Chapter 21

The nobles murmured as they looked back and forth between the steadfast Marquis Kypris and Ian, who had returned alive and well. There were even those who, mentioning Alteon’s name, bluntly declared that misfortune had come to the marquisate. Elcia grew anxious for no reason. Ah, she wished they wouldn’t say to cast Ian out! She hoped they would welcome him back, if only for the sake of old times!

Conrad didn’t give the crowd time to settle before he spoke.

“That’s right! Ian Kypris has healed his ruined hand through long rehabilitation and returned to his former self. From now on, he will become an Imperial Knight and once again devote himself to the Empire.”

Conrad stopped there and proceeded to conduct a brief knighting ceremony.

The return was so swift and decisive that the nobles gathered in the hall could only watch the ceremony unfold, unable to step forward or object. At last, Conrad’s ceremonial sword lightly touched Ian’s shoulder, and everything was finished. Elcia was so moved she almost shed tears.

“Your Highness, then does that mean Count Kypris will not return to the Tyr Church?”

As soon as the short ceremony ended, Duke Sesha quietly raised an objection.

The Duke, at first glance, seemed loyal to the Empire, but he wasn’t without his prickly points. Especially his recent behavior had been a spectacle. After sending his eldest daughter to be Queen of the Riwane Kingdom, he had quietly built another power base, often causing trouble, which was quite annoying. In short, Duke Sesha was now openly committing the kinds of acts Conrad hated most.

“That’s right. Nersian is at the Tyr Church, so Ian has no need to return.”

“Oh, but Your Highness. Wasn’t Ian Kypris made leader of the Holy Knight Order not by the priests’ vote, but by the Lord’s oracle? Isn’t it wrong for humans to overturn what the gods have decided?”

Duke Sesha pressed Conrad with a subtle smile. His words, mocking the recent knighting ceremony, didn’t anger Conrad, who calmly asked,

“So what are you suggesting, Duke?”

“As you said, Your Highness, since Sir Nersian is already the leader of the Holy Knight Order, he cannot be removed. Therefore, I believe it is right to send Count Ian Kypris back to the Church and have him serve in the priesthood for life. Wouldn’t that satisfy the Lord?”

The Duke put forth the absurd logic that the former leader Ian should serve under Nersian. It was the complete opposite of what he’d just said about not overturning divine decisions.

“Are you telling me to undo my appointment of Ian as an Imperial Knight?”

“Your Highness! The Lord Tyr may become angry. Count Kypris had no choice but to step down due to illness, but now that he’s recovered, shouldn’t he be sent back to the Church?”

Conrad’s expression became openly unpleasant.

“Ian must return to the temple because of a past oracle? Then, wouldn’t it be more logical for Sir Nersian, who became leader by human decision, to step down first?”

“Th-that’s…”

The Crown Prince pressed Duke Sesha relentlessly.

“Duke Sesha, if you wish to follow the Lord’s will so much, you yourself should stop coming to the imperial capital and go to the temple. If a noble Duke bows before the Lord’s statue every day and pours water, the gods would be very pleased.”

“Your Highness!”

“I will end this here. I declare once again that Ian Kypris has become an Imperial Knight by my will, so everyone must accept it.”

Conrad showed no intention of patching things up with Duke Sesha. With his sharp tone, none of the other nobles dared say another word. To speak carelessly amid such open conflict was a sure path to ruin.

The Crown Prince didn’t stop there—he turned his body sharply in front of the Duke as soon as he finished speaking. Now Ian, his knight, left the hall with Conrad and the other Imperial Knights. Duke Sesha, who had watched the Crown Prince’s cold manner with his own eyes, ground his teeth in frustration. This was not the result he wanted.

As soon as he left Nives Hall, the Duke immediately sought out Nersian.

Nersian, who was supposed to attend the event, had decided at the last minute to skip it and used Duke Sesha to stir things up in his place. So he was very curious about how things had turned out.

“How did it go?”

“D*mn it, it’s hopeless. His Highness didn’t even listen to me and openly favored that scoundrel Ian Kypris. He has no intention of sending him back to the temple. I can’t understand why he’d use someone who’s already caused trouble!”

When Duke Sesha clicked his tongue, Nersian nodded as if he’d expected it.

“I see. Things are going as expected.”

“Leader! Don’t give up yet. If we rally the nobles who frequent the temple to petition all at once, even His Highness won’t be able to ignore it. If that fails, we’ll have no choice but to move His Majesty the Emperor directly.”

Nersian quietly regarded the Duke, who was so eager to push this matter.

