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Chapter: 11
Even this morning, tension lingered in the royal audience chamber.
Seated upon the throne, Alexand van Relismond, King of Riveldel, gazed down at his two sons.
Both possessed the same shining blond hair and blue eyes as their father, yet their personalities were polar opposites.
That stark contrast constantly fueled conflict within the palace.
“The current emperor of the Empire is a man who murdered the former emperor with his own hands to seize the throne. How long do you think he can keep hiding the brutality of killing his own brother just to become emperor? The peace treaty is nothing more than covering one’s eyes and pretending everything is fine.”
The one who spoke was the second prince, Ulysses.
A master of all manner of weapons and a perennial champion of the royal hunting competitions, he always insisted that the kingdom must be prepared for war.
And it was always the duty of the first prince, Ishtar, to refute his younger brother’s claims.
“Calm yourself, Ulysses. During the thousand days of war, both nations shed more blood than they could afford. Even if that man is a viper hiding behind a mask, there is no reason to break the treaty right now.”
“Have you never heard the saying that the best defense is a good offense? Brother, you spend all your days loftily buried in books, so it seems you truly have no idea how the country actually operates. Why don’t you try riding out with me sometime and inspecting the border regions yourself?”
“I refuse. Sharing quarters with someone as violent as you, I’d never know when my life might be in danger.”
“Both of you, enough.”
At the king’s heavy command, the princes fell silent.
Though they continued to glare at each other, neither dared raise his voice further before their father.
Alexand spoke again, alternating his gaze between them.
“I have declared that I will pass the throne to the one who can truly act for the good of this kingdom. However, that never meant I would tolerate you two slandering one another regardless of time or place.”
“I apologize, Father.”
“I spoke rashly.”
“Sometimes the pen is stronger than the sword, Ulysses. If you truly wish to prepare for war, then gather those who share your convictions and submit a formal proposal to the council. This meeting is adjourned.”
With that, the king rose from his seat and left the chamber.
What was meant to be a long-awaited meeting once again ended without any tangible outcome.
Returning to his room, Ulysses lashed out, kicking his desk in frustration.
The vase atop it crashed to the floor with a loud clatter, but he paid it no mind.
He struck the unfortunate desk again and again, venting his rage.
“…Damn it. That skirt-chasing raccoon bastard…!”
How many times had this happened already?
Every time a council meeting was held, Ishtar interfered, and Ulysses could no longer stomach it.
As if it weren’t bad enough that the king was intoxicated by sweet dreams of peace, his cunning older brother stood at his side, clapping and currying favor.
Having actually fought in the war and witnessed the current state of the Astollia Empire firsthand, Ulysses was going mad with frustration.
While the Empire of Astollia and the Kingdom of Riveldel were locked in a thousand-day war, a coup had erupted within the Empire amid the chaos.
The man who killed the emperor and seized the throne was, astonishingly, the emperor’s own younger brother.
The new emperor, Kalliard Rofelman Astollia, slaughtered his sister-in-law along with the entire imperial family and naturally dethroned his nephew as well.
The nephew—reduced overnight to a former crown prince—was said to have starved to death in a lightless underground dungeon.
After ascending the throne, Kalliard concluded a peace treaty with Riveldel through a visiting junior duke.
Ulysses, who had fought on the battlefield himself, knew well the new emperor’s cruel nature.
For now, he wore a mask for the sake of stabilizing civilian life, but Ulysses was certain that one day, soon enough, his true colors would be revealed.
That was why he had repeatedly insisted that preparations be made before it was too late…
Yet the king refused to listen, and Ulysses’s anger and irritation continued to build.
“Your Highness, Duke Lyglus requests an audience.”
Thankfully, a maid entered the room before more objects could be destroyed.
Ulysses took several deep breaths and gestured his approval.
As he waited seated, his anxiety grew, and he tapped his fingers incessantly against the desk.
He hoped the ‘news’ being delivered would not be another source of irritation.
Otherwise, his mood was foul enough that he felt capable of killing someone on the spot.
Soon, a tall man entered, offered a light bow, and presented an envelope.
