The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Decided to Divorce

50

Although he had frozen his body with coldness, he couldn’t stop the magic from being activated.

Even if it made him weaker than the original, he couldn’t underestimate the use of forbidden magic.

That’s why the Sword Saint had to intervene directly, but now Brillie had already executed the sentence.

‘He slashed it in one stroke. It felt a bit unfamiliar because…’

Even Alter couldn’t fully grasp that moment.

He only realized that Brillie had infused the blade with powerful magic.

And the atmosphere was so solemn that it felt as if he had become someone else for a moment.

‘Isn’t it too fast? He still can’t beat Lang, can he?’

Certainly, Brillie’s swordsmanship was excellent, but he hadn’t yet reached the level equal to the next Sword Saint.

That’s why he had been continuously sparring with Lang while belonging to the Setinos Knights.

But could he have suddenly become stronger without any reason?

‘Did he receive some secret teachings without my knowledge…’

“Are you okay? It’s not too hard for you, is it?”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t have to do it all by yourself. So don’t overdo it.”

Brillie held Alter’s hand and scanned it back and forth.

His body had gone cold for a moment, but he had regained warmth, albeit late.

Moreover, he hadn’t coughed up blood like the last time, so he could be a little relieved.

“… I think we should apologize to His Majesty the Emperor first. We didn’t do anything wrong, but we did fight, didn’t we?”

“Yes. I’m aware.”

From noble mtl dot come

Alter followed Brillié to approach the Emperor.

And then, he knelt on one knee, looking up at the Emperor seated on the throne.

“It is with deep regret that I have committed a discourtesy in the presence of Your Majesty. I dare to offer my apologies.”

“An apology? That’s absurd. Had you not stepped forward, a great disaster would have unfolded. The royal knights’ weapons are not to be handed to just anyone, but was it not an urgent situation? As the Emperor, I declare that your efforts shall be commended.”

“…I am humbled, Your Majesty.”

It was only then that Brillié bowed his head and answered modestly.

Certainly, a merit was established, but the process was against the royal etiquette.

Therefore, as a subject obedient to the Emperor, it was first to ask for clemency.

“I may have put down my sword long ago, but I have not lost my discernment. I had only heard rumors, but who would have thought you to be so exceptional?”

“I am unworthy of such praise, Your Majesty.”

“I would wish to induct you into the royal knights this instant… but that cannot be. One must not neglect their betrothed, right?”

“…Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Athelore descended from the throne and stopped in front of the two.

Though an accident had occurred suddenly, it was swiftly resolved.

One might have thought to dispatch the captain of the royal knights, but a warrior of equal strength had resolved it instead.

Moreover, a noble mage had stepped forward, preventing any casualties.

“Alter Radiant is also remarkable. Truly worthy of being taken as a disciple by the Archmage!”

“I am merely honored, Your Majesty.”

“…The Duke of the North has raised a fine child. The Duke’s loyalty must have reached even the royal palace.”

Athelore looked down at Alter, intoxicated by memories of the past.

In the moment Alter manifested magic, the perfect image of Uriel was drawn.

For a moment, he wondered if he was mistaken, but the sensation he felt then could not be concealed.

‘How could the Duke’s child bear such a striking resemblance to Uriel?’

Athelore turned his gaze away with difficulty, harboring a tumultuous heart.

He must not become entangled in the past he had sought to forget.

Uriel had already passed away, and she was the Duke’s legitimate wife.

If he could not shake even that, he would disgrace the throne passed down from his ancestors.

“Rise now. I shall bestow fitting rewards upon you both later. Today’s banquet shall end here.”

With those words alone, Athelore left the banquet hall with the royal knights.

The guests glanced at each other before hastily beginning to move.

Alter and Brilly stood still for a while before belatedly moving their feet.

“…Did you receive a favor from the Archmage?”

Belder watched the two and slowly headed towards the entrance.

The greed he had harbored before seemed to be growing.

He had thought about giving up, but after witnessing that scene, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of lingering attachment.

“With that, they can’t remain as royal attendants.”

If their abilities were proven, they could use it as a pretext to refuse the position of royal attendant.

Moreover, having established merit in front of the Emperor, a solid footing as a magician would be prepared.

Perhaps it would be better to appoint them as direct magicians of the royal family.

“The lady is more to my liking than I thought.”

Belder crossed the threshold, harboring twisted desires.

Originally, he had only intended to enlist them in the royal knights and keep them as his personal guards.

But the grace with which they wielded the sword was so beautiful that he couldn’t help but be emotionally swayed.

“The Emperor would not allow it.”

The Emperor, his father, had not abused power since his ascension.

Thus, he had been able to check the nobles without friction while maintaining a proper balance.

If he acted on his own, that balance would surely collapse.

“To meddle with a lady promised in marriage to the Crown Prince… and a lady of a ducal house at that…”

The second daughter of the Ilernat ducal house was already engaged to the youngest son of a grand ducal house.

Meaning, if he showed any impure intentions, it would provoke both the grand ducal and the ducal houses.

Considering the title of Crown Prince, even the Emperor would not stand idly by.

