The Northern Grand Duke’s Crazy Son-in-Law

7. That Imperial Bastard

‘Don’t tell me he’s up to some weird shit again.’

Gilbert turned to glance at the annex Adrianna had disappeared into, a sudden worry gnawing at him.

“Hmm, should I slit his throat, or rip out his heart?”

At that moment, a petite woman with hair braided into two pigtails shook her head frantically. It was Mardian, who was pathologically obsessed with Adrianna.

“No, I’ll bash his head in.”

Hermann, a man as large as a bear, muttered in a low voice. The air around him seemed to grow heavy.

“Move aside, I’ll rip out his guts and spread them on bread.”

“You move aside, it’s my job to deal with anyone who insults Adrianna.”

Gilbert clicked his tongue at their pointless squabble.

“Galahad, what kind of man is he?”

Lunaburn asked in a calm voice, his gaze fixed on Gilbert.

“That’s right! Gilbert! I clearly told you to kill him on the way here! Just say some bandits or wolves got him!”

Mardian snapped in a sarcastic voice. Mardian’s obsession with Adrianna was well-known. She wasn’t called ‘Crazy’ Mardian for nothing.

“What kind of man is he?”

If they were asking what kind of man Galahad was—

“A fraud.”

Galahad cracked pointless jokes and bragged about being an exceptional magician.

However, judging by how he’d struggled against a lord who was only slightly mixed with demon blood, he was clearly nothing more than a braggart and a fraud.

“We have to kill him! He’ll surely deceive the innocent Lady Adrianna with his wicked tongue! We have to gouge out his eyes!”

“He’s a fraud. He’s nothing to worry about.”

Once again, a bloodthirsty conversation erupted.

‘But there was something about him.’

Every time he saw the man, it was as if a thorn was stuck in his throat. Gilbert swallowed his words.

The door to the annex opened and Adrianna emerged. Mardian twitched like a dog desperate to take a shit.

“What did that bastard do to you? I’ll cut his throat right now. Or maybe his arms—.”

Adrianna quickly hid one of her hands behind her back. Mardian’s face hardened at her subtle reaction.

“He held my hand.”

Adrianna made an expression he’d never seen before, but it quickly returned to her usual blankness as if she was wondering when that had happened.

The atmosphere turned sharp in an instant, but Adrianna didn’t seem to care.

Adrianna had no interest in anything but the frontline.

“But weren’t you a mage? Then it must have been more painful–.”

Adrianna nodded at Lunavern’s question.

That Adrianna burned mana was a fact that everyone here knew.

Even non-mages would often faint from the terrible pain the moment they made contact with Adrianna.

And that pain would be worse the greater the mana. But a mage had held her hand-.

“He must have screamed in pain! Ahahaha! You idiot! How dare you touch Lady Adrianna!”

“He must have shat himself! You fool! It’s a shame I didn’t see it.”

They all raised their voices to mock the foolish mage.

Knowing that pain, no one had questioned it.

When the story gradually grew to the point where it was said that the mage had bitten off his own tongue and died in pain, Adrianna opened her mouth.

“He gagged. Since you were curious about the principle–.”

At Adrianna’s indifferent voice, those who had been noisily chattering until now became quiet.

Even the crazy Mardian was only holding her very slightly.

But the mage had gagged-.

Different expressions appeared on everyone’s faces. Anger, annoyance, disbelief-. The expressions were different, but they were all rooted in shock.

Even Madrian’s mouth hung open.

‘He really is crazy.’

It had been strange when he killed the lord, but now he had gagged, saying he was curious about the principle-.

Gilbert laughed out loud without realizing it.

Adrianna’s gaze turned to Gilbert.

“Gilbert, you stay here and protect him.”

It was an unexpected order.

Adrianna always prioritized the frontline. She herself had never left the frontline. But now she was assigning Gilbert, a key force, as an escort-. It was an uncharacteristic arrangement.

“······Yes, I understand.”

He had questions, but Gilbert nodded without asking.

“The rest of you, return immediately.”

“Are you not going to see His Highness?”

“There’s been a suspicious movement by the demons. Return immediately.”

Adrianna shook her head at Lunavern’s question.

“Lady Adrianna, haven’t you become weak? There’s no way you could have endured that pain!”

At that moment, Mardian shouted with disbelief in his eyes.

Adrianna shook her head, but it was useless on the crazed Mardian. Mardian’s hand was already on the back of Adrianna’s hand.

They all thought the same thing. How could a human endure that pain? And a mage, at that-. It made sense that Adrianna had become weak.

“I’ll show you that my love is greater than that guy…”

Kwaang! Mardian screamed sharply and fainted. His eyes rolled back in his head and saliva dripped from his mouth.

