It wasn’t something strange. While Lucian had been the third son of House Valdeck, if he were expelled from the family, he would lose his entire support base in one blow. For Jordi, it was enough to provoke the rebellion and block his return.
But the story changed if Lucian was the lord of Asagrim and Duke of Grimaldi. Even if he were expelled from the family, he would still rule as a legitimate feudal lord—and would also have plenty to gain.
‘I had already anticipated all of this. It’s not surprising. There’s only one odd thing—the timing of when he found out.’
By the time Jordi let Hans go without resistance, Lucian had already received Asagrim.
Naturally, Hans sighed in relief after safely leaving the family’s territory.
However, just as he was about to reach Asagrim, they sent people to capture him again.
‘If Jordi had learned of it the moment the imperial edict was issued, he wouldn’t have let him go at all. And if he had learned of it after I assumed the title, Hans would’ve already escaped to a point beyond reach.’
But Jordi received the information at an in-between time that didn’t match either case.
It was certainly quick, but too imprecise to be called real-time. Meanwhile, the rebellion had erupted the very instant Grand Duke Sigmund died.
‘It’s all out of sync. Why did it take so long for him to learn I was granted Asagrim, but he knew of his father’s death immediately?’
“Is something troubling you, Your Highness?”
Eisen’s voice pulled Lucian out of his thoughts. Unable to find the answer on his own, he decided to take the opportunity to ask for the others’ opinions.
“The truth is, Jordi’s behavior seems too strange to me.”
“Strange in what way?”
“If we go over the timing of when Jordi started moving, the dates on which he received information don’t line up.”
Lucian calmly explained his conclusions an oddly fast but not instant information network; the case of Hans, who was first let go and then recaptured; and the rebellion that began right after the Grand Duke’s death.
The moments he acted were so different that it was difficult to draw any clear conclusion.
“Don’t you think it’s odd? I understand why he acted, but I can’t figure out where he got the information at such different times.”
“Hmm… I think I have an idea.”
“Huh? Really?”
Lucian and the other retainers looked at Eisen in surprise. Under their gazes, Eisen gave a faint, bitter smile.
“On the battlefield, this sort of thing happens all the time. Sometimes you learn of something late that happened a while ago, and other times you find out about an event the moment it happens. Usually, the reason comes down to the informant’s capability.”
“You mean the sources of information were different in each case?”
“More like the informant’s position. The death of Grand Duke Sigmund was something anyone could have known the moment it happened. But Your Highness being named lord of Asagrim was practically a unilateral decision by the emperor.”
Eisen’s words made Lucian stiffen.
As long as he didn’t interfere directly in the internal affairs of other lords, the emperor could exercise absolute power.
Deciding who to grant a vacant imperial territory to was something he could do at his own discretion.
Naturally, aside from a handful of people, the news would be shared only after the fact—so it spread slowly.
“Not someone close enough to be privy to the emperor’s most confidential matters, but someone just a step below. After all, the appointment wasn’t announced officially after returning to the imperial palace—it was communicated while still on the battlefield.”
“Do you have anyone in mind who would be in such a position?”
“There are several people who fit, but fortunately, I think we can narrow it down. Before he left, the second young master left behind some clues.”
“Clues?”
Jordi had left clues? As everyone blinked in confusion, Eisen let out a long sigh.
Then he lowered his gaze slightly, and with a grave voice, began recounting what had happened when he left the family.
***
Eisen had no permanent duties within House Valdeck. His age was already advanced, and his accomplishments in his youth far surpassed the merits of hundreds of ordinary men.
As an elder of the family, he was treated with respect and only moved when the head of the house issued a direct order.
Even so, he was still a knight and couldn’t afford to live idly. That’s why he would usually remain in the garden behind the training grounds, treating it as his place of service.
After adopting Felicia as his daughter, he had completely immersed himself in the joy of raising a successor, but even she had ended up following Lucian. Until returning from the north after finishing his duties, he planned to pass the time with the same calm as always.
However, that day, the atmosphere within the estate was so tense that he couldn’t even enjoy the taste of tea.
“…This isn’t good.”
Eisen frowned as he looked out past the training grounds. Unlike usual, a rippling killing intent filled the air around him.
As he feared, he had barely set down his teacup when the shouting began.
“Fall back! We’re only here to eliminate the rebels hiding out here!”
“Rebels?! You’re the ones who started the rebellion!”
“How can it be a rebellion when the second young master is exercising his legitimate right?!”
So the second son had made his move?
It wasn’t entirely unexpected, so Eisen wasn’t surprised. Joshua didn’t have the courage to stir something like this, and the other two young masters were outside the territory.
The only one capable of starting a rebellion was Jordi.
Amid the growing uproar, Eisen closed his eyes.
‘What am I supposed to do?’
If the chaos had reached this far, then the critical matters had likely already been decided. Even if Eisen intervened now, there would be nothing he could change. Without a doubt, the fourth young master and the other consorts had already been secured.
And it wasn’t even clear who was enemy and who was ally anymore.
‘…How absurd. Enemies and allies. Until yesterday, they all served Valdeck together.’
“Forgive the intrusion, Lord Eisen.”
