Episode 216
* * *
It was strong. It was absolutely overwhelming.
Even the Archduke of Lancaster, known as the greatest swordsman on the continent, would have been nothing more than a common soldier in front of him.
‘Did my father really win against such a monster?’
But when he tried to enter the world of truth, the black ball blocked his path. And he won. It was not that he wanted to doubt his father’s words. He was just trembling before the absurd power of those who stood at the top of the five towers.
The wizards who manipulate death and history, and even the ‘Blue Curtain’ and the Heavenly King are no exception to this. The Immortal King Frederick must also have a similar level.
And the Golden Monarch who rules this empire is no exception.
No matter how strong he became, there was an absurd gap between the current Dale and these beings to fight on equal terms.
The divine sword, Badel Orhart, was strong. But I was sure that it was not comparable to that of the magic tower masters gathered here.
Even the previous White Tower Lord, who had just been defeated by the other world’s warrior, was only possible because of the cooperation of the traitors within them. And those traitors were also present here.
He claims to be the top of the Sistine Chapel, a white magician with the name of Celestial King.
“I am truly sorry, Charlotte.”
Just then, the bloody ball smiled slyly and lowered its head.
“It is truly regrettable that we have to experience the tragedy of losing our father again at such a wonderful wedding!”
“Blood Ball, you… … .”
Lady Black, Charlotte’s voice trembled faintly, armed with the Saxon Night Raven armor.
“Please step back.”
But it was Dale’s turn to stand in her way.
“No matter how much of a duel it is, I believe you understand the significance of your actions here.”
“Oh, are you planning to hold me responsible again?”
The bloody ball laughed coldly. Lady Scarlett, next to him, stroked her belly and smiled silently.
“There is nothing I cannot ask.”
But just then, the ruler of the Duchy of Saxony opened his mouth. As one of the five wizards who stood at the top of the empire.
Foodie!
Behind him, night crows flew up, their sinister pitch-black wings spreading out.
“… … !”
The act was by no means an easy threat or anything like that. It was a symbol of a determination not to hesitate to use real force when the time comes.
The Angel of Death, the greatest black magician on the continent, continued speaking while unfolding his six black wings.
“Leave this duchy immediately. If you do not, I will not hesitate to hold you accountable for the insolence that has occurred in my domain.”
“Oh, this is really scary.”
The bloody ball smiled as if it was enjoying the sight. Once again, bloody letters began to be carved along his body.
“Black Ball, I have not liked you since long ago.”
Just then, the Bloody Ball opened his mouth. It was a voice that was not the pretense he had been showing until now, but one that contained his true heart.
“I have lived for an eternity that even the Immortal Prince, the founder of Saxony, could not imagine. To me, it is laughable that a young child with not even a drop of blood on his head would claim to be ‘immortal.’”
“… … .”
“I especially didn’t like the look on the face of that bloody clod’s descendants, mere mayflies living only for a fleeting moment in time, looking down at me.”
“Is that so?”
The black ball answered indifferently. As the bloody ball had said, he had an expression on his face that seemed to be looking down on his foolishness.
“That’s the exact look.”
A survivor of the Second Empire who lived before the current empire was established and before the human nation was established. The immortal historian who proves the history of this continent itself has spoken.
“In order to bring you down, which era of history would be best to unfold here?”
“That day, the ‘truth of history’ that the Bloody Ball gave me became a strength and teaching that cannot be exchanged for anything else.”
The Duke of Saxony answered, looking back at the bloody letters that were still being endlessly engraved and erased upon his body.
“What doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger. Ironically enough.”
At those words, the expressions of the Bloody Duke and Marquis Yuris distorted again.
Only then could he be certain. The Bloody Duke had not been able to defeat the Black Duke even with his grimoire, the Book of Blood. In other words, Dale’s father, the Duke of Saxony, had the power to defeat his abilities.
“I won’t speak at length, people of Yuris.”
And then the man opened his mouth, showing off his six black wings.
“As the ruler of Saxony, I hereby order you to withdraw from my domain.”
It was a one-sided order. Marquis Yuris’s expression froze at those words. As if symbolizing the agitation, blood-red letters began to be engraved and erased on his body at an absurd speed. It was as if a videotape was being sped up to several dozen times its original speed.
But the excitement was fleeting.
The Book of Blood disappeared, and upon seeing it, the Black Ball’s wings also disappeared, fluttering like crow feathers.
“I will obey the orders of His Excellency the Duke of Saxony.”
In the silence, the bloody ball bent down exaggeratedly like a third-rate actor.
* * *
It was only a matter of one day that Dale and Charlotte’s wedding, which should have been a celebration, turned into an unprecedented disaster.
