By Zephyria 
I learned a great deal from Professor Calypse Agrigent.
In particular, I had memorized the Duke Valentia Family and four other ducal families through several exams. Naturally, this included information about my cousins Aizen and Hendel.
In class, we learned that Aizen Valentia was a diligent young man striving to inherit the ducal family, possessing a sincere and steadfast disposition, much like his father. It was also said that Hendel Valentia was more interested in the financial world than politics, had a keen eye, and played a significant role in accumulating the Valentia family’s assets.
However, I knew the question wasn’t about these superficial reasons. I fell silent, lost in thought.
My uncle once again tossed out a remark, as casually as skipping a stone across a stream.
“I hear you’ve been getting close with Prince Rubel lately.”
“…Yes.”
A chill ran down the back of my neck.
Of course, I hadn’t hidden my association with Prince Rubel. I hadn’t pushed away a child who approached me.
Shierun Academy had eyes and ears everywhere. The conduct and demeanor of all the children were meticulously recorded, as if reserving a page in the Imperial Noble Yearbook. My father, William Ernhardt, had said something similar before.
I didn’t assume my uncle was unaware.
But I hadn’t considered its significance. The weight of words spoken by Count Ernhardt and those spoken by the next Duke of Valentia were different.
Previously, my father had given a casual response, stating that while he had no intention of heavily involving himself in political strife, Ernhardt would align with Valentia.
But what about my uncle? I remained silent, unsure why Hendel’s story had come up first.
I felt a large hand land on my head and looked up. My uncle’s hand, gently stroking my hair, could do me no harm.
I composed my expression and forced my voice out.
“Could you explain?”
“When you see where the money goes, you can see the person.”
It was a cryptic remark.
Since conversations with elders from the Central Plains were always like this, I felt strangely at ease.
My uncle, sensing I was ready to listen calmly, continued speaking without removing his hand from my head.
“You bear the name Ernhardt, but you are of Valentia blood.”
“Yes.”
“Lately, Richard Flo Searon’s movements have been unusual.”
Richard was three years older than Rubel.
Now nineteen. In the Central Plains, he would have long since inherited the succession if he were eligible. It was not strange.
“Was there an assassination attempt?”
“…Not to that extent.”
I had heard something from Princess Lucilla before, and I worried if there had been a purge of those around the heirs before the succession war began. It was a relief that it hadn’t reached that point yet.
My uncle paused in thought and began to walk. I knew this wasn’t a conversation to be had standing still, so I followed.
If there were any signs of people nearby, my uncle and I would have noticed, but we had to prepare for the slightest possibility.
“How much do you know about the Duke Yeldidus Family?”
“I know they bear the name Yeldidus of the river, and they primarily engage in wheat farming and trade along a large river.”
“That’s right. They are quite similar to Valentia, aren’t they?”
“…Yes.”
“Around next summer, Richard is scheduled to have his engagement ceremony with the eldest daughter of Yeldidus. Wesley Kiadris is sticking close to Richard, so that makes two ducal families out of the five that have thrown their support behind Richard.”
Although the Duke Yeldidus Family and the Duke Valentia Family were separated by several count and viscount families, they were, broadly speaking, on equal footing. Both possessed vast plains, producing grains like wheat and barley, the staple foods of Sierran. It was said that Yeldidus, being close to a river, used its convenience for trade with Yulan to manipulate the prices of trade goods.
Now I understood why the Duke Valentia Family had suddenly begun researching maritime trade. I had heard from Shayden that the Floyd Kingdom was a small nation, and that Prince Rubel’s maternal relatives, the Marquis Antines, were wealthy and maintained close relationships with the five ducal families, making Richard’s chances slim. I hadn’t known that two of those ducal families had sided with Richard.
I was reminded anew that Shierun Academy, however excellent, was an institution that taught children. I was merely rushing to record what had already been interpreted, rather than observing and interpreting the phenomena myself.
Though the surroundings were quiet, my mind was turbulent.
In the Central Plains, it was difficult for the Emperor to oversee such a vast territory. The only ones he could easily reach were corrupt officials who spoke a different language, so he had no reason to pay attention. It made no difference to my life whether I knew who became Emperor or how the political struggles unfolded.
However, the succession to the throne of the Sierran Empire would have a significant impact on the country for the next half-century. All the nobles were keenly focused on who would seize power and who would gain influence, observing carefully. As I was born a noble of Sierran, I had to pay attention if I wasn’t to become a barbarian.
