"I heard you called for me.""Mm."
When Lucian entered the office, the Grand Duke pushed the pile of documents aside.After a brief silence, he opened his mouth with a subtly complicated expression.
"I hear you had quite the brawl recently. Everyone's talking about you and Jordie."
It was hard to tell whether it was reprimand or admiration.Lucian bowed his head and gave the customary reply.
"It wasn't anything grand. I merely disciplined a few servants who couldn't even recognize their own master.""And as a result, you smeared your brother's face with shame. The boy won't forget that for a long time—can you bear the consequences?""There are no consequences to bear.""What?""It was simply setting the hierarchy straight and restoring proper order. If even such an obvious thing cannot be done because we fear future trouble, how can we go anywhere and speak the name of Valdeck? I merely made a choice that does not disgrace the name of Valdeck.""… Ahem!"
The Grand Duke's lips trembled faintly.It felt as though he was suppressing the urge for the corners of his mouth to rise.After a moment, he regained his expressionless face and stroked his chin as if pondering.
"But Jordie will probably keep coming at you. He's always considered you a thorn in his eye since long ago."
"If not for that inferiority complex he has about his mother's side, the brat could soar far higher than he is now. But he's fixated on nonsense, and his vision's narrowed because of it."
At those words, Lucian's eyes widened.Information he had gathered here and there after reincarnating resurfaced in his mind.
'Come to think of it, my mother's family was the Grimaldi ducal house of the North.'
Though called a ducal house, it had collapsed long ago and barely retained its name.It possessed no power, no wealth, and even its bloodline was so thin that the number of family members was extremely small.To make matters worse, Lucian's maternal grandfather, the last head of the house, had died leaving behind only a daughter and not a single adopted heir; the line was completely severed now.
But separate from the house's downfall, the name of Grimaldi itself was rather well-known.Unlike the countless new families that sprang up after the founding of the Empire, the Grimaldi house had existed long before then—it was once the royal family of the North.
They surrendered in the Unification War and were demoted to a ducal house, but if one looked solely at history, their lineage was even older than the imperial family's.Because of this, the Grimaldi family, though weak in influence, still received a respectable amount of courtesy from other noble houses.In noble society, history and lineage carry their own weight as authority.The fact that they were too weak to pose a threat—and that an arranged marriage with them could lend prestige to another house—must have also played a part.
'Compared to that, Jordie's maternal family, the Hexen barony, is unmistakably merchant-born. Their history only spans three generations.'
That alone was enough for others to look down on them, but the process by which they obtained their title was an even bigger problem.During the war against the rebel army at the time, they purchased the barony by shouldering an enormous portion of the war funds.No matter how large the sum, money is still just money.Who would properly acknowledge a title that wasn't earned through merit everyone recognizes, but bought with coin?Especially when the recipient had been bowing and scraping as a mere merchant to the nobles until just recently.
"Three generations is enough time to stabilize a family's status, but nowhere near enough to shake off the derogatory label of 'merchant.'"
A bitter smile formed on Lucian's lips.So that was why Jordie had been so desperate to throw himself at him.Even if he carried the blood of a Grand Duke, the stigma of his maternal lineage must have followed him like a shadow.He never showed it outwardly, but for Jordie, it must have been a fairly severe complex.
Meanwhile, the half-wit Lucian's maternal bloodline was not just clean—it practically shone.Wouldn't that alone be enough to drive Jordie mad with frustration?It was like watching a priceless treasure end up in the hands of a fool who didn't even know its value.
'Well, that doesn't mean I plan on letting him have his way with me.'
Maybe Jordie thought he had a justifiable reason, but from Lucian's perspective, he had done nothing wrong and yet someone had arbitrarily decided to hold a grudge.There was no reason to tolerate it—if anything, there were plenty of reasons to return the favor.
The Grand Duke clicked his tongue for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh and finally got to the point.
"If Jordie continues to pick fights with you, you're free to strike back. But if the conflict escalates too far and brings disgrace upon the family…""I will ensure that never happens.""Listen until the end. Should such a thing occur, regardless of who is right or wrong, I will side with Jordie.""…What?"
What kind of sudden nonsense was that?As Lucian stared in bewilderment, the Grand Duke let out a cold laugh.
"Why are you so surprised? Jordie may be hasty and careless, but he's doing his part for the family in various ways. Quite unlike you, who idled away for a whole year."
"As head of the house, it's only natural to favor the one who contributes something—however little—over the one who contributes nothing. Don't think of it as unfair."
It was a statement so biased it was hard to believe it came from Grand Duke Sigmund.
At Lucian's sudden words, the Grand Duke furrowed his brows.A merit? When Lucian had only gone out once in an entire week?
Lucian narrowed his eyes for a moment, then soon grasped the underlying meaning and asked again.
"If I'm not mistaken, you mean that if I become more useful to the family, you'll take my side.""You've understood well. If you wish for this father to stand beside you, then gain strength and contribute to the house. If you insist on staying curled up and stagnant, I have no reason to shelter you."
Lucian swallowed a bitter smile.He had a rough idea of what the Grand Duke was thinking.
'He wants to heighten my sense of crisis and drive me forward.'
