Chapter 87
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Chapter 87
Claude's face, which had worn a subtle smile at my words, suddenly hardened. For a moment, I could have sworn I heard the sound of his expression cracking like porcelain.
"Why...?"
"Now that the monster subjugation is complete, I need to return to the Bellomen Duchy."
"..."
"I suppose I could stay in the Capital for a few days, but I intend to return to the Duchy before summer arrives."
My heart was increasingly leaning toward making Lucian the heir of House of Bellomen. To accomplish that, I needed to return to the Duchy as soon as possible and establish my position.
Of course, I also missed seeing the children from the Orphanage after so long.
"Edwin's objections aside, the Duke will make the final decision... but I intend to return home with Lucian."
"I see..."
Claude nodded, his expression vacant. It was clear he hadn't considered this possibility until now.
"You hadn't planned to return to your Marquessate?"
"I had. I did, but..."
Claude trailed off, burying his face in his palms.
"I hadn't considered that you would be returning to the Duchy..."
I see...
Claude, muttering the same phrase, rose from his seat with a wry laugh.
"I'll step away for a moment..."
"Of course."
I could only tilt my head in bewilderment as I watched Claude trudge toward the Military Camp.
* * *
"Lucian, you can do this, right?"
"Yep!"
Lucian answered my question with overflowing confidence.
"If you get scared for any reason, tell me right away. Do you remember how to use the communication artifact?"
"Of course! You press it like this and speak, right?"
"That's right. You're so clever, Lucian."
"Hehe."
"If you spot any flying monsters, you have to tell me immediately, okay?"
"Yes!"
Delighted by the praise, Lucian bounced excitedly away from me, preparing to take flight into the sky.
Today was the first purification operation since we defeated the Wyvern.
"I won't lift him as high as Lucella, since it might frighten him."
"Understood!"
"Then I'll begin."
At Ahin's signal, Melissa gathered her mana. Soon, Lucian's body drifted gently upward into the sky.
"Lucian, how is it? Are you scared?"
"I think I could go a little higher."
"Alright then. Let me lift you up a bit more."
"Good... but stop here!"
Lucian waved his hands urgently, and Melissa ceased pouring her mana into him.
"J-just a little... I'm scared..."
"Alright. Is this level okay?"
"Yes."
Upon hearing Lucian's response, Melissa began moving the child further away, though still within our line of sight.
"Lucian, what do you see?"
-Hmm... I can't see it.
"Try looking through the telescope."
-Oh, I see it! There's a monster with really dark skin.
"Can you purify it?"
-Of course!
With that confident reply, white light erupted from Lucian's body.
The radiance spread outward from directly beneath where Lucian hovered, engulfing the entire forest.
Before long, as the child exhausted his strength.
"It's incredible..."
The miasma that had saturated the forest was completely purified.
It was easily ten times—no, perhaps fifteen times—the hundred square meters I had reported to the Emperor.
-Did I do well?
"Of course. My child is the best."
-Hehe.
Lucian, blushing shyly, began slowly returning to where we stood. We had decided to conduct the purification only once per day, considering Lucian's stamina.
Just once, yet the power was extraordinary. An area that would require an entire week of combat to barely claim, Lucian had completely purified in less than five minutes.
"Well done, Lucian. At this rate, we should be able to return home within the month."
"Hooray! We're going home!"
The moment Lucian's feet touched the ground, he began bouncing excitedly. The prospect of returning home seemed to delight him immensely.
"When we get back, I'll eat lamb steak first! Oh, and I want to eat cherries and apples too!"
"Yes, let's do that."
It was as I reached out to pat the bouncing child's head.
Rip—
Suddenly, a tearing sound echoed, and Lucian fell silent.
"Aunt... what do I do?"
"What? What's wrong?"
Lucian extended his left foot toward me, his expression anxious.
"My shoe... it ripped..."
Through the hole in his shoe, Lucian's big toe poked out visibly.
