Chapter 261

#261 Episode: The Tin Knight and the Frenzied Banquet

The term “Founding Merit Officials” and the phrase “when the rabbit dies, the dog is cooked” are often treated as a set.

In the grand scheme of things, someone who contributed to the establishment of a nation was expected to possess exceptional abilities, high renown, and a strong drive. These traits were undeniably helpful during the founding process, but they often became obstacles when it came to consolidating royal power.

Of course, not every founding monarch kicked their officials to the curb. Some rulers took good care of their officials, insisting that they wouldn’t engage in any rabbit-and-dog cooking type of betrayal.

However, many of these rulers met with unfortunate ends just a few generations later, as the growing power of the officials became a real threat to the crown.

Such outcomes were testament to the harsh realities of power dynamics.

In this context, the relationship between the Arcturus dynasty and Duke Lenart’s family was a rare case indeed.

The imperial family did not purge the duke’s lineage, and the duke’s family did not rebel against the empire.

The reason this was possible… well, it could only be described as luck.

Sure, you could argue that the strong bonds of loyalty between the first emperor and the Lion Duke remained unshaken throughout their lives, or that the shared understanding that external threats abound meant that infighting would lead only to mutual destruction. But that wasn’t the fundamental reason.

Had there been even one emperor plagued by doubts or one duke with excessive ambition, no matter how many safeguards existed, the relationship between the two families would have certainly collapsed.

The fact that such misfortunes had never occurred and that the two powers had coexisted for nearly 200 years could only be described as sheer ‘luck.’

However, unless one meddles with the dice themselves, one cannot expect only good rolls indefinitely.

The early demise of the Ironblood Emperor was truly a fumbled roll of the dice.

He was a wise ruler who, while checking excessive military influence from the Lenart family, artfully combined approaches like commerce and civil service, using both carrot and stick to maintain a delicate balance.

Duke Lenart also understood very well how fatal it could be when a nation’s military power was controlled by a singular family and supported the emperor’s intent on reforming this.

It was much more advantageous for the imperial and duke families to make concessions to each other rather than face each other in mortal combat.

But then the emperor passed away, and the emperor’s offspring, who would ordinarily inherit his position, died in succession from unfortunate events, leaving only a young crown prince behind.

The empress, hyper-sensitive from the continuous challenges from royal family members and internal strife, bristled with hostility, which in turn sparked resistance from the duke’s family.

The Minister of Defense, Duke Lenart, was well aware of the delicate situation and understood the grievances voiced by his kin.

Yet, this time, they had clearly gone too far.

“—Are you serious right now? Independence for the duchy, you say?”

Such blatant disrespect.

With the duke, who usually addressed the Elder Council Leader with respect, dropping his formal speech, the relatives gathered in the office jumped back slightly, caught off guard.

It didn’t end there.

When the duke unleashed the pressure he had been holding back, the more timid among them couldn’t even meet his gaze.

This concept was different from physical force.

Even a mere shopkeeper can command hundreds of subordinates in battle, eventually gaining a certain dignity and aura. But Duke Lenart was a figure who had led numerous officials, guiding the empire’s prosperity as the prime minister, second only to the emperor.

After the Ironblood Emperor’s death, it was his prowess as a renowned minister that kept the empire from crumbling during this throne vacancy. Even the council leader, who had been boldly scolding the duke, could not help but flinch at the magnitude of his countenance.

However, this precious moment faded quickly.

Gazing at the signed document on his desk, the council leader regained his composure.

A representative of a group must prioritize collective interests and safety over the morality of what is right or wrong.

Attempting to serve both as ‘the empire’s prime minister’ and ‘the family’s representative,’ the duke could never outmatch the council leader, regardless of how talented he was.

The council leader’s words reflected not just a personal opinion but the will of the majority of the family.

“Is there something we cannot do?”

“What?”

A sneer crept onto the council leader’s lips.

“The idea of us separating from the empire isn’t just about losing a mere duchy. It implies an immediate detachment of the territories of the families under us, our overseas branches, talents nurtured through sponsorship, and the military. Most importantly, the army. This could easily mean cutting off about 30% of the national power.

Particularly concerning the military, a drop of even 30% wouldn’t be an exaggeration. With generals and elite soldiers fleeing, scrambling to arm farmers with spears will hardly be enough to stand against the Magical Kingdom.

Court wizards? The empress’s loyal troops? They’ve barely been around for fifty years; it’s laughable to think they could adequately fill our void.

Chaos would reign, security would falter, and with territories shutting their doors, the economy would plummet as well. Isn’t it quite the spectacle?”

The duke’s gaze sharpened, as if he could kill the council leader with merely his stare.

“It’s natural for people to gather around the powerful, and when that power shows signs of instability, it’s equally natural for them to scatter. Do you really think those around the Lenart family would rush to follow if we declare independence?”

“Who knows until we try? Our family, which has served the imperial family for centuries, has already been cast aside, so don’t you think other families would feel uneasy? Sure, they laugh at us now, but once they think it through, they’ll realize that there’s no guarantee that they aren’t next in line.”

“Does that mean we should risk the empire’s very existence just to protect our family?”

“Why shouldn’t we?”

