A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles

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

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

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

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

“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.”

“If you insist…”

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

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

“…!”

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

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

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.

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

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

“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.”

“…!?”

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

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

“What in the world are you planning?”

“The right of succession is a truly troublesome issue. 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. If one wishes to retain other rights, one must also retain the right of succession, whether one likes it or not.”

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.

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

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

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

“Exactly.”

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

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

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

“I’ve heard it’s a mess. 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.”

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

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.

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

“That wretch has already driven the prestige of the house into the ground. 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.”

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

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

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

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

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

“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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I do.”

“What?”

“I said I do.”

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

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

And yet, he answered with absolute certainty.

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

“…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

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.

The knights, once as rigid as statues, now whispered in low voices. 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.

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

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

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.

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

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

— Protect the first prince!

— S-stop them! Stop th— gahk!

— Get out of the way, you damn traitors!

— For the rightful heir of the Empire!

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

Were his loyal followers finally coming to rescue him?

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.

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

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

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

Bang! Crash!

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

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

“Your Highness, your servant Rihardt—”

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

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.

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

“Then cut them with a sword!”

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

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

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

“…All right.”

Claude shuddered as he recalled the suffocating days of confinement.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Those who have loyalty lack power, and those who have power lack loyalty. 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.”

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

Rihardt, relieved at having convinced him, spoke urgently.

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

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

“Your Highness!”

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

“…!”

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

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.

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

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

“We will open the way, Your Highness!”