Surviving as the Fallen Northern Grand Duke

Chapter 26: The Empire's Capital (2)

"Do you know the future of the world?"

When the emperor's words echoed through the great hall, I felt my mind momentarily go blank.

Saaaah.

Sweat seeped from my forehead uncontrollably.

If I let myself go any further here, cold sweat would start dripping down.

Then, the emperor would seize the moment to press me further.

So,

'Haaaah.'

In that fleeting instant, I had to steel my mind and spirit.

"What do you mean by knowing the future? I don’t quite understand..."

At that moment, I began acting like a bewildered seventeen-year-old hearing a ridiculous question.

While doing so, I glanced sideways at the other transmigrator standing beside me. And then…

Stiff!

I saw Erina Trotsky's face, completely unfazed.

She wore an expression as if to say, ‘What are you doing? You’re the one who’s supposed to answer.’

Judging by that look, if I got exposed as a transmigrator, she would pretend she had nothing to do with it and cut ties with me immediately.

The emperor asked again, now with a slight hint of anger in his voice.

"You must know what I am talking about. Don’t you, Grand Duke?"

Some might wonder what difference it makes whether I get caught as a transmigrator or as someone who knows the future. However…

‘This is a world where inquisitors exist, and heretics can be executed.’

In an era where even the suspicion of worshiping a god other than the Supreme God could lead to being burned at the stake.

If I were exposed as a transmigrator or someone who even slightly knew the future? Then probably…

'Even as the Northern Grand Duke, I wouldn’t be safe.'

So I had no choice but to play a dangerous gamble with the emperor.

Since I had no way of knowing how much the emperor was aware of,

‘There are two possibilities.’

I had to consider the possible scenarios.

The first was that, seeing Axen’s rapid growth recently, the emperor suspected, ‘Does the Northern Grand Duke know the future? Could this guy be a heretic?’

Or the second…

‘He knows this world itself is a novel and that transmigrators exist.’

Either way, it made my head spin. But despite my inner turmoil…

Saaaaaah.

I maintained a cold expression on my face.

A chilling expression that probably resembled the frigid weather of Axen.

"Perhaps that could be true. That I, Johan Kraubitz, the Northern Grand Duke, know the future of the empire."

As soon as I spoke—

"Perhaps?"

The emperor questioned.

Fwoooooosh!

I licked my lips and forced out my next words with all my might.

"A lord governing a region must do so, after all."

"Explain in detail."

"A lord must sometimes be someone who knows the future. And also someone who can read the past.

Thus, by studying the past, reading the present, and predicting the future.

And...

There is only one thing that makes all this possible.

It is the heart that thinks of the future of his people and the empire.

If a ruler only focuses on his own safety, he will turn a blind eye to the lessons of history and block out the voices of reality.

Then he will inevitably fail to foresee a future that should have been obvious. Perhaps that is why people in various principalities are starving even now.

I simply did not ignore the Axen citizens who starve in winter because they cannot farm.

I merely saw the current situation of Axen, where a young Grand Duke’s ascension has led to security threats.

I only recognized the young talents who hunger for knowledge due to the lack of proper educational institutions.

So, in a way, I might be said to know the future of the empire simply because I did not turn away."

After finishing my words, I looked at the emperor’s face.

He remained completely motionless.

He rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.

When someone is nervous, they tend to interpret the other person’s expression negatively.

Naturally, I…

‘I'm screwed. Damn... Should I just start swinging my longsword and run? No, wait. I got my longsword confiscated at the entrance, didn’t I? Then I should just bolt and run. Sorry, Erina... May you find peace and go to a better place...’

I prepared to channel mana into my legs. But then…

"So that’s the reason. Why Axen has been undergoing such remarkable development."

The emperor gave a calm compliment.

Then, a dignified yet reassuring voice followed.

"Was that the teaching of the late Grand Duke?"

