[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 326: Just Pick One

I went to find Siena.

Click, clack.

My footsteps echoed in the unfamiliar corridor of Litvaleur Castle.

The decorations were elegant and dignified.

The space itself exuded the class of a king’s residence.

‘But through the series of succession wars, the royal family’s authority has hit rock bottom.’

It wouldn’t have been a problem if it were an ordinary war of succession.

But the fact that its catalyst was a sordid drama of passion between the 1st and 3rd Princes, combined with the betrayal of Clan Montera, the Sword of the North, and the intervention of an outside force like the Black Society…

‘The royal family’s name has been dragged through the mud.’

The bigger problem was that Grunewald had effectively played the leading role in this process.

The two young masters of Grunewald and the young lady of Valkenhain had shown a greater presence than the three princes of Litvaleur.

The royals and the other central nobles must be feeling a great deal of anxiety and animosity toward us.

‘So what are they going to do about it? We have both the justification and the power.’

The 1st Prince would eventually cede his position to the 8th Prince, whether through persuasion and concession, or through intimidation and scheming.

I still wasn’t sure if the 8th Prince was a man who could be completely trusted.

But it was a fact that he was bound by the shackles of the great debt he owed us.

‘If that’s the case, there’s not much to worry about for the next era of Grunewald.’

To be honest, the current Grunewald already possesses enough power to overthrow the kingdom if things go south.

‘Saying it like that makes me sound a bit atrocious.’

Anyway, that aside.

I must not forget that all of this would be for naught if we could not defeat the Dark King.

…By the time I finished my long train of thought, I was in front of the room where Siena was staying.

Knock, knock.

After a light knock, I spoke.

“My lady. Is this a good time?”

“…Young Master? Please, come in.”

When I opened the door, Siena was in the middle of closing the diary she had been writing in and standing up.

“What brings you here at this hour…”

“It’s not for any particular reason,” I said.

“May I come in?”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

Siena was slightly flustered but she let me inside.

“It looks like you were writing in your diary.”

“Um, well, it’s nothing of great importance.”

Siena changed the subject.

“Looking back, it was a truly long and arduous battle.”

“I am nothing but grateful for your assistance, my lady.”

I let out a small laugh.

“Shall we get some fresh air?”

“Of course.”

I took Siena’s hand, spread my Black Wings, and flew to the highest point of the castle.

“Ah…”

Siena let out a small gasp of admiration.

The night view of the capital, though scarred by the ravages of war, was nevertheless breathtakingly beautiful.

“When my heart is full of worries.”

We said, looking at the same scenery.

“I used to just quietly look at the night view like this. Sometimes the sea, sometimes the sky, and sometimes the people of the sleepless city.”

“…And as you do, your stray thoughts wander and then settle, and you forget your deep worries for a moment.”

Siena said, nodding as if she understood that feeling.

“Valkenhain has fallen, and your elder has made a great sacrifice. I will not pretend to comprehend the depths of your sorrow.”

But.

“Fortunately, many have survived, so you can always rebuild.”

“…Are you trying to comfort me?”

“Of course.”

“Young Master.”

Siena, who had been listening quietly to my words, asked.

“Why are you so good to me?”

“Am I?”

I asked back, clearing my throat.

“Yes. I am curious about your feelings.”

Siena looked at me with what seemed to be moistened eyes.

“My feelings, you say…”

I looked straight into her eyes and suddenly felt embarrassed.

“Young Master, I know it is thoughtless of me to bring this up at such a difficult time.”

Siena said, suddenly taking my hand.

“!!!”

It wasn’t the first time I had held her hand, but I had no idea why it felt like every hair on my body was standing on end.

“After everything is over, can we be together?”

“!”

I saw Siena’s blushing face.

And I am sorry to say, a part of my heart thought of Adeline.

How could I not know Siena’s feelings? And how could I not have feelings for Siena?

‘But after everything is over.’

I thought it was right to meet Adeline, tell her everything, and then receive her understanding.

We were not lovers, but I had learned that she had longed for me her entire life.

“My lady, I am sorry, but could we postpone defining our relationship until a little later?”

A brief look of disappointment flashed across Siena’s face, but it soon became serene.

“I understand. In that case…”

This time, I caught Siena’s hand as she tried to pull away.

“But there is no reason why we can’t be together for a long, long time.”

“!”

Siena blinked her large eyes.

“Young Master.”

“Yes.”

She said with a slightly pouting face.

“What am I supposed to do with that? Just pick one.”

“…”

***

Georg entrusted Grunewald to his vassals and boarded Geninghen’s magic carpet.

“Spymaster, Grand Commander of the Special Operations Division, Grand Commander of the Royal Guard, Grand Commander of Knighthood, and Head Butler.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Georg turned his head to look at his sons.

“And Karl and Somerset.”

“Yes, Father.”

“There will be no immediate danger. The underworld has been well-organized under Allen and Verdzig, so even more so.”

The Duke instructed them.

“Do your best to console the soldiers, repair the damages, and focus on stabilizing the state of affairs.”

“We will obey your command.”

“…I will be back.”

Georg, turning his back, made a joke.

“The next Clan Head will be decided soon, so get ready to make a good impression.”

“!”

“Ahem.”

It was an uncharacteristic joke for him, so everyone was a bit awkward. Only Venion played along.

“How fortunate for me. Won’t my retirement be a smooth ride now?”

“Hahaha!”

It was a fresh reminder that Venion was Allenvert’s sword instructor.

“As expected of the spymaster, your judgment was swift.”

The carpet carrying Georg, Geninghen, and Leszek soared high into the sky.

“…Hoo.”

