Chapter 96

96. The Duke’s Affairs

The corridor from the drawing room to the entrance seemed annoyingly long. Duke Lephisto walked, suppressing his boiling rage. When he finally stepped out into the courtyard and headed towards the carriage, he stopped and turned around. Lucid, who had followed him under the pretense of seeing him off, faced his father with a gaze full of contempt and mockery.

“Useless child!”

Despite his enraged shout, Lucid chuckled, which only fueled the Duke’s anger further.

“Do you not care about your sister’s situation at all? Instead of supporting her, you’re ruining everything!”

“You’re blaming me for this mess? Wasn’t it you?”

“Do you not feel any pity for your sister, who remains unmarried at her age?”

“Was it I who prevented Shayla from marrying?”

The Duke’s face flushed with anger at his son’s accusation.

“How many times did I tell you that it was for the good of the family, and how long are you going to talk about old times when things have changed?”

“Things have changed? Oh, right. There’s another woman by His Grace’s side now.”

Lucid smirked, shrugging his shoulders.

“Is it normal to push your daughter towards a man who already has a wife?”

“A wife of no status or background! How can you…”

“Enough!”

Lucid’s exasperated shout echoed, releasing the anger he had been holding back.

“Do you have no conscience?”

“Lucid!”

“Think about what you did to the Earl of Conwall’s family. After committing such despicable acts…”

Slap! The sudden blow turned Lucid’s head to the side, filling his mouth with the metallic taste of blood. He spat out the blood and looked up, his smile now tainted with disdain.

“Still no remorse, I see.”

“You ungrateful brat, how dare you speak to your father like that?”

“Who do you think I learned from?”

His words dripped with venom. The Duke, meeting his son’s resentful gaze, turned coldly away.

“Don’t ever think of seeing me again! You are no longer my son!”

Lucid watched his father climb into the carriage and clench his fists. Even after the Duke’s carriage left, Lucid stood there for a long time, eventually trudging back into the house. The blow had left his head spinning.

He decided to explain himself to Callion and headed back to the drawing room, but the door swung open just as he reached it.

“Sir Lucid? Has the Duke already left?”

Adelaide, looking startled, examined him closely. Lucid quickly covered his cheek with his hand, but she had already noticed.

“What happened to your face?”

“I got …… distracted and bumped into a pillar.”

It was an unconvincing lie, and Adelaide’s eyebrows shot up. A handprint that wasn’t there a few hours ago was now visible on his face. She didn’t press for details, but she had a good idea.

“Wait here.”

Adelaide went to fetch some ointment from her room.

“Apply this.”

“I’m fine. A knight doesn’t need to worry about such minor wounds.”

“You don’t need a medal for running into a pillar. Just take it.”

She pressed the ointment into Lucid’s hand, despite his reluctance. He looked at the ointment with a troubled expression before murmuring.

“…I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For wasting His Grace’s precious ointment.”

“It’s nothing. If you feel bad, repay me later.”

“I’ll repay you tenfold.”

Lucid replied with determination, almost as if making a vow to himself.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The emperor’s chamber was filled with a hazy smoke, obscuring any distinction between night and day. Elkius, propped against the headboard of his bed, kept emptying bottles of liquor. He poured the strong alcohol down his raw throat, throwing the empty bottles aside.

He staggered from his bed, heading towards the liquor cabinet. The floor was littered with empty bottles and shredded papers. Navigating through the mess, he reached the cabinet and grabbed a bottle of strong whiskey.

“Stop drinking, Elki.”

A slender, pale hand snatched the bottle from him. Elkius scowled and reached out to reclaim it.

“Leave it.”

“Stop drinking. You haven’t eaten and have been drinking continuously. It’s bad for your health.”

Rosaline, placing the bottle back on the shelf, guided Elkius to the bed. She covered the censer and threw open the windows, finally allowing some clarity to return to the room. Elkius pressed his throbbing temples and asked.

“…How many days has it been?”

