Mia began conversing freely with the heads and family members of all three noble families.
She laughed apologetically. "Duke Gelvin… once again, I am truly sorry for neglecting all of you earlier. You see, it is a habit of mine to give far more attention to whatever is happening in Lucifer's life than to anything else. I hope you can understand my sentiments in this matter and take no offense."
She continued, "Duchess Velora, Countess Cinthia, Sir Goccrek of Ironford County, and Baron Denford—the same apology applies to all of you. I am sincerely sorry."
Listening to Mia's heartfelt apology, none of the guests held the previous matter against her. And even if anyone had felt offended by her earlier negligence, no one dared show dissatisfaction or offer any sarcastic remark.
"No worries, no worries… Think nothing more of it," Duchess Velora said, waving her hand.
From some distance away came a voice. "Your Grace, I am greatly honored to meet you today. I am Goccrek Ironheart, father and guardian of the current Count of Ironford County—Vazon Ironheart."
Goccrek then gestured toward Layuri, Ildrek, and the thirteen others standing with him. "And the lady beside me is my wife and mother of the current Count—Layuri Ironheart. This young boy with us is our grandson, Ildrek Ironheart, the sole heir of our county for the time being."
After introducing both Layuri and Ildrek to Mia, Goccrek pointed to the thirteen ministers standing behind him. "And lastly, Your Grace… these thirteen people behind me are ministers who serve our vassals."
Mia nodded with a faint smile in acknowledgment. "Sir Goccrek, you and your delegation are welcome to Westirifer. Please make yourselves comfortable."
Upon hearing Mia's words, Goccrek bowed respectfully. "Your Grace, just now you said to make myself comfortable… so how could I show disrespect toward your words? That is why, to satisfy my own curiosity, I wish to ask you a question. I hope you will not take it as disrespect."
Once again Mia nodded. "Ask away."
Goccrek voiced his question. "Your Grace, what I know of Westirifer is this: before the arrival of your Velmora family, this territory was known as Asher Duchy, ruled by the Asher noble family. But when you all arrived, you massacred and annihilated the entire bloodline of the Ashers—including the Fourth Queen of the Lustbound Kingdom, who shared the Asher family surname. All of this occurred within the last three to four months. Afterward, your Velmora family acquired this land, declared itself the ruler, and renamed Asher Duchy as Westirifer. In short, this duchy of yours is not an old one. So why did you suddenly decide to hold an ascension ceremony for it and elevate its position into a fledgling empire? No offense, Your Grace, but do you not think the Royal Family of the Lustbound Kingdom will take offense at this action of yours? From what I know, the relationship between Westirifer and the Lustbound Kingdom is already extremely adverse."
The moment Goccrek finished his question, every guest perked up and waited eagerly for Mia's answer. All of them were keen to know how she would respond.
Hearing Goccrek's question, Mia smiled and then sighed. "Sir Goccrek, I know you wish to probe our stance toward the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom with this question of yours. But I will tell you plainly: you are absolutely right. Our relationship with the Lustbound Kingdom is indeed adverse… and adding one more offense is nothing more than adding a single drop of water into the sea."
She continued, "As for your question about raising the status of the duchy to a fledgling empire… it is merely a formality. Think for yourself—when in all of history has there ever been a duchy larger than a kingdom?"
As Mia concluded her words, the throne room fell dead silent. Her brief answer was more than enough to make her meaning clear to every person present.
Following Goccrek's question, Duchess Velora of Livingstone Duchy spoke. "Grand Duchess, you truly possess great ambitions."
She laughed in a rough, almost barbaric manner. "But how do you intend to stand against the Royal Family? Do you even know how many forces the Lustbound Kingdom commands?
Leave aside the forces of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom for a moment, Your Grace… I know Westirifer is free from the rule of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom. But what about us?
Even if each of us holds our own territory and bears titles such as Duchess, Duke, Countess, Count, or Baron… we are ultimately vassals of the kingdom. And yet you have declared, right in front of us, that you will take an offensive stance against the Lustbound Kingdom. I truly cannot tell whether this is confidence… or pure folly."
Duke Gelvin of Wielhiem Duchy added, "Your Grace, take this matter seriously. Do you truly believe your meager forces are enough to handle millions of soldiers and knights marching upon Westirifer? Even during a war, if you and your ducal family abandon the main forces and take refuge elsewhere… think of what will happen to the common folk of your duchy. You will all suffer losses so heavy that you cannot even begin to measure them."
This time, before Mia could answer, Lucifer freed himself from her embrace. He turned around, his gaze locking onto Duke Gelvin.
Lucifer's gaze held nothing extraordinary in appearance—yet Duke Gelvin felt an overwhelming pressure crash down upon him, raising goosebumps across every inch of his skin.
"Duke Gelvin," Lucifer said, his voice low and cutting, "tell me exactly what you meant by 'meager forces.'
Are you truly concerned for the citizens of my Westirifer—worried about how they will fare in the coming conflict between Westirifer and the kingdom… or are you threatening my mother by brandishing the vastness of your so-called kingdom's armies?"
