That night, I was invited to the duke’s quarters. Apparently, he had an after-party planned.
His chambers were clean, but scattered with vicious-looking armor. The bookshelf overflowed with books on military tactics, and mounted bear and wolf heads loomed upon the walls. The decor really seemed to reflect his character.
The duke had shed his formal coat, and I likewise removed my robe, attending in a shirt and pants. In other words, I wouldn’t be able to secretly use my ESP Medal this time. Well…I’m sure I’ll get through it somehow.
“I’m sorry to rush you, Lord Margilus. I just couldn’t wait any longer.”
“It’s fine. However, I would like to keep this meeting just between us. A private chat.”
“Hmm? Oh, certainly. Of course.”
I felt unexpectedly relaxed. The duke was definitely a villain who didn’t think twice about crushing people who stood in his way—but he was friendly to those he deemed valuable. Was this the mindset of a conqueror?
“Please, have a drink. Elisabel is a very lucky girl, you know. She found a genuine hero just before she was going to be assassinated.” The duke poured me a glass from an expensive-looking bottle shaped to resemble a dragon. He was awfully casual about mentioning his daughter’s near-murder.
“Did you know that your son and daughter were fighting?”
“A surprisingly serious question!” He looked genuinely unsettled.
“It’s just…even setting aside ethics, it’s hard to believe there’s benefit to you from leaving your successors to fight amongst themselves.”
“Oh, is that what you’re on about? Well…” he shrugged his shoulders slightly and continued. “Alaine and Agveil rushed into removing Elisabel without my permission. I’m sure if Elisabel wanted, she could have gotten the prime minister involved and stood up to them. The way I see it, if I appointed whoever survived their conflict, then I wouldn’t have to be bothered picking the successor myself.”
I kept silent. I’d had just about enough of this duke. I wanted to break through the glass and get as far away from him as possible. However, even though I felt anger and disgust toward him, for some reason, I couldn’t quite bring myself to look down on him. I wonder if it was because he didn’t have a humble bone in his body…
“You say that,” I said, “but it’s clear Elisabel was at an enormous disadvantage. Don’t you care for Elisabel and her mother, your former wife?”
“Oho.”
I was treading into very personal territory. But as a single man with no children, I couldn’t get over my curiosity about what the duke was thinking. I thought he would laugh in my face, but instead he had a surprisingly serious look. He played with the empty glass in his hand for a few moments before looking up at me.
“Well, Shayla was an amazing woman. That was precisely why I took her for my own—she impressed me, Margilus. Truly. I gave her the most luxurious life I could. I think that shows I cared for her. I also provided the very best life and education for Elisabel.”
The thought occurred to me that pushing further might hurt whatever friendship existed in our relationship. But I couldn’t help myself.
“But wasn’t it a forced marriage?”
“And what of it? I had the power to take Shayla, and I used that power. I don’t see anything unusual about it.”
I didn’t need my ESP Medal here. I could tell from his eyes and attitude that he spoke the truth. And I’d learned one more thing.
He was me.
He was just like me when I’d almost cast the Charm spell on Mora. If things had gone differently, I could have ended up like him. He was me, but drunk with power.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I see…”
If I had used my magical powers for my own desires, how would I have turned out? Would I have been even more of a tyrant than the duke of Filsand who sat before me? Or would I have been beheaded before that by someone who considered me a threat?
Now I had companions who I could trust to watch my back. The duke couldn’t even trust his own children, and they certainly didn’t trust him. It was clear the duke didn’t regret his life, but as someone who knew what it was like to feel the allure of power, I couldn’t help but be thankful that I hadn’t turned out like him.
“I can’t really say I understand,” I told him. “But I think every man wants to walk that path at some time or another in their life.”
“Heh heh. That just sounds like sarcasm, coming from someone with your powers.” His words weren’t meant to be a compliment. He was still speaking without pretense.
I knew his type. There was a time when I even admired the villains of manga and novels, or the ambitious generals of the Sengoku period in Japan. This duke would definitely be a villain in modern-day Japan, and if he were to unilaterally attack me, I’m sure I would fight and defeat him without hesitation.
But for some reason, here we were, drinking together. And more than anything, I couldn’t escape the thought that he was another version of me. He couldn’t be a member of my team, or my friend, and we would probably never understand each other. But even so… It wouldn’t hurt to look for something that I could do for him and his family. Perhaps there was a small possibility that he would be known as a good ruler to future generations.
✦ ✦ ✦
We had a pretty good time, two middle-aged men drinking together. I was even able to retreat to the building prepared for me before getting too belligerent. It was indeed a whole building, not a guest room—a magnificent three-story stone mansion built within the Stalwart Castle’s walls to house honored guests.
It was a luxurious accommodation, better than a three-star hotel (not that I’d ever stayed in a three-star hotel), and came complete with maids, musicians, and even a doctor. It was a lavish welcome, but I couldn’t let my guard down when it came to the duke. I took strict precautions. I used Detect Enemy to check all of the servants, cast Wizard Key on the door, and set Wall of Force on my bedroom to secure a safe perimeter. Out in the hall, I cast Soldiers of Bronze and Invisible Demon on the back ceiling and windowsills.
Incidentally, Feivel and the other dwarves stayed on the first floor, Ild and my other friends stayed on the second floor, and the third floor was reserved for Elisabel and myself.
We all gathered on the top floor in the master suite.
“I’m glad everyone is all right,” I said, relieved after hearing the details of the attack on Elisabel from Clara. Clara, Ted, and the new recruits looked proud. The dwarves also seemed satisfied. Looking at the expressions on their faces reminded me of Clara’s words: They’re happy working for you.
I see. So this is what she was talking about. This was an opportunity to reward them as their “lord.”
“Thank you. You did a wonderful job, truly commendable. When we get back to Castle Getaeus, you’ll all receive a bonus.”
“This escort mission is kind of like being an adventurer. And low-status nobles are the same everywhere you go.”
“Heh heh heh. I am a member of Sedam’s warrior party, ya know.”
“M-Master Margilus, thank you for your praise.”
“I can’t wait to tell my father back in the village…”
“I am glad that we could return even a small amount of the favors you have done for us.”
I wished I had better words to express myself. Everyone was full of joy.