Episode 213
The Great Hall of Saxon Castle.
Duke Saxon sat upon his throne, observing his eldest son, Dale, and the lady who would soon be his wife.
Charlotte Lancaster.
Her mother, Vanessa Lancaster, also watched her daughter with a smile, masking a complexity of emotions.
“Ah, what a delightful sight.”
Marquis Eurys, the Blood Duke, clapped his hands with exaggerated flair, like a third-rate actor.
“May the mercy and grace of the Sister Goddesses be with you both.”
His applause echoed in the silence, and Lord Heaven, the pinnacle of the White Tower, offered his blessings to the couple.
The Black Duke, seated on the throne, remained motionless, maintaining a stoic silence.
At that moment, blue butterflies took flight from the castle’s corners.
The blue webs strung throughout the hall captured the scene vividly, reflecting it back to their shadowy master.
Black and blue, red and white.
The leaders of four of the five towers were gathered, and Dale understood the gravity of the occasion.
The ceremonial pomp meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Even with Lord Heaven, the head of the Sistine Goddess Church, officiating, nothing would change.
In the name of the Sister Goddesses, Dale and Charlotte were blessed for safety and happiness. Charlotte, in her dress, smiled quietly. Even knowing the weight of the moment, her heart remained unchanged. She was no fool.
The air was taut, ready to explode at any moment, yet the ceremony concluded without incident.
The couple sealed it with a kiss.
Their lips met briefly, then parted.
To outsiders, it seemed like a strategic alliance between two noble houses, a move to restructure the balance of power.
And in many ways, that was true.
Shortly after, in Duke Saxon’s study.
“Your Grace, Duke Lancaster.”
“Duke Saxon.”
Dale and Charlotte’s fathers, the Black Duke and the Sword of God, exchanged formal greetings.
“What do you seek?”
The Black Duke asked without hesitation.
“I merely wish for my daughter, Charlotte Lancaster, to obtain what she desires most.”
”…”
Duke Lancaster replied, prompting Duke Saxon to speak again.
“Is that truly all?”
“In the War of the Roses, your ‘Black Prince’ secretly sided with York and defeated my second son, Michael.”
The mention of his son made the Black Duke respond cautiously.
“My eldest, Dale, claims that Michael ignited the war, accusing York of turning his brother Richard into a puppet with blue magic.”
In truth, Michael had conspired with the Red Tower to destroy Richard’s mind and seize the title of heir, blaming York for his crimes.
“Meanwhile, the Red Tower claims it was a scheme by Saxon and the ‘Black Prince.’”
Lady Scarlet of the Red Tower spun the tale in reverse.
“I simply wish to know the truth.”
Thus spoke Duke Lancaster, the Sword of God.
“Through the ‘greatest dark sorcerer on the continent’ before me.”
”…”
The Black Duke’s expression froze at the implication.
“What will you do once you know the truth?”
The Black Duke asked. The Sword of God glanced at his sword, his voice devoid of emotion.
“In accordance with Lancaster’s brutal nobility, they will pay the price.”
As the red and white roses of Lancaster symbolized.
Before those words, Duke Saxon remained silent.
The emblem of their house, the Night Raven, adorned his attire as the head of Saxon.
The First Prince of the Empire, Lancelot, was there.
He watched Vanessa and Charlotte, now bearing the name ‘Lancaster.’
Charlotte Lancaster would soon become ‘Charlotte of Saxon.’
He observed them silently, then turned his gaze to a friend who had taken his old title.
Duke Lancaster, the Sword of God.
”…”
After a long silence, the Lake’s Sword seemed about to speak, but then closed his mouth, unsure of what to say.
“Oh my! What an adorable little lady.”
The red-haired witch smiled sweetly, and young Lize beamed back, bowing politely.
“Step back, Lize.”
“Miss Sepia?”
But Lize’s magic teacher, Sepia, was not so welcoming. The sight of Lady Scarlet, her belly swollen like a pregnant woman, filled her with unease.
The icy chill of Saxon gathered around Sepia, forming a current. Sensing the weight of the magic, Lize grew frightened.
“Ah, so cold-hearted.”
Yet Lady Scarlet remained unfazed.
