Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke

204 The First to Move

William's expression darkened.

If Jordy seized power through force, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing for him. With Tristan ousted, William would have a perfect excuse to claim Hern for himself.

But if this was premeditated—

If Jordy had deliberately orchestrated this—

If he had truly stooped to such depths, betraying his own blood for the sake of power—

William would not grant him the mercy of a swift death.

For a brief moment, he turned south, gazing in the direction of Hern.

Then he turned away.

There was too much to do. Too many matters to settle.

He could not afford to mourn any longer.

Upon returning to his office, the first thing William did was summon Torkel.

Fortunately, the potion's side effects did not seem to have left any lasting damage—Torkel appeared to be in good health.

"I was told you summoned me."

"There's something I need you to do," William said. "Or rather, something for you and your friend."

"My friend…?"

"The third son of House Beor. It seems I'll need him to take on a task the moment we meet. Do you think he'll accept it?"

Nobles were prideful by nature.

No matter how important the assignment, forcing it upon someone without proper recognition could easily breed resentment. And trust was the most crucial factor in this particular mission.

Torkel grinned. "If it's him, he'll be thrilled. He'll see it as an opportunity to get closer to you, Your Highness."

William nodded. "Good. Let's meet him, then. Can he come now?"

"Of course."

Torkel left at once, mentioning that his friend had been prepared for this moment for quite some time. He had merely been waiting for William's summons.

Not long after, Torkel returned—this time, with a young noble in tow.

The newcomer looked tense, his back straight as he introduced himself.

"Lestar Beor greets the Duke. It is an honor to stand before you."

William studied him briefly before responding, "I've heard much about you, Lord Lestar. They say you're quite a promising talent."

"I have received such praise, though whether I deserve it is another matter."

William blinked.

Lestar did not deny the compliment.

It wasn't arrogance—rather, he was deliberately projecting confidence, an effort to leave a strong impression.

William smirked.

'Not bad.'

Ambition and competence were valuable traits.

More importantly, they meant he would be willing to take action.

Unlike those who played petty political games or hesitated when faced with risk, a man like Lestar would seize an opportunity when given the chance.

"There is a task I need you to handle," William said. "It will require military force. Can you do it?"

Lestar stiffened.

Any task that required military force carried significant consequences.

Lestar's face stiffened for a brief moment, but his hesitation lasted only an instant. He quickly composed himself and bowed his head.

"Whatever you require, Your Highness, I will see it done."

His swift response deepened the curve of William's smile.

A man with such resolve could be entrusted with important work.

"The task itself is simple," William explained. "My retainers from Hern will be making their way north soon. You are to wait for them and escort them safely to me the moment you find them."

"…That's all?"

"That's all."

Lestar blinked, unable to hide his disappointment.

He had expected a mission of great importance—one that would test his abilities and prove his worth. Instead, he had been given a mere escort duty, something that seemed inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

William, however, was not finished.

"No matter what happens, you must ensure their safety," he added. "Even if you encounter pursuers."

Lestar's eyes widened. "Pursuers? Are they being hunted?"

"They may be. Or they may not be. But if someone is after them, you can expect them to be formidable."

The moment he heard those words, Lestar's disappointment vanished.

If true, then this was no simple escort mission. It was a critical task—one that placed the lives of William's most trusted retainers in his hands.

If he succeeded, he would earn William's complete trust.

"No one will lay a finger on them while they are under my protection!" Lestar declared.

"Good." William nodded in approval. "Then waste no time. Begin your preparations at once."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Without another word, Lestar turned on his heel and strode out of the office.

As he left, Torkel chuckled. "That was an impressive display of leadership. You took an unremarkable task and framed it in a way that not only tested his character but also secured his loyalty."

William smirked. "I wasn't lying."

"…What?"

"I wasn't just making it sound dangerous. It very well could be. I just can't say for sure."

Torkel's smile faded. "Then that means…"

"If things go south, he may have to risk his life," William said. "Though I expect most of this will go unnoticed."

When William had first learned of Jordy's movements, there had been no reason for concern.

At the time, William had been a mere outcast, stripped of his name and title. Jordy had no need to regard him as a threat. As far as Jordy was concerned, taking control of the house was all that mattered—William's scattered retainers were an afterthought.

But now?

Now, William was no longer just a displaced third son.

He was Duke Grimaldi, Warden of Asagrim.

The moment that news spread, Jordy's priorities would shift.

If he could take hostages from the new ruler of the north, he would have a powerful bargaining chip.

'Hugo, Raymond, and Felicia would have been ideal for this mission, but sending them would have drawn too much attention.'

If their enemies caught wind of Hans and Ian's value, chaos would break loose.

Lestar, on the other hand, was still a rising noble.

Entrusting him with this mission allowed William to mask his involvement while ensuring a well-armed force was present for the escort.

No one would think to link Lestar's movements back to him.

"Speaking of which," William continued, "you'll be assisting as well, Torkel."

Torkel groaned. "Why do I feel like I'm not going to like what comes next?"

"You'll head south and meet with Baron Harald," William said. "Borrow troops from him. If there are pursuers, you'll need the numbers to drive them off."

Torkel's face paled. "You… you're not sending me back to my father, are you?"

"Of course I am."

Torkel let out a quiet whimper, but he didn't protest further.