Chapter 101

“Pardon? A Duke, you say? What do you mean by…?”

-???

-What kind of crazy talk is this???

“You have reclaimed the position that was stolen from you. It is a good thing.”

“Has… has something happened to Uncle Jeffrey?”

“Something has happened. And it is related to the next piece of news I am about to tell you.”

“What on earth happened…? No, even if that is the case, I cannot become the Duke. According to the order of succession, it should be Uncle Carlo.”

…Wait, didn’t the protagonist want to be the Duke?

This isn’t the reaction I expected.

I thought he would be thrilled, but I didn’t expect him to be so stubborn about the order of succession.

-Just be happy for once lol

-To be fair, it’s right to follow the rules~

-Maybe he just doesn’t want to count his chickens before they hatch.

The protagonist had already lost his status as the successor once right before his eyes.
So, he might just be being cautious.

-But didn’t they say Carlo was born to a maid? Then wouldn’t it be difficult?

-Ah, true.

According to the laws of the Nilcaron Empire, illegitimate children have no right to inherit a noble title. As the chat says, it is true that Carlo Rubel lacks legitimate succession rights.

However, exceptions are made if no other heirs are found even after searching the branch families, if the illegitimate child is officially recognized as legitimate, or if they are selected through a formal procedure in a family council. There is no way the protagonist doesn’t know this.

“Uncle Carlo is also a recognized descendant of the Rubel family. My late grandfather and grandmother officially entered him into the line of succession.”

So that was it. But still, in terms of legitimacy, the protagonist is the rightful heir after Jeffrey.

“If Carlo Rubel could have inherited the title over you, he would have become the Duke long before Jeffrey Rubel did.”

“That is…”

“The fact that it did not happen means Carlo Rubel has already been excluded from the line of succession. You should know this too.”

“…Even so, the Rubel family has always decided on a successor through a family council. We hold the creed that anyone, as long as they are capable, is qualified to lead the Ducal House.”

“Sir Hereis. You realize you are being strangely stubborn right now, don’t you?”

Feeling frustrated, I couldn’t hold back my anger and snapped at him.

I don’t even know why he is bringing up a family council here. Given the rumors even among the servants that the vassals chose Jeffrey because he was easy to manipulate, the vassal families must be rotten to the core.

If he is the protagonist, shouldn’t he be thinking about becoming the Duke, pulling out the rotten roots, and setting the family straight?

Above all, this matter has already been decided. This isn’t the time to throw a tantrum about not wanting to do it.

Beyond a mere headache, I felt like I was going to collapse from high blood pressure.

“If Uncle Carlo won’t do, how about making Oscar the successor?”

-What?

-?????

What did I just hear? He is mentioning Oscar, whose succession rights are far below his own?

“As far as I know, Uncle Jeffrey intended to adopt Oscar into the main line. It seems official Imperial permission had not been granted yet, but… then, even if unofficial, the rightful successor is Oscar.”

“Your legitimacy still takes precedence… No, wait. Are you saying you want to renounce your right to succession?”

“…That is correct.”

He really doesn’t want to do it?

‘Is this for real?’

I don’t know how the conversation ended up like this.

I only thought he would be excited about the chance to become a Duke and that his affection level would rise.

‘Is this a dream?’

Sadly, it’s reality.

Which means I now have to find a way to persuade the protagonist to actually want to be the Duke.

‘How am I supposed to change his mind?’

My head throbbed at this unexpected additional quest.

“Why on earth do you not want to be the Duke—”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I was just about to ask why, but someone pounded on the door as if they were going to break it down.

“It’s an emergency! Saintess!”

The fact that they are doing this even though I told them not to disturb me unless it was important means it is no ordinary matter.

The protagonist gave me a look asking what he should do.

Feeling a strange sense of unease, I nodded to signal that he could open the door.

As soon as the door opened, the Imperial servant who had been uselessly following me earlier practically burst in.

For someone who entered so forcefully, the servant caught sight of the protagonist and struggled to speak.