“Isn’t the little lady scared, Princess of Crystal?”
”…Please leave at once.”
“Oh, why should I?”
It was then that a voice interrupted.
“That’s enough, my dear sister.”
The icy current around Sepia vanished as if it had never been.
”…!”
Sepia felt a heat that made it hard to breathe. She turned her head, but young Lize, not understanding, only tilted her head in confusion.
A man stood there.
The Blood Duke, the greatest red sorcerer on the continent.
“Please forgive my thoughtless sister’s rudeness, Princess of Crystal.”
”…Very well, Blood Duke.”
It was then that Lize exclaimed.
“Blood Duke…! I’ve heard that name before!”
Even Lize, naive to the world, knew of the man. The five sorcerers at the pinnacle of the Five Towers were like fairy tale wizards to her.
“You’re one of the five strongest sorcerers in the Empire, like my father!”
“Ah, I’m honored by the little lady’s praise.”
Marquis Eurys, the Blood Duke, bowed with an exaggerated smile.
It was then that another voice joined.
“So, you were here.”
A man in pure white robes appeared in the courtyard. Two of the Five Towers’ leaders, the Blood Duke and Lord Heaven, were present.
And the lord of Saxon, the Black Duke, joined them.
“Do you have something to say to my daughter?”
“Father!”
“Ah, I’m just curious about your daughter’s brilliant talent.”
The Blood Duke shrugged with a smile.
“Does the greatest red sorcerer have any reason to be interested in my daughter’s ice magic?”
The Black Duke asked sharply.
“Indeed.”
A voice answered simultaneously.
Blue butterflies gathered, forming a human silhouette.
”…!”
Sepia’s expression froze at the sight. It was the silhouette of a woman in a blue hood.
“Ah, even if it’s an illusion, I didn’t expect the Blue Shadow to visit.”
“Perhaps I’m more suited to teach this lovely girl magic.”
The greatest sorcerers of the continent, the leaders of the black, white, red, and blue towers, were there.
But Lize, not grasping the significance, only tilted her head beside Sepia and her father.
“Enough with the idle talk.”
The Black Duke replied coldly.
“Miss Sepia, please take Lize and leave.”
“Oh, there’s no need.”
The Blood Duke interrupted, reaching out.
”…!”
As he did, darkness surged from beneath the Black Duke, shadows racing to ensnare the Blood Duke.
“If you so much as lay a finger on my daughter, I swear by the name of Saxon, I won’t let it go.”
“You speak as if I’m here to devour her.”
The Blood Duke smiled quietly from within the shadows.
“I wouldn’t be so rude as to spill meaningless blood at Prince Dale’s wedding.”
“Please conduct yourself with caution, Blood Duke.”
“I’m always cautious.”
The Black Duke issued another warning, and the Crimson Duke merely shrugged. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lize’s expression froze, transforming into that of a terrified eight-year-old girl.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to make the little lady cry. I sincerely apologize, Lady Lize,” the Crimson Duke said with a tone of regret.
“What have you done to my sister?”
At that moment, Dale of Saxony appeared with his knight. The dream of a rose-tinted bridal gown was but a fleeting daydream.
Lady Black stood there, clad in the raven armor of Saxony.
The Shadow Lord arrived, flanked by his swordsmen, and even the Grand Duke of Lancaster was not absent.
Among the guests, Titania of York and the sorceresses of the Blue Mage Tower stood silently behind the scenes.
The Crimson Duke and the Celestial Duke were no exceptions either.
The lords and their factions gathered in the courtyard of the Saxon stronghold.
“Ah, come to think of it…”
Silence fell, and it was the Crimson Duke who broke it.
“Earlier, we received some truly tragic news.”
He spoke with a detached calmness, as if it were someone else’s concern.
“The eldest son of the Grand Duke of Lancaster, who is staying here at the Saxon stronghold… Richard Lancaster, has fallen victim to an assassin’s dagger.”
Those words were the final trigger.
“My deepest condolences, Your Grace, the Grand Duke of Lancaster.”
“Crimson Duke, you…!”
The tension in the air was so taut it seemed ready to explode, like a bullet waiting to be fired.