Chapter 166 - Sacrifice for the Greater Good

"In what way?"

Ferda asked her.

"That man likely had no intention of sending you away from the start, Regent Ferda. The emperor's son bowed his head and begged to be saved, so he had no choice but to pretend he would."

"It seemed he was going to send me away when the claim that I was a Dark Mage came out."

"That was closer to an unexpected situation. But if we set that unexpected situation aside, what then?"

"Then what he was aiming for was..."

As they talked like this, Ferda was able to seize on a clue as well.

"Alexander and Duke Yurei, the two of them."

Olivia nodded.

"He probably had no plan to forgive that fat brother of mine from the moment he said he had lost a corps. He couldn't cut off his head anyway, so he would have manipulated him into flailing around on his own and showing only his ugliest side. My throat is dry. May I have a cup of tea?"

"Yes."

Ferda handed her a cup of tea.

After drinking the tea, brewed just warm enough and not too hot, she continued.

"At any rate, that means Alexander must lay down his power for a while as punishment. Still, he wasn't sent completely into the abyss, and room was left for him. It makes him compete with the second prince, but will that actually happen?"

"No, it won't."

"Right. The transfer of power will remain unclear for a year, and his supporters will want stability and break away."

If Alexander was shaken, the things clinging to him would fall off.

And what would absorb those defectors would be a powerful faction that did not waver.

Only one came to mind as the representative of that ascendant faction.

Waldemar Gold.

"What do you mean that he was aiming for Duke Yurei?"

"He probably had a check against the Kingdom of Heinkel in mind. He knew that you had killed Young Master Yurei, Regent Ferda, but he likely had no intention of using that to tie you down."

"Considering what I heard, even when William was recruited, it was to make him give testimony unfavorable to me."

"He probably calculated Sir William's betrayal too."

"Why would Alexander's man do such a thing?"

Alexander had wanted to pin responsibility on Ferda by any means possible.

Olivia gracefully lifted her teacup and let out a faint laugh.

"My brother's man? Isn't that funny?"

"..."

"Why would someone capable enough to recruit Sir William attach himself to a man who was already certain to fall into the abyss?"

A planted spy.

If so, it was safe to see this as something Waldemar had aimed for.

"In the end, Duke Yurei has been put in a situation he cannot get out of. Now Sir Oldin Ruster, having gained a pretext, will pressure the Kingdom of Heinkel and try to make it submit under the Empire. Humiliating that fat brother of mine by putting a leash on him and making him kick at another tossed-up ball was just a bonus. If it had ended there, I would have thought they had simply traded blows, but..."

Olivia let out a low groan as she spoke.

"A major incident involving a Demon Follower broke out."

"Indeed."

This was likely the part no one had expected.

"And that became an unexpected boon for Waldemar."

"A boon?"

"Because the Demon Follower just had to be that damned fake."

The words damned fake bothered him.

"You speak as though you knew from the beginning that Joseph Faust was not himself."

"I did. Joseph Faust was not someone who would glance at my chest from the very beginning. I did think someone was imitating Joseph."

As if worried there might be a misunderstanding, Olivia added to her words.

"But I didn't know he was a Demon. If I had known that, I would not have let him stand by like this."

Ferda decided to believe her.

After all, the Grand Council had been Ferda's first time encountering a being called a Doppler, and it had been a secret hidden until now.

"At any rate... because of that, the integrity and credibility of the Order of Altes are now being called into question. The people who will be harmed by that are the rising noble factions."

The nobility was divided into rising factions and traditional factions, maintaining a balance of sorts.

In the case of the traditional factions, recognition was relatively easy, because they only had to prove themselves as much as their family's reputation demanded.

But circumstances were different for the rising factions.

They were those who had been raised to noble status after being acknowledged for great contributions to the Empire, and as they came closer to becoming rulers, they had to pass demanding conditions.

"Among those is the token of faith given by the Order of Altes."

It was a procedure in which one swore a predictable oath to resist demonic temptations and follow the light.

But what would happen if it became known that the Bishop who bestowed this was a Demon Follower more vile than any demon?

The face of the Order had brought down the Order's authority,

and at the same time, it had created grounds to suspect those beneath it as well.

