“For instance, this may be the very path for your entrance to central politics.”
The Marquis’s gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. The faintest smile tugged at his lips, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “And what makes you think I’m interested in central politics, Lucavion?” he asked, his voice low but carrying an unmistakable weight.
I met his gaze, unflinching, as I leaned back in my chair, a smirk playing on my lips. “Just a guess,” I replied smoothly, my tone light but deliberately vague.
The room seemed to tense further, the soft clink of Nadoka’s teacup against its saucer the only sound breaking the silence. Valeria glanced between us, her expression carefully composed, though I caught the subtle furrow of her brow as she observed the exchange.
The Marquis exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping lightly against the table. “You guessed wrong,” he said evenly, though his tone carried a faint edge. “I have no intention of stepping into the central arena. It’s not cut for me, nor am I cut for it.”
I inclined my head slightly, acknowledging his statement. “If that’s the case, I understand,” I said, my voice calm, almost indifferent. “Not every path is worth treading.”
But then, I let my smirk return, the faintest glint of mischief flickering in my eyes. “However,” I added, leaning forward slightly, “when such a good opportunity presents itself, why not make use of it?”
The Marquis’s eyes narrowed further, his steely gaze locking onto mine. “What opportunity, Lucavion?” he asked, his tone carrying a note of challenge. “Opportunity for what?”
I spread my hands slightly, a gesture of casual openness, though my tone grew quieter, more pointed. “An opportunity to remind the central nobles that the borders of this Empire aren’t just their playgrounds. That the strength of its outer territories isn’t to be underestimated.”
The room seemed to shrink around us, the exchange now feeling distinctly private despite the presence of Valeria and Nadoka. The Marquis didn’t move, his expression unreadable, but his silence was enough to tell me he was listening.
“Think about it,” I continued, my voice calm but deliberate. “If all of the claims that I have made were true, and all the things that I have said were correct…..Then what would happen? As a “righteous” ruler, what would the Royal Family of Arcanis think?”
The Marquis’s gaze didn’t waver, his steepled fingers tapping lightly against the table. “If all of your claims were true,” he began, his voice slow and deliberate, “then the Empire would have no choice but to act. The Cloud Heavens Sect would be destroyed, their holdings seized, their members cast out or executed. Such corruption would leave no room for leniency.”
I inclined my head, my smirk faint but present. “Exactly, Marquis. The Empire would have to respond—if the claims were true. But…” I leaned forward, my voice dropping slightly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. “What if someone were to appear?”
The Marquis tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. “What are you implying?”
I let the silence linger for a moment, allowing the weight of my words to build before I continued. “What if someone were to take up the mantle of justice? Someone who couldn’t stand by as evil festers and preys upon the innocent. A zealot, a crusader, someone who would stop at nothing to protect those in danger—children, families, the common people. Someone who would embody the ideals the Empire claims to uphold.”
Valeria’s fork froze mid-air, her eyes flicking to me with a spark of surprise. Nadoka’s teacup remained suspended, her gaze piercing as she tried to anticipate my next move. The Marquis, however, remained still, his expression unreadable, though the tightening of his jaw betrayed his growing intrigue.
“And this… zealot,” the Marquis said slowly, his tone sharp as a blade. “If such a figure were to emerge, what would you expect?”
I leaned back slightly, spreading my hands in a gesture of mock innocence. “The common people, whose children might be at risk of being used by the Cloud Heavens Sect’s so-called cultivation methods, would undoubtedly rally behind such a figure. They would embrace them as a hero, a savior.”
The Marquis’s eyes narrowed further, suspicion flashing in their depths. “What if they’re wrong?” he asked bluntly, his voice carrying a challenge.
“It is not wrong,” I said firmly, my smirk fading as I reached into the pocket of my coat. From within, I withdrew a neatly folded piece of parchment, its edges worn from handling but its surface pristine. I placed it on the table between us, my hand resting lightly on top of it. “Marquis Ventor, some truths cannot be ignored, and some actions cannot be undone. What’s written here… is not the work of fiction or imagination.”
The Marquis’s gaze flicked to the parchment, his expression hardening. Valeria leaned slightly closer, her brow furrowing, while Nadoka’s eyes darted between me and the writing, her composure unshaken but her curiosity unmistakable.
The Marquis’s gaze lingered on the parchment for a moment longer before he placed it back on the table. His sharp eyes locked onto mine, unreadable but charged with thought. “So,” he said slowly, his voice steady but carrying an undertone of challenge, “you’re saying I should become a zealot.”
I smiled faintly, leaning back in my chair, my hands resting on the arms with deliberate ease. “Indeed,” I replied, my tone calm but brimming with conviction. “If there’s ever a time to embrace such a role, it is now.”
