Chapter 67

We set off the next day as soon as dawn broke.

Whenever we took a break at the wyvern landing spots, we were sometimes ambushed by orcs, goblins, and occasionally trolls reaching up to 7 meters tall, but Jeilliris summoned dragons like golden afterimages and burnt them all.

Later on, she even emanated a gentle momentum that prevented them from approaching at all.

Using her unique insight and knowledge, Sererassie recognized the true value of the magic Valenciaunos was utilizing, drawn from his experiences before his return.

It was not circle magic derived from the elves but the incantations of dragons, the powers of dragons.

“Isn’t it well known that the imperial bloodline has various races flowing through it? You should practice hard, Valencia. As my twin, you should achieve results quickly, no?”

“Do not speak such things with that expression, or I will cut you down the moment you use it.”

Jeilliris laughed brightly.

“Hmmm. Caught, am I? But what has Duke Sorelazie been so engrossed in lately?”

“Your Majesty, it’s nothing.”

“You also know how to handle the incantation of thunder. Don’t push yourself too hard; practice gradually. Every time you mismanage your strength, Lady Trentia, who rides the wyvern, gets shocked and trembles, doesn’t she?”

Sererassie turned pale and asked.

“Do you perhaps have eyes on the back of your head, Your Majesty?”

“I know through the flow of mana. It feels as if I can see it, so I could say I have eyes on the back of my head.”

We would have such dialogues at the campfire every evening ten times over.

Only then could we enter the domain of Duke Purioaito.

Valenciaunos looked up at the snow-covered forests and mountains beneath the dawn sky, excitedly sharing various stories.

Rudi thought that whenever he mounted a wyvern, it felt like he was returning to before April of this year.

“Rudi. This mountain range is under the influence of Duke Purioaito.”

“Not just the territory but the influence?”

“That means the lords in this vicinity are all vassals of Duke Purioaito. Purioaito rules over five count families and more than forty baron families.”

“That’s quite something. Was it formerly a royal family?”

“Yes. The entire domain of the duke practically resembles a kingdom.”

Every time he heard such stories, Rudi thought he was very fortunate to have become the maid of Valenciaunos.

Domains, knights, empires, policies, armies.

He could witness the enormous narratives he thought would never intersect with her life, right beside him.

“There seem to be unusually many dukes in the empire. Is there a reason?”

“The title of duke originated with various privileges given to border lords facing foreign nations, to ward off wars. However, the empire continued to wage conquest wars.”

“Ah.”

“With every new territory created, the noble who received it became a duke. That’s why the further you are from the center, the more dukes there are.”

“How fascinating.”

Valenciaunos pointed to the massive trees that began to become visible on one side.

“Rudi. Look. Isn’t it magnificent?”

“Oh my. What kind of trees grow that large? They must be at least 300 meters tall.”

Each tree towered higher than the nearby mountains.

“They are giant trees. They’re not of a specific species; it’s said that the forests where elves lived have become that way thanks to spirits. Those can be used to create enormous warships. Occasionally, elves return, so lords make an effort to manage the giant forests well.”

A basin surrounded by high mountains appeared below us.

In the center of the basin were rough towers and buildings made of natural stones.

A place where high mountains and giant forests alternately stretched, where there was snow on the mountain that never melted throughout the year, where a mine dug by dwarves could be found.

It was Duke Purioaito’s domain.

* * *

The Wyvernfit in Duke Purioaito’s territory was smaller than that of the capital but still impressively large.

Fortunately, it was located right next to the lord’s castle, allowing for easy entrance without being exposed to the cold wind.

Riding a wyvern in the cold wind is playful, but walking in the cold wind is hard labor.

“Free knights, you will be staying at the hotel on the right!”

“Mages, you have a test tomorrow evening! Please wait comfortably!”

“From now on, mercenary leaders whose names are called are confirmed for hire! Move with your members to the encampment!”

The road in front of the castle and the square were just as wide and clean as the capital.

On the platform in the square, a herald was shouting to the free knights, mercenary leaders, and wandering mages.

Draped in a veil, Jeilliris muttered softly.

“It seems they are indeed gathering forces.”

Lady Trentia’s red eyes sparkled as she looked at the various insignias, medals, and grand designs on the armors of the free knights.

Her valiant face burst with pride.

During the brief moments while entering the lord’s castle, she glared at them or took stances as if she would dash out immediately, exchanging signals that might be for knights but seemed to simply be raising their index fingers.

Of course, the result of that contest of wills was always Lady Trentia’s victory, dressed in the masterpieces of the Huangrip Steel Forge and Huangrip Magic Guild.

“The weapon you’re wearing is the mark of a true knight!”

“Princess Valencia’s words are correct!”

“They really do play well together.”

In contrast, Sererassie cast a deep and complicated, pitying gaze toward the wandering mages.

To research and practice using potions freely under the wealthy and powerful lord was both a privilege and a romance of elite mages.

Whether standing outside listening to proclamations on a cold, windy day or entering the castle behind a high noble to exchange meaningful compliments and advice was a significant difference.

“Will you please stay well, ‘potential selves’?”

“Is that your blessing?”

I waited briefly for Sererassie, choosing not to follow Jeilliris into the castle.

The guard at the door shot me a glance as if to hurry me inside, but seemed too timid to voice it.

“I don’t want to admit it, but without you, I would have been like that too, wouldn’t I?”

“I would have done worse. Did you think there’s no church here?”

“If a genius like me is reduced to that, it would be the empire’s loss.”

“That’s why I came to find you.”

“How beautiful it is to be needed by someone. I never would have imagined I’d see you with such eyes, in gratitude towards you.”

