Chapter 462: Have You Been Working Out Lately? (3)
The King of Ritania had been bedridden for a long time. As a result, the Chancellor and the Marquis of Branford were the ones steering the kingdom's affairs.
However, this was twenty years ago before the Marquis of Branford secured proper power, back when the King had yet to weaken.
‘There might be records in the royal archives connected to this situation. The King would know.’
This suspicion wasn’t entirely unfounded.
It stemmed directly from the strategy employed by the Ducal Faction.
‘The Ducal Faction targeted the capital first in my past life as well. Back then, the royal faction was already weakened, so it didn’t seem suspicious...’
Capturing the King during a war essentially determines the outcome of the conflict. At that time, there was little reason to question the Ducal Faction’s intentions.
Most of the nobles had already sided with the Ducal Faction, so occupying the capital was enough to end things.
‘But the situation is much different now.’
Because of me, the Ducal Faction failed to seamlessly swallow the kingdom. Moreover, they had been designated as enemies of the kingdom and the Church.
Even if they were to capture the King, they wouldn’t be able to take control of the kingdom.
Despite that, the Ducal Faction’s army was still focusing on the capital rather than the kingdom as a whole. Their troop movements made it clear.
‘Twenty years ago, the Salvation Church attacked the Shadow Knights, who were protecting the royal family. That means they’ve already clashed in secret once. They’re still persistently targeting the royal family, which means their goal isn’t merely to win the war.’
They must have set their sights on the royal family since back then. However, due to Ghislain’s mother, they suffered catastrophic losses.
That likely prompted them to shift their plans to overthrow the kingdom.
Of course, this was ultimately just speculation, relying heavily on intuition. It wasn’t wise to hastily judge an opponent’s strategy before the war ended.
Though Ghislain knew this logically, the instincts he had honed on countless battlefields told him otherwise.
To resolve these doubts, Ghislain would have to meet the King in person and ask what he knew about the Salvation Church.
‘And also about the Shadow Knights. Why has a single family been guarding the royal family for generations?’
Even the book he received from Belinda didn’t properly explain that part.
After sorting through these lingering questions in my mind, I smiled at Belinda.
“Impressive. To think my mother was the strongest in the kingdom and a protector of Ritania from the shadows.”
“Surprised, aren’t you?”
“Well, a little.”
“See? The Young Lord’s talents come directly from Lady Annette. And the divine power Miss Elena wields as well.”
Belinda’s expression was a mix of pride and relief. She must have been itching to share how incredible Annette was all this time.
Scratching his head lightly, Ghislain asked again.
“So, my mother’s real name wasn’t... ‘Elizabeth Loren le Ivonne de Vallière’?”
“No.”
“Then... why did she choose that name?”
“She just wanted to use a name that was beautiful, elegant, and grand. She had planned it for a long time. So, it’s entirely fake.”
“...And my father doesn’t know anything?”
“Nope. He just thinks of her as a cheerful, charming, and fun person.”
“And her real personality?”
“She was genuinely like that most of the time, but when she got angry... she was a bit like you, Young Lord.”
Ghislain nodded in agreement. Now he understood why he turned out this way.
“Still... did she really have to hide everything from my father?”
If he had found out, he would have been deeply shocked. He believed her to be the descendant of a fallen noble family.
As her husband, he might have felt somewhat betrayed.
But Belinda saw it differently.
“People often want to hide unpleasant or unnecessary parts of their past. Especially from someone they love. What good would it do for the Marquis to know such things? It’d only hurt his pride. It was an act of consideration.”
“Hmm... I see.”
“And there was another reason. Lady Annette’s mana techniques and skills would have surely benefitted Ferdium, but learning them might have put Ferdium in even greater danger.”
“Hmm...”
It made sense. According to that bastard Melchior, the Ducal Faction had tried multiple times to confirm his mother’s whereabouts.
That must have been why she gave up revealing her identity to Ferdium.
Belinda smiled brightly as she continued.
“Now that everything’s out in the open, I feel so relieved. If you wish, the secrets are all recorded in the book, so you can learn them anytime. They’re yours to inherit, after all.”
“I’ll think about it. By the way, how did my parents meet?”
“Originally, she planned to rest briefly in the North and then head to another kingdom. But while stopping by Ferdium, she met the young Marquis.”
“And they fell for each other at first sight?”
“Not exactly. The Marquis was so persistent in asking for a single meeting with Lady Annette. Even when she refused, he kept following her around. The Marquis had surprising tenacity.”
“...I see.”
When Ghislain thought back to the time he asked his father about his mother, he remembered something his drunk father said.
"I confessed that I would even rip out my heart for her. But after that, every time we fought, she’d ask me when I planned to do it. Hahaha."
It dawned on Ghislain that his father wasn't the type to handle someone like his mother. Still, managing to marry such a person purely through love was impressive in its own way.
“So that’s why Belinda stayed here to look after Elena and me.”
