News of the High Elder’s escape sent the Imperial Palace into chaos.
The Emperor immediately ordered pursuit parties formed and demanded the High Elder be found. Knights hastily grabbed their weapons and began the hunt. Naturally, they would never find him.
After all, you can’t locate a corpse that’s been thoroughly incinerated.
He burned rather well, I thought, considering his skeletal frame. Apparently there had been more fat on those bones than I’d anticipated.
I suppressed a snort of derision as I faced the Emperor.
Currently, I found myself dragged before His Imperial Majesty for tedious interrogation about my whereabouts during the High Elder’s supposed escape.
Nothing dramatic—just standard procedure.
“You truly had nothing to do with this?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” I nodded with shameless conviction.
I’d left no evidence behind. The arrows had been retrieved, every footprint erased.
Besides, hadn’t I been the one arguing for the High Elder’s capture? Even circumstantial evidence wouldn’t point my direction.
The Emperor studied me intently before releasing a weary sigh. “Of course. It couldn’t have been you. My apologies for dragging you here.”
“Not at all. I’ll do my utmost to help capture the criminal.”
“My thanks.” The Emperor managed a weak smile and gestured to his chamberlain. “Speaking of thanks—I realize I’m rather late in expressing my gratitude.”
The chamberlain carefully retrieved something from a corner—a small cushion bearing a blue-green dagger.
From its design, this was clearly ceremonial rather than meant for assassination.
The Emperor examined it approvingly before nodding to the chamberlain, who approached me with the cushioned weapon.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Take it,” the Emperor said. “A gift from me to you.”
I studied the dagger. The blue-green blade gleamed wickedly sharp, its surface catching light and throwing it back in brilliant flashes.
“… It’s Mithril.”
“Correct.”
Mithril—the divine ore that repelled evil, the strategic weapon I’d procured. They’d crafted a dagger from such material.
I couldn’t estimate what this would fetch on the open market.
“Did the Imperial smiths make this?”
“No. I commissioned the Smith Workshop in the Mercantile Kingdom. Quite renowned, I’m told.”
Ah.
I knew the Smith Workshop well—House Artezia had regularly commissioned work from them before my regression. Founded by genius craftsmen, though their youngest apprentice was the true talent. Could even draw thread from Mithril.
Judging by this dagger, the apprentice’s skills hadn’t yet gained recognition. With the senior craftsmen still making their mark, it would be difficult for a junior to take up the hammer.
“Thank you.”
Even without the apprentice’s touch, this ranked among the continent’s finest daggers. Wickedly sharp and imbued with Mithril’s full properties despite crude craftsmanship.
With this blade, I could have defeated that Gargoyle far more easily.
As I accepted the dagger, the Emperor nodded with satisfaction. “Excellent. A weapon worthy of a hero.”
“It gains luster from Your Majesty’s generosity.”
“Does it indeed?” The Emperor chuckled and leaned back in his throne, then spoke in quiet tones. “My thanks. Because of you, my son can rest in peace.”
Rest in peace.
Honestly, I wasn’t certain about such things. Whether an afterlife existed, whether gods were real—I couldn’t say with certainty.
Even having experienced regression, I wondered: had it truly been divine intervention? If so, what did this supposed deity want from me?
I’d mulled it over long and hard.
Then I concluded: I’d fulfill whatever request this divine entity might have, provided it didn’t involve harming Lea.
Though that’s a matter for the distant future.
I bowed to the Emperor. “He surely went to a good place. He was such a brilliant soul.”
“Indeed he was.” The Emperor’s laughter held little mirth. “Go and rest now. I’ll arrange a proper reward for this service separately.”
“Yes.”
“And don’t worry about the High Elder. I’ll deploy the Empire’s entire military if necessary to find him.”
Murderous intent flashed in the Emperor’s eyes—killing rage promising to tear apart whoever he caught. I absorbed that bloodlust with a faint nod.
I’ve bought some time, at least.
Everything had proceeded as anticipated.
While dispersing Imperial forces wasn’t ideal, it was far preferable to civil war. To hunt House Artezia properly, I’d need to weaken them further first.
Or strengthen our own ranks.
Imperial power alone wouldn’t suffice. These were people capable of making a Grand Master like the Duke of Praha disappear. To capture such opponents, we’d need at least another Grand Master or equivalent military force.
