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Axel, wondering if he had misheard, asked again.

But Logan nodded, confirming that Axel’s hearing was indeed fine.

“Yes, you heard correctly, young master. The Saintess has received a revelation that the Duke of Kreutz’s son must be brought to the Ivory Tower.”

Of course, he know that. 

He know more than just that fact. he even understand why Reshia has devised such a plan. When they visited the temple, they noticed something suspicious about Duke Kreutz, and they concluded that it would be best to extract his illegitimate child.

“After much discussion, the Invitation Committee of the Ivory Tower decided to follow the Saintess’s revelation. However, if we inform Duke Kreutz, he will naturally resist…”

“So you’re saying they’re just going to kidnap him?”

“Yes. They believe that if they bring him here first and then send the invitation, there won’t be any problem.”

“…”

Axel was left speechless.

Of course, given the prowess of the Duke, it would be easy to scale the walls of the Kreutz household. The general consensus is that the only one who could match him with a sword is Emperor Kirke.

‘Still, this is going too far.’

How could the Duke, all alone, plan to storm another household and kidnap a child? 

And this is coming from Duke Elpinard, who is known as the epitome of uprightness and integrity!

‘I thought I knew my father well.’

It seems I was mistaken.

I never imagined he could act so recklessly.

‘And that kidnapping…’

It was all too familiar.

Axel easily recalled the conversation he had with Reshia on their way back from the temple.

The memory of him clicking his tongue at Reshia for suggesting kidnapping, accusing her of not having shaken off her habits from her days as a Dark Mage, was vivid.

And now, his father, the always upright Duke Elpinard, was planning to use the same method as the former Dark Mage, Reshia?

It was outrageous.

‘They’re not even really related, but they’ve somehow picked up the same strange habits.’

* * *

“Hah!”

“Hah!”

The Duke of Kreutz, who had been walking slowly along the corridor, halted at the sound of vigorous shouts.

Outside the corridor was a training ground.

The knights, under the command of the captain at the front, were training diligently.

The muscular young men, who had thrown off their shirts, had bodies that were as rugged and well-formed as finely crafted statues.

Each one of them looked like a well-honed weapon.

The House of Kreutz is the Emperor’s sword.

The old saying, passed down through the ages, was no lie.

Although they had not yet produced a Sword Master, there were several individuals within the Kreutz family who were close to reaching that pinnacle.

“Your Grace?” 

A vassal, carrying documents and walking beside the Duke, cautiously called out to him. They were on their way to the study to discuss this year’s budget for the ducal household. The Duke’s sudden halt to watch the knights’ training was purely due to a whim of the Duke of Kreutz.

“Shall I request a report on the knights’ training performance?” 

Noticing the Duke’s unusual interest in the training, the vassal inquired. However, the Duke of Kreutz shook his head and resumed walking.

“No need. I’ve entrusted all matters regarding training to the captain.”

“Understood.”

The vassal didn’t question this. It was well-known that the current Duke of the Kreutz family, renowned for producing exceptional swordsmen, had little interest in swordsmanship. Even in a family with a strong lineage of swordsmen, it wasn’t extraordinary for a non-combatant to emerge occasionally. There were even jokes in social circles about how the Elpinard family, known for scholars, had suddenly produced a Sword Master, leading to remarks that perhaps the two families had been mismatched by fate. But these were merely the jests of the aristocracy.

“Wait a moment.”

Just as they were about to exit the corridor, the Duke of Kreutz suddenly stopped and stared into the air for a brief moment.

‘What’s going on?’ 

The vassal wondered, puzzled, as the Duke issued a command.

“It seems I’ll have to postpone the budget meeting until tomorrow. I just remembered a forgotten appointment.”

“An appointment…?” 

The vassal tilted his head in confusion. To his knowledge, the Duke had no special engagements today. Assuming it must be a personal matter, the vassal bowed his head. It wasn’t unusual for subordinates to comply without question when a superior postponed a meeting for non-urgent matters.

“Then I will return tomorrow, Your Grace.”

The Duke of Kreutz nodded with a dry expression and began walking away briskly. The vassal watched the Duke’s retreating figure and silently sighed. While it was true that the Duke showed little interest in swordsmanship, was it really appropriate for the head of the Kreutz family, known as the “Sword of the Empire,” to be so indifferent?

Of course, this was a thought he would never dare express in the Duke’s presence.

* * *

After canceling the meeting and sending his vassal away, the Duke of Kreutz made his way to his private garden. He filled a large watering can with water and carefully watered the flowers and trees. Moving deeper into the garden, the Duke finally stopped in front of an unopened red flower bud.

The Duke placed the watering can on the ground and whispered softly to the bud.

“You called for me.”

At the sound of the Duke’s voice, the tightly closed flower bud began to slowly open its petals. The fully bloomed red flower revealed a face with human features.

It was a human-faced flower.

“The vessel, how is it progressing?”

The voice was low and eerie. It sounded more like a creaking noise than a human voice, but the Duke of Kreutz remained completely unperturbed.

“As you commanded, it is being prepared.”

“A vessel is not made in a day. It requires care.”

“Of course.”

“It must be a strong and pure vessel. Only then can it contain ‘me.’”

“Yes, a strong and pure vessel. I assure you it is being prepared carefully, so please do not worry.”

The Duke of Kreutz bowed his head in reverence toward the human-faced flower, as if he were in the presence of an emperor.

“When the vessel fully contains ‘me,’ you too will receive what you desire. I will grant you everything I promised.”

“…It is an honor.”

The Duke’s shoulders trembled slightly as he bowed. Even though his face was not visible, it was clear that he was overcome with emotion.

At that moment, a rustling sound came from the entrance of the garden. The human-faced flower quickly closed its mouth and reverted to a bud. The Duke of Kreutz, who had been bowing, straightened his back as if nothing had happened.

Just as everything returned to normal:

“Your Grace!”

A soldier called out, his face pale with fear.

“A-an intruder has entered the estate…!”

“An intruder?”

The Duke’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“Someone had the audacity to break into the Kreutz estate?”

The Duke assumed that the intruder had already been subdued and tilted his head slightly in a relaxed manner.

“Where have they been detained?”

“Well… that’s…”

The soldier hesitated, sweating nervously, unable to answer the question directly. The usually apathetic Duke’s face contorted in irritation.

“You were quite talkative a moment ago. Why are you suddenly at a loss for words?”

“It’s just that… the report says the intruder has escaped.”

The soldier squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head low. He could hardly bear to keep his head up after delivering such an absurd report.

“…The intruder escaped? From the Kreutz estate, known as the Empire’s sword? Do you think that makes any sense?”

“But the intruder’s skills were extraordinary!”

The soldier looked up, his expression desperate.

“Their movements were so swift that most of the guards couldn’t even catch a glimpse of them.”

“Hah. And what was their purpose in breaking in?”

Before the soldier could answer, the entrance to the garden became noisy again.