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Chapter 30
Unaware That Summer Had Arrived
The Duke of Nord Hill had risen in rebellion.
Since rumors had already spread, the duke made no effort to deny them or prove his innocence.
Even when news arrived that the mercenaries he had secretly stationed in the nearby coastal fort had been nearly annihilated by the free citizens of the Saurian Archipelago, he remained unshaken.
Instead, he cried out even louder, publicly.
“The Emperor is bringing ruin to this country.”
“A cowardly fool, a greedy egoist, a hypocritical tyrant. A stupid pig who builds a castle of gold while ignoring his people.”
The duke called Hugo VI by these names. Printing craftsmen in the capital worked through the night to reproduce and distribute the appeal that the duke had personally written.
“Marma faces the most perilous era in its thousand-year history. The warmonger of Babel, the Lion King of Odium, and the nemesis of Nova are all eyeing this nation. The emperor, who should draw the sword to protect the country and its people, is lost in self-absorption, ignoring the national crisis. Therefore, Nord Hill willingly bears the yoke of a rebel to awaken him. Marma’s history will continue. We will preserve it, even with our blood and souls. Rise and take up the sword! Punish the emperor’s ignorance! Punish his negligence! We are the masters of a thousand-year empire!”
Nobles who supported him gathered mercenaries around the duke’s mansion. It was a swift mobilization, thanks to prior preparations. At first, citizens of the capital, amused like spectators at someone else’s misfortune, began to close their shops early and stockpile provisions in their basements. Summer had begun.
“Can’t we just burn everything down?”
When Vladimir raised a finger toward the north, where the emperor resided, Colin clamped his hands over his mouth to stifle a scream. The timid Colin had always panicked at Vladimir’s slightest display of fire magic.
A devil. A devil has appeared in the western palace.
“Colin, I can hear everything.”
“I didn’t say anything!”
“Even your thoughts are loud if you’re not careful.”
Adelaine said with a smile in her voice.
Colin eventually turned away, sulking. Though he wanted to stay in the reception hall until nightfall because the princess had returned, the fire-breathing magician was just too frightening.
What if he dreamt of being chased by ghostly flames? If he screamed awake, his older sisters—who loved to mock him as a snot-nosed kid—would laugh until their sides hurt.
“Colin.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“They say you can become a magician if you meditate long enough. Since there’s a real magician here, why don’t you ask if it’s true?”
“R-Really?”
Colin craned his stiff neck upward.
“I-It’s true? You can… become a magician by meditating?”
Vladimir stared at Colin as if he were insane. The moment the word “meditation” was mentioned, he furrowed his brows, lifted only his upper lip, and gaped. His eyes, still bleary from a restless sleep, flickered with fatigue.
“Eek!”
Colin stepped back.
“Vladimir, I told you not to open your eyes like that.”
“What can I do? This is how I look. Adelaine might not notice because her eyes are dark, but people like me with wide whites are always misunderstood. It’s annoying.”
“Then at least look at Colin as gently as you can.”
“Alright.”
Vladimir said confidently. He knew that his appearance could be a weapon. It allowed him to speak in a whiny, childish tone without restraint.
Blinking quickly to moisten his eyes, he let his eyebrows droop and let out a pitiful sigh, staring at Colin.
“Coli…”
“Ah, a devil!”
Colin screamed.
She had definite tastes: she preferred blondes over redheads, and muscular, wild-looking men over slender, pale-skinned ones. Like a lion king.
“What is it?”
The Lion King appeared just then. He had come for dinner. Since he had sent Zacharian to Odium, he had no subordinates with him to act as aides.
Adelaine felt a twinge of sympathy for the subordinates who were eating an uncomfortable meal in the watchful northern palace while the Lion King had casually abandoned them out of laziness.
Sitting on the sofa, the Lion King said with a hint of amusement:
“War is imminent, yet it’s so peaceful here.”
“The children of the western palace are easily spooked.”
“Like you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Soldiers led by the duke are advancing along the street we marched through.”
