“Lord Edel! We have news! The city of Menere has fallen, and the rebel leader Lynel Schneiger has reportedly taken his own life!”
Edel Arvale, father of both Luke and Raoul, nodded almost imperceptibly to his subordinate. “I see. So Schneiger is ours at last.”
Even after defeat, the surviving forces had resisted until the bitter end.
But now that their stronghold had fallen, no one dared stand against Arvale. Originally, the kingdom had five major powers locked in constant struggle: the rising forces in the northeast and southeast, Houses Arvale and Schneiger; the old guard of House Cayon in the northwest and House Talistar in the southwest; and the royal family in the center.
Now with Schneiger under his control, Arvale had crushed one of the five. Cayon and Talistar no longer posed a threat. Even the royal family couldn’t touch him.
A few days later, a royal envoy arrived with a decree from the king.
“Lord Edel Arvale. By His Majesty’s orders, you are to be granted the title of duke. You are hereby summoned to the royal palace to receive your title,” the envoy said with all the haughtiness one would’ve expected from a royal envoy.
“No,” Edel replied, dismissing him with no further explanation.
“Pardon me?” The envoy blinked, looking stunned. He’d clearly been expecting Edel to be overjoyed. “B-But this is the highest honor in the kingdom! Are you truly rejecting it?!”
Only the old noble houses of Cayon and Talistar held ducal titles. If the upstart Arvale family were added to that list, it would’ve been a historic moment.
“What use is a title?” Edel said coldly. “The royal family’s already lost all authority and has been taken over by corrupt court nobles. What power could a crown like that possibly hold?”
“Wha—”
Accepting the title would’ve officially placed House Arvale under royal authority and sent a clear message to the world, but Edel refused to bend the knee.
“How dare you! Have you no fear of the king?!”
“Why would I fear him? Don’t be ridiculous. How long do you plan to entertain the delusion that the royal family rules this kingdom?”
“Th-This is treason! I will not allow you to insult His Majesty any further!” the envoy shouted, his face flushed with anger.
Edel rose to his feet and strode toward him.
The envoy trembled in Edel’s intimidating presence. “Eep!” he squeaked, collapsing to the floor.
“Go back to your useless king and tell him and his sniveling pig nobles that I don’t want his titles!”
The envoy stared at him, wide-eyed.
“I want his throne!”
Edel grabbed the envoy by his hair and officially declared war.
“And if he won’t give it to me, I’ll take it by force and send the whole damn royal court straight to hell!”