Though Theodore had struggled all along to stop it, in the end he had no choice but to realize he was outmatched.
All he could do was feel, to the bone, the gap in ability between himself and Duke Ferstein.
“Duke Ferstein already holds the entire military authority of the Krosen Empire in one hand. All the key commanders have been filled with his loyal men… With the knight orders alone, there is no way to turn the tide.”
It had been a long time since the army of the Krosen Empire had ceased to heed the emperor’s commands. That was because Duke Ferstein had carefully planted his own men in the army’s most important posts. Moreover, in that process, Duke Ferstein’s outstanding ability had been made plainly clear. Every one of his loyal retainers proved more capable than expected. They had completely seized control of the army’s chain of command. Each of them was an expert skilled in command, control, and organizational management, and all of them offered Duke Ferstein loyalty from the depths of their hearts. Theodore could only marvel at the duke’s ability to gather talented people and win their hearts. It was merely unfortunate that they were a band of rebels aiming for the imperial throne.
Theodore had already sent people to attempt contact with several of the commanders, but it had all been in vain. Most either ignored them completely, saying that everything they had belonged, by rights, to Duke Ferstein, or coldly ordered them to leave.
“This is stifling.”
Unable to endure it any longer, Theodore sprang to his feet. Even sitting still made him feel as though his breath were being choked off, and he no longer wanted to remain here. Though he would have to return, he desperately wanted to clear his head, if only for a short while.
“I should go see my master for a bit.”
In the end, he resolved to go out. He had decided to meet the master he had not seen in a long time and seek his advice. Without hesitation, he called for his adjutant.
“You called, sir?”
“Prepare the carriage. I intend to visit my father’s residence for a while.”
An ambiguous glint passed through the adjutant’s eyes. But because his head was bowed, Theodore failed to notice it.
“I will prepare it at once.”
Letting the adjutant’s respectful reply pass by him, Theodore silently moved on.
Dudududu.
A splendidly adorned eight-horse carriage was racing fiercely down the main road. As befitted the carriage of the regent responsible for the affairs of an entire nation, its luxury was taken to the extreme. Nearly twenty knights in all surrounded the carriage like an iron wall, devoting themselves to guarding it.
Theodore sat buried deep in the swaying carriage seat, his eyes tightly shut. Perhaps because his complicated emotions had yet to fade, the corners of his eyes were trembling faintly. He was currently on his way to the mansion of Duke Nersis, his father. More precisely, his adoptive father.
Duke Nersis. Once, he had been a proud man of power, but now he was no more than a noble family fallen into ruin, living in seclusion after withdrawing to the countryside. Though he had been able to shine a little by taking in an outstanding talent named Theodore and sending him into the imperial palace, it was still far from enough to restore his former glory. In truth, the survival of the family depended entirely on Theodore alone.
But Theodore did not think very well of Duke Nersis. Of course, he could not forget the grace of being taken in despite being a commoner and given the chance to become regent, but he knew full well that it had been a choice made purely through calculation of profit and loss. Theodore’s purpose in visiting the family lay elsewhere. His true purpose was to see his mother and two younger siblings, who were practically under house arrest in the Nersis ducal household, as well as the master who had granted him his opportunity.
The master who had mediated his meeting with Duke Nersis, opened the path for him to become a high-ranking noble, and secretly arranged for him to meet Emperor Valensius alone, thereby granting him the exalted position of regent. But when he thought of his master, a look of pity appeared on Theodore’s face.
“Poor man.”
In Theodore’s mind, his master was someone who had lived a truly unfortunate life. A tragic figure who had given up everything for a single purpose. Strictly speaking, he should have said that he was not a human being, but Theodore respected his master from the bottom of his heart. Without his tremendous knowledge and consideration, it would have been completely impossible for Theodore to rise to such a position…
Thinking of his master, Theodore lowered his head deeply.
“I’m afraid. Afraid of what state Master will have changed into this time.”
Whether it knew the regent’s worries or not, the carriage continued to race energetically toward the Nersis ducal household.
“Welcome, my son.”
Looking at the old nobleman who ran toward him with both arms spread wide, Theodore quickly schooled his expression. He was none other than Duke Nersis, his adoptive father. Whatever schemes he might harbor, he was unquestionably a benefactor who had shown Theodore grace, so Theodore had to observe proper courtesy.
“Have you been well, Father? Please forgive me for not visiting often, as I have been tied up with official duties.”
“What are you saying? Forgiveness, for you who labor day and night for the glory of our house… Do not say such things.”
