By Zephyria 
The Rebel Army scattered. As planned, Elian, Lion, Lucian, Kirendis, and the Imperial Guard headed for the capital.
“They really kidnapped me far in just one day.”
Elian muttered casually inside the swaying carriage.
Ten days to the capital. He didn’t know whether to praise the Rebel Army’s ability to cover such a long distance in an instant, or to scold them for being unnecessarily thorough.
“It was a crucial matter for Uncle’s kidnapping plan, so we invested a bit.”
As Lion said with a confident face, Kirendis nodded beside him.
“Teleportation Scrolls… those are expensive…”
Teleportation Scrolls were something even nobles couldn’t easily use because they were too expensive. Moreover, since they couldn’t travel long distances, they must have used dozens.
“I tried to stop them. I told them there was no need to go this far.”
Lucian quietly attempted to escape from this abnormal group.
“What are you talking about! To perfectly kidnap Uncle, we had to do that much.”
As Lion retorted beside him, Kirendis nodded once more.
Elian couldn’t agree at all, but it seemed the two had different ideas.
Lucian, who was as solid as an impenetrable fortress, nagged them about saving money. But they didn’t listen at all.
Seeing this, it seemed Lucian was the one in charge of the Rebel Army’s accounting.
In his actions, Elian saw his past self, who had fought to cut budgets.
“Speaking of which, how did Lucian end up joining the Rebel Army?”
Unlike the other rebels, he wasn’t someone who particularly admired Elian.
To be precise, it was more accurate to say he wasn’t very interested.
It felt more like he was acting because it was slightly more beneficial?
He hadn’t bothered to listen, thinking it would just give him a headache, but now, it seemed okay to listen.
“Ah!”
But the reaction came from an unexpected place.
Lion, startled, covered Lucian’s mouth. Elian’s eyes filled with curiosity at the sudden strange behavior.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
“Ugh!”
Lucian, who had been suddenly attacked, struggled in Lion’s grasp.
Whether he was weaker than Lion, or Lion was going easy on him, he couldn’t break free.
But wasn’t there another person besides Lucian who could provide an answer here?
“Why is he acting like that?”
When Elian turned and asked, Lion lunged at Kirendis this time.
“No!”
But he didn’t yield like Lucian. He lightly blocked Lion and said,
“You let go of my mouth to cover his? Is it alright if that guy’s mouth opens?”
“Huh?!”
Only then did Lion realize his mistake and hastily returned to his seat. But Lucian didn’t give up easily.
Skillfully evading Lion, he began to speak.
“You’re still embarrassed, aren’t you? I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but I always speak only the truth.”
“What truth! Your eyes are distorted. They’re terribly wrong!”
“Distorted? My eyesight is perfectly fine. And you should know now, Elian-nim.”
“Uncle must never know!”
Lion was desperate, not knowing what they were arguing about. Lucian, on the other hand, seemed incredibly shameless.
Elian had thought he was a calculating man, but seeing him now, he didn’t seem entirely so.
“What is it that I shouldn’t know?”
He wasn’t that curious, but with all this commotion, his curiosity was piqued. Moreover, the fact that they insisted he alone shouldn’t know made it worse.
“Kirendis.”
Elian turned his gaze back to Kirendis. Then, Kirendis, who didn’t hide his look of exasperation towards the two, slowly opened his mouth.
“Lucian is….”
“Because he’s perfect!!”
…Huh?
Lucian’s voice cut in, making the content strange.
However, he quickly began to shout, lest he be stopped by Lion.
“Lion-nim is the most perfect person in this world! Lion-nim’s gentle smile melts people’s hearts, his considerate nature touches their souls, and his leadership that encompasses everyone sends shivers down their spines!”
“Lu, Lucian…!”
“That’s not all. Even during his academy days, he mastered not only mainstream subjects like politics, economics, and history, but also niche fields like literature, art, and philosophy to a high level. Furthermore, he consistently trained in various martial arts such as swordsmanship, spearmanship, and hand-to-hand combat, achieving results. And now, even summoning and Gold Dragon Bartarias-nim!”
“No, that’s…!”
“There isn’t a single area where he falls short, so I, Lucian, could only follow the path Lion-nim walks! Because everything Lion-nim does is perfect!”
A passionate speech poured out. Lion, unable to stop it, slumped down.
His face was a mixture of embarrassment and bewilderment. In contrast, Lucian’s eyes sparkled more than ever.
Elian finally understood the situation. So, Lucian was…
“…You admire Lion?”
Although he said admire, what he showed was almost at the level of madness.
It was as mad as when Haron said, “Elian-nim is a god.”
As if to prove it, Lucian said proudly.
“It’s more than admiration. The word admiration cannot express all my feelings. If I had to put it into words, I’d say awe. Sometimes, I even feel fear at Lion-nim’s perfection.”
“Hmm… I see.”
Elian’s focus blurred. Lucian was a serious Lion-stan.
‘I thought Lucian was the only normal one.’
His head felt dizzy.
It wasn’t for nothing that he was called an executive of a fan club legion disguised as a rebel army.
‘Still, it’s not bad to have someone like that by Lion’s side.’
