ICM Chapter 116
Even Ashika was surprised, her voice rising.
“A territorial war? The evidence is too weak to even file charges, so a territorial war is out of the question.”
“That’s why I’m saying we’ll resolve this with force. I’ve been wronged but no one will listen, so I must confirm justice through the power of our house.”
Marquis Oclein spoke without hesitation, as if he had already made up his mind. He didn’t care about the consequences that would follow, or the fact that his opponent in this territorial war would be Duke Igraine’s house.
This was similar to knights settling private disputes through duels. However, territorial wars were only possible when there had been clear acts of violation between houses. The current situation was ambiguous and didn’t meet the requirements.
“This is unreasonable! A territorial war is out of the question when nothing has been proven!”
Weive also rose from his seat abruptly. However, Marquis Oclein didn’t budge.
“My son was murdered, and Young Duchess Igraine is one of those who drove my son to his death. That alone is sufficient.”
He had lost both his sons. Now the Marquis Oclein house would pass into the hands of some collateral relative. It was a title and territory he couldn’t even pass on to his own children. He was so aggrieved and resentful that he couldn’t back down like this.
“Your Majesty! This is clearly a matter that should be resolved between the houses. Please make an exception!”
“This is absurd! It doesn’t even meet the conditions for territorial war in the first place!”
Even among the nobles, opinions were divided. Some said it was possible, others said it wasn’t. Some argued that since it was a dispute between houses, the voluntary will of both sides was important, while others claimed the Emperor’s intervention went against custom, and so on. The conference room became noisy with nobles voicing their opinions.
The Emperor, watching from the front, swept his slow gaze over the nobles’ reactions. He didn’t care about the nobles’ loss of decorum. He seemed to hope for even louder voices, for things to become even more heated and noisy.
Marquis Maiheller, who had remained silent throughout, now looked bored. Like a spectator who had lost interest knowing the expected outcome.
There was a gaze watching him. It was Drushia, quietly maintaining his position amidst everyone’s loud arguments.
Drushia and Marquis Maiheller’s gazes met in mid-air. Infinitely heavy, dark blue eyes. The Marquis’s eyebrows twitched slightly at that meaningful stare.
Finally, the Emperor, who had been watching the situation with interest, rose from his seat and spoke.
“I express my condolences for the death of Lord Oclein.”
As the Emperor’s voice was heard, the nobles immediately fell silent. The middle-aged man of small stature looked rather frail, unbecoming of the title of Emperor.
“I cannot take either side’s hand. What happened, the truth is something only Young Duchess Igraine knows. Therefore, it’s fitting that both Oclein and Igraine resolve this matter. I judge that territorial war is appropriate.”
“Your Majesty!”
Weive looked at the Emperor with a devastated expression. However, the Emperor drove the nail in more firmly.
“Is there anyone who opposes my opinion?”
None of the nobles opened their mouths. Just as they hadn’t agreed to the charges to avoid conflict with Igraine, they couldn’t oppose something the Emperor had directly stepped forward to support.
Ashika clasped her hands tightly together, her face pale as a sheet. She hadn’t expected things to escalate this far. Cold sweat ran down her spine at this unexpected situation.
‘A territorial war.’
Igraine maintained only the minimum number of knights and soldiers. Since it wasn’t originally a knight’s house, the designated number was extremely small. Therefore, the forces stationed in the Grand Duchy were essentially all mercenaries.
The Grand Duchy’s forces couldn’t be withdrawn, and the private soldiers in Igraine territory were not only few in number but had never even experienced war.
In contrast, Marquis Oclein’s house, located far from the capital and close to the border regions, had more than double the number of soldiers that Igraine possessed. While it couldn’t compare to Talion, it was sufficient to propose territorial war.
Moreover, since the Emperor had openly supported him, who knew what other support he might secretly provide.
‘There’s no way we can fight.’
Perhaps this matter wouldn’t simply end with territorial war. She couldn’t fathom what kind of aftermath would follow, and her vision went dark.
Ashika’s gaze turned to Marquis Maiheller, sitting at the very back of the conference room. He was watching this situation leisurely.
‘Could Marquis Maiheller have orchestrated this too? How? How did he manage to drive things to this point?’
