"Where did you hear that name...?"
The existence of the "Shadow Knights" was known to only a very few even within the kingdom.
For someone like Ghislain Perdium, who had grown up in the northern frontier and was not part of the central nobility, it was an impossible name to know.
The Marquis Branford's brow twitched.
He had always thought this way, but Ghislain Perdium's information-gathering abilities were strangely exceptional. No, at times, it felt more like prophecy than mere intelligence.
But even so, knowing secrets that even the royal family kept close?
"Do you have spies planted in the royal palace?"
If not, there was no other explanation. Ghislain certainly had the kind of audacity to do just that if necessary.
Sensing the increasingly tense atmosphere, Ghislain confidently worked to dispel the misunderstanding. He had a convenient excuse for such occasions.
"I heard it from a priest of the Salvation Church."
"...?"
"They told me they fought against the Shadow Knights a long time ago, during an attack on the royal family."
"What in the world are you talking about...?"
"I'm asking because I thought the current war might be a continuation of that conflict."
Blaming someone else turned out to be surprisingly effective.
And it wasn't entirely a lie, after all.
As Ghislain spoke with shameless confidence, Marquis Branford swallowed his doubts.
"Hmm..."
He couldn't very well argue when the information was said to have come from the enemy. It remained suspicious, but there was no way to dig deeper.
After a moment of contemplation, the Marquis sighed and spoke.
"I don't know much either. All I know is that they protected the royal family from the shadows."
This time, Ghislain frowned. Was it possible that even the Marquis Branford, the kingdom's most powerful figure with access to all information, truly didn't know?
Seeing Ghislain's blatant expression, the Marquis chuckled dryly and continued.
"They're a disbanded group. Only records of their existence remain. No matter how much one tries to investigate, there's nothing to be found."
"Then, does the Prime Minister know?"
"No, he doesn't know much either. The Shadow Knights were a deeply secretive organization. I once asked the Prime Minister about them myself, but all he said was that they would occasionally request support for what they needed."
"So, you're saying no one really knows anything about them?"
"That's right. Otherwise, they wouldn't be a secret organization. Even the kingdom's commander-in-chief, Maurice, is unaware that such a group ever existed."
"Then... is there any information on why they disbanded?"
"All that's recorded is that it was due to internal strife."
Ghislain stared into the Marquis Branford's eyes and said.
"It's hard to believe that such a covert organization existed within the royal family."
"I couldn't believe it at first, either. But hearing what you've said, it seems they've been fighting the Salvation Church for a very long time. Perhaps it wasn't internal strife after all."
"Yes, the Shadow Knights fought the Salvation Church once before, long ago."
"Hmm, do you know why they targeted the royal family?"
"That, I don't know either."
The Marquis Branford pondered for a moment before speaking.
"It seems the Duke faction wasn't simply after power to stage a rebellion."
"That appears to be the case. They've been operating covertly for a long time. All I know is that their attempt once failed due to the Shadow Knights."
"Perhaps His Majesty knows. He was personally leading the kingdom during the time the Shadow Knights were active."
At this, Ghislain's eyes gleamed.
"Speaking of which, I would like to meet His Majesty."
"Hmm? Why do you want to meet him?"
"I want to ask him about the Shadow Knights and find out what happened long ago."
But the Marquis Branford shook his head firmly.
"No, that won't be possible."
"Why not?"
"His Majesty is in very poor health. Moreover, he dislikes talking about the Shadow Knights."
"Dislikes it?"
"Yes. That's why no new group was created after they disbanded. Instead, more power was given to the Royal Knights."
Thanks to this, the commander of the Royal Knights had received support such as fragments of the Dragon Heart and achieved the status of a master.
In other words, the royal family of Lutania now had no secret organizations left.
"Why does His Majesty dislike the Shadow Knights?"
"They were known to obey no one's commands."
"I see."
Ghislain nodded, appearing to understand. No king would like a force they couldn't control.
Still, Ghislain was not one to give up easily.
"Not even for a brief moment? Honestly, it's me we're talking about..."
At this, the Marquis Branford smirked.
It was true. Ghislain was the savior of the kingdom. Even the king would find it hard to refuse his request. In fact, with Ghislain's achievements, it would have been proper to meet him and express gratitude in person.
Even so, the Marquis gave a negative reply.
"Not now. His Majesty's health is truly poor. I'll inform you after assessing his condition."
"Fine, I understand."
'Well, I could just put on a mask and sneak in to meet him.'
Despite the refusal, Ghislain thought lightly of it. He wasn't going there to kill anyone, just to ask some questions. What could they possibly do about that?
Though the royal palace was filled with skilled individuals, Ghislain figured he could force his way through if necessary. Just to have a quick chat.
Suddenly, the Marquis Branford glared at him and warned.
"You're not thinking of sneaking in, are you?"