Having someone who is always on your side is more powerful than you think. The problem is having only such people around; one person is fine.
Lion didn’t seem to be adapting well, though.
“I’m sorry, Uncle. I told him he shouldn’t say such nonsensical things, but he wouldn’t listen…”
Lion, not hiding his flushed face, apologized quietly. Seeing that, Elian recalled the time when the rebels used to heap praise upon him.
Was he like this back then?
The thought made it feel like it wasn’t someone else’s business. A sense of kinship welled up.
“It’s not entirely wrong, though, is it?”
“Huh?”
But kinship was just kinship. Lion’s reaction was quite cute, so Elian continued playfully.
“Most of it seems true? Lion is kind, considerate, and smart. I’ve checked his grades before, so I know well. It’s not easy to maintain high grades while learning subjects you don’t even need to learn.”
“E-Uncle too…”
“As expected, Elian-nim understands!”
As Elian affirmed, Lucian shouted with sparkling eyes. However, Kirendis didn’t seem to agree.
“It’s not wrong, but it’s excessive.”
“Right?! See. Kirendis also says it’s excessive.”
“It’s not excessive at all. I’m hurt that you don’t understand my feelings, Lion-nim.”
“Huh? Hurt?”
“…You still fall for those lies so easily.”
Lion glared at Lucian again at Kirendis’s exasperated words. Though it wasn’t very effective due to his young face.
‘Cute, so cute.’
Thus, countless lighthearted banter like this continued in the carriage. It made the tedious journey not boring.
Upon arriving at the capital, they would inevitably have to put on the mask of Archduke Esiton, so they enjoyed their time with them as if it were their last vacation.
They slept outdoors, stayed in unfamiliar inns, and for the first time, enjoyed the journey.
Time passed quickly, and they safely arrived at the capital.
“Lion, you’re going to Lucian’s mansion, right?”
“Yes. I think it’ll be easier to plan and hide there.”
As Lion replied, Elian nodded and said.
“Then, if anything happens, contact me through Phantom. There are many eyes watching, so that will be more reliable than direct contact.”
Elian’s information guild, Phantom, was useful in many ways. Since information had to be acquired anytime, anywhere, Phantom’s personnel were spread out everywhere.
Using that network, it was possible to exchange information secretly.
“Yes. Then, Uncle, you’re going to the Rippen Duchy now, aren’t you?”
Lion nodded and asked. But Elian’s destination was not the Rippen Duchy.
It was fine to go directly to the Duchy, but there was a place he needed to visit.
“I’m going to pick up my combat attire first.”
“Combat attire?”
Lion’s eyes widened at the sudden remark. Finding his reaction cute, Elian chuckled and revealed his destination.
“The best place to make combat attire in the capital is Melais Boutique.”
“Ah!”
Only then did Lion realize Elian’s intention and let out a small exclamation.
Melais Boutique was a shop run by Melais, the most famous designer in the capital, and it was a business owned by Elian.
“That’s right. Now that we’ve arrived in the capital, we’ll need combat attire.”
Making Elian into Archduke Esiton.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was the power of clothes and styling. A beautiful face could easily be seen as weak.
Melais knew this best, and having worked with Elian for a long time, she had made him the perfect ‘Archduke Esiton’.
“The capital is a place where enemies can appear anytime, anywhere.”
So, he had to be prepared. He couldn’t let his guard down for a moment.
Elian had always lived that way, and it was the same now. He always had to be perfectly armed, so sturdy armor was essential.
“Soon, a day will come when you’ll need it too. Then, I’ll gift you the most magnificent combat attire in this country. It will probably suit you better than anyone else in the world.”
Elian said with a quiet smile. Those words were a prelude to the glorious days to come, a prophecy of the future.
Lion seemed slightly surprised by his words but replied with a gentle smile.
“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll look forward to it.”
He no longer ran away. He didn’t refuse. He was waiting for the days to come.
‘He’s really grown a lot.’
Elian smiled with satisfaction, watching Lion’s demeanor.
“Alright. Then, let’s disperse!”
So, Lion and Lucian headed to the Berick Count’s estate.
The Imperial Guard headed to the Imperial Palace.
Elian and Kirendis headed to Melais Boutique.
“Oh my! Your Highness!”
Upon arriving at the boutique, the two were greeted with an enthusiastic welcome by the manager, Melais.
“It’s been a while, Melais. Can I see some clothes I can wear immediately?”
“Of course. Please come this way.”
Melais quickly led them inside without asking any questions.
Melais, who had opened the boutique with Elian’s help and had been working as his subordinate for a long time, dealt primarily with royalty and high-ranking nobles, so she was sharp.
Despite having many questions about Elian’s sudden appearance in simple attire after his abrupt retirement, she didn’t show any of it.
It was indeed a professional demeanor recognized by Elian.
“The person accompanying you is Young Duke Rippen. It’s nice to meet you. I am Melais Gray.”
“…It’s a pleasure.”
Perhaps not expecting to be recognized, Kirendis replied stiffly in a flustered voice.
It was a little strange how his voice, so affectionate when addressing Elian, lost its color.
