Chapter 122
Chapter 122
"It would be better for Brillie Illenat's sake rather than mine..."
"So you don't want to do as I say?"
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that it's her family..."
"It's my family, so I'll do as I please. You're not thinking I won't be able to become the head, are you?"
"I've never thought that..."
"You just have to trust me. If you want to argue, you'll have to become the Northern Grand Duke."
"......"
Alter glanced at Brillie Illenat, at a loss for words.
Only then did Brillie Illenat lean in and face Alter.
Though she was pressing him a little deeply, she needed at least this much to get her fiancé to understand.
"Do you still think I'm wrong?"
"You are not wrong. It probably is better to use the family. However... it might make me feel a little uncomfortable."
Alter did not want to blindly depend on Brillie Illenat.
Rather, he wished to achieve wealth and honor by his own power, and contribute, even if only a little.
But as Brillie Illenat had said, it would be impossible to surpass the history the noble family had built, alone.
"What is there to feel uncomfortable about? If we're to live as a couple, shouldn't we live as one? If either of us struggles, we just help, right?"
"But then wouldn't I be the one receiving more?"
"And what if you become the Northern Grand Duke? At that point, I'll be the one in the receiving role, won't I? Should I also feel uncomfortable then?"
"... That wouldn't be right."
"Alter. Don't get so caught up with conditions. Even if we don't inherit the titles, we can just live ordinarily, can't we?"
"You are right. I suppose I was shortsighted."
"No. If you care for the other person, it's natural to think about things like this."
Brillie Illenat gently smiled and brushed Alter's hair back.
She worried more about what her companion would have to bear, rather than what she herself would gain.
Even if she didn't succeed to the Duke's title, Alter would likely only try harder to build up his standing as the great mage.
"It hasn't been decided yet, has it?"
"No, of course not. We should talk more about it."
"You wouldn't hand the title to your eldest son... How's your youngest sibling?"
"We talk from time to time. Our relationship isn't bad."
"You don't compete for the title?"
"We've never actually fought over that. We've talked about 'this could happen, I suppose.'"
"Still, it's possible to get greedy, isn't it?"
"Even if that happens, I can't stop it. My younger sibling deserves a chance too, after all."
"I don't think that's wrong either. I just worry about internal conflict arising."
Alter didn't particularly suspect the youngest son of Duke Illenat's family.
In the future he had seen, the youngest barely left any impression at all.
He was simply aware of the evil deeds that could arise from human desires.
"Why? Are you worried I'll get pushed out?"
"If that's all that happens, it would be fortunate. More than that, Brillie Illenat, you..."
"You're saying I might get hurt or even killed, right?"
"It's an extreme assumption, but... uh—"
Alter was pulled down onto the bed in an instant.
Brillie Illenat wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close with force.
Then, with their foreheads almost touching, she spoke slowly.
"You worry too much. Do I look that weak to you?"
"You have a softer heart than you appear to..."
"That was before you came into my life. Now, with you here, I can't back down."
"But you're siblings by blood..."
"What does that matter? I'll see more of you in the future. Should that mean I have to give you up?"
"Uh..."
Even Alter couldn't answer that question so easily.
Brillie Illenat fell silent for a moment before letting out a short laugh.
"At least you're not asking me to give you up."
"I wouldn't want to lose you, Brillie Illenat."
"Should I take that as a confession?"
"You could call it that. I'm just saying honestly what I feel."
"Hm... fine. If that's how you put it, then I should give you an answer, shouldn't I?"
Even while secretly pleased, Brillie Illenat did not let Alter go.
He was her one and only fiancé, someone only she could have.
That was why she had to cherish and endlessly embrace him.
"I'll marry you. If it's not you, I can't do it. I'll never give you up to anyone."
"......"
"I won't scold you for worrying about me; it's admirable, after all. But trusting me isn't so bad, either. I'm already prepared."
"......"
"All you need to do is follow me and believe in me. That's your role."
Alter leaned against Brillie Illenat, saying nothing.
He simply felt her warmth and her heartbeat.
A subtle scent brushed the tip of his nose, but he felt like he had gotten used to it in only a moment.
"I'll become stronger. That way, you won't have to worry."
"I'll also try a little harder. I have to protect you, after all, Brillie Illenat."
"I wish we could stop fighting now, but it's not so easy. Our wedding keeps getting postponed, too..."
"But we can't refuse to fight. Running away won't solve anything."
"You're right. If the Empire falls, there'll be nowhere left to run."
"We can't marry until we settle down. That's why you're joining the war, isn't it, Brillie Illenat?"
"There's no other way. If we want to settle in the Empire, we have to protect it, so we can live."
