Ch.71Ludwig Talks Too Much

“Durandal. What a grand name.”

“It’s a sacred relic said to never break and cut through anything as long as its wielder protects humanity. If held by an evil person, it would snap without resistance.”

A sword that doesn’t break. That’s definitely the ability I need most.

“It’s certainly impressive, but does it have any other effects?”

I mean, being unbreakable with excellent cutting power already makes it an exceptional weapon, but for a legendary sword, it feels somewhat plain.

…Not that I’m expecting it to shoot laser beams or anything.

The lord shook his head.

“Well, I’m not sure about that. Legends about the Oath Swords tend to be quite abstract. Even the records in our family chronicles only mention things like the sword guiding its wielder or giving endless strength to press forward.”

So basically, he knows almost nothing.

The sword’s guidance… that sounds a bit unsettling.

Still, without this sword, I would have died long ago.

Neither Knut nor the werebeast were enemies I could have avoided even if I wanted to.

“Besides that… it probably has functions any sword made of true silver would have. The entire blade is true silver, after all.”

True silver.

Stronger than black iron, capable of cutting through mana and even spiritual bodies, a metal of humanity that destroys all things impure.

This too was a material that didn’t exist until 800 years ago.

“…I’ve gone on too long. Yes, you asked about your mother. Imelia de Median. The daughter of the Baron of Median.”

Lord Ludwig closed his eyes, searching through his memories.

—-

“It was about twenty years ago… a young swordswoman came to Landenburg. She was a beautiful woman with golden hair like buttercups and blue eyes. I can still picture her clearly.”

In the middle of speaking, the lord glanced at me.

With eyes that seemed to long for something.

“…Now that I think about it, she looked similar to how you look now.”

So I look like a gentler-eyed Hersella?

Well, I suppose that would make me beautiful.

The lord picked up his teacup again.

“Lady Median wasn’t particularly famous in noble society. She was just the daughter of a local baron’s family and rarely made public appearances, so that’s understandable… However, her skill as a knight was just steps away from mastery. Few people knew this fact.”

So she kept her abilities hidden.

Well, if a young, beautiful female knight had that level of skill, she would have attracted too much attention immediately.

“Yes. She came to me, who was a young head of the family at the time, presented that sword, and claimed to be a descendant of the Great’s Twelve Knights. She asked me to make her a knight of the eastern territory. I agreed.”

“Nigel doesn’t seem to know about this.”

“Well, it was twenty years ago. Sir Sean might know, but it’s natural that Sir Nigel wouldn’t.”

True, Nigel would have been just a baby learning to walk back then.

Baby Nigel.

The image of a two-year-old doing push-ups with his short arms flashed in my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“After becoming a knight of Landenburg, she fought in sporadic battles along the eastern border for a year… and then suddenly disappeared. I assumed she had either died in battle or become a Ka’har prisoner. It was a tragic affair.”

So she was indeed captured by the Ka’har.

A skilled beautiful female knight captured by barbarians… that has some rather disturbing implications.

If she were my actual mother, this would be blood-boiling, but since she’s not, I can treat it as a dark joke.

“After that, until I met you, I couldn’t hear a single word about her. I never imagined she would become Orhan’s wife.”

“What happened to the Median family afterward?”

“They collapsed almost immediately. The family head fell ill from the shock of losing his only child before he could do anything, and passed away. Now, there is no one left in the Median family except for you.”

So the Median family will become extinct.

Since I plan to remain single for life. Let it become extinct.

“That’s all I know. I hope it was a satisfactory answer.”

—-

Assuming the lord spoke honestly, it was quite a useful answer.

I’ve learned a lot about my bloodline and the origin of this sword.

Which means I’m in big trouble.

“Yes… honestly, it was quite an interesting story.”

“I’m glad. Now, let’s move on to the original matter. About the Imperial House.”

Lord Ludwig picked up a snack. I put one in my mouth too.

It was a cookie with a simple taste. The flavor of well-baked flour and smooth butter lingered on my tongue.

“The Imperial House. Didn’t you say there was something else important to discuss?”

