Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke

182 The Vault of Lost Inheritance

And they had almost forgotten that.

"You're right," one murmured. "We should honor them first…"

"Yes… before anything else, we should remember those who were lost…"

With their fervor cooled, the crowd quietly lowered their heads.

Glenn let out a long breath.

William had masterfully turned the situation in his favor.

He had neither rejected their faith in him nor challenged the Empire.

Instead, he had redirected their emotions toward something greater.

"Astonishing…" Glenn muttered under his breath.

William merely smiled and turned toward the palace doors.

Reaching out, he placed his hand against the ancient gates.

And as they slowly, silently swung open—

He whispered,

"Let's go, Felicia."

"Yes, my lord," she replied.

At last, it was time to uncover the legacy hidden beneath the throne.

Finding the throne room wasn't difficult.

Perhaps out of consideration for the officials, a direct path led straight to the heart of the White Palace. William followed it without hesitation, stopping only briefly to take a deep breath before pushing the doors open.

Creak.

A door that hadn't been touched for nearly a thousand years should have resisted, its hinges groaning in protest. Yet it swung open smoothly, as if it had been freshly oiled.

Stepping carefully inside, his boots sank into a plush red carpet. His gaze followed its length, tracing it all the way to the object he sought.

It's here.

At the very end of the carpet, a throne sat atop a raised platform—a pristine white seat, as if sculpted from pure jade. William strode toward it without hesitation.

As his fingers closed around the armrest, an inexplicable sensation wrapped around him, crawling over his skin like invisible tendrils.

Wuum…

"My lord!"

"I'm fine."

Felicia moved toward him in alarm, but William raised a hand, stopping her before she could get any closer. The throne had simply reacted to his blood, resonating in response—nothing more.

The keyhole should be beneath the throne.

Recalling his grandfather's notes, William knelt down and ran his hands along the underside of the seat. But no matter how thoroughly he searched, there was no sign of any opening.

Frowning, he pulled the key from his coat and held it beneath the throne.

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Shhhhhh…

"As expected."

Just like in his grandfather's underground estate, the throne responded to the key, radiating a brilliant light. The glow climbed up his wrist, suggesting that both the key and the bloodline of its owner were necessary for activation.

Click.

As the light faded, a hidden staircase revealed itself at the base of the platform. It had opened so silently that, had he not been watching, he wouldn't have noticed anything at all.

The doors, the hidden passage… How is everything opening so easily?

This place had been untouched for a thousand years. There should have been rusted mechanisms, stuck hinges, signs of wear. And yet, it all moved as smoothly as if it had been maintained just yesterday.

Curiosity about ancient technology flickered in his eyes, but verifying his inheritance came first.

Just as he was about to step inside, Felicia moved ahead of him, her expression hardening.

"My lord, allow me to go first."

"There shouldn't be any danger at this point, so there's no need to—"

"I'll go first."

Her tone left no room for argument.

William sighed but relented with a slight nod.

Overprotective as always.

A wry smile tugged at his lips, but he wasn't annoyed. If anything, it was a testament to the unwavering loyalty of his retainers.

Felicia descended first, pulling out an oilpaper and flint from her pouch.

"It's dark. We'll need a torch—"

Fwoosh.

Before she could finish, the space around them was bathed in warm light.

Both of them instinctively reached for their weapons, but the glow remained steady—artificial lighting, not an attack.

William narrowed his eyes at the softly glowing orbs embedded into the walls.

"…Glowing spheres?"

They pulsed faintly, illuminating the underground chamber with a gentle radiance.

Recognition dawned on his face, and his expression darkened.

"So this is what Count Calix was after."

Felicia looked at him in confusion. "My lord?"

"The stolen lights. They weren't just trying to snuff out illumination in the city. The lamps themselves were rare artifacts—so they took them."

"…Wait. You're saying Calix stole from the Grimaldi inheritance?"

"If it were publicly known property, it wouldn't be a problem. But taking hidden treasures from a sealed underground vault?"

Felicia clenched her jaw.

They had already known Count Calix was using the Grimaldi name for his own purposes, but now it was clear he had gone even further—looting what wasn't his to take.

William's fingers curled slightly, a cold gleam in his eyes.

It seems negotiations are no longer an option.

He had been willing to consider a bloodless resolution. But with this… perhaps it was time to crush them outright.

As his eyes adjusted to the light, more details of the underground chamber became clear.

Felicia gasped, pointing ahead with an expression of utter disbelief.

"My lord… over there."

William followed her gaze, only to freeze at the sight before him.

"…Herbs?"

It made no sense.

This was an underground vault. No sunlight. No soil. No nutrients.

Yet the chamber was filled with rows upon rows of medicinal plants. Leaves of strange hues, blossoms in every imaginable shade, saplings sprouting from pristine stone floors.

How is this possible?

As he stepped closer, the previously dim lights brightened all at once, as if responding to his presence.

And now, under the full glow of the artificial sun, more of the hidden treasures revealed themselves.

Stacks of pure gold ingots. Smithing tools of impeccable craftsmanship. Chests overflowing with gemstones and ancient coins. Shelves lined with preserved books, untouched by time.

But of all the artifacts in the room, one thing stood out above the rest.

Armor.

Row after row of polished plate armor, glinting under the soft light.

Felicia let out a shaky breath.

"…This is incredible."

Lined up neatly before them were one thousand sets of full battle gear—enough to fully equip an entire knightly order.