Chapter 162

I was reflecting on my meeting with Grace as I rode my wyvern back to the capital.

* * *

“He was a respected grandfather.”

That was the first thing she said to me when we faced each other.

“Was he?”

I assumed we would start the conversation with the topic of inheritance.

It was not something I expected to hear from the Great Lord who had tormented me and Jayrilis for decades before my return.

I watched her with a blank expression while trying to hide my embarrassment.

Her long black hair cascaded down to her waist, calm brown eyes and a slightly twisted smile gave off a somewhat timid impression, coupled with an unusual heat radiating from her pomegranate red lips.

There were bluish bruises on the inside of her sleeves, and her gait didn’t seem very comfortable either.

It looked like signs of abuse.

Who would dare lay a hand on the Great Lord’s granddaughter?

If they were the same grandchildren, it might be possible.

This could also be used as one of the points in negotiations.

…Perhaps I should kill them all.

“Your Highness.”

As I was lost in my complicated thoughts, Grace called out to me.

“When a person speaks, they should look at the face, not the wrist or body.”

Her attitude was confusing, as I couldn’t tell if she was trying to take the initiative or being sincere.

I smiled faintly and called upon the energy of the incantation.

My pupils elongated, and scales appeared on the back of my hand.

“Do you dare try to look into me?”

Grace braced herself against the table to withstand my killing intent.

“You killed my grandfather, and it’s not enough; you intend to kill all my siblings too, don’t you? Naturally, I would be next.”

Her voice was fearful, yet it seemed she wasn’t intimidated.

“I didn’t think you’d think that way. How refreshing.”

I withdrew my killing intent, and she spoke, her red lips moving.

“Did you expect me to be more calm and sensitive to profit?”

I willingly acknowledged that.

Surviving after stating the facts is one of the privileges of the strong.

“Indeed. As the granddaughter of a Great Lord, that would be how it should be.”

“I lost my grandfather today.”

“He was a great villain who chose corruption.”

“Is that why you killed him?”

Her calm brown eyes tried to look into me.

I shrugged in response.

“Think what you will.”

“If my grandfather had sworn loyalty, would you still have killed him?”

“Think what you will.”

“Under the Emperor’s orders…”

I paused there.

“Enough.”

I contemplated if I had chosen the wrong person.

“If you casually speak his name, I will pull out all your teeth.”

What I wanted was a granddaughter who would align with the Imperial Court and accumulate visible profits, not a foolish young woman filled with rage for having lost her bloodline.

As I gazed at the hilt of the Black Tear, Grace’s face turned pale.

In the next moment, the words I had been waiting for poured out of her mouth.

“I pledge loyalty to Her Majesty, Emperor Jayrilis. I will supply pure silver and black iron through a free trade city at minimal tariffs. I will close the old fortresses and ancient tunnels to prevent any impure groups from gathering, and through donations to the church, I will indirectly train Holy Knights to keep the old followers in check. Therefore, please conceal the fact that Benechion was an Infiltrator.”

“You?”

“Isn’t that what you desired?”

She spoke with a face full of grief, yet there was a glimmer of determination in her focused brown eyes.

I smiled in satisfaction as I responded.

I found it puzzling why she had said something different despite knowing all of this.

“Indeed. Those are the things I wished for. But why did you pretend you knew nothing? You could have made such… constructive proposals that both sides could accept.”

Tears streamed down her brown eyes as if she truly did not know.

“Your Highness. You killed my grandfather.”

It felt as if she had gripped my heart with cold hands.

“…He was a sinner.”

“He was a good lord and an excellent patriarch.”

“It seems your wrist is saying otherwise. I don’t know who laid a hand on you, but the fact that you allowed yourself to be touched…”

“He must have just arrived this morning, so you’re standing before me mere hours after killing him?”

Her calm voice was gradually mixed with emotion.

“I know. I am the granddaughter of the Great Lord. Yes, Your Highness. The Great Lord must prioritize the family’s interests over personal feelings. Resentment toward an unbeatable foe is a dangerous thing. Naturally, I shouldn’t show sadness before the royal family that beheaded my grandfather. I must present my case with grace and ask for negotiation.”

“But,” Grace hesitated before continuing, “it frightens me that just hours after my grandfather passed, you came to me unannounced, requesting a negotiation filled with threats, without even allowing me time to mourn his departure.”

“……”

“Everything you desire will be granted. Gremoryus will pledge loyalty to you, Your Highness. To ensure this goes smoothly, my grandfather must not be seen as having been turned to a devil. If my authority hits rock bottom, establishing the free trade city will also become difficult. Is it acceptable for him to be regarded as having been caught in the Infiltrators’ schemes and died? Yes. I thought so. He appears just as I imagined from the rumors.”

I looked at her with pity and said, “You are… not a noble.”

“Your Highness, isn’t feeling sorrow part of being noble? Is it foolish to feel sorrow? I don’t understand. What does it mean to pledge loyalty… that one can kill a person in the morning and by afternoon seek a negotiation with that person’s granddaughter?”

Only then did I realize.

From beginning to end, Grace’s eyes were filled with genuine sorrow.

I had no idea what kind of childhood she had lived.

She shows a great sense of morality and ethics, which makes me think she might have received an education at a monastery in her early years.

Perhaps it would be good to dispatch Bishop Hong through Matheos to establish authority at this point.

Forty years of life drummed up thoughts like these almost automatically.

I arrogantly raised my chin and lowered my gaze.

“Pledging loyalty… exists to reduce bloodletting in this world.”

Grace narrowed her eyes as if she had heard something absurd.

I continued calmly.