"Now they won't be able to prove themselves with something like the Order of Altes's token anymore. And a new system will be established."

"In what way?"

"Judging by the circumstances, it seems things are flowing toward the traditional nobles proving the status of the rising nobles."

Existing nobles certifying new nobles...

To be proven, they would have to flatter them, and the higher that authority, the greater the power.

And in this Empire, the one with the greatest such power was Waldemar Gold.

'Everything is flowing toward Waldemar Gold.'

To put it in extreme terms, it might even create a situation where, whether rising or traditional, one could not continue in politics without receiving his recognition.

He was called a grand duke, but his actions were no different from those of a king holding absolute power.

Patriot, my ass.

"... And my position has also become a problem."

Olivia spoke while desperately suppressing the tremor in her voice.

Unfortunately, she also depended heavily on the Order of Altes.

"The Order of Altes will now have to watch Waldemar's mood, and they will try to make me, who is taking lessons as an apprentice Saintess, return as a Princess."

"..."

"Those people will not be as steadfast as you, Regent. They are people who know that giving up on me is the easier path."

Her greatest weakness was instability.

If she grew, she had the potential to become a tree as firm as the World Tree, but right now she was nothing more than a sprout that had put out tender shoots.

"Regent Ferda."

Olivia set down her cup and took Ferda's hand.

Her fine hand was damp with cold sweat.

"As I told you last time, hurry and hand me over to Grand Duke Gold. Before my value as a bargaining chip is completely lost."

She spoke with a gentle smile.

"I will live for years, no, perhaps decades, as Olivia Arken Gold. If you only do that, your work will proceed easily, Regent. If only the second capital you will create is completed..."

She showed him a benevolent smile.

It was similar to the smile she had shown Young Master Lutenia, yet it felt different.

"I will accept any sacrifice."

Olivia left, and Ferda sat there thinking.

Only one phrase floated through his mind.

'Grand Duchess Olivia Arken Gold...'

Looking only at the ambition she possessed, it was truly a splendid name.

If Princess Olivia and Grand Duke Gold's factions united, and if they promised only to become the military strength of the far east, then the second capital she had mentioned would also proceed easily.

So there was no need for him to worry separately.

After all, it was not that Ferda was treating Olivia like an object, but that Olivia herself was choosing it.

Twice, at that.

'Even so...'

There was no sign this unease would go away no matter what.

Why was that?

'Olivia was like me.'

When Ferda, from a far future that no longer existed, first entered the imperial palace,

he had known the moment he saw Olivia's face.

She, too, was someone who hated her family no less fiercely.

Because he had recognized her, Ferda kept his distance from her for fear that she would recognize him as well.

Ferda slowly retraced Olivia's actions.

She had not married any man, and had aged as a lofty flower.

Until she became a temptress who brought a nation to ruin, she had not seduced men and had kept her chastity.

'Someone like that is trying to marry her sworn enemy.'

Waldemar Gold was likely someone she hated as much as her family.

Ferda would not be able to stay in the same space as his enemy for years, let alone months, or even days.

The same was true for Olivia.

Then why had she made such a bold decision?

Because she truly cherished the people of the Empire?

Because she believed she could sacrifice herself and save everyone?

Ferda could not tell what the truth was.

"Hasn't everything worked out well?"

His complicated thoughts shattered.

The one who had rudely barged in without even knocking was Zed.

Suppressing his displeasure, Ferda spoke.

"It did work out well. Thanks to you."

"Thanks to me, yes. And yet it seems there is something you are not pleased with?"

"It is not a matter to discuss with you. Why did you barge in here?"

If he had come in for no reason, Ferda intended to say something, but that did not seem to be the case.

In his hand was a notebook that did not suit him.

"Do you know what I did after infiltrating the archbishop's room?"

"I heard you discovered a corpse in his private space."

"There wasn't only a corpse there."

Originally, it had been a place not for confining corpses, but for storing secret letters and the like that only bishops could read.

Zed handed him a notebook he had brought from there.

"It seems those so-called bishops have been recording the confessions of high nobles."

"You took that?"

