Chapter . 27
'Because there were cases where illegitimate children beca monarchs not only in Armatia but also in other countries.'
There were monarchs nicknad the Bastard King, and once, when a Queen killed a favorite concubine after the King's death, the concubine's illegitimate son drove out the legitimate King and took the throne.
Although the monogamous Traneha religion outwardly adheres to a strict stance, once one ascends the throne and claims to be the guardian of the Temple while donating a huge sum, it was enough. Incestuous marriage is also forbidden, but they readily grant permission to those who are cousins and uncle-niece at the sa ti.
Thus, Alexander asked the Empress to negotiate with the Holy Emperor to have him recognized as legitimate. Since the Father Emperor was indifferent to his children.
'However, Rhiannon rejected her son's request.'
Because it was sothing Maximilian and Grimiati would vehently oppose, and she didn't want to shake the position of young Desmond or herself, who had not been Empress for long.
At the Empress's refusal, Alexander, who was still young, rebelled and left the Empress's faction. The Empress cut off support so Alexander would return on his own, and didn't protect him from the First Prince's faction's attacks either. However, Alexander gritted his teeth and completed the formal knight training starting from a page, sothing even heirs of great noble families, let alone royals, rarely do, finally becoming a Sword Master with imperial blood and establishing his own independent force.
"Glad to et you, Marquis Steiner."
So Alexander Julius beca Marquis Steiner. Not Duke Lauderdale.
The Duke of Lauderdale title is originally given to collateral royals or the Emperor's illegitimate sons. The Lauderdale people call themselves Lauderdale, but their real surna is Wunderville. Whether they never speak that surna or not, if the title is taken away, they are Wunderville again.
Although nobles don't acknowledge it, deprivation of titles and confiscation of territories have often happened in history. Just as vassals competed with monarchs for the throne. Even more so, a title of only the first or second generation that hasn't been inherited for generations was bound to be unstable.
'Especially if it was originally Alexander's share, but had a separate owner.'
Rhiannon, furious at her son who dared to defy her will, swapped the Marquis title ant for the Empress's brother with the Duke title ant for her son.
-This is outrageous tyranny! For the maternal family to take the place of the imperial blood!
The Emperor's faction revolted, but the Emperor himself was indifferent, and the First Prince's faction led by Duke Grimiati supported the Empress with open arms, so there was no helping it. Everyone fainted in surprise at the support of the Duke, who had been Rhiannon's greatest enemy since Mother's marriage. Rhiannon and the Wunderville family were not just surprised, but suspected it was surely the Duke's conspiracy until the mont they received the title.
-Duke Grimiati has truly revealed his true colors this ti. Boasting about inheriting Armatia's blood even though belonging to Roncer, yet ignoring Armatia's tradition like this!
-That is right. Even if the lineage was cut off, that title is not a position to go to vulgar people!
The Duke was criticized a lot back then too. Saying it's one thing for an ignorant and vulgar family like Wunderville, but for a renowned noble family like Grimiati to do so. Before that, the Duke used to ridicule the Wunderville family's sudden rise most rcilessly.
But the Duke didn't bat an eye, saying one bastard son with imperial blood is more dangerous than a pack of Wunderville dogs.
-Furthermore, if it drives a wedge into the crack between that mother and son, I would gladly dirty my hands.
In the end, Grimiati was right. Because Alexander beca a Sword Master.
-I thought he was finally reading Her Majesty the Empress's mood and crawling on his own. To think he treated us like a pack of dogs.
Before the regression, even after initially winning by making
Emperor, Duke Lauderdale ground his teeth for a long ti whenever Duke Grimiati was ntioned.
Thus, the criticism towards the Lauderdale Ducal family as lucky upstarts grew louder, and Alexander, who dread of being the Emperor's legitimate son, was abandoned by his mother who dread with him, ending up as only a Marquis. Before the regression, he beca a Duke only after I beca Emperor.
