Chapter 39
As Karls expected, an expeditionary force was formed as soon as the harvest season ended. However, the size of the expeditionary force was not as large as expected. Since it was organized around the army of the southern provinces, the Emperor did not come into contact with many knights from other provinces.
Only a few experienced senior Morte Knights decided to enlist.
Morthion blessed those chosen and held a campaign ceremony. Victor hoped they would return quickly.
However, the war became unexpectedly global. Once the front lines were formed, neither side wanted to inflict casualties, so they faced off without major battles.
It was easy to move forward on land with so many empire soldiers, but the Southern Kingdom was an island. Their navy was not easy to penetrate, and no commander seemed willing to try.
It was slow.
When it became clear that the Grand Duke would not be back for a long time, Joe Morte became strange. Subalterns who noticed began to struggle for rights.
From territorial disputes to mining rights to demands to break engagement for alliance.
Morthion was exhausted after mediating all kinds of requests.
Even Victor fell into a strange situation.
“Oh, Little Duke! It has been a while since I last saw you.”
A group of followers spoke to Victor in passing.
One of them was openly carrying a lot of jewelry.
“Did you kill the orcs on the mountain again? As expected, you are amazing!”
“You must be the only knight who can chase such a terrifying beast, all alone.”
Victor narrowed his eyes.
He couldn't understand why people he didn't know would give him such compliments.
He asked directly.
"What's wrong?"
The subordinate flinched at his tone, which was harsher than expected. But he rubbed his hands together and spoke again.
“What? I’m only doing this because I want to get closer to the Little Duke.”
“The followers are my brother’s servants, so I don’t know why they are interested in me.”
“How can you say that? We serve the entire Morty family. Of course, we are also the Little Duke’s servants.”
They smiled and added subtly.
“Besides, Lord Mortheon is not the Grand Duke yet. So you are good at that, perhaps.”…
“My brother is the one who will become the Grand Duke.”
Victor cut off his words sharply.
He felt extremely insulted, but he couldn't say anything else. Looking at the knights' future, he knew that he should not become an enemy of the vassals.
Victor spoke as calmly as possible.
“I am a knight and am not interested in politics. It is my brother’s business.”
“Oh my God, little Duke.”
The white-haired subordinate shook his head.
Victor knew his name was Jillian? Gillard? Something like this.
With an indecipherable smile, he explained that he would do it for a child.
“For those who are powerful, power follows even if they don’t want to. That is power.”
After saying this, he bowed deeply and walked away.
Victor stared at their retreating backs in disgust.
***
After a while, Victor discovered the situation. Worried voices were coming from vassals who had suffered losses due to Morthion's "interference."
A successor had not yet been confirmed, and the second master was very talented. Therefore, they thought, before the Grand Duke returns, let us create a discourse between the two brothers, and in the process, take care of our own interests.
Victor couldn't understand why.
Up until now, he had only been friendly with Morthion, so why did they think he would try to take his older brother's place?
But Leonard said it had nothing to do with Victor.
“The vassals are basically on the side that benefits them. Since the Grand Duke has 2 sons, it is natural for opinions to differ.”
Leonard spoke sternly.
It was difficult for him to say because he was from the Odo family, a long-time vassal of Morty.
But Victor didn't have time to think deeply about it. He bit his lip and thought.
Morthion was very busy.
It had been more than ten years since he had begun carrying out the master duties entrusted to him by his father, but he had never seen Morthion this busy in all that time.
Victor's stomach twisted at the thought that his very presence could be used to inflict pain on his brother.
“What a useless thing”...
His friends forbade him from doing anything rash.
“Victor, being aggressive isn't the answer, you know.”
“Yes. It's a story that will disappear after the war anyway.”
They said that there were already complaints about the war without progress, mostly from the aristocrats in the capital. This was natural, because they paid an increased tax just to maintain the expeditionary force.
Murthion did not make an official statement, he made it clear that his father's presence on the front lines was not to his liking. Everyone hoped that a ceasefire agreement would begin soon.
So Victor felt a little relieved.
Soon things would be over, his father would return, and everything would go back to normal. Mortheon served as the Duke's heir, and Victor was preparing to become the Knight Commander.
As always, he was worried about what supplies to make in the winter or how much wheat had grown, so...
“Little Duke! You must come now!”
A servant, rushing in, interrupted Victor's thoughts. The three knights looked at the servant in surprise. The servant, who was out of breath, was turning blue from excessive exertion.
They ran after the servant without even thinking about it.
***
Victor watched the scene unfold blankly.
The hall was filled with howling.
The vassals wiped away their tears with expensive handkerchiefs, while the knights sat and wept.
A messenger carrying the imperial coat of arms followed.
... “The body will soon arrive at the Morte, and the new Grand Duke orders the entire knight's force to leave as soon as the funeral is over.”
"Good".
At that moment, Victor found Morthion. Morthion's gentle face was twisted in pain. He caught his breath and stood up to address the room.
“Our father, the Grand Duke, is dead.”
"Yes".
Victor clenched his fists involuntarily. It was something he knew the moment he entered the room, but hearing his brother was different.
“It was due to a cowardly surprise attack. Not only our father, but also all the other Morte Knights were killed. I...” he added.
He struggled to clear his voice.
“I am very sad. They died honorably as knights, but they left so much behind. It was a tragedy that should not have happened.”
“…”
“I express my regret for the suffering this has caused my entire family, servants, and Morty. We can only cry. It is not something a knight would do, nor would anyone blessed to wear the Black Lion Crest.”
Morthion slowly descended the altar and received the Emperor's message with both hands. Announce.
“In accordance with His Majesty’s orders, all Morte Knights will depart as soon as their comrades’ funerals are over.”
Woes erupted and filled the room.
Victor looked at Mortheon, not even thinking about his friends. His brother looked at the letter with sunken eyes.
It was as if he was saying that his childhood was over.
***
Funerals were held a few weeks after the bodies arrived. During the war, it was not possible to collect all the bodies, and many of them were just empty coffins.
Victor moved through the funeral procession without thinking. He stood in front of his father's grave and did not feel anything, but when he faced the graves of his colleagues, tears came to his eyes.
Leonard and Karls were already crying in front of the coffins of the knights who were close to them.
But Victor didn't cry.
Because Morthion did not shed a single tear. He was kinder than anyone else, but now he was the Grand Duke of Morte. The Grand Duke was not allowed to sit in front of his people and cry.
“Victor.”
Morthion called out to him in a low voice.
As Victor approached, he hugged his brother tightly.
He said quietly.
... “A lot will change.”
"Yes".
Victor nodded.
There were only the two of them left now, having lost their mother, father, and knights, who were like brothers. He had to carry the weight of this family alone.
Before their eyes, war was waiting.
Mortheon asked.
“Remember what he promised us when we were kids?”
"Yes".
“Yes. I will make you my knight commander. This is a war, so you will be my commander.”
His brother raised his head.
“Help me and be by my side, Victor.”
Victor closed his eyes tightly and nodded.
Since the day Morthion promised, he had been training. It didn't matter whether it was a swarm of monsters or a war.
This was his life's goal.
He would do anything to protect his older brother and Morty.
***
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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