* * *
"Your Grace, a messenger has arrived from the Imperial Capital."
At the Butler's words, the Duke of Bellomen rose from his desk where he had been attending to his duties.
The Emperor had sent a messenger to the Duke's Mansion for a matter of utmost importance.
"How fortunate that the monster subjugation has concluded successfully!"
It was the old Butler of the Bellomen Mansion who rejoiced on behalf of the Duke, whose expression remained unmoved.
"Not only were there no casualties, but Young Master Lucian is in excellent health as well.... Now I can finally rest easy."
"...."
"Your Grace?"
The Butler's scrutiny of the Duke's silent expression lasted only a moment.
"...Then I shall take my leave."
The perceptive Butler swiftly departed from the Study.
"The monster subjugation is already complete?"
Left alone, the Duke of Bellomen murmured while gazing out the window.
Twice a year for several years, the campaigns had continued, yet they had never reached a conclusion.
And yet, after only a few months since departure, they had already returned?
"This is troublesome."
He had sent them out with the expectation that they might never return—or at least not for a very long time.
But Edwin had returned before he could even establish his position as heir.
Moreover, Lucian now bore the prestige of being the hero of the monster subjugation. It was obvious how the gazes of the Duke's retainers toward Lucian would shift.
'The Emperor has declared that he will bestow great rewards upon all who participated in the subjugation. He has also stated that he will grant even greater honors to the Prince of Bellomen, the architect of victory.'
The Duke of Bellomen turned over the words the Emperor's messenger had spoken.
If the Emperor were to come forward and support Lucian as the next Duke, Edwin's place would surely disappear.
'How can I make Edwin the rightful heir?'
If he could not crush Lucian, then he would have to elevate Edwin to an even higher position....
Knock, knock.
A soft knock from beyond the door interrupted the Duke's deepening thoughts.
"Father."
It was Edwin.
"Come in."
With the Duke's permission, Edwin opened the door and stepped into the Study.
"You're home today?"
Edwin's face brightened upon seeing the Duke.
Edwin hurried over and wrapped his arms around the Duke's legs as he stood.
"I missed you. So very much."
"I missed you too."
The Duke gently stroked the head of the affectionate Edwin.
A smile bloomed naturally as the child who resembled Iris told him he had been missed.
"I apologize. Work has been so demanding that it's been difficult to stay home."
"It's all right. It can't be helped."
Though disappointed, Edwin managed a smile.
The mere existence of someone who embraced him with such warmth was enough to make Edwin truly happy.
"Oh, that's right. While you were away, I drew a picture thinking of you."
Edwin unrolled the drawing he had been clutching and held it out to the Duke.
"It's you and me."
The drawing depicted a large circle presumed to be the Duke of Bellomen and another circle presumed to be Edwin.
Long lines extending from beneath each circle connected the two different circles together. It appeared as though they were holding hands.
"Your artistic skill leaves much to be desired."
If it came to academics, I might have said otherwise, but it seemed Lucian possessed greater talent in the arts.
"I-is that so...?"
Edwin's expression grew dejected at the Duke's merciless assessment.
The boy quickly hid the drawing he had presented with such confidence behind his back.
"Edwin, this is hardly the time to be idly sketching pictures."
Tap.
As the Duke placed a hand upon his shoulder, Edwin momentarily lost his footing and staggered. The weight pressing down upon both his shoulders was considerable.
"Your brother, Lucian, returns upon completing the subjugation."
"Truly?"
Edwin's previously downcast face brightened immediately.
'At last I can meet Lucian and Lucella!'
Edwin suppressed the urge to bounce excitedly on his feet as he asked.
"When? When will he arrive?"
"This is not cause for celebration."
Yet the Duke would not permit even that fleeting moment of joy.
"It means your rival returns with greater power and authority. Do you understand what that signifies?"
Edwin shook his head. The Duke then spoke, releasing a weary sigh.
"It means you may lose the position of heir to Lucian."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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