TYND 22

Chapter 22

Unlike Walter, who stayed expressionless, Lucy looked genuinely surprised — which was exactly what Jen had been waiting for to make a big fuss. But Lucy quickly tilted her head with a bored expression.

“So you’re saying Kil is planning to create a new country?”

“Yes!”

“That makes no sense.”

“What? Why?”

“He’s someone who devoted himself so deeply to the kingdom. There’s no way he’d change his mind so easily. I’d sooner believe he committed treason.”

Walter, who had been watching them anxiously, relaxed slightly and nodded in agreement.

“I agree as well. Duke Kil loved not only his own territory, but the kingdom itself. Even if he had lost his reason, looking back at his past behavior, this action is far too unnatural.”

“Exactly. Something is off.”

Seeing the two of them remain calm, Jen — who had been ready to shout See? That old man was bound to cause trouble someday! — now looked completely lost about how to react.

Lucy, arms crossed and deep in thought, waved her hand at Jen, who stood stiff like a sack of barley.

“Let me see that proclamation for a moment.”

Her confident tone left Jen no room to complain. He hurriedly handed over the letter resting on the desk. Lucy read the document in silence, then frowned and bit her lip.

“Where did you get this?”

“Whis — that bastard captain of reconnaissance — gave it to me. From what I hear, he personally distributed copies to all the lords.”

“He sent a proclamation declaring the founding of a nation directly to the lords? Not through foreign affairs? And this quickly?”

Jen nodded rapidly. Lucy pressed her fingers against her brow.

It hadn’t even been a month since Kil Duke had become estranged from them. She’d expected some kind of reaction soon — but not a declaration of independence delivered in such a dramatic way.

A sovereign nation…?

A loyal servant of the royal family declaring his territory independent and founding his own nation. It sounded almost reasonable at first glance — but was complete nonsense.

No matter how impressive the duchy was, it was still just one part of Parnassus.

If he had enough military force to establish a nation, then using that military to start a rebellion would be the far more rational choice.

“What is he trying to do?”

Should she storm in and yell, What kind of ridiculous trickery is this?

No. That wouldn’t work. If Duke Kil had originally been her vassal, then barging in to knock some sense into him might look acceptable. But since they had no rapport, she had no grounds to invade the duchy. There was no legitimate justification.

Everyone already acknowledged that her claim to the throne had many flaws. She still hadn’t even held an official coronation ceremony because she hadn’t secured the loyalty of the lords.

If someone like her suddenly attacked a former loyalist on the grounds of “duty and loyalty,” the lords would resent her for it.

She had barely managed to win their favor with the cure for the plague. She had no intention of ruining that goodwill with impulsive decisions.

“An independent nation… a proclamation…”

Surely he didn’t truly intend to become king of an independent country.

Was distributing the proclamation a move to coax the lords? Or a warning to block any interference from them?

Lucy stared intensely at the document before closing her eyes and extending her reasoning further.

She already knew Duke Kil had been gathering military forces. According to Walter, instead of organizing them, he was even reaching out overseas across the strait.

What did he plan to do with that army?

Duke Kil seemed gentle and cautious at first glance, but in reality, he was a daring man.

Whenever making big decisions, he would always take an unbelievably reckless action that caused himself great loss. Then, when his opponent — fooled by the stupidity — relaxed their guard, he would strike with shocking cunning.

Flesh against bone.

Giving up flesh to cut bone — that was the old raccoon’s way. So what flesh was he giving up now, and what bone did he intend to take?

“Walter.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You said I’d be moving into the palace soon, correct? When is the expected date?”

“The palace can be used immediately. However, many of the servants are severely ill, so it will take time to hire enough new staff.”

“There’s no need for many attendants. I’m the only one who’ll be living in the inner palace anyway. So… about a month?”

“Yes. That is our estimate.”

“Then announce that the coronation ceremony will be held on the date I enter the palace.”

“…The coronation ceremony, Your Majesty?”

Walter shook his head slowly, startled by the sudden declaration.

“It’s too soon. You were the one who said we should wait for the atmosphere at the next Elder Council meeting before choosing a date.”

“There’s no need to prepare anything for the ceremony. Just distribute a proclamation, same as Duke Kil.”

A look of puzzlement flickered in Walter’s eyes.

“You simply want us to announce it publicly?”

“That’s right. There’s not much to lose. If nothing happens on the coronation day, then so be it. But if something does—then we’ve caught something big. Let’s borrow a page from the Duke’s tactics.”

Walter let out a sound somewhere between a groan and a sigh, brows knit as if to say, What are you talking about…?

Lucy noticed he’d understood her hidden meaning. She smiled lightly and continued explaining.

After finishing the discussion, Walter left the command office with Jen.

Their boots echoed ominously down the empty hallway. A low beastlike growl blended into the footsteps. Feeling the intense stinging gaze at his back, Walter rubbed his neck and turned just in time—

“Commander!”

His deputy charged into view, body puffed up like he was about to explode. Jen bared his teeth slightly and snorted through his nose, then spoke in a disgruntled tone.

“What the hell was that about?”

“What do you mean?”

“Arsuno — no, Her Majesty — you’re saying she’s the queen?! And you two kept whispering about the duchy’s independence without telling me anything! I have no idea what was going on! You ignored me the entire time…!”

Walter quickly raised a hand to stop his deputy’s outburst.

“I’ll explain.”

As he murmured the magic command, the bristling fur on Jen’s body eased slightly. His eyes, however, still looked ready to bite someone’s throat, so Walter hurriedly explained the entire situation.

Lucy’s true identity, what had happened in the council, the nature of the disease, and the reactions of the lords — he laid everything out systematically.

Jen lowered his tail and finally looked calmer.

“Unbelievable… Arsuno is the queen. Isn’t this the first time in kingdom history we’ve had a ruling queen? And at her age, to take the throne… Ha! Quite the talent.”

“Watch your tongue. Speak carefully even when Her Majesty isn’t present.”

“I know. But it’s too shocking — I can’t help slipping. Seriously, that little chick who used to run laps at the academy is now the queen.”

Walter considered scolding him again but stayed silent — he understood Jen’s reaction.

Jen perked his ears, glancing up at his superior.

“I always wondered why you paid so much attention to Arsuno — I mean, Her Majesty. Was it because she was of the royal bloodline? Were you watching her since her academy days?”

“That’s not it. I began paying attention to Her Majesty after a chance encounter at Pomnos.”

Walter closed his eyes for a moment, recalling the memory. The cold winds of Pomnos swept through his mind.

The late king was furious at his runaway daughter for disappearing with his beloved concubine. He summoned the commander and ordered him to kill the daughter on sight and bring back the concubine unharmed.

A year passed. In the freezing northern lands, Walter finally found Lucy — once a criminal of Parnassus, now a criminal of Pomnos.

And then—

“It would be best if you went back.”

Walter, who had always regarded the king’s orders as absolute, astonishingly disobeyed the command and pretended not to see the mother and daughter at Lucy’s request.

He felt no guilt for betraying his lord. It simply happened naturally.

…Why had he done that?

Even now, looking back, it was strange. Walter had always obeyed the king with almost foolish devotion.

But at that moment, he had defied the order without the slightest hesitation.