"I was just a little curious what kinds of dirty tricks those noble bastards had been up to. I was going to read it as if it were just some trashy drama, but... I found information good enough to charge extra for."

With his gaze turning rather serious, Zed opened the book.

"It had this in it."

Ferda read the contents.

The moment Ferda read it, he was shaken.

No words came out.

It felt as if someone had struck him hard in the back of the head.

"Ah..."

His mind grew so distant that it would not have been an exaggeration to say he might go mad right then.

Driven to that limit, at the very moment he was being pushed off the edge of a cliff,

Ferda regained his composure.

"Zed."

Those two syllables sank as if beneath an abyss.

Zed tensed at a reaction far more chilling than expected.

"Yes."

"Bring Garnet here. And prepare yourself as well."

"By prepare, you mean..."

"Because of me, the balance of power within the Empire is about to break."

Ferda rose from his seat as he spoke.

"I am going to restore that balance."

That was all he said, but Zed could sense it by instinct.

Before tonight was over, a bloody storm would blow somewhere.

The mansion of Akkad Debelung.

Because the capital of the Arken Empire was a city that accommodated an enormous population of thirty million, even noble mansions there were smaller than those of nobles elsewhere.

In a place like that, it was not easy to live in a great mansion with a courtyard garden attached.

Especially not with a title only at the rank of marquis.

Akkad Debelung lived in such a place.

That was the price of loyalty to the greatest man of real power in the Empire.

"Yes, Your Grace. I have prepared the things you mentioned. We should be able to begin immediately tomorrow."

What they had prepared was a public announcement regarding this major incident.

It said that Demons had infiltrated the Empire, and that the situation had to be recognized as grave.

The problem was that it had not arisen among the lower classes, as with Demon Followers, but had erupted among the ruling class.

Waldemar was a man quick to calculate profit and loss.

He intended to use this chaos to strengthen his power by another level.

He had always gone around saying the Golden Council would only be clean once half of it had been swept away.

That time had come.

"Yes, there is no doubt that the utopia you desired, Grand Duke, will be completed."

If this matter was handled properly, Waldemar's real power would grow even stronger, and he would become a massive force no one could touch.

"Understood. I shall end the communication here. Have a peaceful night."

Akkad cut off the telepathic message and exhaled as if in ecstasy.

'With this... everything will fall into Lord Waldemar's hands.'

An absolute authority whom no one could touch.

As that authority's right arm, he would now be able to purge all those who had dared to keep him in check without knowing their place, without having to mind anyone.

Akkad liked that even more than the honors or money that would come in.

"I suppose I should get to bed soon for tomorrow."

Since he would be busy from the moment he opened his eyes tomorrow, he tried to finish tidying up and enter his bedchamber.

That was when it happened.

The butler entered after knocking and informed him of unexpected news.

"Master. A guest has arrived."

"At this late hour?"

Akkad frowned.

Not only was arriving suddenly without an appointment rude, Akkad greatly disliked those who did not follow such rules.

"Who has come?"

"He says he is Ferda Valdrova."

At that name, even his displeasure faded, as if he had been caught off guard.

"Do you mean the one who is Grand Duchess Valdrova's fiancé?"

"That is correct."

How strange.

That man should have no reason to seek him out at all.

"It is late at night, so shall I send word asking him to come tomorrow morning?"

Akkad, who had been lost in thought, shook his head.

"No. Show him in. Have the remaining servants light up the entire house."

"Understood."

Regent Ferda was young, but through this incident, everyone had learned that he was not an easy opponent.

'And Grand Duke Gold also has his eye on him.'

He had not said it aloud, but Akkad could tell well enough just by the look in his eyes when he looked at Ferda.

Such a man had suddenly come calling late at night.

'And he came to see me, at that.'

It would not be a bad waste of time.

Akkad walked to the door, and the butler opened it to let the guest inside.

A man with a black suit, gray hair, and blue eyes entered expressionlessly.

No murderous intent could be felt.

Akkad greeted him first.

"It is an honor to meet you, Regent. I am Marquis Akkad Debelung."

Ferda bowed his head after him and greeted him politely.

"You may speak informally to me."