‘Was this how Kirendis was in the novel?’
Thinking so, this also seemed quite fresh and cute.
“While you’re showing me mine, show Young Duke’s clothes too. It’s been a while since you’ve been to the capital, so I want to gift you the best.”
“You’ve been at the academy all this time, so the capital’s fashion might be unfamiliar. Leave it to me, Melais.”
She seemed excited by the appearance of a new model, her eyes sparkling.
She, who loved beauty, always called Elian her muse, but seeing Kirendis seemed to spark new inspiration.
‘Kirendis has a different charm than me.’
Feeling a sense of pride about this, she adjusted her facial muscles, and a quiet voice was heard from beside her.
“I’m fine. There are plenty of clothes at the Duchy anyway.”
Of course, that was true. Even if he had been at the academy for a long time, a Duke’s estate was still a Duke’s estate.
Clothes that he wouldn’t wear every year would have been prepared according to Kirendis’s growth rate.
Moreover, since he had announced his visit this time, they would undoubtedly have made full preparations.
But.
“That’s that, and this is this. I want to give it to you.”
To be precise, he wanted to gift clothes from this boutique. Clothes that everyone desired but not everyone could buy.
Clothes from this place were like that.
‘Melais’s skill is also outstanding.’
How magnificent would Kirendis look in the clothes she chose?
In fact, this personal desire was greater.
“Then, I will escort Archduke first.”
Following Melais’s guidance, Elian chose clothes and various accessories. His taste was as excellent as hers, so he chose without hesitation.
After choosing and wearing all the clothes and accessories, and with a light styling of his hair, the Archduke Esiton, with his usual sharp aura, appeared before them.
—Rustle.
As he confidently opened the curtain and stepped out, Kirendis looked up.
“……”
He was silent for a while. While he didn’t expect a big reaction with Melais beside him, his lack of reaction was unexpected.
“Kirendis?”
When Elian called out quietly, puzzled, an answer finally came back.
“…It suits you well.”
Although the words came late, they were filled with sincerity. Melais, sensing this, explained with a face full of pride.
“Archduke, you look magnificent in anything, but this outfit is my life’s greatest masterpiece, designed while I eagerly awaited the day you would visit my boutique again.”
“It’s good I came quickly. If it goes out of fashion, I won’t be able to wear it, and it would have been a waste.”
“Even if it goes out of fashion, if Archduke wears it, it will start a trend again, so it’s fine. The only problem is that the clothes you need to wear keep increasing, and the workshop is getting smaller.”
“Oh dear. I’ll have to find a bigger place for you?”
“You can come often and empty it out. Your Highness.”
After a light conversation with Melais, Elian began to look at Kirendis’s clothes in earnest.
Unlike Elian, who wore clothes with blue jewel embellishments on white fabric, Kirendis chose a suit with black fabric and red jewel accents.
“If only I had more time, I could have made an even more magnificent outfit tailored for Young Duke, but it’s such a shame.”
“I’ll visit again soon, so make as much as you want then.”
“Really? You promise?”
Upon Elian’s confirmation, Melais happily moved the clothes and accessories into the fitting room.
“Go ahead. I’ll be waiting.”
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
Thus, Kirendis entered to wear clothes that didn’t reflect his opinion at all.
Then, Elian’s heart began to beat with a pleasant rhythm.
Kirendis in a suit.
Even if it was a pre-made outfit, Melais’s skill was undeniable, so he was looking forward to it.
“Oh my! It suits you so well, Young Duke.”
Melais’s voice was heard from inside, as if he had already finished dressing.
Elian regretted that Melais saw Kirendis first, but he couldn’t help it since he couldn’t put it on without help.
Thinking that a second time was still good, the curtain opened.
“Whoa.”
‘Crazy.’
Elian exclaimed inwardly as he admired Kirendis.
The perfectly fitting suit on his slender yet solid frame suited Kirendis incredibly well.
The red embellishments on the smooth fabric, matching his calm black hair, sparkled like his eyes.
“As expected of Melais. Even ready-made items are this good.”
“Ah, if only we had enough time, I could have made something that would suit you much better.”
“This is enough. You look great, Kirendis.”
Melais and Elian’s compliment relay continued. Mostly, they were stories that promised future improvements, saying things like, “This is already handsome and suits you well, but if we refine this part a little, the lines will stand out,” or “The drape of the clothes will be even better.”
As Elian was so interested that he even called clothes “battle attire,” the two of them continued their conversation without noticing the time.
He chose his own clothes quickly and said little, but the conversation about Kirendis’s clothes stretched on endlessly.
She too, excited by the appearance of the new model, exchanged opinions enthusiastically with Elian.
Kirendis, caught between the two of them and clueless about fashion, could only stand there with his lips tightly shut, looking blankly.
Rather than blankly, he was secretly stealing glances at Elian, unbeknownst to Melais.
‘Handsome.’
Elian, transformed from head to toe, truly shone.
His silver hair, lightly swept back, revealed his fair face clearly, and the blue gems on his cuffs sparkled along with Elian’s eyes.
And that wasn’t all.
