Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Red Mithril (8)

Leader.

The one who leads the pack, always the first to charge straight into enemy lines.

And if I had to name someone befitting that title, I would, without hesitation, choose Echina.

“So fast…!!”

―――――!!

With her exceptional control over mana, Echina overtook the fleeing Black Knights in an instant.

She cut off their escape route, buying time for her subordinates to catch up.

Once the path was blocked and they were left to deal with those enemies, she went off again, chasing after those who had fled further ahead.

In a way, it was a rather forceful approach.

But she didn’t stop—she regarded those seniors and juniors who followed Edward as enemies.

Just ten minutes.

In that short time, she had seized the ankles of every Black Knight who had been pursuing the Mansachs.

“What the…”

Even Edward, her own kin, parted his lips in disbelief at the sight.

He had thought her skills would have dulled since she’d turned her focus to the family business.

“How… How has she gotten stronger than when she took over the family work…?”

He contorted his face in utter disbelief.

The flintlock rifle in his grip trembled slightly.

“I didn’t really do anything significant in the family business.”

The Grand Duke’s daughter of the North, having subdued everyone and returned to the front, replied herself.

“I simply carried out the tasks as laid out in the manual Roger had written.”

Honestly, following a plan to completion was a talent in itself.

Most noble ladies wouldn’t even get through fifty percent of it properly.

Truly, she had talent for the family business—but that, for now, could be set aside.

“……”

In the end, Edward let the flintlock drop to the ground with a dull thud.

He blankly watched as his knights, now captured, were brought back.

“Disarm everyone. Anyone who resists will be dealt with under military law.”

At Echina’s cold command, swords clattered down into the frigid wheat field.

After that, they were lightly restrained and waited for the transport carriage that would soon arrive.

No harsh restraints were used.

After all, they were comrades from the same knighthood.

There was no reason to clash swords with those they had trained and shared hardships with every day.

That went for Edward as well.

Having already lost his fighting power, his only option now was to quietly board the carriage.

“So, you’re sending me to the knighthood.”

The once-proud mustache of the second son drooped crookedly.

Wearing an unexpectedly calm expression, he took a seat in the carriage without protest.

“That’s for Roger to decide.”

Echina replied as she climbed into the rear seat of the carriage.

It was clearly a four-seater, designed so two people could sit face-to-face.

And yet, for some reason, Edward sat alone, while the Saint, Echina, and I were all crammed into the narrow opposite seat.

“……”

Black and silver hair gently rested on either of my shoulders.

The two women stared daggers at Edward, the man at the center of it all, like fierce predators.

Still, the second son didn’t seem particularly frightened.

Among the two clinging to me, he stared only at his younger sister, Echina.

And then, out of the blue, he threw out a comment.

“Wow. So you’ve really handed over both your body and heart to that guy?”

It was the sort of blunt yet familiar remark only real siblings could exchange.

Echina briefly turned her gaze away from him and glanced at me.

At my disheveled hair, and the dark eyes that shimmered faintly within it.

“My body… not yet—”

“Let’s stop right there.”

Just as the Grand Duke’s daughter opened her mouth, the Saint cut her off sharply.

“We’re merely business partners. Echina becomes the head of the family, I become a bishop…”

Istina glanced up at me.

As if to tell me to say the rest myself.

“That’s right. We’ll become a family no one in the Empire can dare to touch.”

“How laughable. So in the end, you’re planning to surpass our Luton family?”

I turned my gaze to Echina’s hand, which was slightly swollen from all the sword clashes.

Wrapping it with a handkerchief, I gently massaged it and spoke casually.

“Why not? Nothing lasts forever. The Luton family can decline too, can’t it?”

At my touch, Echina’s expression gradually softened.

It was a clear change from when she had been subduing her fellow knights.

The Saint, watching the scene with a sulky look, reached her hand out, saying she’d treat it herself.

“I’ll heal it. That’s far more effective than a massage.”

The two women glared at each other coldly.

Even after receiving the healing, Echina softly laid her hand over mine again.

“My fingers are still tingling.”

“Understood.”

At the sight of the two women, Edward’s mustache twitched.

Perhaps because he had lived the most promiscuous life in the Grand Duke’s house, the scene before him seemed all too familiar.

“You look all high and mighty with those reliable aides at your side, but even if Father passes away, Eric will still be standing. You think our older brother will be that easy to beat?”

He clicked his tongue and took out a matchstick.

