At the sudden intervention, Grand Duke Sigmund’s brow furrowed.
“Madam, I said I would accept volunteers. At no point did I ask for recommendations. What do you think you’re doing?”
“It’s not a recommendation. It’s just that, by process of elimination, only the third remains. Think about it.”
Not even at the grand duke’s rebuke did Lady Veronica blink.
On the contrary, she rose calmly and swept her fan through the air.
“This suppression of the rebellion is not a mission of the appropriate scale to send the boys just to gain experience. At the very least, one must have stepped onto a battlefield before. And in that regard, the second and fourth are disqualified.”
“Hmm.”
The grand duke furrowed his brow, as if wanting to argue, but in the end, he nodded.
It was true that, as a formative experience, the suppression of a rebellion was inappropriate.
It wasn’t a small skirmish, and safety was not guaranteed.
Though it was normal to avoid the front lines, there was always the possibility of the unexpected.
For that, at least some experience was necessary.
“But by that logic, the eldest would also be a candidate.”
“Tristan has remained in Bornholm for quite a while under your orders. It’s too short a period to send him out again. Besides, he has accumulated far more merits than the others.”
“Having many merits isn’t reason enough.”
“No, it is. And it’s the most important reason. Do you really want to tie the son who’s clearly in the lead in the succession race to the First Prince, whom His Majesty is backing?”
“Even if the eldest grows closer to the First Prince, that won’t help in the competition for head of the family.”
“And what if His Majesty gets the wrong idea? Couldn’t that cause a rather serious problem?”
Hearing them touch on exactly the point that already worried him, the grand duke’s brow tensed.
Was she implying that the emperor might name Tristan the next head of the family?
“I am the head of House Valdeck. And I’m also the one who decides the next head. His Majesty may be the ruler of the Empire, but don’t forget that I am the master of this house.”
“Everyone here knows that better than anyone. The problem is His Majesty’s will. It’s not right for a sovereign to interfere in the family matters of a vassal, but lately His Majesty has been making rather excessive demands, don’t you think?”
“…”
With nothing to refute her, the grand duke fell silent.
The very fact they were holding this family meeting was a direct consequence of one of the emperor’s excessive demands.
And, seeing his recent behavior, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again.
“If His Majesty is trying to tie one of my sons to the First Prince, it’s to prepare for the future. He may see the others as backup, but if he sends Tristan, who is leading in the race for head of the house…”
If it all ended with a simple misunderstanding—that the future head of House Valdeck supports the First Prince—it would still be bearable.
In the worst case, they might even assist externally in raising Tristan to the head position.
Even if the grand duke firmly objected, the emperor might take it as confirmation and push forward. A breakdown in the sovereign-vassal relationship would be inevitable.
“Aren’t all of these logical reasons? Send the third.”
“I… I also think the third is the most suitable…”
As the grand duke hesitated, the other two wives sided with Veronica.
Seeing that, the grand duke’s face contorted completely.
Though their arguments made sense, it was clear to anyone that their real aim was to hinder Lucian.
And the fact that the wives got involved—not just the rival brothers—made it even worse.
“Ladies!”
Just as the grand duke, furious, was about to raise his voice at the three of them, someone spoke.
“She’s absolutely right. Who, aside from me, would be the most suitable in this situation? Send me, Father.”
“…!?”
Everyone opened their eyes wide as Lucian suddenly stepped forward.
***
The first to react was Grand Duke Sigmund.
With a stunned expression, he shouted at Lucian.
“Lucian, do you even know what you’re saying right now?”
“Of course I do. Isn’t it about leading the troops in your stead and helping His Highness, the First Prince, suppress the rebellion?”
“No, well, yes, that’s true, but…!”
There were many things he wanted to say, but they got stuck in his throat.
How could he say it wasn’t appropriate to volunteer, when he himself had brought up the matter?
Especially when one of his sons had to go anyway.
Lucian smiled as he saw the grand duke at a loss for words.
“Don’t worry so much. I understand the situation well. I have no intention of cozying up to His Highness just to win his favor, so you can rest easy.”