“Uncle, which side do you think is more suited for the throne?”
“I don’t know which one is more fitting for the throne.”
“…Then?”
“However, Valentia has already taken the stance of supporting Prince Rubel.”
“Is it because of me?”
Oscar nodded silently. I bit my lip tightly, wondering if I had, without realizing it, pushed my own blood relatives into the midst of the succession struggle. My uncle gently held my chin and pressed it down, preventing me from biting my lip.
“And it’s also because of Hendel.”
“…My sister?”
“Richard was considering potential brides by comparing Lady Yeldidus and Hendel. I did not want Hendel to become Empress.”
Indeed, when choosing a candidate for Empress in the Sierran Empire, it was natural to first consider the five ducal families. There were only two ducal families with daughters of marriageable age, and their influence was comparable, so he would have compared the two. I recalled Hendel’s face. She was calm and composed, wise and resolute; even as Empress, she would have performed her duties well.
Seeing my puzzled expression, my uncle gave a wry smile.
“It would be too cruel to Hendel if she were to have such a marriage.”
“Is that why you didn’t send my mother to Felix?”
“…Yes.”
I wouldn’t have understood if Marianne hadn’t made such a fuss about meeting the man she loved. But I already knew how much love could make a person happy. I wanted Hendel, like others in this land, to meet someone lovely and shine.
After nodding a couple of times, my uncle chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.
“Hendel said Richard wasn’t her type. She said she preferred men whose intentions were transparent.”
“…Hmm.”
“That’s why everyone is looking at you.”
“At me…?”
What more had I done to that child Rubel? Feeling overwhelmed, I looked up at my uncle, my surprised expression undisguised. My uncle, with a smile, ruffled my hair again.
“I hope you… will stop Wesley.”
“Wesley? …You mean Wesley Kiadris?”
“Yes. Wesley Kiadris, the Grand Sword Master who is currently by Prince Richard’s side.”
“Please explain.”
“Currently, the Duke Grimsbein Family has no capacity to concern themselves with political strife. Duke Withrow has long been estranged from Duke Kiadris, so he will side with me.”
“…Hmm.”
“Grand Sword Masters are rare assets, with fewer than twenty appearing in the thousand-year history of the Sierran Empire. While there have been many Sword Masters, the mere fact that Maelo Sanson and Wesley Kiadris share the same era became a major topic of discussion. And you…”
“You entered the academy at the same age as Wesley.”
“Yes. A genius’s trajectory.”
Honestly, I felt a sense of distance. I had heard much about Wesley Kiadris, but I had never actually seen him. In my previous life, it had taken me forty years to reach the Transcendent Peak. My realm was built upon the martial, while Wesley’s realm was built from nothingness. He was a martial artist who bloomed more brilliantly in a shorter life than mine. I knew the word ‘genius’ suited him. How truly great could my path be, simply taking one step after another, relying on Maelo Sanson? I feared placing not only my own life but also the lives of others on that path.
“…If I don’t become a Grand Sword Master…”
“Richard will obtain the throne.”
“Then will the Duke Valentia Family suffer great harm?”
“Well. I don’t know about that. It depends on what kind of person Richard is.”
My uncle continued speaking in a consistently calm tone.
“You don’t seem to know all that and yet associate with Rubel.”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“If you wish to preserve your life, do not step forward too boldly. However, if you wish to realize your ambitions…”
“…”
“It would be wise to learn how to conceal your true intentions.”
At those words, I placed my hand on my cheek. Without the habit of observing Donggyeong, I couldn’t tell what expression I was making. The thought that Rubel might not be as innocent and docile as I thought made my insides burn. Shayden had advised me several times, hadn’t he? The reason other nobles didn’t find my association with Rubel strange was their assumption that Rubel was being kind to me for the sake of the throne. Yet, in a corner of my heart, I knew I trusted the child’s clear smile, his flushed ears, and his dark, deep eyes.
…And on the other hand, Rubel, who charmingly presented himself and sought my affection, was better than Richard, whose courtship with Hendel had fallen through. Regardless of the child’s true intentions, if we were already in the same boat, there was no reason to shun or avoid him.
Come to think of it, I still hadn’t written a letter. When I said I would write a letter to that child Rubel, my uncle wordlessly offered me writing materials and put his arm around my shoulder. His firm, warm hand felt like that of a leader guiding a family.