In the lead of Lucifer, everyone passed beyond the entrance gate and arrived at the first area of the ducal grounds—also known as the military area.
As usual, sunstone bulbs glowed atop every watchtower, with two guards stationed at each. Bonfires burned in front of several barracks. Some soldiers stood on night duty, others prepared for their shifts, and a few simply enjoyed a moment of leisure.
Although barracks and bunkers lined the fortress walls, the place felt little different from a small village—yet it lay entirely within the boundaries of the Velmora family's ducal grounds.
Seeing this scene, everyone except Lucifer, Gothras, Allen, Guntor, and Lady Talmora was confused. What they had imagined and what they now saw differed greatly.
The first time Gothras and the Holy Cross State delegation had arrived at the ducal grounds—before the integration of Holy Cross State into Westirifer—he too had been disoriented by the illusion array formation. But under Mitalda's lead, they had reached the ducal palace without incident.
Lady Talmora's earlier journey had been the same; Maxwell and Mitalda had guided her, so her path to the palace remained smooth. That was why she now understood the deception of the illusion array.
She knew the stark difference between the ducal grounds as they appeared from outside the entrance gate and as they truly looked from within.
The guests of the three noble families and the newly arrived members of the Holygrill family, however, knew nothing of it. Cassian, Arlina, Arlira, Arlissa, Theron, Gisella, Nella, Mable, and Tabathia simply followed Lady Talmora's lead without question.
As the group continued walking, Ildrek scanned the surroundings with a penetrating gaze and voiced his confusion.
"What is this place? From outside I saw a massive palace… yet here we stand in nothing more than a small military village. Tell me, young master of the Velmora family—are you truly leading us to the ducal palace, or do you have other motives?"
Lucifer answered in an impassive voice.
"You are in my territory, Ildrek. Do you think you could defend yourself if I had any other motives? Do not try to act clever with me. You are not the only one I am leading. Behind me walk other respectable guests, as well as members of the Holygrill family. I am taking all of you to the same place—our ducal palace. Have patience. The palace is only a mile from here. Follow me and we will reach it in no time."
Ildrek's tone turned arrogant and mocking.
"Ildrek… Ildrek… You just called me by my name, yet I address you as young master of the Velmora family. Did your father never teach you how to speak to guests—especially those who belong to noble families? Even a few moments ago you displayed the same arrogance before my grandfather."
Layuri glared at him.
Then she spoke.
"Young Master Lucifer, pay no mind to this grandson of mine. He meant no harm."
While Layuri addressed Lucifer, everyone else could sense the tension rising between him and the Ironheart family.
At the same moment, Baroness Neria of Redbarn Barony nudged Baron Denford.
"Honey, it seems trouble is brewing between that boy Lucifer and the Ironford family."
Another of the baron's wives added, "We do not know what lies between them, but the young master's voice just now truly sounded arrogant."
A third said, "Yet I think the young master of the Ironheart family is the more arrogant one. He just tried to humiliate the young master of the Velmora family."
Among the guests of Weilhiem Duchy another quiet discussion unfolded.
Young Lady Lorisa murmured into Duke Gelvin's ear.
"Dad, what is happening? We have only just arrived and have not even entered the ducal palace, yet already trouble is brewing between the young master of the Velmora family and the young master of the Ironheart family."
Before the duke could answer, his wife Lubava said, "I sense something far larger is at play."
Another of the duke's wives, Mirosalva, took Lorisa's hand.
"Whatever trouble is rising between them has nothing to do with us. We are here only to attend the ascension ceremony of Westirifer Duchy. It is a formality, Lorisa. We have no stake in Westirifer, nor in Ironford County."
To her surprise, Duke Gelvin spoke in a low voice.
"That is where you are wrong, my dear. Why do you think Westirifer sent us an invitation to their ascension ceremony?"
" Is it not because Westirifer seeks recognition from us—since it stands outside the rule of the Royal Family?".... Answered Mirosalva.
Duke said....."We will speak of this later. Now is not the time."
On the side of the Holygrill family, Nad Kevlon, Branson, and Desmond conferred among themselves.
Nad Kevlon asked the other two, "What do you make of this?"
"No idea," Branson whispered. "Perhaps the Ironheart family of Ironford County is trying to provoke Young Master Lucifer."
Desmond answered, "Why provoke a hornet's nest? Do they believe Ironford County is so mighty? It is not as though they are unaware of what became of Hektor Duchy and Morrgen Duchy."
Branson added, "Still, I do not think Young Master will act against them over a mere argument—especially with the fertility ceremony so near."
While everyone whispered among themselves, Lucifer's eyes remained fixed upon Lady Layuri of Ironford County and her grandson Ildrek. Those eyes were so cold that even the ice-clad peaks of the Gigori mountain ranges would have seemed warm by comparison. Yet contrary to that glacial gaze, an enigmatic and eerie smile spread across his face.
"Someone here is speaking of manners?"
"Heehee… heheheh… hehehehheehe…"
The sudden laughter that spilled from Lucifer was profoundly unnatural—thin, hollow, and wrong. It crawled beneath the skin of every guest, raising the fine hairs on their arms and settling like frost in their lungs. In that instant the air itself seemed to grow heavier, as though the night had drawn closer to listen. The entire company felt, with sudden certainty, that something had shifted—that Lucifer was no longer merely displeased, but something far more dangerous. Even Allen, Elder Guntor, Lady Talmora, Gothras, and the other members of the Holygrill family felt the strangeness of the moment settle over them like a shadow.