Ulysses accepted it and asked abruptly,
“What’s that scar on your face?”
Gilliard replied calmly,
“There was an incident.”
“Hm… It wouldn’t be easy for just anyone to leave a mark on your face.”
Ulysses lowered his gaze and began reading the contents of the envelope.
As time passed, the deep furrow in his brow gradually smoothed, and a pleased curve formed at the corner of his lips.
“Finally.”
“……”
“Finally, the sign of ‘awakening’ has appeared.”
The prince burst into loud laughter.
Just moments ago his mood had been at rock bottom, but after reading the report, everything else felt trivial.
Wearing a thoroughly satisfied expression, he addressed Gilliard, who still stood motionless before him.
“How many years has it been since we brought the Jewel Clan here?”
“This year marks the tenth.”
“Ha… Some might call me a fool for betting on an uncertain legend, but ten years of sincere devotion has proven that there truly is nothing impossible. The dragons must surely be on my side.”
As the prince spoke excitedly, his gaze suddenly froze on one particular line.
It described Shia Ermodian engaging in a live-blade duel with a fellow cadet.
The prince’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“By the way, Duke Lyglus.”
“Yes. Speak.”
“This isn’t the first time ‘blue flames’ have appeared, is it? Why didn’t you report it to me immediately?”
Despite the accusation, Gilliard showed no sign of panic.
Rather, as if he had anticipated this question, he replied in his usual calm tone.
“It was also the first time I had seen it myself, so I could not be certain that it was the ‘mark’ Your Highness spoke of.”
“In other words, you’re certain now?”
“At the very least, I do not believe it to be a one-time occurrence. Once may be coincidence—but twice is not.”
Ulysses stood and walked toward the fireplace.
He tossed both the documents and a lit match into the flames.
Watching the papers blacken and vanish without a trace, he turned back.
“Remember this well, Duke Lyglus. I’ll let it slide this time, but from now on, you will report everything regarding that knight cadet—no matter how trivial. If you hide even the slightest thing from me… you’ll never see your lovely elder sister again.”
“Yes. I will remember.”
A vicious bastard.
That was Ulysses’s honest impression as he looked at Gilliard, who didn’t even blink at the threat.
The young duke, who had maintained perfect composure from beginning to end, departed with the same dignified posture.
Left alone, the prince sat and gazed out the window.
Unlike yesterday’s torrential rain, the sky today was clear and bright.
As though it were foreshadowing his future, the young prince could not suppress the smile spreading across his face.
* * *
After leaving the prince’s chambers, Gilliard walked down the palace corridor.
Maidservants he passed cast blatant glances his way, but he merely offered brief bows and quickened his pace.
He wanted to leave this place as soon as possible and return to somewhere he could breathe easily.
However, as he neared the end of the corridor, he saw the young lady standing there—and realized too late that he had chosen the wrong path.
With her luscious pink hair, she called out to him in a cheerful voice.
“It’s been a while, Duke Lyglus.”
“Yes. Have you been well, Princess Serizena?”
“What happened to that handsome face? Did you get into a fight?”
“There was an incident.”
“An incident severe enough to scar a duke’s face? …Well, fine. If it’s inconvenient to answer, I’ll let it go.”
Besides the two princes, King Alexand also had a daughter.
Claiming she had no interest in politics, she rarely appeared at official functions, yet she was famed as a beauty capable of stealing anyone’s heart at first sight.
With the queen having passed away from illness, she was now the highest-ranking woman in the kingdom.
Though she herself seemed largely indifferent to that fact.
Instead, she treated everyone kindly and often said she wished to be on friendly terms with all.
Gilliard was no exception.
Blinking her violet eyes, she made him a suggestion.
“Do you have a moment? I was hoping you might take a stroll through the garden with me.”
“If it is Your Highness’s wish, I will comply at any time.”
“It’s nothing so formal. I was also curious about news of ‘that child.’”
At her words, Gilliard fell silent.
Though he didn’t show it outwardly, the princess noticed his subtle tension.
With a faint smile on her lips, Serizena led him toward the end of the corridor.
“Then, this way.”
