The Terminally Ill Prince is the Mad Dog of the Underworld (Novel) - Chapter 21
Chapter 21. Now That I Know My Mother’s Tragedy
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“Ah, that is…”
Could it be that talking about my mother is such a taboo? After hesitating for quite a while, Peter seemed to make up his mind and spoke.
“You’ve done so much for someone like me, young master. I can’t be an ungrateful person.”
“Indeed. That would be shameless.”
“The truth is…”
Peter began.
“When you first asked me, I thought you might be deliberately avoiding the subject.”
“Why would I?”
I asked in confusion.
“Is it really that serious?”
“Yes.”
Peter had a sorrowful expression.
“It’s a much more significant matter than I initially thought.”
If that’s the case, all the more reason for me to uncover this hidden secret. Only then could I understand whether I have any external relatives who could support me. And if they do exist, why haven’t my maternal grandfather or uncles offered me any help?
‘If that tragedy consumed my maternal family…’
Repaying that grudge could turn into an opportunity to solidify my honor and legitimacy as an heir.
An impressive feat, a story widely spoken of among the people—these would become the jewels and justification that would illuminate me, Allenbert Grünewald, in the battle for succession.
Why wouldn’t it?
‘When a godfather dies, his second or third-in-command uses the pretext of avenging him to rally the remnants and start a war. That’s how the underworld operates.’
Honor belongs to the one who seeks revenge. This principle was no different in noble society.
“I don’t know the exact details since I entered as a servant after ‘that incident’ occurred…”
The very reason Allenbert had been forced into seclusion was finally about to be revealed through Peter’s words.
* * *
“As you know, your mother is Lady Lusatia Grünewald, the fourth wife.”
“Lusatia Grünewald.”
I tried saying that unfamiliar name aloud. Though my mind might have forgotten, my body hadn’t—it was as if my fingertips trembled ever so slightly.
Was this trembling born from longing? Allenbert.
“Before her marriage, Lady Lusatia’s family name was Eisenach.”
“That’s an unusual name.”
I tilted my head in curiosity. It was quite an unfamiliar-sounding name.
“She is the daughter of a tribal chief from an ethnic group known as the ‘Mountain People.'”
Recalling all the insults I’d heard about bloodlines, I asked,
“So they live in the mountains?”
“Yes.”
“A foreign tribe living in the mountains… So that’s why they were called barbarians.”
“…I’m sorry to say this, but people often refer to them that way.”
“Why should you apologize? It’s just what they’re called.”
Peter slightly bowed his head before continuing.
“The Mountain People are exactly as their name suggests—a minority group living along the vast mountain range that cuts across the kingdom.”
“If they’re called barbarians, they must not live peacefully.”
“They sustain themselves mainly through raiding, hunting, slash-and-burn farming, and trade.”
I nodded.
“Living by the mountains means they’d naturally have great physical strength and know how to use the terrain. Do they train their children from a young age to wield spears and swords and shoot arrows so they can become warriors?”
Peter looked at me with a haunted expression and asked,
“…How did you know?”
“I’ve done business once or twice? You can tell just by looking. In short, they’re a warrior tribe.”
“They’re known throughout the kingdom as a tribe of renowned warriors. Though not elves or vampires, they’re said to possess exceptional stamina and extraordinary physical abilities.”
“They weren’t elves?”
“They’re pure humans.”
I stroked my chin and said,
“I thought they were elves because I was so good-looking.”
“Ahem. That’s just because your mother was exceptionally beautiful…”
“I see now that I was lucky. But have you seen my mother with your own eyes?”
“No, I haven’t. I’ve only heard stories.”
“You were acting like you knew everything, so I asked. So, what’s the story?”
“Yes. Anyway, due to their distinct lifestyle and customs, their exceptional combat skills, and most importantly, their history of raiding all over the duchy, the people of Grünewald have always despised the Mountain People.”
“So that’s why my brother cursed me out.”
From their perspective, it was understandable. How could they not be resentful when a duke brought in the daughter of a tribe that constantly raided them, made her his wife, and then had her son treated like a noble prince?
“…You don’t seem angry or upset.”
“Why would I be? It makes sense.”
Peter looked at me as if I were some kind of oddball as I shrugged my shoulders.
“But just how bad were the Mountain People’s misdeeds?”
“They weren’t just mountain bandits; they even became river pirates. That says it all.”
“River pirates? But they live in the mountains?”
“Our Grünewald Duchy has a large river that connects to the sea. Transporting goods from overseas through the river is a major business.”
“Wow, I see.”
I was impressed.
“So they must have set up camp in the mountains and ambushed ships along the river’s narrow passages to carry out their piracy.”
“Exactly. They would board small boats and surround ships at narrow points. Once they threw grappling hooks and boarded, even elite mercenaries and regular soldiers often struggled against them in close combat.”
“That’s impressive.”
I clapped my hands.
“Excellent. They truly are a warrior tribe. No wonder I’m good at fighting.”
Of course, that wasn’t really the reason, but I said it anyway.
“…Ahem.”
Peter looked uncomfortable, unsure how to react to me praising these foreigners.
