Chapter 108: End·Beginning (Part 1)

  "Duke Mrak..." Grafenhardt XVII rubbed his red-rimmed eyes and nose. Though seething with anger and grief, his face could not muster the dignity and authority befitting an emperor, instead resembling an overwrought child. "And the revenge for Bishop Ronis—I will make that murderer pay. And the Necromancer Guild! I will write to the Church requesting their support. The Empire's hundred thousand troops must raze that so-called valley to the ground!"

  Sophia sighed inwardly. Without needing to guess the outcome, mobilizing the entire nation to attack Diya Valley—setting aside the debate over whether such a force could succeed—was fundamentally impossible. Any minister with even a shred of sanity would oppose such an impulsive campaign that offered no tangible political benefits.

  Moreover, even if everyone shared the young emperor's grief and indignation and approved such a plan, it would remain nothing more than a plan. Wars between nations—except for barbaric nomadic tribes—were merely the final resort of politics and strategy. According to what she'd learned from Sandro and Ethan, nearly every Necromancer in Diya Valley held positions of immense influence within human society. They could effortlessly alter a nation's political landscape, economic conditions, and diplomatic relations, ensuring any war plans against them would be stillborn. With Bishop Ronis gone, no one possessed the ability, influence, determination, or courage to rally the forces needed to oppose them.

  Most crucially, she knew all of this was orchestrated by her own father. She could not allow the entire nation to pay an inexplicable price for her father's sins.

  The young emperor caught his breath, calming himself before turning to Sophia. "You truly have not disappointed me. I knew you could never have conspired with the Necromancer Guild."

  "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty." Sophia bowed her head.

  "Commander Roland has told me everything that happened before and after. I never imagined the Duke and you would go to such lengths—enduring humiliation and imprisonment willingly just to lure out the spy. It's a pity it failed in the end. Not only was the murderer not brought to justice, but the Duke also lost his life..." Commander Roland has already informed me that Duke Mrak's dying wish was for you to inherit his title and position. Though the Empire has no precedent for this, it was the Duke's final wish. The ministers have always held your abilities in high regard, and with Commander Roland representing the military ministers in supporting you, there should be no issue. With someone as capable as you assisting in governing, I can rest much easier. Surely, the Duke's spirit in heaven will find solace too."

  Finally, the tearful young emperor said in a comforting tone to Sophia, whose face remained as calm as still water. "I heard your husband also died in an accident... I can see you are a strong person who keeps your tears inside. Don't be too sad. Rest assured, the Duke's soul will surely ascend to heaven, and that murderer will ultimately face righteous judgment."

  "Yes." Sophia bowed her head, her expression subdued and somber, seemingly just as the emperor had described—a strong person who hid her grief within. In truth, she didn't know whether she should cry or laugh.

  On her way out of the palace, two or three officials arriving for an audience with the emperor saw her. They all bowed respectfully, though their forms of address had already changed to "Your Grace the Duke" or "Chancellor." She responded with a demeanor befitting these titles.

  Though merely a rumor leaked from somewhere, everyone knew that with the support of the military ministers, the trust and favor of the emperor, and the high likelihood of her sister becoming the imperial consort—coupled with her own intelligence and capability, which in no way fell short of her father's—the Chancellor position was already a certainty. Even the palace guards looked at her with eyes full of admiration and reverence.

  A female Chancellor barely in her twenties—unprecedented in the continent's history, and likely never to be repeated. This was what she had inherited from her father. Sophia smiled wryly to herself, feeling no sense of achievement, only responsibility and pressure. This was no blessing.

  At the palace gates, a carriage awaited her.

  The carriage was exquisitely luxurious, drawn by four exceptional horses. Even the coachman was powerfully built, holding the reins with a ramrod-straight back. Despite the glittering palace beside him, he stared straight ahead, his expression wooden, as if his sole purpose in life was to drive the carriage. The quality of the Duke's household staff was well-known throughout the capital.

  Sophia boarded the carriage. The driver flicked the reins, and the four fine horses surged forward in unison, carrying the carriage swiftly yet smoothly. They soon arrived back at the Duke's mansion.

  Though only two days had passed since Duke Mrak's assassination, everything in the mansion had returned to normal. The excellent quality of the servants and the Duke's previously strict standards meant they would not appear disheartened by the change in masters. Though Emperor Grafenhardt XVII had wished to hold a grand funeral for Duke Mrak—a paragon who served the nation and its people—the Duke's two daughters had firmly declined the emperor's kindness. The funeral was quiet, understated, swift, and almost secretive, without unnecessary ceremonies, adhering to the Duke's lifelong style of prioritizing efficiency.

  As soon as Sophia stepped down from the carriage, a servant approached to report: "My lady. Commander Roland and the ministers have delivered the official documents. They have all been placed in your study. Also... a priest from the Magic Academy has arrived, saying he has confidential matters to discuss with you."

  "Understood. Show him to the study." Sophia paused slightly, then nodded, walking toward the study.

  The study was still the Duke's study. This was where he handled confidential affairs, deliberately surrounded by three empty rooms with no windows, and servants would never approach without urgent cause. Sophia entered the study, saw the stack of documents on the desk, sighed, and sat down.

