The King of Lutania had been bedridden for a long time, leaving governance in the hands of the Prime Minister and Marquis Branford. However, twenty years ago, before Marquis Branford consolidated power and before the king's health began to fail, things were different.
'There might be records about this situation within the royal family. The king would know.'
Ghislain had reasons to believe so.
The clue lay in the very strategy employed by the Duke's faction.
'The Duchy targeted the capital first in my past life as well. Back then, the weakened royalist faction didn't raise any suspicions….'
Capturing the king in war often decided its outcome. During his past life, the strategy seemed straightforward, given that most nobles had already sided with the Duchy. Once the capital fell, the war would end.
'But things are different now.'
This time, Ghislain's actions had thwarted the Duchy's subtle plans to absorb the kingdom. Moreover, the Duchy and the Salvation Church had become the kingdom's enemies.
Even if they captured the king now, they wouldn't be able to secure the kingdom.
Yet, the Duchy's army still focused solely on the capital, as evidenced by their troop movements.
'The Salvation Church attacked the Shadow Knights, the royal family's protectors, over 20 years ago. That means they've already clashed in the shadows once. They're still obsessively targeting the royal family. They're not just after victory in war.'
The church had likely targeted the royal family even back then. But due to Ghislain's mother's efforts, they suffered catastrophic losses.
This likely forced them to shift strategies toward overthrowing the kingdom entirely.
While this was largely speculation, Ghislain's instincts, honed from years on the battlefield, urged him to follow this line of thought.
To resolve his doubts, he needed to meet the king and ask what he knew about the Salvation Church.
'And about the Shadow Knights—why one family was tasked with protecting the royal family for generations.'
Even the book Belinda had given him didn't explain such details.
As he tucked away these lingering questions, Ghislain smiled at Belinda.
"Impressive. My mom was the kingdom's strongest warrior and a protector of Lutania from the shadows."
"Surprising, isn't it?"
"Well, a little."
"I told you, all your talent comes from Lady Annette. And so does Lady Elena's holy power."
Belinda looked both proud and relieved. It was clear she had long wanted to reveal how incredible Annette had been.
Ghislain scratched his head and asked another question.
"So, my mother's real name wasn't… 'Elizabeth Loren le Evonne de Vallière'?"
"No, it wasn't."
"Then… why did she choose that name?"
"She said she wanted a beautiful, elegant, and grand name. She had been planning it for a while. So, yes, it's entirely made up."
"… I see. And my father didn't know anything?"
"No, he only saw her as a charming, cheerful, and fun person."
"And her real personality?"
"She was genuinely like that most of the time, but when angry… let's just say she was a lot like you."
Ghislain readily accepted this. His personality suddenly made sense now.
"Still… was it really necessary to hide all that from my father?"
It would've been a shock for his father, who had only known Annette as the descendant of a fallen noble family. He might even have felt a sense of betrayal.
But Belinda had a different perspective.
"It's human nature to want to hide unpleasant or unnecessary parts of your past, especially from someone you love. What good would it do for the marquis to know? It might only hurt his pride. It was her way of being considerate."
"… I see."
"There was another reason too. Lady Annette's mana cultivation techniques and skills would have greatly benefited Perdium. But revealing them might have endangered Perdium even sooner."
"… Makes sense."
Judging by what Melkir had said, the Duke faction had made multiple attempts to track Annette down. This must have been why she chose to keep her identity hidden.
Belinda smiled faintly as she continued.
"I feel much better now that everything's out in the open. If you want, the techniques are detailed in the book. You can learn them anytime. They're yours by right."
"I'll think about it. By the way, how did my mother and father meet?"
"She initially planned to rest in the north briefly before heading to another kingdom. But during her stay in Perdium, she met the young marquis."
"And they fell for each other?"
"Not exactly. The marquis persistently pursued Lady Annette, begging for just one meeting. Even when she repeatedly rejected him, he kept trying. He was surprisingly tenacious."
"..... I see."
Suddenly, Ghislain remembered what his father had said when he was drunk about his mother.
— "I once told her I'd give her my heart if it made her happy. And every time we argued, she'd ask when I planned to follow through with that promise. Haha!"
Thinking back, his father wasn't someone who could easily handle a person like Annette. Yet, he succeeded in marrying her through sheer devotion. In a way, that was impressive.
"So that's why you stayed here to take care of me and Elena."