"...No."
"You are. You're the type who would do that, even in disguise, if necessary."
"..."
Apparently, the Marquis Branford had gotten to know him all too well after their long association.
With a sigh of frustration, the Marquis said in a lamenting tone.
"You absolutely cannot. If you suddenly show up or cause a commotion, His Majesty might die of a heart attack."
"...Is it that bad?"
"Yes, so don't act rashly. No one wants you to end up labeled as a regicide."
"..."
The atmosphere turned slightly awkward. Sensing there was nothing more to discuss, the Marquis changed the subject.
"By the way, wasn't the original plan to head directly south?"
That had been the initial strategy. After defeating the Second Corps, they were supposed to head south to lure out the remaining forces. The plan was to shift the battlefield to the southern front.
"I decided on a divide-and-conquer approach because I didn't think the bait would work. Luckily, it turned out to be successful."
"Then when do you plan to advance south? Isn't it best to strike as soon as possible?"
The Marquis, like Maurice, shared the opinion that now was the optimal time.
However, Ghislain was in no rush to act recklessly.
"I plan to regroup the troops properly before advancing south. The Duke's forces won't be easy to deal with. But I won't delay too long, either."
"Very well. Given the current momentum, there shouldn't be any major issues. The war is in your hands."
Ghislain nodded. He, too, believed that things would proceed smoothly.
With Erenes and Parniel, along with Belinda and Gillian having reached the pinnacle of their abilities, and with Vanessa and Tenant on their side, their forces were formidable.
Still, he couldn't let his guard down. The opposing side also boasted formidable power, including the kingdom's finest sword, its greatest mage, and one of the continent's Seven Strongest, Idun.
On top of that, the number of high priests from the Salvation Church remained uncertain, as did the identity of their leader, who had yet to reveal themselves.
Thus, rather than pushing forward recklessly, it was better to use this opportunity to rest and reorganize.
After discussing a few more matters of strategy and the state of affairs with the Marquis, Ghislain rose to leave.
Before departing, he asked one last question, just in case.
"Have you ever... seen the leader of the Shadow Knights, even briefly?"
"...No. I've only seen the remaining records."
"I see. Understood."
Ghislain gave a polite bow and took his leave.
It didn't seem like the right time to reveal that the leader of the Shadow Knights was his mother. Too many unknowns left him uneasy.
As Ghislain's figure receded, the Marquis Branford sank into old memories.
'To think I'd hear that name again.'
In truth, he had seen the leader of the Shadow Knights. And he knew a little more than he had let on.
But he had no desire to share everything with Ghislain.
It was something he wasn't ready to fully admit.
— Hahaha, this is my son-in-law. He'll be assisting me in serving His Majesty and managing the kingdom's affairs.
In his youth, the Marquis had been summoned by the Prime Minister to attend a secret meeting. There, he encountered a woman wearing a simple outfit and a mask.
Even the Prime Minister treated her with utmost respect, leaving the young Marquis speechless.
The woman spoke with a chuckle.
— What? You're picking your son-in-law as the next successor? Isn't your family hoarding all the power?
— Ahem, it's not like that. He's truly capable. He'll be more than enough to protect the royal family.
— Alright, he's got a stubborn look to him. People like that tend to get things done.
The woman's voice carried a lighthearted tone. Though her face was hidden, her voice sounded youthful, further adding to the mystery.
Who was this woman?
Even as the Marquis tried to probe, the Prime Minister gave little away, repeating only that she was a highly esteemed protector of the royal family.
It was then that the Marquis first realized.
This woman was the true power behind the kingdom.
She was the one who decided who would rise to become the most influential figures.
It was then, too, that he learned there was another family protecting the kingdom from the shadows.
— Do your best. I'll be there to support you.
The woman left only those words and disappeared. The Prime Minister had earnestly urged him to keep it a secret, saying that it was merely a meeting to greet her and familiarize himself with her face for his future growth.
At the time, young and powerless, Marquis Branford had no choice but to comply.
After that, astonishing things began to happen. Everything Marquis Branford undertook unfolded far too smoothly.
It was true that he worked hard and was competent. It was also true that, as a member of a prestigious family and the Prime Minister's son-in-law, he enjoyed many advantages.
But his luck was extraordinary.
No matter what he did, success followed. Even tasks that seemed insurmountable for his family and himself resolved favorably over time.
It was as if the world was desperate to help him.
The Marquis Branford felt both joy and fear.
'The true power behind this kingdom.'
Everything flowed according to her plan. Everyone was merely her puppet.
Even the royal family itself.
Was this truly right?
In his youthful fervor, Marquis Branford could not accept it. How could such an entity exist within the kingdom?
He attempted several times to consult the Prime Minister about it, to demand an explanation of what kind of family could control the kingdom.
