* * *
“Would His Imperial Majesty, the great and wise Emperor, ever err? No. I merely believe that those who deceived Your Majesty and clouded your vision must be severely punished.”
At the Grand Duke’s words, the expressions of several individuals stiffened.
Ed made a mental note of their faces, observing them carefully.
“Ha!”
The Emperor’s voice boomed in anger.
“How cunning your words are, Grand Duke. It seems you’re attempting to insist that you received divine guidance to make your hidden lover your bride. But where is the proof that the Grand Duchess I found is a fraud?”
The Grand Duke, as if reveling in the chance to finally reveal the truth, enunciated each word with deliberate precision.
“My lover is that proof.”
It was a confession he had suppressed for a long time.
“I know of Your Majesty’s great efforts to uncover the nearly extinct Zelda clan. But how can you be certain that the woman you found is the only living Zelda? Couldn’t there be others?”
“…….”
“Unless, of course, Your Majesty personally witnessed their extinction.”
Bloodshot rage filled the Emperor’s eyes.
“Therefore, I request a reexamination of the Grand Duchess’s authenticity.”
The Grand Duke pressed on relentlessly.
“According to the parchment left by the late Emperor, when a royal with the blood of the dragon stains it with their own blood, the truth will be revealed.”
The Emperor crushed the parchment in his hands and roared, his voice fierce.
“Are you implying that the Grand Duke dared to tamper with the late Emperor’s will before I even laid eyes on it?”
“How could I, Your Majesty? The Dowager Empress herself entrusted this to me and informed me of the late Emperor’s intentions.”
At the mention of the unexpected figure, the Emperor’s brow furrowed.
“The Dowager Empress?”
“If necessary, she can testify to this herself.”
The Emperor, his fingers gripping the parchment so tightly they turned white, shifted his gaze from the Grand Duke to the Chief Mage.
Finally, he addressed the Grand Duke again.
“No, there’s no need for that. There’s a simpler way to settle this matter. Let the person you claim received divine guidance stand here to distinguish truth from falsehood.”
Without waiting for the Grand Duke’s response, the Emperor continued,
“If you are so confident as to challenge me here, then surely you must be certain of your claim. Bring your partner here at once!”
As the Grand Duke descended from the podium, each step he took drew the crowd’s focused gaze.
When he stopped in front of Ed, shielding him from the prying eyes, murmurs of shock rippled through the onlookers.
“Could it possibly be a man?”
“He doesn’t even look like a noble.”
“The Grand Duke of the North is choosing someone so unimpressive as his consort?”
The Grand Duke cast a cold, warning glare toward the offenders.
The sharpness of his gaze silenced them, forcing them to avert their eyes.
Once the murmuring subsided, the Grand Duke turned to Ed, his expression softening into one of warmth.
“I’m sorry for putting you in such a position.”
His voice was boundlessly gentle.
Ed, brushing it off, was the first to take the Grand Duke’s hand.
“There’s no need to apologize, Your Grace. You’ve said it before—this is a journey we must face together to secure our future.”
Ed glanced around briefly before taking a step forward.
The sky outside had darkened, signaling the late hour, and the soft sound of rain tapping against the windows could be heard.
“Let’s go, Your Grace,” Ed said firmly, his gaze returning to the podium.
The Emperor, watching Ed with disdain, sneered.
His expression spoke volumes: was this insignificant man truly worth all the trouble the Grand Duke had caused?
Ed felt the sting of countless eyes fixed on his back as he walked forward.
Their opinions of him didn’t matter.
Nor, it seemed, did they matter to the Grand Duke, who tightened his grip on Ed’s hand as if to offer silent reassurance.
As long as he felt the warmth of the Grand Duke beside him, Ed had no doubt that he could overcome whatever lay ahead.
Together, they ascended the steps, treading over the stained carpet that bore marks of the Emperor’s anger.
Ed took a deep breath before reaching the top, gripping the Grand Duke’s hand even tighter.
Kneeling before the throne, the two men bowed deeply.
The Emperor, reclining with his chin resting on his hand, stared down at them with a twisted smirk, his pale blond hair glinting in the dim light.
Before the Emperor could utter a word, the Grand Duke, without hiding his heart or desire, declared boldly, his voice steady and resolute:
“This man is my fated partner as revealed by the divine guidance—a future Grand Duchess, Ed.”