However, many sympathized with his story.
-He is soone who would have been the First Prince originally. Yet only a Marquis.
-How resentful and unjust he must feel. Born under a star of cruel fate!
-Nevertheless, he overca that fate and beca a Sword Master!
While everyone sent only cheap pity to , not even thinking I would beco Emperor, they sent empathy, not pity, to Alexander saying he was robbed of that possibility.
Especially the bastard son's faction, most popular among commoners and recognized even by nobles, now secured a position that could not be ignored.
"It is disappointing that you act so stiffly."
Marquis Steiner smiled brightly, revealing white teeth. As if he hadn't glared at
with burning eyes throughout the audience today.
"If you call
Brother, I would also call you Brother."
He was truly a brazen man.
-Baby, if you call
Brother, I'll make you my little brother.
-Brother.
-My little brother, eat this and play with Brother.
It's a cri to lure a child with snacks or toys. When I beco Emperor, I will ban it by national law.
To still play the prank he did when I was young.
I even got scolded by Maximilian for calling him Brother back then.
-Why do you acknowledge the son of the woman who spread rumors that you are not Father's son as Father's son! Those guys are not your brothers!
But my real brother also said soone like
wasn't a brother. Therefore, I was an only child. Thinking about it now, it was a blessing.
"Do you want to hear the word Brother from ?"
I liked his consideration to quickly drop honorifics of respect towards kin, whether Duke or Marquis.
"Is it not better than Your Highness calling your real brother like that? It is also better for
than calling my real brother like that. If people in the sa situation comfort each other and share sadness, the God Traneha will also look down upon us."
Talking nonsense about being a brother. For my adopted son.
Before the regression, Empress Dowager Rhiannon made , the Emperor, adopt Alexander as a son.
-How could such a thing be possible?
I asked back. Although I resolved to plot secretly without directly opposing the Empress Dowager again, I was just too surprised.
-Even in the early days of Armatia, there was a case of adopting a nephew.
The more dumbfounded I was, the calr Rhiannon answered.
-Is a nephew the sa as a brother?
-He is illegitimate, so it cannot be helped.
Do you call that an answer?
-Also, there were monarchs who adopted cousins or younger brothers.
-Adopting a cousin was to protect a young orphan, and the case of a younger brother was a warning to a son who raised a rebellion. Both were only exceptions in the early days, and there was backlash even then, so it was never repeated.
-Your Majesty's words are all correct.
Rhiannon, acknowledging my refutation, nodded. Then she said.
-Then I will tell you the reason.
How concise that reason was.
-I wish it. So, Your Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Armatia, please make it happen.
Only then did I realize.
If Maximilian and Alexander are defeated, Desmond becos the undisputed ruler. He can demand an egg from my dragon, kill
to remove my dragon, and then contract with a new dragon.
But Rhiannon, not being of imperial blood, cannot beco Emperor. The next Emperor, her son, won't be a scarecrow like .
So Rhiannon wanted Alexander as a reserve card.
-Would Duke Steiner wish for such a thing? As the eldest son of the late Emperor, he would rather give up than beco the adopted son of his half-brother.
Or kill .
-I presented the surest path to Alexander. If he is foolish enough to refuse, he is not worth worrying about.
Rhiannon spoke of her son in a contemptuous tone.
Naturally assuming he would refuse, I agreed.
-Father! Your legitimate son has co! Father!
Alexander accepted at once. While I was stunned, the mother and son quickly finished negotiations with the Holy Emperor as well. Fighting so much between mother and son, yet working hand in glove at tis like this.
-What kind of outrage is this! Your Majesty, have you gone mad?
It was useless for Desmond, who found out belatedly, to be angry.
-I agreed thinking he would naturally refuse.......
Whether he was more furious at my words or not, Alexander, who was grinning all by himself back then, smiled the sa way now. For a universal unfilial son.