Brillie Illenat slowly closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Even on the battlefield, she had shared sleep with Alter more than once.
What difference could it make, just sharing the same bed?
'Even if he were to touch me now... I'd have to accept it.'
Once they were married, they'd have to spend the night together anyway.
It was a little early, but it wasn't unusual for it to happen before the ceremony.
If it must be, isn't it better to get it over with, whenever?
'I'm ready in my heart, but I wonder what our young master is thinking?'
* * *
Cadeon had yet to decide who would inherit the title.
He had reluctantly allowed the eldest son back into the mansion, but had no intention of making him the head.
For the sake of the duke's family's reputation and prosperity, he'd have to choose one among his other children.
'Brillie Illenat is already sufficiently qualified. Such achievements are not easily attained.'
Brillie Illenat—Duke Illenat's family's second daughter—had established her position in the world.
Among knights she was considered the best; even the Imperial Household recognized her achievements.
If she inherited the title, it would greatly enhance the family's honor.
'But I can't help but worry that she might be swayed by her fiancé.'
Of course, if they were engaged, he had to treat it as a precious bond.
But since it was a political marriage, he needed to look to reality rather than emotion.
Could Brillie Illenat truly separate her companion from her family with a clear head?
'The youngest lacks resolve. Would he do well even if entrusted with the job...?'
Cadeon could not break away from these limiting conditions.
The eldest son was already finished, the second daughter lacked enough responsibility for the family, and the youngest son was ambiguous at best.
But as they were all his children, it was inevitable that they each had to support the family.
'If Alter Radiant becomes the Northern Grand Duke... things will get complicated in their own way.'
Of course, if discussing the ability to act as Northern Grand Duke, Alter Radiant should be excluded.
He made little contribution to the eastern front, and only became the next great mage belatedly after dealing with the curse.
But his recent accomplishments were so remarkable that he was fully worthy of being mentioned as the next Northern Grand Duke.
'Instinctively, it would be advantageous to our family. If Brillie Illenat becomes the lawful wife of the Northern Grand Duke...'
If that happened, he should not pass on the duke's title to Brillie Illenat.
While following the customs of the Agnes Empire, he also had to prevent the two houses from becoming too entangled.
Above all, it was not a step that could be taken with certainty yet, so he considered it only as a possibility.
'This is enough. With the ducal bloodline and the next great mage, there's nothing to regret.'
In the end, Cadeon selected his successor for the ducal title.
He still worried in many ways, but felt he could trust them at least a little.
His daughter always proved her worth through bold action again and again.
'Brillie Illenat... I'll entrust this family to you. If Alter Radiant truly cares for you, he won't abuse our family's power.'
* * *
Alraune met with Alter for a further report on the war in the southern region.
In the end, they had successfully subjugated the dragon, and the result should have satisfied the other members of the society.
He only determined that a separate investigation was needed due to unique variables.
"... What do you think of Ru the Luminescent?"
"We should remain alert, but I don't think she'll attack us."
"Even so, isn't it possible her intention could change in the future?"
"She's maintained her neutrality for a long time. She values honor so highly—would she abandon her pride so readily?"
"I don't disagree, but given that she's a dragon, we cannot help but be suspicious. Six out of the seven have threatened the Empire—shouldn't we treat the last one just the same?"
Alter nodded quietly, without protest.
Since dragons with malice were in the majority, they could not be trusted lightly.
If Ru the Luminescent ever brought up order and invaded, the Agnes Empire would conduct a straightforward subjugation.
"Hm... You were the one who defeated the Knight of True Flame, weren't you?"
"Yes. I froze one of his arms."
"I heard it was quite dangerous—how did you manage it?"
"I was fortunate. Only when I compressed the cold air to the limit did my attack get through."
"So—that means... you nullified the dragon's mana, didn't you?"
"I wouldn't say it was complete. His arm was still there. He must have used flame to diminish the impact."
Alraune briefly recalled the war in the eastern territory.
For a moment, Alter had conjured something akin to breath to resist Benelrode the Incandescent.
Was it really possible, just because he was a talented mage, to invoke such a massive magic circle and breath?
'... It is too coincidental to just call it a series of events.'
Alraune came to suspect there might be a direct link between Alter and the dragons.
Numerous powerful figures had been deployed to face the Knight of True Flame, but they were forced on the defensive in an instant.
Yet, Alter drove the Knight of True Flame away alone, and briefly manifested horns and wings.
In sum, it seemed that Alter Radiant must be directly connected to the dragons.
'Uriel... You weren't watching up to this point, were you? Has your child been imbued with the power of the dragon?'