The Imperial Palace of Chronotia.

The palace, located at the center of the empire, was enormous from its very grounds.

Only after passing through the road lined with plane trees leading exclusively to the palace does one begin to see it. The snow-white palace evoked admiration from those who beheld it.

Beyond the massive entrance, endless gardens stretched out, and a magnificent palace unfolded with countless rooms.

As he kicked the flank of Retel, the prized horse of the Delgado family, the horse began to pick up speed, its white mane fluttering.

Dietrich headed towards the palace, looking straight ahead despite the picturesque scenery.

Even as he entered the palace and passed through the corridor lined with portraits of past emperors, Dietrich’s expression remained remarkably indifferent.

Without sparing a glance at the palace maids and servants who peeked at him as he passed by, he arrived in front of the audience chamber.

“Tell them I’ve arrived.”

As he nodded towards the knight guarding the audience chamber, the knight immediately stood at attention and replied.

“Y-Yes! Understood.”

The knight didn’t even ask for his identity.

For there was no one in the empire who didn’t know Dietrich Delgado.

The most likely successor candidate for the Duke of Delgado.

However, a genius swordsman in a precarious position in the succession struggle, overshadowed by his half-brother and stepmother, the Duchess.

Due to his cold personality devoid of any human warmth and his notorious reputation, Dietrich Delgado’s standing in the empire was polarized.

While he was respected among those who wielded swords for his exceptional swordsmanship, to everyone else, he was an object of fear.

Rumors were rampant that if one spoke to him wrongly, their head might fly off right then and there.

The knight, extremely tense, knocked on the audience chamber door.

“Your Imperial Majesty. Lord Dietrich Delgado has arrived.”

“Tell him to come in.”

As the audience chamber doors adorned with golden eagle emblems slowly opened, the Emperor smiled happily at the sight of the man with sculpture-like features.

“Hahaha, it’s been a while, my lord. Have you been well?”

Despite the Emperor’s friendly welcome, there was no response from Dietrich.

As the Emperor examined Dietrich, who stood like a well-crafted statue without any reply or expression, he spoke again.

“My, I still can’t get used to that chillingly cold response no matter how many times I see it.”

“Please state the purpose for which you summoned me.”

Though he was being polite, his tone was oddly commanding.

The Emperor’s golden eyes flashed sharply at the attitude that seemed to say, “You didn’t call me here just for light conversation, did you?”

‘Always so insolent, this one.’

He smiled gently to hide his gritting teeth.

The Delgado Duchy of the Chronotian Empire.

A renowned family of swordsmanship that has produced genius swordsmen for generations.

‘The Sword that Protects the Empire’ was the phrase that symbolized the Delgado Duchy.

The Sword that Protects the Empire.

What a splendid title.

Not only that, but the Hareon Knights, boasting the strongest military force in the empire, also belonged to the Delgado Duchy.

The Imperial Knights paled in comparison to the Hareon Knights.

It was said that the Hareon Knights were the entirety of the empire’s military force.

However, the Hareon Knights moved only for the Delgado Duchy.

Their master was not the Emperor who ruled the empire, but the head of the Delgado Duchy.

‘And the Delgado Duchy, which possesses such an impressive order of knights, doesn’t consider this imperial family, me, as the true ruler of the empire.’

Yes, that was the problem.

The arrogant and haughty Delgado family disrespected the imperial family.

Daring to disrespect the imperial family was a grave offense punishable by severe punishment.

However, the imperial family could neither punish nor ostracize the Delgado Duchy.

Because the Delgado Duchy was, in fact, the force that led and maintained the empire.

‘That’s why that damn stiff neck of his won’t bend.’

Despite being merely a lord who hasn’t even inherited the title of Duke yet.

The Emperor quickly composed his awkwardly trembling smile of anger and opened his mouth.

“It feels awkward to get straight to the point, but I don’t want to waste too much of your time, so let’s hurry and talk.”

After briefly closing his mouth and fiddling with the armrest of the throne, he nodded towards Dietrich.

“We’re planning to put an end to the ongoing war with the Zenobia Empire.”

“Is that why you called me here?”

“We’re thinking of striking the Zenobian Empire’s forces from behind through a route they’re not familiar with. For that, we plan to send an expedition to the North.”

“Do as you wish.”

With a disinterested reply, Dietrich slowly blinked his eyes as if bored.

‘I should have just not come.’

He had almost thrown away the letter from the Emperor as soon as he read it, but then changed his mind.

After all, he needed the Emperor’s recognition to succeed as the Duke of Delgado.