Sererassie’s golden eyes were still filled with anger and contempt.

“Oh, reckless little brother. Why did you widen the distance between your heart and the Ivory Tower? You knew I would come to hate you, didn’t you? Is this a good thing?”

I tried to answer with a bitter smile.

“Is that really the case? I simply did it because it had to be done.”

Sererassie turned her body and said.

“Sometimes I feel like you are His Majesty the Emperor.”

“What blasphemous words!”

“You seem unreasonable, but when you dig deeper, you become right, making one want to believe.”

“……”

“So please continue to be right in the future. I wouldn’t want to only hate you, who granted me such a significant opportunity, you selfish, self-righteous little brother.”

“……You just wanted to say your last words, didn’t you?”

“How perceptive.”

That was not a compliment.

From inside, Rudi’s voice came through.

“Princess Valencia! Princess Sererassie! Please come in quickly!”

We simultaneously moved our steps inside the door.

I heard the doorkeeper let out a sigh of relief as he kept the door open, giggling to myself.

* * *

The duke welcomed us in the banquet hall.

The banquet hall had a high ceiling like Jeilliris’s audience chamber, and the walls were adorned with the banners of the Purioaito family, painted with trees and red shields, along with splendid tapestries.

The rustic table made from the lumber of giant trees must have been at least 50 meters long.

“It was a gift from the elves to my grandfather’s grandfather. Pleased to meet you, Duke Valenciaunos, ‘the Lofty’ Duke of Purioaito, Sigmaine Elzenus Purioaito.”

He had light brown hair and chilling blue eyes. He was a man of a stubborn hawk-like impression, heading in a certain direction.

He appeared to be in his thirties, but to my knowledge, he was already a father of three grown children.

He seemed to have no hobby for grooming his appearance, as he wore somewhat outdated clothing, but he had the dignity characteristic of high nobility in welcoming us.

“Thank you for your hospitality. The Emperor’s adviser, Valenciaunos Solletaroun Solletarass.”

While a duke was still a duke, there was an insurmountable wall between a titular duke with no land to stick a pin in and a duke holding land the size of a kingdom.

“Don’t worry; I’ve instructed to prepare separate meals for the attendants you brought. It would be softer bread for them to eat in a place where their lord is absent.”

“Indeed, that is wise.”

I listened to the duke’s words with a somewhat servile attitude, considering Jeilliris would soon be pushing him hard enough to overturn the table.

She had rarely wanted to leave the capital even before her return.

Thus, when she did leave the capital, she would end everything and return.

At the colossal table of 50 meters, there were only me, Jeilliris, Sererassie, and the duke sitting.

Of course, attendants, maids, servants, and female servants surrounded us, but with the emperor and the duke sitting across from each other, those below knights did not count as people.

I inwardly cast a sympathetic glance towards him while waiting for the food.

Fortunately, the food was quite delicious.

The main dish was smoked deer legs, which melted in the mouth with a gentle oak smoke flavor.

Sererassie, sitting next to me, whispered in my ear.

“It will begin soon.”

Jeilliris and the duke were sitting opposite each other, and Jeilliris had just tasted the wine.

With her long platinum hair neatly tied, she sparkled her golden eyes beneath a delicate veil.

“I can’t remember the last time I drank wine that wasn’t poisoned. Even while taking down three servants a day, spies and assassins keep coming from somewhere. It’s deeply flavorful. Thank you, Duke.”

The duke raised his head and replied.

“Not at all.”

“But when this banquet hall is filled with knights, my share to drink will decrease.”

“What do you mean?”

“You must know of my incapacity.”

Duke Purioaito took a breath.

He, like other high nobles, had been present in the capital that day when the factions of the crown prince and the first prince mutually destroyed one another, with Jeilliris ascending the throne.

“Upon hearing that you were coming, you must have hidden your half-siblings that you took with you that day.”

That day, high nobles returned to their domains, fleeing and taking one or two escaped imperial family members with them.

Should the emperor show a weakness someday, each of them would demand recognition or independence.

Despite being aware of this, Jeilliris had reasons for remaining silent.

There was an expectation that the nobles would not act recklessly after witnessing her incapacity, along with a belief that they would manage the infiltrators well.

Duke Planities went to war for the revenge of his wife.

Even the high nobles, who casually waged wars, needed a notion of vengeance for their wives to decide on going to war; her incapacity was absolute.

“But have you hidden the magical realm alongside your relatives?”

“Your Majesty.”

“I felt no traces of infiltrators or old energies from your domain or those of your vassals throughout my flight on a wyvern.”

Duke Purioaito attempted to say something, but Jeilliris raised her hand as if to silence him, much like she would with administrative officers.

It was an impolite act to a high noble vassal, but no one could stand in the way of an enraged emperor.

“Did you not at least make up some excuse about gathering an army for territorial warfare? Are you cursed with a lie that can’t be told? What on earth were you planning to do with the gathering of knights, mages, and mercenaries? Did you underestimate me because of my youth? Answer me.”

Her voice echoed coldly throughout the wide banquet hall.

The duke began to sweat even though she did not escalate her presence in the slightest.

He spoke with great determination.

“I will show you the magical realm tomorrow.”

“Of course, that is what you should do. Why do you speak as if you are bestowing a great favor upon me?”

“You will come to understand tomorrow. So please calm your anger and have a restful night.”

The meal thus concluded.

Before long, a confident smile rose to his lips.

I have no idea what kind of confidence that is.

If I were gathering an army and Jeilliris came, I would have prostrated myself at her feet first.

* * *

Jeilliris alternately looked at the magical realm and the duke.

And with a deep sigh, she uttered.

“I understand.”