"Why do you stare at
so piercingly? Although not as much as Your Highness, I do have a face that noble ladies fall for at first sight."
"I was just looking because I wondered why the thought that you should earn the qualification first if you want to be called Brother does not occur to you."
Then Marquis Steiner's eyes flashed. For a mont, golden fragnts floated in his green eyes.
Noble ladies might like it, but I felt magic power.
A Sword Master's aura is actually magic power. Even if packaged as divine power, originally, a Sword Master was at the level of a current Sword Expert. Swordsn who reached the realm of art, ultimately a sword is just a sword.
'However, persecuted magic power found an exit through a safer path instead of magic.'
So Sword Masters were produced, albeit rarely. Since a Sword Master handles magic power in a unique way called aura, theoretically, they can pass the Lasilex test.
'However, when it cos to contracting with a dragon, the difference between aura and magic becos large.'
At this rate, he won't be able to contract with a dragon like before the regression. Becoming a mage made
know more certainly. Though there's no reason to tell him.
"Then what should I do for Your Highness to call
Brother? If I brandish a sword in a place with only won and boys saying I am not of age to drink milk like the First Prince, the room might blow away entirely, hahaha!"
It must be nice being a Sword Master. Even if he laughs alone at his own joke, no one gets angry.
"Should such a barbaric thing happen to our precious Prince? So please enlighten ."
That strongest Sword Master blocked the way with his broad shoulders and asked as if threatening, but I only snorted.
-Respected and beloved Father! Your only Prince prays, please grant my petition!
Because the mory of him kneeling on both knees before
and shouting at the top of his lungs is vivid.
"Well, how could I enlighten you, a court official so important that you greet a Prince only now, when I have only t such an important court official like you now?"
When I also dropped etiquette and responded sincerely, I felt good.
"However, if by any chance I end up having only one brother, then feeling the preciousness of a brother, my heart might possibly be moved."
It was disgusting enough to have to call you son, don't even dream of being called Brother.
"Kuhahaha! Kukukuk!"
The monster-like guy laughed like a monster. Even the affection that wasn't there dropped completely.
"Kuhahahaha! Your way of speaking is hot, Prince! Let's hug once like when we were young!"
Then he spread his arms trying to hug .
I stepped back, but a Sword Master's reaction is fast beyond what ordinary people can follow.
When I suppressed the urge to create a magical barrier and bounce him off, soone jumped in like lightning and blocked the traitorous unfilial son.
The unfilial son who dared to attack , who was the Father Emperor even if it was before the regression, stopped right before hugging him instead of . Because he completely controlled his body.
"Who are you?"
"I am Prince Leontes's knight."
A knight who... didn't show fearlessness at the Sword Master's rebuke, but still held his ground.
Having never had a knight serving only , I forgot, but Sir Rolf was more loyal than I thought.
"Do you ask because you don't know? Why does a common knight intervene in the affairs of royal brothers?"
The Sword Master, who was much more popular because his attitude towards noble ladies and n was very different, shouted fiercely.
"I apologize, but it, it did not look like that......."
"You dare insult the Imperial Family? If my hand touched your body, washing it with your blood wouldn't be enough!"
"Physical contact between our brothers, I have never heard of such a thing. I suspect you might be soone else's child."
And I stepped in. Questioning the half-brother's lineage in front of a common knight. Is there a law that only my lineage should always be doubted?
Fire sparked in Alexander Steiner's eyes. Fear arose in Sir Rolf's eyes. Having witnessed a Sword Master being insulted, he must think he's dead at.
'Do not worry, I protect a loyal subject like you until the end.'
"Kukukukuhahaha! Kuhahahaha!"
But the Sword Master soon laughed more bizarrely than before. Throwing his head back and bobbing his Adam's apple.
"Kuhaha, he must be crazy, look at him talk puhahaha! It makes
angry but it's too funny kuhahaha! Ah, totally hilarious ahaha!"
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