Chapter 66: The Tragedy of That Day (1)

Ten years ago.

Grace Northrein, 22 years old.

Elaine, 18 years old.

Back when they were not yet the Grand Duke of the North and the Captain of the Guard, but merely the young lady of House Northrein and a trainee knight.

“Milady, are you here?”

“Oh, hello! My dear Elaine.”

“I’ve told you multiple times, my name is Elaine.”

“Hehe, I know.”

Grace grinned mischievously.

“I think about this all the time, but your name is really funny. It’s similar to mine. Northrein, Elaine. Why don’t you get adopted into my family? As my little sister. Then you’d be Elaine Northrein.”

“That’s an excessive joke. Someone like me, a commoner, could never—”

“But I always wanted a sibling. A younger brother or sister, just one would’ve been enough so I wouldn’t feel lonely.”

House Northrein, the Grand Ducal family of the North, had always suffered from low birth rates.

It was common for there to be only one child per generation, and at most, there were three—but even then, it was usually one son and two daughters.

Fortunately, while they were few in number, the children of the family always inherited their parents’ talents. They were born strong and exceptional, ensuring that there was never any dispute over succession.

However, the lack of heirs eventually became a problem.

The current Grand Duke of the North, Richard Northrein, had only one child.

That child was Grace Northrein.

Even though the North valued meritocracy, the kingdom still followed the tradition of male primogeniture.

In other words, as a daughter, Grace was not recognized as the heir to the Grand Duchy.

“So, why were you looking for me?”

“His Grace is summoning you. You missed your royal studies lesson.”

“Ugh! He was serious about that?”

“If you mean when he said he would pass down the Grand Duchy to you… yes, it seems so.”

“Yeah. Both of them are old now, and Mother’s health isn’t good enough to bear another child, so there’s no chance of having a son. I’m the last Northrein.”

Grace’s voice was oddly calm and resigned as she spoke about the end of her family line.

Elaine looked at her and asked,

“Then wouldn’t it be fine if you inherited the Grand Duchy?”

“I’d have to find a good man to marry and make him my consort. Someone handsome and strong. Oh, and he can’t be infertile—I need to have children to continue the Northrein line. Ah, and he should be good with a sword. He’ll need to spar with me when I get bored.”

“Those are very specific conditions.”

“Well, that’s only if I actually become the Grand Duke. If I don’t and end up marrying into another noble family, I’ll just be a lady of that house, and Northrein will truly end with me.”

After finishing her sentence, Grace casually threw the wooden sword she had been holding.

It spun through the air and landed precisely in the training hall’s weapon rack.

“That’s quite the trick.”

“Right? Lately, I’ve been thinking—wouldn’t it be convenient if we could move swords with just magic, without using our hands?”

“I prefer wielding them myself, so I wouldn’t know.”

“Same here. But sometimes, it’s a hassle to go pick up a sword, right? So why not bring it to me remotely?”

“That… does sound convenient.”

Grace was pleased by Elaine’s unexpectedly serious agreement and suddenly asked,

“What’s your type when it comes to men? Appearance, age—anything.”

“My type…? That’s rather sudden.”

“I’m just curious.”

Elaine thought for a moment before answering,

“I’m tall, so I’d prefer someone with a similar build. Someone with a dignified look rather than a cute one. Someone diligent in training, and… since I have a rather stiff personality, someone who can hold a good conversation with me.”

“Uh… I see.”

Grace, who had casually asked the question, was now slightly taken aback by how detailed and demanding Elaine’s preferences were.

She wasn’t sure if such a man even existed, but as a friend, she decided to support her anyway.

“By the way.”

“? “

“If I become the Grand Duke, would you consider becoming my personal guard? Working with the old men gets boring, and I’d like to have a trustworthy female bodyguard by my side.”

Elaine blinked and asked back,

“Was I not already your personal guard?”

“I thought you might be aiming for the position of knight commander. That would mean you’d have to go to headquarters.”

“Knight commander… It is every knight’s dream.”

“Exactly.”

“But—”

Elaine gave a faint smile.

“I do prefer staying by someone’s side.”

Grace grinned as if she liked that answer.

A harmonious family, friends who understood each other.