In the lands of Saxony, the assassination of Richard, the eldest son of the House of Lancaster, was carried out, and the Archduke of Lancaster and the Bloody Duke were tried by a duel to determine their rightfulness. And according to the principles of law, it was Margrave Julius the Bloody Duke who proved his innocence.
There was no joy or sweetness of a wedding, like the joy of being married to Dale.
Charlotte of Saxony sat in bed sobbing, having lost both her fathers.
It was Dale’s bedroom.
“……shallot.”
Dale quietly extended his arm toward her.
“It’s all my fault.”
Charlotte muttered sobbingly. Dale shook his head quietly.
I just imagined the future of the Lancaster Dukes, who had lost their last eldest son and even their head of the family. I imagined the families that had been united around the Lancaster Dukes being scattered and hyenas attacking and tearing them apart.
I didn’t particularly sympathize with him. However, the Lancaster family was too unfortunate to hand him over to the Empire and the hyenas.
And above all, strictly speaking, Lancaster’s successor has not yet disappeared.
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“It’s not your fault.”
That’s why Dale opened his mouth.
“Rather, it was because of you that the Duke of Lancaster was able to make that decision.”
“I……?”
Charlotte asked, and Dale nodded.
“As soon as tomorrow morning dawns, we will head together to the Duke of Lancaster.”
“… … !”
“And as the Archduke wishes, you will receive ‘what is rightfully yours as a Lancaster’.”
Charlotte swallowed her breath as she realized what it meant.
“But, still, I… … !”
She is not pure-blooded. Furthermore, there is not even a bit of Lancaster blood in her veins. Therefore, Charlotte’s position among those who claim succession to the vacant throne of the Duke of Lancaster will not be great.
“The Duke of Lancaster said so. You are the heir to the entire Lancaster family.”
But nothing changed.
Dale spoke, and Charlotte thought of him. Another father. And furthermore, the sword master who gave Charlotte her real father’s sword. How could she repay that gratitude?
“……okay.”
Charlotte nodded quietly, steeling herself.
“Instead, promise me one thing.”
“promise?”
“As the rightful heir of Lancaster, I will claim the position of Archduke that is rightfully mys. And as the head of Lancaster and Orchard, I will fulfill my duties.”
Charlotte said, and Dale nodded.
“But above all, do not forget that I am Charlotte of Saxony.”
“… … .”
“I am, after all, your sword. Don’t forget that everything I have will soon be a sword that will be swung for you.”
Charlotte said. Dale smiled quietly at her words.
“I will accept the wishes of my wife, Charlotte Lancaster.”
Dale spoke, and Charlotte’s face turned red for a moment at those words. But the embarrassment was short-lived.
“Thanks, Dale.”
All she could do was bury her head in Dale’s neck and let out a silent sob. In the midst of her sobs, Dale silently stretched out his arms.
The reckless and naive girl of that day had now become a respectable knight with the greatest swordsmanship on the continent.
But Charlotte is Charlotte. Dale knows that, so he just strokes her hair without saying a word.
At least in Dale’s eyes, nothing had changed about her since that day.
* * *
The next morning.
Dale brought up the subject of Charlotte in his father’s office, and the Duke of Saxony nodded silently.
“Things are going to get very urgent. So, how many articles do you need?”
“If I were to lead the knights of Saxony, the Lancastrians would never be pleased.”
Dale shook his head.
“But there are those who will move in the shadows for me.”
Shadow Court and the Mountain Assassins, masters of undercover operations whom Dale has gained loyalty to as the Shadow Lord and whom he uses as his own henchmen.
“The Grave Walker will be with me. And, as luck would have it, Titania of York will be there to lend me her strength.”
“Do you intend to take the throne of the Duke of Lancaster and hand it over to Lady Charlotte?”
“… … It won’t make a difference whether I or Charlotte obtain the name of the Duke of Lancaster.”
The Duke of Saxony remained silent. For a moment, the cold-hearted nobleman of the Empire became deep in thought. But his thoughts did not last long.
“I trust you will make the right decision.”
* * *
Soon after, the political situation in the empire began to unravel over the vacant throne of the Duke of Lancaster.
Charlotte joined Dale of Saxony as ‘the most rightful heir to the Duke of Lancaster’, and at that point most of the hyenas were busy tucked in and running away.
But not everyone surrendered meekly.
Shortly afterwards, John Lancaster, the younger brother of the Duke of Lancaster, announced the marriage of his eldest daughter, Linné Lancaster.
By taking Ray Yuris, the adopted son of Marquis Yuris the Bloody Duke, as her son-in-law.
After that, Ray Uris began to claim legitimacy as successor under the name ‘Ray Lancaster’.
Dale, too, joined the fight for succession, asserting the legitimacy of ‘Lancaster’ alongside Charlotte.
A group of people who called themselves Lancasters gathered for one place, and it meant one thing.
It was the prelude to the Third War of the Roses.