As if Theodore had said something utterly absurd, Duke Nersis seized him in an embrace. Though they did not share blood, on the surface the two looked exactly like father and son. Theodore surrendered himself to the duke’s embrace with an expressionless face.
“So, how are matters proceeding?”
Looking at the old nobleman’s greed-filled face, Theodore shook his head with a dark expression. At that sight, Duke Nersis’s complexion changed completely.
“I-Is it not going well?”
“I am sorry, Father.”
At Theodore’s reply, Duke Nersis fidgeted ceaselessly in agitation. His appearance was no different from that of an old man whose household had collapsed and who was clinging desperately to a single lottery ticket. Seeing that, Theodore deliberately hardened his face.
“In truth, I came because there is something I wish to ask Master. He is well, I trust?”
Duke Nersis’s tone had turned somewhat blunt. From that alone, one could tell how extremely simple his nature was.
“Of course he is. That thing, not even fit to be called a man, is still living on while shouting his head off.”
“And are Mother and my siblings safe?”
“Well, they are eating away as always, so there should be nothing to worry about.”
“I understand.”
With a bitter expression, Theodore bowed deeply and moved on. There was no way to hide the heaviness in his heart. Duke Nersis continued glaring at Theodore’s back with a displeased look in his eyes.
“Mother.”
“Oh. You’ve come? Huhuhuk.”
The moment she saw Theodore, his aged mother burst into tears. From that alone, he could tell that life in the Nersis ducal household was far from smooth. Though outwardly she looked every bit the noble lady, the increased wrinkles around her eyes showed how much she must have suffered in her heart. At that sight, Theodore felt his own eyes grow hot despite himself.
“Please forgive me for not coming to see you often.”
“What are you saying? I am happy enough simply to see you like this…”
His mother clung to Theodore and continued to shed tears. At that sight, Theodore felt his heart weaken. He even thought it might be better to throw away the position of regent, take his mother and two younger siblings with him, and leave for somewhere far away. The revenge of his family, once engraved firmly in Theodore’s mind, had already been greatly diluted.
But Theodore knew full well that this was nothing more than a mere fantasy. There was no way Duke Ferstein, who was grinding his teeth at Theodore, would leave them alone. If Theodore cast aside the position of regent, which had served as his shield until now, he would become a commoner, and then there would be no way to avoid Duke Ferstein’s claws.
Moreover, if he abandoned the Nersis family, his family would certainly be killed in secret without anyone knowing. Not only Duke Ferstein, but even the Nersis family would not stand by. One way or another, there was equally no path of escape.
After their brief reunion, mother and son caressed each other’s faces for a long while, as if compensating for all the longing that had built up between them. Remembering that he could not be away for long, Theodore opened his mouth with great difficulty.
“I must now return to court. Before that, however, I would like to see Master for a short while.”
“Go on, then.”
His mother, instead, pushed Theodore’s back as he found it difficult to leave, forcibly wiping away the tears that covered her face.
Step, step.
With a mournful face, Theodore descended the dark underground stairs. Surprisingly, this was the place where his master lived. He had to descend for a long while down the stairs, where torches were lit here and there.
Drip. Drop.
The underground passage, where drops of water fell from place to place, was extremely gloomy. It was a desolate passage where a ghost seemed as though it might appear at any moment. At the end of the passage stood a small iron door. Though rusted all over, it had been made so thick that it seemed it would fully serve its role as the door of a prison. Standing before the iron door, Theodore silently looked around.
At that moment, a thunderous boom rang out from the iron door along with a vibration.
Kwa-kwaang!
It was a sound like that of a ferocious beast, enraged to the limit, slamming its body into the iron door. At the same time, a savage howl filled the passage.
“Kyaaaaa!”
But Theodore was not startled in the slightest. Judging by the situation, it seemed he had experienced this many times before. Silently, he lifted the leather pouch he had prepared. It was filled with blood. Blood drawn just a short while ago from the bodies of him and his two younger siblings. It was the only method of restoring his master’s sanity. Theodore pushed the leather pouch through a small hole at the bottom of the iron door. Even during that, the strange cries continued to ring out.
“Poor man.”
A look of pity settled on Theodore’s face. His master’s fate, having to prolong his life even in this manner, was far too wretched.
His master was not human. A vampire. In other words, a bloodsucker. A cursed creature that prolonged its life by absorbing blood. Surprisingly, even knowing that fact, Theodore had acknowledged the vampire as his master.
