Chapter 64

Chapter 64
## Chapter 64

It is a frequent occurrence for a pledge of fealty to be exchanged immediately following the conclusion of a knighthood rite.

Typically, the newly minted knight elects to dedicate their sword to either the official who presided over the ceremony or the patron who advocated for their elevation to the rank.

Such a transition is seamless, however, only when a mutual understanding has been established beforehand.

To suddenly demand a lifelong oath without first seeking the individual’s consent was considered a profound disrespect.

‘Given that these whispers are already spreading, they must be truly desperate.’

As the sole apprentice of the Sword Saint, Felicia’s transition to knighthood was guaranteed to be a prestigious event.

His siblings likely calculated that if all three stood before her simultaneously in a public forum, she would be trapped into choosing one of them to avoid a scene.

The event was to be overseen by Grand Duke Sigmund, and because her mentor was a high-ranking vassal of House Valdek, she owed the family a massive debt of gratitude, both personal and professional.

‘If she rejects every child of the Valdek bloodline, she will be branded as ungrateful. They are attempting to corner her by weaponizing her sense of obligation.’

They certainly possessed a talent for such underhanded maneuvers.

Lucian offered a brief, dry laugh and gestured for the kneeling sentries to rise.

“I appreciate the report. You are dismissed to your stations.”

“U-Understood, my lord!”

Upon Lucian’s command, the guards hurried back to their posts.

Once they had moved a sufficient distance away, Lucian leaned toward Raymond and spoke in a low tone.

“What is your assessment? Do you believe my brothers will truly attempt to extort a vow from Felicia?”

“The probability is high. While frowned upon, such coerced pledges are not entirely without precedent in historical practice.”

“And it is usually a desperate move by minor nobility trying to trap a genius far beyond their reach. It is the sort of gamble one takes only when they lack the merit to recruit someone through honorable means.”

“It simply underscores the prestige of Sir Eisen’s reputation. Should they succeed, it has the power to shift the entire balance of the succession in an instant.”

“Though I imagine Sir Eisen himself will find these cheap parlor tricks thoroughly offensive.”

A cynical grin touched Lucian’s mouth.

Eisen would not be the only one insulted by the display.

Grand Duke Sigmund, who had held Eisen in the highest regard for decades, would hardly look favorably upon such a spectacle.

Yet, they were so blinded by their own ambition that their intentions had become common knowledge even before the doors to the hall had opened.

“The pressure must be getting to them.”

“Your recent achievements have undoubtedly unsettled the other young masters, my lord. They likely feel they require a massive, singular victory to reclaim their momentum.”

“A massive victory, you say? It’s ironic; I was just thinking that I could use one of those myself.”

Regardless of how much Lucian’s reputation had soared over the last year, he could not yet claim a definitive lead over his siblings.

Tristan and Jordi possessed foundations built over years of political maneuvering, and even Joshua, the most recent contender, enjoyed the total financial and political weight of his mother’s kin.

Lucian had moved into the inner circle of potential heirs thanks to the prestige of crushing the uprising, but his position was still precarious enough to be overtaken.

If he could establish an insurmountable lead during this event, it would be a perfect opportunity.

‘Since my brothers have been kind enough to prepare the stage, I might as well step up and enjoy the performance.’

—

“Tsk.”

The Sword Saint, Eisen Brightner, clicked his tongue in annoyance as he refolded the parchment sitting on his desk.

Predictably, the missive he received today was an exact replica of the one from the day before.

‘Please grant your blessing when I step forward during the rite. Could you perhaps warn your disciple so she isn’t caught off guard?’

The name at the bottom alternated between Tristan, Jordi, and Joshua, but the underlying message never wavered.

If they were aware that such a move was insulting, the logical path was to refrain from doing it. What sort of hollow virtue was it to offer a pre-emptive apology for a transgression they fully intended to commit?

Especially when this breach of etiquette was fueled by nothing more than raw avarice, rather than any life-or-death necessity.

‘More than anything, they are directing their pleas for “understanding” to the wrong individual. If they feel the need to apologize, it should be to the girl, not to me. They are fixated on my potential reaction while completely disregarding her autonomy.’

Did they honestly believe that with Eisen’s consent, they could simply break the girl’s spirit to suit their needs?

