Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke

202 Kingdom in Turmoil

The Emperor let out a weary sigh, as if the words had lightened some invisible burden. "I appreciate that. Truly. But…"

A flicker of hesitation.

William tilted his head slightly. He had never seen the Emperor this uncertain before.

What could possibly warrant such unease?

"…There is something else I must tell you," the Emperor admitted, licking his lips as if struggling to get the words out. "Something you will not like."

William's gaze sharpened. "What is it?"

"Siegmund came to me, not long ago. He told me he had chosen his successor."

William stilled.

The world around him seemed to freeze, the Emperor's next words ringing hollow in his ears.

"It was Tristan."

A heavy silence descended.

Neither William nor the Emperor spoke.

Glen, caught between them, could do nothing but sweat nervously and wait for someone to break the suffocating tension.

"…Your Majesty," William finally said, his voice colder than ever before. "Are you telling me my father said those words himself?"

"Damn it," the Emperor muttered.

"Your Majesty."

"Can't you just let this go? You know the truth as well as I do."

"Your Majesty."

"I've given you everything I could. A ducal title. The northern marches. Asagrim. The best soldiers, the royal knights, endless supplies—"

"Yes," William interrupted. "And I will never forget your generosity, even in death." His voice did not waver. "But surely you understand, Your Majesty."

"Understand what?"

"That granting and taking away are two different things. They do not cancel each other out."

Glen gasped, his shock spilling into an audible protest. "How dare you—"

William paid him no mind. His gaze remained locked onto the Emperor.

The Emperor was silent for a long moment, then, as if in surrender, he let out a bitter laugh.

"Then tell me," he said, voice edged with frustration. "What would you have me do? Drag you back from Asagrim and hand over Hern as well? The north is still in turmoil."

William did not respond.

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. The Emperor heaved a sigh.

"Then how about this?" he offered. "The sorcerer—you may do as you please."

William's eyes flickered.

"I am not saying to use him in secret," the Emperor continued. "I will authorize it. I will grant you the power to recognize unregistered sorcerers within the Empire."

William stared at him, momentarily stunned.

The Emperor's gaze burned, filled with an unrelenting fire.

It was the look of a man who knew his time was running out. A man determined to settle unfinished business before it was too late.

"You have seen the Empire's might for yourself," the Emperor said. "You have seen what magic can do. You were already considering it, weren't you?"

William said nothing.

"There is no need to fear being branded a traitor," the Emperor pressed. "I will give you my blessing. Study magic as you wish."

Then, his voice dropped to a quiet demand.

"In exchange, relinquish Hern."

Let go of the excess. Abandon any thoughts of standing against the imperial throne.

William closed his eyes as the weight of the Emperor's proposal settled upon him.

It was a carefully calculated offer. The Emperor had no doubt foreseen what was to come. In times of chaos, mages would rise from the shadows, emerging from all corners of the empire. It was only a matter of time before they could no longer be suppressed.

By conceding early, the Emperor was merely attempting to turn an inevitable loss into a controlled advantage.

Even so, the proposal was undeniably appealing.

If the right to officially recognize unregistered sorcerers was granted by imperial decree, William would stand apart. Others would be forced to hide in the shadows, while he alone could act openly. Naturally, mages seeking refuge would turn to him rather than other lords.

"…I will not renounce my claim," William finally said. "But I will not contest my brother's inheritance, either."

"That is enough!" The Emperor's relief was palpable. "At last… Kugh!"

A thick spray of blood erupted from the Emperor's mouth, cutting his words short.

"Your Majesty!"

Glen cried out in alarm as the Emperor doubled over, coughing violently.

The Emperor barely managed to straighten himself, his labored breaths ragged as he forced out a few final words.

"The… documents… I will send them… Glen, return…"

A faint glow flickered, and the magical artifact that had been sustaining their conversation abruptly deactivated.

The connection had been severed from the other side.

Glen hesitated before glancing at William, who remained lost in thought. Under normal circumstances, he would have spoken of the Emperor's condition, appealing to William's loyalty—but given the tragedy William himself had just endured, even he could not bring himself to say such things.

"…Your Highness, the Duke was an extraordinary man," Glen said carefully. "A pillar of the empire."

William gave a slight nod. "Thank you."

A silence stretched between them.

Glen shifted awkwardly, unsure of what to say next. "…I—"

"I wish to be alone."

"…Ah. Of course."

Face burning with embarrassment, Glen quickly excused himself from the office.

The moment the door shut behind him, William slumped into his chair, closing his eyes.

Siegmund.

He was neither his birth father nor the man who had raised him. He had simply found himself filling a role that had not been meant for him.

Yet in the brief time he had spent by Siegmund's side—less than a year—the man had been more of a father to him than anyone else.

"…Father."

The word slipped from his lips, unbidden.

His voice trembled.

William had meant to say more, but he fell silent.

A single tear traced a burning path down his cheek.

At dawn, having spent the entire night awake, William made his way to the underground prison.

It was not the same prison where Norbeck had been held.

The guard, who had been nodding off at his post, jolted awake at the sound of approaching footsteps. When he saw who had arrived, his face drained of color.

"Y-Your Highness!"

"I have come to see the prisoner. Step aside."

"O-Of course!"

The terrified guard quickly moved out of the way. With Norbeck's escape still fresh in his mind, he was no doubt fearful of being reprimanded for his carelessness.

William paid him no attention as he entered the cell.