“Anyway, I’ve heard it was incredibly difficult to wipe them out for various reasons.”
“If they tried to invade directly, the terrain would have weakened the knights’ power. Even elite troops would have been helpless in the mountains.”
I could see how things played out without even being there.
‘And if they were that skilled, they probably had considerable influence in the underworld as well. They must have been formidable enemies.’
Think about it: they’re great fighters but too different in customs and appearance to fit in easily? People like that thrive in the underworld.
And since they lived in rugged mountains, they would naturally lack resources. Without trade, they couldn’t survive. So what would they do?
‘They probably traded through black markets. To do that, they’d need deep roots in the underworld.’
Of course, this was still speculation on my part. But my conclusion was that it seemed highly plausible.
“In the end, the Grünewald Duchy felt the need to find a turning point in its uneasy relationship with the Mountain People.”
Peter spoke as if he were trying to sound knowledgeable. Judging by his sophisticated vocabulary, he was clearly repeating something he’d heard from someone else.
“Twenty years ago, His Grace the Duke sought to curb their disturbances and stabilize the outskirts of the duchy by marrying one of their chieftain’s daughters as a way to foster goodwill with them.”
“A political marriage, then.”
It was a rational choice. And since my mother was known for her beauty, my father probably couldn’t help but be pleased.
I dared to entertain such irreverent thoughts about my father as I urged Peter to continue.
“Alright, I understand up to this point. But why am I in this situation now? Surely there were efforts to integrate them—giving them official positions, hiring them as mercenaries… In any case, there must have been attempts at reconciliation. Did it not go well?”
“It went quite well. Most importantly, you were seen as a symbol of that reconciliation.”
“Me? Why?”
“You were born as a result of the union between House Grünewald and House Eisenach, known as the ‘King of the Mountain People.’ Moreover, you were exceptionally beautiful and kind as a child, so you were especially loved.”
“I see. And then?”
“In people’s minds, Mountain People were nothing but savage barbarians. But then here you were—a child with their blood who was more beautiful and gentle than anyone else. It completely changed their perception.”
“Oh.”
I was impressed again.
“When you put it like that, it makes sense. So I was Grünewald’s treasure—its jewel and noble prince all along.”
“…Well… yes, that’s true,” Peter said reluctantly.
“You got a problem with that?”
“No.”
“Go on with your story.”
The twist that explained how Allenbert ended up in his current state had yet to come.
“It happened seven years ago. Your maternal grandfather—the chieftain of House Eisenach—was caught up in a rebellion by one of his subordinate tribes and tragically killed.”
“A rebellion? I didn’t see that coming.”
“It was an unexpected event. Afterward, a civil war broke out between House Eisenach and another family over who poisoned the chieftain.”
“So House Eisenach lost?”
“Yes. After losing their leader and being ambushed like that, their defeat was inevitable.”
“That makes sense.”
It must have been an ambush long in preparation.
“My father must have been in quite a bind after that.”
“Exactly. The House of Eisenach—the symbol of peace between Grünewald and the Mountain People—had been destroyed and driven out.”
An unprecedented situation where the family of the duchess had been wiped out.
But at the same time, it was an internal matter among the Mountain People—a large group unto themselves—so intervening recklessly would have been difficult. There must have been countless complicated factors involved that couldn’t be understood just from hearing about it.
“What happened after that?”
“A proposal came to His Grace: if he married another daughter from the new chieftain’s family, they would send 1,000 soldiers and offer countless valuable treasures.”
“They must have been desperate to create some justification for themselves. After all, it wouldn’t have been strange for His Grace to accuse them of attacking his wife’s family under this pretext.”
“I don’t know all the details myself, but that’s what I’ve heard.”
Peter was still young and inexperienced; understanding anything beyond this would likely be difficult for him.
“My father wouldn’t have accepted such a request.”
“Huh? Yes! How did you know?”
“If he had accepted it, I’d already be dead after being dragged off by those people.”
“Oh… That’s true.”
In the end, what they really wanted was for him to replace his fourth wife with one of their daughters.”
If my father had agreed to their demands, from their perspective, there would be no need to keep alive the son of the divorced duchess and the grandson of the former chieftain.
“I wouldn’t have had any reason to accept their demands either if I were my father.”
Even though Peter knew the outcome, he asked curiously.
“Why is that?”
“Isn’t it a request with neither justification nor benefit? More than anything, those who led the rebellion and brought down the duchess’s family are the ones in a hurry.”
“That’s true. As you said, even if a war broke out, they wouldn’t have had any justification…”
“Just by refusing, my father would have put them on the edge of a cliff.”
I could only imagine how desperate they must have been.
“If a war had broken out, they would have been ruined. They had no justification, and some of the former chieftain’s forces were still around.”
“Ah, I understand now.”
“Do you have delusions? You clearly don’t understand.”
Peter scratched his neck awkwardly.
“Heh heh, honestly, I’m a bit unsure.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t expect much anyway. But I can roughly guess what my father’s intentions were.”
Peter was astonished.
“I have no idea at all.”
“Think about it. What would you have done in that situation?”
Peter pondered deeply.
