Chapter 44
The war against the Southern Kingdom is over.
It was a long war that lasted more than three years.
It was the Black Lion Knights who ended the war, half a year after they joined the Imperial Army.
The Knights of Morte became the Empire's greatest heroes, and when they returned, they were met with great praise.
They were placed majestically at the forefront of the triumphal procession.
Carls grumbled as they passed a street where petals were scattered.
"What did they do to make us win? Without them, the war would have ended a year ago."
What Karls was referring to was the nobles who constituted the leadership.
Knights and lords, most of them from the south, were marching down the road beside them in triumph.
Victor cocked his head.
"It's all over now."
"Well, yeah we won't see them again."
“You're a southerner, so of course you'll see them again, right?”
At the words of his master, Karls answered bitterly.
"What do you mean? I'm going to live in the north for the rest of my life now. I hate being hot and humid."
"Didn't you slowly feel comfortable?"
"Is it important? We'll go back to Morty."
Victor laughed.
In fact, he didn't really care.
It felt good to be back.
However, he was barely able to tell Morthion's story.
It was a name he couldn't speak because it was painful just to hear it.
But Mortheon did not want to be forgotten like this.
So he talked about his older brother, and told stories about their childhood throughout their journey back.
And he had hope.
If Mortheon remembers like this and stays with his colleagues and friends in his hometown, one day everything will return to how it was before.
Peace will come again in his life.
The procession soon ended.
Victor Morte, of course, met the Emperor before anyone else.
Upon seeing the young Grand Duke, the nobles in the audience roared in surprise.
They were sounds of excitement, jealousy and admiration.
Victor wasn't surprised.
He knew that his appearance seemed completely questionable to others.
The Emperor highly praised the new Grand Duke.
He applauded him for his great work and gave him a huge cash reward.
It was a small amount compared to the war reparations he would receive from the Southern Kingdom, but Victor was still happy to accept it.
Then he asked the Emperor what other reward he wanted.
Victor thought for a moment.
Normally he would have asked for a betrothal to the imperial family or more lands, but none of that was necessary.
He just wanted to live quietly in his hometown.
So he answered honestly.
"I don't need anything else. It is an honor to serve the empire and to see your majesty."
The Emperor laughed as if he was satisfied.
“Master is a true knight! Tell me if you want anything later and I will fulfill one request.”
Victor bowed respectfully and withdrew.
***
Invitations poured into Victor Capital Palace, all of them wanting to meet the war hero, the Grand Duke of Death.
However, Victor did not stay long in the capital, and headed straight to Morte. He brought only the belongings of his father and Morthion, who had stayed in the capital's palace for some time.
He felt more comfortable on the way back than when he left.
They were welcomed wherever they went, and were provided with sumptuous banquets and good beds.
Victor let his knights rest.
They suffered a lot.
His knights needed time to laugh and relax.
He felt much better and slept better too.
Eating and drinking every day, they slowly reached murti.
His hometown was as it had been before.
A cold wind blew through the tall trees.
The cavalry march was a spectacle in itself.
The knights entered the village, announcing their return noisily.
At the sound of the trumpet, the villagers flocked to the side of the road and cheered.
When he saw the colorful surfaces and pale-skinned people on his estate, he felt a sense of familiarity.
Victor smiled and waved.
The war would remain in his memory like a wound that would never heal, but for now, everything was fine.
The follower will bring him a lot of work, and his nightmares will be forgotten little by little in his boring life.
The knights proudly entered the castle.
The followers who were waiting for him bowed their heads as soon as he saw him.
“We greet the new Grand Duke.”
Victor nodded, feeling choked up. Only then did he realize that he had taken Mortheon's place.
He spoke to them honestly.
“You have suffered a lot during my absence. I may not be enough compared to my older brother, but please help me in the future.”
"Of course, Your Highness."
Victor smiled at his followers.
He didn't like them very much, but he knew how well they had worked with Mortheon.
In order to follow in Theon's footsteps, he had to trust his followers and work with them.
He wanted to take responsibility for the land that his older brother loved.
Like Mortheon, he wanted to become a grand duke beloved by his knights, uncles, and people.