A life without want as the daughter of a prestigious family, spending joyful days immersed in her beloved swordsmanship.

Grace Northrein was happier than anyone else.

And then, two years later, tragedy struck her peaceful life.

It began with her mother’s death.

Grand Duchess Sheila Northrein succumbed to her illness and passed away.

Stricken with grief, Grand Duke Richard Northrein sought solace in war. He led an expedition beyond the snowy fields to attack the Demon’s Castle but returned gravely wounded.

The once mighty Grand Duke of the North, strong and noble like a lion, began to weaken at an alarming rate. Before long, even managing state affairs became difficult for him.

With the pillar of the North faltering, the ruling class began to waver.

And then, the real problem emerged.

The Five Great Houses of the North.

Northrein, Deepsnow, Attique, Ironfall, and Berta.

Among them, the head of House Berta convened a noble assembly.

“What is the fundamental principle of our North? Strength! It is through power that rank is established and order maintained. But now, our Grand Duke has grown weak from his wounds and is no longer fit to rule. If this continues, I fear for the honor and standing of our iron and ice-bound North.”

It was true that Richard had barely shown his face in the past two months.

Perhaps because of that, some nobles began to agree with the treacherous words of the Berta lord, who sought to undermine the Grand Duke’s rule.

“We’ve managed to keep it under wraps, but missing the royal envoy’s audience last time raised suspicions.”

“Even if His Grace only attends diplomatic events, it’s still a problem. Have you seen how gaunt he’s become? He looks like an old man.”

“Tsk, it was a reckless expedition after all.”

“What does the head of Deepsnow think?”

As everyone took turns voicing their concerns, the discussion turned to Lynell, the lord of Deepsnow.

“I, too, am worried about His Grace’s rule, just like you all.”

“Hmm!”

The first to react to Lynell’s words was the lord of Berta.

They had already won over the heads of the other two houses, Attique and Ironfall. If they could secure Deepsnow’s support, then four of the Five Great Houses would be aligned against Northrein—easily enough to topple them now that the duchess was dead and the duke was ailing.

“But let’s be realistic. The Northrein family has ruled the North for generations. If we were to depose them simply because the Grand Duke has weakened due to illness, we would face immense backlash.”

As Lynell pointed out, the Northrein family’s reign was no short-lived affair.

It was not a matter of just a few decades but centuries.

In the North, the Northrein name was as revered as the royal family itself.

To remove them would be nothing short of a coup.

“The moment word of this spreads, the Knight Order will not stand idly by.”

“Ugh.”

The nobles who had been siding with Berta groaned in worry.

The Northern Knight Commander, Arthur Gravein.

The reason they had not invited House Gravein or any noble houses aligned with the Knight Order to this meeting was simple—if they even caught wind of this discussion, everyone present would be signing their own death warrant.

However, these nobles had not raised this topic lightly.

“There is a way around that.”

“House Attique’s lord, what do you mean?”

“The Grand Duke has no heir. His health is failing, and given how deeply he loved his wife, it is unlikely he will remarry. In other words, the Northrein line is doomed. …So why not simply hasten the inevitable?”

“!!”

At those words, the gathered nobles shot to their feet.

“You madman!”

“What did you just say?!”

“Have you lost your mind, Attique?!”

As the other nobles shouted in outrage, the lord of Attique slammed his hand on the table.

“You fools! Wake up! Are you worried about the future of the North, or just the future of Northrein?! Do you truly believe they are royalty simply because we have treated them as such?”

“Ugh…”

“The Grand Duke of the North was always chosen from the strongest among the Five Houses. It was never a hereditary monarchy. The only reason Northrein has held onto the position for so long is that their successors have always been strong.”

He was not wrong.

In the distant past, the title of Grand Duke had passed among the Five Houses.

It was only over time that the Northrein family, the strongest among them, monopolized the position.

And the last family to relinquish the title to Northrein had been…

House Attique.

“Lord Atique, is this a conspiracy for treason? Do you intend to assassinate His Grace, eliminate the Northrein family, and then divide the position of Grand Duke among ourselves?”

Lynell’s gaze was cold, but the Lord of Atique merely shrugged.