“Wouldn’t I have led an army to invade? They dared to kill the father-in-law of Duke Grünewald…”
“For any ruler, war is a burdensome thing.”
In most cases, war was only used as a last resort. I knew well how much nobles avoided full-scale warfare.
“Even though we had the justification of avenging the duchess’s family, from their side, it could be seen as foreign interference in internal affairs.”
“Oh, could it really be seen that way?”
“If I were in the usurper’s position, I would’ve tried to frame it that way at all costs.”
If they didn’t want to die, that would’ve been their only option.
“Hmmm…”
Peter strained his mind but came up with a rather pathetic conclusion.
“Young master, politics sure is complicated.”
I replied with the intention of teaching him something.
“That’s why my father chose silence and refusal. Sometimes doing nothing is the best strategy. With just a few words, my father completely took control of the situation while sitting still.”
Peter was once again amazed.
“It’s profound. I could never keep up with such strategic thinking.”
“Of course not. It’s a battle between seasoned veterans who’ve been through it all.”
“You’re impressive too, young master. How do you figure out such intricate details?”
“It’s not that impressive.”
After all, this was just my speculation.
“If I were to guess further, the rebels were probably desperate to gain my father’s approval. They might have offered several times more than what they initially proposed.”
“Oh!”
Peter slapped his knee.
“I don’t know all the details, but I heard that instead of sending their eldest daughter as a wife, the new chieftain sent his youngest daughter as a hostage along with vast wealth and mercenaries.”
“You see? My father won an enormous victory without firing a single arrow while sitting in place.”
I commented.
“The usurper must have accepted weakening his own power and becoming more dependent on the duchy just to gain recognition for his authority. He paid too high a price for sitting on an empty throne.”
My father’s strategy was cold and calculated indeed.
“He’s quite an extraordinary man.”
I couldn’t help but admire my father’s skill even though I hadn’t met him yet. But…
“After that incident, there must have been no turning back for my mother and him.”
Peter responded.
“Duchess Lusatia felt deeply betrayed by her husband for acknowledging her enemies instead of seeking revenge despite her father’s death and her family’s downfall.”
“Anyone would feel that way.”
A son-in-law who ignored his father-in-law’s death—how could such a person be called a husband?
“Since that day, she has practically stopped eating and drinking and has secluded herself for seven years without seeing her husband or child.”
“…I see.”
This is the cold reality of politics. A ruler sometimes cannot afford to wear a human face.
In that sense, my father was an exceptional head of the family and duke. He gained tremendous benefits by sacrificing both my mother and me.
‘…But as a husband and father, Duke Grünewald is disqualified.’
I closed my eyes and tried to understand my mother’s feelings.
My father’s political decision was undoubtedly rational. Knowing this must have made my mother furious yet unable to rebel or divorce him; instead, she chose seclusion. If she had rashly divorced him, both she and I might have been in danger.
‘Even if she understood it logically, her emotional wounds could never heal.’
If isolation was her choice as a result of this pain, how could her child resent her?
…But Allenbert may have resented his mother and hated his father. That is how human emotions work.
“So it was around then that I began my seclusion as well?”
“…Yes. Not long after that incident, you were diagnosed with a terminal illness. That was the final blow.”
“My maternal family was wiped out in an instant; my mother secluded herself in shock and refused to see me; then on top of that, I was given a terminal diagnosis?”
Just hearing about it made me feel suffocated—it must have been unbearable for Allenbert himself. How could any noble boy raised with love overcome such tragedies?
“No wonder I secluded myself back then.”
“The tragedy was so great that even among the servants it became taboo to speak about it openly. A few servants who spoke carelessly were severely punished by the head butler and expelled.”
“I understand now.”
The story turned out to be far larger than I expected.
“So it wasn’t easy for me to meet my mother after all.”
It left a bitter taste in my mouth despite being somewhat familiar with this kind of story.
‘In such circumstances, there wasn’t much you could do either, Allenbert.’
Allenbert had been nothing more than a young boy raised like a flower in a greenhouse. That’s why he despaired and fell ill mentally.
‘You gave up competing with your brothers; you didn’t train or prepare yourself for anything; you chose an irreversible path. And now seven years have passed.’
Still, I wouldn’t consider those years wasted. Seventeen is far too young an age to lament over being too late.
“Peter.”
Noticing the change in my tone, Peter straightened up immediately.
“Yes, young master?”
“I thank you. Thanks to your revealing the truth, I’ve also made up my mind.”
“…Do you want to seek revenge?”
“How could I become the head of the Grünewald family without doing so? Who would follow a son who couldn’t avenge his mother? I will not become a king without honor.”
Peter didn’t seem particularly shocked by my words. Perhaps it was because the idea seemed too far-fetched or too grand for him to grasp.
“The end of the path I wish to take is much farther than you can imagine. And along that path, there will undoubtedly be a milestone waiting for me—the revenge for my mother.”
I don’t know how long it will take to reach that milestone. That’s why, all the more…
“First, I want to meet my mother and heal the wounds in her heart.”
That must be what Allenbert desires most.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
‘This terminal condition might be related to my bloodline.’
Escaping the fate of being terminally ill—that was the first shackle I needed to break before embarking on this long journey.