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Chapter : 5
Duke Kisling’s lips curved faintly.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Emmblin with Tris and….”
In truth, Duke Kisling was displeased about Emmblin’s marriage. And for good reason—the groom was none other than Lotsen, king of Ingrad. In the past, Ingrad had been no match even for Slorland’s heels, but once it began strengthening royal authority, it quickly rose to become an equal—and a bitter rival.
Especially after King Lotsen ascended the throne at eighteen, the two countries fought countless fierce battles over Idak, which lay between them, for twenty years. Many knights died and were left on Idak’s fields, and after both sides suffered terrible losses, they finally entered a long truce. In the meantime, Idak absorbed the nourishment of abandoned corpses and was reborn as fertile land.
Both kingdoms coveted it, but with too much to lose, they merely watched. The damage they had suffered had yet to be fully repaired. Then something unexpected happened: King Accus succeeded in negotiations. To settle relations between the two nations, he would send Emmblin to King Lotsen, and in return gain exclusive rights to everything in Idak for ten years. The land’s fertility would make the capital even more prosperous.
What Duke Kisling feared most was precisely that prosperity. The capital had already grown rapidly using Meril’s wealth. If it were to gain Idak as well, the king would come to dominate all of Slorland. That was something he could not accept.
Though they were brothers, from the moment Duke Kisling inherited his title, Accus was no longer his brother—only a king who threatened his domain. Moreover, Accus V was so arrogant that he had always grated on him. And as if that weren’t enough, he even intended to make a bastard his heir. It was madness beyond measure. If Kisling himself were to take the throne, that would be another matter, but this humiliation was unbearable.
So Duke Kisling had been seeking a way to break the agreement. At that moment, Lukra’s plan was nothing short of ingenious—a strategy that would both shatter the marriage and crush the arrogance of the impudent Duke Aike in one stroke.
Lukra continued,
“And after that, I’d like to hold a jousting tournament next spring.”
“You mean to give Tuke a chance for revenge?”
“Yes. Tuke is the pride of our family. And in a joust, he has an absolute advantage. He has the most experience in real combat. Even Tris wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Then she added,
“We’ll stake Emmblin on it. The winner of the joust marries her.”
“What? I can’t take the daughter of a madwoman as Tuke’s wife. It would taint our blood.”
“What we need is only Emmblin’s status.”
“Then….”
“Yes, that’s right, Father. If Emmblin comes into our hands, we too gain a claim to the throne.”
It was a staggering suggestion.
“If that’s what you mean… very well. I’ll speak to His Majesty when the time is right.”
Duke Kisling stroked Lukra’s hair as if proud of her. A pure smile spread across her face.
Meanwhile, Tris stood before Duke Aike and reported what had happened that day.
“I was going to tear his mouth apart, but I stopped after breaking just one wrist.”
Duke Aike’s lips twitched. The look on Duke Kisling’s face had been a sight to behold—leaving in a hurry with that stiff expression. Serves him right; arrogance always led to trouble.
Duke Aike spoke quietly,
“He ignores everything I say, but when it comes to his younger brother, his eyes burn with fury.”
Tris frowned but said nothing. This was the capital. With eyes everywhere, he couldn’t talk back to his father. That was absolutely forbidden. Duke Aike knew that too. Still, if he nagged any longer, the boy might bolt again.
“That’s enough. I won’t ask about the past anymore. But—”
Tris lifted his head to look at Duke Aike.
“Never again oppose what I do. Do not question my decisions.”
“But….”
Duke Aike’s gaze pressed down on Tris with authority.
“If you challenge me even once more, I’ll strip you of your position as heir and drive you out of the domain. Remember, you have two more brothers who can succeed you.”
Tris clamped his mouth shut.
“Do not forget—you are my son.”
It was an order to submit. Tris answered reluctantly,
“Yes, I understand.”
“You may go.”
Tris bowed and immediately turned to leave the castle. Peta glanced at Duke Aike. Acting on his command, he always stayed near Tris and reported his actions. At Duke Aike’s signal, Peta followed after Tris like a shadow.