Victor made another promise.
***
Work began the next day.
Even though he received payment, he read the followers' reports and sent knights to kill the monsters.
He also accepted his sons' request to arrange a beneficial marriage as soon as possible.
Mortheon would do that.
His childhood dream was to marry someone he loved, but that became impossible once he became the Grand Duke.
Names of women he had never heard before were thrown into the conference room.
They were ladies from prestigious families that would help the Grand Duchy.
Victor didn't pay much attention.
Whatever they were, they were all the same.
Weeks passed, day and night.
His insomnia, which never completely went away, caused him to work late.
His knights were worried, but Victor didn't care.
If he worked a lot, Murti's people would live a better life.
Then, one night, he secretly went out for a walk.
It was after midnight and he couldn't sleep.
When he completed the work that day, the moon was already high in the sky.
He wondered if he would be able to sleep if he wandered around for a bit.
So, Victor walked quietly down the hall without a lamp.
The whispered gossip came from somewhere.
“...Lord Mortheon, did you say that the Grand Duke killed him?”
"What?"
Victor stood still as if he had been struck by lightning.
Victor's senses were extremely sharp.
This was the secret of his amazingly precise dueling.
The Grand Duke could hear whispering voices very clearly.
“…Our elders said that while everyone was away, His Highness Morthion and his knights were annihilated with the only survivor being Victor. Isn’t that strange?”
“Hey, the Grand Duke is incredibly strong so of course he survived.”
"But then why couldn't he protect Lord Mortheon? Why did he let his brother die when he survived without a single wound?"
Every word pierced Victor's chest like a blade.
whispered another maid.
“The two of them were really close. Everyone in the castle knew it.”
“No, before leaving, Victor was planning to take over the position of Grand Duke with Gaillard’s help.”
"impossible!"
“Really! He said it out loud and besides, he's now bragging about how well it worked!”
حاول فيكتور فهم الوضع.
They were probably maids, working in the castle and serving the henchmen.
"Gillard..."
Victor remembered the subalterns he had spoken to in the weeks before the war.
Those who said they would support Victor in order to keep Morthion under control.
He had never had a proper conversation with them, except that day in the hall.
"Why...?"
Their voices continued to gossip, like excited field mice.
"Wow, that's scary. Is the power that good?"
“How can we understand the minds of higher-rankers? He is heartless, unlike his older brother who was so kind to us.”
“Hey, the person who died is an idiot. What other noble has such a powerful successor?”
"نعم، كان مورثيون أحمقاً ."
"Poor thing."
Suddenly, his stomach churned.
He felt as if darkness had swallowed his entire body.
لم يكن غاضبا حتى.
لقد كان فارغا فقط.
Victor ignored the sounds and slowly returned to his bedroom.
***
The next morning, he called Leonard and Carls.
The Grand Duke, extremely sleep-deprived, asked slowly.
“Are there rumors circulating that I killed him?”
Leonard was shocked, and Karls had a sour expression.
His reaction convinced Victor.
“That's right, rumors are swirling.”
“Your Highness, all knights know that nonsense...”
"أنا لا أتحدث عن الفرسان."
The servants' words were the master's words.
The people he heard yesterday were the subordinate maids. They said they heard the story from their masters.
If the minions were saying things like that, the rest of Mort must feel the same.
نظر فيكتور إلى ليونارد.
“You're probably in touch with your family.”
"my lord."
“Tell me, Leonard Odo. What do they say?”
Odos was a vassal of the Murti, with an area outside the estate.
They rarely traveled to the capital, but because of their loyalties, they often accompanied other vassals to the castle.
So they must have heard something.
أنحنى ليونارد رأسه بعمق.
No matter how hard he spoke, he could not disobey his master's orders.
"...Rumours have been circulating since the moment we announced Lord Mortheoner's death. They said the reason he was cremated was to destroy evidence."
“Besides, it seems that the vassals, especially Gaillard, have fanned the rumors saying that they convinced Duke Morthion to take the seat... Unlike the Grand Duke, they said that you are not hesitant...”
"..."
"You know it's all bullshit, right? It's just a rumor."
Victor didn't say anything for a long time.
***
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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