Episode 119
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Rules of primogeniture.
According to imperial tradition, the succession to the Duke of Lancaster was to be the eldest son, Richard.
However, the Archduke of Lancaster, the Heavenly Sword, rejected the imperial tradition and made his second son Michael his successor. Using this act of breaking the imperial tradition as an excuse, Richard’s wife’s family, the Marquess of York, declared war on the lands.
Summoning the strongest men on the continent, obtained through York’s wisdom.
It was, without a doubt, the ‘largest scale’ war to take place since the Empire unified the continent.
It is different from the past when the Black Knight and the Holy Swordsman fought proxy wars through lower-level lords. Also, the battles taking place in the Kingdom of Britannia will be nothing more than child’s play compared to the scale of the two great lords when they are at their full power.
The Heavenly Sword, known as the strongest of the Seven Swords of the Continent, and the two swords of the Seven Swords, known as the heroes of the Empire, have joined forces. And the ‘Seven Swords of the Continent’ do not stop at just one of them.
Although it is nothing compared to the realm of the Seven Swords, the ‘next generation of strong men’ who will take their place in the future are no exception.
Just like the second son of the Lancaster family, Mikhail… … the Holy Sword Sepilia and the Sword of the Holy Sword will be no exception.
Furthermore, the Duke of Saxony officially dispatched a minimal number of troops to keep their ‘loyalty to the Archduke of Lancaster’. They remained silent about the alliance they would form.
However, the power of the ‘Black Prince’, who was acting on behalf of the Black Prince in the shadows, was not like that.
The Seven Swords, Master Baro, and other high-ranking assassins of the ‘Shadow Court’. Their value in a fight against grand lords of this scale is indescribable.
* * *
“Dale!”
At that time, when he was preparing to go on a campaign not as the Viscount of Saxony but as the ‘Black Prince’, there was a knight who could not hide her bewilderment and called out to Dale.
Lady Black, Charlotte the Swordswoman, clad in black armor.
“I heard you’re going to participate in the Lancaster family’s estate battle.”
“that’s right.”
Dale nodded, and Charlotte bit her lip. In order to protect the Northern Demon King’s Territory, Dale’s forces cannot be moved around carelessly. The Black Armor Company, the Winter Watchmen, and the Night Raven Knights have a mission to develop the Demon King’s Territory, regardless of the absence of the Viscount of Saxony.
Charlotte was no exception.
But it wasn’t Dale’s loyal followers, the Shadow Court and Lady Shadow.
“Am I still not able to stay by your side?”
“Not yet.”
Charlotte asked back. Dale answered with a pretended coolness.
“Because I can’t use an avatar.”
“… … .”
“Four of the Seven Swords of the Continent are participating in the fight that will take place at the Lancaster House. And many of the strong candidates for the ‘next Seven Swords’ will also be participating. It’s too dangerous for a single Auror Knight to handle.”
“It’s dangerous… … .”
Charlotte, who is still only an Auror Knight, can never exert much influence. It does not mean that the value of an Auror Knight is meaningless, but it is not something that can be put in the first line of a cavalry charge. Charlotte should be a knight guarding Dale. And considering her talent and potential, for now, she is only holding Dale back.
The knight who is supposed to sacrifice his life for his lord is, in turn, causing his lord to worry.
Charlotte bites her lip at that fact and continues speaking.
“Because I’m not stronger… … .”
“Don’t blame yourself.”
“But you’re taking Sister Aurelia with you.”
Charlotte continues bitterly.
“Lady Aurelia is a strong person who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the strong people of the ‘Next Seven Swords’.”
At least for now, it’s nothing compared to Charlotte’s level.
“Yeah, I know.”
As a Viscount of Saxony, and furthermore as the ‘Black Prince’, Charlotte bit her lips at those words that she had coldly considered. She must not have been unaware of the differences in rank that existed between knights, and the ‘realm of the Avatar’ that even Charlotte’s talent could not fill.
“For me, there is no other way than to become stronger.”
“You can become stronger.”
Charlotte smiled bitterly. Dale did not deny it either, but silently affirmed her.
“I will take good care of the Demon King’s Command while I am away.”
“Trust me.”
However, even though Charlotte is under Dale’s protection, her duties here in the Demon King’s Territory do not change. As Lord Helmut’s disciple, she leads the Night Raven Knights and protects the peace against the threat of the Demons.
Although it is nothing compared to the fight of the Seven Swords, it is still a grave task that cannot be carried out without risking one’s life.
“You have to come back safely.”
“Don’t worry.”
At Charlotte’s words, Dale smiled as usual. Seeing that smile, Charlotte smiled back.
It was a faint, trembling smile.
* * *
Shortly afterwards, the House of Saxony officially sent ‘a minimum of troops to make up the number’ to the Duke of Lancaster.
Five hundred Night Raven Knights and their Lances. In addition, five Warlocks of the 5th Circle and one Warlock of the 6th Circle.
In a fight between individual lords, it is an overwhelming force that can truly drive a wedge in, but in a fight between the great feudal lords of the continent, even this is just a showdown.
However, the existence of the ‘Shadow Court’, an organization led by the world’s ‘Black Prince’, was by no means just for show.
* * *
At that time, the Marquess of York’s office.
And that room was the most special and secret place within the Marquess of York.
A secret room that only the women of the Marquis of York’s family can enter, a place that is a secret area for Geumnam. In other words, it is a place that even the Marquis of York, who can be considered the official head of the family, cannot enter.
And then I saw the York family crest hanging in that room.