They said the Empress Dowager was Maiheller’s illegitimate child. What did that imply? While the Emperor was backing Marquis Oclein, hadn’t it been Marquis Maiheller who moved Coral in the first place?
Due to the territorial war, Igraine would be thrown into chaos, and during that time, who knew what else Marquis Maiheller might do. The Marquis had instigated all this chaos without revealing himself to the outside at all.
The only time he had lost his reason and acted directly was when he kidnapped Iben. If not for that incident, it would have taken much longer to realize that Marquis Maiheller was behind everything.
Ashika’s gaze dropped. She could feel her clasped hands trembling.
‘In the end, I’m becoming a disaster for Igraine.’
She should have thrown everything away and left earlier. She should have married as Weive instructed and left the Empire.
Amidst the suffocating silence, Drushia rose from his seat. A strange atmosphere stirred for a moment.
Everyone had been curious. The rumors circulating about Talion and Igraine. Indeed, what stance would Duke Talion take regarding this tremendous scandal?
Drushia, who had watched the situation without wavering from beginning to end, spoke for the first time.
“Talion will accept the territorial war against Igraine.”
“Gasp.”
“What is this…”
The nobles’ eyes widened in consecutive shock. Drushia’s claim didn’t align with Imperial law. Marquis Oclein was the first to object.
“What nonsense is this! Talion has no authority to be involved in this matter.”
“No, we have sufficient authority. We will gladly fight territorial war with Oclein, considering this as slander against the Duchess of Talion, not Young Duchess Igraine.”
The nobles sprang up from their seats in surprise. Even the Emperor was so shocked he couldn’t close his gaping mouth. Only Weive hastily erased his surprised expression and remained silent. He couldn’t predict what Drushia was trying to do.
“Talion’s claim is unreasonable! Duchess of Talion! I’ve never even heard news of an engagement, let alone marriage!”
Marquis Oclein shouted convulsively. He was already half out of his mind. Talion was the Empire’s sword and shield. Unless one was prepared for annihilation, no one could dare mention territorial war against this unique opponent.
Drushia continued with cold, gleaming eyes.
“We simply held the ceremony unofficially to avoid causing a commotion.”
“I don’t recognize relationships that exist only in words. Duke Talion, please don’t be unreasonable.”
“Would showing you proof suffice?”
Drushia put his hand into his coat’s inner pocket with a relaxed expression. What he pulled out was a single document.
“A marriage contract reported to the registry office should be sufficient.”
Someone took the document from him and brought it to Count Lutenann.
What was he talking about? All the nobles’ attention focused on the Count’s hands. The moderator, who carefully examined the received document, let out a hollow laugh.
“This is indeed a properly prepared document.”
What Drushia had presented was an official marriage contract. A real marriage contract with Ashika and Drushia’s handwritten signatures and even the official seal confirming it had been reported to the registry office.
Weive was speechless, and Ashika looked as if her soul had left her body.
‘Why is that signature there…’
She remembered. The memory of signing a blank document at Drushia’s request.
Who would have thought that it would transform into a marriage contract and appear before her eyes!
Ashika closed her eyes to collect her reeling mind.
A few days ago, while staying at the Talion mansion, she had confessed the truth to Drushia. She had revealed to him every single heavy and enormous burden she had been carrying alone, without leaving anything out.
And Drushia had made his choice. To create the most powerful card to help her.
It was a marriage alliance. Now anyone who showed hostility toward Ashika would have to face both Igraine and Talion.
Strength drained from her body. Her legs trembled as if she might collapse at any moment. When she opened her eyes again, her wandering gaze met Drushia’s in mid-air.
His lips formed small words.
“I love you.”
A small whisper without a moment’s hesitation. He didn’t care that others were watching.
A heavy emotion rose to her throat. Feeling as if she might burst into tears at any moment, Ashika hastily averted her gaze.
‘I’m not alone anymore.’
Setting aside her complicated thoughts, she felt relieved by that fact.
The powerful card of territorial war thrown by Marquis Oclein had been caught by Talion. Due to the tremendous event of the marriage alliance between Igraine and Talion, the nobles fell into confusion. Marquis Maiheller’s face also crumpled fiercely.
The union of the two greatest houses of the Empire with the already tangled Imperial bloodline. With these shocking events erupting one after another, no one could predict the future anymore.