"Isn't that what you wanted?"
Lucian spoke in a calm tone, resting his right cheek on his left hand—a clear sign of annoyance.
Everyone, except for his fiancée Adeline, widened their eyes at his attitude. But what truly shocked them was hearing those words come from the Emperor's mouth… from that Emperor:
"I accept the annulment of our engagement."
"Look at this bastard. Your strategy, as pathetic as it is, might have worked… if you were dealing with the old Lucian."
In Empire Wars, the novel that barely spared a few lines for the Thirteenth Kingdom, Marquis Clerc was described as the traitor who accelerated the Empire's downfall by siding with the Tenth Empire.
And this so-called strategy? It would have only worked on the old version of that miserable boy.
Just thinking about speaking to Marquis Clerc annoyed Lucian.
— "You… do you really have another option besides my daughter?" The Marquis coughed. "In the Empire, cough, cough…"
— "Why are you asking?"
A nervous smile crept onto the Marquis's face.
— "With all due respect, Your Majesty, you know as well as I do… for some unknown reason, noblewomen refuse to marry you. That's a serious issue."
He paused, studying Lucian's expression, but the Emperor remained as impassive as ever, wearing that same bored look.
— "It will lead to complications… As you know, if the Emperor does not have a legitimate noble heir by the age of thirty, his power will be transferred to a family member."
— "And what exactly are you getting at?" Lucian's childish yet clear voice echoed through the room.
— "I propose that you marry my daughter. She is, without a doubt, the finest choice in the kingdom—the most beautiful, and more importantly… the only one still willing to marry you."
— "Oh? So now you want me to marry her?" A sly smile tugged at Lucian's lips. "But wasn't the whole reason you came here… to break off the engagement?"
Three times.
And each time, Lucian had to beg, offering "small imperial favors" in return.
— "I… that is…"
— "But now that I've accepted… the roles have reversed, haven't they?"
The room fell into stunned silence. Who would have thought Lucian would dare to argue against Marquis Clerc? The man who was one of the few willing to marry off his precious daughter, Adeline—the greatest prodigy of the Academy, and by extension, the Empire—to this pathetic Emperor?
"What the hell is going on?" the Marquis thought. "Is he mocking me? How dare this little brat humiliate me?"
From the very start, something had felt… off. From the moment Lucian hadn't returned his greeting…
But this was worse than he had imagined.
Where was this sudden confidence coming from? Had he lost his mind?
— "Your Majesty, if you do not wish to go back on your decision, then so be it… But know this—you will never be able to change your mind again."
The Marquis's gaze sharpened, locking onto Lucian.
"Don't worry about that. How could I possibly let go of such potential, destined to become my sla—… rather, my knight."
There was no way he was marrying a girl who, in a certain world, could technically be his granddaughter.
A half-smile crossed my lips. I held back my right hand from giving a thumbs-down. It wasn't the right time to stand out too much.
— "Don't worry about that…"
At that moment, a knock on the door broke the silence.
All eyes turned toward it.
Without even asking who it was, Lucian responded.
— "Let them in."
The guards obeyed.
— "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
— "That was fast, Chris."
It was Lucian's butler. In his hand, he held a parchment. He walked toward the imperial seat under the disapproving glares of the nobles.
After all, he was loyal to the one everyone despised… despite his superhuman skills.
— "Here is what you requested, Your Majesty."
— "Good work. Let me see it."
— "As you wish."
Chris handed him the parchment.
Lucian took it, unfolded it, and examined it.
"Unbelievable… These characters are completely foreign to me, yet somehow… they feel familiar."
He could read them.
"Chris is truly capable. But the second task I assigned him is even harder… Will he pull it off?"
Lucian stole a glance at Chris, who remained slightly bowed.
"Why am I even worried?"
When the Empire fell, the entire imperial family was executed… except for this man.
Chris Hartner.
He even became the chief butler for the imperial family of the invaders.
"He was simply on the wrong side at the wrong time."
Lucian suppressed a nervous tic and replaced it with a confident smile.
But Adeline… she noticed it immediately.
"Why is he smiling now…?" she thought.
Meanwhile, Lucian was lost in his own thoughts.
"I like sla— I mean, competent men. Don't worry, Chris. I'll make sure to unlock your full potential."
"…Why do I suddenly have goosebumps?" Chris wondered.
— "Alright. Give it to the Marquis so he can sign it. Lord Clerc, you and I both know that even I cannot overturn an already issued imperial decree. So don't worry—I won't change my mind. Sign it."
A subtle smile appeared on Adeline's face.
"I don't fully understand politics… but this little Lucian isn't as foolish as the rumors say."
"Not that it matters. If he hadn't refused, I would've killed him myself. No way in hell am I giving up the path of the sword for someone like him."
The Marquis pondered.
"Hahaha… You've grown, Lucian. Fine. I was going to take it easy on you, but I've changed my mind. You and your kingdom… will be completely devoured."
Lucian glanced around the room.
"Look at them. You can read their thoughts just by looking at their faces."
Chris, on the other hand, had a much simpler thought:
"His Majesty has definitely changed."
For a brief moment, Lucian's gaze met the guards'.
His mischievous smile sent a shiver down their spines.
Those who once looked down on him with arrogance… were now feeling a slight trace of fear.
After the meeting with the Marquis, Lucian spent the entire day poring over the Empire's archives.
-------
Damn, what a shitty day—
Lucian immediately clapped his hands over his mouth.
I said the exact same thing before getting thrown into this mess. I only said half of it, so nothing should happen, right?
After that meeting, I spent the entire day digging through important imperial documents. Naturally, the whispers spread like wildfire throughout the castle, and even Chris seemed a little shaken.
I'm exhausted.
I ordered him to handle all my duties for a week. Meanwhile, I'll stay locked up in my room during that time.
I need to put together a solid plan with the information I already have and the new intel I found in the archives... This won't be fun. Arrrgh.
I wouldn't have become THE Xavier Lancaster if I weren't used to overtime.
By the end of this week, I'll start cleaning out the parasites infesting this castle... assuming I survive until then.
Tomorrow is Monday. A new day to make a fortune—or at least plan how to.
Finally, he allowed himself a moment of relaxation. The tic he had suppressed all day resurfaced—a confident smirk, accompanied by a thumbs-down. Then, utterly drained, he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep instantly.
---
A few hours later…
Dawn had barely broken when an overwhelming presence filled the room, seeping into Lucian's pleasant dream.
(He was dreaming about mocking a dragon, reminding it that he was richer than it.)
Jolt.
— I thought that, even as an idiot, you'd grow up a little by now.
Ah.
— Doesn't matter.
Either way, today, you'll be joining our parents… dead because of you.
A nervous smile crept onto Lucian's lips, still half-asleep.
A silhouette sat cross-legged on his desk.
SHE'S HERE.