The way it subtly emphasized his slender waistline and revealed his lean physique made Kirendis keep glancing over.
‘Haa.’
Kirendis let out a long sigh, feeling an inexplicable thirst.
He felt like he would be in trouble if he kept looking, but he couldn’t stop. His gaze kept drifting.
His clear blue eyes, like the sea, sparkled vibrantly.
His red lips, in contrast, moved incessantly.
Kirendis was completely captivated by Elian. Then, finally…
“Elian.”
“Hm?”
At the low voice, Elian turned his head. They were in the middle of an exciting conversation, so he couldn’t grasp the meaning behind the voice.
But the moment their eyes met, he realized Kirendis was in a dangerous state.
‘Huh?’
He didn’t know what switch had been flipped, but Kirendis had eyes that looked like he was about to do something reckless.
‘Come to think of it…’
Elian recalled that the last time Kirendis had relieved himself was before they departed.
Moreover, he was a twenty-year-old youth brimming with energy.
Sensing the crisis, Elian spoke, hiding his urgency.
“Melais, could you step aside for a moment? I had something urgent to discuss with the Young Duke, but I was enjoying our conversation so much I forgot.”
“Of course, Your Highness. I also knew I shouldn’t be taking up your time like this, but I was having too much fun and made a mistake.”
She seemed to sense that the atmosphere was somehow strange. But, there was no helping it now.
He had to put out the immediate fire.
‘She’s not the type to spread rumors.’
Elian could finally let out a sigh of relief after confirming Melais had completely left the area.
“How could you just come at me like that… Hmph!”
But Elian couldn’t finish his sentence.
Just like last time, Kirendis initiated a surprise kiss.
Kirendis pulled Elian closer and plunged his lips into his. He slowly moved them into the fitting room, taking over Elian’s mouth.
The moment their backs hit the wall with a thud, a rough kiss poured down. It was a passionate kiss, as if to release everything that had been pent up.
He was pressing so urgently that he didn’t even give Elian a chance to breathe. Elian eventually had to gasp for air and strike Kirendis’s back.
“Haa, haa…”
His insufficient breath burst out all at once. His face was slightly flushed from the lack of oxygen. Seeing him like that, panting hot breaths, Kirendis planted a wet kiss on his lips.
“You…”
Finally regaining his senses, Elian wondered what he should do.
He wanted it. Elian wanted it too. But this was not a place for just the two of them.
‘Is it okay to do this here?’
For a moment, he wondered what difference it made, but he quickly shook his head.
No matter what, he couldn’t start something anywhere.
“Let’s do it at the Ducal Estate next time. Is that okay?”
“…”
As he naturally foreshadowed the next encounter, Kirendis quietly looked at Elian.
Elian wondered if Kirendis was protesting that he wanted to do it here, but he saw Kirendis’s face suddenly flush.
It seemed he hadn’t been thinking straight.
‘Ah, really.’
Cute, handsome, beastly.
Elian, wondering if a person could have so many charms, chuckled and said, “Can you… hold back?”
At the suggestive remark, Kirendis’s face finally dropped.
Yet, he replied, “Yes…”, making Elian laugh out loud.
And so, the two headed towards the Ducal Estate.
Lac was feeling bored with his life, which had become too mundane.
The Imperial Palace, where incidents and accidents were constant, had been the highlight of his life, but it had abruptly stopped at some point.
‘It was better when Archduke Esiton was around.’
When he was here, things were always full of interesting events, but lately, it was just noisy and not fun at all.
Moreover, he had recently become entangled in troublesome matters, which was giving him a headache.
“What?! The Ministry of Finance locked its doors again today?”
As usual, the voices of the ministers echoed in the hallway. Lac stopped in his tracks and quickly turned around.
“Are they insane? Why are they doing this?”
“There’s no choice. They say they’re busy covering the Monster subjugation the Emperor is pushing for.”
“Even so, is only the Ministry of Finance busy? We need to receive our budget to do our work.”
“How many days has this been going on?”
“Since we can’t keep this up, why don’t we make a suggestion to the Emperor? If the Emperor says something, won’t the Ministry of Finance open its doors?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s because of the Emperor’s initiative that this happened, do you think that’s possible? If you request an audience for such a matter, you’ll lose your head.”
“Then what should we do…”
It seemed another problem had erupted, as usual.
Lac had already gone through a similar ordeal a few days prior, so he quickly fled.
He wondered if it really had to come to this, but these people, though incompetent ministers, were exceptionally cunning.
As expected.
“There’s no choice. We’ll have to borrow the strength of Captain Lac again this time.”
“Captain Lac?”
“Even the Emperor listens to Captain Lac’s words to some extent. I asked for his help once before and received it.”
“Then let’s go quickly. Surely Captain Lac might be able to solve the problem.”
“Alright. Then, let’s head to the training grounds first.”
“Let’s go!”
“Let’s go!”
They disappeared in a rush, united in their goal to find Lac.
He was right to flee; it was good he had escaped.
‘Honestly. Instead of trying to solve it themselves, they only think of passing the buck. Is this how it should be?’
