The Patriot

Valdemar Golt.

The Golt family was a house of founding contributors to the Empire, and its descendants maintained a reputation worthy of that legacy.

As was usually the case with hereditary nobles, the greater the previous generation’s achievements, the greater the expectations placed on the next.

Yet nine times out of ten, those inflated expectations went unmet.

Valdemar Golt’s father had been such a man.

He had left the greatest achievements in the history of House Golt, and people said Valdemar would never surpass him.

Yet Valdemar became a great grand duke who surpassed even that father.

He never hesitated.

That was the reason Grand Duke Golt had been able to succeed.

As bold as he was in advancing his elitist policies and displaying a heroic persona, he was equally daring in his behind-the-scenes schemes.

If someone seemed likely to hinder him, he brushed them aside and killed them without hesitation.

As Valdemar grew older and accumulated more experience, he rarely thought highly of anyone younger than himself.

That rare person was Ferda.

‘Ferda Valdrova.’

Ferda Valdrova’s reputation in the imperial capital was poor.

Being thrown at a grand duke as his fiancée meant that one was a useless failure, and Ferda was exactly that sort of person.

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

And what about this procession?

-The one who is supposed to be the face of the Grand Duchy doing something that stupid…….

-As expected, rumors about nobles are just rumors after all.

Because he had not smiled and had proceeded with such a gloomy expression, the nobles’ opposition had grown even stronger.

It was no different from creating the atmosphere of an appetite-killing funeral in the middle of a festival.

Failing to go along with the mood was a serious offense.

He was, as people said, a clueless bastard.

‘That was how it was—until he refused.’

The murmurs when he refused sounded like this to Valdemar.

They had driven him into a corner.

Refusing the Emergency Response Headquarters’ conclusion was an act that diminished its authority.

It was something no sane person would do.

It was also an insolent act that showed no respect to Valdemar, who was known as a hero of the people.

‘But I shouldn’t have let him speak there.’

Valdemar himself admitted that it had been a mistake caused by his own complacency.

He had never imagined that Ferda would turn the tables with the sliver of an opening he had given him to self-destruct.

That mechanical, socially oblivious man’s words, thrown out for his fiancée, had been filled with emotion.

That emotion carried a higher cause, giving it the power to captivate the audience.

As though kneeling had merely been a way to gain momentum, he had struck their blind spot and soared straight back up.

Because of that, it had become impossible to create the public opinion that this disaster had occurred because the Far East had failed in its defense.

He had to change the atmosphere, which had already tilted against him.

That was why he postponed the decision and called a recess.

‘Ferda Valdrova…….’

Valdemar recalled that name and the information surrounding it in his mind.

He weighed it on the scales within his heart.

How valuable was that bastard?

“Sir.”

It was then.

Alexander walked toward him and obstructed his path.

Valdemar read the look in Alexander’s eyes.

They were filled with discontent.

“I have nothing to discuss with you right now. Go.”

Valdemar ignored him and continued walking.

“Isn’t that different from what we discussed?”

“What did we discuss? Didn’t we agree to spare your life?”

“Yes.”

“Your head is still attached rather well for one that was cut off. The dullahans would be envious.”

“That isn’t the point……! If you hand that acting position to my brother, to that bastard who is receiving such high expectations right now, isn’t that the same as putting me on borrowed time!?”

Alexander shrieked.

Valdemar sighed and turned his head.

Contempt gleamed chillingly across his face.

“Fool. How can you not understand that this is the best option?”

“How can it be the best option when the opportunity has been handed to my brother?”

“If you had produced even one prince in the time you had left, there would have been no need to go this far.”

Alexander’s face turned bright red.

“Th-That…….”

“Why? Are you ashamed? Yes, you must be. The world may be spreading rumors that the Crown Princess is unfit to conceive, but you know that the real problem lies with you.”

“……”

“The way you’ve lowered your head now looks exactly like the thing hanging between your legs.”

He merely clicked his tongue, but Alexander’s shins tingled.

With his spirit completely crushed, Alexander could not even manage a reply.

“I’ll say it again: I gave you a chance, brat.”

“A chance?”

“The throne is a place where one must endure every humiliation. Pulling someone down is easy, but enduring is difficult. How many years did you endure there?”

“T-Ten years.”