And for that, this method is optimal.
Resolve flashed through me as I contemplated upcoming plans. Conveniently, the Emperor dismissed me at that moment.
“I’ve kept a departing man too long. You may go—hurry along and rest.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I bid farewell and departed the audience chamber.
* * *
After leaving the palace, I headed to the courier guild nearby.
Creak.
“How may we serve you?” A receptionist greeted me with a bow as I opened the door. My attire immediately marked me as nobility.
“I need to send something via your fastest service.”
“Ah, then please come this way. For fifteen gold, you can use our express courier service.”
Fifteen gold… Rather steep, but I rummaged through my purse and found exactly that amount—my emergency funds.
Clink.
“I’ll take it.”
Expensive, but timing was everything for this task. What I was about to do would determine our fighting capacity against House Artezia.
I withdrew a pendant from my breast pocket—evidence of House Artezia’s corruption obtained from hunting the Goblin Lord. This pendant contained their shameful secrets.
With this, I could bring Educator Martel to Praha’s side. If that happened, our capabilities would grow exponentially.
He is a genius of education, after all.
Martel’s followers were scattered across the continent. If such a man became Praha’s vassal, that alone would make House Artezia nervous.
I composed a brief letter to Martel: [I know about your grandson’s death.]
I folded the message and handed it to the receptionist, who smiled as she placed it in an envelope.
“Received. Thank you for your patronage.”
I waved dismissively and left the courier guild.
The first step is taken.
One by one, slowly but surely. If I continued preparing this way, the day of my revenge would eventually arrive.
Determination flashed through me as I quickened my pace.
Just then, a familiar voice called out.
“Sir Louis!”
I turned to see the First Knight Commander who’d accompanied me to House Praha.
“What brings you here?” I asked.
The knight commander spoke with urgent expression. “Disaster!”
What fresh catastrophe could this be?
At this rate, I was starting to feel like misfortune exclusively targeted me.
I sighed faintly. “Disaster? Has the High Elder been captured?”
“That’s not what matters to you right now!”
Should a knight commander really be saying such things about a direct imperial command?
I took a moment to examine the fellow. His expression seemed genuinely urgent—something serious had occurred.
“Take a deep breath and speak clearly. What exactly has happened?”
The knight commander steadied his breathing. “House Dragunov has declared war. The target is House Berg. They claim it’s revenge for their family.”
“What do you mean—”
I stared in disbelief. A declaration of war? Even if Count Dragunov was an idiot, surely he wasn’t that stupid.
“Didn’t he consider Imperial intervention?”
The knight commander fidgeted. “Our intervention has become... complicated this time.”
Complicated? How so?
“As I said—family revenge is the stated reason. Currently, all of House Dragunov’s family members are dead.”
“Excuse me?”
“And House Dragunov claims you were responsible for the tragedy. They say they have definitive proof.”
Proof?
Count Dragunov wouldn’t lie about such matters—if this were false, the Imperial Palace would obliterate his house for the insult. Which meant everything from the family massacre to this supposed proof was true.
Though I can’t imagine what this proof might be.
I sighed and turned my steps. “I suppose I’ll have to see for myself.”
“To your family estate?”
“Yes.”
I may be marrying out of the House, but they were still my family. I had to attempt a rescue at minimum.
Besides.
This reeks of orchestration.
Someone had laid a vicious trap—someone who wanted both Berg and Dragunov eliminated entirely.
I began reasoning through potential culprits. Who would benefit most from their mutual destruction?
Someone who could accomplish revenge, absorption, and making an example simultaneously while potentially gaining new allies.
Someone who knew I was currently at the Imperial Palace.
Combining these factors, only one individual came to mind.
“Duke Artezia.” I muttered just loud enough for my own ears.
He’d used the High Elder to draw me to the Imperial Palace, could make an example of Berg through extermination, and could absorb Dragunov’s vast capital.
Only one House possessed such capabilities.
A murderous smile flashed across my face.
Duke Artezia had set a trap for me. Well then, common courtesy demanded I spring it.
I’ll play along this once. But things won’t go according to your plans.
I felt the weight of the dagger in my breast pocket, resolve hardening within me.
Three days after quelling House Praha’s internal strife, war between noble houses had begun.