him.
“Do you know how I have survived on this stage until now?”
“I do not know.”
“It is because I am a patriot. The reason I have not stepped down even at this age is because I still hold a heart that cares for this nation.”
He spoke, downing the whiskey in a single draft.
“Right now, the Empire finds itself in a chaotic state. Rural farmers who ought to be tilling the land gather to become thugs and disrupt public order. They are turning into rats gnawing away at the country.”
One might dismiss it as drunken rambling, yet there was not an ounce of hesitation in Valdemar’s eyes.
Ferda grew curious and asked him.
“If you love this country so dearly, why do you not lead it yourself?”
He possessed the power to sweep aside the incompetent Emperor and his incompetent sons.
“To reign… if I set my mind to it, it is entirely possible.”
Valdemar let out a scoffing chuckle at Ferda, who had posed such a question, as though finding him amusing.
“Yet what happens if I overthrow the Emperor? A new sun rising brings chaos to the political sphere. That is the path of foolish people who blindly scale the mountain of power, not the path of a patriot. I do not desire that.”
There was a truth Ferda could acknowledge in those words.
That had he truly resolved to do so, he could indeed have become Emperor.
Valdemar, having finished two glasses of whiskey, licked his lips.
“I want to ask you. Are you a patriot?”
“Yes.”
“Was that too vague? The question was: if this Empire orders you to die, can you die?”
“I cannot.”
Ferda responded straightforwardly.
“Even today, it attempted to strip me of everything; how could I remain loyal?”
“Do you not wish to become a hound?”
“I am already a hound. However, just as there cannot be two suns beneath the heavens, I have only one master.”
It was the type of remark the usual Valdemar would have mocked, yet he did not.
He simply stared at Ferda, prompting Ferda to ask him directly.
“Will you punish me for not being a patriot?”
“Why would I? Rats already make up more than half of the Golden Congress. I could slaughter them all and reset the board, but I will not. History simply repeats itself regardless.”
No matter how superhuman one may be, one cannot change the heart of every single human being.
“Above all else, I received a promise from the Emperor.”
And above all, there is only one thing that obsesses him.
“That is why I cannot help but ask you.”
“Please, speak.”
“What do you think of Princess Olivia?”
When he mentioned her name, Ferda looked into Valdemar’s eyes.
Within them burned the raw blood-qi of a man.
Or perhaps an indescribable obsession and madness.