Even if the Emperor was an eyesore and incompetent, he was still useful until the succession of the Duke’s title.

That’s why he had endured and come, but…

If he had known he would just hear such nonsense, he should have used this time to attend to his work instead.

Dietrich adjusted his clothes as if he was about to leave right away.

Seeing this, the Emperor called out more urgently than before.

“That’s why we need Delgado’s help.”

“…Did you say help?”

“To be precise, your help. I know well that young Lord Yurian is still too young to properly handle a sword.”

“Are you telling me to participate in the war?”

This must be exactly what they mean by a dog barking.

Dietrich looked up at the Emperor with an irritated frown.

The sight of the Emperor sitting on the throne at the top of the stairs was utterly pathetic.

“I’m not asking you to participate in the war. I’d just like you to accompany the northern expedition force. Our forces aren’t quite up to par, so having you there would be reassuring.”

“I refuse.”

As Dietrich firmly rejected, the Emperor clenched his fist.

He had expected this, but the more he saw it, the more disrespectful it seemed.

But he had anticipated this. The Emperor raised one corner of his mouth and said,

“I know the Delgado Duchy doesn’t like participating in wars, but I hope you don’t think you’ve already become the head of Delgado. After all, you need my recognition to become that esteemed head of Delgado.”

“Do you think threats will work?”

“Right now, it’s not me who’s in need, but you. How long do you want to continue fighting over the Duke’s position with your much younger half-brother?”

Dietrich, who had been calmly looking at the Emperor without expression, smirked.

“You’re trying hard to use my weakness against me.”

Bewilderment appeared on the Emperor’s face, who hadn’t expected such a reaction.

As if enjoying the Emperor’s expression, Dietrich tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow.

“Fine. I’ll go.”

“Good. You’ve made a wise decision.”

It was just as a smile mixed with relief and mockery was about to appear on the Emperor’s face.

“However, Your Majesty.”

Dietrich murmured lowly while fiddling with the scabbard at his waist.

“Do not think that my weakness is Delgado’s weakness.”

“……”

“Delgado is not the Imperial family’s dog. If you want to keep a dog, I suggest you look elsewhere. Be careful not to get bitten while trying to tame it.”

Having finished speaking, Dietrich left the audience chamber without looking back.

Left alone, the Emperor’s eyes trembled slightly with anger and inferiority.

‘Even without the Duke, they remain strong, so he can be so brazen.’

The reason the Delgado Duchy remained strong even with the Duke’s seat vacant was due to the prestige they had long established in the empire.

As a family with deep historical roots, even the collateral branches of the Delgado Duchy had deep roots.

The forces supporting the Duchy could not be ignored.

While the Delgado family was famous as a distinguished family of swordsmanship, that wasn’t all there was to them.

Numerous merchant guilds, built with sharp minds and excellent business acumen, were already greatly influencing the nobles of the Chronotian Empire.

The scale was so enormous that one could create an entire district made up solely of Delgado family merchant guilds.

It was a family solid in both wealth and military power, to the extent that the Duke’s absence hardly mattered.

‘But that will only be for a while. The longer the Duke’s absence, the more advantageous it becomes for me.’

Who would have thought that such a foolish person like the former Duke would come from the wise Delgado family?

To bring in a commoner-born concubine to such an ancient family and die without properly passing on the right of succession.

Of course, it became a golden opportunity for the Imperial family.

‘Dietrich Delgado cannot be allowed.’

Dietrich Delgado was too dangerous as the next Duke of the Delgado family.

The moment Dietrich becomes the head of Delgado, the Imperial family would be left as just a shell.

So, the best method would be to suck out all the sweet juice from Dietrich, who’s racking his brains over the succession of the Duke’s position, and then discard him.

After all, in the current situation, it’s not Dietrich Delgado but Yurian Delgado who’s revered as the head of Delgado.

Although for now, we have no choice but to smile foolishly and humor him.

But in the end, it will be the Imperial family who laughs last.

Dietrich Delgado’s reputation, which has already plummeted, would obviously be difficult to recover.

So, there should be no problem in using Dietrich as we please.

Because it won’t be Dietrich who becomes the head of the Delgado family.

There’s no one who would help Dietrich Delgado.

Unless there’s a foolish person somewhere.

A sinister smile appeared on the Emperor’s shadowed face.

Meanwhile, at the Delgado Duchy’s mansion.

In a corner of the kitchen, sweltering with hot air.

“Ah, is someone talking about me? Why are my ears so itchy?”

Harpe, who was dedicating herself to work today as well to help Dietrich, scratched her ear.