The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 248

“So, are you suggesting we delay the coronation, Marquis?”

“I am deeply sorry.”

In the grand chamber of Ruben Royal Palace, the 3rd Prince Herdian lounged on the throne, legs crossed, chin resting on his hand, looking down at the assembly.

Kneeling on one knee and bowing his head was none other than Marquis Clifford de McNeil. Behind him, his son Viscount Brayden and various ministers also knelt.

“Well, fine. I know you’re doing your best, Marquis. But remember, I can’t wait forever. I’m giving you just one month. In that time, bring that arrogant and discourteous Duke Templeton before me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Hmph.”

Herdian cleared his throat unnecessarily, looked briefly at the Marquis, and then retreated to his private quarters.

As the ministers dispersed, only Marquis McNeil and Viscount Brayden remained in the grand chamber.

“Isn’t it amusing?”

“What do you mean, father?”

Viscount Brayden inquired with a blank expression, prompting the Marquis to point at the throne.

“It’s just a well-made chair, isn’t it? Yet, everyone in the kingdom must kneel before it.”

“…….”

Marquis McNeil slowly walked up to the throne. He placed his hand gently on the armrest.

“Fifty years. I’ve served under three kings for fifty years. And now a fourth is about to be crowned. But you see…”

Rumble.

Mana swirled around the Marquis. Viscount Brayden glanced around the chamber, a bit alarmed. It would be troublesome if anyone witnessed this scene.

However, he quickly dismissed his worries. There was no way the Marquis would fail to notice any spies, and by now, no one in the palace would dare oppose the Marquis.

“How many of those who’ve sat here have truly known how to wield a sword?”

Whoosh.

With a flick of his hand, a gust of wind shook the chandeliers, making them rattle and scream.

“Tendarion de Ruben, the founding king, was undoubtedly a great knight. But look at his descendants. They inherited this seat merely because of their royal blood—those foolish braggarts!”

“You’re absolutely right, Father. It’s the noble families, especially our McNeil Marquisate, that have truly led this kingdom.”

At Brayden’s words, Marquis McNeil nodded.

“Exactly. The kings have only sat on this seat and puffed themselves up while we shed blood and sweat to protect the kingdom. And now, history is repeating itself. What do you think?”

“The time has come for that merely decorative seat to be occupied by its true owner.”

“Yes. It must be so. For the sake of the kingdom and its people.”

The Marquis coldly stared at the throne before turning and descending the steps.

“Prepare the army. Once Templeton is on its knees, nothing will stand in our way.”

“As you command.”

Brayden bowed his head deeply.

“And when I return victorious, I don’t want to see the fourth one alive.”

“Of course, Father. By the time you return, the people will be ready to welcome their new king.”

Step by step.

As the Marquis left the grand chamber, knights in dark blue armor surrounded him.

Over thirty knights wielding swords paraded through the palace, yet not a single member of the royal knight dared to obstruct them.

***

-3rd Prince Herdian issues an ultimatum to the Templeton Dukedom: Surrender 6th and 8th Princes and enter the capital unarmed.

-Templeton Dukedom responds: They do not oppose the 3rd Prince’s ascension but will protect the 6th and 8th Princes.

-The 3rd Prince’s forces prepare a punitive expedition once again. The Templeton Dukedom also stations troops at their borders, closely watching the situation.

It seemed war was inevitable. Barely a fortnight after the conflict with the 4th Prince had ended, the drums of war began to beat once more.

In the study of the Templeton Dukedom.

Raul and the Sword Saint were seated across from each other, sipping tea. While Raul’s expression remained calm, the Sword Saint looked slightly disgruntled.

“So, it turns out you were right after all. Are you satisfied now?”

“Not at all. I, too, hoped for a peaceful resolution.”

Raul sipped his tea, recalling the events of a few days prior. The Sword Saint was displeased that Raul had drawn the dukedom into the royal succession conflict.

“That was never my intention. I only wanted to protect a friend I studied with. Tell me, is there anywhere else in the kingdom where the Princes would be safer?”

“…….”

The Sword Saint remained silent for a moment. Ultimately, it had been his decision to protect the Princes.

However, he was not one to back down easily.

“Hmph. Perhaps the true mistake was rescuing the Princes in the first place. Look at the outcome. Thanks to you, the 4th Prince is dead, a civil war raged, and countless innocent soldiers lost their lives. And now, another war is on the horizon…. Can you truly claim you’re not at fault for all this?”

The Sword Saint’s words were not unfounded. If Raul hadn’t rescued the Princes and the 3rd Prince had ascended to the throne, perhaps none of this would have happened.

The 4th Prince might not have died, and the civil war might have been avoided.

‘But.’

Raul gazed back at the Sword Saint with resolute eyes.

“I had no intention of interfering in the royal succession. However, what if the ‘Empire’ is involved in this matter? Should we have just stood by?”

“The Empire! Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

As the Sword Saint’s fury erupted, the entire training hall seemed to quake. His aura felt like it could choke the life out of Raul.

The idea that aura alone could kill someone seemed plausible at that moment, but Raul stood his ground.

Summoning his mana, Raul countered the Sword Saint’s aura head-on and shouted.

“Marquis de Templeton! Open your eyes! While you remain complacent in this small dukedom, focusing solely on swordsmanship, the world has changed and continues to change!”

Raul unleashed his hidden psychokinetic powers, directing them back at the Sword Saint.

Rumble, crash!

