Though he had committed a grave crime, it seemed necessary to prevent Theodore from falling into Duke Perstein’s hands. Duke Perstein was a ruler especially ruthless toward his political enemies. There was likely no chance at all that the Consul would survive. It was clear as day that he would be subjected to every manner of torture before being cruelly executed, so Marquis Williams steeled his heart.
‘If only in consideration of the bond we have shared until now, it would be better for me to end his life cleanly.’
Having reached that conclusion, the Marquis firmly shook his head.
“Though he may be a traitor, he was still the Consul of a nation. I wish to accord him the treatment befitting that station. Moreover, no matter how high one’s rank may be, one cannot privately punish a noble.”
“He is no longer a noble.”
A strange smile had appeared on Duke Perstein’s face.
“Duke Nersis officially severed his ties with Theodore just moments ago. To be precise, he completely cut off the bond between father and son. He can no longer use the surname Nersis, nor is he a noble anymore. In other words, he has returned to the status of a commoner, so there is nothing preventing me from punishing him. His family members have already been arrested and confined in prison.”
Marquis Williams’s eyes flew wide open.
“H-his family? What crime have they committed…? Our Crosen Empire does not acknowledge guilt by association. Why, then, have you imprisoned them?”
But Duke Perstein’s rebuttal flowed as smoothly as running water.
“Naturally, they were arrested because they committed a crime. The evil vampire they were keeping is the very proof. Theodore’s siblings, vile as they are, had been drawing their own blood to raise a vampire. I do not know what dreadful deed they intended to commit, but it is certainly fortunate that they were arrested before they could carry it out. We have also secured the vampire as evidence and locked it in prison.”
“Hoo.”
Marquis Williams let out a long sigh. There was nothing more he could do. Consul Theodore was a traitor who had attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince twice, and on top of that, his siblings had even been raising an evil vampire… He could hardly bear the regret of having trusted Theodore until now.
“What am I to do about this?”
The Marquis’s slumped shoulders looked utterly desolate. Duke Perstein did not miss the opportunity and delivered the decisive blow.
“From now on, we will take charge of Crown Prince Alcaris’s safety. The Crosen Knights should concern themselves with guarding Crown Prince De Beers. Understood?”
“U-understood.”
Marquis Williams silently nodded, then slowly turned his head.
“Hand over the Consul’s person.”
As the knight guarding Theodore hesitated, Crobitz approached with a triumphant smile. As though there were nothing to think about, he snatched up the rope binding Theodore. An emotion that could only be described as delight had appeared on his face.
‘At last, you’ve fallen into my hands. There are so many ways to cook you that I hardly know where to begin. In any case, look forward to it with all your heart.’
After seeing that, Marquis Williams moved away powerlessly.
“Then we shall take our leave. I ask that you protect His Highness Crown Prince Alcaris well.”
“Do not worry.”
After Marquis Williams left, the members of the Crosen Knights followed one by one. Every one of them had their shoulders drooping. The Duke Knights watching them wore expressions of deep satisfaction.
‘Heh heh heh. Serves them right.’
‘How gratifying.’
After the Crosen Knights left, only Duke Perstein, Alex, the Duke Knights, and Damon remained in the room. Duke Perstein’s command fell like frost.
“Maintain an ironclad watch in every direction.”
The Duke Knights took up the positions the Crosen Knights had been guarding until moments ago and began their vigil.
Damon stood motionless, carefully watching how the situation unfolded. Duke Perstein first listened to Alex’s account of all that had happened. Judging from the way his expression gradually brightened, matters seemed to have gone as he desired. After hearing everything, Duke Perstein patted Alex on the shoulder with a satisfied expression.
“You have worked hard. You have truly rendered a great service.”
Alex shook his head as though such praise was utterly undeserved.
“A great service, Your Grace? I am only glad that I was able to complete Your Grace’s command.”
“Since you have completed your mission, return to the Duke Knights now. I have left a vice commander position vacant for you.”
“I sincerely thank Your Grace for your grace.”
After Alex withdrew, Duke Perstein turned his head toward Theodore. A thick smile was engraved upon his face.
“The struggle that dragged on for a full ten years has ended in my victory after all.”
At Duke Perstein’s words, Theodore replied without hesitation.
“Am I supposed to congratulate you?”
“No, there is no need. I have no desire to receive congratulations even from a man who will soon bid farewell to this world.”
“It seems you hate me quite a lot.”
Duke Perstein silently nodded.
“To be honest, I do. I had to suffer no small number of headaches because of you. You truly are exceptionally clever. To think you managed to make such a fool of me.”
“Well, even so, compared to Your Grace, it must amount to no more than a drop in the bucket.”
At a glance, their conversation seemed exceedingly cordial. However, they were political enemies who could never coexist, and one of them would soon part from the world forever.
“Crobitz has been grinding his teeth over you quite fiercely. His touch will likely prove rather harsh.”
“I am looking forward to it, so you need not worry.”
As Duke Perstein looked at Theodore, an ambiguous emotion appeared on his face.
“Consul Theodore. No, from now on, I suppose I should call you Theodore Brokenheart?”
Duke Perstein had expected him to be startled out of his wits, but unexpectedly, Theodore showed no particular change in expression.
“As expected, you knew. I had long guessed that would be the case.”
Duke Perstein remained silent for a moment. Theodore, too, said nothing.
After the silence passed, the one who spoke first was Duke Perstein.