After bothering him for days and days, he had resolved a few issues, and now they sought him out whenever they had a chance.
‘How did the Archduke work with these guys for so long?’
They were persistent enough to bother even Lac, a Sword Master. How much worse would it be for Elian, who was closer to being an ordinary person?
‘No. I don’t think they were this persistent with the Archduke.’
Recalling his memories, he didn’t think they were this aggressive towards him. He had often witnessed them looking anxious in front of the Ministry of Finance.
‘This is absurd.’
In the end, it meant that this mess had occurred because the Archduke, who held the leash, had disappeared.
Lac clicked his tongue and shook his head.
He had expected the Imperial Palace to fall into disarray if the Archduke retired, but he never imagined the fallout would reach him.
It meant the Archduke’s absence was that significant. Still, with the individuals the Archduke had vigorously trained still remaining, it was only this bad; otherwise, the Imperial Palace would have collapsed long ago.
‘But I feel like I’m reaching my limit.’
It felt like he was walking a tightrope.
Moreover, the Emperor had been acting suspiciously lately. Frankly, the situation wouldn’t have worsened this much if he hadn’t pushed for such unreasonable subjugation.
‘Monster subjugation at this time? It was truly out of the blue.’
It required both funds and manpower. There was absolutely no reason to push for it during this chaotic period of imperial succession.
But Marius had pushed for the subjugation recklessly, and its repercussions were now cascading.
‘Should I leave the country even now?’
He had held on, thinking Archduke Esiton might return, but he wondered if he would ever really come back.
His whereabouts were unknown, which was frustrating.
‘I guess I just have to wait for those guys to bring the Archduke back quickly.’
The mass unauthorized absence of the Imperial Guard was truly an unprecedented major event.
He never expected them to take such drastic measures to find their master.
It was indeed a bold choice, fitting for those called Archduke Esiton’s dogs.
‘I didn’t expect the entire Imperial Guard to move, though.’
Lac licked his lips and moved his feet.
After walking for a while, he saw a familiar figure in the distance.
“Captain!It was his grateful vice-captain, who handled his work when Lac disappeared, fled, or went missing.
He seemed to want to express his dissatisfaction, as if he was being buried under an avalanche of work lately.
Judging by how he was running towards him, shouting loudly.
“Yes. Spread the word that I’m here!”
Lac replied with annoyance, having barely escaped. But his vice-captain, who was accustomed to such behavior, relayed his message with a calm expression.
“Archduke Esiton has returned to the capital!”
“What?!”
“The Imperial Guard is also returning to the Imperial Palace, so it’s confirmed. Those guys succeeded!”
The vice-captain shouted joyfully. Lac’s eyes widened in surprise.
The Archduke was returning!
Seeing the vice-captain’s face beaming with joy, it was clearly reliable information.
“Kahaha! I knew they’d succeed. It’s rewarding to have pretended not to know!”
Lac burst into hearty laughter and reveled in the joy with his vice-captain.
Finally, he felt like he could breathe.
“You’ll return immediately, right?”
“You have to. Even if you don’t want to, we have to make you.”
That way, the poor vice-captain could at least get some sleep.
It was largely Lac’s fault that he couldn’t sleep, but neither of them mentioned it.
Lac was shameless, and the vice-captain had long since given up.
“Right. Where did they say the Archduke was?”
“They say he entered Rippen’s Young Duke and Melais Boutique.”
“Rippen’s Young Duke? A boutique?”
He tilted his head at the unexpected combination and location, but then thought, ‘Who cares?’
“Alright. Then, to meet the Archduke, it would be best to go to the Rippen Ducal Estate. Prepare immediately, Sir Hamel.”
He assumed they wouldn’t be having tea outside like young ladies, so they would surely go to the Ducal Estate.
Lac confidently ordered Hamel. However, Hamel replied with a completely hardened expression.
“I still have work left.”
“Oh?”
“Since most of the work needs to be handled by you, Captain, I’ll go to the Ducal Estate…”
“Oops. Then I’ll have to go quickly and ask the Archduke for his intentions.”
Lac pretended not to hear and quickly fled. Perhaps because he was a Sword Master, his escape skills were truly superb.
“Haa…”
Hamel let out a low sigh and shook his head.
He hadn’t expected anything, so he wasn’t disappointed. He was just worried if Lac could persuade the Archduke to return.
‘Please come back before you die of overwork.’
Hamel repeated his wish and trudged along.
Having completely changed into new clothes, Elian headed to the Ducal Estate with Kirendis.
It was his first time since he used to visit to teach Kirendis. Although he had met the Duke for official business, it had all taken place at the Imperial Palace.
“It’s really been a while.”
As the magnificent mansion began to appear, he truly felt like he had returned.
At the same time, the thought of dealing with the strict old man made his head throb.
Even though Kirendis was to inherit the ducal title, he was currently only a Young Duke, so his permission was necessary. It would be problematic if he didn’t agree.
“Don’t worry. Grandfather will surely side with us.”
Kirendis reassured Elian with a confident assertion.
He didn’t know where that confidence came from, but his words had merit.
