[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system":3,"chapter-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-51":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Exiled Duke's Lottery system",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1366759,1809,"Chapter 51 - 47: Rumors Travel Faster Than Snow","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-51",51,"\u003Cp>The journey back to Elarion was much quieter than the ride out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because the storm had weakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, the wind had become worse during the night, cold enough that even armored men kept their heads lowered while snow gathered over cloaks and shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People were quiet because everyone was thinking about the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Royal Intelligence Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Seraphin still felt uneasy about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prisoners walked through the snow ahead of the patrol line with bound hands while northern knights kept careful watch around them. A few were injured from the fight, though Malen had apparently shown remarkable restraint by his standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which honestly worried Seraphin slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger investigator rode beside him while rubbing warmth back into his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I signed up to investigate a poisoning,\" he muttered bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin pulled his cloak tighter against the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now there’s a dragon, hidden agents, armed infiltrators, and a northern lord who may accidentally start a political crisis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead of them, Malen spoke without even turning around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Accidentally?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few knights nearby laughed quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger investigator groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m serious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So are we,\" one of the northern soldiers answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That somehow made the situation feel even stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin had spent years around nobles, military officers, and political envoys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conversations usually felt careful there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Measured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every word weighed before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People just... talked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not disrespectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the prisoners stumbled in the snow a little further ahead before a guard grabbed his arm and pulled him upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Careful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infiltrator blinked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re helping me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you freeze to death, Lucas will spend three hours complaining about paperwork.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another soldier riding nearby nodded seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He really will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He once complained for an entire afternoon because inventory forms got wet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That storm flooded the whole storage room!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn’t stop him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few men laughed softly despite the weather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even one of the prisoners looked confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin noticed that too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody here behaved the way northern frontier soldiers were supposed to behave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They should’ve been bitter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead they acted like tired people trying to survive together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That difference mattered more than Seraphin wanted to admit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the forest, Aurethar’s massive shadow occasionally passed through the storm clouds overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger investigator glanced upward nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does he always follow patrols?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen finally answered this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only when he’s bored.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s somehow worse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It usually is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours later, the first lights of Elarion finally appeared through the storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warm orange glow beneath the snow-covered mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoke rising from distant furnaces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The settlement looked alive even before reaching the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Workers were already moving through the roads despite dawn barely approaching. Someone near the gate was arguing loudly about coal deliveries while two guards stood beside a brazier trying unsuccessfully to warm frozen hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One spotted the returning patrol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gates opened slowly after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warm air and torchlight spilled outward into the storm while stable workers hurried forward to help with horses and equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas was already waiting in the courtyard wrapped in a heavy winter cloak with documents tucked beneath one arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin honestly wondered if the man ever slept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas looked toward the prisoners first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then toward Malen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then sighed deeply enough that visible breath rolled into the cold air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That many?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Twenty-three,\" Malen answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas closed his eyes briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course it’s twenty-three.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The administrator looked toward Seraphin afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The investigator handed him the recovered token silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas took one glance at the symbol and immediately looked more tired than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That bad?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a few seconds Lucas just stared at the token quietly before muttering:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I miss normal problems.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You complained about normal problems too,\" Malen reminded him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, but normal problems usually didn’t involve secret royal organizations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard grew quieter when Lucien finally stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore a dark winter coat over lighter armor, probably from training earlier before the patrol returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow settled across his shoulders almost immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the others, he didn’t look toward the prisoners first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward Seraphin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Direct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin appreciated that more than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This wasn’t random.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien nodded slightly like he already expected the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The south?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The investigator hesitated briefly before continuing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And not just nobles anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That caught Lucas’s attention immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien’s expression didn’t change much, though Seraphin noticed the slight quietness behind his eyes afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calculation maybe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas rubbed his face tiredly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Wonderful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger investigator looked between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You all seem surprisingly calm about this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen answered first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The north teaches adaptation quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That sounds poetic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It wasn’t meant to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud rush of wind suddenly swept across the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several guards instinctively ducked as Aurethar landed atop the fortress wall with enough force to shake loose snow from the battlements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon folded his wings while staring down at everyone below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You all look miserable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas pointed upward immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We discovered royal spies entered the territory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar blinked slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That explains the mood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the dragon looked toward Lucien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So the smaller kingdoms are finally noticing you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Smaller kingdoms?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar looked genuinely confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody even bothered correcting him anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon shifted slightly atop the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In fairness, this was inevitable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien looked up at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Comforting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was not attempting comfort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That part was obvious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few nearby soldiers laughed quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Gandalf appeared through the courtyard entrance carrying a cup of steaming tea while still looking half asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old mage blinked once at the captured infiltrators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Why are there more enemies?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody answered immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf sighed heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I leave for one evening.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Seraphin laughed a little at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just enough to surprise himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment the tension eased beneath the snowfall and furnace smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because everyone there understood the truth now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elarion was no longer hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And somewhere far beyond the northern mountains—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People had started paying attention to Lucien Valcroix.\u003C\u002Fp>",1008,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","d6efacd2a5ef8541dc65e433d048bf7464c6b0fdf3c8f176b34827a908978303","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-52","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-50",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]