Chapter 117

Episode 117

I was telling the truth, so why was he reacting like this?

Grand Duke Hylix, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened up and glared at me.

If Oracle hadn’t grabbed his sleeve, he would have been in my face.

“Is there something wrong with expressing condolences for the death of a loyal vassal? If I’ve made a mistake, I’ll gladly accept your reprimand.”

“…”

Hylix was speechless when I confronted him.

He must have realized that siding with Roman, who had fallen due to his own greed, would only harm him.

“Well, I wouldn’t call it a reprimand. I was just wondering if it was necessary to publicly execute your opponent in a minor territorial dispute between baronies.”

“A minor territorial dispute, you say?”

“What? Am I wrong?”

Hylix smirked, as if to say, “Your knight order is nothing special.”

Well, he was right.

Right about getting punched in the face.

In situations like this, it was wise to reprimand him with righteous indignation. There were nobles and servants watching us, so rumors would spread.

It would be even better if those rumors reached Duke Kalisto’s ears.

“Countless lives were lost in an unnecessary war. If Roman hadn’t been so greedy, someone’s son, husband, and father wouldn’t have died in vain. And you call it a minor war?”

“Isn’t that true for you as well? If you had negotiated with Roman and shared the gold nugget, things wouldn’t have escalated.”

“I followed the law. Laws are meant to be obeyed. If Roman had been in his right mind, he would have followed the territorial law. But he declared war emotionally. And he did it while Lady Lucia was present.”

“Shut your mouth!”

Mars, unable to bear it any longer, growled. I smiled and looked at him. He had picked the wrong person to provoke.

“How dare a mere commoner be disrespectful to the Grand Duke? Apologize immediately!”

“Please specify what disrespect I’ve shown, Sir Mars.”

“You’re talking back!”

“Talking back? Interesting. We’re having a healthy discussion about territorial law and territorial war. You’re the one who’s raising your voice and making threats.”

I took out a handkerchief from my pocket.

I held one end of it between my thumb and forefinger and waved it.

“If you have a problem, let’s settle it with a duel.”

“What?”

“Are you scared? Well, I suppose the rumors about me might have been exaggerated after I defeated Prince Arthur in the capital. The Bellatrix swordsmanship was indeed impressive. But it wasn’t an insurmountable obstacle.”

“You… you bastard!”

Hylix, seeing that Mars was about to snatch the handkerchief, raised his hand to stop him.

He was good at assessing situations.

If Mars had accepted the duel, I wouldn’t have spared him.

“Sir Mars, calm down. Sir O’Brien has a point. I’m not here to fight.”

“Ugh…”

“One last question. Why did you execute Baron Roman by dismemberment? You could have just beheaded him.”

“Because that was the will of the people. I don’t think I need to explain the importance of public sentiment. You are the eldest son of House Kalisto, after all.”

The Grand Duke seemed appeased by my insincere flattery and let me go. Hylix, Oracle, and Mars disappeared down the hallway.

Deneve, who was accompanying me in Selendis’s absence, spoke in a low voice.

“The atmosphere seems tense, my lord. I think the Grand Duke is hostile towards you.”

“It’s only natural. He wouldn’t be happy after I cut off his right-hand man.”

“I’m worried.”

I chuckled and patted Deneve’s shoulder.

“You’re too young to be worrying so much. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

“You’re not that old yourself, my lord.”

“You’re still joking, so you must not be nervous enough.”

We chatted as we walked down the hallway. We soon arrived at the Duke’s office.

Head Butler Muller was waiting for us. I bowed politely.

“It’s been a while, Head Butler Muller.”

“Stop calling me ‘elder.’ You’re a noble now.”

“Didn’t I tell you before? You’re like a father to me.”

Muller sighed but didn’t seem displeased. He announced our arrival and opened the door.

The Duke was sitting at his desk, reviewing documents.

He rose from his seat to greet us, which was an honor.

“Welcome. I was just wondering when you would arrive.”

The Duke gestured, and the knights and servants left the room. I ordered Deneve to wait outside.

I activated “Automatic Combat,” just in case.

The knights of “Fenrir,” who guarded the Duke like shadows, also left the room.

It showed how much the Duke trusted me.

“You came alone?”

“Yes. I asked the Lady to come with me, but she decided to stay at the castle. She said the other vassals might misunderstand if she moved so soon after the war.”

I didn’t need to explain further. The Duke nodded.

“I’ve noticed that my sweet and gentle daughter has changed a lot lately.”

“I feel the same way. She was just a kind and compassionate lady during my time as an aide.”

The Duke seemed lost in thought. I felt like this was a good time to ask him a question I had been curious about.

