Lucian was momentarily left speechless.
He had asked how to build up a power base, yet the man had suddenly told him to try defeating him.
"Um, I'm sorry, but are you speaking metaphorically? As in, proving greater wisdom, or…"
"Wisdom my ass. I mean we settle this properly—mano a mano. Fists or blades, take your pick."
"…I see."
It didn't seem he had misheard.
Harald was seriously telling him to bring him down.
As Lucian hesitated, unsure what to ask next, Harald poured beer into a mug and spoke.
"It's been hundreds of years since the North fell under the Empire. The value of tradition grows lighter with time, and day by day, pale-faced desk jockeys and their table games are all the rage."
"But no matter how light it's become, tradition is still tradition. There are plenty who still cling to the old ways and honor warriors."
"So you want me to prove the strength I possess? Not authority or wisdom—but pure force?"
"Now you're finally speaking my language."
Grinning, Harald drained another mug of beer and wiped the foam from his mouth.
Despite the sheer amount he had drunk, his eyes still gleamed with a sharp, predatory light.
"Of course, having strength alone doesn't solve everything. Just as even if outside invaders eyeing the North possess power, we may see them as enemies—but never respect them."
"But I'm not a complete outsider either. I'm the last blood descendant of my maternal grandfather, who was once respected in the North."
"Quite right. Even if you weren't raised here, if the maternal grandson who carries Prince Klaus's blood places value on Northern traditions, no one would deny your rights. Of course…"
Harald let the humor fade from his face and met Lucian's gaze with deadly seriousness.
"If you can't manage even that much, then even as Prince Klaus's grandson, you'd have no reason to be respected. The affairs of the North must be decided by Northern hands alone."
"…I see."
Under that cold stare, Lucian nodded silently.
It was not the look one gave a benefactor who had saved one's life from rebellion, but that reserved for a foreigner who had come from outside.
If he failed this trial, that look would never change.
And it wouldn't be just Harald—every lord of the North would be the same.
"If I defeat you, Your Excellency, will I gain the North's recognition? From the looks of it, you seem to be quite the warrior."
"Hahaha! I appreciate the flattery, but beating a single old man won't earn you the recognition of the entire North. I merely want to see whether you meet the bare minimum of qualifications."
If he couldn't even defeat an old man like this, he wouldn't be able to do anything against House Count Calyx.
Sensing the unspoken implication, Lucian quietly nodded.
"Then I'll gladly show you."
"Heh, I like that decisiveness."
Naturally, accepting the duel didn't mean they would immediately head outside and fight.
This duel was both a test and a means of announcing the martial power Lucian possessed.
Rather than rushing through it unprepared, it needed to be properly arranged and held like an event—
ideally spreading far and wide through the whispers of those who witnessed it.
"And since the rebellion was suppressed only recently, there's more cleanup than you might expect. If any surviving remnants decide to stab us in the back, it'll be a headache—so it's best to clear things out thoroughly."
"That is a fair point."
Lucian had no desire to go through the trouble of a duel only for the outcome to be overshadowed by some other incident.
More importantly, although Harald had used potions, his body had yet to fully recover.
Rather than letting rumors spread later—'He only won because the count wasn't in proper condition'—it was better to wait until his injuries healed.
"Please don't worry about me and get some proper rest. Pushing yourself just to accommodate my schedule, only for something to go wrong during the duel, would be an insult to me instead."
"My, what confidence. You don't even consider the possibility of your defeat?"
"And what would be the point of assuming defeat? Rather than imagining how I'd return with slumped shoulders like a pitiful wretch, it's better to think about what comes after I win."
"...That's not exactly wrong."
Harald smiled, his eyebrows twitching.
It seemed his competitive spirit had been stirred, perhaps feeling slighted as a warrior.
"Very well. As you say, I'll rest properly for about a week while finishing up the affairs of the territory. We'll hold the duel after that."
"Will one week be enough?"
"To be honest, three days would suffice, but the cleanup takes longer."
"In that case, it can't be helped."
"Hohoho."
"Hahaha."
Dry laughter echoed as they exchanged a light contest of wills.
After the bravado—whether bluff or sincerity—came to an end, Harald rose from his seat.
"For now, you'll stay here tonight. Once the cleanup is finished tomorrow, I'll formally invite you to the lord's manor. I've already spoken to the innkeeper, so feel free to ask for anything you need. And the prisoners we captured earlier…"
"Take them with you. I'll leave their execution to you."
"My thanks."
With a bitter smile, Harald descended the inn's stairs, his shoulders sagging slightly.
Even a warrior as stalwart as he was could not help but be drained by his son's act of utter depravity.
***
Lucian immediately summoned his retainers to the second floor.
After informing everyone—excluding the squad of regular soldiers—of the plan going forward, Raymond spoke up with a hardened expression.
"Proving one's qualifications through martial strength. The orthodox approach. There's no surer way to gain recognition in the North."
"For something so straightforward, you don't look too pleased."
"Because I doubt this will end with just once."
Raymond let out a deep sigh and continued.
"While waiting downstairs, I gathered some information through the other townsfolk. It seems House Count Calyx is moving in earnest. From what I hear, they've been visiting this place quite frequently as well."
"If they've already extended their reach as far as this gateway to the North, then we can assume they've meddled with most families of any standing."
"Yes. And there must be quite a few houses they've already brought over to their side. Otherwise, they'd never have dared to meddle in another house's affairs and incite a rebellion."
According to what Harald had said, the three knights who stood beside Torik were all outsiders he had never seen before.
Since they had never sworn loyalty to Torik as head of the house, they felt no shame in drawing their blades.