“Yes. Lady Annette also wanted me to live peacefully here. That’s why the Marquis entrusted me with you and the young lady.”
Tears welled up in Belinda’s eyes again as she spoke. It seemed she still missed her terribly.
Watching her sympathetically, Ghislain suddenly frowned as another question came to mind.
“Wait a second. But didn’t the royal family search for my mother? I thought both the Ducal Faction and Melchior kept looking for her.”
If someone as extraordinary as her had disappeared, surely the royal family wouldn’t have stayed silent. Yet, there were no records or reports of any search efforts at the time.
Belinda let out a scoffing laugh before replying.
“The Shadow Knights’ identities were unknown, even to the king. It was an independent organization. They only took in orphans to train, so none of them had families.”
“How is that... even possible? Not even meeting the king?”
“Only the Commander would meet the king, and even then, wearing a mask. So, even if someone wanted to find them, they couldn’t. Frankly, they might have been relieved when the group disappeared.”
An organization that gathered information and acted without the king's approval was a double-edged sword. Impressive, but also potentially dangerous.
If the leader ever turned against the king, they could easily cut him down.
The royal family must have felt uneasy about the Shadow Knights, which were tied to a single family.
“I see. So that’s why the Salvation Church and Melchior wanted control of the Shadow Knights to seize the king easily.”
“That’s probably it. But they failed. Still, Lady Annette left a letter before she departed.”
“A letter? What did it say?”
“It instructed them to establish a new guardian organization or family since the Shadow Knights were disbanded. She said she’d already dealt with all the enemies targeting the royal family at the time, so her work was done. With the knights gone, it would’ve been too dangerous for her to stay.”
“Right. That makes sense.”
Most of his questions were answered. Though Ghislain was still curious about how such an organization was established and maintained.
‘Maybe I’ll find out when I meet the king.’
It was astonishing to realize his mother had been the leader of such an incredible group. On top of that, she was once hailed as the strongest in the kingdom.
Suppressing his growing thoughts, Ghislain looked at Belinda and said,
“Let’s call it a day. If I have more questions, I’ll ask later. You should get some rest. We’ll be leaving early tomorrow.”
“What about you, young master?”
Ghislain smiled faintly and rose from his seat.
“I have to convince Elena to join the Northern Army.”
* * *
“Haa…”
Ghislain exhaled deeply, glaring at his reflection in the mirror.
The red handprint on his cheek hadn’t faded yet. He had intentionally blocked the flow of mana to prevent it from healing.
It strongly emphasised that Elena, the heir of Ferdium, Fenris’ lord, and the Northern Army’s commander, had left a mark on his face.
Sibling quarrels were inherently petty.
“Hah, I don’t have time for this.”
While he was en route to Ferdium, news came that the ducal army was mobilizing.
As expected, the Ducal Faction’s forces were advancing in three directions. One of them would clash with the Northern Army soon, given their rapid pace.
He had planned for the knights to rest for a day after their forced march, but Elena’s issue threw a wrench in things.
“I have to convince her somehow, today.”
Morning arrived, bringing the deadline. If he fails to persuade her today, they wouldn’t be able to leave tomorrow.
Resolving to give it his all, Ghislain went to find Elena again. Time was of the essence.
Knock, knock.
A frosty voice came from inside her room.
“Don’t come in.”
Ignoring her refusal, Ghislain opened the door and entered. He had no intention of respecting her refusal to join the Northern Army.
“Ah! I said don’t come in!”
“Elena, calm down and listen to me for a moment.”
“No, no, no, no!”
“Your talent shouldn’t be wasted in the North. You have the potential to become truly great.”
“I want to be an elegant lady! I’ll marry a wonderful lord! Why would I go to a battlefield?!”
In the past, Ghislain would have mocked her, saying it was nonsense. How could the daughter of a poor estate dream of marrying a fine lord?
But things are different now. Numerous prestigious families were sending proposals. Thanks to Ghislain’s efforts, the Ferdium family had become one of the kingdom’s finest noble lineages.
In fact, they were the ones choosing the suitors this time. The problem was that Zwalter, the overprotective father, kept tearing up every single proposal.
He spoke with a slightly sorrowful expression.
“You’d be better suited to wreaking havoc on the battlefield than getting married. Like a raging bull, you could become a terrifying force. Wouldn’t that be amazing?”
“Ahhh! You’re so annoying! Get out!”
The conversation between the siblings was typical, but made no progress. Ghislain pounded his chest in frustration and spoke.
“You could be the ultimate weapon! No, calling you just a weapon doesn’t do you justice. You’re siege weapon level! Wow, Siege Weapon Elena!”
“I told you, I don’t want to do that!”
“Why not? Isn’t it cool? A human siege weapon!”
“It’s not cool at all!”
“I’m doing this for you!”
“I said no!”
“Ah! Just do it already!”