Echina, her eyes gleaming with mana, warned him not to make the place stink.

In response, he averted his eyes slightly and slipped the matchbox back into his inner pocket.

“That’s exactly why we need your help.”

I pressed gently on Echina’s hand as I continued.

“Just like Freya, you too should support Lady Echina, Prince Edward.”

“And why should I do that?”

The second son crossed his arms.

“You have no interest in becoming head of the family, do you? As long as your own stomach’s full, that’s enough for you.”

“Well, true. That’s exactly why I should stick with the most promising candidate for the seat, right?”

He glanced at Echina, who was nestled closely against me.

His eyes made it clear he felt uneasy having lost to such a younger sister.

“But I’m not sure you two can actually beat our brother. Honestly, you still seem way out of your league.”

To be fair, he had a point.

The reason I’d been slowly and methodically maneuvering around the Grand Duke’s house like this was all to take on Eric — the greatest enemy of them all.

“You think a legitimate heir is that easy to bring down? Just that legitimacy alone has half the big names clinging to him.”

Edward spoke in a calm, cold voice.

But at my next response, he was briefly at a loss for words.

“That’s correct. From the second daughter of the Daily Times with whom he’s recently exchanged talks of marriage, to the Second Prince — they’re all entangled. Not to mention the 40% support rate from the Grand Duke’s executives.”

Edward let out a small cough at how thoroughly I had grasped Eric’s power base.

“You’re doing all this even though you know that? You must have some kind of trump card then.”

“That’s right. To be precise, it means Lady Echina has the power to win.”

Edward tilted his head, half in doubt.

He then lightly thumped his back, perhaps uncomfortable from the shaking of the carriage.

“You really have a talent for talking like it all makes sense, yet still making people click their tongue.”

“This isn’t the time for you to be so relaxed.”

I wiped the smile clean off my face and got straight to the point.

“I’m giving you a chance to repent right now. Honestly, I’d rather throw you straight into a detention camp, but doing that would only incur the Grand Duke of the North’s wrath.”

“A chance, huh… Just hearing you talk makes me feel like I’ve already been absorbed into your camp.”

Edward shrugged his shoulders.

“That’ll depend on your actions going forward.”

The carriage sped along diligently.

About an hour later, we arrived in a village located between Nord and the mining town.

“Let’s stop here for a short break.”

“Mind if I walk around a bit?”

Edward asked in a tone that suggested he’d been to this village before.

Given his nature, I thought he’d never set foot near the mining town, but it seemed he’d actually done a few inspection rounds here.

“Not like I can run off with you people around, right?”

“Go ahead. But you’ll have to come with us.”

Once he stepped down from the carriage, the second son pointed toward a familiar-looking building.

A signboard hung above, reading Nirmang Hospital.

“If you’re coming in, follow me. This is my property.”

We followed him inside.

And the moment we laid eyes on the sight that unfolded beyond the doors—

My barely opened eyes widened slightly.

Because everything laid out before us was…

The latest medical equipment.

“What is all this?”

The Saint and Echina, who had followed behind me, shifted from lioness and wolf to something more like a cat and a puppy, their expressions softening.

“As you can see, medical equipment. I was planning to send it to the mining town soon.”

Edward tapped one of the machines with a finger, saying he had ordered all of it himself.

“If you had this, you should’ve sent it earlier. Why the delay?”

“If I suddenly sent this kind of high-end equipment to the mining town, people like you would’ve pounced on it like wild dogs.”

The second son glanced sideways at me as he spoke.

“Some have already caught wind of the large medical equipment order and started digging into it.”

It was probably the eldest son from the Daily Times who competed with Eric.

Having heard the rumors of Edward’s promiscuity, he must’ve been searching for weaknesses with great enthusiasm.

“You prepared all this because you heard there were injured workers in the mining town?”

“Yeah. Once I had enough medical staff, I was planning to send it immediately. But of all times, you had to show up before that.”

That… was unexpected.

I didn’t think Edward would spare a single thought for the workers in the mining town.

Maybe he did have a shred of conscience after all.

“Did you really think I was that much of a bastard?”

“……”

The second son furrowed his brow deeply, his expression sharp and vicious.

In response, both Echina and I — and even the Saint — looked at him with unimpressed faces.

“Weren’t you?”

“Look, I ordered this equipment the moment reports of injuries came in. I even told them to go easy on the mining, but those laborers pushed themselves too hard.”

The mining town residents were fiercely loyal to the Grand Duke’s house.