  A young priest, led by a servant, also arrived at the study. The servant turned and left, closing the door behind him.

  "How did everything go at the palace?" The priest removed his mask, revealing Ethan's slightly thin yet sharply defined face.

  "Oh? I've been at the Magic Academy these past two days, so I'm not entirely clear on his arrangements. What kind of story was it?" Ethan walked to the desk.

  "A thrilling tale of a great duke's family battling a Necromancer Guild spy who infiltrated the capital. It logically connects the current situation with everything that happened before, employing many tropes from knightly novels..." After the vampire appeared at the hunting grounds, the Duke began to suspect that priest based on some clues he accidentally discovered and secretly investigated him. After many heart-pounding schemes, he discovered the priest was very likely a spy sent by the Necromancer Guild to infiltrate the Church. Unfortunately, it was all just reasonable suspicion without concrete evidence. Like the twists in any novel, the spy fell in love with the Duke's daughter..." Sophia gave Ethan a meaningful glance. "But this Duke's daughter possessed devout faith and steadfast will, untempted by evil. At that moment, the spy finally revealed his vicious true nature. It turned out the vampire was his accomplice all along; he eliminated the vampire to save the emperor only to gain merit and approach Bishop Ronis. After assassinating the bishop, the spy fled. The Duke was filled with regret and vowed to capture the spy and bring him to justice. So he and his daughter staged a convincing bitter ploy, intending to use the spy's infatuation with the Duke's daughter to capture him. Everything went smoothly, but at the final moment, it failed. The spy killed the Duke and escaped. With his dying breath, the Duke entrusted his daughter to inherit his position and continue serving the Empire. That's roughly it."

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Ethan stood stunned for a long moment before sighing deeply, forcing a peculiar, bitter smile onto his face. "That is indeed a good story. This... was really concocted by Commander Roland?"

  "Impossible." Sophia chuckled. "Commander Roland instructed my sister to create it."

  "Her? No wonder." Ethan nodded wryly.

  "And having her tell such a story to His Majesty would certainly be more effective than coming from Commander Roland or me."

  "The young emperor believed it completely? I imagine there must be flaws if examined carefully."

  "Men conquer the world; women conquer men." Sophia smiled faintly. "That's what my sister said she read in a book."

  "A man who can be conquered is no true man." Ethan smiled, shaking his head. "Whether conquered by a woman or anything else."

  "Then what do you consider a true man?" Sophia smiled, looking at him.

  "I don't know." Ethan shrugged.

  "But at least we don't need His Majesty to be a true man—only to believe it. For someone like him, rather than expending mental energy scrutinizing facts, he'd prefer to follow his emotions and accept such a story. As long as he believes, and with Commander Roland's help, all situations are under control and arrangement."

  "Do others believe it?"

  Sophia smiled. "Others? Who? The other ministers? His Majesty already believes—would they dare not to? Commander Roland clearly stands on my side. They're not fools; they know what to believe and what not to. As for the common people, they wouldn't discern complex causes and effects anyway. They only need to simply know who is good and who is evil. So everything is fine. We just wait for the ceremony and formalities in a few days, and I will formally inherit my father's ducal title and Chancellor position. This is what Commander Roland entrusted to me—to stand in my father's place and stabilize the situation. I also feel it is my responsibility."

  Ethan stuck out his tongue, looking Sophia up and down again. "So you'll be the Empire's Chancellor? And a duchess too... I suppose that makes you second only to the emperor?"

  "So exhausting." Sophia sighed. "His Majesty said that to prevent you, that evil fellow, from troubling me again, he has ordered the Paladin Order to strengthen my protection."

  "And so it is. The Empire's most capable, youngest, and most beautiful Chancellor makes her grand, magnificent entrance onto the stage of history." Ethan recalled stories he'd heard and novels he'd read, which always seemed to contain similar phrases to signify some future-altering event. "That's surely how it will be written in the books too."

  "And simultaneously it will say: The most dangerous criminal on the continent, with the highest bounty, escaped from the capital. Henceforth, all mercenary organizations and bounty hunters on the continent will be driven to madness over this man, entering an era of the great hunt." Sophia smiled, then sighed again. "This is truly unfair to you. You bear all the crimes alone—assassinating a bishop renowned throughout the continent's history, assassinating a Chancellor who diligently served the nation and its people. In the future... you may become a great criminal cursed by all."

  "Let them curse. It won't cost me any flesh." Ethan smiled faintly, holding up the mask in his hand. "Not only will it not cost me, but I'll gain more things like this. From now on, I'll always have to wear things peeled from dead men's faces."

  Though Commander Roland had promised to clear his name when the time was right, even someone utterly unfamiliar with worldly affairs could see this was nearly impossible. The Chancellor had played the entire nation and emperor like puppets—such a truth could never be revealed to the world for the sake of one man's innocence.

  Sophia walked to Ethan's side, reached out to embrace him, and buried her face in his chest, murmuring softly, "I'm sorry."