“Lord of Deep Snow, you’ve already been tamed by Northrein. Yes, this is a conspiracy for treason—against Northrein. But it is not treason against the North. Simply watching the North sink alongside a weak Grand Duke in the name of loyalty—that is true betrayal.”

“…….”

“Lord of Deep Snow, don’t be too harsh on him.”

The one who interjected between them was the Lord of Berta.

“I agree with his opinion.”

“…….”

“If Northrein had a legitimate heir to inherit the Grand Duchy, I would have supported them. But there is no heir. Once the current Grand Duke passes away, chaos is inevitable.”

“There’s Grace, isn’t there? She possesses outstanding talent as a knight, stronger and more resolute than most men. That’s why His Grace has been planning for years to pass the Grand Duchy to her.”

At Lynell’s words, the Lord of Berta burst into laughter.

“Grace? Are you serious, Lord of Deep Snow?”

He spoke with genuine disbelief.

“Grace is a woman—a mere girl! No matter how skilled she is, the moment she becomes pregnant, she’ll be confined for nearly a year. How do you plan to fill that gap?”

“Hmm…….”

“Besides, do you think the men of the North will bow beneath a woman’s feet? The other regions would laugh at us! To me, His Grace’s attempt to make Grace the Grand Duke seems like nothing more than a desperate bid to cling to power.”

The other nobles seemed to share his sentiment, nodding in agreement.
This was precisely why Grand Duke Richard had never officially named Grace as his successor.

“There’s no need to overcomplicate things. We are simply opening a new era for the future of the North. Why do people prune old branches? To help the tree grow strong. The weakening of the Grand Duke Northrein is the true problem here.”

“……Then what will you do with Grace?”

“That girl? Marry her off to another noble family and get her pregnant as soon as possible. That will keep her from causing any trouble.”

The moment those cruel words left the Lord of Berta’s mouth, everyone in the noble assembly realized the gravity of the situation.

If they sided with him now, there would be no turning back.
If they failed, they would die as traitors.
If they succeeded, they would still be branded as conspirators.

This was not just about opposing a Grand Duke; it was about erasing the entire Northrein family.

But outright condemning Berta and Atique and walking away wasn’t an option either.
Those two families were among the Five Great Houses.
And with the Lord of Ironfall remaining silent, it was clear he had also aligned with them.

That meant more than half of the Five Great Houses were involved.
If they successfully seized power, those who had chosen the wrong side would face consequences.

Would they remain loyal and fall with a dying Grand Duke, or would they seize power, even if it meant becoming traitors?
It was an impossible dilemma.

Sensing their hesitation, the Lord of Berta smiled gently and addressed the room.

“If any of you feel uneasy or unwilling to participate, you are free to leave. Even if things go wrong, we will not hold you responsible. However, if word of this conversation leaks…… well, I’m sure you understand what will happen.”

Become an accomplice or remain a silent bystander.
And this was coming from the Lord of Berta, the most powerful of the Five Great Houses.

As the nobles hesitated,

“I’m leaving.”

Lynell Deep Snow rose from his seat.
Even the Lord of Berta, who had seemed indifferent earlier, sighed in disappointment and tried to stop him.

“Sigh… Lord of Deep Snow. Think carefully about what truly benefits the North. If you make the wrong choice, the North’s strength will crumble.”

“…….”

“If you leave now, your house will lose any chance to claim the Grand Duchy after our success.”

“I don’t care. Do as you wish.”

Lynell walked out without a second glance.
Sensing the opportunity, a few nobles who had been hesitant quickly followed him out of the chamber.

With nearly thirty percent of the attendees gone, only those who had already pledged loyalty to Berta remained.

“That slippery snake Lynell… he wouldn’t truly remain loyal to Northrein. What is he scheming?”

“Whatever it is, he won’t just stand idly by. He will surely try to interfere with our plans. We need to act before that happens.”

“Indeed. Let’s start drafting a concrete plan. How do we eliminate the Grand Duke cleanly and install one of us in his place?”

At this point, there was no turning back.
Having made their decision, the remaining nobles focused on ensuring the success of their conspiracy, plotting the complete destruction of the Grand Ducal House of Northrein.