"Fight Duke Crevan?"
Zeke pondered the meaning behind the new mission Arthur Draker had relayed through Baron.
Duke Crevan de Panion, the Bright King.
He was one of the five strongest knights on the entire continent and a legendary figure hailed as the pinnacle of strength in the Rom Empire.
In Zekeʼs mind, there was only one reason Arthur Draker would specifically order him to confront such a figure as Duke Crevan.
"He wants to see me lose to Duke Crevan."
Though Zeke was a guardian knight of the Draker Family and a black knight, he was not yet on a level to directly challenge the Bright King.
Assuming Arthur didnʼt know his true power, this command could only be interpreted as one expecting defeat rather than victory.
Zeke arrived at this conclusion for two reasons.
"First, to quell the discontent within the Rom Empire."
Though Rom had been liberated from Siemensʼ control, the process had been driven by the Draker Family—an external force.
At the center of it all was Zeke Draker, the famed Knight of Salvation.
While the citizens of Rom praised the Knight of Salvation, Zeke, not all reactions in the empire were positive.
There were negative views toward the Draker Family, an outside power, for shaking up the Rom Empire and ultimately splitting it into Rom and Jupiter.
In such a situation, if Zeke were to face off against Duke Crevan—a symbol of the empire —and lose, it would, albeit belatedly, paint a picture that preserved the empireʼs pride.
At the same time, it would naturally draw Duke Crevan to Prince Leoʼs side, bolstering the legitimacy of the imperial succession and encouraging other great imperial houses to get involved.
The practical benefits of Zekeʼs defeat were considerable.
"Second, to adjust my position within the family."
Arthur Draker likely hadnʼt anticipated that Zeke would actually seize the Rom imperial palace.
His original plan was probably to use Zekeʼs failure in this mission as an excuse—citing the resulting clashes and Siemensʼ illegal actions—to create a pretext for the Draker Familyʼs intervention in the Rom Empire.
But Zeke had succeeded in creating that pretext, occupied Rom, and driven out Siemens. He had even installed Julius as the new emperor of Rom, which had elevated his standing within the Draker Family far too high.
Zeke had never once failed and had racked up astonishing achievements that others could scarcely imagine, so from Arthur Drakerʼs perspective as family head, it was understandable to view him warily.
In a situation where Zekeʼs fame might surpass Arthur Drakerʼs, challenging Duke Crevan and losing would allow him to temper Zekeʼs skyrocketing reputation.
The Knight of Salvation had charged ahead without end so far, but this would remind the entire continent that he hadnʼt yet reached the ranks of the continentʼs strongest.
Zeke contemplated Arthur Drakerʼs intentions for this mission and then looked up at Baron.
"If I were to defeat Duke Crevan, did the family head mention any reward?" At Zekeʼs question, Baron nodded.
"Yes, the family head said this."
He paused for a moment, then looked at Zeke with a meaningful expression before continuing.
"If Sir Zeke emerges victorious against Duke Crevan, he will cede the position of family head."
*
Thud thud thud thud!
A group of knights charged toward Rom, the capital of the Rom Empire.
Several imperial spears, shorter than standard lances, were strapped to the sides of their galloping horses.
A seasoned veteran with sharp eyes led these knights.
Dressed in simple imperial field attire, the battle-hardened knight raced toward Rom.
He was none other than Duke Crevan de Panion, the empireʼs foremost spear wielder and known as the Bright King.
Neigh!
The knight order led by Duke Crevan entered Rom and headed straight for the site of the imperial mausoleum.
The imperial mausoleum, once called the sacred site of the Rom Empire, had been completely burned away, leaving only blackened ruins.
Upon arriving at the mausoleum site, Duke Crevan dismounted with agile movements.
The imperial knights who guarded the front approached to block Duke Crevan from entering the mausoleum grounds.
"You cannot enter here..."
The knight trying to stop him recognized the Panion family crest and Duke Crevanʼs face, turned pale, and stepped back.
"D-Duke, Your Grace."
Duke Crevan ignored the knight who had tried to bar his way and entered the site where everything had been reduced to ashes.
He stood tall and silent as he beheld the complete destruction of the empireʼs sacred site, which had endured for centuries. Duke Crevan said nothing.
After a long moment, someone approached from behind the standing Duke Crevan.
"Your Grace."
It was Daria Calvi, captain of the Inmagung Knight Order.
Even with Dariaʼs arrival, Duke Crevan continued to gaze silently at the vanished mausoleum site.
Only after a while did he slowly kneel on one knee, pay his respects toward the lost mausoleum, and then rise again.
It was then that he turned to Daria and spoke.
"Itʼs been a while."
Daria was the one who had previously taught Duke Crevan the Panion-style spearmanship known as the Bright King Spear.
Looking at Duke Crevan, Daria said,
"I was surprised to hear that Your Grace was coming to Rom in person." Duke Crevan rarely left his estate in the Panion territory.
Even when the mad Emperor Nero had ordered him to enter the palace, he hadnʼt budged.
For such a man to lead knights to Rom personally was astonishing.
Gazing at the ruined mausoleum site, Duke Crevan said,
"Before Nero ascended the throne, the previous emperor once brought me here, fresh from joining the imperial palace guard."
The predecessor before the emperor called mad, Nero, had been the one who led the revival of the Rom Empire.
Recalling the previous emperor, Duke Crevan continued,
"His Majesty showed this sacred site to me, a newly titled knight, and told me that the spirit and soul of the empire were enshrined here."
