Being recognized as the Duke and bestowed the title was merely the beginning. I listened to Izuel's continued praise, so genuine that it made me doubt my own eyes and ears. He managed to turn an event meant to celebrate his succession into something that felt like a tribute to me.
“To me, Lord Jared—no, Duke Jared—is a benefactor. More so, he is a benefactor to the kingdom. Without Duke Jared, I would not have been able to stop my two elder brothers from straying down a wrong path.”
“The visuals of the situation were truly a divine stroke of genius. It became the means to reveal their wrongdoings to the world. Everyone should reflect on this. If only circumstantial evidence had been displayed, would you all have accepted it?”
“From this moment onwards, if anyone dares to slander Duke Jared or speak unfounded rumors, I will not forgive them. Any insults toward him will be taken as insults toward me.”
Izuel’s determination to wholeheartedly defend me came through. I felt deeply moved. Of course, I did not expect nothing in return, but I had invested a lot, and I had received much in return. He showed complete trust in me. In this public setting, he firmly nailed down his stance, making it so that no courtier could gossip about me from then on.
Moreover, in front of all the assembled officials, he boasted of our adventures together, enhancing my image. The courtiers who had held unfavorable views towards me began to change their expressions. They came to understand that I had not entered the internal strife merely for personal gain, but out of a willingness to assist Izuel.
“The finishing touch,” as Izuel emphasized twice at the end of his story, was a powerful statement.
“Duke Jared has prevented the downfall of our kingdom. Without him, we would have become mere pawns of the Umbra Sect, and your lives would not have been spared. You all would have faced purges and executions.”
“I take this opportunity to convey my deep gratitude to Duke Jared!”
“I will never forget the goodwill Duke Jared has shown our kingdom!”
All the officials bowed their heads to me. I lost count of how many times I had to bow in return, receiving their greetings with deference. Furthermore, Izuel granted me the land of Misery, which was once under Count Capri. Of course, Count Capri’s family and retainers still inhabited that land, and it belonged to the Kingdom of Cinders. However, Izuel added two provisions.
First, even if he seized Count Capri’s domain, it would not be construed as an act of war against the kingdom. Second, he declared that those who served Count Capri and had aided the traitor Pthalin would be marked as rebels themselves. This meant that Count Capri's family and retainers would have to flee if they wished to survive. Otherwise, they would not be able to avoid a war against me, who had secured a compelling justification as the “slayer of rebels.”
I thought highly of Izuel’s cunning. Misery’s territory was too protrusive from the perspective of the Kingdom of Cinders, making it a difficult place to defend if I were labeled a potential “enemy.” Thus, it seemed like a generous gesture from Izuel to grant me full authority over the count’s domain, ensuring that I could legitimately expand my territory.
In that land, there existed a dungeon I had long wished to conquer. The “Refuge of the Demon Army.” A dungeon where corrupted beings worshipped devils. Here, it would be just right for me and other promising adventurers to tackle together. The rewards after conquering it could be quite substantial.
At any rate, the spotlight poured upon me for an extended period. During that time, I felt the king’s trust, noticed the changing gazes of the courtiers, and acquired titles and power that I had never possessed before. The king-making endeavor that I had steadfastly pushed for from the start was a complete success. And thus, I became a powerful grand duke ruling over the northern lands of the Kingdom of Cinders.
That night, in the special guest room of the royal palace, Izuel and Mayra awaited a guest. This room opened only for the reception of a truly esteemed guest, and naturally, that guest was Jared.
Before Jared's arrival, Izuel and Mayra engaged in conversation. Among the royal siblings—there were four princes and one princess—Ian was dead, Pthalin was imprisoned, and Jess was missing. Thus, the two of them had practically become the last surviving siblings.
“Your Majesty,” Mayra began.
“Just call me brother. There’s no need for such formality,” Izuel replied.
“Surely I cannot address you by your past title,” she insisted.
“It is the king’s command. When it’s just the two of us, you must call me brother,” he urged.
“Very well…”
“Good. It sounds nice. You should have said that earlier. Let's avoid the stiff titles when we are in private.”
“Yes, brother,” she complied.
“Now, you mentioned you wanted to speak with me about something important separate from our meeting with Duke Jared?”
“That’s correct.”
Mayra nodded her head quietly, her expression heavier and more serious than usual. Though she typically kept her words few and was calm, today her demeanor seemed particularly weighed down by deep thoughts.
“Tell me. I want to hear.”
“Brother, in order to stabilize the kingdom’s situation swiftly, we absolutely need Duke Jared’s power.”