Still, that didn’t mean Edward was free of blame.

If he’d taken care of the facilities in the first place, none of this would have happened.

“Whatever your intention was, it’s a fact that you neglected the injured. All to protect yourself.”

“……”

Edward had no retort to that.

He simply bit down on the cigar he hadn’t been able to smoke in the carriage and remained silent.

“For now, you’ll have to accept your punishment. I have no intention of covering it up.”

“And yet you want me to stand on your side?”

The second son let out a bitter laugh and flicked ash from the cigar.

Then, noticing I had somehow come to stand right beside him, he flinched in surprise.

“Well, everything I’m doing is for your own good.”

I brushed the red ash off my shoulder with a graceful motion.

Then, with my hands clasped behind my back and lifeless eyes, I continued.

“It’s always better to voluntarily confess before something like this blows up. In fact, it might turn out to be a good opportunity.”

I even reached out and gently dusted the ash from his clothes myself.

As if wiping away his tarnished reputation.

“Injured workers at your own mine. And you, feeling deep responsibility, voluntarily coming forward without anyone accusing you… the image of a nobleman who takes responsibility…”

In all the past accidents that had occurred throughout the Empire, it was almost unheard of for the person in charge to step up.

Most of the time, they’d make excuses — blaming the weather or some other variable.

“Doesn’t it look good? If it’s going to come out eventually, it’s far more beneficial to reveal it like this.”

“Yeah. No matter how much of a scumbag you are, at least you’ll be seen as someone warm-hearted to your subordinates.”

Echina added with a cynical look.

As expected, she understood quickly.

“If you really do come forward like that, our Silver Truth Church will make sure to give you a favorable interview. Looking at this medical equipment, it seems you still have a bit of conscience left.”

The Saint spoke with a blunt tone.

Being well-versed in healing arts, she knew exactly how valuable this equipment was.

“If the equipment had been average, I wouldn’t have helped. But seeing that you personally ordered machines typically used only in major hospitals… well…”

Only after hearing that the Saint would handle the media kindly did Edward’s expression finally soften a little.

“I’ll need to speak with my lawyer.”

“Please do. Once your side steps in, it’ll likely just end with a fine, right?”

The second son agreed.

Still, he didn’t seem fully satisfied with just that level of benefit.

“You’re not asking me to join your side over just this, are you?”

Of course, he was seeking a more solid guarantee.

That sort of cautiousness was clearly inherited from the Grand Duke of the North.

“Yes. I’ll promise you one more thing.”

And I had already prepared something to win this man over.

“I’ll make sure this whole matter doesn’t become a public issue.”

No matter how light the penalty, the fact that he committed an illegal act would surely come to light.

Especially as a member of the Luton family, the media would plaster it all over the headlines.

And the fallout wouldn’t stop at Edward — it would tarnish even the Grand Duke’s reputation.

What Edward feared more than his own image falling was likely his father’s wrath.

“I’m offering to make sure you can keep your position even after you’ve paid your dues.”

“For that, I could just rely on my brother.”

Edward referred to the eldest son who held 50% of the Daily Times.

At that, I gave him a faint smirk and looked at him coldly, as if he were a child.

“You really think Eric would just sit by and let you keep your seat after coming back from the detention center?”

Clicking my tongue in disbelief, I gave him a look full of condescension.

My naturally long, fox-like eyes curved even more slyly.

“Everything the Grand Duke gave you will be swallowed up while you’re busy visiting the courts.”

“……”

Sowing discord doesn’t work when both sides are satisfied.

It’s most effective when one side starts to feel insecure, and you offer help in a seemingly casual way.

Just like Edward, right now.

“Sometimes, I’m really glad Roger is on our side.”

The Saint whispered quietly to Echina, who stood beside her.

The two of them watched me in silence, like sly foxes gently coaxing a wounded lion.

“He’s kind of cute, though.”

“He is, in a way.”

While the two quietly observed me, I took my time persuading Edward.

“If you still don’t trust us, then let’s take this opportunity to see for yourself—how Eric behaves while you’re busy going in and out of court.”

“……”

I gently placed a hand on Edward’s shoulder.

Then, like an old friend of several decades, I spoke to him kindly.

“If he truly betrays you, I and Gold Morning will make sure the incident stays out of the spotlight.”

The second son looked at my courteous expression for a moment in silence.

Then, with a deep sigh, he finally muttered a response.

“Fine… Let’s head back to the capital, for now.”