Chapter 33
“Besides, since the royal family recognized us as representatives, shouldn’t we handle the succession ourselves?”
At her question, Julius shook his head.
“We were lucky five years ago. Because we were relatives, and at that time, bribes worked well and Her Majesty the Empress was on our side. But not everyone accepted it back then.”
“…”
“That’s why Bartol needs to take the title quickly. Once that happens, no one can stop us, no matter who opposes.”
Julius shivered as memories of the past surfaced.
“If not, those damn vassals will do who knows what.”
“But it’s been quiet so far, so it’ll probably stay that way…”
“The situation keeps getting stranger! Our standing in society shrinks, and that girl Iris is getting bolder! There’s no time left!”
Julius shouted.
“The engagement wasn’t even properly announced, strange rumors surround Bartol and Demeyra, and lately people say Iris tamed the beast that Bartol threw away. They say if they marry, only Iris would be wasted!”
He continued, trembling.
“We never should have let that girl set foot in society! We kept her locked up for five years! Why now…?”
“You! Do you really think those vassals will just barge in without cause? What do they know?”
Lucilla laughed in disbelief at the anxious Julius.
“Even if they come, what can a mere vassal do to us?”
“Master! Guests have arrived!”
Before she finished, a servant burst in, shouting.
“Who is it?!”
Lucilla glared at the servant, sensitive after the visit of the First Prince.
“They say they’re vassals of the Aphellemion family.”
“…Vassals?”
Julius and Lucilla asked simultaneously.
“What are their names?”
“Well, not just one.”
The servant scratched his head in response to Julius’s question.
“There are three of them, all giant-sized men.”
“W-what? Three?”
“Yes. They are Lord Morve, Lord Aken, and Lord Jurik.”
Julius jumped up as if recalling a nightmare.
“Impossible…”
Lucilla turned pale.
“Of all people, those monstrous men… how on earth…”
She shuddered and stammered.
“Should we have them wait in the reception room?”
The servant, apparently new to the mansion, asked innocently.
“No, I won’t have them wait!”
Before Julius could answer, a loud voice echoed throughout the mansion.
Behind the servant, three massive men strode in.
They looked about Julius’s age but were all a head taller.
“Oh! You’re just barging in…”
“Shut up.”
The servant tried to intervene, but the man in the middle waved him away with one arm.
The servant shrieked and flew back like a paper doll.
“Long time no see, Julius.”
The biggest man stroked his beard and spoke low.
“Mo-Morve.”
Julius wiped sweat nervously and took a step back.
Seeing the tiger-like glint in Morve’s eyes, his spine went cold as a habit.
“Aken, Jurik.”
The other two men widened their eyes instead of speaking. Their fierce gaze made Julius and Lucilla flinch.
They were longtime vassals of the Aphellemion family. All former knights who fought under the previous duke, Bael Aphellemion.
Their huge size and beast-like strength had earned them significant notoriety.
Bael Aphellemion had assigned each of them land to govern after victories in territorial wars.
Since Julius received the royal permission to take over the family, they hadn’t left their territories, so this was Julius’s first time seeing them in five years.
Unfortunately, Julius’s habit of being scared at the sight of them remained unchanged even after five years.
“L-long time no see. What brings you here?”
“What do you think?”
Morve strode to the center of the living room and glared at Julius’s face.
“We’ve come to see the young lady of Aphellemion.”
“The young lady?”
Lucilla peeked from behind Julius.
“W-which young lady? There are two young ladies here.”
“Two young ladies? The young lady of Aphellemion?”
Morve sneered.
“Did Bael and Nikela come back as ghosts and give birth to a second one or what?”
For a moment his eyes grew cold.
“I’ve heard nonsense about the daughter of Baron Penton calling herself a princess… but surely it’s not true.”
“Surely they wouldn’t be that shameless.”
“If that’s true, Julius might break down somewhere.”
Aken and Jurik beside Morve nodded without smiles. The oppressive atmosphere weighed down on Lucilla, who sealed her lips tightly and stepped back several paces.
“We’ve come to see our noble niece, Iris Aphellemion. Where is she?”
Morve asked again. Julius wiped sweat nervously but tried to keep upright.
“Show some respect to Julius! Five years ago we were equal vassals, but not anymore.”
He raised his voice.
“Showing up without my permission is disrespect to the duke’s household.”
“Your permission? Do you really think you’re the duke?”
“What equality? You didn’t even look us in the eye before…”
Aken and Jurik laughed mockingly.
“I have the right to oversee all family affairs. Are you saying you will ignore His Majesty the Emperor’s decision?”
Julius strained his eyes as he asked.
“You trespassed into the duke’s mansion without the master’s permission. Leave before I call the palace guard.”
Morve, Aken, and Jurik exchanged looks, then burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! Call the palace guard at the Aphellemion mansion?”
“Pfft! Running to the guard to beg for protection?”
“Hah… The Aphellemion knights, supposed to be the strongest in the empire, have become weak because of the wrong steward.”
Morve wiped tears from his eyes as he spoke.
“If it was five years ago, we wouldn’t need palace guards to drive away uninvited guests.”
Though mocking, his voice was filled with deep anger at the disappearance of the family’s knights he once served.
“Is it true you cut the knight’s operating budget? That you kicked out capable knights? How can you face the late duke with that?”
“What face? He was never worth looking at.”
Jurik snapped.
“Don’t change the subject.”
Julius crossed his arms.
“Coming here without the master’s permission…”
“Who said we didn’t have permission?”
Morve, Aken, and Jurik pulled out neatly folded letters from their coats.
“The master personally wrote these letters summoning us. Check them yourself.”
“…What?”
Julius and Lucilla unfolded the letters.
All three were identical.
Dear Beloved Uncle,
It has already been five years since we last met. I hope you are well.
“Uncle…?”
Feeling a sense of dread, the couple looked at each other and continued reading.
After a few greetings and emphasizing the connection with the previous duke, the letter got to the point:
If the loyalty oath sworn to father was sincere, and if you even care for me a little, please come immediately to the duke’s mansion in the palace to meet me. Aphellemion needs your help.
“Look closely at who sent the letter.”
Jurik instructed quietly.
“Iris Aphellemion…”
Julius stammered, his lips trembling.
The handwriting and signature were clearly hers.
“When, how…?”
Lucilla bit her lower lip. For years, she had ordered all the servants, including Mari, to block any contact from Iris outside. It was a measure to control her completely.
And wasn’t Ray, the new maid, her loyal subordinate?
She had definitely said Iris was bedridden and unable to do anything.
“Enough. Hand her over now.”
Aken watched Lucilla’s reaction and said.
“We must see Lady Iris at once.”
The three folded their arms and looked down on the couple like towering giants.
They looked as if they could devour two people in one bite.