“I agree. But he seems firmly set on maintaining a boundary. It feels as if he sees something beyond our kingdom,” Izuel mused.
“The development of the land governed by Duke Jared, the great territory of Krivia, is astonishing. New inventions appear just when people let their guard down, leaving many in shock, don’t you think?”
“Indeed. The Jared mines have already undergone three improvements, amplifying their firepower, and the magical stone lamps are now distributed throughout the territory.”
“And the rumors about the dungeons have spread far and wide, drawing hunters from neighboring kingdoms and empires to venture into our territory,” she continued.
“I’ve heard it all. Letrian agriculture always yields bountiful harvests, and the developments from the Arkhenes trading company are remarkable. Matters that would take another domain ten years to achieve, Duke Jared has accomplished in just one year.”
“If our kingdom lets such talent slip away, I fear it will be a significant loss.”
“However, since he does not wish for a deep alliance with our kingdom…” Izuel wore a perplexed expression. Throughout his speech in the palace today, he had constantly sent signals of courting Duke Jared. Yet, Jared remained as steadfast as a giant wall, drawing a clear line.
At that moment, Mayra summed up her thoughts in four words.
“Political marriage.”
Izuel's expression turned ashen.
“What?”
“A political marriage is necessary. Brother, please arrange for me to wed Duke Jared for the sake of our kingdom.”
“What? Mayra, are you out of your mind?”
“I am more clear-headed than ever. For the kingdom, I thought about what I could do for you, brother. And I concluded that I must be used as a means to strengthen your royal authority.”
“How can you consider…!” Izuel didn’t finish his thought.
If compared to a novel, he might have exclaimed, “How could you send yourself to such a wicked person as Jared?”
To Izuel, Jared was a strategist with foresight and profound wisdom, able to analyze the situation keenly. No matter how hard he searched, Izuel could find no fault in him. Even his appearance was perfect. He was not a man with multiple wives, nor did he have tendencies toward thievery, wastefulness, or debauchery. Therefore, he could not refute Mayra's claim.
When it came to acknowledging the premise of political marriage, there was no better match than Jared.
At that moment, a voice interrupted.
“Your Majesty, Duke Jared has arrived.”
“Let him in.”
“Yes.”
The awaited guest had finally arrived.
I engaged in a comfortable conversation with Izuel and Mayra, reflecting on the journey from our first meeting to this day, finding no shortage of topics to discuss. Izuel repeatedly expressed his gratitude toward me in a way that was almost embarrassing. Additionally, he unexpectedly opened up about his inner turmoil.
“Actually, my late father executed a purge of all the officials afterwards to concentrate power in his hands.”
“Yes, I am aware.”
“During that time, I found myself briefly tempted by the devil's allure. I pondered betraying you and seizing only the benefits for myself.”
Normally, one might feel disgusted to hear such confessions, thinking something along the lines of, “How dare you?” However, knowing Izuel’s nature and character from the beginning, I felt nothing of the sort. Instead, I appreciated him for sharing such distress with me.
“I completely understand Your Majesty’s feelings. I would have acted similarly. While we are allies now, there could come a time when we might become formidable foes.”
“Even so, should I become enemies with Jared, I feel that I must repay the unwarranted kindness I’ve received from you with certainty. My decision is… unwavering.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” I respectfully bowed my head in acknowledgment.
At that moment, Princess Mayra added, “It is thanks to Duke Jared that our kingdom has both today and tomorrow. Truly, thank you. We will dedicate ourselves to eradicating what remains of the Umbra Sect.”
“Without allowing the dark cult a place to take root on this land,” Izuel declared with unwavering resolve. As one who studied the teachings of Radiance, he would surely see the Umbra teachings as the foulest of taint.
His disdain for the dark cult would be more profound than mine, not less.
“Ah, Duke Jared,” Izuel called again.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“May we engage in a deeper conversation tonight?”
“I would be honored to speak as long as Your Majesty and the Princess have time; I stand ready to spend the night in discussion. I came empty-handed to make way for such a meeting,” I stated, adjusting my posture to make myself presentable, aware that I must be courteous in front of the king and princess. I did not want to leave any hint of displeasure or arrogance, as the Kingdom of Cinders would need to serve as a sufficient shield against external forces in the future.
“Duke Jared,” Izuel's voice indicated that he was about to share something weighty.
He hesitated, his lips moving several times before he finally spoke, heavily, “How would you feel about taking my sister, Princess Mayra, as your spouse?”
“...?” Suddenly, the atmosphere had shifted, thrusting political marriage into the spotlight—a surprising move by Izuel.