Chapter 170: A Dangerous Pact

Leaving behind the book detailing the contract with the Demon King, he spoke.

“I propose a trade, with this book at stake.”

……

***

News of the fall of Paras Territory left the Duke in a state of dismay.

The Duke was a politician. Tactics were not his realm. Even if he had some private soldiers left to back him up, he had lost them to the Revolutionary Army. His only recourse was to wage a public opinion war through the Salvation Church.

His pride could not help but suffer a blow.

“Truth be told, there is magic as well…”

If the Demon King’s counter-contractor were to use the magic power he bestowed against the Demon King’s army, would he really just stand by?

“Perhaps he will withhold his power,” he mused.

There was no certainty that he could take it back once given, but no certainty that he wouldn’t either.

Moreover, he couldn’t be sure how many schemes this magic power might fuel, so it was better to save it for that one perfect moment and unleash it all in one go.

For that reason, the Duke resolved to conserve his magic until the very end.

“Then I must seek another card.”

He needed another trump—a decisive power that would let him hold everything in his hands.

It wasn’t that the Duke lacked the talent for the game of chess; if he were given the pieces, he was confident he could play better than anyone.

“Of course, losing a piece already in my grasp leaves me little to say…”

He clenched his fist quietly.

…This sort of mistake would never happen again. The Duke had paid dearly in hubris and complacency.

If only the Emperor could show just a bit of leniency.

“He’s stubborn to the core,” he thought.

He furrowed his brow slightly.

Deep down, he wished to seize power by force, but the current state of affairs made such a move unthinkable—it would only stoke chaos, breed resentment, and spark internal strife.

“How foolish,” he muttered.

It was incomprehensible.

There were those who craved power, individuals so obsessed with it that they were willing to pay any price. In a nation already on shaky ground, where someone was ready to get their hands bloody and shoulder every responsibility—why stubbornly insist on self-destruction?

He was seen repeatedly rubbing his fingertips together, clenching and unclenching his fist—a movement that hinted at brushing off some deeply embedded residue, a spectacle visible only to the Duke’s keen eyes.

“Surely it looked as if his hands were stained with blood,” he mused.

The hallucination had evolved beyond sight and sound, even touching his sense of touch—and perhaps smell as well.

Even upon reflection, he was not the sort who belonged in the Emperor’s league. At least, not in these times.

Had he ascended peacefully in a time of calm, he might even have become a wise ruler. But he wasn’t that kind of man. The Emperor now needed someone who would sacrifice willingly for the sake of legacy, someone shameless enough to act without remorse.

Yes—someone like me.

The Duke’s lips curled into a wry smirk.

“Whether it’s my older brother or younger, they’re all feeble, yet their arrogance runs high.”

He recalled the 1st Prince he had encountered long ago, back when Eudoardo Deserte was still the 9th Prince, not yet Emperor.

A man who had, against all odds among countless contenders for the throne, secured the succession—only to be doomed by poison, his time running short.

“I always wondered how such a feeble man managed to secure the heirship.”

Had his desperate entry into the succession battle been simply to protect his family?

If his brothers were to take the throne, not only would he lose his most treasured younger sibling, but his children would surely perish. He seemed to have realized this bitter truth only after losing his wife.

What value did a family hold? The flimsy, half-hearted notion of ‘family’ was not for the Duke; he scoffed at those radiant souls from the shadows.

And so, he administered the poison.

He fed it slowly, a poison designed to nibble away at life, extinguishing that radiance.

Since what the Duke needed were successors who wouldn’t be swayed like the easily manipulated 1st Prince, there was no hesitation in his actions.

Before long, the 1st Prince, now with a death sentence looming, arrived.

***

“I have a book that might pique your interest,” he said.

An untitled book lay on the desk. The Duke glanced down at it, then looked back up at the 1st Prince.

What started off so differently from expectations—it was merely a statement from the person responsible for the poison. Could it be that the man before him was unaware he was the culprit?

Questions were fleeting. Once the rhythm was set, the main point would emerge. The Duke cleared his throat.

“What exactly is this?”

“It’s the forbidden book that details the method to contract with the Demon King.”

“…!”

Unbelievable.

Now that he was facing death, did the man before him really think nothing was worth noticing? Who in their right mind would plan to smuggle this out?

Yet, despite everything, his curiosity was undeniably piqued.

“This is a dangerous item. Why show it to me?”

“I propose a trade, with this book as collateral.”

“A trade, huh…”

It finally dawned on him. In exchange for the book, the request was for an antidote. Perhaps, along with the antidote, the support of Illuster might be demanded to solidify his succession.

Relaxation washed over the Duke as he slightly eased his posture.

…Still, he needed to confirm, just in case.

“What could you possibly gain from me to propose such a trade?”

“The condition is to protect my children—Aletea Deserte, Elpidius Deserth, and Eudoardo Deserte.”

“…”

This answer was completely off his expectations.

The Duke blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.

“How absurd. Such ludicrous terms! Does the 1st Prince not know who the true culprit behind the poison is? Does he really not know?”

