Episode 216
He was powerful. Overwhelmingly so.
Even the Grand Duke of Lancaster, hailed as the continent’s greatest swordsman, would have seemed like a mere foot soldier before him.
“Did Father truly defeat such a monster?”
Yet, when he sought to enter the realm of truth, the Black Duke stood in his way. And he won. It wasn’t that he doubted his father’s words. It was just that the sheer, unimaginable power of those at the pinnacle of the Five Towers left him trembling.
Wizards who could manipulate death and history, and even the likes of the “Blue Veil” and the Celestial Duke were no exceptions. The Immortal Duke Frederick likely possessed power on par with them.
And the Golden Sovereign who ruled this empire was no exception either.
No matter how strong Dale became, the gap between him and these beings was insurmountable.
The Divine Sword, Vadel Orhart, was strong. But he was certain. It was nothing compared to the power of the tower lords gathered here.
Even the previous White Tower Lord, defeated by a hero from another world, had only been vanquished with the help of traitors within. And one of those traitors was here now.
The pinnacle of the Sistina Goddess Church, claiming the title of the White Mage.
“I must express my deepest regrets, Charlotte.”
At that moment, the Crimson Duke smirked slyly and bowed his head.
“To think you’d suffer the tragedy of losing your father again at such a joyous wedding. Truly regrettable!”
“Crimson Duke, you…”
Lady Black, Charlotte, clad in the armor of Saxon’s Night Raven, spoke with a faint tremor in her voice.
“Step back.”
But it was Dale who stood in her way.
“Even if it’s a duel, I believe you understand the significance of your actions here.”
“Oh, are you planning to hold me accountable again?”
The Crimson Duke laughed coldly. Beside him, Lady Scarlet, cradling her swollen belly, smiled silently.
“There’s nothing stopping you from trying.”
But just then, the ruler of the Saxon Duchy spoke up. One of the five mages at the empire’s pinnacle.
Flap!
Night ravens took flight behind him, and ominous black wings unfurled.
”…!”
It was neither a simple threat nor anything easy to understand. It was a symbol of his resolve to use force if necessary.
The Angel of Death, the continent’s greatest black mage, spread his six black wings and continued.
“Leave this duchy immediately. If you do not, I will not hesitate to hold you accountable for the disrespect shown in my domain.”
“Oh, how terrifying.”
The Crimson Duke laughed as if amused. Once again, crimson letters began to etch themselves onto his body.
“Black Duke, I’ve never liked you.”
At that moment, the Crimson Duke spoke, his voice finally carrying genuine emotion rather than pretense.
“I have lived through eons unimaginable even to the Immortal Duke of Saxon. To me, a mere child claiming ‘immortality’ is laughable.”
”…”
“And the expression of a mayfly, living but a fleeting moment, looking down on me is something I cannot stand.”
“Is that so.”
The Black Duke replied calmly, wearing an expression as if looking down on the Crimson Duke’s folly.
“That expression, exactly.”
A survivor of the Second Empire, who lived before the current empire was established, a living testament to the continent’s history, spoke.
“To defeat you, which era’s history should I unfold here?”
“The ‘truth of history’ you gave me that day became an irreplaceable power and lesson.”
The Duke of Saxon replied, as the endless crimson letters continued to etch and erase themselves on his body.
“What doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger. Ironically enough.”
At those words, the expression of the Crimson Duke, Marquis Eurys, twisted once more.
He was finally certain. Even through his grimoire, the ‘Book of Blood,’ the Crimson Duke could not defeat the Black Duke. In other words, Dale’s father, the Duke of Saxon, possessed the power to stand against him.
“I won’t say much, people of Eurys.”
And then, the man, flaunting his six black wings, spoke.
“As the ruler of Saxon, I command you to leave my domain.”
It was a unilateral order. At those words, the expression of Marquis Eurys froze. As if to symbolize his agitation, the crimson letters began to etch and erase themselves at an absurd speed, like a videotape fast-forwarded dozens of times.
But the agitation was fleeting.
The ‘Book of Blood’ vanished, and seeing that, the Black Duke’s wings also scattered like raven feathers and disappeared.
“I shall heed the command of the Duke of Saxon.”
In the silence, the Crimson Duke bowed exaggeratedly, like a third-rate actor.
What should have been a celebration of Dale and Charlotte’s wedding turned into an unprecedented disaster overnight.
In the Saxon domain, the assassination of Richard, the eldest son of the Lancaster family, took place, and the Grand Duke of Lancaster and the Crimson Duke contested their legitimacy through a trial by combat. According to the law, it was the Crimson Duke, Marquis Eurys, who proved his innocence.