“My apologies. Since it is an urgent matter, I have taken the liberty of intruding…”

“It’s fine, just speak.”

“While recovering the bodies from the Kotan Forest where the ambush took place… they say Oscar Rubel was found. Since this incident involves both you and the Crown Prince, the Emperor wishes to ask if the two of you know anything immediately.”

…What?

-An obituary out of nowhere.

-Huh? Why Oscar T_T

“Wasn’t Oscar that kind student who helped our Edelina? Why was he even there?”

-I know, right?

-What is happening?

Both the protagonist and I froze at the completely unexpected news.

It was strange. Oscar is dead? It is so sudden.

Even in the game’s story, something like this…

‘No. I have come too far to rely on the story now.’

Even though I knew that, it seems I was unconsciously depending on it because it kept catching my eye.

I hurried to open the affection window to verify the facts.

And then…

“He’s gone?”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, no—nothing.”

The name Oscar, which had been clearly visible when I checked Emily’s affection level just a moment ago, had vanished! Oscar really had died.

‘Did that happen after Emily died…?’

The time of death bothers me a bit, but that is not what’s important right now.

My priority is taking care of the protagonist, whose mental state is about to completely shatter.

“I-I must go and check immediately. No, why would Oscar be there? It could just be someone who looks like him!”

“My apologies. The body is being transported to the bereaved family, so verification is impossible, but they say it is almost certain.”

The protagonist, who had been protesting, wiped his face and slumped to the floor.

“Sir Hereis, you should get some rest for now. I will go and check the details myself.”

“…….”

There was no reply, but that was fine.

Mo Je-won was currently busy sweeping up recovery items from the shop.

It was best to give him some time to use them.

Frederick Campe, the Commander of the Imperial Knights and the Empire’s Sword Master.

Various speculations swirled through social circles as to why he belonged to the Imperial Knights—traveling abroad—rather than the Emperor’s direct personal guard. However, the real reason was simpler than one might think.

By nature, Frederick’s spirit could not be tied down to any one person.

Yet, because of his exceptional skill, the Emperor called upon him often.

This was usually to entrust him with missions that were difficult to conduct in the open and required a level of secrecy and skill beyond the reach of an ordinary person.

Once again, Frederick had entered the palace in response to such a summons.

And yet.

“Go and arrest Jeffrey Rubel.”

Upon hearing such an absurd command, Frederick nearly fainted.

‘This isn’t right.’

Shaking his head firmly, Frederick made a choice for the first time in his life.

He would defy the Emperor’s order.

In the dead of night.

A rugged shadow scaled the walls of the Imperial Palace at high speed.

‘I feel a bit like a petty thief.’

The petty thief—rather, Frederick—pressed his body against the outer wall of the building, his fingers hanging precariously from a protruding brick.

‘Let’s see, Hereis is…’

Normally, one cannot distinguish mana other than their own, but Frederick and Hereis had spent seven long years working side-by-side.

Blessed with extraordinary senses, Frederick could read Hereis’s mana with pinpoint accuracy.

This was the only way to make contact with Hereis without being caught in the Imperial Palace, where the Emperor’s eyes reached everywhere.

‘It should be around here…’

He climbed the building, focusing his detection to the limit while straining to remain silent.
At that moment, his concentration broke as he felt a gaze on him. Immediately, a murderous attack flew toward him, and Frederick ducked his head desperately.

‘Crazy!’

Something heavy passed through the space where his head had just been. Having narrowly escaped by a hair’s breadth, Frederick immediately looked in the direction the attack had come from.

‘Who would do such a thing…?!’

Squinting to see clearly, he noticed one of the many windows in the building to his left was open.

He hadn’t expected anyone to be awake at this hour, let alone someone capable of spotting him moving at this speed from that distance.

‘This person is no amateur.’

Sensing instinctively that he couldn’t leave this alone, Frederick lunged forward.

Leaping fluidly through the window before it could be closed, Frederick tore down a distracting curtain and used it to bind the assailant.

Then, he checked the face…

“Y-you are……!”

