Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke-Chapter 191 - Frozen Battlefield

191 Frozen Battlefield

They had known each other for years—long enough that there was no need for pretense.

"You should watch what you say," Elvin warned, his voice low. "We are in the Duke’s domain, after all. There are plenty of ears around."

"Does it even matter?" Stellan scoffed. "Everyone else is already whispering."

He nodded toward the dimly lit corridors, where figures huddled in hushed conversation.

**Groups of lords, advisors, and allies—**all deep in discussion, their faces filled with the same uncertainty.

They couldn’t hear the words being exchanged.

But the subject was obvious.

"They’re all struggling with the same dilemma," Elvin muttered.

"Of course they are," Stellan agreed. "One wrong step and our lands will be swept away in the coming storm. Have you made your decision yet?"

"Not yet," Elvin admitted. Then, hesitating for a moment, he added, "To be honest, I don’t want to make one."

"You know better than anyone that’s the worst choice of all," Stellan said flatly.

Elvin let out a slow breath.

He was right.

Neutrality—remaining undecided—was often the most dangerous position to be in.

A wild card that could tip the scales at any moment, a risk that neither side could afford to leave unchecked.

The first to be eliminated.

"I just don’t want to make the wrong choice," Elvin admitted. "If I choose the losing side, I could end up nothing more than a disposable pawn."

"So you’re waiting to see what the others do?" Stellan smirked. "That way, if everyone hesitates, no one can be singled out for it."

"Must you always say things so bluntly?" Elvin groaned. "You have a habit of pointing out things people don’t want to hear."

"Because I feel the same way," Stellan muttered. "It’s pathetic, but I can’t make a decision yet."

For a moment, they stood in silence, staring up at the cold northern sky.

No matter which choice they made, they would lose something.

Then—

A voice cut through the quiet.

"What a foolish conversation."

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"The answer is obvious, yet you sit here hesitating like fools."

Their hearts nearly stopped.

Because the man who had just appeared between them was none other than—

William.

"Y-Your Grace—!"

Elvin and Stellan instinctively tried to bow, but—

"Forget it," William said casually. "Just continue your conversation."

"...."

Neither of them could speak.

How could they, when the very man they were discussing stood before them?

William smirked at their hesitation. Explore more stories with novelbuddy

"You seem troubled. If you’d like, I can give you the correct answer."

He met their eyes, his tone almost playful.

"Simply side with the winner."

"...What?"

"If you can’t make up your minds now, then wait. Observe. When the outcome becomes clear, you may choose then."

The lords stiffened.

It wasn’t the kind of response they had expected.

William should have been pressuring them to pledge their loyalty immediately.

Yet here he was, telling them to wait.

"You see," William continued, grinning, "I don’t actually care for excessive loyalty. If people declare their undying allegiance too early, I have to reward them accordingly, don’t I? That’s rather inconvenient for me."

He shrugged.

"I’d much rather have a bunch of cowards standing around, waiting for the dust to settle. That way, when I win, I can mock them for it."

"Haha… What an amusing joke," Elvin said, forcing out a laugh.

"It’s not a joke," William said plainly.

His smile remained, but there was something unnerving in his voice.

"Calix stands only because His Majesty has not yet given the order to crush them," William said. "Why should I waste my time gathering support when I can simply wait?"

"...."

The moment William said ’the order,’ both men went still.

Because they knew exactly what he was referring to.

The gate.

The terrifying magic that had transported an entire army and supplies across vast distances in an instant.

’If that magic is used in war…’

The realization made their skin crawl.

That kind of power wasn’t meant for prolonged battle.

It was meant for swift, decisive annihilation.

If the entire might of the Empire was suddenly dropped onto a single noble house—

They would be erased in a single day.

’Even a house that has spent generations preparing for war… could be wiped out overnight.’

A chill ran down their spines.

No matter who won the war, the world itself would never be the same.

William turned away from them.

"If you don’t seek rewards, then choose the path that guarantees your safety," he said. "But understand this—remaining neutral is no longer an option."

And with that, he walked away.

They stood frozen, watching his back disappear down the corridor.

Countless eyes had been watching.

William had known they were being observed.

Which meant his words would spread.

And that was exactly what he wanted.

’I never expected them to pledge allegiance to me.’

’I just needed them to remember—how terrifying the gate truly is.’

Because once fear had taken root, it would be impossible to ignore.

Neither the Emperor nor Glenn had ever explained exactly how the portal worked.

William only knew one thing for certain—someone had to be physically present at the destination before the portal could be opened.

’At best, they might be able to use it once every few months.’

Or perhaps the opposite side needed to be prepared in advance.

Or maybe—

’The cost to activate it is ridiculously high.’

But none of that mattered.

Because William only needed the portal to open one more time.

Just once.

The moment the lords even imagined the portal opening above their own lands—

They would be paralyzed with fear.

That fear alone would make them hesitate to side with Calix.

And even if they eventually gathered their resolve—

During the Hundred-Day Hunt, they wouldn’t dare make a move.

William smiled to himself, strolling through the White Palace’s halls.

If anyone else started having a similar discussion…

He would repeat the exact same words.

William led the assembled lords toward the mountains behind Asagrim.

A towering peak, considered sacred simply because it stood beside Asagrim—

The Banegnir Mountains.

The destination of the hunt.

Despite the grandeur of restoring a centuries-old tradition, not a single participant looked happy.

’Is this really safe? Is this actually going to end quietly?’

’Damn it, I feel sick. No one’s going to stab me in the back, right?’

The participants were two opposing factions—

Thrown into an isolated, frozen wilderness, cut off from the outside world.

For fifteen days.

Even if no one had come with the intent to kill, there was plenty of time to change their minds.

And yet—

The two most critical figures in the hunt wore expressions of complete indifference.