Invitation of the Crescent Moon - Chapter 66

The incident at the racetrack turned the capital upside down. Rumors that had been circulating secretly since the poorhouse fire completely surfaced.

All nobles belonging to the Noble Council gathered at the imperial palace by the Emperor’s summons. Everyone seemed surprised that the Grand Duke’s Territory, which had long been avoided in conversation, had become the main topic.

Inside the meeting room where two long tables faced each other, dozens of nobles waited with tense faces in anticipation of what would unfold.

“The recent poorhouse fire and the racetrack incident prove there are holes in the management of the Grand Duke’s Territory. Who knows what else might have happened there while no one was watching?”

It was a statement hinting at latent danger. Duke Weive of Igraine listened attentively to the rambling speech without even glancing at the speaker.

The imperial throne sat on five steps at the front of the meeting room. A middle-aged man with dull silver hair, grayish-blue eyes, and a small build. The Emperor, who had called this meeting after a long time, leaned against the backrest and asked dryly:

“So what are you suggesting?”

“The Grand Duke’s Territory has been under the management of two families for too long. We should consider replacing the administrators or converting it to direct imperial control.”

“Convert it to direct imperial control?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Given the vast scale of the Grand Duke’s Territory, it might be good to turn part of it into direct imperial land and distribute the rest to those of count rank or higher who lack territories.”

Drushia was so dumbfounded by the nobles’ brazen statements that he couldn’t even laugh.

‘They’re planning to grab land.’

It had been forty years. Forty years that the two families had managed the Grand Duke’s Territory through all sorts of hardships. And now they were discussing its disposition.

Their intention to find a minor pretext to belatedly get their share was obvious.

Talion originally had no interest in the Grand Duke’s Territory. Their responsibility to defend the border and guard the frontier against foreign tribes was greater than expanding their lands.

Perhaps it would be better for the residents of the Grand Duke’s Territory if the land were divided and they received new lords. Though he could rationally make that judgment, he still couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling.

“It’s been managed by Talion and Igraine for forty years. That’s not something that can change overnight.”

“We need to send an inspection team to the Grand Duke’s Territory to assess the situation and strengthen the blockade or deal with problem areas. If the disease from the Grand Duke’s Territory spreads further beyond the capital, it could become a great disaster for the empire.”

The meeting room stirred at the mention of epidemic.

“Keratinization disease is not contagious. It’s merely a rare disease without a cure.”

“That remains to be seen. Aren’t unpleasant rumors already circulating because of it?”

“Yes, about those rumors. Has the source been confirmed?”

At the Emperor’s question, all the nobles fell silent.

“They say the curse of the Grand Duke’s Castle has spread as a disease? How can such absurd rumors spread when you can’t even find their source?”

No one dared to step forward. The Emperor, clearly showing his displeasure, looked at Weive and Drushia in turn before continuing.

“So, what do Duke Igraine and Duke Talion, who are responsible for this issue, think?”

Drushia was the first to respond to the Emperor’s question.

“These are all unverified rumors. Since none of those who invaded the racetrack survived, we can’t even determine where they came from.”

They were all killed on the spot by quickly issued orders. As a result, the case had fallen into complete obscurity.

‘Or perhaps there’s no will to investigate at all.’

The invasion of unidentified patients, attacks by guards, and the added chaos of panicking horses created an atmosphere of terror. Almost like a stage perfectly set for dramatic effect.

Though hardly anyone was injured, it was enough to imprint the words “epidemic” and “Grand Duke’s Territory” as a single concept in people’s minds.

Drushia didn’t hesitate to raise concerns.

“The racetrack became a bloodbath. What was the Security Force doing while things escalated to that point?”

“Are you trying to shift the blame to the Capital Security Force?”

“Has even one movement pattern of the perpetrators been confirmed? Aren’t these all just speculations when there’s no information gathered?”

The Emperor’s expression remained indifferent, as if he had anticipated the objection.

“Whatever happened at the racetrack, the focus now is the Grand Duke’s Territory. We’ve confirmed that disease is already spreading there. How could this happen?”

“Your Majesty, Talion’s forces that defend the border have limitations in completely blockading the Grand Duke’s Territory as well. Minor breaches have occurred before, and punishing them under imperial law has been sufficient.”

“Isn’t that why other families are offering to lend a hand to address these weaknesses?”

“Then please transfer full authority to the families that wish to intervene. We of Talion will withdraw from the Grand Duke’s Territory at any time and concentrate solely on our original role of defending the border.”

“Hmm.”

The Emperor glared at Drushia. His words were a threat that they would completely withdraw if other families intervened.

“Are you protesting against me now?”

“How could I? I merely say this because we of Talion excel at training knights and fighting, but lack in territory management.”

Drushia drew a line, politely yet cautiously. As tense silence descended on the meeting room, Weive, who had been quiet throughout, rose from his seat.

With neatly combed silver-gray hair and black eyes that showed no sign of agitation, he was cold and resolute.

“Your Majesty, the same applies to us of Igraine. If the Noble Council wishes to intervene, then it should also take responsibility for supporting the Grand Duke’s Territory.”

This was an indirect statement that Igraine would also withdraw from the Grand Duke’s Territory if the Noble Council intervened. At this firm declaration, someone stood up to object.

“How can you make such an irresponsible statement?”

“We’re talking about changing the monopolistic management method. Yet you’re saying you’ll completely abandon it?”

“Do you know how much it has cost to manage the Grand Duke’s Territory for the past forty years? How much came from the national treasury and how much from the Noble Council’s support?”

The nobles fell silent at Weive’s counter-question. In reality, almost all costs had been borne by Igraine and Talion, and in exchange, the two families had full authority over the Grand Duke’s Territory.