Finally, it had begun.
All eyes in the reception room turned to the Lion King. He accepted the milk offered by Colin without a care and bared his teeth in a fierce smile.
“The emperor has entrusted me with three knightly orders.”
He was no coward.
The Lion King concluded that giving him three orders to guard the imperial city indicated the emperor’s confidence. He could stop Cesare and the duke’s rebellion, and even if he betrayed the emperor, the emperor could withstand it.
He had planned to enjoy himself in the western palace and have dinner, but things had changed. Despite his complaints, he was already partially armored.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
Adelaine nodded and gestured lightly.
Colin and Nabi moved quickly to prepare her armor. It was a lightweight chest protector and leather armor reinforced with chainmail. There were gloves for archers as well.
“Will you bring the magician too?”
The Lion King asked, pointing to Vladimir, who was watching from afar like this war was someone else’s problem.
Hearing his name, Vladimir lifted his head eagerly toward Adelaine.
“Am I coming too?”
His voice brimmed with anticipation. If he had insisted on going alone, she would have firmly stopped him. But seeing him calmly standing there, she thought it might be alright.
After a moment’s hesitation, Adelaine nodded.
“Do as you like.”
“Really? I was your secret weapon.”
“No need to hide now. We will win this fight, and soon the opponent will change. The emperor knows you exist; you started a fire openly and even brought it into the western palace.”
“My being a magician too?”
“To some extent.”
Adelaine said that inside this imperial city, nothing escaped the emperor’s knowledge. He had hundreds of eyes, everywhere.
“Good.”
The Lion King rose and rested his hand and chin on Vladimir’s shoulder.
“For what?”
“I plan to use his fire.”
The Lion King smiled mysteriously. He and his subordinates were headed to the city walls, while Adelaine would support the archers from the left side of the gate.
“Adelaine.”
He called her.
“What outcome do you want?”
It seemed meaningless, yet held much significance. Adelaine smiled sharply at him, gathering her murderous intent and desire for revenge. There was only one thing to think about now.
“I want victory.”
“What kind of victory?”
“Perfect victory.”
“Understood.”
No further words were needed. The Lion King mounted first, leaving Adelaine behind.
The sound of drums came. Though the western palace was far from the outer walls, the bustle felt almost near.
Adelaine checked her bow one last time.
“People will wonder if the Duke of Nord Hill is a patriot or a rebel. They’ll debate whether his words are right or wrong. Some will call him the last true patriot, others a deluded traitor.”
By her side were Nabi and the maidens of the western palace.
“But that’s not the important part. The duke is mistaken. It doesn’t matter if everyone praises him as a hero. What matters isn’t sincerity or justice.”
“What is it then?”
“Confidence in victory.”
Adelaine looked toward the distant square.
“The lazy nobles, the people satisfied with Marma’s prosperity, pacifists who hate conflict, oppressed who despise rulers, soldiers who pick up arms only because they’re ordered—there’s only one thing they want.”
“Victory.”
Nabi muttered, and Adelaine nodded.
“Yes. To win. Everyone supports the hand of the victor. When two convictions clash with swords, justice sides with the winner.”
This time, the duke would finally realize that cruel truth. She donned gloves and rose from her seat.
The Duke of Nord Hill found no respect in the citizens’ gazes—only fear, contempt, and curiosity.
He was a dangerous spectacle. People who had usually been too scared to approach him were now free to gawk. Some secretly spat at him when he wasn’t looking.
Men ushered their families inside, avoiding unnecessary noble conflicts, while women scolded their children. The ignorant children clung to windows, watching the duke’s mercenaries as if they were expensive toy soldiers.
Why don’t they show respect? Why don’t they sprinkle flowers and beg him to protect the country?
The Duke of Nord Hill stood on the road toward the imperial palace—the same route Adelaine and the Lion King had recently marched. Paper confetti from their parade still rolled across the streets in vibrant colors.
Adelaine’s presence seemed to swim through his mind, strong and relentless. He tried not to think, but failed.
What had
