LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 79
Chapter 79: The Nest of Intrigue (3)
Only the Imperial Guard Knights were allowed to step foot inside the Imperial Palace.
All other knight orders had to remain in the residences built outside the palace.
As a result, the members of the White Dragon Knights headed toward their residence, while only Martin and Sien were permitted to enter the separate palace where Claudia Altaria resided.
“Would you like to chat with Lady Igreet outside, Irina?”
“What?!”
Claudia’s unexpected suggestion caught Sien off guard, and she was genuinely surprised.
Irina von Meinert was currently regarded as the strongest woman in the Altaria Empire.
As a fellow female knight, Sien admired Irina’s strength and had always looked up to her. Now, she was being given the chance to have a one-on-one conversation with her.
“I will follow your command, Your Highness. Lady Igreet, shall we step outside?”
“Well…”
Sien hesitated, glancing at Martin for approval.
After all, she had come to the Imperial Palace as his personal bodyguard, so she wasn’t sure if she should leave.
Martin, noticing her hesitation, gestured lightly.
“Go ahead, Sien. You’ve always wanted to talk to Vice-Captain Irina von Meinert, haven’t you?”
“Then I’ll be back shortly.”
Sien followed Irina out of the room, leaving Martin and Claudia alone.
After taking a sip of her tea, Claudia spoke.
“You must already know, young lord, that the Empire’s situation is more chaotic than ever. What do you think is the reason?”
“The core of the Empire consists of the royal family and the three great noble houses. With two of these pillars in turmoil, disorder was inevitable.”
“To be precise, it’s beyond disorder now. It’s no exaggeration to say that a full-scale division has already begun.”
“A division… that’s quite a frightening thing to say.”
Martin smiled.
Even before his return, there had been signs of a civil war.
It had only been delayed due to the internal conflict within the Adalbert family and the war with the elves in the South.
“Regardless, the truth of my words remains. In times like these, to survive, one needs reliable allies.”
“And you’re saying that the only ally I can trust is you, Your Highness?”
“Exactly. Do you really think Theodore, my brother, would ally himself with you? His maternal grandfather, Marquis Nicholas von Royce, has been eyeing the Adalbert family’s territory for a long time.”
“What about the 1st Prince, Your Highness?”
“Surely, you’re joking, young lord?”
Claudia smirked at Martin’s question—a clear sign of ridicule.
But Martin didn’t mind it at all.
“Richard, my eldest brother, believes that the cause of the Empire’s instability is the royal family’s inability to completely suppress the nobles with overwhelming power. That’s why he intends to annihilate all three of the great noble houses, except for his maternal Ferdinand family, in order to maximize the strength and authority of the royal family.”
“Ah, so that’s why the Ferdinand family supported the 1st Prince. I found it odd, since their lord isn’t the type to help just because he’s a grandson, but now it makes sense.”
“They want to eliminate their competitors, just like the rest. In any case, you have no chance of joining forces with Richard.”
“It’s unfortunate that I have no choice but to admit that.”
The frightening part was that the 1st Prince, Richard Altaria, had the ability to carry out his plans.
He was a monster among monsters, known to have mastered every discipline.
“There are other problems as well. For a thousand years, the world has been governed by the unjust system that determines one’s status solely based on innate abilities. Now, there are those who question it. Some have even organized and began acting on those beliefs.”
“The Empire and the three great noble families have suppressed all forms of injustice with sheer force. But now that half of the power center is faltering, the accumulated dissatisfaction is bound to erupt.”
“Whoever governs the Empire in the future must account for that. Which means they’ll need someone capable of maintaining balance through reasonable compromises. In that sense, my second brother is already out of the picture. He’s the kind of person who refuses to even entertain discussions with others.”
“Well, given the 1st Prince’s skills, it wouldn’t be impossible, but…”
“The problem is that my eldest brother has no intention of doing so. He prioritizes elevating the royal family’s authority and believes that any issues of injustice can be addressed later. And as for my inept little brother, there’s no reason for you to form an alliance with someone who has no claim to the throne, right?”
“So in the end, only you remain, Your Highness.”
“Now you understand, don’t you? I’m the only one who can form an alliance with you.”
Claudia spoke as she met Martin’s gaze.
Her eyes burned like fire, but Martin didn’t shy away.
In fact, he relaxed even more, showcasing his composure.
No matter what she said, he knew that he was the one holding the reins.
“Your maternal family, the Meinert Count family, is well-known for their swordsmanship, but that’s the extent of their influence. I admit it’s impressive how you’ve managed to break the one-on-one rivalry between the 1st and 2nd Princes, but your limitations are clear.”
“I agree. Unlike the two of them, I can’t wield power alone. I’m already overwhelmed just trying to keep them in check. That’s why I want to form an alliance with you.”
“An alliance only works if both sides have equal power or if both stand to gain something. However, Your Highness fails to meet either condition.”
“Do you really think the Adalbert family can handle the Royce Marquisate on their own?”
“To be blunt, the Adalbert family is only lacking in one area: an absolute powerhouse. Right now, we don’t have anyone above the 9th Circle.”
Martin displayed confidence without hesitation.
Claudia, her expression stiff, responded.
“…If you form an alliance with me, you could have the strength of Irina von Meinert.”
“That could be helpful. But I doubt it will come to that. Each of the three major factions has a 9th Circle warrior protecting its leaders. If even one of them steps away, I’d immediately target and kill their leader. What do you think about that, Your Highness?”
