After the family mbers dispersed following the brief commotion, the High Elder made his way toward the Council chambers.
His cheerful facade evaporated, replaced by a ferocious expression as he ground his teeth.
“How dare he... show such insolence to ! That damned Imperial dog!”
A sinister Aura coiled around him.
That a man who had shown no previous interest in the family’s internal workings would now dare interfere in its governance!
It was he who had guided the Ducal House to prominence. He who had established the House as the foremost power in the North and restored its standing in central politics.
To be insulted so brazenly—murder blazed in his eyes.
“…Let’s see if you maintain such composure when your daughter perishes.” The High Elder’s voice was barely audible.
He whirled toward the Seventh Elder beside him and snapped, “You couldn’t manage a re brat? How splendid it would have been had you discreetly touched his Aura Heart then and there!”
He had requested a single, precise attack.
Initially, he had believed the treatnt failed—Lady Lea’s complexion had paled as she coughed blood. Yet hadn’t she regained consciousness imdiately thereafter?
He had transmitted an urgent telepathic ssage to the Seventh Elder through Aura: create a minute fracture in the boy’s Aura Heart. Such a weakness could have served as leverage to draw him to their faction or even facilitate the Grand Duke’s daughter’s assassination.
Since the boy possessed dical talent capable of curing such an unusual affliction, surely he would prove valuable elsewhere.
Yet the Elder had failed to execute even this simple directive! Against a re Aura Novice!
The High Elder glared contemptuously, clicking his tongue. “Pathetic. This exemplifies why collateral family mbers should never hold Elder positions.”
“M-my deepest apologies.”
“Prepare the next strategy without fail. To think I must involve myself directly in such matters. The Council lacks even one competent mber.”
The Seventh Elder bit his lip and bowed deeply.
Damn it all.
He had certainly intended to fracture Louis Berg’s Aura Heart. Targeting the boy under the guise of a misstep would facilitate future assassination attempts.
Yet the mont he exerted his power, sothing inexplicable occurred—a sensation of encountering resistance.
…An extraordinarily thin mbrane was protecting his Aura Heart.
The energy resembled Aura yet couldn’t possibly be so. Refining Aura to such delicacy would require control surpassing one’s mastery of their own limbs—at minimum, the level of an Aura Master.
The Berg family’s wastrel, an Aura Master? Even stray dogs would laugh at the notion.
The Seventh Elder dismissed the possibility that Louis commanded such refined Aura. Instead, he attributed it to so esoteric technique preserved within Berg County, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
If he could harness that power, the position of High Elder lay within reach. A force capable of elevating him—a re Expert—to Master status.
Was this not precisely what he craved, having stalled before talent’s insurmountable barrier?
The Seventh Elder’s pupils shimred with avarice as he recalled Louis Berg’s features.
…I must capture him.
He would claim everything for himself, without alerting a soul.
* * *
“My apologies for displaying such unseemly behavior. I was much too upset,” the Grand Duke said.
“…It’s nothing to apologize for. I hardly expected that joining a Ducal House would prove simple.”
I sighed faintly. Though I hadn’t anticipated ease, facing a Goblin Lord hadn’t figured in my calculations.
Yet what other way did I have? Given these circumstances, I had no choice but to dispatch the creature decisively and claim Lea with pride.
“I hadn’t realized the depth of your regard for Lea.”
“…Pardon?”
“I did not think you could withstand my killing intent directly and speak as you did. Your pledge to safeguard her life was unmistakably genuine.”
Naturally—if Lea perished, my path to vengeance would vanish.
“Moreover, advocating for the coming-of-age ceremony rather than eliminating the High Elder represents strategic brilliance. An elegant thod of avoiding political entanglent.”
“...”
“Who could have imagined that you’d perceive aspects I’d overlooked...? Perhaps welcoming you as my son-in-law represents my wisest decision.” The Grand Duke nodded with evident satisfaction.
I regarded him with bewildernt, managing only an “Uh...” before nodding in agreent. A favorable impression benefited , after all. The Grand Duke’s good opinion represented an advantage in itself.
“It was nothing extraordinary.”
“You demonstrate humility as well.” He nodded, visibly pleased. “What do you intend to do now? The Council vermin won’t relent.”
What indeed?
First, I had to consu my elixir.
I suppressed an irritated sigh. Dispatching Lea and with the subjugation force transparently constituted an assassination plot. Within the Ducal mansion, with the Grand Duke’s vigilant presence, such an attempt would prove impossible, and no suitable alternative existed.