  Ethan smiled. "That's strange. When have you ever wronged me? I did all this only because I chose to." He gently lifted Sophia's forehead and kissed it, sighing. "Now that everything here is arranged, I can leave with peace of mind. I actually came today to say goodbye."

  Sophia looked up at him in surprise. "So soon? You... won't you stay a few more days?"

  "General Gru has already sent word urging me on. He said if I don't go soon, he'll come fetch me on a Wyvern. Unfortunately, these past two days, that old fellow Sandro has dragged me off to the Magic Academy, leaving me no time to properly be with you."

  Sandro had now become an unremarkable priest at the Magic Academy through Commander Roland's arrangements. After summoning Ethan to the Magic Academy these past two days, he had taught him magical matters almost ceaselessly, day and night. Ethan asked why he remained at the Magic Academy, and Sandro sighed deeply, saying, "Since Ronis is dead, I cannot leave either. We're both here guarding something. Otherwise, he might have become Pope long ago."

  "Something? What thing?" Ethan asked.

  Sandro glared. "It's something that has nothing to do with you, so don't go prying." He paused, frowning. "Besides, though this matter seems resolved now, I still feel something is amiss, so I cannot leave. Since you're going to that orc city, you must seize the time now. Don't sleep these next two days. Even if you don't understand what I tell you, you must memorize it..."

  And so, for the past two days, Ethan barely slept. Sandro first criticized the corpse poison he'd used at the execution ground as utterly worthless. Learning that Ethan had used nearly all his magical power to repeatedly catalyze the poison onto three corpses dug from graves, Sandro forbade him from ever using such magic again, lest he bring shame to Necromancy. Then he drilled him day and night on how to manipulate corpses, apply limb magic, and other knowledge, leaving Ethan dazed and confused. Only this morning, when a messenger found him at the Magic Academy, did he finally escape Sandro's clutches.

  "Why must you go to Oufu?" Sophia asked.

  "Actually, Lord Sedros opposed my return here. Fortunately, Lord Bolgan—that former Bracada official—and General Gru were willing to help me. After much negotiation, we agreed that if they helped me, I would dedicate myself fully to serving Oufu for a year. Though things didn't go as we expected, I must fulfill what I promised them. Besides, there, I won't have to worry about being wanted."

  "And after a year? Once you finish your work for Oufu, what do you plan to do?"

  "Naturally, I'll travel the world. That has been my long-held wish. Now that things are mostly resolved, I can set off with peace of mind."

  Sophia pondered for a moment, then asked, "And after you travel the world?"

  "I don't know..." Ethan thought for a moment, then smiled at Sophia. "Would it be alright if I came to bother you for a while, Chancellor?"

  "That depends on whether I have time." Sophia smiled faintly.

  "If you don't, I'll wait until you do..." Ethan's voice grew lower as he leaned down to kiss Sophia.

  Hurried footsteps approached the study. They quickly separated. Ethan put on his mask.

  The commander of the Royal Capital Guards entered the study, bowed to Sophia, and said with anxious yet firm tone, "Your Grace. A Wyvern has been reported circling toward the capital. It's likely that murderer from a few days ago returning. We've already sent someone to notify the Paladin Order. I've ordered the Duke's mansion to be secured. Please don't worry—we will surely capture..."

  "I naturally won't worry." Sophia snorted coldly.

  The guards commander stared blankly at the Duke's daughter's unpleasant expression. Anyone could guess that the wanted criminal with a five-thousand-gold bounty would never brazenly approach the capital himself. Moreover, Commander Roland had already warned them that someone from Oufu would eventually come to explain the matter of the murderer's Wyvern. This commander had only heard that the Duke's daughter was about to inherit the ducal title and Chancellor position and rushed to express his loyalty. But now, faced with this reaction, he didn't understand how his flattery had backfired so badly.

  "There's no other way." The Duke's daughter sighed deeply, then said to the priest, "Under these circumstances, it seems I must ask you to drive that Wyvern away."

  "Rest assured, Your Grace. It may not take much time." The priest nodded. "Well then, I'll take my leave."

  "Please be careful." The Duke's daughter said softly. "Goodbye."

  "Goodbye." The priest replied softly, turning and walking out.

  The Duke's daughter's gaze followed the priest's back until he disappeared, only then did she sit down, exhaling deeply. Suddenly, she turned to glance at the guards commander standing there dumbfounded, frowned, and said coldly, "Why are you still here? Do you expect a reward from me?"

  "This humble one dares not, dares not. This humble one takes his leave, takes his leave." The guards commander practically fled. He bitterly regretted this utterly failed attempt at flattery.

  Crystal balls were densely arranged on the wide conference table. Each sphere reflected a different scene. An old man with a dark, wrinkled face and curly hair stood guard beside the table, his bloodshot eyes scanning each crystal ball.

  In one crystal ball, the shadow of a Wyvern circled closer in the sky. In another, a priest rode out from the Duke's mansion, galloping straight toward the city gates.

  The old man's eyes brightened. He waved a hand at the two crystal balls, enlarging and clarifying the images within. He stared intently, thought for a moment, sighed, and murmured, "Waiting by the tree really worked. I'll never bet against that young fellow Inham again..."