He was given parchment and a quill by the scribe and wrote an urgent letter.
"To select the two high-ranking knights with the fastest feet and deliver them to His Highness the Crown Prince and the lord of Dolakan Castle, respectively. It wouldn't hurt to strengthen our vigilance in case of a surprise attack."
When he rolled up the parchment and sealed it with wax, the servant waiting behind him passed it to Edgar, the squad leader of the Wolfram cavalry, who was sitting at the end of the long table.
The man asked in a cautious tone, pushing the letter into his arms.
"Wouldn't it be better for us to investigate separately?"
"How can we afford to do that?"
Before he could answer, a middle-aged knight sitting in the middle of the left corner clicked his tongue and waved his hand.
"The security in the east is also unstable, and because of the unconfirmed rumors, we can't send out soldiers again."
"I agree."
Barcas calmly agreed.
"We have already stationed an elite mounted warrior in the north. There is no need to send more than this. It is up to the imperial military to track down the traitors."
"Well, the war is over, so it's time to strengthen our hearts."
As soon as his words were about to fall, the honorary knight Modrian, who was sitting on the right, suddenly spoke.
He was a cavalry commander appointed by the former Grand Duke, but he was a vassal who had now retired from his duties and was appointed as a military adviser.
The man, who had a taut face and a strange smile on his face, said in a gentle voice.
"So, what do you plan to do about the successor?"
The sudden change in topic made Barcas frown.
The knights who were sitting in their seats with solemn faces also looked embarrassed by the remarks that went against the nature of the meeting. However, the old knight did not care and continued calmly.
"In discussing the stability of the territory, what is more important than the issue of the successor?"
"Sir Modrian."
Lucas, who had been silent, interjected in a rough voice, as if he were ridiculous.
"It's like wartime now. The whereabouts of the traitor are mysterious, and the public sentiment in the East is ugly, but when you bring up such a private story?"
"It's private."
Modrian shook his head and retorted.
"Preserving the lineage is the foundation that sustains the order of this earth. If even one of them happens to the Grand Duke, who will take over the position of monarch of the East? You don't want to see our territory torn to pieces due to a quarrel between blood relatives."
"My successor is Lucas Raedgo Sheerkhan."
Barcas said firmly.
"Didn't I already make that fact firm before I set out?"
"It is merely a temporary measure in case Your Excellency should be killed on the battlefield.
Modrian fiddled with the tip of his quill and continued in a soft, sharp tone.
"The principle is that the lineage of the Origin family is directly descended. By the grace of God, the Grand Duke has returned safely, and now you must fulfill your duty to produce your successor."
The old knight's gaze, which had been chattering presumptuously, shifted to Lucas, who was frozen this time.
"Also, I hope you will soon decide on a marriage partner for Master Lucas and Miss Raina. Although both of them are of marriageable age, they do not even have a fiancé yet."
"If you keep listening, there's no end to it!"
Lucas blushed and jumped up from his seat.
"You are a military adviser, not a matchmaker! What kind of bizarre noise are you suddenly making at the military meeting hall!"
"Certainly, it's not a topic that suits the position."
The old knight, who obediently admitted, leaned back on the back of the chair and exhaled deeply.
"However, the other vassals are in a situation where they can't even open their mouths because they are watching the Grand Duke, so this old man has no choice but to step forward. All three of the Grand Duke's direct blood-relatives have no children, so the vassals must be united in their concern for the future of the East."
"If you look into it, you might find that Master Lucas has children."
Baredon, who was sitting quietly at the end of a long table, revealed that his mouth was so tight that he couldn't stand it.
"You've been enjoying a lot of debauchery since you were fifteen, haven't you? You might have an illegitimate child hidden away somewhere."
"You little shit, you have a pierced mouth..."
"Stop."
Barcas pressed his forehead and muttered coldly. Immediately, a tense silence fell in the noisy hall.
Barcas, who looked around the left center, who was watching him, calmly spat out to the old knight.
"I understand your concern for the future of the Grand Duke's family, but it's a bit too much. Aren't you acting like you're an old man with only a few days left to live?"