Lunavern sighed and took care of Mardian.

‘How crazy is that guy.’

Gilbert stuck out his tongue slightly.

“I haven’t fully recovered yet, so I’ll leave after resting a bit more.”

At that moment, Herman spoke with a murderous expression that anyone could see he was about to do something. His face was full of anger.

Herman, who was as sturdy as a demon, hadn’t fully recovered? It was clearly an excuse. He didn’t even seem to be trying to hide it.

However, as always, Adriana didn’t care.

Herman wasn’t important to her.

“I understand. Make sure to recover fully before you return. Your health is the most important thing.”

‘This is getting annoying.’

Gilbert clicked his tongue as he watched Herman, who was fixing his ax.

Then, he suddenly thought it would be nice to see Galahad get hit once.

Just once should be fine, right?

Well, it seemed fine.

***

‘···My mana’s burning.’

Galahad sighed as he looked at his throbbing hand.

Mana burning was truly indescribable. It felt like every single blood vessel was being meticulously roasted with a torch.

‘It burns mana just by touching it? Does that make sense?’

It wasn’t a metaphor; his mana was literally burning.

Even Galahad, who had attended both the academy and the intelligence agency, had never heard of anything like this.

If he told the capital’s wizards this story, he would definitely get beaten with a staff.

In magic theory, mana was an unchangeable thing. Magic was simply the process of humans adding to its properties through spells or incantations, not transforming the mana itself.

Because pure mana was noble, dignified, and unchanging.

However, Adriana literally burned pure mana.

This was a historical discovery. As a wizard, Galahad couldn’t help but grab Adriana’s hand.

‘There’s something here.’

With trembling hands, he took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. He flicked his fingers out of habit, but there was no reaction.

‘My mana’s gone. If I had held on a little longer, I might have died.’

Galahad laughed bitterly.

“Is anyone there?”

“What do you need?”

The answer came from behind him. He looked up to see Gilbert looking down at him with pity in his eyes.

Since when was he there? The alarm magic didn’t work, though. Ah, I don’t have any mana.

“Don’t you know how to knock?”

“I did.”

He seemed not to have heard because he was so encrossed in magic.

It was Galahad’s chronic illness. Once magic was involved, he had a hard time controlling himself. It was both a weakness and the driving force that had brought Galahad this far.

“Do you have a light?”

“Can’t you make fire come out of your finger?”

“My mana’s all burned out.”

Gilbert clicked his tongue softly and took something out. It was a small flint.

“How rustic. Don’t you have a lighter or matches?”

“This is the North.”

How uncout. Gilburton clicked his tongue lightly at Galahard’s reply. Gilburton struck a flint in front of Galahard.

Clack, clack, it was slightly dangerous, but the fire ignited wonderfully. A refreshing lemony scent filled the air.

“You smoke quite a lot.”

“Because it’s mana tobacco.”

He seemed not to understand, but Galahard didn’t bother to explain. It was a difficult concept to explain to a non-magician in the first place. There was no need to. Gilburton didn’t ask further either.

“How was it?”

“What are you talking about.”

“Lady Adrianna.”

At Gilburton’s question, Galahard’s thoughts turned to Adrianna once more. The nature of burning mana-. Ahhh···. His thoughts began to accelerate once again.

“How was it, I asked.”

His reverie was broken by Gilburton’s trembling voice. The fire of the tobacco had been cut off in the middle. Galahard clicked his tongue and took out another tobacco and put it in his mouth.

Gilburton held out the flint again. Galahard shook his head and flicked his finger. A faint fire burned on the tip of his finger.

“Didn’t I say I don’t have mana?”

“That’s why I lit a mana tobacco.”

Gilburton grimaced. Galahard took a deep drag of the tobacco.

“So how was it?”

He was urging him. Galahard clicked his tongue and answered.

“She was incredibly beautiful.”

“I told you she was the most beautiful on the continent.”

“Yeah, she was prettier than the princess.”

“······Have you met the princess?”

“I guess. If you meet the princess, you’ll definitely avoid her like she’s crazy.”

“Nonsense-.”

Gilburton clicked his tongue lightly. He didn’t seem to believe him. Galahard didn’t bother to explain.

“So that’s the end of it?”

Gilburton asked again if he had the answer he wanted.

Galahard pondered for a moment. Adrianna was certainly the most beautiful on the continent, but what interested Galahard was not her appearance.

It was the nature of burning mana.

“I want to touch her again. This time a little longer-.”

“······.”

Gilburton’s face crumpled at once. At the disgust that appeared on Gilburton’s face, Galahard realized that his words had been a little strange.

