Chapter 45
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 45
The eldest son, Nikolaos, and the second son, Jupe, were far from elite soldiers. The eldest was an imperial bureaucrat, and the second a run-of-the-mill officer.
Being an ordinary officer didn't mean one couldn't rise through the ranks. But Jupe had served for over ten years without earning a single notable achievement. His future was, for all intents and purposes, set in stone.
Had Jupe been a truly gifted soldier, he'd have piled up merits and collected a chestful of military medals by now, using them to claw his way into a key post in high command or the special forces.
"Nikolaos was born with thin nerve bundles. A congenitally weak nervous system is something even imperial technology can't fix," Giselle said of the eldest son.
This was information I hadn't possessed. A secret known only within the family.
"With a weak nervous system, he can't use high-output prosthetics. Even if he wanted to be a soldier, he couldn't."
No matter how far to the rear a position might be, a soldier had to meet a minimum threshold of combat capability. If his nervous system was weak from birth, there was simply no path forward for him in the military.
"Jupe was never cut out to be a soldier either. But after making the first son a bureaucrat, they couldn't very well send the second son down the same road, so they forced him into the army somehow."
Jupe had become a soldier for the sake of the family's reputation. Even nobles couldn't live as they pleased. Careers were dictated by the family's will and interests. So were spouses. So were entire lives.
"But the fact that those two are wary of me means they harbor ambitions of becoming Family Head, doesn't it?"
"Yes. Nikolaos is the eldest, and highly capable as a bureaucrat. So he believes he's qualified to become Family Head. In truth, he's already won over a fair number of the other relatives and vassals. And Jupe—despite being the second son—thinks he can take the seat over his brother precisely because he's a soldier. The more conservative relatives back Jupe. His ability may be lacking, but his military status is enough for them."
"So everyone has a flaw as a candidate for Family Head. Which means there's a chance even for me, adoption and all."
In truth, there was no chance. I'd become an adopted son through a transaction. Even the cold-blooded Heilas would feel the tug of blood ties in the end—he'd never name me his successor.
"Right now, everyone in the Custoria family is likely poring over your record. And objectively speaking, you are an exceptionally outstanding soldier. Your odds of rising high in the military are very good. Many of the relatives—especially the elders—value martial ability and honor over bloodline."
Judging by her tone, Giselle seemed to rate my worth highly as well. Better for me to believe that.
"Should I be watching for assassination attempts?" I asked without hesitation. This was critical. If the answer was yes, I needed to prepare.
"I can't guarantee there won't be any, but the probability is very low. If they got caught, they'd lose not just their standing but their lives. To even attempt it, they'd have to prepare something absolutely flawless."
To kill me, they'd have to bring in someone truly formidable.
"Then for now, they'll try to crush me by other means."
"They'll try to humiliate you. Especially by using your background. Knowing Father's character, even though he brought you in himself, he won't lift a finger to protect you."
I would have to weather my rivals' insults and attacks on my own. That was what Heilas wanted, too.
"I like it."
"...Pardon?"
"This competitive family. As an orphan, it's exactly the kind of family I always wanted."
It wasn't bravado or an empty boast. I meant every word.
At the orphanage I came from, there had been no one worth competing against. It was only after arriving at the Imperial Guard Training Center that I'd met true rivals. And now, even there, no one was left who could match me. At most, perhaps Ilay Kartika.
The methods differed, but here in the Custoria family were people who wanted to grind me underfoot. I would fight with everything I had. And in the end, the victor would be me.
Just picturing their faces as they lay crushed at my feet sent a thrill racing down my spine.
Yes—I was a fairly twisted man. The harder someone tried to hold me down, the more violently I sprang back.
"...Are you actually enjoying this?"
Watching me smile, Giselle spoke as though she couldn't begin to comprehend me. I had no need for her understanding anyway.
"Giselle, let me ask you one thing. So far you've only talked about your two older brothers. What about you? You have no intention of becoming Family Head?"
I looked her straight in the eyes. Even if she lied, her feelings would surface.
"I don't see any reason to tell you that much."
Giselle spoke coldly, just as she had when she first laid eyes on me. My smile only widened.
"I have no intention of becoming the Family Head who leads the clan. For the road ahead of me, the Custoria name alone is enough. But if someone tries to trample me, I won't simply take it. What comes after that? None of my concern. If the opportunity comes, seize it, Giselle Custoria. Consider it advice from an older brother."
For the record, I was older than Giselle.
At first she looked dumbfounded at the word "brother," but before long she laughed. Her bright laughter was a rare and precious sight.
"Will you support me when that time comes?"
"I made a promise, didn't I? As long as you don't make an enemy of me, I have no reason to hate or harm you."
At my words, Giselle rose from her chair and extended her hand.
"Then I'll act with you in mind as an ally. I look forward to working with you, Brother Luka."
My eyes widened slightly before I let out a chuckle. Still seated, I took her hand and shook it.
"Brother?"
"This is the first and last time I'll call you that."
"Good. I'm not fond of sappy things either."
Dong, dong.
The grandfather clock chimed in its antique fashion.
It was time for dinner.
* * *
No matter how noble the house, they surely didn't feast lavishly every single day. Today, however, a great gathering of the Custoria family had assembled. The occasion was my introduction. Because it was a special day, a banquet had been prepared.
The dining table, which could easily seat over sixty, stretched out in a single long line—so long that a voice from one end could barely carry to the other.
Behind the table stood twice as many servants as guests, waiting on them. The dishes already laid out were too many to count, yet plate after plate kept emerging from the kitchen, endlessly.