The glances around him grew even stranger.
Everyone knew the hidden political intent behind this matter. And yet he volunteered?
Veronica couldn’t help but ask Lucian.
“What are you plotting? Do you have some kind of plan?”
“Plan? That’s an odd thing to say. Weren’t you the one who proposed me in the first place? It’s only been a few seconds—have you already forgotten?”
At Lucian’s jab, Veronica narrowed her eyes but couldn’t respond.
She couldn’t back out after dumping the problem on him and seeing him accept it so readily.
After leaving her speechless, Lucian calmly added.
“Just as you said. I’m the only one suitable for this. The eldest brother could cause misunderstandings with His Majesty, and the second brother and Joshua have no war experience. In that case, shouldn’t I take it on willingly? However…”
“However?”
“I have one request, Father. Grant me full authority for this mission.”
“Full authority? You’re already going as my representative. That already makes you my plenipotentiary. What more full authority could you possibly want?”
The grand duke blinked, as if thinking he was hearing nonsense.
But Lucian didn’t back down and looked at him with a meaningful expression.
“Is that really the case? Isn’t there going to be another actual commander, just under the name of ‘advisor’? I mean in case I mess things up or make a command error due to inexperience.”
“…”
That direct blow to the heart of the matter made the grand duke pause.
Indeed, he had considered sending someone like that.
To be honest, he couldn’t entrust all military decisions to a boy who hadn’t even turned twenty.
On the battlefield, a single grave mistake could cost lives.
At the very least, a minimal safeguard was needed—someone reliable who could advise and take over if needed.
“…They would only intervene if things went terribly wrong. As long as you don’t make a serious blunder, command remains yours.”
“So that means, in the worst case, I could be stripped of command.”
“I’ll say it again—only in an emergency.”
“And the one who’ll decide if it’s an emergency will be the advisor, right?”
“Whoever I send will have far more experience than you. Are you saying you can’t trust the judgment of someone like that?”
The grand duke’s expression turned stern, but Lucian did not yield.
This wasn’t just any mission—it was the Krephelt Rebellion. Even as a precaution, Lucian needed full authority.
“It’s not a matter of trust. It’s a matter of authority. If I’m the commander, the right to strip command from the advisor must be mine. The reverse cannot be allowed.”
“Huh.”
A dry laugh escaped the grand duke’s lips.
It was an excessive and dangerous demand.
At that age, how hot-blooded could youth get?
Reckless plans for the sake of fame, or rash charges, were daily occurrences.
If he really granted full authority, there was no telling what might happen.
“I want to shout no, but the situation is too unclear.”
Even while the wives pressured him unilaterally, that boy had volunteered without hesitation.
Denying him even that condition would make it seem like even his own father, the grand duke, saw Lucian as nothing more than a scapegoat.
‘I could still reject it and send one of the other sons, but whoever it is, they’ll obviously refuse to go…’
There was no way around it. The grand duke sighed and nodded heavily.
“Fine. I’ll grant you full authority.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“But since you lack experience, I’ll assign you an advisor. With full authority, it’s up to you whether to follow their advice or not—but don’t dismiss it lightly.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Lucian nodded with a smile.
The other wives and brothers also showed rather satisfied expressions.
Upon hearing his demand, they seemed to think he was obsessed with glory and ready to do something reckless.
“Well, that’s not entirely wrong either.”
He desired fame, and he also intended to do something risky.
The difference was that Lucian knew he would succeed.
And that, as a result, the future of the continent would change drastically.
Though they wouldn’t find that out until much later.
***
— Departure will be in two months. You won’t return until the rebellion is suppressed this time, so get plenty of rest.
“That’s quite a while, more than I expected.”
Lucian smiled bitterly at the time frame mentioned by the grand duke.
Come to think of it, before the era of chaos, it had always been that way.
Legions were formed, supply routes secured, troops gathered, and only after the final ultimatum was delivered did war begin.
Compared to that era, when everyone was constantly ready to stab the standing armies in the back, this felt almost formal.