“Yes, ten years is enough time to learn to write characters with your eyes closed. You must be able to see the Empire’s landscape vividly just by looking at its map. You must also know where the festering spots are and which places are on the verge of bursting.”

Valdemar patted Alexander on the shoulder.

“You already have the advantage over Ureas when it comes to information. It’s a game where you’re five moves ahead and get three points first. If you can’t win from there, wouldn’t it be easier on your mind to give up?”

“I’m sorry, sir. I spoke out of turn……”

“Enough.”

Valdemar had no expectations of Alexander whatsoever.

“Did you do what I told you?”

“Yes, of course. He cooperated very actively.”

“Good. That’s how it should be……”

The plan was proceeding smoothly.

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

His mind was filled with only one woman.

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Olivia.”

Valdemar leaned forward as he asked.

“What is the relationship between that girl and the regent?”

“What? Well…… they’ve grown close after talking a great deal, but not as a man and woman.”

“Are you certain?”

“O-Of course! Even so, I’m the one who sees her most often. Do you think I don’t know what’s in her heart? The regent is just one fish among the many in her pond.”

Although he claimed to be certain, those words only made Valdemar more suspicious.

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

To maintain that reputation, he needed the ability to see through people’s true feelings, and he believed he possessed that ability in abundance.

Therefore, he also knew Olivia’s state of mind well.

She always wore a mask and tried to turn men into her allies so she could escape difficult situations.

Olivia was performing that tightrope walk skillfully, despite how easily she might fall.

Her warm-looking smile held a chill, while the fluttering voice she used contained a bluntness that pierced the ears.

‘That Olivia…….’

Yet the look in Olivia’s eyes as she gazed up at Ferda was different.

Seeing that face brought a woman back from the distant reaches of his memory.

Stella Arken.

‘The woman of destiny who should have been mine.’

Yet that destiny had scattered meaninglessly like cherry blossoms.

Valdemar grieved.

Her selfishness in denying destiny.

The cold death that fate had brought about by separating them.

That sorrow had been enough once.

There would be no more tragedies.

Valdemar decided to send a letter.

* * *

After the recess, Ferda headed to their lodgings.

They were staying at a luxurious inn for nobles.

A single room was spacious enough, but Ferda had rented the entire luxury inn.

That was not all.

For double security, he set up a field tent and sealed everything off so thoroughly that there was not a single gap.

Consilius brought his subordinates along to inspect security, then returned to the tent and reported.

“We checked every window, and there are no suspicious people in the surrounding area.”

“You’ve worked hard, Count.”

“It was hardly difficult. A simple matter like this is nothing.”

“I’m not merely thanking you for inspecting security. I’m expressing my gratitude for doing so well at the Golden Council as well.”

Consilius let out a hearty laugh.

“I’m the one who should be grateful for that. Ever since coming to the Far East, I’ve rarely had the opportunity to stand before the Golden Council……”

If other nobles had said it, one might have thought it was an obsession with the Golden Council, but coming from Consilius, it sounded as though he had genuinely wanted to stand there as the Far East’s representative.

“Now we should prepare for tomorrow.”

“If there is anything this old man can do to help, please tell me. I will gladly comply.”

Consilius placed a hand over his chest and bowed politely.

“I’m sorry, but from this point on, it would be better if you didn’t get involved in this matter.”

“May I ask why you think so?”

“If I clumsily try to shield you, it could bring a backlash. From here on, just watch over things.”

“Hmm……”

Consilius could not bring himself to say that he understood.

The future of the Far East rested on Ferda’s shoulders.

He looked at Ferda with concern before finally answering.

“Understood. This old man will watch over you, Regent.”

Consilius courteously prepared to withdraw.

Just as he was about to leave, the knight standing guard lifted the tent flap and spoke to Consilius.

“Regent.”

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

Consilius’s expression was grim.

“A letter has arrived.”

Ferda unfolded the letter.

Its contents were brief and forceful.

-I will prepare a carriage. Come alone.

The signature read Valdemar Golt.

Ferda decided to play along willingly.

* * *

A carriage was waiting in front of Ferda, and it carried him into the imperial palace.

He had clearly come at Golt’s invitation, yet three or four times as many people were welcoming him as when Olivia had greeted him.

It could not have been more ironic.

He was a guest here as well, yet they were treating him like the host.

Ferda headed to the reception room where Valdemar was waiting.

“Welcome, Regent Ferda.”