The Emperor threw his head back and laughed derisively.
“Ha! Grand Duke, I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t mistaken, so let me ask again.”
He tilted his head mockingly.
“You’re introducing that scrawny scarecrow of a man as your lover?”
Ed’s grip on the Grand Duke’s hand tightened.
The Emperor’s insult wasn’t just about his appearance but also his lack of noble lineage, implying that Ed was unworthy of the role of Grand Duchess.
The Grand Duke immediately countered.
“That’s not true. The Grand Duchess must be someone who can govern the northern stronghold in my absence and protect the citizens in times of peril.”
The Grand Duke paused, sweeping his gaze across the crowd.
Many nobles, unable to meet his piercing stare, averted their eyes.
Looking back at Ed and then at the Emperor, the Grand Duke continued,
“Ed has already demonstrated these qualities. Even the castle staff trust and follow him. So, I ask that you retract your words calling him a scarecrow.”
“Who wouldn’t go to such lengths to gain your favor?” the Emperor scoffed.
“And does the gender of one’s fated partner truly matter? What’s more important is their presence by my side,” the Grand Duke replied calmly.
The Emperor snorted disdainfully.
“And yet, this ‘Ed’ of yours seems to have no family name. You must have a strong stomach to keep someone of such uncertain origin close to you, Grand Duke.”
The Grand Duke’s voice turned icy.
“He will carry my family’s name. From now on, call him Ed Linden.”
The hall erupted into murmurs.
Even Ed, startled, glanced at the Grand Duke.
“You dare to call him Ed Linden without my permission?” the Emperor growled.
With an expression of incredulity, the emperor spat out his words as if grinding each syllable between his teeth, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.
“Well, they do say there’s no one as generous as the Duke of the North. At this rate, even stray dogs and cattle might end up receiving the title of Linden.”
“Not dogs or cattle, but the Zelda people,” the duke corrected coldly.
“…….”
“And surely, Your Majesty, who sought out the prophesied Grand Duchess, must already be aware: the Zelda people do not name themselves with titles but with their own names.”
“That would explain why they vanished without being able to preserve their roots.”
The duke and the emperor’s gazes clashed fiercely.
The duke’s glare, directed at the one responsible for the annihilation of the Zelda people, was ferocious.
“They were also people Your Majesty should have protected. Yet you speak of their tragedy so lightly?”
The emperor stamped his foot on the ground with a loud thud.
“Are you accusing me right now? Why? Do you covet this throne so badly? Finally, you show your true colors!”
The emperor’s sudden leap in logic caused the Minister of Finance, who had been quietly observing the situation, to interject.
“Your Majesty, surely the Duke harbors no such improper intentions.”
The minister gestured toward Ed, who stood nearby.
“Would it not be wiser to first verify whether this man’s claims of being the chosen one from the prophecy are true?”
The duke cast an incredulous glance at the minister, who was known for his serpentine neutrality and opportunism.
However, he seized the opportunity.
Before the emperor, who cared more about unsettling the duke and Ed than verification, could act, the duke spoke up.
“Let the chamberlain retrieve the parchment inscribed with the late emperor’s will.”
The chamberlain hesitated, but the duke’s icy tone brooked no argument.
“Do it. Now.”
The command sliced through the tension like frost, and the chamberlain moved at last.
However, the emperor refused to take the parchment offered to him and instead directed a searing glare at the duke.
If things continued as they were, the emperor’s dignity would be utterly compromised.
Finally, the Minister of Finance intervened once more.
“Your Grace, I heard earlier that the late emperor’s true will can only be revealed by dripping dragon’s blood onto the parchment. Is that correct?”
The duke nodded slightly, his unyielding gaze fixed on the emperor.
“Then,” the minister continued, “since we cannot harm His Majesty, might we test this with your blood instead?”
The duke’s eyes remained locked on the emperor.
“His Majesty does possess the blood of the dragon, but your suggestion has merit.”
The duke gestured toward the chamberlain, who swallowed nervously, trapped between the two powerful figures.
While the chamberlain unfolded the parchment before him, the duke turned to his captain of the guard.
“Hand me your sword. I must provide my blood.”
* * *
