Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 404: Changing The Lounge Into War Room

Chapter 404: Changing The Lounge Into War Room

Lyan stood in the upper level of the royal lounge, his eyes scanning the ballroom below. His gaze fixed on Lord Garrick, who was trying his best to look comfortable as he mingled with the other nobles. But to Lyan, it was all too obvious. Garrick’s eyes were constantly darting around, as if he was afraid of being watched. His fingers drummed against the glass he held, his shoulders tense, and every so often, he would swallow nervously, like a man who had just narrowly escaped something he knew could still catch him.

"Just how stupid and more obvious can you be, Garrick?" Lyan muttered under his breath, a hint of a wry smile on his lips. It was painfully clear that Garrick had left the room for a while, then re-entered with an entirely different demeanor—nervous, shaken, and constantly checking his surroundings. It didn’t take a genius to see that something was off. Lyan couldn’t help but shake his head in mild disbelief. The man practically screamed "spy."

He looked away, allowing his eyes to drift towards the more cheerful scene unfolding across the ballroom. The girls—no, his girls—had somehow managed to merge with the crowd of noble wives. Their laughter and smiles seemed to light up the entire room, effortlessly drawing attention. It wasn’t surprising, really; they were stunning beauties, and their charm had a way of making people feel at ease. It was pleasant to talk with beauties, after all.

Lyan’s eyes found Wilhelmina, standing tall among the group of noblewomen. Her confident demeanor, her deep blue gown that accentuated her figure, and her natural grace made her stand out effortlessly. Not far from her, Belle was engaging in animated conversation, her eyes twinkling with amusement, her smile charming everyone around her. Alina and Xena stood together, Xena’s playful nature evident as she gestured dramatically while Alina laughed beside her. And there, mingling with the rest, was Josephine—the Madam of the famous House of Roses, her elegance and poise evident in every word and movement.

They had all become the stars of the banquet, their presence captivating the nobles. Lyan could see how the other noble wives seemed drawn to them, how they gravitated towards the beauty and confidence that his girls exuded. But, of course, none of the nobles were foolish enough to ask them directly about their relationship with Lyan. They weren’t that daring. After all, Lyan wasn’t just any noble. He was the hero who had subjugated the goblin king, the one who had amassed an enormous fortune from that conquest, and now a direct noble under Crown Prince Erich’s favor. No one would dare to step out of line.

Lyan allowed himself a small smile as he watched them, his gaze lingering a little longer than necessary on the way their gowns hugged their forms, the way their laughter seemed to fill the air. He knew he shouldn’t stare, knew he should be more subtle, but it was hard to look away. They were beautiful, and they were his. His heart swelled with a sense of pride and affection, mixed with the tiniest hint of something else—something he quickly pushed aside.

(Enjoying the view, are we?)

Arturia’s voice echoed in his mind, her tone filled with amusement. Lyan cleared his throat, his eyes shifting away from the girls, trying to focus on something else.

(I wasn’t... I mean, I was just making sure they were alright, that’s all.)

(Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, Master.)

Lilith’s voice joined in, her laughter soft but teasing.

Lyan sighed inwardly, deciding to ignore the spirits’ playful remarks. He turned his attention back to the ballroom, scanning the crowd. His gaze moved back to Garrick for a moment, watching as the man awkwardly tried to engage in conversation. It was almost pitiful. Almost.

"Lyan," a familiar voice called out from behind him, drawing his attention away. He turned to find Crown Prince Erich approaching, his expression casual, though there was a certain sharpness in his eyes.

"Yup, that’s happening," Erich said, his eyes briefly flicking towards Garrick before meeting Lyan’s again. "It’s very troubling, seriously."

Lyan offered a wry smile. "He’s making it pretty obvious, isn’t he?"

Erich nodded, letting out a small sigh. He stepped closer to Lyan, leaning against the railing beside him, his eyes on the ballroom below. "It’s almost too easy to dispose of him," he said, his tone conversational. "But the thing is, a man like Garrick... he’s got ’sacrificial limb’ written all over him. Someone set him up for this, and he’s too stupid to even realize it."

Lyan’s gaze sharpened slightly as he listened, his mind piecing together the implication of Erich’s words. "So, instead of getting rid of him, you’re feeding him the wrong information?"