Lucifer began walking toward Veronica's chair. He came to a stop behind her and tapped her shoulder. Veronica looked up at him in confusion; he reassured her with a soft smile. But when he turned his eyes back upon Duke Gelvin and the other guests, every trace of warmth vanished. His face was devoid of emotion.
"Duke… whatever your true intentions may be, I neither know nor care.
But this I can assure you: even if the entire world stood against me, I would never allow anyone to harm my own people. And 'my own people' does not mean only the members of my Velmora family, nor only those within this ducal palace.
My people are every soul living within this duchy.
Leave my people? I will not even permit an adversary to set a single foot inside my territory."
"Duke, I know these words may sound like empty boasts to you… but I possess the means to make them reality. So you need not worry yourself over the matter any longer."
Lucifer let out a cold, contemptuous laugh. "You speak endlessly of the kingdom this and the kingdom that, Duke Gelvin. But consider it carefully yourself. If your so-called kingdom is truly so powerful… why was it unable to prevent the abduction of Angelina Asher—or rather, the abduction of the Fourth Queen—by my people?"
"If the kingdom is truly that damn powerful… then why did they take no action against Westirifer, against me, or against my wife Bellatrixa when she personally traveled to the kingdom and entrusted that brutally beaten and tortured King Ignis into the hands of Matriarch Kaite of the Lustbound Royal Family?"
"If your so-called kingdom truly commands millions of soldiers, knights, and whatever else you care to name… then why—why—did they stand idle when I ordered Vance to behead the former King Peter Lustbound in full view of everyone? Vance did not merely behead Peter Lustbound; he slaughtered the man's companions along with a number of hunters and royal guards—thirty-three in total. And still they did nothing. They swallowed their shame and humiliation in silence."
"Leave all of that aside. Your so-called powerful and mighty kingdom did not even retaliate when my people wiped out the entire Morrgen and Hektor noble families and seized their territories."
"Duke Gelvin… understand this: I and my people have forced our way into the Royal Palace no fewer than four times. Do you truly believe we refrained from further action because we fear their 'mighty' forces?
Think carefully. Reflect upon just how vulnerable this so-called Royal Family is before me… before Westirifer… before my people. Reflect upon how utterly exposed that so-called kingdom stands before the 'meager forces' of Westirifer."
Every word Lucifer had spoken over the past few moments left the guests drenched in cold sweat. The previously merry atmosphere had curdled into something heavy, gloomy, and thick with disbelief. Everyone present had known of the strained relationship between Westirifer and the Lustbound Kingdom—but none of them had known of the infiltrations into the Royal Palace. Even the members of the Holygrill and Keilname families were shocked; none of them had expected Lucifer to be so outrageously candid.
After a brief pause, Lucifer turned his stoic gaze upon Duchess Velora. "And Duchess Velora… do not speak to my mommy in that manner.
I detected a clear note of derision in your voice when you spoke of her 'great ambitions.'"
"What is wrong with ambition? And if you believe her ambitions are too far-fetched… then allow me to make one thing perfectly clear: whatever ambitions she holds, I will help her fulfill them with every ounce of power I possess."
"Now, regarding your first question, Duchess Velora—you asked whether my mother knows the full extent of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom's forces. I am sorry to inform you that she does not. Vance is the Minister of Defense, and he answers directly to me. Therefore, while my mother may know nothing of these military affairs… I know everything about the military power of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom."
"Allow me to lay out the exact details of that power, so that my words carry the weight they deserve. The kingdom fields a total army of ten billion. Of these, eight hundred million are men and nine point two billion are women—that is the gender division.
Now, concerning the kingdom's internal forces: approximately six million mages, ranked from C to SS. Twelve million hunters, ranked from B to SS. The Royal Guards number roughly one point three billion, ranked from A to S. They also maintain cooperation with dragons from the Piccolo Kingdom, Thalmyr from the Oceana Kingdom, and vampires from the Risen Kingdom—more specifically, those vampires who hail from the Narkul Count family."
"But the alliance between dragons, Thalmyr, vampires, and humans is not known to the general public. It is secret information."
"As for the forces the kingdom maintains on the surface—or rather, through its vassals… well, how could we forget the Thirteen Pillars, the thirteen ducal families: Purefield, Sable, Liliam, Morrgen, Livingstone, Siremount, Kolthood, Sepherina, Coldeye, Godhand, Holylove, and Copperfield."
After listing the names of all thirteen pillars, a flicker of amusement entered Lucifer's eyes. He looked once more at Duchess Velora, this time with an intense, piercing gaze. He clicked his tongue. "Tsk… tsk… Duchess Velora, I had nearly forgotten that you belong to the Loyalist Faction of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom.
And here I was thinking of extending a hand toward a long-lasting friendship. What a genuine shame."
Lucifer's words pierced Velora's heart like a dagger. She suddenly found herself afraid of him, as though there were no secrets left that she could possibly hide.
The moment she heard "Livingstone Duchy" and "the Loyalist Faction of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom" spoken together from Lucifer's lips—two names that should never have been uttered in the same breath—a strange, cold fear seized her. Cold sweat began trickling down her forehead.