The Duke was a man who highly valued bloodline, and with no other alternative besides Kirendis, he would have no choice.
Moreover, they had significant leverage, so he would surely be persuaded in the end.
However, since the probability wasn’t 100%, he had to consider various possibilities and prepare. That’s why his mind was constantly racing.
“Hm?”
As he was organizing his thoughts, he looked out the window and saw a familiar person.
Upon closer inspection, it was someone Elian knew very well.
“Hey! Long time no see, Archduke.”
Elian asked with a hint of disbelief.
“Since when did the Royal Guard start guarding the Ducal Estate? And the Captain of the Knights Order, no less.”
Lac Chen, Captain of the Imperial Royal Guard.
He was someone Elian didn’t particularly want to encounter, for reasons different from Duke Rippen. It wasn’t because the Imperial Guard and Royal Guard were rivals, but purely due to Lac’s personality.
‘He’s someone whose intentions are hard to fathom.’
Was it because he was a Sword Master? Or perhaps due to his experience?
For some reason, Lac was the only one whose thoughts Elian couldn’t decipher.
It was highly likely that Lac didn’t think much about things, but since he wasn’t the Knight Captain by sheer luck, Elian couldn’t let his guard down.
“I’m not guarding the Ducal Estate; I was waiting here because I thought the Archduke would come this way.”
He had only been in the capital for a short while, yet the news had already reached him.
He was indeed someone not to be underestimated, despite his seemingly carefree demeanor.
“Then why are you here instead of waiting inside? Come in.”
“I have a bad relationship with the master of this house.”
“You were kicked out.”
“Hmph. I haven’t gone in yet because I might get kicked out.”
“Then leave quickly before you get kicked out.”
Elian averted his gaze, not wanting to deal with him any further. But Lac was persistent.
“Is it okay to treat me like this between us? Let’s go together, come on.”
Despite Elian’s cold dismissal, he clung to the carriage and entered.
Elian wondered if it was appropriate for a Knight Captain to act like this, but Lac was always like this.
It was precisely why Duke Rippen, known as the noble among nobles, avoided him.
“Thanks to you, I had a comfortable ride.”
To think he’d cling to the carriage like that.
Lac quipped and opened the door with a flourish. Then, the butler and servants greeted them.
“Welcome. Archduke, Young Duke.”
“Are you going to do this to me too? I’m here too. Look.”
Seeing that Lac was being treated as if he weren’t there, it seemed the Duke had also noticed Lac’s arrival.
“This way, please.”
“Wow. How rude.”
The gesture of guiding only the two of them made Lac grumble as he followed behind.
It was possible because he wasn’t the type to be hurt by not being welcomed or to fuss over etiquette.
It was absurd, but it was so Lac.
“Please come inside.”
As they entered, the stubborn-looking Duke rose from his seat and greeted Elian.
“It’s been a while, Archduke.”
“It has, Duke.”
As they naturally took their seats at the head of the table, the Duke and Kirendis sat down.
“Phew. This is comfortable. The sofa at the Ducal Estate is really nice, isn’t it?”
Of course, the uninvited guest was also present.
The Duke seemed annoyed by Lac, who acted as if etiquette were irrelevant, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.
‘The Duke really lives a hard life.’
People like him never listened to others, no matter how much you spoke. It was a waste of breath to talk, and a headache to care.
Therefore, the best course of action was to ignore them. But the Duke didn’t seem to be able to do that.
“I apologize for the unexpected uninvited guest. Please forgive me with your generous heart.”
He said it, after all.
‘He’d like this.’
As soon as he thought that, Lac opened his mouth with a delighted expression.
“Calling me an uninvited guest is too harsh. You know I think highly of you, Duke, so why are you like this?”
“…”
“Haa. One-sided conversations are difficult.”
“…”
“But there’s no choice. There’s no one quite like the Duke, so I’ll have to tolerate it again this time.”
“…”
“You should be grateful that my heart is this broad. Don’t you know someone like me is perfect for a fussy person like you, Duke?”
“……”
“So admit it quickly. Admit that the Duke and I are soulmates.”
“……”
Lac spread his arms wide and grinned. The Duke’s face grew more and more ferocious with every word Lac spoke.
From Lac’s words alone, it seemed as though something special was passing between them, but in reality, he was merely teasing the Duke.
He was someone who didn’t care about his dignity for the sake of his own amusement, while the Duke was someone who moved with careful consideration for every word and action.
Because of this, even knowing it was a joke, the Duke was seriously displeased.
People would likely brush off Lac’s behavior as typical, but the Duke felt even that was a blow to his dignity.
“……I will tolerate this once because Archduke Esiton is present, but know that there will not be a second time.”
Fortunately, the Duke managed to suppress his anger and maintain his dignity.
Lac, who seemed to have wanted to see the Duke angry, looked disappointed.
“Another failure today. Still, you should be prepared for next time. I will return with an even more improved approach.”
“If you wish to be thrown out disgracefully, then do so.”
“Oh. If you do that, I would be most grateful.”
“……”
The Duke scowled again, knowing that if he were thrown out, Lac would blab about it everywhere.
Seeing that, Lac, whose mood had improved, burst into laughter.
