"Heh, heh."
Norbek stared at the corpse laid out on the floor with lifeless eyes.
It had been so thoroughly charred black that it was difficult to tell who it was.
The nobles frowned at the horrific sight of the body and whispered among themselves.
"Is that really Duke Godfrey?"
"He looks a bit smaller than before."
"He must've shrunk from burning. Bodies that burn to death usually—"
Thud.
As if telling them to shut up, Norbek swung his cane against the wall.
The nobles, seeing blood flowing from Norbek's torn grip, all fell silent at once.
A moment later, a trembling voice leaked from Norbek's mouth as he barely regained his composure.
"I'll… have to confirm it."
"By all means."
Lucian gave a small shrug and gestured to those guarding the body.
When the soldiers stepped back from the corpse, Norbek knelt down and pried open its mouth.
It was burned badly enough to make identification difficult, but not so much that even the position of the teeth would have changed.
After examining the corpse's teeth, Norbek was overwhelmed by despair and collapsed to the floor.
The shattered canine and front teeth were unmistakably identical to his son's.
Lucian muttered toward the collapsed Norbek.
"Are you finished confirming it?"
In an instant, Norbek's face flushed crimson.
Hatred—enough to drown out every trace of despair—seized his entire being.
"You dare—! Ghk!"
Smack.
Norbek, who had lunged at Lucian, didn't even manage to take a few steps before he fell.
Felicia, who had been prepared in advance, had smashed her scabbard into his forehead.
"My lord!"
"What is the meaning of—!"
"Are you all co-conspirators in this assassination as well?"
The knights of Count Calyx's household froze in place at Lucian's icy voice.
Even if one's lord were a traitor, having sworn loyalty meant serving him at the cost of one's life.
But this was not a simple case of treason—if a mage was involved, it was a different matter entirely.
In the worst case, it won't end with just me. My entire family—every member of my house—could be dragged down with me.
If we could at least die cleanly, that would be a mercy. But if we're hauled to the capital and left to endure every kind of torture without even being allowed to die…
The knights trembled as they imagined such a horrific future.
The matter was far too grave to be settled with merely his own life.
Lucian spoke to the hesitating knights, driving the point home as if hammering in a wedge.
"Those who are not connected to the mage, step back. A retainer cannot know every plan of his lord. I understand your predicament."
At the amnesty laced with threat, the knights released their grips on their swords with grim expressions.
There was no existence more dishonorable than a knight who failed to protect his lord.
But without accepting this amnesty, it would not end with mere dishonor.
After confirming that the knights had withdrawn, Lucian issued an order to the soldiers.
"Bind the traitor."
Clack.
An assassination attempt by House Calyx and its failure, and the hiring of an unauthorized mage strictly forbidden by the Imperial Court.
Either charge alone was a major incident that could not be brushed aside, so the banquet was naturally suspended.
However, suspending the banquet did not mean the lords would disperse.
So Calyx is finished now. That upstart duke will take the position of hegemon of the north.
How does he plan to handle the aftermath? What about the territories Calyx owns and the treatment of its allies?
Change begins here in Asagrim. Until we're driven out, we should cling on as tightly as possible.
The collapse of Calyx did not simply mean one faction disappearing.
The repercussions would fall squarely on the other lords, and the balance of power would be reshuffled.
On top of that, with a mage involved, the Imperial Court's judgment still remained to be delivered.
In Asagrim—where one could immediately grasp the ever-shifting political situation—there was no reason to leave.
"I regret that the banquet has ended early due to an unforeseen incident. For those who wish to see more of the White Palace, guest rooms will be provided, so stay as long as you like."
Lucian had no intention of forcibly driving the lords away.
Rather, he even created a suitable pretext for them to remain longer.
It would be troublesome if they only realized later that the balance of power had shifted and started talking nonsense. If you have complaints, say them here and now.
Whenever change occurs, it is only natural that there are those who benefit and those who suffer losses.
What mattered was whether they could accept that change—or whether they would refuse it and resist.
If it was the former, there was no issue.
But if it was the latter, it was better to keep them within sight and identify them early.
That way, they would not remain as sudden variables, and countermeasures could be planned in advance.
"We must immediately escort that mage to the capital."
As soon as the incident was settled, Glen sought out Lucian and pressed his demand forcefully.
Unlike his usual calm and rational self, his attitude was stubborn to the extreme.
"You know this as well, Your Highness. An unauthorized mage is a crime by mere existence."
"Of course I know that. But—"
"There is no 'but.' In matters involving mages, no exceptions can be made. I trust you understand."
"Even if that means sacrificing the Blue Rose Knight Order and His Majesty the Emperor's elite troops?"
When Lucian snapped back, abandoning all pretense of courtesy, Glen flinched.
It was the first time Lucian had raised his voice at him.
"He is the only witness who can expose the schemes Calyx has been plotting. And yet you say you will escort him away immediately, before even using him as a witness?"
"As I said, there can be no exceptions in matters involving mages."
"Then are you telling me to uncover the truth without a witness? If Calyx offers a plausible excuse, how exactly are we supposed to expose the lie?"
"In the worst-case scenario, I could end up being branded as scum who framed a rival just to eliminate him. You know that as well, Sir Glen."
Setting aside lesser crimes, this was a grave offense that could lead to the annihilation of an entire house.
There was no way Norbek would calmly admit his guilt and confess of his own accord.