Having spent his life serving House Valdek, he found it difficult to voice his frustrations as curses, but he could not stifle the growing sense of loathing in his chest.

“Felicia.”

*Whoosh.*

“I am here, Father.”

Felicia, who had been in the middle of a sword strike, instantly shifted her weight and steadied herself at Eisen’s call.

Eisen felt a surge of quiet pride noting that her center of gravity remained perfectly fixed even when interrupted mid-motion.

“Look this over. It was sent to me, but the contents are directed at you.”

Felicia accepted the parchment and skimmed the text with a practiced eye.

A moment later, her voice rang out, vibrating with a sense of barely contained irritation.

“They never grow, do they? Do they truly imagine I will simply bow my head because they put me on the spot in front of the court?”

“It is a tactic as old as time, unfortunately. They likely observed others doing it and thought it clever. It is a disappointment.”

Jordi was the sort of man who thrived on such manipulations, but the other two had previously shown better character.

Tristan was a man who didn’t just avoid schemes—he detested them. Joshua might overstep because he lacked a sense of boundaries, but he rarely acted with malice.

Yet now, even those two were beginning to mirror Jordi’s less savory habits.

‘Is it that they are so desperate to claim Felicia’s loyalty that they have compromised their morals, or have they fully embraced a philosophy of “the ends justify the means”?’

The former was a lapse in judgment, but the latter signaled a fundamental corruption of character.

While Eisen suppressed a heavy sigh, Felicia handed back the letter, her expression hardening with resolve.

“I have no intention of pledging my sword to any of them. The master I will follow for the rest of my days was settled the moment you took me in as your daughter.”

“If that is your decision, then hold fast to it. Loyalty that is extorted carries no weight. A true knight must be the one to choose their own sovereign.”

Eisen gave a small nod, having anticipated her reaction.

He was well aware of where her heart resided.

The Grand Duke, who would be presiding over the ceremony, likely understood this as well.

‘Is His Grace permitting the young masters to walk into this disaster just to demonstrate the futility of their plotting? The Grand Duke remains a formidable and demanding man.’

Despite the gravity of the situation, a faint smirk touched the corners of Eisen’s mouth.

He, too, harbored a desire to witness the expressions on the young masters’ faces when their attempt to bully Felicia blew up in their faces.

“We have squandered enough time on this triviality. We still have a window before the festivities begin, so let us return to your drills.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Forgive the intrusion… Sir Eisen, another courier has arrived with a message.”

Eisen, ready to lift his practice blade, knitted his brows in frustration.

Who was bothering them now?

He snatched the envelope with visible irritation, but his gaze softened the moment he identified the seal of the sender.

“The Third Young Master?”

Felicia felt a slight jolt at Eisen’s words.

She had heard he had traveled to the capital on royal business—was he already back?

After scanning the contents of the parchment, Eisen suddenly erupted into a boisterous laugh.

“Ha! The Third Young Master is as audacious as he ever was!”

“What does the letter say?”

“Read it for yourself!”

Eisen chuckled warmly and passed the note to Felicia.

It didn’t take long for a matching smile to spread across Felicia’s face.

The letter was a herald of the chaos Lucian intended to unleash during the afternoon’s proceedings.

—

Immediately upon his return, Lucian summoned Hugo and placed Ian under his supervision.

Keeping a newly discovered alchemist in his immediate shadow would undoubtedly trigger alarm bells among his rivals.

To produce Nectar without being discovered by spies, he needed to establish a secluded laboratory for Ian.

‘I would prefer to set him up in a high-end residence, but my liquid assets are depleted because I spent my reserves on Moonlight Grass. I’ll have to rely on Hugo for the time being.’

When explained the predicament, Hugo let out a confident laugh and spoke with bravado.

“That is a simple request. I shall have a location secured before the sun sets.”

“Inform me of any requirements. I will provide every resource I can manage.”

“Do you forget who I am? I am the man who successfully constructed a pharmaceutical lab right under the Grand Duke’s watchful eye. Setting up a hidden workshop with some alchemy gear is child’s play.”

Lucian smiled and nodded at the man’s boastful but earned confidence.

Having accomplished the feat once, the second iteration would likely be even more efficient.

Ian, the boy at the center of the plan, seemed quite content as well, mentioning that he was eager to see what a major city had to offer.

