Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 394: The Letter’s Content

Chapter 394: The Letter’s Content

The grand meeting room of the Grafen castle was filled with a sense of foreboding, as Lyan sat at the head of a large table, the message from the crown prince spread before him. Beside him, Surena and Wilhelmina leaned in, their faces etched with curiosity. Wilhelmina’s brows were furrowed as she read through the parchment, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"It’s just a formal request," Wilhelmina finally said, her voice a mix of confusion and frustration. She looked up at Lyan, her eyes narrowing. "Lord Evocatore is cordially invited to the royal banquet hosted by Crown Prince Erich. That is all it says. Why did the messenger seem so... urgent?"

Surena, who was standing beside Lyan, crossed her arms and frowned. "There’s definitely something more going on here," she muttered, her sharp eyes meeting Lyan’s. "This doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t match the tension I felt from the messenger."

Lyan gave a small smile, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He nodded, tapping the edge of the letter. "You’re right, both of you. This isn’t just an ordinary letter. It’s too clean. Too... formal." He looked at Wilhelmina and then at Surena. "The urgency, the messenger’s weary look, and the context don’t match the contents of this letter."

Wilhelmina tilted her head, a curious look crossing her face. "So, what do you think it is?"

Lyan’s smile widened, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mystery. He gestured to one of the nearby maids, who had been standing by the door. "Fetch a candle for me, please."

The maid nodded and hurried out of the room, leaving Wilhelmina and Surena exchanging puzzled glances. Wilhelmina leaned closer to Lyan, her eyes narrowing. "Are you saying this is some kind of code?"

"Exactly," Lyan replied, his gaze focused on the parchment. "Prince Erich doesn’t send simple invitations without reason—not to me, at least." He chuckled, shaking his head. "He’s always been a bit of a show-off when it comes to his clever little tricks."

(Prince Erich? You mean William, right?)

Cynthia’s voice chimed in, her tone amused.

(Yeah. Same guy, different names. He likes playing the role of a crown prince with different personas. Well I’m the one who like to call him William because of our mercenary days, though)

The maid returned with a lit candle, her face a mask of curiosity as she handed it to Lyan. He gave her a nod of thanks, then held the letter over the flame, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Wilhelmina and Surena watched intently, their eyes widening as the parchment began to change. Slowly, the ink shifted and spread, revealing new writing—lines that hadn’t been visible before. The formality of the original message melted away, replaced by text written in hurried, bold strokes.

Lyan leaned in, his eyes scanning the message that had appeared. He read it aloud, his voice steady but with an underlying tension.

"Lord Evocatore, you are hereby summoned by Prince Erich to attend the upcoming royal banquet. This banquet will serve as the initial gathering of the main forces—a preparation for war. The crown prince has decided that this banquet will also be the event during which territories and military resources will be reassigned. Your presence is necessary, as your forces and strategic input will be critical for what is to come."

Lyan paused, his eyes flicking up to Wilhelmina and Surena. Both women looked stunned, their faces reflecting a mix of realization and concern.

"So," Lyan continued, a grim smile touching his lips, "it’s not just a banquet. It’s a war council in disguise. They’re preparing for conflict, and this is their way of gathering everyone without causing widespread panic."

Surena’s face darkened, her eyes narrowing. "They’re planning something big, then. Restructuring the military? That doesn’t sound like just a routine adjustment."

Wilhelmina nodded, her jaw set. "They’re preparing for an all-out war. And they’re using the guise of a royal banquet to organize the distribution of forces."

Lyan leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting to the letter again, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. He nodded slowly. "This makes things a bit more interesting. If the crown prince is restructuring the military, that means we’re not just dealing with a skirmish or rebellion. This could be much bigger." He folded the letter, setting it on the table. "But we don’t have all the details yet. We can speculate, but the only way to know for sure is to attend."

Wilhelmina looked at Lyan, her eyes full of determination. "When do you want to leave for the capital?"

Lyan shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Not yet. If the prince is planning to restructure the military, it means that conflict is inevitable. We need to make sure Grafen is secure before we leave."

Surena nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Reinforcing Grafen is a smart move. If a war is coming, we can’t afford to leave our territories vulnerable."

Lyan gave her a nod of agreement. He turned towards the door, gesturing to one of the guards outside. "Summon Arielle for me. We need to make some changes in the resource allocation."