“Perhaps you’re right. But your weaknesses don’t end there, do they? Other than the White Dragon Knights and the Golden Dragon Knights, many of your talented fighters have left. Even some of your elders and branch family heads have grown discontent, so internal conflict could break out at any time.”
“Since the monster wave incident, I’ve been recruiting talent. Christian Havertz of the Flame Dragon Sword is a prime example. And I’ve managed to bring those who could sow discord under control to some extent.”
Martin never lost his confidence throughout the conversation.
And he delivered the final blow.
“Even without them, it doesn’t matter. The Adalbert family’s forces are still stronger than the Royce Marquisate. Unless they bring out some hidden forces, they’re the ones attacking, and I’m just defending.”
“Haa…”
In the end, Claudia sighed.
“Instead of forming an alliance, you’re asking for compensation. You sure have a way with words, young lord.”
“Well, that’s how deals work, isn’t it? While I’m willing to ally with you, I have no intention of being taken advantage of.”
“Fine. What do you want? As long as it’s not the independence of the Adalbert family, I’ll agree to it.”
“You won’t regret it?”
“I doubt you’d ask for something impossible. If you were that stupid, you wouldn’t be sitting here in the first place.”
“To make me feel guilty—now that’s a low blow.”
“Not as low as the young lord, who’s toying with me.”
Despite the unfavorable situation, Claudia didn’t lose her composure at all.
Watching her, Martin inwardly acknowledged something.
She was, without a doubt, a major figure who would shape the future of this era.
“What I want is…”
As Martin spoke, Claudia’s face showed a hint of discomfort.
“Hmm. It sounds a bit unrealistic.”
“But it’s certainly enticing, isn’t it?”
“That it is.”
Swoosh.
Claudia extended her right hand toward Martin.
He grabbed it without hesitation.
Thus, an alliance was officially formed between the Adalbert family and the 1st Princess.
—
* * *
Tremble, tremble.
Sien found herself trembling uncontrollably.
‘This is bad…’
She knew she was making a poor impression.
And yet, she couldn’t stop her heart from racing, nor could she control the trembling in her limbs.
But it was understandable.
After all, who was Irina von Meinert?
She was the only woman in the Altaria Empire to reach the 9th Circle, a level that only the most skilled knights and mages could attain.
She was only 38 years old, and many believed she might one day reach the 10th Circle.
In the Empire’s history, only the heads of the three great noble houses and the Emperor himself had ever become 10th Circle masters.
If she reached that level, it would rewrite the Empire’s history.
‘That’s why some people call her the second Arelia von Adalbert.’
It was an extraordinary feat.
Especially considering Irina had no connection to the Adalbert family.
Thud.
Irina, who had been sitting opposite the visibly tense Sien, set her teacup down.
“I hope the tea is to your
liking.”
“Th-thank you!”
Sien quickly grasped her teacup and took a sip.
Instantly, she felt her anxious mind begin to settle.
“Feeling a bit calmer now?”
“…Yes. I apologize for showing such an embarrassing side of myself.”
“I don’t know why, but every female knight I meet reacts the same way you do. That’s why I always serve this tea when I meet them. It’s quite effective at calming the nerves.”
“You’re regarded as the idol of all women who walk the path of the sword, Countess Meinert.”
“An idol, huh… It makes me happy to hear that from a promising junior.”
A faint smile appeared on Irina’s face.
Meanwhile, Sien beamed with joy.
What could be more satisfying than being praised by a senior knight she admired?
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Sien Igreet. They say that you, along with Adel Bitenfeld, will become knights whose names are widely known in the future. Even without Her Highness’ order, I would have wanted to talk with you at least once.”
“I’m grateful for the praise, though Adel is a bit…”
Sien smiled wryly at the mention of her rival and nemesis.
“Since Her Highness and the young lord of the Adalbert family are sure to form an alliance, I want to ask you something. What kind of person do you think the young lord is?”
“Hmm. I’d say he’s someone destined to stand at the pinnacle.”
“What makes you say that?”
“The 1st Prince is highly regarded for his exceptional talent in martial arts and various other areas, right? I believe Martin is the same kind of person. If I had to point out a difference… I’d say the 1st Prince is cautious, while Martin is incredibly bold. Didn’t you also witness that firsthand in the free city of Akela, Countess?”
“That’s true.”
Irina nodded in agreement.
The moment Martin devised a plan, he had immediately requested the cooperation of the 1st Princess.
Then, he acted without hesitation and achieved everything he wanted.
There was no denying his decisive nature and boldness.
“May I ask you something now?”
“Of course.”
“What kind of person is the 1st Princess?”
“She’s someone who also belongs at the pinnacle. In part due to her strong ambitions.”
“Ambition?”
Sien was puzzled.
Was that really a good thing?
Understanding her confusion, Irina explained.
“I believe that ambition is a virtue that every ruler must possess. Only with ambition can they strive for more and reach greater heights. Her Highness’s ambition is focused on improving herself and gathering talented individuals to secure the throne.”
“Ah, that makes sense. In that case, it’s clear that Martin fits into that category as well.”
“As expected.”
Irina smiled and nodded.
Then, she stood up from her seat.
“It seems their conversation is over. Now that they’ve formed an alliance, I hope we can have opportunities like this more often.”
“May I… come to visit from time to time?”
“Of course. I always look forward to meeting promising juniors.”
“Thank you.”
Sien bowed respectfully.
She was eager to learn.
She wanted to understand the secret to Irina’s strength.
‘So I can be of more help to Martin.’
She had no intention of standing back like she had during their time in Akela.
With that determination, she solidified her resolve.
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