“Your Grace, do you consider Lady Lucia as a potential successor?”

“It’s customary for the eldest son to inherit the family, but there are always exceptions. If things continue as they are, Lucia will be qualified to inherit the family.”

Perhaps inheriting the family wasn’t her ultimate goal.

Taking over House Kalisto and expanding its power might just be a preparatory stage. If “The Legend of Aldebaran” was true, her true objective was to reclaim the demon realm.

“Anyway, how was the war? I heard about it from various sources, but I want to hear it directly from you.”

“We suffered heavy losses. Over a thousand soldiers lost their lives. And more than ten knights perished.”

“I heard most of the casualties were on the Gerard side.”

“Regardless of which side suffered more, it’s ultimately a loss for House Kalisto. It was a war that shouldn’t have happened.”

The Duke smiled, pleased with my feigned grief.

“Your loyalty is unwavering. But there are things in life that are unavoidable. Who could have imagined that such massive gold nuggets would be discovered in your newly acquired territory?”

“Your words comfort me. Thank you for your understanding, Your Grace.”

“Is the excavation going well?”

“It’s progressing smoothly. We’ll soon finalize a transaction worth two hundred thousand gold. As promised, I’ll offer a portion of the proceeds to House Kalisto.”

“No need. Just take good care of my daughter, since she’s there with you.”

“Of course. Please accept our family’s sincerity.”

The Duke finally accepted my offer.

We had discovered a total of five gold nuggets so far.

Each was estimated to be worth about ten million gold. Considering that we might find more in the future, sharing a small portion wouldn’t hurt.

“What are your plans for the future?”

It was a vague question.

If he were my subordinate, I would have asked him to be more specific. But he was the Duke of the Empire.

“I plan to expand our family while continuing the Inspection Unit’s activities. Accordingly, the Lucius Inspection Unit and its affiliated organizations will relocate to our family’s territory.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m talking about Lucia. What are your thoughts on her?”

“She’s my master, to whom I owe my unwavering loyalty.”

“It seems like Lucia feels differently. At first, I thought she just cherished you as a subordinate. But the rumors I’m hearing from the social circles are different. They say you two are a perfect match.”

“I apologize. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

I said that, but the Duke didn’t seem displeased.

“My daughter’s engagement with the Imperial Family was broken off, and I ended up with a rare magic swordsman as my vassal. Perhaps it’s because I’ve spent so much time on the battlefield, but I don’t think you’re any less valuable than someone from the Imperial Family.”

What was he talking about?

The Duke, known for his strictness, was showering me with compliments.

“Lucia seems to like you. What about you? Do you like my daughter?”

It could be a trap disguised as a friendly gesture.

I couldn’t use “Mind’s Eye,” so I answered honestly.

“I swear I’ve never thought of Lady Lucia romantically. Your words are too much for me. Please reconsider. I’m afraid people will misunderstand.”

“I’m also speaking on my honor. I’m not testing you.”

It made sense.

He would prefer me, a capable and loyal vassal, over a good-for-nothing prince with no chance of inheriting the throne.

But it would be rude to accept his offer immediately.

Even Zhuge Liang, the brilliant strategist of the Shu Han kingdom, had declined offers twice before accepting.

“I implore you once again. I come from a humble background and am lacking in many ways. I appreciate your offer, but I’m content with that.”

“I can’t force you if you insist. But what will you do if Lucia asks you herself?”

“…”

I didn’t think that would happen.

But considering her past actions, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

She was even calling me by my name now, omitting my title.

“I’ll worry about that when the time comes. Anyway, even though I’m a magic swordsman, I can’t reveal my abilities and act freely at the moment.”

“That’s a shame.”

Magic was strictly controlled by the state. The Imperial Family controlled the Mage Tower.

Anyone who could use magic had to register with the Mage Tower and obey the orders of the Empire and the Tower. The only way to avoid that was to flee.

As someone who had transmigrated into this world, I wasn’t sure if it was a blessing or a curse.

What was the point of having power if you lost your freedom?

“Forgive my boldness, but I’m preparing something. Something that will revolutionize the perception of magic. Please be patient.”

“Alright. I’m looking forward to it. Let me know if you need any help.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

After the audience, I immediately left the main castle and headed for the Lucius Club.

The sommelier greeted me warmly when I showed him a gold coin. I told Deneve to wait outside and entered the club.

“Congratulations on your victory. I heard it was a remarkable battle, Mr. Walker. What can I do for you?”

“I’m not here for equipment today. I have a question for you. Would you mind answering it?”

“Of course not. It’s my pleasure.”

“That’s good to hear. Then, please answer honestly. Have you read a book called ‘The Legend of Aldebaran’?”