Before long, the banquet ended. Yet no one returned to their lodgings; instead, they waited, gazing upward. News of the fight between Tris and Tuke had already spread. Some wanted to see Duke Kisling’s dejected face, while others hoped the two rival dukes might clash again.
King Accus was no different. After sending the weary Yohas and Maser ahead, he waited for Duke Kisling.
It wasn’t long before Duke Kisling descended the stairs. In his stiff voice, he said,
“It was nothing more than a spar. Nothing serious. Tuke is perfectly fine.”
It was obvious he was trying to put out the rumors, but no one could object.
“If any baseless gossip reaches my ears, then as a father, I will punish it.”
A chilling threat. And Duke Kisling was more than capable of carrying it out. No one wanted to be caught saying the wrong thing, so they swallowed their disappointment.
With no excuse left to linger, the drunken nobles staggered off toward their lodgings. Only the two ducal families were granted the honor of staying in the castle.
Soon, only three people remained in the vast hall: King Accus, Duke Kisling, and Duke Aike.
Duke Aike could barely contain his glee. After all that boasting, it had amounted to nothing. Still, he didn’t show it. Feigning concern, he said to Duke Kisling,
“I have an ointment that works well for broken bones. I’ll send it to you.”
“There’s no need. He’s unhurt and perfectly fine,” Duke Kisling replied flatly.
“I hope your feelings weren’t too hurt. I’ve already scolded Tris severely.”
Duke Kisling’s lips twisted unpleasantly as he replied with barbed words,
“That was unnecessary. It was a fair match, and Tuke lost by the narrowest margin. You should be proud of Tris as much as you like.”
At last, his true feelings slipped out. Duke Aike laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! Truly? Then may I? Hahaha!”
King Accus, arms folded and perched on the table, watched Duke Kisling. It was strange. His brother wasn’t the type to let something like this pass—especially when it involved Tuke. Yet he was being so calm. Hmm… interesting. It seemed he had something up his sleeve.
The king’s suspicion proved correct when Duke Kisling suddenly put on a deeply troubled expression and spoke.
“But Tris was very quick with his other hand as well.”
“I admit his speed. If he gains more experience, he’ll be perfect. That comes with age.”
Glancing at King Accus, Duke Kisling said,
“This is no cause for praise. It’s quite troubling… I hear that Tris laid hands on Lady Emmblin.”
Duke Aike’s smile vanished.
“What did you just say?”
King Accus also doubted his ears. What? To Emmblin? Only then did he realize that Emmblin had been missing for some time. Where had she gone? Back to the tower? No—Emmblin had always obeyed orders to remain until the end of the banquet, for the sake of her mad mother.
Duke Kisling continued toward King Accus,
“They say Tris has taken Lady Emmblin’s purity. Since when, I cannot say…”
He trailed off, as if gauging the king’s reaction.
“Speak.”
“It seems it’s been quite some time. That’s why, in front of so many eyes, Tris tried to protect Lady Emmblin.”
King Accus’s face hardened like stone. Duke Kisling went on, pretending to worry,
“What shall we do? By tomorrow everyone will return to their domains, and I fear the rumors will be impossible to contain.”
Bang! King Accus slammed his fist on the table.
“Silence! Who says such a thing? Who?!”
Duke Kisling pressed on,
“I too find it most regrettable. A royal marriage we’ve awaited for so long… Who could have known that the proud son of Duke Aike would ruin Your Majesty’s dearest wish like this?”
By now, Lukra’s “secret” whispered to a maid would be spreading like wildfire—passed from mouth to mouth. By morning, there would be no one who didn’t know.
Duke Aike’s lips trembled. Tris—had the boy caused another disaster? Rumors about women were new, but to touch Emmblin of all people? Even if it were false, it didn’t matter. Emmblin was the one person he absolutely had to avoid even being linked to by rumor.
Emmblin was openly despised by King Accus. Even if Tris married her because of gossip, there would be no dowry, no benefit at all. Even gaining the Lorem domain through Idella would be meaningless if Tris were held back. Tris needed to spread his wings and soar. This was a disaster—something never accounted for in his calculations.