There was no joy in being united with Dale or the sweetness of the wedding.
Having lost both fathers, Charlotte of Saxon sat on the bed, sobbing.
It was Dale’s bedroom.
”…Charlotte.”
Dale reached out to her gently.
“It’s all my fault.”
Charlotte murmured through her tears. Dale shook his head quietly.
He could only imagine the future of the Lancaster family, having lost their last son and now their head. The families gathered around the Grand Duke of Lancaster would scatter, and hyenas would descend to tear them apart.
It wasn’t that he pitied them. But to let the Lancaster family become prey to the empire and the hyenas was too great a loss.
And more importantly, strictly speaking, the heir to Lancaster had not yet disappeared.
“It’s not your fault.”
That’s why Dale spoke.
“Because of you, the Grand Duke of Lancaster could finally make that decision.”
“Because of me…?”
Charlotte asked, and Dale nodded.
“At dawn tomorrow, we’ll head to the Lancaster Duchy together.”
”…!”
“And as the Grand Duke wished, you must claim what you rightfully deserve as a Lancaster.”
Understanding the implication, Charlotte held her breath.
“But, still, I…”
She wasn’t of pure blood. Moreover, there wasn’t a drop of Lancaster blood in her veins. Thus, among those who would claim succession to the Grand Duke’s vacant seat, Charlotte’s position would not be significant.
“The Grand Duke of Lancaster said so. That you are the rightful heir to inherit everything of the Lancaster family.”
But nothing would change.
Dale spoke, and Charlotte recalled his image. Another father. Moreover, the sword master who had passed on her real father’s sword to her. How could she repay such gratitude?
”…Alright.”
Charlotte steeled herself and nodded quietly.
“But promise me one thing.”
“A promise?”
“As the rightful heir of Lancaster, I will demand the Grand Duke’s position that I deserve. And as the head of Lancaster and Orhart, I will fulfill my duties.”
Charlotte spoke, and Dale nodded.
“But above all, don’t forget that I am Charlotte of Saxon.”
”…”
“I am your sword, after all. Everything I have will be wielded for you, don’t forget that.”
Charlotte said. At her words, Dale smiled quietly.
“I will honor the wishes of my wife, Charlotte Lancaster.”
Dale said, and for a moment, Charlotte’s face flushed. But the embarrassment was fleeting.
“Thank you, Dale.”
She simply buried her head in Dale’s shoulder, letting out silent sobs. In her tears, Dale reached out silently.
The naive girl of that day, unaware of the ways of the world, had become a distinguished knight with the continent’s greatest swordsmanship.
But Charlotte was still Charlotte. Knowing this, Dale simply stroked her hair in silence.
For in Dale’s eyes, she was unchanged since that day.
The next morning at dawn.
Dale brought up his conversation with Charlotte in his father’s study, and the Duke of Saxon nodded silently.
“The situation is progressing rapidly. How many knights will you need?”
“If I lead Saxon’s knights, Lancaster will not welcome it.”
Dale shook his head.
“But there are those who will move in the shadows for me.”
The Shadow Court and the mountain assassins, masters of stealth who pledged loyalty to Dale as the Shadow Lord, ready to act as his hands and feet.
“The Grave Walker will be by my side. And, as luck would have it, Titania of York will lend me her strength there as well.”
“Are you planning to seize the title of Duke of Lancaster and hand it over to Miss Charlotte?”
“Whether it’s me or Charlotte who claims the name of Duke of Lancaster, it won’t make a difference.”
The Duke of Saxony fell silent, his thoughts deepening with the gravity befitting a noble of the empire. But his contemplation was brief.
“I trust you’ll make the right decision.”
Not long after, the political landscape of the empire began to tremble over the vacant seat of the Duke of Lancaster.
Charlotte, recognized as the “most rightful heir to the Duke of Lancaster,” entered the fray alongside Dale of Saxony. At this point, most of the opportunists scurried away with their tails between their legs.
Yet, not everyone surrendered so easily.
Soon after, John Lancaster, the younger brother of the late Duke, announced the marriage of his eldest daughter, Lynne Lancaster.
She was to wed Ray Eurys, the adopted son of the Marquess of Eurys, who would take the name Ray Lancaster and assert his legitimacy as the heir.
Dale, too, joined Charlotte in asserting the rightful claim to the Lancaster name, entering the battle for succession.
As contenders gathered, each claiming the Lancaster name, it signaled one thing.
The dawn of the Third War of the Roses.