Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke-Chapter 118 - Through Hidden Gates

118 Through Hidden Gates

The knight’s sudden exclamation momentarily drew the attention of the crowd.

Despite the eyes on him, the knight wasted no time. He swiftly dismounted and approached William with an air of urgency.

"My lord, why are you standing in line? If you had stepped forward, we would have let you through immediately—"

William, keeping his expression composed, interrupted with a calm voice.

"I’m sorry, but… who are you? I don’t believe we’ve met."

"I fought alongside Commander Jurgen during the rebellion’s suppression. We never spoke directly, so it makes sense that you wouldn’t recognize me, my lord."

Ah. That explained it.

One of the knights who had stood by Jurgen’s side.

If that was the case, he had likely witnessed William’s actions firsthand—the moment he had leaped into battle to rescue the First Prince.

It was no wonder the knight showed him such deep respect.

Feeling the weight of the growing stares around him, William deliberately lowered his voice.

"This isn’t an official visit from my house—it’s a personal matter. I’d rather not draw unnecessary attention. Besides, I heard the wait wouldn’t be long, so I was willing to be patient."

The knight clicked his tongue softly.

"Unfortunate timing, my lord."

His eyes scanned their surroundings.

Though people were watching, it seemed no one had yet pieced together William’s true identity.

After a moment of thought, the knight leaned in and whispered,

"Follow me. I’ll arrange for you to enter through a different passage."

William narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I’d prefer not to draw attention."

"There’s a separate entrance for emergency use. If you go through there, no one will be able to follow you."

William’s interest piqued.

A discreet entrance?

If such a route existed, it might cause brief suspicion, but once he disappeared, any curious onlookers would lose interest quickly.

"…Are you sure I’m permitted to use it? Sounds like something meant to stay hidden."

"It’s not exactly secret, my lord—just restricted. But for someone of your status, permission won’t be an issue."

"You’re certain? I’d rather not turn back because I was denied entry. That would be especially embarrassing."

"The one in charge is Commander Jurgen."

Ah. That settled it.

Jurgen had owed William more than a few favors after the war.

Their last exchange had left a good impression—there was no doubt that if William asked, the knight commander would ensure he got through.

"Understood. Lead the way."

William and Raymond followed the knight, slipping away from the queue.

The curious glances that had followed them gradually lost interest once they moved further from the main road.

William glanced back at the endless line behind them, gauging the distance they had covered.

He exhaled sharply.

"’It won’t take long,’ huh? I was one step away from spending the night under the stars."

"How was I supposed to know the process had changed?" Raymond protested, clearly exasperated. "I swear, before this, it really was fast."

The knight leading them let out an amused chuckle.

"Well, he’s not entirely wrong. In the past, the inspections were brief. It’s just… unfortunate timing."

William’s expression grew thoughtful.

"This sudden increase in security—is it because of Crepelt’s Great Treaty being broken?"

"Yes. With the treaty nullified, we have no idea what they might attempt next."

The Great Treaty.

It had been an unspoken rule of war for centuries, upheld across the entire continent.

To break it… was to abandon all pretense of honor.

"Their options are endless," the knight continued grimly. "Assassination attempts, unspeakable acts of cruelty… I wouldn’t be surprised by anything at this point. If the worst happens, even the common people of the capital could become casualties. That’s why we need strict identification procedures."

William nodded slightly.

A nation that disregards treaties wouldn’t hesitate to send assassins.

A faction willing to sacrifice human lives for black magic wouldn’t hesitate to commit atrocities.

"Even the best-trained assassins could slip through, but filtering out the lesser threats is still valuable. If we can catch even one infiltrator, it’s worth the trouble."

"I agree," William replied. "Security should always take precedence in times like these."

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"I appreciate your understanding, my lord. Ah—here we are."

The knight came to a stop.

William frowned slightly.

They were standing before a blank, unblemished section of the fortress wall.

Nothing but smooth, white stone.

His gaze flickered to the knight in silent question.

The knight merely smiled and pressed his palm against one of the engraved symbols.

Clank. Click.

"Do not underestimate a dragon simply because its wings are thin."

From somewhere deep within the fortress, a voice responded.

William’s sharp eyes caught a small opening forming in the wall—barely large enough for an arm to pass through.

A hidden passage.

Through the narrow gap, a voice called out.

"…For even with thin wings, a dragon surveys all the mountains of the world."

Satisfied, the knight responded with the final part of the exchange.

"State your affiliation."

A pause. Then, the knight answered easily, as if this was routine.

"Glen of the Black Scale Knights. I encountered a distinguished guest while on patrol and brought him here rather than through the main gates."

There was a brief silence.

And then—

"…A guest? This entrance is restricted. You know that."

The voice held clear displeasure.

They were one step away from being turned away.

But Glen remained utterly unfazed.

"Yes, I’m aware."

"Then explain why you thought you could bring a civilian through here."

"Because the guest is Lord William Hern."

Silence.

And then

Click. Clank. Thud.

The mechanisms inside the wall began shifting.

William watched as, one by one, the massive white stones unlocked, retracting into hidden slots within the fortress.

Piece by piece, the wall opened up, forming an entrance wide enough for at least five mounted riders to pass through.

The knight stepped aside and gestured forward.

"Please, my lord. After you."

William exchanged a brief glance with Raymond.

Then, without a word, he stepped inside.

As he crossed the threshold, his gaze swept over the mechanisms embedded within the thick walls.

His lips curved slightly.

’Impressive craftsmanship.’

This city was more than just a symbol of the Empire.

It was a fortress in every sense of the word.