However, Gilburton’s reaction was amusing, so he didn’t correct himself.

Galahard slowly exhaled the tobacco smoke. His confused mind gradually settled down.

‘She burns mana-.’

Galahard took out his leather notebook and checked its contents. Gilburton stuck his head out, but it didn’t matter.

“What language is that?”

“It’s the language we used to speak in my hometown.”

“Wasn’t your hometown the capital?”

“It was.”

“······?”

He replied roughly and checked his notebook.

[The Demon King staggered greatly while engulfed in flames.]

‘This was Adrianna.’

It was the most emphasized of the three crises the Demon King had faced. Perhaps-. It wasn’t accurate.

There was a time when he had devoted himself to fire magic, thinking that the Demon King was weak to fire. Even now, Gallahad’s main focus was fire magic.

‘I came to the North at the right time.’

He hadn’t found anything while diligently searching in the Intelligence Agency, but as soon as he came to the North, he got such a big clue-. He chuckled as if his long-standing toothache had subsided.

Adrianna was the key. He had to stick by Adrianna’s side somehow to study him-.

‘Will it be a problem? She’s my fiancée.’

Gallahad clapped his hands lightly and laughed.

“I want to touch my fiancée, could you guide me?”

“···?”

“Oh, I meant to say that I want to see her. I misspoke.”

Gallahad changed his words at the look of disgust that appeared on Gilbert’s face.

“······Lady Adrianna has returned to the front lines.”

She’s already back? Is this a secret rendezvous?

Gallahad stood up from his seat.

“Good! Then I’ll go to the front lines. I was curious about the front lines.”

“Do you think the front lines are some kind of backyard? And aren’t you currently confined by the Grand Duke’s orders?”

“Confined?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

“Hmm, then I’ll have to meet the Grand Duke first to lift the ban on going out. Guide me to the Grand Duke.”

“·······The Grand Duke is busy. If you make an appointment now, you’ll probably meet him in about a year.”

Gilbert stared at Gallahad as if to say, ‘Is this kid an idiot?’

He didn’t seem to be joking. A year is too long-.

‘Should I climb over?’

He looked at the wall next to him and thought seriously. He had already checked the path when he came in. There were about five ways to climb over. Climbing over was Gallahad’s specialty.

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door. Judging by the politeness, it wasn’t Gwen. Gilbert opened the door.

The one who knocked on the door was a middle-aged man with a stylish goatee.

“Imperial bastard! The Grand Duke calls!”

The goatee man spoke in rough Imperial language.

At that, Gallahad looked at Gilbert and chuckled.

“Oh, actually I made a reservation a year ago.”

Gilbert’s face crumpled.

He was a guy who could really joke around.

“Oh, but I’m not an Imperial bastard, I’m Gallahad.”

“Imperial bastard! Follow me!”

This time, Gilbert snickered.

‘Why did the Grand Duke summon me?’

Galahad tidied his appearance in front of the mirror. He hadn’t slept, so there were dark circles under his eyes. He lit a cigarette to clear his groggy mind, but the goat-like man hurriedly snatched it away.

“A cigarette! You imperial bastard! Have you lost your mind?!”

It was Imperial language, close to the translation.

“It’s not a cigarette, it’s a mana cigarette. It has a very fragrant lemon scent, so the Grand Duke will like it too. No one dislikes the scent of lemon.”

“It’s not allowed! That! Please, refrain!”

Galahad took one last drag of the cigarette and put it out, faced with adamant refusal.

The Grand Duke’s summons was unexpected. He had kept him locked up this whole time, so why call him suddenly? The most likely reason was Adrianna’s visit.

‘He said she visited secretly, but he knows everything.’

Unlike his perfect and cold appearance, his mind seemed a little lacking.

“Imperial bastard! Your hair! Hand it over!”

“I’m not an imperial bastard. I’m Galahad.”

He slicked back his hair with pomade, clicking his tongue at the goat-bearded man’s scolding. His handsome face was coolly revealed.

He winked at his reflection in the mirror. Gilbert, who was behind him, made a small ‘tsk’ sound. It was petty jealousy.

He followed the goat-beard to the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke’s mansion was so vast that it seemed endless. The nickname ‘King of the North’ was understandable.

The interior of the mansion was filled with soldiers and knights. It was hard to tell whether this was a mansion or a military training ground.

Sharp gazes followed him everywhere he went. There were even some who cursed at him.

“Gilbert, those bastards just cursed at me. Go and give them a piece of your mind.”

“You son of a b*tch.”

“Not to me, to them over there.”

“You foul-mouthed bastard.”

“Well, that’s fine. They seem to be reflecting on their actions thanks to your ruthless scolding.”

“You cheeky bastard.”