The guard nodded and hurried away, leaving Lyan, Wilhelmina, and Surena alone once more. Lyan stood, stretching his arms over his head. "We’ve got a lot to do, and not a lot of time. If Prince Erich—or William, as I like to call him—is planning something like this, it means the timeline is short. We need to be ready."

Wilhelmina’s eyes hardened with determination, and she stood up as well. "What do you need me to do?"

Lyan smiled at her. "Help me oversee the defense preparations. We need to make sure the people here are prepared for anything that might come our way." He looked at Surena. "And you—I need you to coordinate with our scouts. We need to know if there’s any unusual movement near our borders. Anything that might indicate trouble."

Surena nodded, a confident smile on her lips. "Leave it to me. I’ll make sure our scouts are on high alert."

Arielle arrived shortly after, her expression curious as she entered the room. "You summoned me, my lord?"

Lyan gestured to the table, where the letter lay. "We’re making some changes in how we’re allocating resources. I need you to focus on reinforcing Grafen’s defenses—especially the fortifications and provisions. There’s a good chance we’ll be facing conflict soon, and we need to be ready."

Arielle’s brow furrowed, but she nodded, her eyes determined. "Understood. I’ll begin reallocating the necessary resources. I’ll make sure everything is prepared."

Lyan smiled at her, a glint of appreciation in his eyes. "Thank you, Arielle. I trust your judgment. We need to be as efficient as possible."

Arielle nodded, her eyes flicking towards Surena and Wilhelmina before settling back on Lyan. "I’ll get started right away."

As Arielle left the room, Lyan turned to Wilhelmina and Surena, his expression one of determination. "Let’s make sure everything is in place. We don’t know when this storm will hit, but when it does, I want to be ready."

The next few days were a flurry of activity. Lyan worked closely with Arielle, ensuring that the resources were properly allocated and that every part of Grafen was ready for any possible attacks. They reinforced the walls, set up new guard posts, and stockpiled provisions in key areas of the city. Arielle’s efficiency was unparalleled—she worked tirelessly, ensuring that every order was carried out with precision.

Wilhelmina and Surena were also hard at work, coordinating with the soldiers and scouts. Lyan could see the determination in their eyes—they were ready to protect Grafen with everything they had. And Lyan knew he could count on them.

As the days passed, Lyan also turned his attention to the people of Grafen. He organized training drills for both the soldiers and the townspeople, making sure that everyone was prepared for any potential threat. The drills were intense, with Lyan personally overseeing the exercises, giving instructions, and demonstrating techniques.

Surena, Alice, Emilia, and Wilhelmina were always by his side, each of them contributing in their own way. Surena’s sharp instincts and experience made her an invaluable asset during the drills, while Alice’s calm and steady demeanor helped reassure the townspeople. Emilia, with her unwavering spirit, kept morale high, while Wilhelmina’s strategic mind ensured that every aspect of the training was covered.

Lyan watched as the soldiers moved through the drills, their movements becoming sharper and more coordinated with each passing day. He could see the fear in some of the townspeople’s eyes, but he also saw their determination—their desire to protect their home and their loved ones. It was that determination that drove Lyan, that made him push himself and everyone around him to be better, to be stronger.

As the sun began to set on the eve of their departure, Lyan stood in the courtyard, watching as the last of the drills came to an end. The soldiers and townspeople were exhausted, their bodies covered in sweat, but there was a sense of pride in the air—a sense of accomplishment.

Lyan turned to Surena, Alice, Emilia, and Wilhelmina, a small smile on his lips. "Good work, everyone. We’ve done everything we can to prepare. Tomorrow is the day we head to the capital."

Surena nodded, her eyes meeting Lyan’s. "We’ll be ready, Lyan. Whatever comes, we’ll face it together."

Wilhelmina placed a hand on Lyan’s shoulder, her eyes filled with determination. "And we’ll make sure Grafen is ready for anything."

Lyan looked at each of them, his heart swelling with a mix of pride and gratitude. He nodded, his gaze shifting to the castle beyond, the banners of Grafen fluttering in the evening breeze.

"Tomorrow is the time," he said quietly, his voice filled with resolve. "Whatever happens, we’ll be ready."