Chapter 71

“Durendal, huh? That’s a pretty grand name.”

“As long as its wielder protects humanity, it’s said that this sacred relic will never break and can cut through anything. But if it falls into the hands of evil, it will eventually shatter without a fight.”

An unbreakable sword. Well, that’s definitely something I need right now.

“It’s impressive, sure, but does it have any other special effects?”

Well, being unbreakable and having excellent cutting power is already great for a sword, but for a legendary weapon, it feels a bit… plain. Not that I expected it to shoot laser beams or anything.

The Marquis shook his head.

“Hmm, I’m not sure about that. The legends about the Oath Swords are quite abstract. The family records mention things like the sword guiding its wielder or granting endless strength, but that’s about it.”

So, in practical terms, we know almost nothing. The sword guiding me… that feels a bit unsettling.

Still, if it weren’t for this sword, I would’ve been dead long ago. Knut and the beastmen aren’t enemies you can just avoid.

“Aside from that… since it’s made of Jin, it should have the usual functions of a sword. The entire blade is Jin, after all.”

Jin. A metal stronger than black iron, capable of severing magic and even spiritual entities, destroying all that is evil. It’s a material that didn’t exist until 800 years ago.

“…This conversation has gone on long enough. Ah, you were asking about the lady’s mother, weren’t you? Ai-mel-ra de Median. The daughter of Baron Median.”

Marquis Ludwig closed his eyes, delving into his memories.

—

“About twenty years ago… a young female knight came to Randenburg. She had golden hair like marigolds and beautiful blue eyes. I still remember her vividly.”

As he spoke, the Marquis glanced at me. His eyes seemed nostalgic, as if reminiscing something.

“…Come to think of it, she looked quite similar to you now.”

So, she looked like a softer version of Hersela? Well, that would make her a beauty, I guess.

The Marquis picked up his teacup again.

“Lady Median wasn’t a particularly famous figure in noble society. She was the daughter of a minor baron from the countryside and rarely made public appearances, so that’s to be expected… However, her skills as a knight were a few steps ahead of even the masters. Few knew about that, though.”

So, she hid her skills. Well, if a young, beautiful female knight had that level of skill, she would’ve attracted too much attention.

“Right. She came to me, then a young lord, and presented her sword, claiming to be a descendant of the Twelve Knights. She asked to be appointed as a knight of the east. I agreed.”

“Nigel doesn’t seem to know about this?”

“Well, it was twenty years ago. Sir Shane might know, but it’s no surprise Sir Nigel doesn’t.”

I guess back then, Nigel would’ve just been a baby learning to walk.

Baby Nigel. The image of a two-year-old doing push-ups with tiny arms popped into my head, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“After becoming a knight of Randenburg, she disappeared suddenly during a series of skirmishes along the eastern border… I thought she had either died in battle or been captured by the Ka’har. It was a tragic loss.”

So, she was indeed captured by the Ka’har.

A skilled, beautiful female knight captured by barbarians… It sounds pretty ominous. Good thing she’s not my real mother, or I’d be boiling with rage.

“After that, I didn’t hear a single word about her until I met you. I never imagined she would become Or-han’s concubine.”

“What happened to the Median family after that?”

“They fell into ruin almost instantly. The baron, devastated by the loss of his only child, passed away soon after. Now, aside from you, there’s no one left in the Median family.”

So, the Median family is effectively extinct. Well, I plan to stay single my whole life, so let’s just call it extinct.

“That’s all I know. I hope it was a satisfactory answer.”

—

Assuming the Marquis was being honest, it was quite a useful answer.

I learned a lot about my lineage and the origins of this sword. In other words, I’m in big trouble.

“Well… honestly, it was quite an interesting story.”

“Glad to hear it. Now, let’s move on to the main topic. The Imperial family.”

Marquis Ludwig picked up a snack. I took one too.

It was a simple, savory cookie. The taste of well-baked flour and smooth butter lingered on my tongue.

“The Imperial family? Didn’t you say there was something else important to discuss?”

“I just did. I originally intended to talk about your family.”