Discovering such a convenient opportunity must have felt providential to them. This explained their insistence that the Grand Duke remain behind.
They’ll execute Lea and place the bla squarely upon . Half the subjugation force likely consists of knights loyal to the Council.
After implicating , those knights would ensure my demise. A flawless strategy. Were I not its target, I might have applauded enthusiastically.
…What a miserable life.
I exhaled deeply before addressing the Grand Duke. “I should prepare ticulously. In that regard, might I access the Ducal manor’s storehouse?”
I posed this request with unabashed directness. I required additional ingredients for my poison resistance elixir. Originally, I had planned a asured approach, but circumstances now demanded urgency.
Now I have only a week left.
I disregarded the Grand Duke’s incredulous chuckle, gazing through the window.
Seven days. Within that interval, I had to attain Aura Adept status.
* * *
In his office within the Ducal mansion, Grand Duke Praha, having dismissed Louis, settled into his chair.
Reflecting on recent events, he emitted a hollow laugh.
“…He intends to strip our stores bare.” The Grand Duke shook his head ruefully.
To think that after a single complint, the young man would requisition every dicinal ingredient in the House. He harbored serious doubts whether such an individual truly rited consideration as a son-in-law.
“…At least Lea won’t starve to death in his care,” he murmured, dismissing concerns about depleted resources.
Monts later, recalling his confrontation with the High Elder, he began tapping the table lightly with his finger.
The subtle percussion echoed in the silence. Though agitation had clouded his perception then, retrospection brought clarity.
…His Aura sensitivity transcends comparison.
Louis Berg—the notorious wastrel of Berg County—had effortlessly neutralized the Seventh Elder’s assault.
Others might have attributed the Elder’s restraint to rcy, but he had witnessed the truth: Louis’s Aura had moved with surgical precision to counter the Elder’s attack. Furthermore, the young man had managed to even speak up before his killing intent.
And he’s a re Aura Novice, no less.
Could this represent re coincidence?
The Grand Duke dismissed the notion with a slight headshake.
Such ticulous Aura control defied classification as happenstance. While heaven-sent fortune existed, it remained precisely that—divine intervention. Such providence occurred with probability approaching miraculous.
Yet logic refuted the possibility that a newly matured man had attained Aura Master proficiency. Moreover, his observations confird that Louis’s Aura quantity aligned with Novice classification.
Unless his mastery reached heights capable of deceiving even a Grand Master, Louis must indeed be an Aura Novice.
Tap. Tap. The Grand Duke continued his rhythmic tapping, lost in contemplation.
Eventually, he released a faint sigh and shook his head.
“…I simply cannot tell.”
Every hypothesis harbored inconsistencies. Could such refined control derive solely from Aura sensitivity? The sole plausible explanation suggested he had achieved that fluid manipulation through raw talent alone—an exceedingly remote possibility.
But if his accomplishnts stem purely from innate ability...
Tap.
…He represents an unparalleled treasure.
The Grand Duke ceased his tapping, eyes gleaming with anticipation. If talent alone explained these feats, the boy possessed the nascent qualities of a Grand Master.
Grand Master—throughout ancient and modern history, only ten individuals had ascended to that subli realm. Among them, rely three survived, including himself.
If the boy harbors Grand Master potential, we must secure his allegiance imdiately.
The Grand Duke’s gaze sharpened.
The Praha Duchy’s current power structure exhibited undeniable distortion. His obligation to guard and develop the Demonic Realm under Imperial mandate necessitated delegating internal affairs.
Consequently, authority within the family had fragnted between the Elder Council and his direct lineage.
He could, of course, impose his will through force if necessary.
“But a new Council would form during my absence.” And that Council would disrupt family harmony while he attended the Demonic Realm.
Power, inherently organic, abhors vacancy. Louis Berg likely recognized this truth, explaining his intervention.
The more I observe him, the more I covet his potential.
If his reputation as a wastrel represented rely a facade, a calculated effort to deflect scrutiny, it further demonstrated exceptional strategic acun.
Should the boy’s Grand Master qualities receive proper cultivation, history will witness its mightiest practitioner.
The greatest in recorded mory. The youngest ever anointed.
Such formidable distinctions, coupled with unwavering support for the Patriarch and direct bloodline, would restore balance to the family’s power structure.
“Whether divine providence or true monstrous talent guided his actions... that remains to be seen.”
The Grand Duke turned toward Louis’s private chamber and whispered—a prayer that the young man’s abilities might exceed even his most ambitious expectations.
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