“Come to think of it, the ties between your family and our Helfrein family are truly extraordinary. A relationship of resentment spanning no less than five hundred years. It is utterly ill-fated. Now, in my generation, that relationship will be completely resolved.”
“……”
“The Brokenheart family will soon vanish entirely from this world. Not a single person will remain. That is the way I handle matters. Do not even think of begging for the lives of your aged mother and your siblings. I am human too, you see, and if you pleaded, my heart might inevitably grow weak.”
“I never had any such thought from the beginning.”
Regrettably, Theodore’s voice was trembling faintly. It seemed difficult for him to maintain his composure when he thought that his family would be completely destroyed. Duke Perstein coldly waved his hand.
“Then farewell.”
At the order, Crobitz pulled the rope with a triumphant smile. Theodore’s body was dragged along helplessly.
“I am truly delighted to hear that you were looking forward to it. It will likely be far harsher than you expect, so prepare yourself. Do you understand?”
Theodore glared back at him as though refusing to lose.
“I am dying to find out whether your touch will be worth looking forward to.”
After Theodore was led away by Crobitz, Duke Perstein walked straight toward Damon. Damon, too, was staring quietly at Duke Perstein. Thus began the meeting of two giants who possessed enough power to move the world.
Duke Perstein stared intently at Damon. Damon met his gaze as though he would not be outdone. After a moment, a smile appeared on Duke Perstein’s face.
“At last, we meet. It is truly a pleasure.”
A smile slowly spread across Damon’s face as well.
“The pleasure is mine. I was quite surprised after seeing your subordinates, but meeting you in person, I find you to be an even more outstanding man than I expected.”
“You flatter me. If we speak of greatness, I suspect you are decidedly a step above me. After seeing the members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps, I could hardly help envying you as well…”
A strange light spread through Damon’s eyes.
“I hear my companions are under your protection…”
“That is correct. In order to make their fighting spirit and courage an example for the Duke Knights to emulate, I have taken the liberty of receiving them at my mansion.”
“What happened to Helton?”
Duke Perstein answered without hesitation.
“You mean the warrior who died in your place at the final moment. I believe you can likely imagine his end.”
A forlorn smile lingered around Damon’s eyes.
“Poor fellow. Of all things, he ended up becoming my companion…”
“Everyone has something they wish to protect even at the cost of their life. Since he achieved what he set out to do, he likely does not feel especially wronged.”
At Duke Perstein’s consolation, Damon silently nodded.
“Where are the Death Knight and the Bone Dragon?”
“They are confined in the underground plaza of the imperial palace. But do not worry. Carefully selected Duke Knights have been dispatched and are protecting them with an ironclad guard.”
Only then was Damon able to feel at ease.
“Thank you for taking care of so many things.”
“Not at all. It is only what I ought to do.”
After that brief exchange, they remained silent for a while. Once again, the one who spoke first was Duke Perstein.
“I have heard the gist of things from Alex. Therefore, I will speak plainly.”
“……”
“Join hands with me. If you help me, then after I unify Arcadia, I will mobilize hundreds of thousands of soldiers to aid your revenge. This is a promise I make on my name.”
At those words, Damon’s brow slowly furrowed.
“As you witnessed, the dragons’ power is tremendously strong. If you wage a war of conquest under such circumstances, many of the troops needed to face them will be consumed…”
“Do not worry. Arcadia is a continent where the logic of power strictly applies. If we crush only their main forces with overwhelming military strength, the remaining troops can be absorbed intact. Our losses will not be very great. I promise that immediately after unification, I will mobilize a great army for your revenge.”
“Hmm.”
Damon remained silent for a moment. To be honest, since he was bound by the constraints of the Sevenfold Forbidden Art, he could not rashly say that he would help. At the very least, he was utterly useless in a war between humans. At that moment, Duke Perstein made a proposal that caught his ear.
“Originally, I intended to place you and the Death Knight at the forefront and use you to smash the knights of enemy nations. But now there is no need for that at all.”
“……”
Duke Perstein smiled and stretched out a finger, pointing at Damon.
“The body you possess is undoubtedly that of the First Imperial Prince of the Crosen Empire. In other words, you have the authority to command the Crosen Knights.”
“You have the power to place anyone you wish upon the throne of the Crosen Empire, do you not?”
At Damon’s response, Duke Perstein nodded with a smile.
“If we gain control of the Crosen Knights, there will be no need for you to participate on the battlefield. In other words, we can preserve our forces, including the Death Knight, to face the dragons of Truvenia.”
Duke Perstein continued speaking.
“While you remain in the imperial palace, I will mobilize the Crosen Knights, the Duke Knights, and the five hundred thousand troops who obey my commands, and begin the war of conquest. The time required to conquer all of Arcadia will by no means exceed two years. In other words, we can finish everything before the dragons awaken.”
After hearing Duke Perstein’s plan, Damon’s mouth fell open.
“Astonishing. To think you have already laid out such a grand plan…”
“I do not undertake anything unless I am confident. The likelihood that my plan will succeed is close to one hundred percent.”
Damon nodded as though it made sense.
“Indeed, that seems likely. After all, no knightly order on either continent could stand against the combined forces of the Crosen Knights and the Duke Knights…”
“What do you say? Are you inclined to join hands with me?”
Duke Perstein had no doubt that the other man would accept his offer. The two of them were, in a word, in a symbiotic relationship that cleverly compensated for one another’s weaknesses. If they joined forces, Duke Perstein could gain control of the powerful Crosen Knights, while Damon would acquire an enormous army to fight against the dragons.