“Kahaha. It really is fun, isn’t it?”
Feeling like he would never stop if left alone, Elian stepped in to stop him.
“That’s enough. Get to the point. You said you had something to tell me?”
“Ah, right. I did have something to tell the Grand Duke?”
“Go ahead. I’ll listen.”
Lac had guarded the Imperial Palace while Elian was away.
What could such a person have to say that he would come all the way to the Duke’s residence?
He likely hadn’t come just to tell silly jokes.
Even though he lived for amusement, he was sharp and to the point in crucial moments, making one wonder if he was a different person.
Furthermore, the Duke’s family had maintained a neutral stance until now.
That meant any kind of story could emerge from this place.
‘Perhaps the current Emperor’s suspicious movements?’
Elian watched Lac keenly. Then, Lac’s smile vanished, and he spoke with a serious expression.
“The Emperor is suspicious.”
As expected.
Hearing the words he had anticipated, Elian couldn’t help but smile.
If even Lac, who had no interest in politics, had noticed, it meant the Emperor’s actions were blatant.
Indeed.
“You must know, Duke. That the Emperor proceeded with the Monster subjugation with Duke Cheston’s family.”
The part Elian was most concerned about came out of Lac’s mouth.
It seemed this monster incident was indeed Marius’s doing.
“There are side effects cropping up everywhere because of it. Not only are there holes in the Imperial Family’s finances, but it’s to the point where work is paralyzed, as if they have no intention of properly resolving it.”
This much was expected. Monster subjugation was always like that.
It was so costly that financial problems could arise early, and if delayed, increased monsters could lead to casualties.
In fact, during subjugation, the number of monsters had to be meticulously controlled, which was the nature of Monster subjugation.
If too many were subjugated, the escaped monsters could descend upon villages.
But Monster subjugation was effective to that extent. Being closely tied to people, it was easier to shape public opinion and gain support than any other policy.
That was why Marius had been utilizing Monster subjugation to solidify his position until now.
“The problem is, why did he proceed at this chaotic time? Even if it was to solidify his position, he’s proceeding too quietly. The subjugation was also conducted secretly.”
“Secretly conducted?”
At Lac’s words, Elian’s brow furrowed slightly. Secretly? Even to him, it sounded suspicious.
“He only called Duke Cheston and proceeded quietly. Though it became known to everyone due to the severe side effects. Still, only the nobles in the capital are aware of this. The common people don’t even know that subjugation took place.”
This meant that it was carried out hastily enough to cause side effects, yet no benefits were being reaped.
‘He must be preparing to summon the Black Dragon.’
There was no other reason for such actions.
According to Valterias, only about two more summons remained.
Perhaps it wasn’t two more, but imminent.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to rush like this.
“So, what is it you want to say?”
Elian asked, leaning back on the sofa. He believed there was a reason Lac brought this up.
He was the captain of the Royal Guard protecting the Imperial Palace and a powerful sword defending this nation.
While he might not have a knack for politics, his intuition in other areas was highly developed, so he might have sensed something ominous.
Then, how would Lac act?
Depending on his actions, rebellion could become easier or harder.
“Hmm. So, what I want to say is……”
Lac paused for a moment, gazing at Elian. His eyes seemed to be trying to pry something out of him.
Elian knew he couldn’t be read, but he sometimes saw through people’s thoughts, so he wasn’t entirely comfortable.
However, he couldn’t ask him not to look, so he maintained a poker face and waited for the answer.
Then, Lac smiled with satisfaction and said,
“How about you become Emperor, Grand Duke?”
“What?”
It was a completely unexpected statement.
“Honestly, there’s no one more suited for that position than you. His Majesty seems to be looking elsewhere, so I’m not entirely keen on it. If we leave things as they are, the country might fall, and while abandoning everything and running away is an option, what we’ve achieved so far is a bit of a shame, isn’t it?”
By then, Lac was speaking with his usual carefree smile. His voice was light, as if he were just throwing out a casual joke.
But the content within was far from light.
At the very least, it wasn’t something to be said in a situation like this. What he was suggesting was not much different from what Elian was planning to do.
“You agree, Duke, don’t you? That’s why you’ve kept quiet and maintained neutrality until now, right? To lend your strength at a crucial moment.”
Lac, as if he knew what he was saying, tried to bolster his argument by involving the Duke.
No matter how he came up with such an idea, the Duke was unaware of Lion’s existence. Even if he knew, it wouldn’t change much.
He wasn’t someone who would easily side with Elian.
“I maintained neutrality for the sake of my family. If we lean too far to one side, we incur risks.”
As expected, the Duke evaded Lac’s words with a standard response. But he had already heard the proposal for rebellion.
Elian also had to voice the same words, so he was curious about the reaction that would follow.
“But if the situation has already clearly tilted, it’s different. Isn’t that right, Grand Duke?”
“……”
Elian had no choice but to remain silent. Although he hadn’t said it directly, the implication was that he already knew everything.
“Oh? What’s this. Duke, were you already preparing? Do I just need to jump on board?”
Lac’s eyes sparkled, understanding the Duke’s intentions.
