Duke 125

CHAPTER 125

***

Translator: Rae

What caught Dane’s eye were the flags of the Imperial Guard and the Deimos Knight Order.

He abruptly reined in his horse and raised a hand. The knights marching behind him came to an immediate halt.

‘Why are they here?’

Dane couldn't understand the sudden situation unfolding before him.

They should have been dispersed around the Westein Temple, guarding the area. The Emperor and Duke Deimos were there, after all.

And it wasn’t only the Imperial Guard and the Deimos knights.

The flags visible behind them unmistakably belonged to the knight orders of noble houses aligned with the Emperor—there seemed to be at least ten of them.

The color drained from Dane’s face, his pupils trembling as if struck by an earthquake.

‘Could His Excellency’s plan have been exposed?’

There was no other explanation for why they would be standing there in full battle gear, blocking the road.

Swallowing dryly, Dane quickly assessed the opposing force about fifty meters away.

Their numbers seemed to be around five hundred knights.

Even considering the capabilities of the Deimos knights and Imperial Guard, they were outnumbered.

‘They were enemies we were meant to clash with near the temple anyway. They’ve just gathered sooner—and in greater numbers. And didn’t His Highness say the soldiers who passed through the western gate would soon join us?’

Having resolved to sweep them aside if things turned ugly, Dane urged his horse forward. At the same time, someone from the opposing side rode out to meet him.

It was Christine Lomvell, commander of the Deimos Order. A knight of exceptional skill, she had earned her position at a remarkably young age, blossoming rightfully in her thirties.

The two halted at a distance close enough to hear each other’s voices. Wary gazes passed between the two commanders.

"Long time no see, Commander Romvell.”

“The same to you. But what is the meaning of this—bringing so many knights with you?”

As Dane gestured toward the knights behind her, Christine answered with a cold smile.

“That’s exactly what I’d like to ask you. Where are you headed with such a force? Judging by the looks of it, one might think you’re on your way to commit treason.”

“It’s been a long time, Commander Arno. I never imagined we would meet again like this.”

So she knew all this time.

Dane’s eyes shone sharply.

At this point, it seemed there was no option left but to force their way through. He spoke with a newly-found bravado.

“And if that’s the case, what do you intend to do about it?”

“Stop you, of course. That is the order I was given.”

“You’re bold—perhaps because you’re young. No matter how capable your knights are, do you really think that number is enough to stop us? Don’t mistake arrogance for courage.”

Dane motioned toward the mass of knights behind him, lifting the corner of his mouth in a confident smile.

He meant to break their spirit by showing the near two-to-one difference in numbers.

But the smile never left Christine’s lips. If anything, it sharpened into open mockery.

“It seems you’re the one laboring under a misunderstanding.”

“What?”

As Dane bristled, Christine pulled something from her coat and fired it into the air.

“What is…!”

Startled by her sudden action, Dane hastily pulled his horse back, thinking it an attack signal. But then, from behind him, came the thunder of hooves and the clamor of boots. He spun around in shock.

As he hurriedly turned his head around, the moving flags filled his vision. Those were the flags of eight families, including the Marquis of Camellia.

"Stop! It's not time to attack yet!”

Assuming they had misread the signal and charged prematurely, Dane shouted desperately. But they did not slow down.

The knight orders of nine houses swept past him, racing toward the Imperial Guard and Deimos knights as if eager to engage.

Panicking, Dain was about to issue an attack order to his remaining forces.

When something utterly absurd happened.

The knight orders of the nine houses that had charged forward so boldly moved past them instead, taking up quiet positions behind the Imperial Guard and the Deimos knights.

The Imperial Guard and Deimos knights watched calmly, as though they had expected this all along.

“W-What is happening…?!”

Dane was still struggling to process the situation when another man rode up to Christine’s side.

It was Melvin Krauss, commander of the Camellia Knight Order.

“Commander Kraus! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Dain roared, but Melvin replied flatly.

“We are merely following our liege’s orders.”

“What?!”

"My liege, Marquess Camellia, said, "You are threatened by the Duke of Laschet, but that does not mean you can draw your sword towards the Empire, so that when the time comes, be on the right side and wield your sword."

Dane finally understood the weight of the situation.

They had intended to betray him from the very beginning. They had merely bided their time, pretending obedience until the moment came.

D*mn it.

A curse welled up in Dane’s throat.

The tide turned completely when nine families, including the Camellia’s Knight Order, defected. The outcome was inevitable with more than three hundred knights had changed their sides.

As Dane stood there, his face flushing red then pale in rapid succession, Christine quietly lifted the corner of her lips in satisfaction.