At that moment, a polite voice came from behind the training grounds. While he had been lost in thought, the noise had seemingly subsided.
Soon after, the door between the garden and the back of the training field opened, and a group entered in line.
Eisen looked at the man leading them and muttered.
“Lord Hendrick.”
“It’s been a while. I would have preferred not to trouble the Swordmaster, but the rebels have reached this area…”
“That’s enough. I already have a sense of what’s going on. Get to the point and spare me the needless words.”
Eisen’s cold voice made Hendrick flinch. Before he could freeze entirely under that chilling gaze, he gritted his teeth and shouted.
“Please remain here just for a few days! We’ll provide everything you need!”
“Ha… You think staying still would make me an accomplice? The second young master is as cunning as ever.”
“Watch your words. Even for you, Lord Eisen, continuing to disrespect the next duke—”
“The next duke?”
A murderous aura exploded from Eisen’s body, silencing Hendrick instantly. One step further, and it felt as if a sword would split his skull in two.
“The one who names the heir is the duke, not you, brat. If you don’t watch your tongue, I’ll hang your head from the wall.”
Under the Swordmaster’s threat, everyone present—including Hendrick—began to sweat coldly.
Just as several knights began to shrink back under the pressure of a single man—
“My father is dead, Lord Eisen.”
Jordi spoke as he stepped forward from behind the knights.
Eisen blinked, stunned by the unexpected words.
“That’s unlike you, second young master.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why tell a lie that will be exposed soon enough?”
“You think I’m lying?”
“Of course. This wasn’t a full-scale war—it was a rebellion suppression. How could someone like him die in such a situation? He didn’t fear leading the front lines, but he knew better than anyone when to advance and when to retreat.”
“There are always variables. Yesterday, he fell victim to the tricks of those cowards and lost his life. What wouldn’t people like that do—those who broke the Grand Pact?”
“…Yesterday?”
Eisen’s brow twitched. The frontlines were far from here; saying “yesterday” didn’t add up.
“You don’t believe me even now? In an era where the Empire moves instantly using magical artifacts and cavalry charges crush armies, does it sound strange that a long-distance communication artifact might exist?”
“Are you implying you got one of those artifacts?”
“Let’s just say I made a good friend.”
“I don’t know what that friend of yours told you to lead you here.”
“He told me something very important. That my father died without leaving a will—and that the emperor plans to forge one to name Tristan as the next head of the family.”
Eisen looked at Jordi in silence, unable to tell whether he was sincere or completely delusional. Sensing the gaze, Jordi sneered.
“Lord Eisen, do you think I’d do something like this if I thought my father would return? One outburst from him and it would all be over.”
“…”
“At this point, it seems I’m not the one avoiding reality—it’s you. My father died on the battlefield, without naming an heir.”
The last words were nearly a shout. Jordi’s face had lost all composure—it was clear he was telling the truth.
Faced with the shocking news of the duke’s death, Eisen’s brows trembled.
“Second young master.”
“Enough. You must be confused. Rest for a while and clear your mind.”
“Out of my way. I’m leaving.”
“Where do you think you’re going? The family you swore loyalty to is right here!”
“And the one I serve is not you. In life, the duke had either the first or third young master in mind.”
“…!”
Jordi’s face twisted like a demon in rage. Even if he already knew that truth, hearing it from the Swordmaster—and in front of so many witnesses—was something else entirely.
“Lord Eisen!”
“Step aside.”
Whooosh—
Eisen stepped forward, making it clear he had no intention of listening further.
At the same time, a blue aura manifested and spread in all directions—a silent warning that he would use force if they continued to block his way.
Seeing Eisen unfazed, Jordi clenched his teeth.
“If that’s how it is, I have no choice.”
“You intend to stop me? Or kill me?”
“Neither.”
Splat—
“!?”
As Jordi spoke, a black tentacle shot out from the shadow of the flowers. Sharp like a blade, it pierced Eisen’s thigh in a single strike. Seeing the blood gush, Jordi spoke bitterly.
“I’m only helping with treatment. With that leg, you won’t be able to move—”
“Hngh!”
Boom—
Before he could finish his sentence, Eisen slammed his leg into the ground. The tentacle was driven into the earth, caught in the muscle.
As it tried to retract with force, Eisen used that very pull to launch himself forward.
“Bastard!”
Crash—
Kiiieee!
As he flew through the air, Eisen grabbed a wooden training sword and struck the shadow cast by a nearby column.
The ground split, dust flew, and a horrid scream echoed. From the shadow, black blood erupted like a geyser, and soon after, a figure emerged with mangled fingers.
“Ghhk… ghhkk…”
Though far from the direct hit, the creature that came from the shadow was nearly dead. The shockwave had shattered not only its bones but also its internal organs.
Barely crawling, it vomited up a bowl’s worth of black blood from under its hood and fell motionless.
“…”
“…”
In the face of the shocking scene, everyone stared at Eisen wide-eyed. By then, he had already torn out the black tentacle and tossed it aside without a care. Steam rose from the thigh that should have been rendered useless.
After flexing his leg a few times, Eisen looked at Jordi and said.
“What kind of treatment did you say that was, second young master?”
____
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