“Six days.”

“Six days?”

Has it been that long already?

Since the day Duke Howard had visited, Elkius had been holed up in his chamber, losing track of time. He sighed and rubbed his face roughly, feeling the unkempt beard against his hand.

“Pull yourself together, Elki. Everyone is worried about you.”

“Worried? They’re all just waiting for me to die.”

“Don’t say such heartbreaking things.”

Rosaline Harper perched on his knee and lightly kissed him. He pushed her away irritably and grabbed a glass of water. The cool liquid soothed his throat and cleared his foggy mind.

As his vision cleared, he noticed the scattered pieces of paper. They were petitions from the Imperial Council. Initially, he had read and torn up a few, but the repetitive demands eventually led him to tear them up without even looking.

What’s happening out there?

As his rationality returned, the anxiety he had forgotten thanks to the Velido surged back. The thought that Callion might be plotting to seize the throne in his absence made Elkius sit up straight.

‘How hard I fought to secure this throne; I can’t give it up so easily.’

“Rose, tell the chamberlain to summon Duke Tulonel.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Your Majesty, how have you been?”

Summoned late at night, Duke Tulonel greeted the emperor warmly. Since the revelations from Cardinal Orland, rumors have spread that the emperor is gravely ill due to his lack of public appearances.

Tulonel had applied several times for an audience but had been consistently denied. He was starting to worry about his own position when the unexpected summons came.

“I was worried when I didn’t hear from you. How is your health?”

“Much better.”

Elkius answered curtly. Though he looked gaunt from his prolonged seclusion, he didn’t appear ill. Tulonel noticed the smell of Velido emanating from the emperor but feigned ignorance, bowing his head.

“What’s the current situation?”

“Do you know that the new pope’s inauguration is scheduled for this weekend?”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“I understand that an invitation was sent to you, but since no reply was given, they’re preparing under the assumption that you won’t attend.”

Tulonel cautiously explained, watching Elkius’s reaction.

The Imperial Council had been continuously petitioning the emperor to attend the inauguration and reveal the Regalia for blessing. Failing to attend without a valid excuse would only provide more ammunition for his critics.

“The Imperial Council is waiting for your response. If you don’t provide a clear answer before the coronation, they plan to open the treasury and verify the Regalia’s presence themselves.”

“They think they can just open the treasury? Who do they think they are?”

A hint of madness gleamed in Elkius’s eyes as he muttered. Tulonel moistened his dry lips and spoke.

“Marquis Werner and I are trying to prevent it, but Duke Howard and Earl Changeling are very insistent, making it difficult to stop. It would be better if you made a decision.”

“Do you realize what would happen if I acknowledged it?”

Tulonel lowered his head in anxiety at the sharp question.

“Duke Howard suggested that I designate Callion as my heir. He said that would affirm my legitimacy.”

Elkius sneered bitterly.

While not an official stance of the Imperial Council, Tulonel knew there were discussions among nobles supporting Callion. If things continued, they would have no choice but to accept those views.

If Callion were named the heir, those who had strongly supported Elkius’s ascent, including Tulonel himself, would likely be purged.

Given his inability to side with Callion, Tulonel knew he had to protect Elkius at all costs.

“With all due respect, given the complexities of your ascension, it’s inevitable that they would question your legitimacy.”

“…So, what do you suggest?”

“I suggest you marry.”

“What?”

“Take an empress as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter if it’s a daughter or a son, you must have a child before Duke Tiflis and make that child the heir to your majesty.”

“Take in an empress?”

“Yes, bring a noblewoman from a distinguished family as your empress and strengthen your ties with that family to counterbalance Duke Tiflis.”

Elkius frowned, considering the proposal. It made sense. Historically, emperors solidified their power through strategic marriages with powerful families or foreign alliances.

But where would he find such a bride immediately?

He asked, skeptical.

“Where do you propose I find such a woman?”

“The daughter of Duke Lephisto.”