Both the Duke and Nersian harbored ill feelings toward Ian, but there was a slight difference between them.

Nersian—he honestly admitted that his dislike for Ian stemmed from a dirty sense of inferiority. It was something he couldn’t help. Even at a young age, Ian Kypris had stood out as an exceptional knight, and his reputation had reached even the quiet temple.

He could tolerate that, but unlike Nersian, Ian had become leader of the Holy Knight Order by receiving the Lord Tyr’s oracle—an overwhelming advantage. That was deeply humiliating for Nersian.

‘Lord, after failing to bring His Highness Conrad, why did you choose Ian as the second? Was I unworthy?’

Originally, the person meant to become the leader of the Holy Knight Order was neither Ian Kypris nor Nersian, but Conrad Apel Draug.

Lord Tyr had given an oracle to appoint the imperial Crown Prince as leader. According to doctrine, anyone who took up the priesthood would lose their royal status, so the Emperor refused and shut the doors of the imperial capital. Even when the priests pleaded to let him serve for just one year, the Emperor was adamant. If the priests tried to force the issue, he threatened to expel them all from the Empire.

The temple also felt burdened by the prospect of clashing head-on with the imperial family, and couldn’t afford to turn its back on the Empire, which had the most believers. With no other options, Ian Kypris stepped forward, ignoring the Marchioness’s objections.

Ian personally went before the Lord Tyr’s statue and prayed to become leader in the Crown Prince’s place. Amazingly, Lord Tyr accepted Ian’s earnest plea and gave an oracle to appoint him as leader. It was a miracle.

Since the Emperor didn’t have to lose Conrad, he cleverly twisted the two oracles to make it look as though only Ian had received the oracle. Nersian, being an imperial subject, had no complaints and kept quiet. However…

‘Lord! Look. The leader you chose is a failure. He lost the Saint, ruined his own hand, and shamelessly returned to the capital. I am not like Ian. Even if you didn’t choose me, I am the only one who can perfectly revive the Tyr Church! Watch who will be recorded as Your great child in the future!’

Duke Sesha grew impatient as Nersian’s eyes seemed to wander into the distance.

“Leader! I trust you’re not thinking of giving up here.”

“…What should I do?”

Nersian asked leisurely.

It wasn’t unusual for the Duke to be at odds with the Kypris ducal house, where Ian belonged. The marquisate had long followed the direct bloodline leading to Conrad and served as the pillar of the Emperor’s faction. So they wouldn’t welcome the Duke’s actions, even if his daughter became Queen of a foreign kingdom.

Nersian knew exactly what Duke Sesha wanted, even if he didn’t say it. The eldest daughter had become Queen of the wealthy Riwane Kingdom, the youngest son, Haylock, was already praised as a young Duke. So he must want to make his second daughter the future Empress beside the next Emperor.

Of course, Duke Sesha might not necessarily see Conrad as the next Emperor. That’s why he subtly undermined Conrad’s administration. In this way, the Duke was easy to read and manipulate.

“Of course, we must protest. If we do nothing, the entire government will fall into the Crown Prince’s hands. I know His Highness is capable, but he’s still young and full of vigor… I worry he’ll make a big mistake.”

The Duke, revealing his true intentions, hesitated at the end and quietly glossed over his words.

“For now, please wait. You’ve already opposed His Highness once, so repeating yourself isn’t wise.”

“…Do you have any special strategy in mind, Leader?”

When Duke Sesha asked slyly, Nersian’s eyes curved slightly.

“I plan to target the one who stands to lose the most from Ian Kypris’s return.”

* * *

A few days later, a modest celebration was held at the Kypris marquisate.

It was a gathering held because they couldn’t ignore those who repeatedly requested to visit and celebrate Ian’s return. Though it was called a modest gathering, to Elcia’s eyes it was grand and filled with strangers, making her uncomfortable. Thanks to the Marchioness’s consideration, she wore a light poplin dress and stepped out onto the garden terrace.

‘Phew.’

She didn’t want to return to the banquet hall, which was filled with various canapés, dazzling sugar confections, and fruit wines. Although she usually loved delicious food, she had lost her appetite and simply felt stifled.

The Marchioness remained kind to Elcia, and the servants never slighted her for being a commoner.

Still, her heart felt strangely uneasy.

To be honest, she missed the days at Usley Castle with Ian so much.

‘I should be happy Ian returned as a knight, so why do I feel like this… No, that person!’

Standing absent-mindedly at the secluded terrace of the mansion, Elcia was startled. Someone emerged from the topiary she thought was empty. And it was none other than Nersian!