But Lucifer paid her no further attention. He continued, "Beyond the forces of the Thirteen Pillars, the kingdom also commands other vassals… such as Wielhiem Duchy, Soltross County, Rotsguard County, Nurkh County, Ironford County, Florence County, Redbarn Barony, Bexihound Barony, and many more."
Having said this much, Lucifer fell silent. Then he began walking toward the area where the family members and ministers of the Keilname State were seated, listening to every word.
Tap… tap… tap… tap… tap… tap… tap… tap…
His footsteps echoed through the hall—so silent that even the sound of breathing could be heard.
After walking several meters, Lucifer reached the seating area of the Keilname family. He sat down beside Fifi and began gently caressing her soft, silky hair, drawing sweet, fluttering smiles across her face. Yet his eyes remained fixed upon Duke Gelvin, who sat directly across from him on the opposite side of the central aisle.
After a short pause, he spoke again. "Ah, my mistake… my mistake. I completely forgot to mention the full power of these vassals."
Then he glanced at Elder Guntor, who sat in the adjacent seat beside Lady Talmora. "Elder Guntor… at present only five noble families of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom are present in this hall. How about I tell you of their military might?"
"You see, our dear neighbor and Fifth Pillar of the kingdom—the great Livingstone Duchy—commands a mighty force. Although I have never set foot in Livingstone Duchy, I know certain of their secrets. Shall I share a few of them with you?"
When Elder Guntor heard Lucifer's words, he was astonished. But seeing the young man's serious expression, he could only nod.
Lucifer began revealing the secrets of Livingstone Duchy to Elder Guntor. Technically he was speaking only to the elder—yet his voice carried clearly throughout the entire throne room.
"Elder Guntor… our mighty neighbor fields a military force of one hundred million." After saying this, Lucifer gave him a look of feigned self-pity. "But look at us… we poor folk of Westirifer possess a combined force of only about six point two million in total—even if I include the military might of Keilname State, Holycross State, Morrgen State, and Hektor State. Is it not a pity?"
"Of those one hundred million soldiers, eight hundred thousand are men and ninety-nine point two million are women. Among them, five hundred thousand are S+ rank Divine Knights. One point six million are Cerilera's followers—all of them women."
"There are also ten Saintesses, whose authority within Livingstone Duchy is equal to that of the Oracle Master within the Holygrill family."
"And Grandpa Guntor… do you know Livingstone Duchy's most closely guarded secret? They possess the Lesser Blessing of Qilocks—just as the Holygrill family bears the blessing of the Divine Valkyrie Keria.
But Qilock is no Valkyrie. He is merely one of the chief knights of the Divine Valkyrie Cerilera. And Divine Lady Cerilera is the tenth daughter of God Augustus, the God of Light and Hope. That is why the Lesser Blessing of Qilock grants those born into the Livingstone bloodline enhanced strength, perseverance, and a righteous heart."
When Lucifer finished revealing the secrets of the Livingstone ducal family, he looked directly at Duchess Velora. "Am I correct, Your Grace?"
Duchess Velora was visibly trembling—fear, astonishment, anger, and panic all striking her at once. More than anything, she wished to rise and leave the throne room. But she could not. She knew Lucifer had deliberately targeted her. And the root of it all was the mocking tone she had used earlier toward Mia. If only she had not sneered at Mia… if only she had not mockingly asked whether Mia understood the power of the Lustbound Kingdom… Lucifer would never have mentioned the Thirteen Pillars, nor named Livingstone Duchy, nor turned his attention upon her.
Though clearly frightened, she forced her emotions under control. She looked at Mia with a practiced smile. "Grand Duchess… your son is truly something else. He has even uncovered information about my lineage that has remained hidden from the eyes of the rest of the world."
Hearing Velora's words, Mia simply smiled without a second thought. "Yes. My Luci is a very intelligent and intellectual young man. So intelligent that even I sometimes find it difficult to believe."
Then Duchess Velora turned to Lucifer and asked in a somewhat serious tone, "Young Master… when did you learn all of this? It is hard to believe that you know these things without ever infiltrating the secret chambers of our ducal palace."
At Velora's question, Lucifer revealed another brilliant smile. "Oho, Duchess… why so serious? It is not as though I know everything only about Livingstone Duchy. I possess all the key information concerning Florence, Redbarn, Bexihound, Wielhiem, Ironford, Purefield, and the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom itself."
He shot a mocking glance at Duke Gelvin and added teasingly, "All of it obtained with the help of my meager forces."
"And as for receiving any further information from me about how I came by this knowledge… you will have to choose sides. That is, choose between Westirifer and the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom. You all have until the evening of the ascension ceremony to decide."
Lucifer paused briefly. "And remember one thing. Today I may play with you, laugh with you, eat with you, and drink with you… but the moment you choose the wrong side—or decide to become our adversary—I will personally kill you without so much as batting an eye."
"Because I believe in two principles. First: a snake's head must be crushed before it has the chance to rear up and bite those you love. And second: mercy shown to an enemy is cruelty inflicted upon oneself."