“Agmund has ordered an attack on Kenton and Neltz Castles.”
Keaton spoke with a deep scowl.
“What? What do you mean? Are you saying we’re starting a conquest the moment the funeral ends?”
Tessa turned to Lukas, his voice incredulous.
“It’s not a full-scale conquest,” Lukas replied.
“Then why attack Neltz Castle at all if it’s not a real conquest?”
“There seems to be a problem with the Ascro Grand Temple.”
“A problem, Your Grace? What kind of problem?”
“They say the High Priest of Ascro and his followers are trying to break the seal on the Black Grimoire.”
“While we march past Kenton toward Neltz, the Golden Knights of Rodia will take control of Ascro.”
“What…? That’s absurd! It’s slander, Your Grace!”
Tessa jumped to his feet in shock at Keaton’s explanation. His hands, braced against the table, were visibly trembling.
“Do you know the High Priest?”
At Lukas’s question, Tessa’s eyes wavered. Keaton and Joe both fell silent, waiting for his answer.
“Well… High Priest Erdicht was my teacher.”
“I thought your teacher was a wandering mage from Ascro.”
“The current High Priest of Ascro was appointed less than a year ago.”
A year.
Most would already know that, but stationed far away in the Rantschka Fortress, it wasn’t something Lukas had paid attention to.
“Even so, my teacher would never do such a thing.”
“Hm…”
Lukas habitually rubbed his chin.
“There must be some mistake, Your Grace. He’s not someone who would attempt something so dangerous.”
“How long has it been since you last saw him, Tessa?”
“Let me think… About two years ago. He came to the Mage Tower on business. He wasn’t High Priest back then, of course.”
“That’s quite a long time. And yet, you’re certain?”
Lukas’s sharp gaze pierced into Tessa’s pupils. Despite the pressure, he didn’t flinch.
“I’m certain! My teacher would never do such a thing.”
“Well, at least your faith in him is unwavering.”
“Your Grace…”
“I don’t know him. And I don’t particularly care to.”
At Lukas’s cold words, Tessa slumped back into his chair. Keaton gave his shoulder a couple of sympathetic pats.
“There’s a mage from Ascro working for Agmund.”
“A mage from Ascro?”
“Her name is Cadenis. Have you heard of her?”
“Cadenis… Cadenis… No, I’ve never heard that name.”
Tessa frowned in thought, then shook his head.
“If it’s not war, then it’s treason. Those are the only two choices. What would you do?”
“…”
“Tessa, what matters to me isn’t Ascro or your teacher. I serve the Rodian Empire, and I am the Lord of Rantschka. That means I must follow the Crown Prince’s orders—and protect my people.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Tessa replied quietly.
“But if you insist on going to Ascro, I’ll turn a blind eye. For old times’ sake.”
“Your Grace!”
“Your Grace, Tessa didn’t mean it like that—”
“The choice is yours, Tessa.”
Even as Keaton and Joe tried to dissuade him, Lukas finished what he wanted to say. Tessa looked deeply hurt, his shoulders drooping.
“Are you… testing me?”
“Testing you?”
“If not, then I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“…”
“I’m part of Rantschka, Your Grace. I am your person. Have you forgotten?”
No. He hadn’t forgotten.
From the moment he rescued him from the Forest of Shadows and brought him to Rantschka, he had considered him one of his own.
And that hadn’t changed—not once.
“Of course His Grace thinks so. Isn’t that right, Your Grace?”
“That’s right. He only said that because you’re worried about your teacher.”
Keaton and Joe chimed in, sounding like they’d rehearsed the lines. Yet Tessa’s eyes remained fixed only on Lukas.
“Then I’ll follow your orders.”
“Good.”
Only then did Tessa finally drop his gaze.
About an hour later, Dephil visited the annex after his audience with the Crown Prince.
“It’s been a while, Lukas.”
“It has indeed, Lord Claudius.”
Lukas greeted him politely, but Dephil barely spared a glance at his daughter, Adrienne, and focused entirely on Lukas.
“Please, come inside.”
“Yes, let’s. There’s quite a bit to discuss.”
Smiling broadly, Dephil followed Lukas into the drawing room. Though called a “drawing room,” it was neither large nor luxurious—nothing compared to the grand halls of the inner palace. The annex of Crown Castle, unlike the gilded splendor of Tereze Castle, was modest—almost shabby.
“To think this is how they treat imperial blood.”
As soon as they arrived, Dephil clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Well, not all imperial blood is equal. Please, have a seat.”
“Sure.”
Lukas’s sarcasm drew a quick glance from Dephil, who cleared his throat and looked over at Adrienne.
“But still, not a single attendant in sight…”
“Your Grace, I’ve brought the tea.”
Just then, Jane entered the room carrying a tray. Dephil, who had just been complaining, frowned slightly.
“I appreciate the gesture, but you could’ve called when needed.”
“Well, then it’s all fine.”
With that, Dephil picked up a teacup, his eyes flicking around the room. After carefully placing the cups, Jane left the way she came.
Whoosh—
“Quite the downpour. Even the gods must be mourning Emperor Xerses’s passing.”
“Pfft…”
“Did… did you just laugh?”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“Well…”
“Let’s skip the pleasantries. No one here would appreciate them.”
“Ahem.”
Caught off guard by Lukas’s bluntness, Dephil awkwardly cleared his throat. Adrienne, watching her father’s discomfiture, smiled faintly.
‘Ah…’
Her eyes met Lukas’s. She had been so focused on her father that she’d forgotten his presence. Embarrassed, she bit her lower lip. Lukas, watching her, slowly shook his head.
Startled by his stern gaze, Adrienne released her lip.
Pfft.
Lukas’s laughter slipped out, completely ignoring Dephil’s dumbfounded expression. Adrienne’s face turned crimson.
“Huh…”
Dephil let out a dry chuckle, as if he’d just witnessed something indecent. Lukas coolly ignored his father-in-law and took a sip of tea, expressionless.
“So! Do you know what the Crown Prince said?”
“No. What did he say?”
“He thanked me for lending mercenaries to his brother.”
“And what did you say in return?”
“What else? I smiled. I worried he might bring up the salt mine first.”
“There’s no need for that. He already knows—and even if he didn’t, it wouldn’t take long to find out.”
“You’re awfully relaxed about all this.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did something happen between you two?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I heard that as you were rushing here, your mage was worried about your life.”
“Well, I was worried about it too.”
“Yet here you are, so calm?”
“If I don’t stay calm, do you have some solution, my lord?”
“Well…”
Of course not.
Dephil was just as much under Agmund’s thumb as anyone else. If things went wrong, he could lose his head too. The only reason both he and Lukas remained unharmed was because the Crown Prince still found them useful.
Right now, the entire situation was like walking on a frozen lake.
Agmund had long controlled Rodia from the shadows, but at least back then, Emperor Xerses still sat on the throne.
Now that the emperor had returned to the gods, everything was bound to change.
With a single breath in—or out—heads could roll.
