WMT | Chapter 5

Duke Akazel did not refuse Wiss’s request for a meeting. After all, Wiss was the sole heir of Summer.

“Please come in.”

The duke’s adjutant said, opening the door to allow Wiss into the reception room.

Wiss was the only one allowed entry.

His royal guard knight waited in the hallway because the duke’s knights did not permit anyone without an appointment to pass through.

Just by observing the state of the knights, Wiss could tell that the duke was an excellent commander. The knights were well-disciplined, and their vigilance was unwavering.

“If you wait, the duke will be with you shortly. What kind of tea would you like prepared?”

“I’m fine.”

“Please call if you need anything.”

After the adjutant left, Wiss sank into the sofa’s backrest. Seeing the orderly knights made him once again lament the state of the Kingdom of Summer. However, he couldn’t afford to relax.

The door to the inner chamber clicked open. Wiss tensed up.

Looking back, a tall man was entering the room.

Even upon a second glance, his appearance was striking.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“…No.”

Duke Akazel sat directly across from Wiss on the sofa. Despite his large build, his movements were precise and efficient. He seemed to be a man born to be a soldier.

With the duke seated across the table, Wiss could finally meet his gaze at a similar height.

As expected from someone from the northern regions, his hair was a deep black. Beneath his equally dark eyebrows were strikingly blue eyes.

‘He’s handsome.’

His face was almost excessively handsome. It was the first time Wiss had seen a soldier with such smooth skin.

Shouldn’t there be at least one scar? Wiss believed that a soldier should have a somewhat rugged face.

Even Wiss’s adjutant had an imposing presence due to his appearance. He had the ability to turn unruly recruits into trained soldiers in no time.

‘Does it matter?’

Regardless of Wiss’s prejudice, when someone of high status and ability also had outstanding looks, they naturally attracted admirers.

In reality, the duke had the absolute support of the Palatine military.

Even before the war, there was no knight in Palatine who could stand before him, so there was no need to say more. The support he currently received was likely fanatical.

Above all, “Duke Akazel” was a titular title. It was a title given to the king’s son.

In other words, Duke Akazel Theodore was the younger brother of the current king of Palatine.

He was a person of status and ability beyond what was necessary.

‘There’s no way someone like him doesn’t have ambitions.’

That was the point Wiss needed to target.

“Are you feeling well?”

The duke asked first. He seemed to have a sociable nature despite his many possessions.

The nobles Wiss had dealt with were all intimidated and never initiated conversation with him. It would have been difficult to be sociable with someone stepping on their crown.

Wiss’s mouth felt dry. He recalled the disgraceful scene he had shown in front of the duke.

“Thanks to your concern, I’m fine. Thank you for sending the cleric. I heard it was a military cleric from Palatine.”

“Your condition seemed urgent, so I called for a cleric outside the royal castle. It’s nothing, so there’s no need to thank me.”

Despite asking about his well-being, the duke’s response was rather curt.

Then the duke glanced at the clock.

Wiss was puzzled for a moment before realizing the meaning.

If that was all he had to say, it was time to leave.

‘This guy.’

The duke had shown enough courtesy just by agreeing to meet him. Wiss understood that intellectually. Of course, his heart felt differently.

Wiss recalled the “advantages of a marriage alliance” he had planned to present to the duke.

It was quite a lengthy discussion.

Would that guy even listen if he said it?

Wiss tried to remember how long it had been since he had negotiated from a position of weakness, but it didn’t come to mind. It was too far in the past.

And even when Wiss was in a weak position, he wasn’t the type to engage in negotiations. He was someone who acted with his body before his mind.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

The duke asked politely.

To Wiss, those words automatically translated to “Why don’t you leave now?”

‘Sigh.’

Wiss dismissed his miscellaneous thoughts and simply said, “I’d like to propose marriage to Your Grace.”

“…What?”

The duke’s stoic expression broke.

“I understand that Palatine’s rewards for war heroes are lacking, so even if Your Grace returns, you won’t gain much. King of Palatine… His Majesty Riendell doesn’t seem to favor you, so you can’t even expect to receive land. Don’t you want a kingdom?”