But the Prime Minister avoided the subject altogether—no, he seemed afraid of it.
— We only handle the kingdom's day. The night is not ours. Never forget that.
— Does that even make sense? Why has the royal family tolerated this all along?
— They don't just protect the royal family—they monitor it.
— Monitor... the royal family?
— Yes. Don't pry further. I don't know the details either. Just know that this is how our kingdom functions.
Faced with the Prime Minister's firm stance, Marquis Branford had no choice but to swallow his indignation and retreat. He made a resolution.
'When I seize power, I will never tolerate such an organization.'
Power should be transparent. There should be no invisible hand working from the shadows. Only then could the kingdom function properly.
This was his belief.
Yet his goal was achieved sooner than he expected.
It was a stormy night. Marquis Branford, who had fallen asleep late due to work, suddenly woke up with a start.
Standing before him was a woman.
"Y-you are...?"
"Shh."
The woman was the leader of the Shadow Knights.
But her appearance was unusual. Her body was covered in blood, as if she had just returned from a battle. Her mask was partially broken, revealing one of her eyes.
For the first time, Marquis Branford saw a portion of her face.
The woman, Annette, spoke to him.
"I will leave now."
"W-what do you mean?"
"The Shadow Knights have been disbanded. As you wished."
"W-wait, what are you talking about...?"
"That's not the important part. I've taken care of anyone who could obstruct your path. You should have no trouble seizing power."
"..."
Annette chuckled lightly and added.
"Well, with your abilities and your family's influence, you would have achieved it eventually, but it doesn't hurt to make things easier. You never know what variables might arise."
"I don't understand what you're saying."
"It was a minor problem. From now on, you must protect the royal family."
The Marquis Branford couldn't regain his composure.
The mighty Shadow Knights disbanded? Who could have done such a thing?
"Who... who were you fighting against?"
"The darkness."
A chilling light flickered in her eyes. Marquis Branford struggled to suppress his fear and asked.
"What is that?"
"Don't try to find out now. You don't need to know. The darkness that revealed itself has all been destroyed by me. Someday, you'll understand."
"Then, what should I do?"
"From now on, keep an eye on the Duke family."
"The Duke family...?"
"Yes. The only place I couldn't touch was the Duke family. Even they were too afraid of me to act for all those years."
Marquis Branford was deeply shocked.
The heads of the Duke family had always lived quietly. They avoided public appearances so much that their existence was barely noticeable.
He had always wondered why such a powerful family refrained from seeking power. To think it was because of the Shadow Knights.
Just how powerful was the woman standing before him?
Annette looked at Marquis Branford with a cold gaze and spoke.
"When they're certain of my disappearance, the Duke family will surely reveal their ambitions openly. The battle in the shadows is over. Everything will inevitably come to the surface."
"W-when will that happen?"
"For ten years, they'll remain quiet, searching for my whereabouts. The next ten years, they'll carefully maneuver to seize the kingdom. But beyond that, I can't say."
"..."
"Secure power within that time. Make sure no one can challenge you. That's why I cleared the path for you."
"The Duke's heir, Ernheart, is my close friend. He... he's not someone who would do such a thing."
"…Yes, let's hope so."
She, too, knew Ernheart well. She knew he was uninterested in anything and led a languid life.
But no one could predict what might happen in the future. The darkness wouldn't leave him alone.
Annette's figure began to blur.
"Don't forget my words. Now, you're the only one who can protect the royal family."
"W-where are you going?"
"Who knows... Anywhere but the royal palace, I suppose."
Snap.
With those words, shadows engulfed her, and her body disappeared.
Marquis Branford stood frozen in place for a long time.
When dawn broke, it was as if nothing had happened. The day went on like any other.
No events occurred, no rumors spread. The world remained unchanged.
For a time, Marquis wondered if it had all been a dream.
That was until he learned of the disappearances and deaths of certain nobles.
'Even so, I didn't want to believe it…'
As if following her plan, he became the kingdom's most powerful figure. Marquis Branford tried to erase that memory and refused to acknowledge it.
All this was due to his own effort, he told himself. That, too, was an undeniable truth.
After all, even receiving help required one to be worthy of it.
With the passage of time, memories of her began to fade. He made no effort to recall her.
But the piercing, chilling gaze he saw through her broken mask remained vividly etched in his mind.
Yes, that gaze...
The Marquis shuddered, his spine tingling, and shouted loudly.
"Butler!"
"Y-yes, my lord!"
The butler hurried over in a panic. The Marquis rarely raised his voice like this.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, the Marquis stared at the door Ghislain had exited through and spoke.
"Bring me a portrait of the Marchioness Perdium."
"A-a portrait of the Marchioness?"
"Yes, as quickly as possible."
The Marquis swallowed hard.
Yes, those sharp, chilling eyes...
They were far too similar to Ghislain's.
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]