Realizing that I had barely escaped the crisis, I became excited and started speaking rapidly.

"No, Your Majesty. It is the teaching of Your Imperial Majesty, Freud Pontiac."

"Me? You say that I taught you that?"

"Yes, that is correct.

In the past, when Your Majesty issued decrees across the continent, there was a phrase that read:

'One must look after the people and do their utmost to aid them.'

Since Your Majesty, seated in the highest position, takes care of all the people, how could a mere lord dare to ignore such teachings?

In the end, all of this is simply the result of following Your Majesty’s command.

So it is none other than Your Majesty, the Sun of the Empire, who has granted me the eyes to see the future."

Ssss.

A faint sound came from beside me.

Ssss.

I turned slightly and saw Erina Trotsky giving me a look that said, ‘What kind of bastard is this? This guy’s selling his soul for lip service.’

Well, what could I do?

That’s just how Kim Si-hyuk, the eternal corporate underling, had lived his life.

Anyway,

“Hahaha.”

A laugh echoed from the dignified imperial face.

“The Northern Grand Duke is quite the eloquent speaker. Yes, it seems only you, Johan Kraubitz, truly follow my will.”

“You flatter me.”

“So, how is the imperial capital? It must have been a long time since your last visit.”

I survived!

This was the moment when the Emperor changed the topic.

“Even when I visited before, it was already an astonishing place, but now it seems even more developed. As a mere lord managing a single territory, it gave me much to consider.”

I exchanged a few more trivial words with this old man.

Then, just as my audience with the Emperor was about to end, he added a few words.

“Then, stay in the capital for a while and look around. Especially...”

Especially?

“The ‘Festival of Spring’ is about to be held, so you should participate as well. This time, there will be many knights of your age taking part.”

“I shall obey your command.”

Tsk.

‘I got caught.’

I needed to return to my territory quickly, but the Emperor had subtly ‘ordered’ my participation in the festival.

Well, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

This outcome was satisfactory enough.

Afterward, I bowed my head in respect to the Emperor and withdrew from the audience chamber.

Aside from being stuck in the capital for a few weeks, the result was excellent.

“...Nothing much, really.”

Confidence surged within me.

“Come forth.”

Inside the audience chamber after the Northern Grand Duke had left.

As the Emperor spoke in a low voice...

Ssshh. Step, step.

A man in priestly robes slowly emerged from behind a massive pillar.

The Emperor asked him,

“How was it? Did you observe everything I mentioned?”

Then, the high-ranking priest of the empire reported to the Emperor,

“Your Majesty’s suspicion was correct. Regarding Northern Grand Duke Johan Kraubitz…”

Tremble.

Thud!

Clasping his trembling hands together, he continued,

“I could not sense even the slightest divine power in him.”

Hah.

A sigh escaped through the Emperor’s teeth.

That made sense.

In this vast Prohatska Empire, there should not have been a single person devoid of divine power.

If someone completely lacked divine power, that would mean...

“He is either a demon worshiper… or a demon himself.”

Yes, it meant he was someone deeply associated with demons—the very existence the empire had thoroughly denied.

Or...

“It could be ‘that.’”

An existence recorded in the lost history of the empire.

A being said to possess the power to traverse worlds.

The ‘Giant King’ came to Freud Pontiac’s mind.

Thus, the Emperor ignored the trembling priest and reached an unavoidable conclusion.

“Northern Grand Duke Johan Kraubitz… you are…”

Smirk.

“Lying.”

***

“It’s been a while, Northern Grand Duke, no…”

A smirk.

“Half-blood Johan.”

On my way out of the palace, I ran into the one person I least wanted to meet.

I knelt on one knee and paid my respects to him.

“I greet the Little Sun of the Empire.”

He responded with a smile curling at his lips.

“No need for that. Stand. It’s not like we’re strangers.”

Arthur Pontiac, Crown Prince of the Prohatska Empire, wore a rather cruel smile as he pulled me up.