Emotions flared in the council leader’s voice.

“In fact, I would love to ask. Why must only our bloodline be sacrificed? An ignorant royal woman threatens us with a sword and demands submission, yet instead of reprimanding her severely, why do we just roll over and offer our necks? Is loyalty to the deceased emperor truly that paramount? So significant that it demands unilateral devotion from all kin?”

“Lenart is also part of the empire.”

“No, it’s because of Lenart that the empire exists.”

“In the short term, we might suffer losses, but in the long term, the empire’s survival benefits us as well.”

“That long-term benefit is only possible if the royal family maintains their integrity, no? I can’t find that belief in me.”

“If you can’t believe, we can all meet our demise together.”

“No, there is a more straightforward and definitive solution.”

The council leader’s eyes glistened with intensity.

“—Lenart and the royal family should unite. That way, we wouldn’t waste our energy on discussions about independence.”

Boom!!

“Are you plotting treason right in front of the empire’s prime minister?!”

“I merely urged the head of the family to make a wise decision. But it seems the head of the family is absent here.”

Crack! Crash!

Like a signal, chaos erupted outside.

Shouts, sounds of swords clashing, screams.

The office door burst open, and a blood-soaked guard rushed in urgently.

“Y-you must take cover, Your Grace—”

Thud!

However, before he could finish, a blade pierced the guard’s chest from behind.

As his body fell, armed young men poured into the room.

The other guards inside, though late to the change, drew their swords, but the enemy numbers were overwhelming.

In that fleeting moment, a sense of crisis gripped the guards, while the rebels held a confident conviction of victory.

Swish!

Without any warning, the head of one of the rebels flew into the air.

The rebels gaped in fear, scanning their surroundings, but found nothing.

And in the next moment, another person’s neck was cleanly severed.

There were no visible shapes, no sounds, and not even the faintest presence could be felt.

Yet, people were dropping like flies.

A name slipped from the rebels’ lips, laced with fear.

“Conrad…!”

The pocket knife of the Ironblood Duke.

The head of the guards.

Renowned as the strongest assassin known for surprise attacks and stealth.

His very existence served as a deterrent that protected the duke.

What good are dozens of elite soldiers if they can’t even sense him? They would be methodically slaughtered.

In an instant, the office was drenched in blood, and just as the assassin’s blade was about to strike the council leader—

“—Yay!”

A small shadow leaped in with a rather playful voice, blocking Conrad’s blade.

Conrad quickly attempted to distance himself and hide again, but Hilda’s eyes never left him.

Clang! Clash!

The sinister blades of Conrad and Hilda unleashed a flurry of dazzling sword energy.

The clash between the two warriors was so intense that neither could claim superiority, yet while Hilda smiled, Conrad’s face bore worry.

Given the overwhelming numerical disadvantage, it was evident what the unfolding fate would be, especially with the last bastion that is Conrad now tied down.

As the guards braced themselves for death, the duke stepped forward to stop them.

“Enough.”

“Your Grace.”

As the guards lowered their heads in submission, the duke examined the faces of the rebels one by one.

Among them, some glared at the duke with venomous eyes, but many others harbored desperate expressions.

Humiliation and resistance to the mockery and ridicule of the world.

Fear that they might lose everything.

It was futile to talk about ‘a grand perspective’ to those cornered, or those who believed they were cornered.

The cracks in the ground that the duke had failed to notice amidst his duties of balancing the entire empire, or what he thought he had paid attention to but hadn’t quite enough were now glaring.

The duke acknowledged his mistakes and failures.

However, he could not remain silent.

“Everyone, cease this. If it goes any further, it will truly be irreparable.”

The eyes of some young rebels, who had their swords pointed at the duke, flickered.

In contrast, some did not waver at all.

“Isn’t it a tad too shameless to pretend to care for us now?”

Slash!

Wiping the blood from her blade after defeating Conrad, Hilda spoke.

Her body was covered in wounds, but her purple eyes shone with an unmatched clarity.

The nature of growing stronger and surpassing one’s limits in the heat of battle was strikingly similar to that of any noble girl from the kingdom’s branches.

“Grandfather.”

Seeking permission, Hilda asked.

The council leader replied.

“Spare their lives.”

“Okay.”

With the blades swinging, silence enveloped the room.

Leaving behind the prime minister, Conrad, and their subordinates who were dragged away, the council leader and his companions quickly began issuing orders.

“Ensure the duke’s house arrest does not leak outside. Many officials follow the Minister of Defense over Lenart, after all. Also, command the military to seize control of the command. We must incorporate as many core units under our control before the empress reacts. However, let’s delay contact with the Nemea forces led by Werner. We need to manufacture a situation where, whether they like it or not, if they don’t win, their family will be obliterated. Only then will they reluctantly join our cause.”

“Seize the empress! We need to capture that wicked woman!”

“Secure the two princesses first. They will be the empire’s only heirs if the crown prince dies, and their security is relatively weak.”

“Hurry! Capture the royals and declare the Southern Witch and court wizards as traitors in their names!”

“Now is the chance while those fools are distracted by the trials!!”

In the midst of greed and madness, the second act of the banquet began.