The claim that he would always side with Jordie was probably half a lie.As long as Lucian didn't return to his old shut-in lifestyle, the Grand Duke would likely handle things fairly even if problems arose.But he said such things intentionally—to provoke Lucian.A combined suggestion and warning: since you've started moving, you might as well show your abilities properly.
'If he's doing something so out of character, then the successor competition structure must be solidifying.'
It seemed the Grand Duke wanted Lucian to seize his final chance.Even if he possessed ability, if he missed the right timing, he wouldn't be able to join the competition for heirship.
"Then go now. And remember—if you hide your claws too much, they'll rust before you ever get to use them."
Seeing that Lucian seemed to understand the gist, the Grand Duke gave him a dismissal.Yet Lucian did not leave. Instead, he continued.
"What if I've already accomplished something that benefits the family?""…What?"
"Don't boast out of impatience. Merits aren't something you stack up so easily. If you plan to call some rumor you heard on the street an achievement…""I discovered evidence that the Margrave Logran house interfered in our territory. They intended to distribute narcotics through the underworld."
"—What?"
"I've already gathered the proof. Would you like to see it?"
Lucian immediately summoned Hugo and had him bring the prepared evidence.Since Hugo was the one who had executed the operation, the materials were overwhelmingly thorough.Where the manufacturing site had been set up, what distribution routes they arranged, when sales would begin, and even how they planned to evade inspections.
At first, the Grand Duke was skeptical—but as the evidence poured in one after another, his eyes widened.
"Bernhardt! That bastard dared commit this filth in my own front yard?!"Wham!
Shouting the current Margrave's name, Grand Duke Sigmund slammed the table.He struck it with such fury that the lapis table—supposedly as tough as steel—cracked.
Panting heavily for some time, the Grand Duke finally collapsed back into his seat and forced down his anger.
"Damn it! If I had my way, I'd immediately report this to His Majesty and drag this disgrace of the Empire to trial…!""That would be difficult. All interference was done under the name of a merchant guild under his control. If you present this material, he'll just cut them off immediately and play dumb.""Exactly! The sly bastard!"
The Margrave had certainly crossed the line, but he wasn't stupid enough to use his own name directly.Anyone could guess the Margrave was behind it after seeing this evidence—but it was still circumstantial.It wasn't quite enough to crush the Margrave house and drag them to the judgment seat.
"…Still, with this much evidence, the bastard will have no choice but to cut off the merchant guilds under him to prove his innocence. Well done."
Though praise finally escaped the Grand Duke's mouth, his expression remained tightly drawn.It seemed he believed that delivering only this blow was far too small a price for what the Margrave had done.
Understanding the Grand Duke's frustration, Lucian spoke.
"You're satisfied with only that?""How could I be? But if he senses our movement, he'll destroy whatever evidence remains. Regrettably, we have no choice but to settle for this and end it swiftly.""Then we simply keep him from noticing. No matter how powerful a Margrave is, unless Valdeck moves personally, how could he possibly catch on?""…What are you saying?""A short while ago, the very man who executed this plan defected to me. More accurately, he abandoned the life of a mercenary and made his allegiance clear.""!"
"No matter how suspicious he may be, he would never suspect the one who carried out the plan. Especially for something like drug distribution—no one would imagine the executor would switch sides."
Because betraying one's employer wouldn't earn any reward anyway.He was a commoner, from the underworld, and had dipped his hands into drug trafficking.Even if someone squeezed him for information and discarded him afterward, no one would complain.If anything, nobles would think it strange to reward such a man properly.
In such a situation, the Margrave would view betrayal as sheer stupidity—and since Hugo wasn't a fool, he'd have no reason to doubt him.Even if suspicion arose, it would be only after he had been thoroughly looted from the inside.
"So there's no need for Father to act personally. If the traitor wreaks havoc from within, the Margrave will suffer losses he never anticipated. If things go well, we may even obtain decisive proof that it was the Margrave himself who intervened."
At Lucian's explanation, the Grand Duke fell silent.He seemed to be weighing whether the plan was truly feasible.After a long, heavy silence, he finally spoke.
"Can the man be trusted? I don't know his background, but he's someone who nearly trafficked drugs.""I do not trust the man—I trust the dream he holds."
"His dream?"
"He wants to become a knight and make his name renowned. He said he wants to carve his name into history.""A presumptuous dream. Especially for a back-alley thug.""But it is also a dream any man might desperately yearn for."
Lucian knew that well—because he had once dreamed the same dream himself.
Hugo would not betray him.A lord who openly promises a knighthood is someone one might meet only once in a lifetime.As long as Hugo did not lose that dream, he would stake even his life to protect Lucian.
"What if your misjudgment of a man ruins everything?"
The Grand Duke's sharp gaze shot at him head-on.Without averting his eyes, Lucian answered immediately.
"I will offer my head.""…Hmph."
At that reply, a smile finally formed on the Grand Duke's lips.After pondering something briefly, he turned his back and spoke.
"When your body recovers, come to the training grounds.""…Yes?""I will teach you the Lion-Heart Sword. You are now one of the candidates for the next head of house."