“It is a pleasure to see you, Grand Duke.”

“Let’s not waste time on pointless greetings or etiquette. People like us don’t need that, do we?”

Ferda could only be grateful that he had said so.

“Understood.”

Ferda straightened his back and walked forward.

Valdemar gestured to a servant.

The servant prepared a teapot and liquor as though he had been waiting for them to be requested.

Perfectly brewed black tea was placed before Ferda, while whiskey with ice was set before Valdemar.

Ferda drank his tea first without saying anything.

“Watching what you do, I find myself genuinely impressed.”

Valdemar swirled the ice and took a sip.

“I didn’t underestimate you, but I didn’t overestimate you either. I thought I had prepared for you just right, but you caught me off guard.”

“Is that so?”

“Young man, you can be a little happier. I rarely praise anyone. You’re superior to that bastard Alexander, after all.”

“Being compared to the Crown Prince makes it sound even less like a compliment.”

“Even if he has an idiot’s tendencies, he has political sense. He knows exactly which side he needs to join to survive.”

Valdemar chuckled.

“So, apparently you had already prepared for this postponement as well, and you probably have a rough idea of what I’m scheming next. Let’s talk about that.”

Ferda wondered if this was some cheap trick to pry information out of him.

But it was different from such a cheap trick.

“I mean Lord Yurei.”

Ferda was startled by those words.

He had never expected Valdemar to bring up that matter so openly.

“Your informants have probably noticed already, but Duke Yurei is here.”

“Is that so?”

“Since falling into debt, he’s no better than a tiger without fangs. But that doesn’t mean he can be ignored. Do you know why?”

“Because he has nothing left to lose.”

Valdemar nodded.

“People say the grief of losing a child is immense. Those who react that way become extreme. They either grow angry or resign themselves. Consilius chose resignation, while Yurei chose anger.”

“Is that so?”

“Do you think you can stop that anger?”

I don’t know.

Anger is like fire.

A fire that has grown as large as it can is not something even Ferda can take lightly.

Seeing that Ferda could not answer easily, Valdemar continued as though that itself had been an answer.

“You seem wiser than I imagined, so I think we’ll be able to speak frankly. I need another drink first. What about you?”

“I still have half of mine left.”

“I see. Then I’ll drink only mine.”

The attendant removed the glass that held nothing but ice and placed a new one before him.

“Do you know how I’ve managed to survive in this world until now?”

“I don’t.”

“It’s because I’m a patriot. The reason I haven’t retired even at my age is that I still worry about this country.”

He said it while downing his whiskey.

“The Empire is in a chaotic state right now. Farmers in the countryside who should be tending their fields are banding together as thugs and disrupting public order. They’re becoming rats gnawing away at the country.”

Ferda wondered if it was drunken nonsense, but there was not the slightest wavering in Valdemar’s eyes.

Ferda grew curious and asked him.

“If you love this country so much, why don’t you lead it yourself?”

He had the ability to surpass the incompetent Emperor and his incompetent children.

“Rule it…… If I had truly wanted to, it would have been possible.”

Valdemar gave a small laugh, as though he found Ferda’s question amusingly cute.

“But what would happen if I dragged the Emperor down? A new sun rising means turmoil in the political situation. That is the path of a fool blindly climbing the mountain of power, not the path of a patriot. I don’t want that.”

There was only one truth in those words that Ferda could acknowledge.

If Valdemar had truly wanted it, he could have risen to become Emperor.

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

“I want to ask you something. Are you a patriot?”

“Yes.”

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

“I can’t.”

Ferda answered directly.

“They tried to fleece me just today. How could I swear loyalty to them?”

“Don’t you want to be a dog?”

“I already am one. But just as there cannot be two suns beneath the sky, I have only one master.”

It was the sort of remark Valdemar would normally have scoffed at, but he did not.

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

“Will you punish me for not being a patriot?”

“Would I? Rats already make up more than half of the Golden Council. I could kill them all and change the balance of power, but I won’t. History repeats itself in the end, after all.”

Even a superhuman could not change the hearts of every human being.

“Above all, I have received one promise from the Emperor.”

And above all, there was only one thing he was obsessed with.

“So I can’t help but ask you.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“What do you think of Princess Olivia?”

When he mentioned her name, Ferda looked into Valdemar’s eyes.

They held the blazing passion of a man.

Or perhaps an indescribable obsession and madness.