Allen, personal butler to Lucifer and head minister of the duchy, stepped forward. His voice fractured.
"Young Master… wh—wha—what happened? Why… why did you suddenly laugh… like th—that?"
Lucifer placed a finger over his lips, signaling Allen to ask no further questions. Then he glanced at him. Lucifer's neon-green irises were shifting into a faint shade of violet—a change that made Allen shudder. He had seen those eyes before, and he knew what they meant: Lucifer was truly angry.
"Allen… why does it feel as though this Ironheart family and Ironford County believe that by coming to Westirifer they are granting us face? And why does this so-called young master of Ironford County believe I may not call him by his name? In truth, leave all of that aside. Why does this Ironheart family imagine themselves to be people of such great importance?"
Though Lucifer appeared to address Allen, every word was a deliberate taunt aimed at the Ironford guests.
Then he turned his gaze upon the trio of Goccrek, Layuri, and Ildrek.
"Hmmm, Ildrek Ironheart. You struck the nail upon the head. My father never taught me the manners of addressing members of noble families… because I have none. So what now? Must I bow before you and beg forgiveness?"
Lucifer's voice grew colder still.
"You brain-rotted, dick-headed pimp. I do not even give a fuck about the Lustbound Kingdom or the Royal Family. Why, then, should I address you with honorifics—call you 'Young Master Ildrek'?"
He growled.
"From this moment on, keep your arrogance in your own pocket. Your Ironheart family is here as a guest. Behave like one. Do not attempt to play overlord of Westirifer. Hear me clearly: if I hear your barking and raised voice once more, I will cut out your tongue, roast it over the fire, and shove it back into your mouth."
After speaking, Lucifer looked directly at the Ironford County guests—especially the retired Count Goccrek and his wife, Layuri Ironheart.
"Understood? Or would you prefer a demonstration? In either case, I would be more than happy to oblige."
Lucifer's words were utterly harsh—harsh and humiliating toward Ironford County.
Hearing everything he had said, the entire company fell silent, including the guests from Ironford. Though those guests from ironford county burned with anger, every one of them knew Lucifer was a ruthless killer. The purge of Morthveil, the decapitation of Peter Lustbound, the annihilation of the Hektor and Morrgen noble families, and the complete erasure of the Asher family—all these feats were known to everyone present.
They understood that dying by Lucifer's hand was already the worst possible fate. And so every member of the Ironford party swallowed the humiliation without a word. No one refuted him. No one argued. They simply forced the insult down.
Seeing Ildrek and Goccrek grind their teeth in silent fury, Layuri felt a pang of regret. Unlike the two of them, she possessed a rational mind. She glared once more at Ildrek.
"Boy… take this humiliation as a lesson for the future. Not every territory is your own. Even though Westirifer is a duchy free from the rule of the Lustbound Kingdom, it remains a duchy. You are merely the heir of a county. By rank, there is no obligation for Young Master Lucifer to address you as 'young master' or grant you any honorific title."
Then she turned to Lucifer.
"Young Master, I ask your forgiveness on behalf of my grandson. I hope you will grant it."
Lucifer answered with an amicable smile.
"Lady Layuri, you need not address me as young master. Your grandson and I are of roughly the same age; you may call me by my name. My lady, to avoid such problems in the future, I suggest you study the rules of whatever place you visit."
Layuri smiled in return.
"I shall keep that in mind."
Though she smiled on the surface, hatred for Lucifer and for all of Westirifer flared hotter in her heart.
With the incident concluded, Lucifer looked toward the others, his expression once more friendly and childlike.
"Now, now… everyone follow closely behind me. I am taking you by a shortcut."
From the Holygrill family, Desmond still spoke with lingering unease.
"Young Master, why not simply continue along this path? Walking a mile is no great hardship."
Lucifer replied, "Ah, Uncle Desmond… I am hungry. Walk the long way if you wish—but I will take the shortcut."
Desmond repeated, startled, "Uncle Desmond? Young Master, since when have I become your uncle? Why was I never informed?"
"Oh… calling you all 'Sir' and 'Lady' is such a hassle. That is why I began addressing every one from your holygrill family as sister, brother, uncle, and aunt. It makes the distance between us feel smaller. And for your latest information—my wifey is now my wife. Therefore you may all be considered distant relatives."
Nad Kevlon echoed, "Your wifey is your wife…? Young Master, who is this 'wifey'?"
Lucifer answered playfully.
"Oh, you did not know? At the border of Velmare Town and Serendity, your oracle master proposed that she become my woman… and I agreed. So now your Aunt Synthia Holygrill has become Synthia Holygrill Velmora."
Everyone else from the Holygrill family could only stare.
"EEEEHHHHHH?"
As they continued to follow Lucifer, their surroundings shifted every hundred meters. Yet apart from Allen, Talmora, Elder Guntor, and Gothras, no one noticed the changes.
After a time of walking they finally beheld a massive castle whose sheer grandeur could be compared with the Royal Palace of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom, the Purefield Ducal Palace, and the Sable Duchy itself.