Chapter 158 - Patriot

Waldemar Gold.

House Gold was a family of founding contributors, and its descendants had maintained a reputation befitting that name.

As was often the case with hereditary nobles, when the previous generation was outstanding, expectations for the next naturally grew.

Yet nine times out of ten, those swollen expectations were not met.

Waldemar Gold's father had been like that.

He had left behind the greatest achievements in House Gold, and people said Waldemar would never surpass him.

But Waldemar became a great Grand Duke who surpassed even that father.

He had no hesitation.

That was why Grand Duke Gold had been able to succeed.

Just as he showed aggressive pro-commoner policies and a heroic side, he was also bold in his backroom schemes.

If someone seemed likely to get in his way, he cast them aside and killed them, over and over.

As Waldemar aged and accumulated even more experience, it was rare for him to think highly of anyone younger than himself.

That rare person was Ferda.

'Ferda Valdrova.'

Ferda Valdrova's reputation was poor within the imperial capital.

Being thrown in as the Grand Duchess's fiancé meant he was useless trash, and Ferda was exactly that sort of man.

Those who truly believed he was a competent Regent and lord were no different from fools who still believed in the fairy tales of their childhood.

And what about this procession?

["The man who should be the face of the Grand Duchy's territory doing such a stupid thing..."]

["As expected, rumors about nobles remain nothing more than rumors."]

Because he had proceeded gloomily, with a cold expression and no smile, the nobles were even more strongly opposed.

It was no different from creating the mood of a tasteless funeral in the middle of a festival.

Not going along with the mood was a serious matter.

In the words of the world, he was a clueless bastard.

'That was how it was until he objected.'

The murmuring when he objected sounded like this to Waldemar.

He had cornered him.

Objecting to the conclusion of Crisis Response Headquarters was an act that undermined its authority.

If one were in one's right mind, no one would do such a thing.

It was also a rude act that showed no respect to Waldemar, who was called the hero of the people.

'But I should not have let him speak there.'

Waldemar admitted to himself that it was a mistake he had made by giving him room.

He had never imagined that the slightest opening he had given him to self-destruct would be used to overturn the board.

That mechanical, clueless man had emotion in the words he threw out for the sake of his fiancée.

A great cause dwelled in that emotion, and it gained the power to captivate the audience.

As if kneeling had merely been for the sake of gaining momentum, he had caught them off guard and flown straight upward.

Because of that, they could no longer create public opinion that this disaster had happened because the far east had failed in its defense.

They had to refresh the atmosphere that had tilted against them.

So they postponed the decision and adjourned.

'Ferda Valdrova...'

Waldemar called that name and the information attached to it to mind.

He weighed it on the scales in his heart.

How much was that man worth?

"Elder."

It was then.

Alexander walked toward him and interrupted.

Waldemar read Alexander's eyes.

They were full of discontent.

"I have nothing to discuss with you now. Leave."

Waldemar ignored him and took a step forward.

"Is this not different from what we discussed?"

"What was it we discussed? Was it not that I would save your life?"

"That is so."

"For a severed head, it seems to be attached quite well. The dullahans would be jealous."

"That is not the issue...! If you entrust that proxy role to my younger brother, to that bastard who is receiving so much expectation right now, how is that any different from making me a man with a death sentence!?"

Alexander shrieked.

Waldemar sighed and turned his head.

His face gleamed eerily with contempt.

"You fool. How do you not understand that this is the best choice?"

"The opportunity has passed to my younger brother. How is that the best choice?"

"If you had made even one prince in the time you had left, there would have been no need to go that far."

Alexander's face flushed bright red.

"T-That is..."

"Why? Are you ashamed? Yes, I suppose you would be. The world says the Crown Princess's body is unfit for pregnancy, but you know the real problem lies with you."

"..."

"The way you are hanging your head right now looks exactly like the thing hanging between your legs."

He only clicked his tongue, but Alexander's shins tingled.

Alexander, his spirit utterly broken, could not even answer back.

"I will say it again. I gave you a chance, boy."

"A chance, you say?"

"The seat of a king is one that must endure every disgrace. Pulling someone down is easy, but holding on is difficult. How many years did you endure there?"

"T-Ten years."

"Yes, ten years is long enough to know how to write even with your eyes closed. Just by looking at a map of the Empire, the landscape should come vividly to mind. You must know where the rot was, and where things were on the verge of bursting."