“Knowing that it’s wrong, yet unable to forsake it. Should I speak with Duke Ilernat?”

***

Karaf had finished an urgent task and was taking a brief rest.

Just because one is the captain of the royal knights doesn’t mean they can stay in the same place forever.

That’s why the group known as the royal knights exists, and the members fill that void.

“…You said this to me. The Sword Saint guards outside the royal palace, and the captain of the royal knights guards inside. Did I hear wrong?”

Megarex approached Karaf, reciting calmly.

Karaf let out a chuckle, then slowly opened his mouth.

“I appreciate you remembering my words, but why bring that up now?”

“I just tried it out. I wanted to show you that I live more comfortably than you do.”

“Ha! That’s rather bland…”

Karaf, though he found it pathetic, welcomed the joke with open arms.

Initially, he treated him as an opponent to be overcome, but now they interacted without any reservations.

Not friends, but akin to friends.

Still, they regarded each other with distaste, forming an ambiguous relationship.

“I just came for a visit, and who knew an accident would happen. I should never come back.”

“If you say it like that, it sounds like you orchestrated it.”

“Why would I orchestrate anything? Just brandishing a sword is enough.”

“Hmm… Should I consider it a strategy to clear yourself of suspicion?”

“I wouldn’t do such a thing, not even because of you. How could I handle the knights behind you when I can’t even settle the score with you?”

“…”

Of course, Karaf wasn’t serious.

He was merely questioning deeds that even Megarex wouldn’t dare commit.

Even the so-called Sword Saint lived in quietude, who would dare threaten the royal family?

“Before I leave, there’s something I want to ask.”

“… Are you curious about the Duke’s young lady?”

“I know roughly. She’s said to manage the Order of Knights with the next Sword Saint.”

“If the next Sword Saint has accepted her, she must be more than mediocre.”

“Do you think I’d ask you if I didn’t know? That swordsmanship… What do you think?”

Megarex was still reminiscing about the stroke drawn by the Duke’s second daughter.

To the eye, it might seem ordinary, but in reality, it was imbued with the essence of swordsmanship.

She was known to be quite young, but who would have thought she could already embody such experience?

“It was clean and… decisive. I’d very much like to recruit her into the Royal Knights.”

“Ha! Praise from you, that’s rare.”

“What can’t I do?”

“Isn’t it your job to be critical and maintain standards?”

“What’s there to maintain if there’s nothing to criticize?”

“I admit it’s flawless. So… will you just leave it at that?”

Megarex glanced at Karaf with a stern look.

The title of Sword Saint was something I planned to pass on to Rang within a few years.

But now that a suitable swordsman has appeared so suddenly, I must take some measures.

“His Majesty has already noticed. It won’t end with just bestowing a reward.”

“What more is there besides a reward?”

“How about a title equivalent to Sword Saint?”

Megalexer harbored doubts upon hearing this, but soon accepted the idea.

There’s no reason there must be only one sword-related title.

In fact, the more there are, the more people will aspire to them, and thus, more exceptional swordsmen can be nurtured.

“…It can’t be equal. Considering the courtesy due to the current Sword Saint, it would have to be slightly less.”

“Once the title is passed on, they’ll be similar. It’s not easy for a woman to reach such heights.”

“Is it that difficult? Just use magic cleverly.”

“If one could reach the realm of Sword Saint with magic alone, it would be better to learn sorcery.”

“Speaking of magic… did you say he’s a scion of the Grand Duke’s family? He used something quite terrifying.”

“Terrifying… Yes, that’s an apt description.”

Karaf, being a swordsman before being the commander of the Imperial Knights, couldn’t help but take an interest in Brillié.

However, he hadn’t forgotten about Alter, and was instead reflecting on it carefully.

It wasn’t ordinary elemental magic, and it was entangled with the Emperor’s past.

“If he masters it and fights me… it would be difficult to approach.”

“Are you already thinking of approaching? It would be hard to avoid that chill.”

“I’d have to counter it with magic and finish it in one go.”

“Countering it is hard enough… but let’s say you did approach. Do you think that’s all there is?”

“One can only hope that’s all. If there’s more, we might have to overwhelm with numbers.”

“So, in essence, you’re saying it’s tricky to deal with? Even for someone called Sword Saint?”

“If a Sword Saint can’t use a sword, then they’ve fulfilled their role. You can’t just recklessly throw out sword energy.”

“Indeed… It seems we must consider him as the next Archmage.”

“At that level, he would have to become an Archmage. It’s inevitable.”

Megalexer concurred with Karaf’s opinion, estimating the power roughly.

He had frozen a multitude of undead at once, and even neutralized a dark sorcerer.

Of course, the dark sorcerer had transformed his own body, but that was a situation no one could have anticipated.

In reality, it was Alter Radiant who had single-handedly defeated the enemies.

“If that’s the case, it would mean a union of a title equivalent to Sword Saint and the next Grand Magus… Can such a marriage even exist?”

“I’m more excited about the child that will come from them. Doesn’t a child follow the talents of their parents?”

“By that time, we could expand our territory. The more talents we have, the empire will flourish…”