“I just did. I intended to tell you about your family from the beginning.”

“Really…?”

Hmm. I wonder if that’s true.

Since I’ve caught the attention of the Imperial House through this incident, he’s telling me about the secret of my identity before problems arise…

Yes, that makes sense.

But if that’s the case, he could have told me when we first met.

Why did he hide it then?

Is he still unwilling to explain his reasons?

“First, it would be good to start with how the emperor of the empire is selected.”

Lord Ludwig picked up another snack.

Does he unexpectedly like cookies?

“Selected? Isn’t it that the emperor’s eldest son becomes the next emperor?”

“Usually that’s how it works, but nominally, it’s an election. When His Majesty passes away, the five electors of the empire gather to discuss and select the most suitable imperial prince as the next emperor. It’s usually just a formality to choose the heir who has already been designated… but if there is no designated successor, then it depends on the judgment of the electors.”

That’s a structure perfect for power struggles.

No wonder.

“The Imperial House must really hate the electors.”

“Perhaps those unfit to be emperor would. Those who are fit would try to get close to them instead.”

“Hmm… I wonder about that.”

Given that the electors have the right to select, I think they’d harbor ill feelings inside even while flattering them outwardly.

“The problem arises when there is more than one imperial prince qualified to be emperor… and that’s exactly the situation now.”

Lord Ludwig exhaled smoke toward the empty air, like a crematorium chimney.

—-

The current emperor of the empire, Ferdinand II, has seven children.

No, probably six now.

Five princes and two princesses.

Three children from his first empress, Anna, who is now deceased.

Four children from his second empress, Isabella.

First Prince Leopold, Second Prince Karl.

First Princess Eleonora.

And Third Prince Ernst, Second Princess Leonore.

Fourth Prince Matthias, Fifth Prince Josef.

Well, Josef is already treated as dead.

He disappeared during a foreign tour.

The prince and his entire entourage vanished, and their bodies were never found.

Disappearance. What a joke.

Karl went north and is active as a military officer there.

Matthias went to study in the Holy State and is probably receiving priestly education now.

Eleonora became the princess consort of the southern Kingdom of Panam, and Leonore commands a female knight order, if I recall correctly…?

These people don’t need much attention.

The problem lies with First Prince Leopold and Third Prince Ernst.

—-

“In the past, support for the First Prince was solid. There was no problem then. But… perhaps due to His Majesty’s advanced age, he began to favor Isabella and increasingly showed affection for the Third Prince, and that’s when things started to go wrong.”

That was an extremely aggressive tone for a lord.

For a man who uses honorifics even with his knights to directly call the empress by name shows how much he dislikes her.

Well, she is that kind of woman.

A woman who could abandon even her own child for power.

“Is the Third Prince some incompetent fool who would ruin the country?”

“If only that were the case… if he were that incompetent, he wouldn’t receive the support of the electors.”

Lord Ludwig frowned and rubbed his forehead.

Deep wrinkles filled with troubled emotions.

“But Prince Ernst is also quite capable. That’s the problem…”

“If he’s capable, wouldn’t it be fine to elect the Third Prince?”

“No, we must not give that woman Isabella any more power. I can’t read her intentions, but she is undoubtedly dangerous.”

Can’t read her intentions…

That’s what I think every time I look at you.

As for whether she’s dangerous, I’m not sure yet.

“So, you support the First Prince?”

“Well. Who knows. I merely hope His Majesty will make a wise decision. If His Majesty’s will is firm, the electors will follow it.”

Such a roundabout way of speaking.

“But in the end, is there really a need for me to know all this?”

“Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered to come all the way to the island.”

True, normally he would have been busy spying on the Ka’har situation.

By now, Orhan is probably in the middle of his conquest.

Still, it would take nearly three years to conquer that vast steppe.

“The authority of the Imperial House has never been lower in the past 800 years, and now the Imperial House is split in two, with each side checking the other. Both sides are waiting for a decisive opportunity. And in such times, you appeared. The female warrior who saved the island. A new master and… descendant of the Great’s Twelve Knights. Do you understand?”