Waldemar patted Alexander on the shoulder.

"In terms of information, you already have the advantage over Ureas. It is a game where you are five moves ahead and have taken three points first. If you cannot win from there, would it not be easier on your mind to simply give up?"

"I apologize, Elder. I spoke out of turn..."

"Enough."

He had no expectations for Alexander.

"Did you do what I told you to do?"

"Yes, of course. He cooperated very actively."

"Yes, that is how he should come out..."

The plan was proceeding smoothly.

Even so, the worry on his face showed no sign of easing.

His mind was filled with only one woman.

"There is one thing I am curious about."

"Please ask."

"Olivia."

Waldemar leaned forward and asked.

"What is the relationship between that child and the Regent?"

"Pardon? Well... they have become close after speaking a great deal, but not as a man and woman."

"Can you guarantee that?"

"O-Of course! No matter what, she is the woman I see the most. How could I not know what is in her heart? The Regent is merely one of the many fish in her pond."

He said he could guarantee it, but those words instead made Waldemar suspicious.

Waldemar was a man praised as the hero of the people.

To maintain that, he needed the ability to see through people's inner thoughts, and he himself believed he understood them well enough.

So he also knew Olivia's state well.

She always wore a mask, and she tried to make men take her side so she could escape difficulties.

Olivia was magnificently walking that tightrope, where one wrong move could easily send her falling.

There was coldness within her warm-looking smile, and a stubborn firmness that lodged itself in the ear within her fluttering voice.

'That Olivia...'

And yet Olivia's gaze as she looked up at Ferda had been different.

As he watched that face, one woman he had left on the far side of memory came to mind.

Stella Arken.

'The woman of destiny who should have been mine.'

But that destiny had scattered in vain like cherry blossoms.

Waldemar grieved.

For her selfishness in denying destiny.

For the cold death that destiny had used to part them.

That sorrow was enough once.

There would be no further tragedy.

Waldemar decided to send one letter.

After the adjournment, Ferda headed to his lodgings.

The place where they were staying was a high-class inn for nobles.

Even a single room was spacious enough, but Ferda had rented out the entire high-class inn.

That was not all.

For double security, he had pitched field tents and thoroughly sealed off every possible gap.

Concillus, accompanied by his subordinates, inspected the security and returned to the tent to report.

"We checked every window, and there are no suspicious persons in the surrounding radius either."

"You have worked hard, Count."

"It is hardly work. A simple task like this is nothing."

"I am not merely expressing my thanks for the security inspection, but for doing well in this Golden Council too."

At that, Concillus laughed heartily.

"In that matter, I am the one who is grateful. After coming to the far east, I rarely had the chance to stand in the Golden Council..."

If other nobles had said it, Ferda might have thought it was an obsession with the Golden Council, but because Concillus said it, it sounded purely like he had wanted to stand as the representative of the far east.

"Now we must prepare for tomorrow."

"If there is anything this old man can do to help, please tell me. I shall gladly obey."

Concillus placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head respectfully.

"I am sorry, but from this matter onward, it would be better for you not to be involved."

"May I ask why you think so?"

"Because if you try to shield me clumsily, the backlash may hit you. At this point, just watch over things."

"Hmm..."

Concillus could not answer that he understood.

The future of the far east rested on Ferda's shoulders.

After looking at Ferda with a worried gaze, he finally answered.

"Understood. This old man shall watch over you, Regent."

Concillus observed the proper courtesy and tried to withdraw.

Just as he was about to go outside, the knight standing guard lifted the tent flap and spoke to Concillus.

"Regent."

He walked back to Ferda and handed over the item the knight had given him.

Concillus's expression was not good.

"A letter has arrived."

Ferda unfolded the letter.

The contents of the letter were short and intense.

-I will prepare a carriage. Come alone.

The signature line bore the name Waldemar Gold.

Ferda decided he would gladly play along with that letter.

A carriage stood before Ferda, and that carriage entered the imperial palace.

He had clearly come after receiving Gold's invitation, yet three or four times more people were welcoming him than when Olivia had greeted him.

It was supremely ironic.

He should have been a guest here too, yet they treated him like the host.

Ferda headed to the reception room where Waldemar was.

"Welcome, Regent Ferda."

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace."

"Let us not waste time on useless greetings or etiquette. People like us do not need such things, do we?"

If he put it that way, Ferda could only be grateful.