It was a face he recognized.

Jet-black hair and pale skin.

Her ghostly impression had brightened to a more human one, and her cheeks had filled out a bit, but he recognized her instantly.

It was only natural; hers was a face difficult to forget.

The woman who had been Hereis’s maid and was now the Saintess.

‘Belita!’

Bound in the curtain, Belita spoke to him nonchalantly.

“What exactly were you doing?”

To think he’d be caught by the Saintess, of all people. A horrified Frederick froze instantly.
He was certain this was the greatest crisis of his thirty-nine years of life.

“Surely you weren’t trying to secretly break into someone’s room in the middle of the night, were you?”

As contempt flickered in the Saintess’s eyes, Frederick felt a chill run down his spine.

‘I-I can’t become a degenerate.’

At the thought that his lifetime of achievements might vanish due to a foul and embarrassing scandal, cold sweat poured down his back.

“Did you hear? That Sir Frederick! Well, it turns out he has some extraordinary tastes!”

“Sneaking into women’s rooms to watch them? Ugh~ so creepy~.”

“I guess no one is perfect. He acted all righteous on the outside, but behind the scenes…”

‘It’s better to just run and keep my mouth shut. I shouldn’t have come in! I need to g-get out of here…’

Panic-stricken, Frederick was about to charge for the window.

“Are you trying to run away?”

Frederick immediately changed tactics and dropped to his knees.

It was a reflex worthy of a Sword Master.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Looking down at Frederick, who was repeatedly slamming his head against the floor, the Saintess spoke in a cold tone.

“What exactly are you sorry for?”

“I will gladly accept any punishment for daring to offend you, Saintess… No, but how did you discover me? And that attack just now… Ah, never mind.”

Under her lethal gaze, Frederick immediately erased his curiosity and shut his mouth.
With a soft sigh, the Saintess continued.

“So, why were you clinging to the wall?”

“Th-the truth is… I was trying to meet Sir Hereis…”

“Ah, I see.”

Was she forgiving him? Frederick looked up at her slightly, harboring a sliver of hope.
Having already disentangled herself from the curtain, the Saintess was reaching for her outer coat. Seeing Frederick dazed by her mysterious behavior, she said:

“I’m coming with you.”

“Pardon?”

Though she maintained a poker face, Frederick’s inner self was filled with screams.
Then, suddenly snapping to his senses, he let out a hollow laugh.

“Ahahaha, that is absolutely out of the question! Wow~ for a second I thought you were serious!”

“Why?”

The Saintess frowned as if offended, but Frederick refused firmly.

“Sir Hereis and I have a… well, a thing between men tonight! Anyway, you can’t come, Saintess!”

“Is there something men share in the middle of the night?”

“Th-that’s right!”

“Are you doing something I shouldn’t see?”

“In a way—wait. Wh-what?”

For a moment, Frederick’s brain went blank. Even though he knew it was a stupid excuse he had to stick to, he fell right into the Saintess’s trap.

“No, no! That’s not it! Not at all! Of course not! Definitely not!”

“They say a strong denial is a strong affirmation…”

‘This is driving me crazy!’

Driven into an extreme corner, Frederick finally gave the answer she wanted.

“It’s not like that! It’s n-not something I mind the Saintess seeing at all!”

“I see. Then it shouldn’t matter if I go with you.”

“Eh? No, that’s…”

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

Huh?

‘I… I’ve been played…’

He had fallen hopelessly for a simple trick.

But how could he, as a Knight Commander, go back on his word?

Eventually, Frederick choked back his tears, lowered his knees, and gestured toward his back.

“Wrap your arms tightly around my neck.”

“…Why?”

“Even if this is your residence, it is still the Imperial Palace. If a rumor spreads that I was seen leaving your bedroom at night, it would be a huge problem for both of us.”

“So you’re saying we’re going through the window?”

“…? Yes. That’s the simplest way.”

Belita thought for a moment, then agreed it made sense and climbed onto his back.

As he was about to leap out the window with her in tow, a small voice whispered from behind his ear.