A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles

Judging by Tristan’s expression, he seemed determined to leave if he did not hear the main matter immediately.

Lucian wiped the smile from his face and clicked his tongue in annoyance.

He had no one to rely on, and yet he was still so impatient.

“Do you really have to hear it now? amber If you already have an idea, it might benefit you to wait until you fully acknowledge the difference between us.”

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Lucian shrugged lightly and, just as Tristan wanted, went straight to the point.

“If you insist…”

“I will take charge of House Valdeck for a while.”

“If no matter how much you rub that difference in my face the result will be a demand I cannot accept, it would be better to know it in advance.”

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He had assumed the price would be enormous, but he had never imagined it would extend even to the position of head of the family.

“Of course, it will only be for a moment. amateur I will return it to you soon, brother.”

“…!”

Lucian added that condition a moment later, but Tristan’s confusion did not fade.

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“Listen until the end. armor I have no particular ambition for the title of grand duke. abandon It is enough for me to sit in that seat for a short time.”

“Do you really think I would hand over the position of head of the house just from hearing that?”

“And how long, exactly, is that short time?”

“If possible, I would like to be the head of the house for a month, but considering your situation, I will return it to you in just one week.”

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“…!?”

It made one wonder whether it even made sense to become head of the house in such a way.

At those words, Tristan looked at Lucian with a strange expression. silence He was saying he would proclaim himself grand duke for barely a week and then return the position.

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“The right of succession is a truly troublesome issue. crystal It includes all the innate rights tied to blood.”

“Renouncing the right of succession is equivalent to renouncing all of those innate rights, so it cannot be discarded lightly. agent If one wishes to retain other rights, one must also retain the right of succession, whether one likes it or not.”

“What in the world are you planning?”

“…?”

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But the moment he recognized Tristan as the legitimate heir, he would be renouncing those rights, and that was something he could not allow.

Only then did Tristan begin to more or less understand Lucian’s intention.

He was not seeking the position of head of House Valdeck itself, but the need to retain the innate rights granted only to Valdeck blood.

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“Exactly.”

“…If Your Highness supports me, the second option is practically impossible. agent That means only the first remains.”

“There are only two ways to maintain those innate rights while also making you the owner of Valdeck. arena Either I first become the head of the house and then hand the position over to you, or I deny your ascension as head.”

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“Your Highness, do you know what state House Valdeck is in?”

“I’ve heard it’s a mess. canvas Jordi has failed to properly control the family, and since his backer, the second prince, has also fallen silent, they’re too busy putting out fires everywhere.”

At first glance, it could sound like a proposal with room for negotiation. beacon Even so, for Tristan it was still an excessive demand.

He was not saying he wanted to seize the house forever; he was only asking for a little time.

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If Jordi’s misrule continued, even Tristan would suffer when trying to take it back.

What Jordi was wearing down was not his own power, but the power of House Valdeck itself, the family that Tristan was meant to reclaim someday.

“Yes, just as you say. afford But even watching that bastard act without direction, I cannot laugh.”

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Rebuilding strength alone would not be enough. orbit After standing back up, that power would also need to be projected outward to regain recognition.

“Probably. wizard Both the talents who joined him or died in the rebellion and the Black Lions themselves would have to be rebuilt from scratch.”

“That wretch has already driven the prestige of the house into the ground. antique It’s only a guess, but even if I recovered the family, it would take at least thirty years to restore it to its former standing.”

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Tristan spoke of thirty years, but he might not even be able to restore its former splendor within his lifetime.

To make them bow their heads again, there was still an enormous amount to do.

Since they had shown weakness both internally and externally, the neighboring lords were surely mocking House Valdeck.

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“Do you care more about your pride than about reclaiming the family?”

“And in a situation like that, if I hand the position of head to Your Highness and then take it over myself, they will think that an incompetent man reclaimed the house by begging for it.”

“Without that pride, I will die having spent my entire life doing nothing but trying to rebuild the pillars of the house.”

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Everyone would think it was all due to Lucian’s power, not Tristan’s.

“That is not an incorrect argument. adjust But, brother, do you truly think you have the leeway to worry about that right now?”

Lucian drew a crooked smile when he saw that Tristan had no intention of backing down. canvas If even his pride were lost, the time needed to rebuild the family would be even longer.

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“What?”

“Then allow me to ask you something in return. audit Your Highness, do you have any way to take over House Valdeck other than through me?”

“I do.”

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At Lucian’s blunt assertion, Tristan could not hide his bewilderment.

And yet, he answered with absolute certainty.

“I said I do.”

If he was supporting him, it should have been because he lacked the leeway to conquer House Valdeck directly.

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“To show you that I have the power to do it.”

“…”

“Let’s stop with empty bravado and denying reality. anchor Why do you think I proposed postponing the negotiation until after Sir Eisen’s funeral?”

Content of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 169 published by TrungTu Reads.

How was he supposed to advance from this distant north to House Valdeck and wage a war?

As if he had read his thoughts, Lucian smiled and said,

It was absurd. advance That was the only phrase that almost slipped from Tristan’s mouth.

Even if he managed to seize it, it was obvious that another force would invade and take it immediately.