Duke Akazel was royalty but had no territory to govern.

There wasn’t an abundance of royal domains to begin with, so if they gave a piece of land every time a prince was born, there would be nothing left.

In short, the duke was penniless.

Would the King of Palatine grant him land for his achievements upon his return?

Even if they showered him with medals, gold, silver, and honor, they wouldn’t give him land.

Imagine giving land to a more renowned younger brother. It would be like praying for a rebellion.

“As you may already know, there are no other Omegas among the royal family besides me.”

Wiss informed the duke that he was the only option and continued speaking.

“We fear His Majesty Riendell. We are afraid of his ambitions. While he currently seeks our loyalty, we don’t know what more he might demand.”

In other words, I’m offering to empower you.

The justification was perfect.

The most disliked part about King Riendell wasn’t his ambition but the enormous reparations he demanded, and the reason for seemingly handing over the Kingdom of Summer to Duke Akazel wasn’t actually to empower the duke.

‘Let’s see how you respond.’

If he had ambitions, he couldn’t help but be tempted.

The duke’s reputation was at its peak. If he wanted to do something with that reputation, now was the time. The timing and location were perfectly aligned.

While he was away on an expedition, outside the influence of the King of Palatine.

Even if the duke married here, the King of Palatine couldn’t stop it. What could he do if it was already done?

But the duke’s response was unexpected.

“Did you come here on King Jeremiah’s orders?”

Wiss felt awkward.

‘Who would listen to him even if he ordered it?’

Although he still held the title of king, King Jeremiah was a disregarded king.

“No.”

“If you were forced to come, you don’t have to say things you don’t mean. Don’t you have a lover, Your Highness?”

Did that rumor reach the duke’s ears too? It was unclear what this country was doing if it couldn’t even manage the prince’s scandal.

“…I don’t know what rumors you’ve heard, but it’s already over with that person. It’s not a relationship Your Grace should be concerned about.”

“I heard from the cleric. They said you made an extreme choice. I also heard that you fell ill for a while after being forcibly separated from your lover and suffering from a broken heart.”

Wiss recalled the cleric. No wonder his expression was strange.

“It seems the cleric misunderstood something.”

“Your Highness, I was there at the time.”

The duke looked at the table for a moment, then raised his head to meet Wiss’s gaze.

Wiss was at a loss for words under that gaze.

‘He’s pitying me.’

How long had it been since someone pitied him?

“It was just a few days ago. I remember seeing Your Highness collapsed. Even if the cleric healed your physical wounds, it would be too short a time for your emotional wounds to heal. I’m sure you didn’t feel good coming here.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to convey my refusal to King Jeremiah. There will be no harm to Your Highness.”

The duke spoke soothingly. He didn’t believe Wiss had come of his own volition.

It was understandable. Normally, an Omega who had attempted to elope with another Alpha wouldn’t voluntarily propose to a different Alpha within a few days.

But what did it matter whether Wiss came of his own accord or was pushed to come?

Wasn’t the content of the deal what mattered?

“It has nothing to do with my father. The proposal is my own decision. Did you hear me? I can give the kingdom to Your Grace.”

Then the duke sighed.

“Is that so? Then should I give my answer to Your Highness’s proposal?”

“Yes.”

“I refuse.”

Wiss held back a curse.

“…Are the conditions not to your liking?”

‘Did he realize the kingdom isn’t even worth a penny?’

But the value of a kingdom isn’t just in its wealth. Having territory and a castle is a significant asset.

Now that the war is over, the duke’s army must be disbanded. While he might manage to support the knights he leads, there’s nowhere for the mercenaries to go. He can’t return to the capital of Palatine with mercenaries, can he?

But if the Kingdom of Summer belonged to the duke, he wouldn’t have to disband the army that followed him. He could station them in this country.

By expanding his forces in Summer and gaining justification to advance into Palatine, the duke could become the king of Palatine.

That’s what Wiss wanted too.

To split Palatine in two.