I could read the hierarchy of the relatives from the seating arrangement. Heilas and his immediate family sat at the very head. Rather honorably, I was counted among them.
Next came Heilas's siblings, along with their nieces and nephews, and as the table stretched toward the far end, the cousins and more distant relations. A handful of vassals occupied the lowest seats.
"Ah, so you're Luka. I've heard a great deal about you."
How long had it been since I'd heard the gentle voice of a middle-aged woman? No—had I ever heard one at all? Every middle-aged woman I'd known had been hard and unrelenting.
Eva Custoria.
My adoptive mother. Only once dinner began did I finally see her face in person. On the surface, she kept up a warm, amiable demeanor.
Eva hates me. Of course she does.
Listen closely, and beneath my adoptive mother's voice lay a dry, sharp thorn. To her, I was an enemy threatening her own sons. There was no way she'd welcome me.
There was no reason to feel let down. I'd never expected a warm mother figure to begin with. Her hostility was a hundred times better than pity and condescension.
"Welcome to the family, Luka. I'm the eldest son, Nikolaos, and this is the second son, Jupe."
A neat, well-groomed man, Nikolaos introduced himself with a hand over his chest. A bureaucrat, yes, but his eyes were as sharp and cold as any soldier's. At a glance he didn't look like a man with a weak nervous system. He was probably sensitive to being written off as sickly.
And Jupe, the one Nikolaos had just introduced, was the very picture of an imperial officer. He had a sturdy, imposing build, and his uniform bore a few standard medals—the kind any long-serving officer would collect.
Jupe made no effort to hide his displeasure, clearly irritated that Nikolaos had introduced him.
Of course. Nikolaos and Jupe were rivals from the start. There was no chance they got along.
"I've always wanted a brother in the military. Today, one of my wishes came true. Good to meet you, Luka." Jupe extended his hand to me—a blatant snub aimed at Nikolaos. It seemed the two of them hadn't struck any alliance.
Amusing. Truly amusing.
As the atmosphere warmed, the family's fault lines flared red like old scars.
"I've always wanted a reliable older brother, too."
Flattery I didn't mean in the slightest slipped from my lips. Your social skills have come a long way, Luka.
Next, the younger children rose to introduce themselves. To break down Heilas's offspring: the eldest, the second, myself, and Giselle were the grown ones. Below us were two boys and one girl.
Once we'd all become somewhat acquainted, my adoptive mother, Eva, halted the crowd still pressing forward. Those about to greet me returned to their seats.
"...Now, allow me to introduce the newest member of the Custoria family—Lucaus Custoria."
Eva stood behind me, resting her hands on my shoulders with a warm smile. She was a woman well-practiced in pretense and performance.
Lucaus was my newly bestowed name. "Luka" carried too strong a whiff of the Lower District.
My original name had been demoted to a nickname, but I had no complaints. Luka or Lucaus—what did a name matter, in the end?
Clap, clap, clap.
Applause rose from every side. I studied their faces closely. The more distant relatives, far removed from any real power, showed little interest in me. They didn't seem to care who became Family Head.
The vassals, on the other hand, watched me intently. Their positions demanded that they choose their alliances with care. Some might see me as a ladder to advancement—whether by winning my favor or by tearing me down.
"Praise His Majesty Dino Cracia—Guardian of Humanity, Father of the Nation, and First Emperor of the Empire," Heilas murmured, like a prayer. Well, it was a prayer, of a sort.
Before the banquet began, everyone clasped their hands and closed their eyes. The instant they opened them, the meal commenced.
Clink.
The sound of moving cutlery filled the hall.
I felt Jupe's glare fixed on me. His gaze had locked onto my hands.
He's hunting for something to hold against me.
He wanted to see how I handled my utensils. Noble dining had its etiquette, and the proper use of cutlery was part of it.
I'd studied the basics of table manners beforehand. I could simply follow the rules quietly and dash Jupe's hopes.
But a better idea came to me. Dodging a fight had never been my style.
I speared a cut of meat with my knife and shoved it greedily into my mouth. Jupe spoke up at once, as though he'd been waiting for exactly this.
"Luka."
I picked up a poultry leg with my bare hand and put on my most innocent, clueless expression.
"What is it, Brother Jupe? Ah—this food is delicious."
My eyes darted around as I spoke. Nikolaos stayed silent, wearing a faint smile. Only Jupe was itching to call me out.
Just as I'd figured. The enemy to watch was Nikolaos. Jupe was an idiot.
"Luka, I didn't want to have to do this at our first meeting, but..." Jupe wore an oily smile, trailing off to let the other relatives' attention gather around us. "...I feel I must point out your table manners. It's an older brother's duty, after all. All the more so since we're both military men. I don't know how you've lived your life up till now, but you should observe at least the basic etiquette. For the sake of Father, who acknowledged you—and for the name of the Custoria family..."
I cut him off.
"Compared to a man who's served ten years without earning a single Cross Sword Medal, I'm a cadet who's already been awarded one. I'd say I'm bringing far more honor to the Custoria name than some trivial matter of table manners."
I chuckled, waving the leg of some nameless bird. At my words, several relatives burst into laughter, then hurried to cover their mouths.
Jupe's face flushed crimson in an instant, as though scalding water had been dashed across it. He was hopeless at even basic self-control—such a fool that I wondered whether he truly shared Heilas's blood.
"Y-You... how dare you...!"
He seemed utterly stunned that I would talk back and strike at him. He couldn't even find his words.