Duke Crevan recalled the voice of the previous emperor from long ago.
In the seemingly stoic gaze of Duke Crevan, Daria could read a sense of longing.
For Duke Crevan, this sacred site held cherished memories with the previous emperor, making it a space more special than any other.
Though he was the empireʼs foremost spear wielder whom no one dared defy, long ago he had been just a novice knight.
The previous emperor had provided him with much support, encouraging him to rise again when he wanted to give up and giving him courage.
Seeing the sacred site filled with such memories reduced to ashes filled Duke Crevan with a profound emptiness.
After gazing at the mausoleum site for a moment, Duke Crevan turned his eyes back to Daria and said,
"Zeke Draker has summoned me."
Daria flinched at the mention of Zeke Drakerʼs name from Duke Crevanʼs lips.
With a sharp gaze, Duke Crevan asked Daria,
"Daria, what kind of man do you think Zeke Draker is?"
Daria pondered Duke Crevanʼs question for a long time without answering.
Finally, after much thought, she slowly opened her mouth.
"Zeke Draker is... a man beyond my judgment."
It was an evasive answer, but Daria couldnʼt find anything more to say.
Hearing Dariaʼs response, Duke Crevan looked at her silently.
Under the gaze of the stern duke, Daria felt an indescribable tension.
Duke Crevan slowly spoke.
"Daria, itʼs surprising that you, a knight of the enemy Draker camp, would judge him that way."
Confused by his words of unclear intent, Daria stammered,
"Y-Your Grace, that is..."
"If you had made any judgment, I would have returned to my estate immediately. And I intended to. But hearing your words has piqued my interest instead." Duke Crevan leaped back onto his horse.
Then he said to Daria,
"Lead the way, Daria. I will meet the Knight of Salvation myself."
Daria hadnʼt expected her reserved judgment to win over the difficult Duke Crevan, so she mounted her horse with a complicated expression. But she couldnʼt defy his order.
Thus, Daria Calvi and Duke Crevan headed toward the imperial palace.
*
"Duke Crevan has come to Rom?"
Carlito, who had been diligently reviewing documents in the consulʼs office, gaped at Prince Leoʼs words.
Carlito acted as consul in place of Julius.
After nearly dying due to Narakʼs geas, Julius had suffered rapid aging and hair loss, his health deteriorating sharply.
As a result, Carlito, who excelled in administration and diplomacy, had stepped in as his successor.
Though Carlito, former vice captain of the Celestial Scorpion Palace Knight Order, had never met Duke Crevan personally, he knew well how steadfast and stubborn the man was.
He wouldnʼt move even if the emperor summoned him directly; he was the type to hole up in the Panion estate.
Even when Siemens had occupied Rom, Duke Crevan had made no statement.
For such a man to suddenly arrive in Rom without any prior contact was shocking.
Prince Leo, preparing for his coronation, also wore a troubled expression as he asked Carlito,
"Acting Consul, do you have any idea why Duke Crevan has suddenly come to the palace?"
Carlito shook his head at Leoʼs question.
"Hmm, Duke Crevan is truly unpredictable. Itʼs hard to speculate easily."
At that moment, Carus, who had followed Leo and lounged on the office sofa with his legs stretched out, shook his head and spoke.
"Both you, Prince Leo, and the acting consul are overcomplicating it."
As eyes turned to him, Carus bit into a fruit on the table and continued.
"Isnʼt it obvious?"
At Carusʼs words, Leo tilted his head and asked,
"Obvious? What do you mean, Carus?"
Leo had grown much closer to Carus than before.
Carus sat up on the sofa and said,
"Heʼs here to gauge the situation, isnʼt he?" Leo shook his head at his words.
"Carus, you must not know Duke Crevan well. Heʼs not the type to heed anyoneʼs mood."
Carus smirked and replied,
"No matter how strong a knight is, heʼs still human. Even Duke Crevan would be concerned with the Knight of Salvation planted right here in Rom."
Turning to Carlito, Leo said,
"Acting Consul, what do you think Duke Crevan will make of Zeke Draker?"
Carlitoʼs expression grew complicated at Leoʼs question.
"If itʼs Duke Crevan... he probably wonʼt like it. In Abelʼs case, there was some justification, so the dukeʼs side didnʼt react much, but the current situation looks like outright Draker intervention."
It was Julius who had helped secure Abelʼs claim to the throne.
Now that Julius had switched sides again to place Prince Leo on the throne, it might have irked him.
And behind them stood Zeke Draker, guardian knight of the Draker Family.
For the strict and uncompromising Duke Crevan, this wouldnʼt sit well.
Clutching his head, Carlito said,
"If heʼs come because of Sir Zeke, thereʼs a high chance heʼll intervene in this matter and question the imperial succession. Hmm, or maybe thereʼs something else..." Watching the troubled Carlito, Carus shook his head.
"Acting Consul, it seems you donʼt know Duke Crevan well either. Does he strike you as someone whoʼd care about that? Heʼd let a monkey handle state affairs as long as things run smoothly—he wouldnʼt bat an eye."
Carlito inwardly agreed but couldnʼt easily relax, his face still anxious.
It was then.
An adjutant burst in urgently.
"A-Acting Consul! Duke Crevan has entered the palace." Carlito jumped to his feet in surprise.
"The duke? W-What for?"
The adjutant, looking somewhat flustered, replied,
"He says heʼs here to meet Sir Zeke Draker, the Knight of Salvation."