Lord of Caldera - Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Chapter 257

Rozier’s expression twisted. Though it was true, he found it distasteful for Sylas to begin discussing rewards outright. After a moment’s hesitation, Rozier spoke gravely.

“My master promises you the title of Grand Duke.”

“Is that all?”

“How can you call a Grand Duke title ‘all’?!”

Rozier was taken aback by Sylas’s reaction. A Grand Duke was not something one could easily dismiss.

“Do you understand? A Grand Duke! A rank equal to that of the Crown Prince! It’s been over a century since that title was abolished due to its excessive power.”

“And?”

“And… and?!”

“The North has a king. And you think a Grand Duke title alone will be enough to satisfy me?”

Rozier let out a dry laugh. While a king indeed ranked above a Grand Duke, in the North, it was more of a response to the threat of a powerful chieftain—a rare, exceptional situation occurring only once in centuries.

“Comparing yourself to the North is absurd!”

“Why not? I could have become the king of the North.”

“…!”

Rozier was stunned by Sylas’s bold words. Such confidence—was he suggesting he could assume any position he desired? Sylas, seeing Rozier speechless, spoke again.

“Tell the Crown Prince this: a pauper trying to bribe a rich man with gold coins only looks foolish. If you have nothing worthwhile to offer, don’t bother.”

“…!”

“Leave.”

With clenched fists, Rozier trembled as he rose to his feet. Just before he left, a quiet voice slipped through the door.

“You’ll regret this.”

The door closed firmly, silencing any rebuttal from Sylas, who only let out a smirk. Who would truly regret this in the end?

Soon, a proper invitation from the Emperor would arrive. When that happened, the answer would become clear.

After his encounter with Sylas, Rozier left immediately. The Count didn’t insist he stay any longer. Since it was not an official visit, the envoy’s presence did not interrupt the fervor of the festival. People celebrated Sylas’s accomplishments with food and drink for nearly a month.

“Hail, Sylas the Dragonslayer!”

“The killer of seven dragons! Successor of Godfrey!”

“May the bloodline of Leonik endure forever!”

The praise within the territory quickly spread beyond its borders. Visitors from neighboring lands came to see the Hydra’s skull, sharing the tale far and wide. By the end of the month-long celebration, Sylas’s name was known throughout the East.

And as Sylas’s fame spread, an imperial decree arrived.

“To celebrate my sixtieth birthday, I command you to attend the upcoming banquet and lend your presence to the occasion.”

It was not merely an invitation; it was a test of imperial authority. Refusing would bring swift and merciless retaliation. Nobles of the rank of viscount or higher read the decree with furrowed brows.

“Damn it, they always pressure us without giving anything in return!”

“When will the Emperor stop asserting his authority like this?”

“If only he’d spend more time in his harem as usual….”

Even when issues arose, he never mediated; he simply collected taxes on time and stressed the duties of the lords. This left no room for genuine respect for the Imperial Family. They complied only to avoid future hardships if they attracted too much attention.

It was as they were grumbling and preparing to head to the capital that word spread.

“The King of the North, the Grand Duke of the Elves, and the Dragonslayer of Corleone will all be attending the celebration!”

This news spread like wildfire across the Empire, causing every lord to open their eyes in astonishment.

.

“What? The King of the North, the Elven Grand Duke, and the Dragonslayer are all attending?”

“That must be a baseless rumor. Why would any of them bother coming?”

Initially, the lords did not believe the news. After all, all three were in positions where they could easily ignore the Emperor’s demands.

“The King of the North is practically in a position where the Imperial Family has to be careful around him. The Elven Grand Duke isn’t even part of the Empire, so he has no reason to attend.”

“The Dragonslayer might be a possibility, but wouldn’t the Emperor want to avoid him?”

Even though this celebration was a half-mandatory gathering, it remained an occasion for all of the Empire’s nobles to congregate, thus serving as a major social event. Inviting the Dragonslayer to a gathering where nobles eager to make connections would swarm around him? It would be like giving wings to a hero.

“It seems the Imperial Family will do anything to assert their authority. Perhaps they spread this rumor themselves, intending to deny it later by claiming they never said any such thing.”

“No, the Imperial Family has made an official statement.”

“What?”

“They really did announce that all three would be attending the celebration. There are even reports of people seeing the procession.”

“…!”

An official statement from the Imperial Family was no small matter, especially when eyewitnesses confirmed it. Finally, the lords began to see things differently.

All three figures could bring tremendous advantages if connections could be made with them.

‘The power of the North needs no explanation. And even a minor trade agreement with the Elves would yield enormous profit.’

‘And the Dragonslayer, rumored to be betrothed to an Elven princess, would provide a link to both the other two. Forming ties with him could lead to alliances with the other two as well.’

With their calculations complete, the lords began to urge their retainers.

“Hurry! We must reach the capital as soon as possible!”

“We have to make contact before anyone else does! If we’re late, we won’t even have a chance to speak!”

The lords, who had shown little interest before, were now fervently racing to the capital, eyes burning with ambition. While early arrival wouldn’t guarantee friendships, at least it would give them a chance to start conversations before others arrived.

Their judgment, as it turned out, was correct. The Corleone family, for instance, was already preparing to depart swiftly for the capital.

“Myself, Sylas, and Dani will head to the capital. Ulrich, you’ll act as steward in my place.”

“Yes, Father.”

Having received an early notice from the Imperial Family, Count Bill was prepared. Since their arrangements had already been made, all that remained was deciding who would go and who would stay. Dani, chosen to accompany them, voiced his frustration.

“Father, why am I going? I haven’t received any specific invitation from His Majesty.”

“What are you talking about? The Academy break is almost over, so you’ll need to go to the capital anyway.”