Their abilities were higher than the information he had received from the Intelligence Agency. This wasn’t even the front lines, but the Grand Duke’s mansion. There must be far more troops on the front lines.

It seemed that even the Intelligence Agency had its gaps. Galahad was slightly impressed.

Soon, they arrived at a huge door. There were two armed knights in front of it.

“Halt.”

A man with sharp eyes like a hawk blocked his way. He had a white beard, but his build and aura were fierce. He was a veteran.

The goat-like man explained, but the white-haired knight ignored him and gestured to Galahad.

“Are you armed?”

Galahad chuckled at the question. Was he asking a magician if he was armed? It was clear that the northerners didn’t know much about magicians.

Still, it would be embarrassing if he just let it go, so he took out the dagger he had in his pocket. The knight’s face crumpled.

The knight held out a thick pair of handcuffs. Galahad recognized them. They were mana-suppressing handcuffs.

‘They have these?’

Mana-suppressing handcuffs were items that disrupted the flow of mana. They were made using the characteristics of high-ranking demons, and he had only seen them when he was a newbie at the Intelligence Agency.

It was a novel experience to see them here.

“Imperial bastard! Magician bastard! Put on! Handcuffs!”

Galahad put on the handcuffs at the goat-bearded man’s crude translation.

“Long time no see.”

Memories of when he’d first joined the Intelligence Agency suddenly came to mind. They weren’t particularly pleasant memories. Tap, tap, his fingers rapped against the handcuffs.

“From here! Alone! Go! Imperial bastard!”

“Th- that’s not imperial bastard, it’s Galahad. It’s already locked.”

He clicked his tongue lightly at the harshly slammed door.

The room was large and splendid. But its splendor didn’t come from luxurious, jewel-like ornaments.

Swords and spears were present everywhere, and the walls displayed the corpses of horrifying monsters. If there was such a thing as a stuffed monster museum, this would be it.

‘So that’s what monsters look like.’

Since there weren’t many monsters in the Empire, he rarely had the chance to see them.

The Intelligence Agency primarily dealt with humans, anyway.

Occasionally, a monster would pop up, but other departments were in charge of handling them. Galahad’s department was–

His reverie was interrupted by a presence. At the far end, a man was reclining on a large chair as if he were lying down.

Given the atmosphere, he had to be the Grand Duke. Otherwise, it would be rather strange.

Was that a coat made of monster hide? There was a large head with sharp fangs bared on either shoulder. It looked rather warm.

He didn’t seem like a noble but rather a highly renowned monster hunter. Despite the thick coat he wore, his solid muscles could be felt underneath.

Add to that his thick, tiger-like features and piercing gaze–

He was the ruler of the north, the Grand Duke.

‘He doesn’t seem busy?’

Galahad hid his inner thoughts and greeted him.

“I greet the Empire’s eternal shield.”

He heard the Grand Duke stand up. The heavy footsteps mixed with clanking sounds, making him feel as if he were facing an executioner.

Galahad desperately held back the urge to scratch his neck.

There was no reason for the Grand Duke to cut off Galahad’s neck.

It wasn’t because Galahad’s neck was heavy. Rather, it was because it was too light.

Compared to the political issues that entangled him to the point of being engaged to Adrianna, Galahad’s neck was incredibly light.

If the Grand Duke were incompetent enough not to realize that, the northern front would have collapsed long ago. It would have either fallen to the Empire or been invaded by monsters.

Having finished his calculations, Galahad slowly raised his head.

Cold, piercing eyes were looking down on Galahad. Standing before him, it felt as if his eyes were burning.

‘He looks nothing like his father.’

If even a bit of that grim face had been mixed in, his appearance wouldn’t have turned out this way.

Galahad forced a smile.

At that moment, the Grand Duke’s shoulder moved. The calculations in his head vanished the instant he saw it, and his trained instincts took over.

Galahad’s wrist turned smoothly. Their hands brushed past each other as if they were crossing.

The Grand Duke’s large hand stopped next to Galahad’s head. A sharp coldness grazed his temple.

“You’re the same.”

Looking at Galahad’s hand pointed at his neck, the Grand Duke chuckled. An ice sword had somehow appeared in that hand.

“Occupational hazard.”

Galahad tried to suppress his tension as he answered.

Clang, the mana suppression handcuffs fell to the floor.

“I heard that most mages end up crippled. You’re trash.”

The Grand Duke clicked his tongue as he looked at the broken shackles.

“I’m not just any old magician.”

The Grand Duke’s laughter grew deeper at Galahad’s response.

“Cheeky, aren’t we?”

I was trying to be as humble as possible-.

Galahad swallowed the rest of his words with effort.