Moreover, Lucian was the sworn enemy who had killed Norbek's heir.
If it meant getting back at Lucian, there was a high chance Norbek would throw away all dignity and charge in recklessly.
"If we've gone to such lengths to secure the moral high ground, only to flounder helplessly when faced with some paltry excuse, what do you think will happen? Those who scattered will gather again, cry injustice, and may even be willing to wage war."
"With just that mage's testimony, Calyx will collapse without being able to do a thing. And yet you intend to take him away immediately? Do you truly mean to sacrifice the lives of the Blue Rose Knight Order and the elite troops to the outbreak of war?"
Faced with an argument that was right in every respect, Glen could say nothing.
As Lucian said, this was a moment that demanded flexibility.
There was simply too much riding on a single mage's testimony to cling rigidly to principle.
"Please report this to His Majesty the Emperor. The one who sets all principles is His Majesty—should we not hear his opinion? If, after hearing the circumstances, His Majesty still orders that the principles be upheld, I will obey immediately."
"That is…"
Glen started to speak, then closed his mouth.
Strangely enough, his expression was far more serious than before.
Lucian could not tell what the problem was.
Did a magic device break down or something? If so, he could just tell me…
At that moment, a single possibility flashed through Lucian's mind.
Even if a magic device were intact, there was only one situation in which communication with the Emperor would still be difficult.
"Don't tell me something has happened to His Majesty the Emperor?"
"No!"
Glen denied Lucian's words in shock, but just from that reaction alone, it was obvious.
Something was definitely wrong with the Emperor's health.
He hasn't died or collapsed, at least. If that were the case, there would've been open chaos. He must still be able to appear in public, but his condition is probably deteriorating.
The hesitation to make contact was likely for the sake of mental stability—or to avoid interfering with treatment.
The more frequently he was contacted and made to worry, the worse it would be for the Emperor's body.
Of course, they could not reveal that there was something wrong with the Emperor's health, so it would never be openly acknowledged.
"Very well. I will report to His Majesty in two days. However, if His Majesty orders that the mage be brought immediately—"
"Then I will hand him over at once, without delay. I swear it."
"Then I shall trust in Your Highness's oath."
Glen maintained his composure as if nothing were wrong and left the room.
Left alone, Lucian leaned back in his chair with a bitter smile.
At least I've succeeded in keeping that bastard alive for now.
He had thought that the moment contact was made, the Emperor might issue an uncompromising order to bring the mage at once—but fortunately, things had gone smoothly.
Thanks to the Emperor's unexpected health issues, he had even managed to buy two more days.
Now all that's left is how well the other bastard does his job.
Lucian recalled the man he had sent out in advance, before Glen had come looking for him.
He had already set the board perfectly on his end—there was no way it would fail.
****
In the underground prison, Norbek stared into empty space with bloodshot eyes.
Though there was nothing there, Lucian's face was vividly drawn before him, as if he could reach out and grasp it.
"I'll kill you… I'll kill you no matter what!"
A demon who had suddenly appeared in the north, stolen the name of Grimaldi, twisted his grand design, and even taken his child from him.
As long as that bastard lived, Norbek could not bring himself to die.
At the very least, he felt he could only find peace if he dragged Lucian down to the afterlife with him.
To hell with the grand design and everything else. If I can just drag that bastard into hell with me…!
He had no method, no plan.
All he possessed was the hatred that endlessly welled up from deep within his gut.
In a way, it was nothing more than fleeing reality, hiding within hatred.
Norbek had been venting this meaningless rage inside his cell for quite some time when—
"Norbek Calyx. You've really cut a pathetic figure. I thought you might have had some grand scheme, but to fall so miserably like this."
A mocking voice came from outside the cell.
At first, Norbek assumed it was a guard taunting him, but he soon realized the speaker was someone he had never seen before.
The figure wore a black hood pulled low and even a face covering—clearly an outsider who had infiltrated the place.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?"
"Let's just say I'm someone who dislikes Valdeck. And how I got here isn't what matters, is it?"
Clink.
The man in the black hood pulled a bundle of keys from his robe.
Seeing that it was identical to the one the guard carried, Norbek's eyes widened.
"That's—!"
"Shh. Be quiet."
Clatter. Click.
The man tried the keys from the bundle one by one, fitting them into the lock.
The first four or five failed, but by the sixth, he found the right one.
Click.
"Got it!"
Letting out a small cry of triumph, the man stepped back to Norbek and tried the keys on his shackles.
Once again, after several attempts, he found the correct key.
Norbek stared blankly as he rubbed his arms and legs, now freed from the restraints.
"Can you move? If you can't, I'll leave you here."
"…You fool. I may be old, but I haven't even been tortured yet. Of course I can move."
"Then follow me. The guard will be back soon, so hurry."
At the commanding tone, Norbek frowned.
To be ordered around like a subordinate by some green, barely grown brat.
Realizing his own irritation, Norbek let out a short, bitter chuckle.
How ridiculous. Do I still have pride left in me?
He was hardly in a position to talk about pride anymore.
Just minutes ago, he had sworn that he would sell even his soul if it meant getting revenge on Lucian.
Right. If I can trade this paltry pride instead of my soul, I'll sell it gladly.
What mattered was not pride—
it was revenge.
If he tried to cling to his pride here, he would lose even this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Norbek set aside all doubts and followed the masked man.
With no hesitation, he believed that all of this was both a heaven-sent chance
and the grace of the gods.
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