“I know full well that you were the one who administered the poison. You must be wondering why I didn’t ask for the antidote.”

“…!”

“I also know of your ambition. I understand that your greed won’t stop at this trade. Even if you were to claim the throne by obtaining the antidote, I would never be able to control a Duke who’d even contract with the Demon King and gain power.”

He grinned bitterly. Soon enough, the Duke would drag him down, and all the family I once sheltered would perish at his hands. The 1st Prince chuckled.

He contemplated many things.

Could he not wager something else instead of this book? Was there no more enticing offering in his grasp that could make the Duke accept the trade?

“Not that I have any offering worthy of it. Even if the Duke wasn’t bound by his contract with the Demon King, I’d never be able to control him,” he thought.

The Duke was not one to be taken lightly.

So he shifted his line of thought. If he were to use this book as trade currency, what could he demand in return?

“What I desire most is the safety of my children… and my own life.”

“But the Duke craves power.”

No matter how he mulled it over, there seemed no way to secure both. Even if he uncovered the method to contract with the Demon King, if the condition blocked the chance of acquiring power, the Duke would refuse. Besides, one could never wager too much.

Thus, to present terms that would meet the Duke’s expectations…

The 1st Prince resolutely sacrificed his own life.

“No matter the terms, if I manage to cling to life and ascend the throne, I’ll end up wearing a leash.”

He would become a king haunted by the Duke’s ever-watchful gaze, wondering when he would be dragged down.

“I have no intention of handing you any leash,” he declared.

“Are you saying you’re willing to sacrifice your own life?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes.”

With those words, under a cascade of golden sunlight, the 1st Prince smiled.

Even though the poison had ravaged him—emaciated and shadowed under tired eyes—he still shone with an almost blinding brilliance.

“I just can’t understand it.”

The Duke furrowed his brow.

It was utterly incomprehensible: even with death looming, the man before him radiated an undeniable brilliance.

…A hint of irritation crept in.

“Don’t you consider the possibility that I might reject this trade? After all, if you wait long enough, death will come; or on your way back today, I might be slain and the book acquired by force.”

“If this trade isn’t accepted here and now, I’ll burn the book immediately. Moreover, before coming here I spread word that anyone meeting the Duke would be marked. I’ve even set things up so that as soon as death comes, evidence will circulate that the Duke is to blame.”

“…”

“Do you think I can’t fabricate a piece of evidence?”

In short, whether the trade went through or not—whether he died from an ambush or even got mugged by bandits on the way—the blame would ultimately fall on the Duke.

“If I report to the Emperor that you smuggled the forbidden book…”

“I already declared that as soon as the trade fails, this book will be burned. Naturally, when the investigation comes, the book won’t exist. The library’s empty record was dealt with long before the smuggling even began. The Duke would dare be the noble who falsely reported the 1st Prince.”

“Whether I accept the trade or not, it seems I’m destined to lose.”

Even if the trade went through, with the 1st Prince’s life not being on the condition, the harm inflicted by his death—without the antidote—would persist.

The 1st Prince smiled lightly.

“Of course, if the Duke accepts the trade, I’ll transfer the blame for my death onto Duke Gradis.”

“Ha…”

There were two dukedoms in the kingdom.

Duke Gradis and the Illuster Dukedom. Being rivals, it was only natural that for a power-hungry Duke like Starbe Illuster, Duke Gradis was a constant thorn in his side.

“Now I see—it was mere blackmail after all.”

“This is a request.”

“…Very well. I accept the trade.”

***

Soon after, the 1st Prince summoned the sorcerer to seal the contract.

He had long mocked those who clung to family ties. Who would have imagined that a head of household, so meticulously educated in an uncaring home to aim only for greatness, would be so easily bested?

[Let me reiterate the conditions. It’s simple: safeguard my children, Aletea Deserte, Elpidius Deserth, and Eudoardo Deserte. And safeguarding means not just their lives but also their free will.]

[……]

[Since the Duke could easily lock him away somewhere and claim he ‘protected’ them, I suppose I should indeed have mentioned it. The children’s free will must be respected.]

[Even if the princes and the 1st Prince himself try to kill me, should I just chalk it up as a matter of free will?]

[If it comes to it, the Duke should be able to protect himself without harming the others. Of course, if the Duke must be alive to protect them, that moment would be an exception—but the children must never be harmed.]

Even the mere explanation was so finicky that the Duke furrowed his brow.

Considering he might have to do this for the rest of his life made him feel weary. Just as he was about to dismiss the contract, the 1st Prince spoke again.

[The term is 10 years.]

[……?]

[All these contracts will be terminated in 10 years.]

From the 1st Prince’s perspective, it was a losing proposition. Why insist on it?

Noticing the unmistakable doubt on the Duke’s face, the 1st Prince offered a slight smile.

[After 10 years, the children and the Duke shall take over.]

[……]

[Ten years is enough time for the children to grow strong and for the Duke to form genuine bonds. They are, after all, delightful children—and Edi… Eudoardo is impossible not to love. Even though he is not his offspring but rather a brother who must be kept in check.]