Erich glanced at Lyan, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Exactly. Better to use him than waste him."

Lyan’s eyes narrowed for a moment, then he nodded slowly. "I see. So that’s what you’re attempting to do." He paused, studying the prince’s expression. "So, what’s next, Will?"

Erich straightened, clapping his hands together with a grin. "I’m glad you asked. Julius!" he called, and the door to the lounge opened. Lyan turned to see the red-haired captain of the royal guards step into the room, his armor polished and his presence commanding. Julius Termigand—handsome, confident, and known throughout the kingdom as one of its finest knights.

"It’s been a while since we met, Lord Evocatore," Julius said, offering a slight bow. His voice carried a hint of formality, but his eyes held a glint of mischief.

Lyan raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips. "It’s been a while since I’ve seen your annoyingly pretty face," he replied. "So? What’s the deal with the grand entrance?"

Erich gestured towards Julius, nodding for him to proceed. Julius turned to the table in the center of the room, where a trusted maid of Erich’s was already clearing everything off. Once the table was empty, Julius stepped forward, unrolling a large map and spreading it across the surface.

Lyan’s eyes flicked to the map, taking in the details—territory lines, strategic locations, and markers that indicated key points of interest. He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "So, we’re turning this room into a war room, huh?"

Erich grinned, stepping up beside the table. "You catch on quick, Lyan." He placed a hand on Julius’s shoulder. "The three of us fought side by side during the goblin subjugation. I figured it was time for a little reunion."

Lyan approached the table, his eyes scanning the map. There was a sense of nostalgia that settled over him as he stood there with Erich and Julius. He knew the others felt it too—the memory of the battles they’d fought together, the camaraderie they’d shared in the heat of combat. It was a bond that couldn’t be broken, even after all this time.

"So, what’s the situation?" Lyan asked, his eyes still on the map.

Erich’s expression turned serious, his gaze focused.

"We’re going to have war soon with the Varzadia Kingdom," he said, his voice low.

"Our peace treaty with them has already expired. There’s supposed to be a meeting to discuss the terms of a new agreement, but I have a feeling they’ll attack before that happens. No. I could bet that they would do so,"

Julius nodded, his finger tracing a line along the map. "The Varzadia Kingdom is part of the southeastern alliance. They’re preparing for mobilization—our agents have confirmed it. And it’s not just them. Their neighboring kingdom, Elberia, is also moving."

"Elberia," Lyan mused, his eyes narrowing as he focused on a small area of the map. "They’re smaller, right? About thirty percent of Astellia’s size?"

"That’s right," Julius confirmed. "Elberia is smaller, but Varzadia is nearly eighty percent the size of Astellia. If the southeastern alliance is behind them, this could be the chance they’ve been waiting for."

Erich’s eyes met Lyan’s, his expression calm but determined. "But this is something that I—no, we—have anticipated. We’ve been preparing for this."

Lyan looked at Erich, then at Julius, a small smile forming on his lips. "So you’ve already got a plan, huh?"

Erich nodded, his eyes glinting with a mix of excitement and resolve. He turned to Julius. "Spread the other map," he instructed.

Julius reached beneath the table, pulling out another map and spreading it over the first. This one was covered in ink marks, lines, and notes, indicating routes, formations, and potential countermeasures. It was a detailed plan—one that showed just how thoroughly Erich and his team had prepared for the possibility of war.

Lyan studied the map, his eyes tracing the lines and symbols. He could see the thought that had gone into each decision, the careful consideration of every possibility. It was impressive, to say the least.

"You’ve been busy," Lyan said, his voice filled with admiration.

Erich grinned, his eyes meeting Lyan’s. "I told you, Lyan. We’re ready for this. Whatever Varzadia throws at us, we’ll be ready to counter it."

Julius nodded, his expression serious. "This is our chance to show them that Astellia isn’t a kingdom to be underestimated. We’ll strike back, and we’ll do it decisively."

Lyan looked at the two men standing beside him, a sense of determination settling in his chest. He knew that the road ahead would be dangerous—that the battles they would face would test them in ways they couldn’t yet imagine. But as he looked at Erich’s confident smile, at Julius’s unwavering resolve, he knew that they were ready.

"Alright," Lyan said, his voice steady. "Let’s hear this."