The First Young Master Karl, who was watching them leave, looked back at his third brother, Somerset.

“Somerset, this is a strange feeling.”

Somerset, who had become noticeably calmer after going through various troubles, let out a faint sigh.

“It really is.”

“Is your heart prepared?”

“Prepared, you mean…”

“Prepared to serve a brother as your Clan Head and to accept your own position.”

Somerset nodded.

“Yes. At this point, it was not such a difficult thing to do.”

“I see.”

It was a fresh reminder for Karl that it had been a very long time since he had had such a conversation with his brother.

Therefore, he stopped himself from asking.

‘Is the matter of the Agrippa being handled well?’

And instead said.

“Let’s have a drink tonight.”

.

.

.

Georg did not bother to enter the royal castle.

If the Duke himself were to enter at this point, the welcoming ceremony and the people’s reactions might further diminish the royal family’s authority.

“Father.”

“Greetings, Father.”

Instead, they summoned Allenvert and Verdzig to an inn outside the castle for a quiet meeting.

“You have both worked very hard. No one could have achieved what you have.”

The two brothers bowed their heads at the Duke’s praise.

“It was a stroke of heaven’s luck. More than anything, without my brother, none of this would have been possible.”

At Allenvert’s words, Verdzig let out a small laugh.

“How unlike you. What’s with the humility?”

“You have to give credit where credit is due.”

“Hmph. So you do have a sense of acknowledgment.”

Georg looked at the scene with a surprised expression.

“Your relationship has improved beyond recognition.”

“It’s not that much. We just developed something like a camaraderie.”

The two brothers answered hurriedly, but Georg knew well that it was precisely brotherly love.

“This is an unexpectedly pleasant development. To think that the competition to decide the successor has resulted in catching two rabbits: the best possible outcome and a strong bond between you two brothers.”

“Ahem.”

“Mm.”

The two of them looked awkward.

More than anything, to see that Verdzig displaying such a human side was quite heartwarming for Georg.

“Now then, let’s talk about something else.”

Georg lowered his voice.

“As you know, we faced the Dark King’s massive army. The three superhumans, including Gulbark, were truly formidable. The power of the Death Knights was also incredible.”

Geninghen continued.

“If it were just them, we could have managed somehow. But the moment the Dark King appeared, all of that became meaningless.”

“…What kind of being is he, exactly?”

I asked.

“Well, to put it simply, he wasn’t human.”

Geninghen said, shaking his head.

“Even if the Clan Head, Leszek, and I had attacked him together, we would not have been able to win. It was surprising that he wasn’t even 9th-tier.”

Verdzig nodded.

“If such a being had obtained both the Ebony Oath and the Dragon Heart, the entire continent would have fallen into his hands.”

“Yes. It would have become his world.”

But.

“As you know, although the Ebony Oath was taken, we succeeded in smuggling out the Dragon Heart thanks to Lord Geninghen’s resourcefulness.”

Allenvert said.

“But how on earth did you deceive the Dark King?”

“Hehehe, it’s all thanks to this old man.”

Geninghen answered boastfully.

“I knew the Dark King was after it, so I wondered if there was anything I could do in the worst-case scenario. After much trial and error, I created an identical replica, and I was able to fool him with it.”

“Your preparedness was extraordinary.”

“Mages are a tribe that prepares and provides for everything. We are different from you warriors.”

Geninghen said, showing off as much as he could.

“Allen.”

“Yes, Father.”

Georg said to Allenvert.

“In his final moments, Lord Leszek asked that his personally recorded martial arts be passed down to you. He must have seen that you alone are the vessel that could one day stand against the Dark King.”

“…”

“My will is the same. Your unprecedented talent and speed of growth, and above all, your resourcefulness that has overcome every adversity. We have decided to entrust the future to that.”

“…”

“And the secret martial art of the Clan Head must be passed down only to the Clan Head.”

Therefore, it also meant that I would become the next Duke of Grunewald.

“Verdzig. I am sorry. I acknowledge that you too have achieved no small merit. But…”

“It is alright, Father.”

Verdzig bowed his head.

“I watched from the side. That boy started from a weak position and became my equal, and in the end, he grew strong enough to defeat enemies that I could not win against.”

More than anything, he continued.

“I had many thoughts watching the three princes of the royal family.”

“What did you think of?”

“If I had not changed, I would have followed a path not so different from that of the 3rd Prince Boldunhar, who dragged the Black Society in and threw the royal family’s honor into a cesspool.”

“…”

Georg gazed at his son with deep eyes.

“Verdzig. You have truly changed.”

“It is thanks to Allen.”

“…I am sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. It is your decision to make, and it is just that my heart has already conceded to it.”

“I see.”

Georg looked at the change in the son he had been most worried about, and then at the successor who had brought about that change.

“I am a poor Clan Head. To think that I feel such happiness watching my sons’ growth, when the fate of our clan and the kingdom is like a candle in the wind.”

Allenvert shook his head.

“Even in the midst of war, children are born and people live on. It is only natural.”

“You are right.”

Georg stood up from his seat.

“Allenvert Grunewald, I hereby name you the next Clan Head.”

Allenvert likewise stood up and showed his respect.

“I will accept this duty with a heavy heart.”

“I will pass on to you the clan’s martial arts, Lord Leszek’s martial arts, and the Dragon Heart. Fortunately, we have bought a little time thanks to Lord Geninghen’s wisdom, but even if it is not enough…”

Georg beat his chest.

“We will throw our bodies on the line to buy you that time.”

But before that.

“Though time is short, let us at least have a small dinner together today and unwind.”

And then, he let out a small laugh.

“You may bring anyone you wish to bring.”

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]