"I apologize, Your Excellency. This is a chaotic time. We need to be prepared for any eventuality..."
"As you said, I just returned from the battlefield."
Barcas cut him off gently.
"It's quite nasty to worry about the severance of the dynasty in front of the monarch who has returned safely."
The old knight barely closed his mouth.
Barcas added as if driving a wedge.
"I'm going to sort out the successor issue gradually, so don't bother me any longer."
"Can I understand that you mean that you are willing to see the heir through Her Highness the Grand Duchess?"
Barcas glared at him with an icy gaze.
"Do I have to confess my bedroom situation to you?"
"..."
"I'll make sure that I don't suddenly die one day and throw the East into chaos, so let's stop nagging."
The face of the respected elder vassal of the East hardened faintly.
Barcas, who was staring at that stiff face, twisted the corners of his mouth and added.
"Or are you perhaps planning to assassinate me?"
"Your Excellency! How can you say such a thing...?!"
"Sir."
Barcas spoke in a light tone, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.
"I said this because you were worried about my death."
The man, who had been chattering like a worm, finally closed his mouth completely.
Barcas measured the length of the candle he was burning to measure time and stood up.
"I think I've covered all the agendas that need to be discussed right now. Let's dig up this place."
The knights stood up one by one.
Barcas caught up with Modrian as he crossed between them and had just stepped out into the hallway. As if he had been hurt by the scuffle a while ago, the old knight's face was slightly stiff.
He pretended not to know it and spoke to him in a quiet voice.
"I have a question for you."
"...Tell me."
"Have you ever put pressure on my wife over the Issue of heirs, as you did to me today?"
Modrian furrowed his eyebrows in absurdity.
"Have you forgotten that Your Excellency surrounded Her Highness the Grand Duchess with escorts before you set out? It will be delivered to Your Excellency's ears, but who would dare to commit such a rudeness?"
The old knight shook his head and added.
"And there's that fearsome wolf. No one would ever approach Her Highness the Grand Duchess in this castle."
Barcas, who was staring at the old knight's face as if to gauge whether it was true or not, then wrapped one hand around his shoulder and said in a softer tone.
"I apologize if I offended you by the joke I made earlier. I'm going to find out about Lucas and Raina soon, so please wait a moment."
Modrian, who had a puzzled expression at the unexpected apology, coughed slightly.
"Since Your Excellency said that, there is nothing more for the old man to say, I understand. I will trust and wait for Your Excellency, the Grand Duke."
The old knight shook his head once and walked down the hallway.
After staring at them for a while, he turned around and was about to leave the outer castle, but Lucas, who was listening to their conversation in a daze, followed one step behind.
"What you just said to that old man.. Are you serious? Do you really want me and Raina to...?"
"Why are you so surprised?"
Barcas said bluntly as he passed the hallway with a steady stride.
"You and Raina have both had a coming-of-age ceremony for a long time. It's rather strange that a child from a famous family hasn't had a fiancée so far."
"I'm only nineteen now! Raina will be seventeen in two months!"
"I'm not asking you to get married right away. It doesn't matter if you just get engaged first and get married after a year or two."
"Stop talking nastily."
Lucas almost caused a game and raised his voice.
"I intend to enjoy a single life for the next twenty years!"
"Do I look good enough to listen to such immature sounds?"
Barcas stopped and looked down at him with piercing eyes. A painful sound erupted from Lucas' mouth as he faced his determined face.
"Are you serious?"
"As Modrian said, isn't it time to strengthen the inner circle of the family? I'll give you a list of suitable candidates soon, so choose a lady you like and court them."
"A suitable candidate means that she is a member of the family who can help the Sheerkhan family, right?"
Lucas sneered. Barcas looked Irritably at his half-brother, who was rebelling against the obvious fact.
"You are a member of the Grand Duke's family. Naturally, your marriage should be a support for the family. That is the price you deserve for the privileges you have enjoyed."
"But you married the woman you wanted, didn't you?"
Barcas turned around and was about to head towards the stable, but stopped moving.
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