"Yes, Lady Annette wanted me to live peacefully here. That's why the marquis entrusted me with you and Young Lady Elena."
As she spoke, Belinda's eyes welled with tears. Her longing for Annette was still strong.
Seeing this, Ghislain frowned as another question came to mind.
"Wait. Didn't the royal family try to find my mother? The Duke faction and Melkir seemed to have been searching for her all along."
If someone like Annette disappeared, surely the royal family would have taken action. Yet, there were no records or accounts of any such search.
Belinda scoffed and answered.
"Even the king wouldn't know the identities of the Shadow Knights. It was an entirely independent organization. The members were all orphans raised in secrecy, so they had no family ties."
"How does that even work? Not even the king?"
"Only the leader, wearing a mask, would meet the king. So, they couldn't have found her even if they tried. Honestly, they might have been relieved the organization was gone."
The idea of an autonomous organization collecting intelligence and acting without the king's approval was astounding. It was powerful but also a double-edged sword.
If the leader had malicious intent, they could have easily assassinated the king.
The royal family likely found the Shadow Knights' independence, tied to a single family, deeply unsettling.
"I see. So that's why the Salvation Church and Melkir wanted to take over the Shadow Knights. To make it easier to capture the king."
"That seems to be the case. But they failed. Lady Annette did leave a letter before departing, though."
"A letter?"
"She suggested forming a new protective organization or family since the Shadow Knights were no more. She said she had dealt with all threats to the royal family before leaving. Staying behind would have only put her in greater danger."
"I see. That makes sense."
Most of his questions had been answered, though the origins and purpose of the Shadow Knights remained a mystery.
'I'll probably learn more once I meet the king.'
It was astonishing to think his mother had been the leader of such an extraordinary group. To top it off, she was once the strongest in the kingdom.
Reining in his thoughts, Ghislain turned to Belinda.
"Let's leave it here for now. If I have more questions, I'll ask later. You should rest; we're leaving early tomorrow."
"What about you?"
Ghislain gave her a mischievous smile as he stood up.
"I've got to finish convincing Elena."
***
"Phew…"
Ghislain glared at his reflection in the mirror, exhaling heavily.
The red handprint on his cheek was still vivid. He had deliberately suppressed his mana flow to prevent it from healing.
He wanted to make a point that even Perdium's heir and Fenris's lord had been slapped by Elena. Sometimes, sibling disputes had to be petty.
"Sigh. I don't have time for this."
News had come in while Ghislain was in Perdium: the Duke's army had begun to move.
As expected, Delphine's forces were advancing along three routes, one of which targeted the northern army. Their speed suggested a confrontation was imminent.
Ghislain had planned for his knights to rest for a day after their forced march, but Elena's resistance had become an unforeseen obstacle.
"Somehow, I have to convince her by today."
Morning came after a restless night. If Ghislain didn't persuade Elena today, they wouldn't be able to leave early the next morning.
Resolving to make a heartfelt attempt, he headed straight to Elena's room. With time running out, he had to give it his all.
Knock, knock.
A cold voice called out from inside the room.
"Don't come in."
Click.
Ignoring her refusal, Ghislain opened the door and walked in. His sister's protests were the least of his concerns.
"Ah! I said don't come in!"
"Elena, calm down and just listen to me."
"No! No, no, no!"
"You can't let your talent rot away here in the North. You have the potential to be truly exceptional."
"I want to be an elegant lady! I'm going to marry a dashing nobleman! Not go to some battlefield!"
In the past, he might have mocked her for dreaming. After all, what chance did the daughter of a poor province have of marrying a dashing nobleman?
But things are different now. Countless prominent families were sending marriage proposals. Thanks to Ghislain, the House of Perdium was now one of the kingdom's most prestigious families.
In fact, they were the ones turning down suitors. The only obstacle was Zwalter, their doting father, who tore up every single proposal as soon as it arrived.
Ghislain looked at her with a slightly melancholic expression.
"You're better suited to rampaging on a battlefield than walking down an aisle. Like a raging bull, a force of terror. Doesn't that sound amazing?"
"Ahhhh! You're so annoying! Get out!"
It was a typical sibling quarrel, but they were getting nowhere. Ghislain pounded his chest in frustration.
"You could be the ultimate weapon! No, calling you a weapon doesn't do you justice. You're siege weapon material! Imagine—'Siege Weapon Elena!'"
"I told you I don't want to!"
"Why not? It's so cool! A human siege weapon!"
