Chapter 6

‘Indeed! Men look best in uniforms!’

The next day, Adelina’s eyes sparkled as she saw Lexion in a dark gray frock coat with the sun emblem of the Petrus Empire embroidered in gold thread. The uniform, tailored to fit his muscles perfectly and falling neatly from his shoulders, made him appear even more tidy and strong.

Knock knock. A butler in a sleek suit entered with a notebook and bowed politely to Lexion.

“Duke. Everything is ready.”

“Let’s depart.”

Lexion frowned slightly at his reflection in the mirror before leaving the room.

‘Not yet. I must wait a little longer.’

Suppressing the urge to tear off all the medals attached to his uniform, he boarded the carriage.

Upon arriving at the imperial palace, Lexion stepped out of the carriage, and Marquis Stephan approached him.

“Duke. Everyone has gathered.”

“Really. Calling us like this today. What a bother.”

“Your Grace! Please…”

As Lexion ran his hand through his hair in annoyance, Stephan looked around nervously.

Today, Emperor Grain invited the three Dukes and four Marquises of the Empire to a royal banquet.

Although the coming-of-age ceremony would be held in two weeks, the banquet was organized to welcome Prince Evans, who had returned to the homeland after a long time, and Queen Sweeney of the Kingdom of Iberis.

Only members of the Imperial Family and the direct descendants of the three Dukes and four Marquises could attend this event. The palace attendants and maids prepared for this royal blood banquet with more care than the coming-of-age ceremony.

The nobles entered the banquet hall first and sat according to their ranks. Lexion was guided to a seat opposite Princess Isabelle.

“Duke Lexion. It’s been a while.”

Duke Austin, seated next to Isabelle, extended his hand to Lexion.

“It’s been a while, Duke Austin.”

Lexion shook his hand and sat down with an indifferent expression.

At 30 years old, Duke Austin was Emperor Grain’s close friend, a Sword Master, the leader of the Dragon Knights, and the commander-in-chief of the Petrus Empire.

Unlike Lexion, Austin wore a black uniform embroidered with a golden dragon emblem. Although Lexion had also received the title of Sword Master, he could not join the Dragon Knights.

Only Sword Masters of pure Petrus noble lineage could approach dragons, and only they could wear that uniform.

“Queen Sweeney of Iberis and Prince Evans are entering.”

Following the announcement by the attendant in charge of the banquet hall, Sweeney, in an elegant purple evening dress, entered with Evans in a navy uniform and sat side by side.

Lexion raised a golden water goblet to avoid looking at them and took a sip of water.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering.”

With the announcement from the Emperor’s chief attendant, all the members of the Imperial Family and nobles gathered in the banquet hall stood up.

“Please, everyone, sit. I called us together today for a relaxed meal among ourselves. Enjoy at your leisure.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Grain brought only the Empress and the Imperial Consort of Petrus Empire to this gathering. Although he had taken one hostage from each conquered region as concubines, these were the only women he shared a bed with.

Those concubines were cherished and beloved princesses from conquered kingdoms, but here they were mere hostages. If a rebellion broke out in a conquered region, the head of the concubine from that region would be delivered the next day.

“Lexion. You did well in suppressing the rebels again this time. I have prepared ample gold as a reward.”

“I am honored, Your Majesty.”

And it was Lexion whom Emperor Grain tasked with these deliveries.

‘Lexion. If you defy my orders, everyone in Ernst will die. Conversely, if Ernst rebels, you, the sole royal, will die.’

Emperor Grain raised a golden goblet. An attendant was waiting to pour red wine into it.

‘A persistent one, always returning alive when sent to die.’

Emperor Grain took a sip of wine, watching Lexion’s unchanged expression intently.

The appetizer featured a salad centered around figs from the southern regions of Petrus and savory smoked meat from the Kingdom of Iberis, followed by the main course.

“Queen Sweeney. Aren’t you making my brother wait too long? Since you’re here, let’s hold the wedding and return together.”

As the main course was being set, Emperor Grain cleared his palate with wine and looked at Sweeney. Though his words seemed like a gentle suggestion, everyone present knew they were a rebuke and an order.

Sweeney wiped her lips with a napkin, bowed her head slightly to Emperor Grain, and looked at Evans seated beside her.

She was the only Iberian in the banquet hall.

As Sweeney turned her head to face Emperor Grain, her eyes briefly met Lexion’s red eyes, which were watching her.

‘Lexion Ernst… you’ve grown a lot.’

Though his gaze seemed devoid of resentment or anger, Sweeney could read mockery in his eyes.

Just. Ten years? Did you break the alliance, mortgage yourself to Evans, and become a vassal state just to endure for a mere ten years?

‘Yes. Just ten years. To gain even those ten years. I abandoned trust, abandoned love, and mortgaged myself.’

To hide her crumbling heart, Sweeney crafted a gentle smile and met Emperor Grain’s cold gaze.

“Your Majesty. Thank you for always being considerate. Iberis has much to worry about, with droughts every spring and floods every summer. I wish to host Prince Evans in the bountiful and beautiful autumn.”

At Sweeney’s words, the corners of Evans’ mouth lifted. He already knew that Sweeney could not refuse Emperor Grain’s command.