"Understood."

Ferda straightened his back and walked in.

Waldemar gestured to a servant.

As if everything had been prepared in advance, the servant brought out a teapot and liquor.

Properly brewed black tea was placed on Ferda's side, and whiskey with ice was placed on Waldemar's side.

Ferda silently drank the tea first.

"Watching what you do truly made me admire you."

Waldemar stirred the ice and drank a glass.

"I did not underestimate you, but I did not overestimate you either. I thought I had prepared just the right amount, but you caught me off guard."

"Is that so?"

"Brat, you may be a little happier. It is very rare for me to praise someone. You are better than that bastard Alexander."

"Being compared to the Crown Prince does not make it sound any more pleasant."

"That bastard may have the makings of a fool, but he has tact. He knows very well which side he has to cling to in order to survive."

Waldemar chuckled.

"So, judging by the look of things, you must have already prepared for this kind of postponement, and I can roughly guess what you are plotting next, so let us talk about that."

Ferda wondered if this was some bullshit attempt to pry out information.

But it was different from that kind of bullshit.

"I mean Young Master Yurei."

Ferda could not help being surprised by those words.

He had never imagined Waldemar would bring up that matter openly.

"Your informants must have already noticed, but Duke Yurei has come inside."

"Is that so?"

"After falling into debt, he became no different from a toothless tiger. But that does not mean he can be ignored. Do you know why?"

"Because he has nothing left to lose."

Waldemar nodded.

"They say in the world that the sorrow of losing a child is that great. When someone comes out like that, it takes on an extreme form. Rage, or resignation. Concillus chose resignation, and Yurei chose rage."

"Is that so?"

"Do you think you can stop that rage?"

He did not know.

Rage was like fire.

A fire that had grown as large as it could was not something even Ferda could look down on.

Seeing Ferda unable to answer easily, Waldemar continued as if that itself had become an answer.

"You seem far wiser than I imagined, so this should be easy to discuss. First, I must drink one more glass. What about you?"

"I still have half left."

"I see. I shall drink only mine."

The attendant cleared away the glass that held only ice and placed a new glass before him.

"Do you know how I have survived in this world until now?"

"I do not."

"It is possible because I am a patriot. The reason I cannot retire even at this age is that I still have a heart that worries for this country."

He said this as he drank the whiskey.

"The Empire is in a chaotic state right now. Rural farmers who should be working the fields have gathered together, become thugs, and are disturbing public order. They are becoming rats that gnaw away at the nation."

Ferda wondered if it was nonsense spat out under the influence of alcohol, but there was not the slightest tremor in Waldemar's eyes.

Ferda became curious and asked him.

"If you love this country so much, why not lead it yourself?"

He had the ability to cast aside the incompetent Emperor and his incompetent children.

"To rule, you say... If I had set my mind to it, it would have been possible."

Waldemar gave a small laugh, as if he found Ferda, who had asked that question, cute.

"But what would happen if I dragged the Emperor down? The rising of a new sun means chaos in the political situation. That is the path of fools blindly climbing the mountain of power, not the path of a patriot. I do not want such a thing."

There was one truth Ferda could acknowledge within those words.

If Waldemar had set his mind to it, he really could have risen as far as Emperor.

After drinking two glasses of whiskey, Waldemar smacked his lips.

"I want to ask you something. Are you a patriot?"

"Yes."

"Was that too vague? I was asking whether, if this Empire told you to die, you could die."

"I cannot."

Ferda answered directly.

"How can I be loyal when, even today, it tried to strip me bare and eat me?"

"Do you not wish to become a dog?"

"I am already a dog. However, just as there cannot be two suns beneath the heavens, I too have only one master."

If it had been the usual Waldemar, he might have snorted at those words, but he did not.

He merely stared at Ferda, so Ferda asked him directly.

"Will you punish me for being someone who does not show patriotism?"

"How could that be? The rats already make up more than half of the Golden Council. I could kill them all and change the state of the board, but I will not. History repeats itself anyway."

No matter how superhuman one was, one could not change every human heart.

"More importantly, I received one promise from the Emperor."

And more than anything, there was only one thing he was obsessed with.

"So I cannot help asking you."

"Please ask."

"What do you think of Princess Olivia?"

When he mentioned her name, Ferda looked into Waldemar's eyes.

They held the blazing vigor of a man.

Or perhaps an indescribable obsession and madness.