His dedication to his craft remained his priority, but it appeared he also possessed a dormant curiosity about the wider world.

“I will do my best to source the necessary components, so use this time to familiarize yourself with Kelheim. We will begin shortly.”

“I understand, my lord. I will ensure everything is prepared so that production can commence the moment you give the command.”

As Ian offered a respectful bow and departed, Hans watched the boy go with a look of deep uncertainty.

Compared to the other formidable figures Lucian had recruited, Ian appeared to be nothing more than a common youth, which clearly caused Hans to doubt the boy’s value.

“Young Master, was that child truly worth a journey all the way to the capital? Did you simply bring him back as a secondary prize because the person you were actually seeking was nowhere to be found?”

“Quite the opposite, actually. I went out hunting for a bird and came back with a phoenix. It was a stroke of incredible fortune. But more importantly…”

Lucian paused, looking Hans over from head to toe.

Only a short time had passed, but Hans had become so thin that he looked almost sickly.

“Are you doing well? You haven’t fallen ill, have you?”

“Haha, I am in peak health. I have simply shed some weight because the butler curriculum is quite… rigorous. I am gaining invaluable knowledge, and it is truly… truly…”

Hans trailed off, his frame visibly shivering.

The mere recollection of the intensity of his training caused his face to drain of color.

“If the burden is too great, would you like to take a few days to recover? I can inform the staff that you are indisposed.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

Hans shook his head vigorously, declining Lucian’s kind gesture.

“It is grueling, but I feel a profound sense of pride every time I master a new skill. If it means I can continue to serve at your side, Young Master, then this struggle is a small price to pay.”

“You are as headstrong as ever.”

Lucian spoke the words with a firm tone, but he couldn’t hide the genuine warmth in his smile.

Whether it was Hugo’s ambition or Hans’s loyalty, their relentless drive was exactly what he looked for in his inner circle.

After speaking with Lucian for a few more minutes, a thought seemed to strike Hans.

“Now that I think of it, the knighting ceremony is scheduled to begin very soon. Do you plan to go, Young Master? Given your long journey, no one would think ill of you if you stayed behind to rest.”

“I might have stayed away if I were still on the road, but since I have returned, I wouldn’t dream of missing it. The successor of the Sword Saint is making her official debut—how could I stay away?”

The event would be entertaining enough as a spectator, but he had already set his own gears in motion.

For Lucian, this was a performance he needed to see through to the end.

Lucian checked the hour and began walking toward the ceremonial hall, only to cross paths with a familiar figure.

“…Brother?”

“Ah, Joshua.”

Lucian offered a pleasant greeting.

In stark contrast, Joshua’s expression twisted into a scowl the moment he saw Lucian, and he instinctively recoiled.

“I was informed you had gone to the capital. I see you’ve made it back.”

“It was a close call. I nearly missed the festivities.”

“I’m asking this merely to be certain, but surely you aren’t entertaining thoughts of recruiting Sir Eisen’s apprentice as well, are you, Brother?”

“Why? Is that a problem? I was under the impression that you and our older brothers were all competing for her favor.”

Hearing Lucian’s response, Joshua let out a dismissive snort and shook his head in disbelief.

“You’ve been making quite a name for yourself lately, Brother, but you would be wise to sit this one out.”

“And what is your reasoning for that?”

“Why would a warrior of the Sword Saint’s pedigree ever choose to serve someone like you? To be perfectly honest, it isn’t as if your coffers are deep enough to provide the lifestyle and support a knight of her status demands.”

“Well, I can’t deny that my current finances are a bit lean.”

Out of the three primary contenders, Lucian was the only one lacking the financial engine of a noble maternal house, and the bounty he had collected from Jordi had been entirely reinvested into Moonlight Grass.

Seeing Lucian concede the point, Joshua spoke with an air of superiority, as if explaining a fundamental law of nature.

“A person of true genius never sells their services for a pittance. It isn’t merely about the gold; the level of compensation is a public metric of one’s value. If a knight doesn’t receive support commensurate with their talent, they are essentially advertising themselves as second-rate.”

“I see.”

“Furthermore, why would the heir to the Sword Saint’s legacy diminish her own worth by swearing an oath to a penniless master who can’t even guarantee a standard salary? Unless you had somehow saved her life in the past, there is no logical reason for her to ever choose you.”