“Your Majesty the Emperor. I also need time to wrap up affairs in Ernst, so we will hold the wedding in Iberis this fall.”

“Very well. If Prince Evans says so, let it be done. As a wedding gift, I will send three dragons. Duke Austin, please select the dragons and knights to go to Iberis.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

As their conversation continued, Sweeney, who was about to raise her golden goblet, lowered her hand under the table. The dragons that Emperor Grain promised as gifts were no different from a declaration that he intended to fully bring the Kingdom of Iberis under his control. Those three dragons could devastate the royal army.

“Iberis will continue to be loyal to the Petrus Empire.”

Evans spoke to Emperor Grain as if he were already the King of Iberis, while watching Sweeney’s complexion turn pale beside him.

“Sweeney. Here, take this.”

He cut the steak into bite-sized pieces and placed them on Sweeney’s plate, without even using her title of Queen.

In just six months, she would become his possession, along with the Kingdom of Iberis.

“You two look so good together.”

Isabelle’s cheerful voice broke the awkward atmosphere of the banquet hall.

“Haha. Isabelle. Now that you’re having your coming-of-age ceremony, bring a suitable young noble. I will especially cherish him.”

With Emperor Grain’s laughter, the atmosphere in the banquet hall became even more relaxed. Everyone knew how much he adored Isabelle, and they hoped their conversation would last a little longer.

“I have such high standards. Growing up watching you, Your Majesty, and Brother Evans, is there any man who would catch my eye?”

“Haha. Your Majesty. It seems our Isabelle has improved her flattery skills.”

“Indeed, Evans.”

As Isabelle spoke with a wink, Emperor Grain and Evans’s hearty laughter filled the banquet hall.

“Isabelle. The young nobles of the Empire would be very disappointed to hear that.”

“Your Majesty. Still. If I had to choose one…”

Isabelle paused dramatically, as if revealing a big secret, and put down her cutlery.

“Yes, if you had to choose one?”

“Here, in this very place, Duke Lexion Ernst.”

Isabelle’s emerald eyes fixed directly on Lexion’s face.

+++

Lexion, as if unsurprised, put down the cutlery with which he was cutting the steak and elegantly took a sip of wine.

“Lexion. It seems Isabelle has taken a liking to you.”

As Emperor Grain leaned back in his chair and spoke, Lexion set down his wine glass and stood up.

Sweeney’s blue eyes met Lexion’s red eyes.

‘What will you do? Can you escape this trap?’

Sweeney’s eyes asked.

Now, if Lexion merely accepted Isabelle’s affection, he might have to marry even before Sweeney. Emperor Grain could throw Lexion into Isabelle’s bedroom the day after the coming-of-age ceremony. What he needed was not Lexion but Lexion’s blood.

If that happened, the hopes of the people of the Duchy of Ernst, who had been waiting for Lexion’s return while steadfastly preserving their language and culture, would turn into despair.

“Your Majesty the Emperor!”

Suddenly, Lexion knelt on one knee, placing his right fist over his left chest. It was a gesture of loyalty that knights showed to their lords.

‘Lexion. Yes, you cannot defy my orders. Now I can completely have Ernst!’

Emperor Grain smiled leisurely, anticipating Lexion’s affirmative response.

He had been trained for ten years. To him, Lexion was nothing more than a well-trained killing machine.

“I, Lexion Ernst, am guilty of disturbing the heart of the Princess. I will repay this with my life!”

At Lexion’s cry, the veins bulged on Emperor Grain’s hand as he gripped the armrest of his chair.

The Empress covered Emperor Grain’s hand with hers so others could not see.

“Duke Lexion! What are you doing?”

Duke Austin, seated opposite, hurriedly spoke, glaring at Lexion.

“Your Majesty. Duke Lexion is a soldier and has many rigid traits. He must have misunderstood the Princess’s words as a confession of love.”

As Duke Austin signaled to the surrounding nobles, Stephan quickly stood up and approached Lexion.

“Hahaha. Indeed. Duke Lexion has no experience with women or romance, so he is quite ignorant in this area, Your Majesty.”

Stephan stood next to Lexion and bowed deeply.

The Empress signaled Isabelle and Emperor Grain to relax their expressions, then looked down at Lexion.

‘That. Arrogant thing.’

Kneeling with his head bowed, Lexion’s back looked even more solid and noble.

“Duke Lexion. Stand up. No matter how little you know of women, the Princess merely meant you were slightly better than other young nobles.”

“Is that so? Then my misunderstanding of that meaning is an even greater sin, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Lexion bowed his head even deeper.

“Hahaha. Your Majesty, Duke Lexion seems to be quite an innocent man. It’s a charming reversal, Your Majesty.”

Isabelle laughed brightly, dispelling the chaotic atmosphere.

“Isabelle, don’t tease innocent men. Duke Lexion, you may rise.”

Emperor Grain, holding the Empress’s hand tightly, spoke to Lexion with a generous expression.

He needed that man’s blood. Even after ten years of conquest, the people of the Duchy of Ernst remained united, waiting for Lexion. To fully subjugate them and secure a strong foothold for advancing into the continent, he needed that man’s blood.

After the banquet, Stephan joined Lexion in his carriage. It would be safer to converse inside the carriage than in the mansion.

“It seems they changed their strategy because you refuse to die, Your Grace.”