Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

CH734 Meeting With Duke Cyrindale II

***

A battle of interests had begun... or so Alex had expected.

Duke Levin Cyrindale suddenly turned towards Saul and smiled.

"It seems you have not told the young man about our agreement, Saul. It appears he has already made up his mind to face a formidable enemy."

"You said you wanted to see the sort of man I was recommending, did you not?" Saul replied with a small laugh. "What better way to show you the kind of person he is than to allow you to examine his true character yourself? I am that confident in him, Levin."

Alex raised an eyebrow as his gaze shifted cautiously between the two men.

’Levin? Did he just call Duke Cyrindale by his name? They are that close?’

"It is exactly as you are thinking, young man," Duke Cyrindale said. "Saul and I have always addressed each other by our names—long before I inherited my uncle’s position and became both the Patriarch of House Cyrindale and a Duke of the Empire."

The Duke’s smile remained calm and composed.

"It is difficult for me to refuse a request for aid from an old friend—especially one who nearly sacrificed his life to save both my child and my House."

His gaze settled upon Alex.

"So I will do my best to assist you—First, because you saved the life of a dear friend. Second, because that same friend has made the first request of me since the day we met—and has done so with unusual determination. And third, because I have heard that you may be capable of resolving a problem that has plagued my House for many years."

The Duke’s response caught Alex completely off guard.

It overturned almost every expectation he had built regarding the direction this meeting would take.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Udara doing her utmost to suppress a laugh.

After all, she had repeatedly told him that he was overthinking the entire meeting.

"However, there is a caveat," the Duke suddenly added.

His expression grew serious as he looked directly at Alex.

"The Empire has enjoyed a relatively long era of peace. These decades of stability have brought prosperity and wealth to our lands."

The Duke paused briefly before continuing.

"Yet prosperity often carries its own dangers. Alongside wealth and comfort, it has also nurtured stagnation and decay. Much of the current nobility no longer possesses the spirit, resolve, or honour that allowed the Empire to survive the great calamities of ages past."

His gaze became distant for a moment.

"And I fear that the next generation, the one destined to inherit our positions, may lack the strength necessary to weather the storms that the future will inevitably bring."

The Duke slowly shook his head.

"I am already struggling to slow the spread of that stagnation within the Empire. I have no intention of contributing to it further."

His eyes sharpened as they fixed upon Alex.

"Therefore, as I have already told Saul, I will not recommend an incompetent individual for acceptance into the nobility, and especially not into the circles of aristocracy."

Alex’s eyebrows furrowed solemnly as he carefully weighed every word spoken by the Duke.

Meanwhile, Duke Cyrindale quietly observed the youth’s changing expressions and subtle micro-movements, though he kept his own thoughts expertly concealed.

"The ability to read a situation from the smallest fragments of information is vital for the survival and prosperity of every noble House—up to and including an Empire itself."

The Duke’s voice remained calm and measured.

"Many people believe such insight can only be acquired through age and experience. In that regard, the greatest obstacle to your claim of nobility is your youth."

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"Prove to me that, despite your age, you possess such insight."

Udara froze beside Alex.

Meanwhile, Saul simply shook his head.

The question was deliberately vague. It could be interpreted in countless ways and, consequently, answered in countless ways as well.

’It was intentional—very intentional,’ Alex thought.

’The question itself embodies the lesson he is testing. Ambiguous information, incomplete facts, uncertain circumstances... these are exactly the kinds of situations a noble must constantly navigate. The answer matters, but how I arrive at that answer matters even more.’

Alex’s mind raced.

He needed an answer that did more than simply address the Duke’s question. He needed an answer that revealed who he was as a person, because that was what he suspected Duke Cyrindale truly wished to evaluate.

Fortunately, he did not need long to find one.

The answer had already been given to him—through the Duke’s own words and through a discussion he had recently shared with Udara.

Alex met the Duke’s gaze directly before speaking.

"The Empire has changed greatly during the century that has passed since House Skywalker fell to the beasts of the Great Berserk Beast Forest."

His voice remained calm and steady.

"During its existence, House Skywalker embodied the image of a heroic House—one that fought for the Empire and its people regardless of the threat it faced, whether those enemies were beasts or men."

"It represented an age of chivalry, patriotism, duty, and honour."

"However, if what you have said is correct, then the Empire now exists in an age of prolonged peace. As such, the very chivalry, patriotism, wartime honour, and martial merit that House Skywalker once represented have become increasingly disconnected from the Empire’s current direction.

"While the House’s history is undoubtedly glorious, that history likely holds far less significance to the modern aristocracy, who have grown accustomed to prosperity and stability. Rather than tales of wartime heroics and sacrifice, they are now more interested in material wealth and influence in the present day."

Alex paused briefly, his brows furrowing as he organised his thoughts.

Then he continued.

"Taking Your Grace’s earlier words to their logical extreme, one could argue that much of the current nobility has become steeped in decadence.

"In that case, the reappearance of a House that embodies the very opposite values could naturally be perceived as antagonistic to the current order—an order they have either built, adapted to, or allowed to flourish."

Alex’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"Regardless of which interpretation is correct, a revived House Skywalker could easily be viewed as an enemy of the established order simply because of what its history and identity represent."

His eyes briefly swept across the room before settling upon Duke Cyrindale once more.

"These two reasons—no..." Alex shook his head. "...this single reason will likely be the greatest challenge you face when attempting to push for House Skywalker’s reacceptance into the aristocracy.

"And it will likewise become my greatest obstacle in my efforts to restore the Skywalker name."

The Duke’s expression remained perfectly composed.

Not once did he reveal whether he agreed or disagreed with Alex’s conclusions. He simply listened.

"Are you certain that is the greatest challenge?" Duke Cyrindale asked with a faint smile.

***