The rose of innocence, its symbol means ‘wise nobility’. That’s how it should have been.
But the roses hanging in that room were not white. Instead of the ‘nobility’ that white signifies, what was painted was a very unexpected color.
Black.
It was a black-and-blue rose.
Their symbol, known only to the women of the House of York. And the leaders of the Marquess of York were gathered there to oppose the House of Lancaster.
There were no men. Not even the Marquis of York, the House of York, could be an exception.
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“We have intelligence that the House of Saxony has officially sent a small force.”
The wife of the Marquess of York, Margaret who was engaged to the eldest son of the Lancaster family, Catherine who had captured the scoundrel of the earldom… … In addition to them, there were quite a few young ladies there.
The Witches of York. The black rose that symbolizes them, its true meaning is ‘wisdom without blood or tears.’
“It is said that the ‘Black Prince’ of Saxony, who was staying in the Demon King’s Territory, has disappeared.”
“… … Is there any information about his whereabouts?”
The Marquis of York’s wife, Titania, opened her mouth.
“Well, there’s no official word yet on whether the ‘Black Prince’ will join the Lancaster family… …”
“We will be together.”
Titania of York answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“Since the second son of the Lancaster family has joined the Demon King’s Territory, there must have been some kind of alliance formed.”
“Mother… … .”
“The ‘Black Prince’ of Saxony has black cruelty and blue wisdom. Do not underestimate his presence.”
Like the black rose that symbolizes the witches of York.
“… … Now that I think about it, I’m really lucky to have the right card in my hand.”
After saying that, Mother Titania smiles as if remembering something.
“If the ‘Black Prince’ of Saxony should bring malice against us… … the wise and evil Sepia will collect the debt he owes us.”
Dale’s teacher, the wise elf Sepia, recalls the ‘debt’ she bears for the blue maidens of York.
At her words, the ladies of York all bowed their heads.
She had an extremely cold expression, without even a trace of the coquetry or innocent smile she showed in front of men.
* * *
At that time, the Duke of Lancaster’s ducal palace.
In the Grand Duke’s office there was a very unexpected face.
“Sir Sepilia, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
The Archduke of Lancaster, the Heavenly Sword, spoke her name, and the Demon Sword Sepilia silently bowed her head. A knight who had attained the second rank among the strongest knight organization that the Imperial Family boasted of.
“His Excellency the Archduke of Lancaster, the Heavenly Sword.”
“May I ask why you have come all the way here in these times?”
“I am not a collateral member of York, but rather I have come to this place to convey the ‘royal position.’”
“From the perspective of the royal family.”
“Please, relent now and make your eldest son, Prince Richard, your successor.”
“Didn’t the Imperial House say that they would remain neutral regarding our decision?”
“Officially, yes.”
“Even before the war of unification of the Empire, and even before the Empire became what it is today… … we, the Lancaster family, have been loyal to the royal family.”
Archduke Lancaster of the Heavenly Sword. One of the ‘Five War Heroes’ of the Empire, along with the Warrior of the Otherworld, the Holy Sword, the Ghost Sword, and the Red Tower Lord. And a loyal family that has fulfilled its duty as an Imperial Grand Duke even before the war began.
“Is the loyalty I have given to the Empire my entire life worth being abandoned just because I broke one of their ‘traditions’?”
The Duke of Lancaster sneered coldly.
“It’s like seeing the end of the ‘Warrior of the Other World.’”
“… … !”
At those words, Sepilia held her breath.
“I promise you with pride as a Knight of the Iron Cross and with the honor of the Empire. Even if this battle results in the Archduke’s defeat, our Empire will never forget the Archduke’s loyalty.”
After swallowing, Sepilia said.
“I resign from my position as Vice-Captain of the Order of the Iron Cross and offer my position to the Duke of Lancaster.”
“My entire domain has fallen into the hands of the witches of York, and I am to become a mere dog of the royal family?”
“… … .”
“When the eldest son, Richard, became bewitched by the Lady of York, the boy lost his place as heir.”
The Duke of Lancaster said.
“And I cannot stand to see my lands reduced to a puppet of York.”
The Wives of York. The Duke of Lancaster did not initially intend to break the tradition of primogeniture. But when Richard fell for Margaret of York and became her puppet, and when Michael rejected her, escaping the ‘temptation of York’.
Given the ambitions of the House of York, this dispute over succession was of an irreversible nature from the beginning.
It was just then.
“Your Highness! Prince Mikhail has returned to the castle!”
One of the Archduke’s subordinates reported from outside the study, and the Archduke of Lancaster nodded.
“Come in.”
Not caring about the fact that the enemy he would later face, the demon sword Sepilia, was in this place.
Michael Lancaster, the successor to House Lancaster, appears.
At the same time.
“… … !”
The demon sword Sepilia suddenly held her breath.
“Nice to meet you, Your Excellency the Duke of Lancaster.”
At Mikhail’s side was a nobleman dressed in a black surcoat.
“And the swordsman Sir Sepilia.”
“The ‘Black Prince’ of Saxony… … .”
The Duke of Lancaster was no exception to the surprise. However, the ‘Black Prince’ paid no attention and opened his mouth in front of his enemy.
“I have come here on behalf of the House of Saxony to fulfill the alliance with the Archduke of Lancaster.”
What moves in the shadows are Dale’s limbs, not Dale himself.
Rather, the notoriety of the ‘Black Prince’ only has meaning when it is in front of everyone, not in the shadows.
The curtain has finally risen on the war, and the main characters have begun to gather one by one.