"No. No matter what, you are also the one who will become the Consort of Her Grace Grand Duchess Valdrova, and at that time, I was in the chairman's seat, so it could not be helped."

Akkad smiled broadly.

"But what brings you here at this late hour?"

"I came because I wished to express my gratitude."

"Your gratitude?"

"I heard you made the potion that Lord Count Ulvera Concillus drank. Matters I had to handle piled up until evening, so I ended up coming in this discourteous manner. I apologize."

"Ah, not at all! Now, please come inside! I will prepare tea!"

Ferda's eyes swept down the long corridor.

There was not a single servant in this corridor he was walking through, in one of the largest houses in the imperial capital.

"There do not seem to be many servants in this mansion."

"Ah, it feels a little empty, doesn't it? I don't use them except when there is major cleaning to be done."

"Alchemy is delicate work, so that is understandable."

"It is not that delicate. I simply do not like complicated things very much."

They arrived at the drawing room while making light conversation.

Akkad dismissed the butler, and only the two of them sat in the spacious drawing room.

"I will prepare the tea."

"You could have a servant do it. It must be troublesome..."

"It is precious tea, so it requires delicate handling. Our butler does not know how to do such things, so I always serve honored guests myself."

"Is that so? Then..."

Akkad placed leaves into the teapot and poured carefully heated water inside.

It possessed a delicacy that forced one to acknowledge he came from an alchemy family.

The part that required his hands was finished, and now all they had to do was wait.

Akkad cast a sidelong glance toward Ferda.

He was not in the guest seat.

Instead, he was staring intently at a painting hanging on the wall.

Akkad could have simply assumed he was interested in the painting and let it pass, but that was not the case.

There were more than forty paintings hanging on that wall.

And yet one among them.

He was looking at only one.

It was an abstract painting where paint had been scattered roughly.

"Do you like that painting?"

Akkad approached Ferda and asked.

Ferda answered, looking startled, as if he had been lost in thought.

"I feel something rather strange. How should I put it? I sense a power that draws people in."

At Ferda's assessment, Akkad grinned.

Ferda was the first person to give an answer that pleased him so much.

"Well, now... since you put it that way, I cannot help but boast. In truth, I painted it."

"Is that so?"

"My skill is poor, so I slipped it in among masterpieces to make it look more impressive."

"I do not think so. If it had been poor skill, would that have been the first one to catch my eye?"

Ferda looked at it with eyes steeped in emotion.

"This is the first time I have felt such burning passion from a painting."

Akkad liked Ferda more and more.

It was not simply because he had heard words pleasant to his ears.

There were countless people around him who praised his paintings.

There had also been some who singled out that abstract painting.

But few understood the emotion one ought to feel from this painting the way Ferda did.

Akkad, whose age was racing toward forty, felt his heart pound.

Perhaps.

'This man may be one of my kind.'

If so...

Could he understand that, too?

"Regent."

"Yes, Marquis Debelung."

"Since you have flattered my poor skill, it seems I am getting a bit carried away. So I would like to show you another painting, Regent..."

Akkad asked shyly.

Ferda nodded.

"If there are other paintings, I would be the one to ask you for the favor."

"Ha ha, understood!"

Akkad brightened and pressed a gap in the drawing room wall.

Then the sound of machinery moving rang out, and the space between two masterpieces opened, revealing a hidden space.

There was a painting in that hidden space as well.

It was a painting with a style similar to the abstract painting Ferda had seen.

The name of the painting Ferda had seen was "Passion."

And he had named the one he was showing now "The Love of Akkad Debelung."

"What do you think?"

Inwardly, Akkad was anxiously waiting.

Like a child expecting a good score because everything he had studied appeared on the exam, he waited for Ferda's answer.

"This is..."

He gave his score.

"Disgusting."

What fell before him was a failing grade.

Akkad's face stiffened.

"... What did you say?"

"I do not know what you were trying to express, but... it feels somewhat disgusting."

Ferda's brow narrowed, and he covered his nose as if he had smelled a stench.

In that manner, he calmly trampled and violated it.

"Is this an expression of the revulsion you felt, Marquis?"

His love, which he had shown without hiding.