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***

After witnessing what was about to happen, all of his doubts would vanish. advance At those almost prophetic words, Tristan swallowed.

“You still don’t believe it, do you? artist Then engrave clearly in your eyes what you are about to see.”

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The first prince, Claude, was biting his nails as he struggled to contain his frustration.

From the day Cedric left, he could clearly feel that the reactions around him had changed.

‘Damn it, what the hell is going on out there?’

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It was obvious that something had happened in the palace while he was confined there.

The knights, once as rigid as statues, now whispered in low voices. canvas The servants, who used to be cold and unflappable, would not stop casting furtive glances at him.

Even those who previously would not move no matter how many times he shouted at them now flinched for a moment.

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‘Is this a good sign? anxiety Or a bad one? timber They’re not thinking of executing me, are they?’

‘Is that damn Cedric not planning to come back? afford If only I could talk to him, I could probe him or provoke him, but like this…’

A seasoned noble would have understood that this change was working in his favor.

But Claude lacked all political sensibility, and naturally he was incapable of accurately reading the new atmosphere.

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Claude was running his hands through his hair in desperation when, suddenly—

— Get out of the way, you damn traitors!

— S-stop them! meadow Stop th— gahk!

— Protect the first prince!

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Hearing the uproar coming from outside, Claude’s eyes widened.

— For the rightful heir of the Empire!

Unable to contain his anticipation, he stood up just as the room where he was imprisoned shook with a crash and part of the wall collapsed.

Were his loyal followers finally coming to rescue him?

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“Please wait a moment, Your Highness! album We will break down the door at once!”

“Y-yes! galaxy I’m here! arctic Hurry and break these chains!”

“Your Highness, the first prince! harbor Count Rihardt of the court has come to rescue you! alpha Are you all right?”

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“Your Highness, your servant Rihardt—”

Soon after, Rihardt and the knights tore away the remains of the frame and knelt before the prince.

Bang! alert Crash!

Swords and maces struck again and again until the door was completely smashed.

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Rihardt, who had been about to formally introduce himself, flinched at the prince’s shout and gestured to his men.

The knights scattered, searching for the key and interrogating everyone present, but to no avail.

“Enough with the greetings, remove these damn chains!”

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“Then cut them with a sword!”

“There is no one with the key to the chains. album It seems they hid it somewhere else.”

What a bunch of useless fools! atlas Claude was about to shout at them what they were actually good for, but Rihardt’s words made him fall silent.

“We are sorry, Your Highness. autumn They are made of adamantium; with our skills, it would be impossible. autumn We will have to tear them out along with the wall and carry them as they are.”

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“…All right.”

He did not like the idea of bearing the chains, but he had no alternative; the important thing was to escape Cedric’s clutches as soon as possible.

Claude shuddered as he recalled the suffocating days of confinement.

“Forgive us, Your Highness. portal We must leave before the traitor Cedric finds out. wizard We will free you from the chains soon, but for now, we ask for your patience.”

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“That bastard Cedric… when I get out of here, I will kill him without fail!”

With a dry snap, the chains were torn free from the wall.

Fortunately, the anchors were not made of adamantium, so he could move without too much difficulty.

Claude ground his teeth as he found himself turned into a chained prisoner.

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“Do you have any place where we can take refuge?”

“In the capital, we will not be able to avoid the traitor’s eyes. academy We must head north, to Duke Lucian.”

“Of course, Your Highness. antenna But first, we must escape.”

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“Lucian? voyage Wasn’t there anyone else besides that arrogant one?”

Did he truly believe there were plenty of allies capable of opposing Cedric and also loyal to him?

Rihardt suppressed a sigh at the sight of Claude’s grimace.

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“Are you telling me that in this Empire there is not a single loyal servant?”

“Your Highness, with the greatest respect, we have no choice. timber Too many forces have allied with the traitor. echo If it is not Duke Lucian, no one will dare oppose him.”

In the entire Empire, there was practically no other option besides Lucian, and even so, the prince continued to let his personal emotions get in the way.

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Claude nodded with displeasure, knowing he had no other alternative.

“Those who have loyalty lack power, and those who have power lack loyalty. antenna The only one who possesses both is Duke Lucian.”

“Hmm… well, it is true that that man owes a great deal to the late emperor.”

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“No, first we will go to my room. altitude It is not far; we can reach it before the traitor breaks in.”

“We have bribed several of the traitor’s lackeys, so we will be safe for a while. alert But they will soon discover your escape, Your Highness. audit There is no time; we must move right now.”

Rihardt, relieved at having convinced him, spoke urgently.

“Your Highness!”

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“…!”

At that unexpected stroke of luck, Rihardt and the knights lit up with enthusiasm.

“Shut up and follow me! atom In my room there is a magical teleportation artifact. artist If we find it and activate it, we can travel directly to the north!”

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“We will open the way, Your Highness!”

If that was true, there would be no need for a dangerous escape; it would be enough to reach the artifact to flee from Cedric.

As Claude shouted, Rihardt bowed his head firmly and replied,

“Tell me just one thing! adjust Can we reach your room or not?”