Elian let out a heavy sigh. If they already knew everything, there was no need to probe further.
“How much do you know?”
The Duke glanced at Kirendis and replied leisurely.
“At least enough to know what my grandson is up to. And that there is someone else behind this one.”
This meant he knew about the Rebel Army, and even Lion’s existence.
Knowing all this and yet not acting was equivalent to supporting Kirendis’s will.
‘Kirendis was right.’
That the Duke would side with them.
It seemed to mean that the Duke was already of the same mind.
‘Well, it’s not something that can’t be figured out.’
Although difficult, if one investigated persistently, it wasn’t impossible to uncover.
It was just that Lion and Kirendis’s public image made rebellion unthinkable.
Lion was a figure far removed from rebellion, and Kirendis, with the formidable wall of the Dukedom, was not someone who would speak of rebellion.
In other words, they weren’t individuals who would warrant suspicion and investigation. However, the Duke, who had to pass down his title to Kirendis, seemed to have stumbled upon it through persistent digging.
‘An unexpected gain.’
This made things considerably easier. Not only the Duke but also the Royal Guard had been won over.
Of course, this was assuming everything they said was true.
“Are you both serious?”
Elian asked with a somewhat stiff expression.
As the saying goes, ‘test the bridge before crossing,’ it was best to confirm this thoroughly.
Given the gravity of the matter, any leak would be fatal.
“I’m not smart enough to make up such a story. You know I hate troublesome things, right?”
Lac said first, shrugging his shoulders. It meant his intentions were pure, devoid of political involvement.
That statement was not false. Elian could tell through his intuition as Archduke Esiton.
‘This is the power of the Eye of Truth, isn’t it?’
An inexplicable certainty.
The strongly conveyed certainty reassured Elian. It told him he could trust it because it was the truth.
“If you doubt me, I am willing to abdicate my ducal title immediately. You may even assign a watchdog until the matter is concluded.”
This time, the Duke replied calmly. He willingly offered his freedom to gain Elian’s trust.
To assert his innocence.
“If you say that, what does that make me? Grand Duke, you can watch me too. But since there’s no one else who can watch me, I’ll stick close to you. If you watch me directly, you’ll be able to trust me, right?”
“I don’t need to go to such lengths to confirm your sincerity.”
When Elian refused curtly, Lac began to insist, asking him to watch him, as if throwing a tantrum.
It was clear he wasn’t doing it because his sincerity was doubted, but because he found it more amusing.
“It’s unnecessary. I know better than anyone that you are a simple fool, so I will dismiss my suspicion.”
“What? How can you dismiss it so easily? Don’t do that……”
“Enough. Since that is your opinion, I will convey mine.”
“Tsk. How boring.”
Completely ignoring him and proceeding with the conversation, Lac reluctantly withdrew his interest. He was truly a tiresome man.
Elian shook his head and continued.
“Unfortunately, I have no intention of joining forces with you.”
“What? Then why have you been struggling so hard in that dirty political arena until now?”
Lac asked in surprise. Given his past actions, he had naturally assumed Elian was aiming for the throne.
The Duke seemed to be of the same mind, his face showing surprise along with Lac.
“I simply did what I could as a member of the Royal Family.”
It was to survive, but he knew they wouldn’t understand if he said that. So, this was the best way to put it.
However, this alone wouldn’t satisfy them.
“You have other ulterior motives.”
Lac narrowed his eyes and muttered. He wasn’t flustered, as this was expected. Rather, he continued as if he had been waiting.
“Of course. How about it, would you like to hear it?”
Elian’s lips curled upwards with a confident expression.
At that moment, Lac’s eyes sparkled.
‘As expected of the Grand Duke.’
An unpredictable situation.
No matter how he thought about it, there was no one as unpredictable as Elian. Realizing that once again, he couldn’t stop his lips from curving upwards towards the sky.
It was too exhilarating.
With so many unpredictable situations, his body felt revitalized.
“Great. I’m absolutely in favor.”
“Without even hearing it?”
“Has the Grand Duke ever failed at anything he’s undertaken? I’m cautious by nature, so I’m unconditionally in favor.”
Elian had to wear a look of disbelief at the immediate response.
Cautious by nature?
He found it hard to believe such words coming from someone who, just moments ago, had suggested rebellion by telling him to become Emperor.
“I will hear it before I decide.”
“……It’s a relief that at least one of you is normal.”
Shaking his head, Elian slowly began to lay out his story.
He spoke of the Rebel Army, of Lion, and of the danger of summoning the Black Dragon with Gold Dragon Bartarias.
“Interesting.”
“Oh. As expected of the Grand Duke.”
Both men seemed to have made up their minds completely.
The weight of what Lion possessed was significant. Coupled with Marius’s suspicious actions and the suspicion of the Black Dragon summon, it was enough reason to join forces.
“Can I take your ‘interesting’ as a sign that you’ll join us?”
Although it seemed decided, he asked for confirmation one more time. Then, both men replied simultaneously.
“Of course.”
“Naturally.”
Thus, Elian gained the power of the Duchy, as well as the Royal Guard.