According to their liege’s words, the nine houses moved to their side, and with that, the tide of victory shifted as well.

‘Is victory all that remains now?’

Exchanging a glance with Melvin, he drew his sword. It was time to deal with the traitorous ranks.

***

The Duke of Russet, who had been watching Dustin and Elysia standing before the dais, cast a sidelong glance toward the Emperor.

As always, the Emperor’s expression was serene, and a faint crease formed between the Duke of Russet’s brows.

His gaze soon left the Emperor and shifted to the Duke of Deimos.

Aside from having stepped away briefly earlier, the young duke remained dutifully in his place.

Just like the Emperor, the young duke looked exactly as he always did. The unfazed expression in his face felt unsettling.

‘Strange. I have a bad feeling about this.’

According to his plan, his private soldiers should have passed through the western gate by now.

That news should have spread and caused an uproar, yet everything was eerily quiet. The same was true of Veramus and the knight orders.

‘What on earth is going on? No word from either side—could something have gone wrong?’

Just as Duke Lasset decided he needed to find out and began to rise.

A man with a rigid expression hurried toward him. It was his aide.

The moment he saw the bloodless pallor on his aide’s face, the Duke of Russet finally felt an ominous chill slide down his spine.

***

‘How is it lead to this situation?’

Letting the high priest’s words pass through one ear and out the other, Elysia rolled her eyes slightly.

Standing before the dais, she had no way of knowing how things were progressing.

‘No. It must be going well. Iker said it. He promised it would end quickly.’

It was Iker who promised her of all people. As she reassured herself not to worry, the high priest’s voice startled her.

“…and with that, I conclude my address. May the blessings of the gods be upon your future together.”

Blessings of the gods, my foot. A future with that madman would be a demon’s curse.

Grumbling inwardly, Elysia quickly recalled the engagement ceremony’s order she had memorized.

‘After the entrance comes the address… then the rings?’

She mentally let out a deep sigh.

Even over white gloves, she had no desire to wear a ring Dustin put on her—nor any desire to put one on him.

It would be nice if everything turn upside down right about now. For that to happen, we need to win.’

Wondering how much longer she could endure while suppressing her rising irritation, Elysia suddenly doubted her own ears—because of what the high priest said next.

“Then we shall proceed with the betrothal vows.”

Betrothal vows? Since when they have to vow?

Elysia's eyes widened.

There had been nothing like that even during the rehearsal. Where had this come from all of a sudden?

Flustered, she quickly spoke toward the high priest. It seemed he must be confusing this with another engagement.

“Your Eminence, betrothal vows aren’t part of the procedure—!”

But Elysia’s words were cut short by Dustin’s abrupt interruption.

“I requested it of the high priest.”

“What? What do you mean…!”

Bridling, Elysia was about to protest what kind of nonsense that was, but realizing where she stood, she caught herself and let her words trail off.

She still didn’t know how the situation was unfolding, and rash actions were dangerous.

Fortunately, Dustin seemed to take it as mere curiosity.

“I just wanted to hear it. The words of you, Elly, saying you’ll be my fiancé.”

It was clear that he had put it in as he pleased in the last minute, knowing she would oppose if she had been warned in advance.

‘Must be nice, doing whatever you please, you lunatic.’

As she barely swallowed the curse rising to her throat, Dustin gestured to the high priest to continue.

The high priest nodded and slowly opened his mouth to speak.

“Then we shall proceed. Dustin Luke Cerman, do you swear to take Alicia Camellia as your betrothed and faithfully fulfill your duties as his betrothed until the wedding day?”

"I do.”

Elysia frowned at Dustin’s immediate reply, without the slightest hesitation.

The high priest’s gaze turned to her.

“Elysia Camellia, do you swear to take Dustin Luke Cerman as your fiancé and faithfully fulfill your duties as his betrothed until the wedding day?”

When the moment to answer arrived, Alicia lowered her gaze and clenched both fists tightly.

***

“Say that again. What did you just say?”

The Duke of Russet doubted his own ears. However, hearing it again changed nothing.

“The First and Third divisions of Veramus have been annihilated. Helios joined forces with the Investigation Bureau and launched a surprise attack.”

The Duke of Russet’s face distorted at his aide’s grim report. He had never imagined Helios would betray him.

"How dare those Helios b*st*rds…!”

He ground his teeth in fury. Another man headed toward him with a big stride.

He was a subordinate the Duke of Russet had assigned to Lieutenant Blanc as a precaution.

With his hair and clothes in disarray as if he had run nonstop, and his face pale with terror, the sight of the subordinate filled the Duke of Russet with dread.

And that foreboding did not prove him wrong this time.