Gulp, gulp.
The sound of someone greedily drinking down the blood inside the leather pouch could be heard. After some time passed, an aged, exceedingly weak voice rang out.
“Theodore, is that you? Have you come now?”
“Yes, Master.”
Theodore silently bowed his head. Though the person inside the prison was a vampire condemned by all, to him, he was a master who could not be replaced by anyone. He was a benefactor who had provided him with opportunity and knowledge. It had already been nearly ten years since he had last seen his master’s face.
Ten years ago, when Theodore entered the imperial palace as regent, his master had entered this underground prison of his own accord. Unable to endure the vampire’s instinct that drove him to wander in search of blood every night, he had decided to imprison himself. Since then, for ten years, his master had not taken a single step outside the prison. It would not be wrong to say that he had sacrificed himself out of fear that he might bring harm to Theodore’s future.
What maintained his life was the animal blood that Theodore’s younger siblings placed inside every day. But it was impossible from the start to completely suppress a vampire’s nature with the blood of beasts, which lacked vital essence. Because of that, his master was normally reduced to a madman. Starved for human blood, he had completely lost his reason.
The only way for him to regain his senses was to drink human blood. A method like now, drinking blood drawn little by little from Theodore and his siblings. Thanks to that, his master was able to regain his sanity for the first time in a very long while.
“Judging by your tone, things do not seem to be going as you wish.”
At those words, Theodore’s face grew even darker.
“That is so. I cannot possibly match Duke Ferstein’s ability.”
From inside the prison, a voice emerged as if it had expected as much.
“I imagine not. Ferstein is truly an outstanding figure. That must be why he dared to set his sights on the vast Krosen Empire.”
In that instant, Theodore’s fists clenched tightly and trembled. In truth, between him and Duke Ferstein, a long-standing grudge between their families had already taken root.
"But he is an enemy I must avenge, no matter what. Because of House Hellfrain, our house…."
Cutting off Theodore's trailing words, his master's voice carried deep regret.
"I know all of the tangled affairs between him and your house. Come to think of it, I have lived quite a long time—violating the lifespan allotted to humans several times over…."
"……."
Theodore listened to his master's words in silence. He already understood his master's circumstances to some extent. His master was truly a man with a desperate past.
In the past, he had been a promising priest, yet to fulfill his purpose, he had been forced to become a vampire—a possessor of a tragic fate. His purpose was singular. To use Arcadia's enormously grown military strength to free the people of Trubenia from their plight as slaves to the orcs.
Theodore had no idea how old his master was. He merely assumed that his master must have lived for several hundred years. None other than because of the trait of vampires, who gain eternal life force through bloodsucking. While Theodore listened in silence, his master's story continued.
"Arcadia's military power has grown by leaps and bounds. To the point that it surpasses what it was when Trubenia fell by more than tenfold…. But it is lamentable. The fact that, as fellow kin, they simply stand by while the people of Trubenia live each day in hardship as slaves to the orcs. Strictly speaking, Arcadia's origins are unmistakably Trubenia, and yet…."
"But the nobles here do not hold very favorable sentiments toward Trubenia."
"That is to be expected. There are few who know as well as I just how incompetent the rulers of Trubenia were in the past, so…."
"……."
"With the goal of somehow fulfilling my will, I sent you into the court, but in the end, you could not overcome Duke Perchtstein's stronghold."
"I am sorry."
Theodore bowed his head silently. It pained him greatly to have failed to meet his master's expectations. In truth, this was not solely his master's fervent wish. Because his house's longstanding wish was also at stake, Theodore had truly exerted himself tirelessly until now. But in the end, he could not overcome the wall that was Perchtstein. As if sensing his state of mind, his master comforted him with warm words.
"There is nothing to apologize for. From the start, I may have placed too heavy a burden on you, so…."
"I lack the capacity to draw in talent that Duke Perchtstein possesses. He is truly a meticulous man when it comes to organization and management. Though he is my enemy, his ability alone is astounding."
"……."
The master maintained his silence. Perhaps it was the grief of a fervent wish, one he had even become a vampire to fulfill, being vainly shattered. Feeling that some time had passed, Theodore silently rose.
"I shall take my leave now. It is time for me to enter the court. I will return after observing how the situation unfolds."
"Nngh. Very well, then. You, do not act too hastily, and…."
"I understand."
Theodore turned away silently. Whether it was because the instincts of a vampire were surging within him, his master's groans within the prison cell were gradually growing louder.