“Really…?”

Hmm. I wonder if that’s true.

With the Imperial family’s attention on me now, it makes sense to explain the secrets of my identity before any problems arise…

Yeah, that’s logical. But if that’s the case, why didn’t he just tell me when we first met?

Why did he hide it back then? I still don’t get the reason.

“Are you not planning to tell me?”

“First, it would be good to start with the story of how the imperial family is elected.”

Marquis Ludwig picked up another pastry.

Surprisingly, does he like cookies or something?

“Elected? Isn’t it the emperor’s eldest son who becomes the next emperor?”

“Usually, that’s the case, but nominally, it’s an election. When His Majesty passes away, the five electors of the empire gather to discuss and elect the most suitable prince among them. It’s just a formal procedure to choose the already designated successor… but if there is no designated successor, then it’s up to the electors’ judgment.”

Sounds like a perfect setup for a power struggle.

No wonder.

“The imperial family must really dislike the electors.”

“If the emperor is not fit for the role, then probably so. But if he is fit, he would try to get closer to them instead.”

“Hmm… I guess so.”

With the election power ultimately in the hands of the electors, even if they act nice on the surface, they probably harbor resentment deep down.

“The problem is when there are more than one prince qualified to be emperor… and that’s exactly the situation we’re in now.”

Marquis Ludwig blew smoke into the air, like a chimney at a crematorium.

—

The current emperor of the empire, Ferdinand II, has seven children.

Well, maybe six now.

Five princes and two princesses.

Now, the late first empress, Anna, had three children.

The remarried new empress, Isabella, had four.

1st Prince Leopold, 2nd Prince Karl.

1st Princess Eleonora.

And 3rd Prince Ernst, 2nd Princess Leonor.

4th Prince Matthias, 5th Prince Joseph.

Well, Joseph is already considered dead.

He went missing during a trip abroad.

All the entourage, including the prince, disappeared, and not even their bodies were found.

Missing. What a joke.

Karl went to the north and is active as a military officer there.

Matthias went to the Holy Kingdom for studies and is said to be in the middle of priestly training.

Eleonora became the princess of the southern kingdom of Panam, and Leonor commands the knight order…?

These are not much of a concern.

The problem lies with 1st Prince Leopold and 3rd Prince Ernst.

—

“Previously, the 1st Prince had solid support. Back then, there were no issues. However… perhaps due to His Majesty’s old age, he started favoring the 3rd Prince more, influenced by Isabella, and things started to go awry.”

For a marquis, that was quite an aggressive tone.

A man who uses honorifics even with his knights, openly calling the empress by her name, shows how much he dislikes her.

Well, she is that kind of woman.

A woman who would even abandon her own child for power.

“Is the 3rd Prince some incompetent fool who would ruin the country?”

“If that were the case, it would have been better… if he were that incompetent, he wouldn’t have gained the electors’ support.”

Marquis Ludwig frowned and rubbed his forehead.

The deep wrinkles were filled with a sense of frustration.

“However, Prince Ernst is also quite capable. That’s actually the problem…”

“If he’s capable, then isn’t it okay to choose the 3rd Prince?”

“No, we cannot give Isabella any more power. She’s an unpredictable woman, but undoubtedly dangerous.”

Unpredictable…

That’s what I think every time I see you.

Whether she’s dangerous, I’m not sure yet.

“So, you support the 1st Prince?”

“Well. Maybe. I just hope His Majesty will make a clear decision. If His Majesty’s will is firm, the electors will follow his wishes.”

Beating around the bush.

“But, do I really need to know all this?”

“Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come all the way to the capital.”

Well, originally, I would have been busy spying on the Ka`har situation.

By now, Or-han is probably in the middle of his conquest.

Though it would take nearly three years to conquer that vast grassland.

“The authority of the imperial family has never been lower in the past 800 years, and now the imperial family is split in two, each checking the other. Both sides are just waiting for a decisive opportunity. In such times, you appeared. The warrior who saved the capital. A new master and… the descendant of the twelve knights. Do you understand?”