Lord of Caldera

When the Duke first heard Sylas's scheme, he was incredulous.

"Lure him into a duel and kill him? By force?"

"Yes, just ensure there's a pretext for the duel and finish him off."

"What nonsense is this? You can hardly call this a strategy—it's a haphazard plan!"

"Exactly."

It was, indeed, a crude plan that could barely be called a strategy. Create a minimal pretense for a duel to prevent escape and then behead him.

"But surprisingly, simple plans like this tend to work."

"What?"

"Just try it. I'll take full responsibility."

The Count had no designated successor, not even a deputy. All his retainers were equally subordinated before him. It was a structure built out of a near-fanatical obsession with power. This arrangement posed no problem as long as the Count remained in control.

But he had overlooked one thing: if he lost his authority, no one was left to make decisions on his behalf.

Only those who had wielded power could issue commands. Even the most loyal followers would hesitate when they lacked experience in authority. And now, with the Count dead, there was only one person left who could give orders.

"Hear me."

Rey spoke to the silent crowd, her voice calm and devoid of emotion.

"Now that my father has passed, I will succeed him as Count. Since he died honorably in a legitimate duel, this is no cause for resentment."

The crowd remained silent. It wasn't that they had nothing to say, but they were simply unable to grasp the situation.

Rey continued speaking.

"We shall retrieve my father's body and welcome the Duke into the castle. With our grievance resolved, we honor him as a worthy opponent of the late Count."

It was absurd. When had the Count ever been a rival of the Duke? And what grudge could Rey, who had only joined as an adopted daughter a few days ago, possibly feel? But no one dared to refute her. The Count had named her his successor, and since Rey hadn't killed him, her claim was legitimate.

"Open the gates."

"Y-Yes!"

Following Rey's command, the gates opened without resistance. There was no one willing or able to rally an opposition. They simply followed orders, just as they had when the Count was alive.

Rey was not skilled at acting. There were two types of people who could act well: those with the talent to immerse themselves in a role, and those with a shameless demeanor. Rey was neither.

When her tone came off too stiff no matter what she said, Toby offered a solution.

"Don't try to act. Just recite the lines."

"What do you mean?"

"Like reading a book. No highs, no lows. Just flat and without inflection. It'll actually be better that way."

"It'll look strange," Rey objected.

Toby burst into laughter. "Maybe, but it'll look more natural. Your acting is just too awful, Sir Rey."

Rey's gaze conveyed her irritation, but with no other solution in sight, she accepted Toby's suggestion.

Surprisingly, his approach worked. With Rey's usual stoic demeanor, delivering lines without affectation felt natural. As she entered the castle, Rey addressed the people directly.

"From now on, I am the head of this house."

There was no response. Rey continued without waiting for one.

"Prepare to lay my father to rest and make ready to receive our guests."

"I can't accept this!"

Someone shouted. It was a young knight, full of fervor, who met Rey's gaze directly.

"What is it you cannot accept?"

"Welcoming our lord's enemy as a guest, and having you as the head of the house—neither makes any sense!"

The crowd held its breath. Many had thought the same but hadn't dared to voice it.

"If you're truly the Count's successor, you should never forgive those pointed-eared monsters! That's the only just course and a child's duty! If you can't fulfill that, I cannot accept you as head of the house!"

The young knight's passionate cry brought a heavy silence. He embodied the ideal knight and loyal servant. All eyes turned to Rey, wondering how she would respond to such a straightforward and expected declaration.

Without a moment's hesitation, Rey replied, "And what will you do if you don't accept?"

"What?" Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

"Are you saying you'll leave the family because you can't follow my orders? Or are you challenging me to a duel? Make it clear."

The young knight was left speechless, caught off guard. He had simply wanted to voice his disapproval, never expecting Rey to confront him with an ultimatum.

But Rey wasn't offering an explanation; she was simply saying, "So what?"

Such a blunt approach was unheard of. Typically, this would spark an outcry to replace the successor or choose another candidate.

But there was no one else.

Without the right to succession, challenging her would be nothing but treason. The young knight only had two choices: leave or duel her. Choosing the first meant a life as a vagrant; choosing the second meant death at Rey's hands.

"So, which will it be?" Rey pressed.

"…I will leave," the knight murmured, bowing his head. In truth, it was his only option. Once he had slunk away, Rey resumed giving orders.

"Prepare my father's remains and make ready to receive our guest."

No one else opposed her.

After the initial shock, the rest proceeded quickly. The Count's body was laid in a stone chamber he had prepared in life, and the funeral was conducted in a hurried, wartime manner. The Duke arrived with only twenty of his guards, and amidst the tense atmosphere, the main parties conversed with ease.

"Is there no wine?" the Duke asked.

"I'll see what I can find."

Rey searched the office and returned with a fine-looking bottle. Cups of wine were poured for the Duke, Sylas, and the young noble representatives, followed by a toast.

"To peace between elves and humans."

"And to the prosperity that will follow."

The toast finished, they all emptied their cups. The Duke and Sylas appeared relaxed, while the other young nobles could barely sit still.

"What's going on?"

"The Count's dead, and Sir Rey is the new Count?"

"What about the deal? What about the magical artifacts we were promised?"

Confused, they glanced back and forth between the Duke and Rey. With the Count dead, Rey would have to take over any trade agreements. Yet she hadn't said a word to them and hadn't summoned them for any discussion. They had no way of knowing what she was planning.