"It's not cool at all!"
"It's for your own good!"
"No, it's not!"
"Just do it already!"
Even someone as composed as Ghislain couldn't help but lose his temper when dealing with family. He considered blackmailing her but couldn't think of anything effective.
Frustrated, he turned on his heel, opting for a different tactic.
"Fine. I'll talk to Father and have him send you to the Northern Army."
"What?! Are you crazy?! Hey, stop! You lunatic!"
Elena, her face stricken with panic, hurried after him.
Ghislain had Zwalter under his thumb. If he insisted on sending her, their father and the vassals would have little choice but to comply.
The timing was perfect. The vassals were gathered in the audience hall discussing security measures and repairs after the recent assassination attempt.
As soon as he entered, Ghislain addressed Zwalter directly.
"Father, I propose taking Elena to the Northern Army for training."
"Hmm… must you?"
Zwalter was already aware of the situation. He was glad his daughter possessed holy power, but he didn't want her involved in dangerous training or battles.
The Northern Army constantly moved between battlefields. The thought of sending his daughter to such perilous places was unbearable.
"Father! No! Please don't let him do this!"
Elena burst into the room, clinging to Zwalter's side. Seeing his beloved daughter plead with teary eyes, Zwalter replied firmly.
"Must we force someone who doesn't want to fight? Besides, Elena is still weak. The Northern Army would be too dangerous for her."
"She will be stationed at a rear base. You needn't worry. I will personally train her to ensure she becomes strong quickly."
"But it's still dangerous. I can't allow it."
Faced with Zwalter's staunch opposition, Ghislain switched tactics.
"Father, you have the skills to hold your own against an ambush from even a superhuman-level fighter, don't you? You can endure long enough for others to assist."
"Of course. I've reached that level now."
"But Elena and Rachel can't. A single mistake could cost them their lives. After what we've just experienced, I believe it's essential for them to learn how to protect themselves."
"Hmm… but wouldn't it be better for them to train here?"
"Training with me is the fastest way. You know that, don't you?"
"Hmm…"
Zwalter fell into contemplation. Though assassination attempts were unlikely to recur, Ghislain's argument wasn't entirely wrong.
While Zwalter deliberated, Ghislain turned his gaze to the Head butler, Homerne, and the treasurer, Albert. The look said everything: If you want to keep your jobs, back me up.
The two men quickly stepped forward.
"The Young Lord is right. Young Lady Elena must develop at least basic combat skills."
"Indeed. We have neglected this matter for too long. With the Young Lord's swift methods, she will learn quickly."
They had no choice. Ghislain was the type to strip them of everything if crossed. No one was willing to give up their comfortable positions.
Seeing the head butler's support, the other vassals voiced their agreement, overwhelming Zwalter.
Elena, realizing she was losing ground, exploded in frustration.
"What is this?! It's like you're all conspiring to get rid of me! Unbelievable! Are you all that scared of my brother?!"
Crack!
The armrest of Zwalter's chair shattered in Elena's grip. She no longer hesitated to unleash her strength.
Even Zwalter, who doted on her endlessly, looked slightly afraid and murmured under his breath.
"I… I think it might be fine to let her go…"
"Argh! You too, Father?! Fine! I'm not going! If anyone tries to make me, I'll kill them all!"
With a furious glare, Elena stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Zwalter rubbed his temples, clearly distressed. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"I give up. Do as you wish. You never listen to anyone anyway."
"Thank you. I'll handle it my way."
Ghislain left Elena to calm down while he took a well-earned rest.
The next morning, Ghislain and the knights were up early, ready to leave.
Rachel, her expression filled with worry, hesitantly asked, "Um… what about Elena? Am I going alone?"
Though Rachel's status was lower, she and Elena were inseparable friends. Since it was clear Gillian would one day be granted a noble title, the Perdium family allowed their friendship to flourish.
Rachel had only agreed to join because Ghislain assured her Elena would come too.
Ghislain gave her a sly smile and replied, "Don't worry. Elena's coming with us."
Pulling a black cloth from his pocket, he tied it around his face to cover his eyes. Several knights followed suit.
In an instant, the scene before the castle looked like a band of fearsome bandits had assembled.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Ghislain muttered to himself.
"Why does everyone insist on making me use force? Wouldn't it be so much easier if they just listened? Don't you think so?"
Sometimes, life calls for a bit of pillaging. Even if the target happens to be your own sibling.
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