If a faction could afford to lend three knights to another house's rebellion, its influence could not be taken lightly.
Even without interrogating Torik, it was easy to see that House Count Calyx was behind it all.
"If their power were small, a few simple demonstrations would suffice. Trying to nitpick after that would only draw scorn from the surroundings. But if their power is great, it's a different story."
"They can use their influence to force through absurd arguments."
"Exactly. To silence people like that, you need achievements so solid that no matter who comes, they'll find it hard to grasp at straws."
"In other words, it means I'll have to suffer that much more."
"Precisely. Which is why, wouldn't it be better to return to the family estate at this point?"
"What nonsense! Sir Raymond!"
Felicia's eyes widened at Raymond's sudden proposal.
If they returned like this, Lucian's honor would inevitably be stained—how could he dare suggest such a thing?
Yet Raymond did not withdraw his argument and continued speaking.
"Proof through martial strength is something that can be nitpicked endlessly if one wishes. Count Harald may be favorably disposed toward my lord and simply wish to test him in good faith, but others might demand he slay a giant or shove him off to the snowy mountains."
"And why shouldn't we simply ignore such shameless nonsense!?"
"Surprisingly, in the Empire's political arena, the methods of such shameless people have proven quite effective. Sir Felicia's own father was rather infamous in this regard—for all the wrong reasons."
Felicia was left speechless and turned her gaze aside.
Even she had to admit her biological father was more than capable of such behavior.
What she found hard to believe was simply how many people like Marquis Bernhardt existed.
"When several powerholders gather, they can make even a hero of the age look like a fool. If things go wrong, you could suffer endlessly and return without gaining anything at all."
"So you're saying we should stop wasting time and go back early?"
"If we give up now, there won't even be any disgrace attached to my lord."
"I understand your concern, but you're being hasty. Are you worried something might happen to the family while I'm away?"
Hit squarely on the mark, Raymond flinched.
It seemed Lucian wasn't the only one who had sensed something amiss about Jordi.
Lucian gave a faint chuckle and shook his head.
"I understand how you feel, but I have no intention of turning back like this."
"My lord."
"It's not because I'd be ashamed to leave after talking so boldly. It's because I see a real chance of success."
"A chance of success?"
"To begin with…"
Crash—bang! Thud!
Just as Lucian was about to answer, a raucous noise erupted outside.
It sounded as though someone was rushing up the stairs in a hurry.
Everyone gathered in the room instinctively reached for their weapons.
Thud, thud, thud.
"M-my lord! You're not asleep yet, are you!? My lord!"
The innkeeper hammered loudly on the door, calling out to Lucian.
After confirming there were no other presences, Lucian called back through the door.
"I'm still awake. Why are you calling for me?"
"Ah, you are awake! You need to go to the lord's manor immediately!"
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"The Calyx lot just arrived! Our lord says you should come and take a look at their ugly faces together!"
***:
The delegation from House Count Calyx was modest.
They brought no gifts—just a single knight and ten soldiers.
It was the bare minimum of formality expected of envoys.
Depending on how one chose to interpret it, the gesture could even be taken as an insult.
So it wasn't deliberate. They must not have expected the rebellion to be crushed.
The knight sent as envoy was doing his best to keep his expression under control, but the confusion leaking through was impossible to hide.
Before he could even finish speaking, an axe came flying and embedded itself in the ground beside Dain.
Startled by the dirt and stone chips that burst upward, Dain stumbled back and shouted.
"What the hell are you doing!?"
"Do you want to die?"
"It looks like you think you can stand on equal footing with me by riding on your master's authority, but I'm in a foul mood right now. I'm not generous enough to humor the impudent jokes of some messenger bastard."
At Harald's razor-sharp threat, Dain shut his mouth.
At the very least, he seemed to know that provoking a father whose eyes had gone red over his son's disgrace would do him no good.
He must have intended to swagger in front of Torik, who had become a lord with their help, but it seemed his plan had gone awry.
Amid the hostility pouring in from all sides, a knight stepped forward and bowed his head.
"Dain Huskarl greets Count Harald. You seem as vigorous as ever."
"So you find it unfortunate that I'm still in good health. You were probably planning to seat my son as a puppet and use him however you pleased."
When Harald openly revealed his hostility, Dain's eyebrow twitched slightly, but he soon tilted his head as if genuinely confused.
"I don't understand what you mean. I did hear that there was chaos in the territory, but the House of Count Calyx has nothing to do with it."
"Even though three knights under the House of Calyx were involved?"
"That is troubling. To think they would act on their own without ever receiving an order from our lord. When they return, they will be punished severely."
"Pathetic fools."
Toward Dain, who continued to deny everything, genuine contempt was hurled without restraint.
"You lot have always been like this. 'Where's the proof that I did it? If you want to prove it, bring evidence.' You'd cover the sky with your palms and then cackle among yourselves, claiming the sun had truly disappeared."
"I say again—"
KWAANG.
"Say whatever you want while I'm still willing to tolerate it, then get lost. But if I lose my patience, I'll take your head right here."
"…Then I'll ask just one thing. Do you truly have no intention of reclaiming the glory of the North together with the House of Count Calyx?"
"Ha."
Harald let out a scoff and rested his chin on his hand.
"The glory of the North? How presumptuous. Since when did Calyx become qualified to represent the entire North?"
"Your Excellency, only Calyx has the right to inherit the name of Grimaldi. If not Calyx, then who could possibly represent the North?"
Lucian, who had been quietly listening to the exchange, stepped forward and spoke.
"What if I can?"
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