But due to limited circumstances, losses inevitably outweighed gains, and this situation of pouring water into a bottomless pot had continued for decades.

The nobles stirred when Weive also took a stand. Though the Grand Duke’s Territory was tempting, the immediate costs of taking over management were too great.

Drushia narrowed his eyes as he observed the unshaken Weive.

‘That’s unexpected.’

He hadn’t expected the Duke of Igraine to take his side.

From the beginning, Weive had shown no interest in the Grand Duke’s Territory issue. He disliked even facing Talion at the negotiating table so much that he delegated all duties to his assistant without getting involved. It was because of Weive’s indifference that Ashika had been participating in the management of the Grand Duke’s Territory since she turned eighteen.

‘Well, it’s a place with more losses than gains, so from Igraine’s perspective, either option would be fine.’

The meeting adjourned after merely reconfirming the current situation without reaching a conclusion. The Emperor only requested detailed reports on the local situation from both Igraine and Talion.

From the start, the Emperor seemed to have no intention of changing the management method of the Grand Duke’s Territory. This was because tying the two families to the Grand Duke’s Territory was not just a matter of administration.

Igraine’s abundant wealth and Talion’s surplus forces being tied up in the Grand Duke’s Territory had served as a check on both families. So there was no reason to exclude Igraine and Talion now.

‘Calling this meeting was a warning.’

A warning that the imperial family, which had long turned a blind eye to the Grand Duke’s Territory, would now be watching this issue closely.

After the Emperor’s departure, nobles filed out of the meeting room. Weive’s gaze lingered briefly on Drushia before he disappeared across the hall with steps neither slow nor hurried.

That cold, resolute figure reminded Drushia of someone, giving him quite a peculiar feeling.

“Duke Talion.”

A voice approaching from behind broke Drushia’s contemplation.

“It seems my daughter was not satisfactory to you.”

It was Marquis Maiheller. A man with an oval face whose age was difficult to guess despite having adult children, and with a languid atmosphere that was peculiar.

This was the first time they’d met face-to-face since the broken engagement. Even when proceeding with the engagement, only the aides from both sides had communicated. The breaking of the engagement was no different.

“I didn’t know your connection with Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager was so deep.”

Drushia responded with a cold expression.

“I just remembered something I heard long ago. That a family heirloom presented by Talion was a useless burden, difficult to dispose of. So I simply suggested that returning it to its owner might be better than keeping it in storage.”

“Using marriage as an excuse?”

“I was only trying to find the best match for my daughter, so please don’t be upset. You don’t know how heartbroken that child was after returning from your house. It would be even better if you could look after her once, considering your past affection.”

Would it really be so? Drushia felt an uncomfortable sense of dissonance from Marquis Maiheller, who smiled languidly with neither hostility nor goodwill.

“If I can find the time.”

“I will convey that to my daughter as well.”

Marquis Maiheller bowed his head lightly in greeting and walked past Drushia. A leisurely yet somewhat slow gait. Drushia kept his eyes on the Marquis’s retreating figure.

‘I heard he had a riding accident when he was young.’

As he recalled, Marquis Maiheller had begun appearing at official functions less than ten years ago.

‘Maiheller hardly participated in official activities originally.’

A family that, unbecoming of their marquis status, had shut themselves away in their territory and rarely showed themselves. Maiheller was a family with hardly any presence, as if they existed yet didn’t.

‘That’s why Grandfather didn’t like Shafri much.’

The traditionally reclusive Maiheller family had begun social activities, putting Shafri and Erwin at the forefront. He had heard that people first saw Marquis Maiheller then and were surprised by how young he was.

The incident that had been buried for a while raised suspicions again. Shafri, who had clung to the engagement cancellation notice, and Marquis Maiheller, who had shown no affection for his daughter.

Shortly after delivering the engagement cancellation, the Empress Dowager had summoned Drushia and subtly urged him to marry. Soon after he refused, he was poisoned in a mysterious attack.

The Maiheller family physician had appeared just in time to save his life, and Shafri had stayed at the mansion throughout. A series of events that fit together strangely well had occurred one after another.

‘Why did Shafri come to my room?’

It was right after the assassins had infiltrated and battle had broken out. Why had Shafri risked danger to come to his room? Suspicions led to more suspicions, but the clues remained elusive.

As Drushia left the imperial palace, he loosened his cravat. The summer heat lingered even after sunset, making his chest feel tight.

‘I wonder if Ashika is alright.’

That day, Drushia hadn’t taken his eyes off Ashika. When the stands erupted in chaos, he’d been so shocked to see her falling.

His vision had gone black and his heart had seemed to drop to the floor. For the first time, he felt extreme fear at the thought that she might get hurt somewhere beyond his reach.

Though he found Ashika later and confirmed she wasn’t injured, there wasn’t even time to talk. There were too many eyes watching.

‘I shouldn’t have let her go like that. Damn it.’

That day, he had been unbearably angry at the fact that he had to let Ashika leave his side. He wanted to hold her in his arms and comfort her, asking if she had been too shocked, telling her to be at ease, but he couldn’t even do that.

What made him feel even worse was knowing that even in such a situation, Ashika would remain resolute on her own. No matter how afraid she was, she would pretend not to be frightened and bear everything alone.

‘She’s not the type of woman who would rely on me even if I told her to.’

Even amid all that, she had been more alert at the mention of the Grand Duke’s Territory.

There had been no other contact from Ashika since that day. After meeting every two or three days, they had cut off contact as if by agreement. Both sensed that the situation was not normal.

‘Should I send her a letter?’

The issues with the Grand Duke’s Territory were more urgent than Ashika. Knowing this, Drushia still found it difficult to shake thoughts of her.