Even the great Ghislain couldn’t help but get angry when his family refused to listen. If not anger, then he’d resort to exploiting a weakness but nothing came to mind at the moment.
With no reasoning working, Ghislain abruptly turned around. It was petty, but he decided to try another tactic.
“I’ll talk to Father and have you sent to the Northern Army.”
“What? What? Are you insane? Hey! Stop it, you lunatic!”
Elena hurried after him, her face desperate.
Ghislain held the reins of the Ferdium family. If he pressured their father to send her, it would be hard for him and the retainers to refuse.
The retainers had gathered in the great hall for a meeting, assessing the damage from the recent assassination attempt and strengthening the castle’s defenses. Ghislain thought it was perfect timing and went straight to Zwalter.
“Father, we need to take Elena to the Northern Army for training.”
“Hmm... must we?”
Zwalter was already aware of the reports. He was pleased to learn that his daughter had been gifted with divine power, but the thought of subjecting her to rigorous training and battle was not appealing.
After all, the Northern Army roamed from battlefield to battlefield. Sending his daughter to such a dangerous place wasn’t an option.
“Father! I don’t want to go! Please don’t allow this!” Elena rushed in, clinging to Zwalter’s side. Her plea, coming from the daughter he adored, prompted a solemn response from Zwalter.
“Is it necessary to take someone who doesn’t want to fight? Besides, isn’t Elena still too weak? It would be dangerous for her to join the Northern Army.”
“She’ll be stationed at the rear. You needn’t worry. I’ll personally train her and ensure she grows stronger quickly.”
“Still, it’s dangerous. I can’t allow it.”
Faced with Zwalter’s firm opposition, Ghislain changed his approach.
“Father, even if a superhuman assassin were to attack, you wouldn’t be killed outright. You’re skilled enough to hold out until others come to your aid, right?”
“That’s true. I’ve reached that level.”
“But Elena and Rachel aren’t. A single mistake could cost them their lives. After this incident, I realized they need to at least be able to protect themselves.”
“Hmm... wouldn’t it be better to train here?”
“It’s fastest if I teach her. You know that.”
“Hmm...”
Zwalter hesitated. Assassination attempts were rare, but Ghislain’s point wasn’t entirely wrong.
As Zwalter mulled over his decision, Ghislain turned to glare at Homerne, the Chief Overseer, and Albert, the Treasurer. His look conveyed that they should support him if they valued their positions.
Understanding his intent, the two quickly stepped forward.
“The Young Lord is correct. Lady Elena must acquire at least minimal combat skills.”
“Indeed. We’ve neglected this matter for too long. If the Young Lord oversees her training, she’ll learn efficiently.”
The two had no choice. Ghislain was the type to strip everything away if things didn’t go his way, and neither wanted to lose their comfortable lives.
The other retainers also voiced their agreement, catching Zwalter off guard with their sudden support.
Elena, realizing what was happening, shouted angrily.
“What is this? It’s like everyone’s eager to get rid of me! This is so unfair! Are you all that scared of my brother?”
Crack!
The armrest of Zwalter’s chair shattered under Elena’s grip as her anger flared. Her reluctance to hold back her strength was now evident.
Even Zwalter, who had been opposing the idea, muttered nervously as he observed her display.
“Well, maybe... it might be okay for her to go...”
“Argh! Father, are you serious? I’m not going! And no one’s coming near me! If anyone does, I’ll kill them all!”
Elena waved her fist threateningly as she stomped off to her room, leaving everyone watching with uneasy expressions.
Zwalter rubbed his forehead and sighed before speaking.
“I don’t know anymore. You two handle it. You’re not the type to listen to anyone else anyway.”
“Thank you. I’ll take care of it.”
Ghislain let Elena retreat to her room for the time being and took a well-deserved rest.
After a day of rest, Ghislain and the knights rose early, prepared for departure. Rachel, carrying her luggage, hesitantly asked, her eyes betraying a hint of fear.
“Elena... isn’t she coming? Am I going alone?”
Though their status differed, Rachel and Elena were inseparable friends. In Ferdium, their close bond wasn’t discouraged, as Gillian’s future ennoblement was assured.
Rachel had agreed to join after Ghislain assured her that Elena would also come. She had mustered her courage based on that promise.
Gillian, while a bit concerned, didn’t oppose Rachel leaving. Being closer to his daughter after so long was reason enough. Besides, if the Northern Army fell, Ferdium wouldn’t last either. Training her alongside them was a logical choice.
Ghislain grinned at Rachel’s question and replied.
“Don’t worry. Elena’s coming with us.”
Pulling a black cloth from his coat, he tied it over his lower face. Several knights followed suit.
In an instant, the group before the castle gates transformed into a gang of vicious-looking bandits.
As Ghislain massaged the back of his neck, he muttered.
“I’ll never understand why people force me to use brute strength. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if they just agreed from the start? Don’t you think?”
Sometimes, life called for a little plundering even if the one being plundered was his own sibling.