And then—

Swoosh!

I stood tall before the Crown Prince. I was at least a head taller than him.

‘Still tiny.’

Of course, Arthur was much taller than the imperial average, but he still fell far short of Johan’s physique.

Looking down at Arthur, who was suddenly forced to look up at me, I suppressed the urge to compare our heights.

He chattered away from below.

“...Anyway, you better show up at the Festival of Spring. I’ll make sure to trample you underfoot.”

This bastard, as expected of a romance-fantasy novel’s crown prince. His skill at picking fights with the Northern Grand Duke was top-tier.

And then—

Ssshhh.

As we left the palace, if my eyes weren’t mistaken, that guy blushed while glancing at Erina Trotsky.

“Hm… Seeing Johan all the time makes the Crown Prince look really small. And his way of speaking is such a try-hard alpha male act. I bet he has no friends.”

Erina chattered away in the carriage.

I decided to give her a tiny spoiler.

“Don’t be too harsh. He’s a pitiful guy.”

“Why? He’s the Crown Prince. What’s so pitiful about that?”

Well…

“He’s going to die soon.”

In the prologue, when the empire fell into ruin, he was the first to perish.

And when we arrived back at the lodging...

Clamor.

‘Huh?’

We were met with an unexpected sight.

“Ah, don’t push! I got here first!”

“No, do you even have any connection to Lord Johan?”

“Everyone, clear the way! Baron Bikirio is arriving!”

“I’ve had an appointment since yesterday!”

In front of the lodging, all sorts of nobles from the empire who were staying in the capital had gathered.

And they were carrying various things in their hands.

Johan and Erina Trotsky did not turn away visitors.

“Oh my, such precious gifts... Alright, just leave them here.”

There were no anti-bribery laws in the empire, and during this era, such gestures of sincerity were standard.

However,

“I didn’t know the Grand Duke’s preferences, so I brought all my daughters...”

“Rather than the plain Lady Trotsky, how about me?”

The unexpected physical advances were a bit tiring.

But Erina Trotsky did not feel even the slightest concern that her position might be in danger from such things.

And for good reason...

“I heard our Grand Duke doesn’t even like women?”

“That’s why some people have given him the nickname ‘Goj...’”

“Hey, you! Watch your mouth! Your mouth!”

Johan had already gained quite a reputation in that regard.

Come to think of it, Johan had never shown any interest in women.

So Erina had deep trust in him.

‘...He’s definitely incapable as a man.’

Which was why he swiftly dismissed those young ladies and instead sat down to enjoy tea with an aging baron.

The baron spoke to Johan.

“By all means, you must participate in the festival. There are already many in the empire eager to witness the Grand Duke’s martial prowess.”

“I’m not sure... Besides, I can’t even use mana.”

The baron had been a close friend of the former Grand Duke, so he was offering various pieces of advice to Johan, who had just entered the central aristocracy.

And Erina chimed in.

“Oh, please do participate. It’s a fundamental rule in romance fantasy novels that you shine in the tournament during these times.”

She was whispering the supreme cliché into his ear.

But while they were deep in conversation—

“A message from His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

It seemed that bastard Arthur had sent something to Johan.

Swoosh.

Johan read the letter aloud.

I formally challenge you to a duel.

Let us settle this at the upcoming Spring Festival...>

That was the gist of it.

Erina chuckled and whispered.

“Be sure to accept and then lose on purpose. That way, you can build some kind of manly friendship and make the Crown Prince an ally.”

“Really? It’s okay if I lose?”

“Of course. That’s the rule. What good would it do for the Grand Duke to defeat the Crown Prince?”

At that, Johan smirked and continued reading the rest of the letter.

If you win, I will promise whatever support you desire for your territory.

But if I win...>

And?

“Oh, for fuck’s sake...”

Now, Erina Trotsky was determined to convince Johan to utterly crush the Crown Prince.