Raul’s psychokinesis collided with the Sword Saint’s invisible sword aura, driving both men backward. Raul then drew a longsword from his inventory, readying himself.

It was not the ‘Bear Crush’ of the Ashton household but the ‘Infinity Sword’ of Caldenas.

“……! Where did you get that?”

The Sword Saint shouted in surprise as Raul revealed his hidden moves.

Whoosh.

The ‘Radiance Aura’ enveloped Raul, swirling with a warm divine force.

Clang, clang, clang.

The ‘Field of Arms’ manifested, filling the training hall’s ceiling with an arsenal of weapons emerging behind him.

“Haah!”

With a brilliant golden aura blade, Raul charged at the Sword Saint.

Boom! Boom! Clang!

‘Ugh. What is this…?’

The Sword Saint frowned slightly at the intense pressure he felt in his grip.

This power and speed were on a completely different level from their earlier exchange.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Moreover, the relentless weapons striking at his openings like predatory beasts added another layer of challenge.

Although most of the weapons carried only traces of mana and divine power, which his invisible sword aura could fend off…

Clang!

Occasionally, a weapon emitting a full aura required him to block it with his sword.

‘And this swordsmanship. Could it really be his…?’

The pressure was different from when facing the swordsmanship of the Ashton household. The deceptive lightness and sudden changes in sword paths made reading the blade’s trajectory almost impossible.

The smooth integration of each sword movement, with no awkward transitions, was unmistakable.

‘This is definitely his… Ugh.’

Raul’s sword grazed the Sword Saint’s cheek. The erratic sword movements combined with Raul’s psychokinesis created completely new and perfect sword paths unseen in conventional swordsmanship.

“Hah!”

Boom!

Raul, spotting an opening, spun in the air and brought his longsword down.

Crack.

The scabbard of the Sword Saint’s blade shattered, exposing its sharp edge. And at that very moment.

Shiver.

Raul instinctively felt a chill and retreated with all his might. But the Sword Saint did not counterattack.

‘What was that just now?’

When Raul looked down at his hand, he saw goosebumps.

Thunk.

“Let’s stop here. Or do you wish to continue? I can’t guarantee your life if we do.”

The Sword Saint spoke as he planted his sword into the training hall’s floor, his face deadly serious. Raul shook his head, withdrawing his weapons and power.

“Of course not. Thank you for showing mercy.”

There was no reason to continue the match to the point of a life-and-death struggle.

‘I’ve achieved what I wanted.’

The Sword Saint’s perception of Raul had changed from merely being a friend of his grandson or a promising junior.

Acknowledging Raul as a fellow practitioner of the martial path, the Sword Saint’s tone became earnest.

“Tell me. What is this Empire, and what don’t I know?”

“Before that, there’s someone I’d like to introduce to you.”

Shooosh.

Regnator activated, wrapping around Raul’s right arm, and a knight in armor appeared a short distance away.

“It’s been a long time, Marquis.”

“……! Could it be, Caldenas?”

A look of astonishment crossed the Sword Saint’s face. Upon hearing about the various events currently unfolding on the Connect continent through Raul and Caldenas, the Sword Saint’s reaction was unexpectedly calm.

“So, these ongoing events are indeed linked to the McNeil Marquisate. But even so, I cannot move our troops.”

“Why not? If left unchecked, they will manipulate everything to their advantage.”

Raul asked, confused, but the Sword Saint remained steadfast.

“Since the kingdom’s inception, the Dukedom has always remained neutral in succession disputes. This neutrality has ensured smooth transitions of power thus far.”

“But the situation now is….”

“Different? No, it is not. If the 3rd Prince has emerged victorious in the succession battle, then he rightfully ascends to the throne. Right, Caldenas?”

“He’s right, Raul.”

This was unexpected. Raul thought Caldenas would side with him, given his understanding of the circumstances.

“The Dukedom is the ultimate guardian of the kingdom. A sword exists for its purpose. Sometimes, an unmoved sword can be more fearsome.”

“Then are you saying we should just watch as the McNeil Marquisate runs amok?”

The Sword Saint shook his head.

“No, we can’t allow that. Once the succession issue is settled, we intend to hold them accountable. Since they’ve betrayed the kingdom, we cannot leave them within our borders.”

It was a reasonable argument.

But Raul couldn’t accept it.

A small germ could kill a person. Why should they wait to treat the disease until after it has manifested, when it could be prevented in the first place?

‘Honor, rules, tradition, procedure—these are necessary. But in a situation where the kingdom might fall, should we cling to them to the very end?’

Perhaps the Sword Saint was underestimating the gravity of the situation. However, Raul couldn’t force his thoughts upon the Sword Saint.

The decision was his to make. Raul took a moment to clear his head, then relaxed his expression and said.

“How about a wager?”

“A wager?”

“Yes, a wager.”

***

And now.

The Sword Saint admitted he was wrong. He thought merely acknowledging the 3rd Prince’s ascension would suffice. But it seemed he had underestimated the situation.

‘To think he would go after his younger brothers to the end?’

Perhaps McNeil had been egging things on from behind the scenes.

-They will never leave the Duke’s family alone. Nor will they spare the 6th and 8th Princes.

Raul had been right. The enemy had no intentions of stopping until everything was resolved in their favor.

‘In that case… I will have to make them realize their limits.’

The Sword Saint set his tea cup down. The kingdom’s guardian family was beginning to move.

(To be continued)