“But that ends with this rebellion.”
The Krephelt Rebellion wasn’t just a signal of the Empire’s collapse.
It was the signal of the downfall of the existing order.
The beginning of a chaotic era where dishonor became normal and betrayal an everyday occurrence.
Lucian planned to delay that beginning, even if just a little.
“I still need time.”
For an Empire that had already reached its limit, stopping the approaching chaotic era was impossible.
But when that era arrived, he still wouldn’t be ready to become a ruler with true power.
He needed to win just a little more time to prepare thoroughly.
Just as Lucian finished his thoughts and was about to look for Hugo and Hans—
“I’m curious what you’re thinking about so deeply. Did you come up with some trick?”
“Brother?”
Lucian turned his head at the voice beside him.
Jordi had approached without him noticing and was staring at him with sharp eyes.
“You seem in quite the good mood, considering you’ll soon be heading to the battlefield and getting tied to the First Prince.”
“I don’t know. Turning a crisis into an opportunity depends on the person, doesn’t it? Some people can only see a crisis as a crisis.”
Lucian shot back at Jordi’s provocation with equally sharp words.
After saying it, he waited for the explosion that would surely follow, but strangely, Jordi remained silent.
After watching him for a long moment, he spoke coldly.
“Do you know what it means to break away from the family?”
“To leave the family you belonged to and found a new one? Do you take me for a fool?”
“No. But it seems you don’t know how shameless that act can be.”
Suddenly, Jordi looked Lucian straight in the eyes, as if he desperately needed to understand what he was thinking.
“You have no inheritance rights, so you found a new family. Sounds good. But most of those types are worthless. That whole ‘self-made’ thing is a joke. Most of them suck the original family dry down to the bones.”
“…”
“They lean on blood to claim legitimacy, wave around inherited rights, and seize inheritance. They steal what rightfully belongs to the legitimate heir, then call themselves founders of a new noble house.”
“What a way to put it. Do you know how many family heads have emerged after separating? And besides, if you’re not an heir, what exactly are you supposed to steal? You wouldn’t even have the right to take anything.”
“No! Anything gained through that blood is theft.”
The until-then silent Jordi exploded, clenching his fist.
“From the moment you’re born, you build connections with the family’s talents, exchange favors, and in the end, steal those relationships to take with you. Because you were born with that blood, you’re acknowledged as noble and considered worthy of elevation to ruler. You even claim rights over the ancestors’ inheritance! If that’s not stealing, then what is?”
Bastards, thieves, miserable wretches who should be torn apart.
Jordi spat insult after insult onto the ground.
Lucian listened in silence and crossed his arms with an indifferent expression.
“So? What do you want me to do about it? If the heads of breakaway families are all bastards. To be honest, I don’t even know why you’re telling me all this.”
“…Tying yourself to the First Prince is a crucial matter for this family. If it goes well, there’s no problem, but if things get messy, you might end up as a discarded tail for the sake of the family. Getting involved in the throne struggle is dangerous, even for the Valdecks.”
“Well, you’re right about that.”
“And yet, you didn’t seem worried at all. As if you didn’t care about being abandoned by the family. As if, even if you don’t become head of the family, it’s fine to go somewhere else.”
Before Lucian could say that was a misunderstanding, Jordi grabbed his shoulder firmly.
Not hard enough to hurt, but precisely because of that, it felt heavier.
Jordi leaned in and whispered.
“Burn this into your memory. You are a Valdeck. So am I. Our older brother, Joshua—we’re all Valdecks. We live with the Valdecks, and we die with the Valdecks. Except for the one who becomes head of the house, everyone else falls to the bottom.”
“…”
“If you fail, you fall with us too. Don’t even dream of plucking feathers from the family to build your own wings. I don’t forgive theft. You either take everything or lose everything. Those are the only two options.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jordi shoved Lucian roughly and walked away.
Then, as if he had nothing more to say, he quickly disappeared around the corner.
Lucian was left alone. He soon let out a dry laugh and muttered.
“That guy…”
He’s damn perceptive.
____
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