The room seemed to hold its breath as I leaned forward slightly, my expression sharpening. “In the face of the devil, it is the Messiah that shines the brightest.”
Valeria’s eyes widened slightly at my words, though she quickly masked her reaction, her expression returning to its composed neutrality. Nadoka’s gaze turned colder, more piercing, as though attempting to dissect the layers of my intent. But it was the Marquis’s reaction I focused on.
Ventor tilted his head, his lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile. “You speak with such certainty, Lucavion. And yet, the path you propose is fraught with peril.”
I smirked, letting a quiet chuckle escape. “Isn’t that the nature of opportunity, Marquis? Fraught with peril, yes, but also ripe with potential. The Cloud Heavens Sect is not without its enemies—powerful ones, I might add. And the pie, as you well know, is large. But it will not remain untouched for long.”
He would understand….After all, I had made another measure.
‘Silver Flame Sect.’
Starting with them.
One way or another. Experience more content on empire
The Marquis’s eyes narrowed, the glint of calculation flashing within them. “You believe I should move quickly, then?”
“Not believe, Marquis,” I corrected, my tone sharper now. “I know. The Sect’s enemies are circling. If you hesitate, you risk losing not just the chance to strike but the ability to shape the narrative itself. A decisive blow now, framed as righteous and protective, could elevate you far beyond where you currently stand.”
“And if the Sect retaliates?” he asked, his voice carrying a note of skepticism. “If this so-called zealot draws their ire to my doorstep?”
I shrugged lightly, my smirk widening. “Then you hold firm. You’ll already have the support of the people. The suffering of children is not a cause that fades quietly into the night. And the Empire—ah, the Empire must act. After all, what ruler can afford to be seen as indifferent to the suffering of their own people?”
Nadoka’s lips pressed into a thin line, her voice cutting through the tension. “You speak as though you’ve already mapped out the entire game, Lucavion. But what role do you see yourself playing in this? The Messiah? Or something else entirely?”
I met her gaze with a glimmer of amusement in my eyes. “Oh, Lady Nadoka, I have no desire to play the Messiah. That role belongs to someone with a territory, a legacy, and the means to shape the Empire’s perception. I am but the catalyst, the spark that sets the fire ablaze.”
The Marquis leaned back, his steepled fingers tapping against his chin in thought. The room remained heavy with silence as the weight of my words settled. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but carrying a note of finality.
“You make a compelling argument, Lucavion. And yet, the path you suggest demands precision—an understanding of timing, allies, and public sentiment.”
******
Lucavion turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Valeria with an almost playful glint in his eyes. “Don’t we already have the perfect knight family right here with us?” he asked, his tone light but layered with implication. “The Olarion family, looking to restore their honor and legacy. What better companion could there be for such a righteous endeavor?”
The room tensed as the Marquis shifted his gaze to Valeria, who froze for a moment, her fork forgotten on the plate. Her sharp eyes darted between Lucavion and Ventor, suspicion and hesitation mingling in her expression.
Valeria straightened, her voice carefully measured. “You presume much, Lucavion. My family’s honor is not something to be gambled with in schemes and whispers.”
Lucavion smiled faintly, unbothered by her sharp retort. “Not gambled, Valeria—secured. Picture it: the Olarion family standing tall as the bastion of justice, the sword that strikes down the vile acts of the Cloud Heavens Sect. Wouldn’t that restore not just honor but glory?”
Valeria opened her mouth to respond, but the Marquis raised a hand, silencing her as he turned his full attention back to Lucavion. “And you believe the Olarion family would be the keystone to such a plan?” he asked, his voice calm but probing.
Lucavion shrugged, gesturing casually toward the parchment still in the Marquis’s possession. “Marquis, in that parchment, you’ll find twelve different locations—safe houses, warehouses, and covert meeting spots. These are the places and gangs the Cloud Heavens Sect is using to smuggle children as living furnaces.”
The room stilled as the weight of his words settled. Nadoka’s teacup paused mid-air, and even Valeria, despite her earlier composure, leaned slightly forward.
Lucavion continued, his voice gaining momentum. “Once you investigate these places and uncover the evidence, public sentiment will turn. The people won’t need convincing when faced with undeniable proof of the Sect’s crimes. The Empire will be forced to act—or risk losing its people’s trust entirely.”
The Marquis’s eyes flickered with something unreadable as he tapped the parchment lightly against the table. “And what happens after this evidence is brought to light?”
Lucavion smirked, his tone dropping into something almost conspiratorial. “Then,” he said, leaning forward.
“The Witch Hunt will begin.”