“If a country called Solletarass exists, won’t there be no wars between the Empire’s Northern and Eastern regions?”

The population density of the Empire was significantly higher compared to other countries, thanks to that.

Even if there were territorial wars, being unified as one country made it much smaller in scale, and negotiation was easier.

“The Great Lord must prioritize the interests of his family over his own feelings. Resentment toward an unbeatable foe is the most dangerous thing. Naturally, you shouldn’t show sadness before the royal family that beheaded your grandfather, and you should seek to negotiate with grace, proposing benefits. From now on, do it that way.”

“……”

Tears streamed down Grace’s face once more.

Clear tears flowed in a long line.

My cheeks trembled from the convulsions.

I smiled and raised my right hand.

“I look forward to working well together, Duke Gremoryus.”

She reached out her hand, trembling like a trembling aspen.

We shook hands and descended to the first floor together.

…Perhaps because of her heterogeneous heritage, in a world of nobles who are indifferent like elves and cruel like ogres, I met someone who truly felt sorrow after a long time.

Despite the horrendous memories before my return, I thought it would be good for her to live long.

She would undoubtedly become a good lord like her grandfather.

I had confidence in my ability to persuade her.

If I had eloquently conveyed the essence of the old contract her grandfather had made, and the deeds of the old followers in this province, calling out “Let’s protect this territory together,” she would have capitulated.

Maybe it was a mistake.

It’s certainly better to smile than to cry.

It is to my advantage that Grace’s resentment and hatred are directed more toward her grandfather than the Imperial Court.

Why hadn’t I done that?

I already knew the answer.

It had been far too long since I had seen someone capable of expressing their sorrow properly.

Even if that was a luxury in this world, I thought that someone of noble stature could afford such luxuries.

That white tear was sparkling too much.

I simply let her be sad.

* * *

“Well done!”

Jayrilis’s voice echoed in the afternoon office.

The pouring backlight cast a deep shadow on her face, making her platinum hair glow so brightly that the boundary between it and sunlight became indistinct.

However, even on that shadowed face, her eyes were vivid.

With long eyelashes shimmering with golden brilliance, her eyes seemed like the sun setting and rising with every blink.

Before her, I found myself once again captivated by her beauty, ambition, and charisma, gazing up at her endlessly.

“Your Majesty. Duke Grace may have developed other intentions due to my fault. I should have placed a debt on the Imperial Court, but instead, all I’ve done is evoke resentment. I am deeply sorry. Please punish me.”

“Didn’t you set up a safeguard? If anything seems suspicious, you can control it via Bishop Heharson. If by any chance they try to muster an army, that would be the time for me to step in and show an example.”

“However…”

“Valenciaunos.”

Jayrilis smiled warmly.

She slowly extended her ringed hand towards me.

As I froze like a frog in front of a snake, Jayrilis gestured for me to place my hand on her desk.

“Regardless of how reckless one might be in the capital, you are still human; surely you must feel guilt or sympathy?”

“Your Majesty.”

Jayrilis placed her hand atop mine.

The ring, akin to a gauntlet, felt as cold as ice, whereas her palm was warm enough for even me to perceive.

“The Black Tear… if not for the fact that he would never swear absolute loyalty, he was a great lord. That is what matters most.”

Her voice was languid yet chilling.

“Indeed.”

“It’s natural that the new duke bears resentment toward you. However, my thoughts differ.”

“Pardon?”

“If it were me, I would have first reduced the population of Kimelion by two-thirds before starting a conversation. Duke Grace should be grateful that it hasn’t come to that.”

I inadvertently swallowed.

Jayrilis’s hand grasped mine firmly, as hard as steel.

“What would be the reason I continue to use you, knowing you are sad, feel guilty, and have regret? It is because you can share in that sorrow while delivering results that differ from mine. Are we not twins?”

It was quite rare for Jayrilis to mention that we were twins.

“Y, you intend to reduce the population by two-thirds and yet claim to feel sorrow and guilt?!”

As I stared with wide eyes, she released my hand and smiled like the sun.

“Moreover, do I not say? When you are in pain, all your suffering is my fault.”

“How could I dare…”

“Thus, carry out your orders without any doubt.”

I bowed my head once more.

Jayrilis gestured to lift my head.

“Lift your head. I grant you the privilege of not having to bow before me, Duke Valenciaunos.”

Her voice was laced with playfulness.

“I will also provide you with wine, so after you drink it with your escort knights, get thoroughly drunk, forget everything, and return the day after tomorrow.”

“Your Majesty is too generous.”

“I told you, well done. You have secured a pledge of loyalty and can now purchase high-quality ores from Gremoryus at a cheaper price through the free trade city. Haha. I wonder how much profit will be generated from that process.”

Gremoryus’s silver and black iron had a higher mana solubility, and even with the same incantation circuit, they lasted longer and were more powerful.

That had been the reason I spent an astounding eight years trying to conquer and dominate before my return.

“I will set up a direct trading company under the Imperial Court for procurement. I will give you a 10% share, no, 20%, no, let’s make it 25%.”

“Your Majesty!”

Tears of joy streamed down my face as I arose and knocked my head to the ground.

Ownership of a share in the Imperial Court’s trading company was an endless fountain of gold.

“Your Majesty is too generous. I, Valenciaunos, will serve you with my life.”

“It is still too early to be this grateful.”

“Pardon?”

“I have heard from the Saint. You’ve been gravely injured. While you may have assumed the duties of the incantation, you are still managing that power, are you not? There will come a time when you need to fight on the battlefield. You will need armor.”

“Armor?”

“Platinum, silversmith, black iron, bronze. What color do you prefer? It cannot be entirely black; that color belongs solely to me.”