Chapter 21
Chapter 21
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Only Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“I will accept it.”
“Oh… Is that so?”
“However, I will set the timing for after my coming-of-age ceremony. Starting the work immediately without any preparation could be dangerous. We should watch the situation with the Second Madam and move slowly, and proceed carefully by talking with the vassals and other families.”
“Oooh… Haha, I feel like I’m the one learning a lesson here. Alright. Let’s do it that way.”
Accepting the proposal from the acting head of the Rengell family, Beonald shook hands with him and parted ways.
And the next day, the Count’s birthday celebration was held without incident.
Baron Leon and Beonald drew a bit of attention as planned by presenting appropriate gifts—bear fur, a bear cub, and wolf pelts among them—but were soon overshadowed by the lavish gifts from other nobles and quietly slipped away, leaving the banquet hall at a suitable time.
‘It’s not like it would be good for us to stay long anyway. Phew~ This is why families without a proper foundation are tiring.’
“Phew~ I can finally breathe. Beonald, by the way, what did you talk about with the acting head? You even got back the items that were taken by Young Master Ralt…”
“The acting head is a proper person. He understands well why one shouldn’t steal from kin.”
“……?”
Looking at Baron Leon, who didn’t understand what he meant, Beonald was reminded once again that although his father held the title of Baron, he was essentially a novice second-generation noble who lacked the proper education and culture of a ‘family.’
‘He leaked information, and on top of that, why is he so lacking in so many areas? I heard Grandfather was quite a figure…’
Of course, there’s no rule that a son must be great just because his father was, but Beonald felt a complex mix of emotions toward his father, Baron Leon.
Anyway, the celebration was over, and since they could return home tomorrow if they wished, his father seemed to remember something and made a suggestion to Beonald.
“Anyway, thanks to you, we barely avoided a huge disaster. We’ll be heading back tomorrow, but since it’s hard to come here, you can stay in the city for another day if you want. What do you think?”
“No. It’s fine. I have to take care of this guy; where would I find time to go play? Haha.”
Piiiiik!
It was Alterio, once again begging Beonald for food from the carriage.
Thus, despite various twists and turns, Beonald successfully attended the Count’s birthday celebration and prepared to return.
Along with a new family member and achievements, he was pleased, but it seemed not everything was good, as someone was watching him menacingly from a window of the Count’s mansion.
“Sir Gess, is that… the child named Beonald? The one who insulted our Ralt and was taken aside for a private talk?”
A middle-aged woman wearing an extravagant white dress adorned with an excessive number of decorations. Her elegantly tied-up, splendid golden hair and noble appearance hinted that she was not of ordinary status.
She asked Sir Gess, a knight kneeling behind her, about Beonald.
“Yes, that’s correct, Madam Meira.”
Madam. A term for the wife of a high-ranking person.
The Count was already elderly, and the Countess had long passed away, so naturally, the one to inherit this title of ‘Madam’ was she—the wife of the current acting head, Rengell Callermain.
“No one knows what they talked about?”
“Yes. We tried to listen, but as you know, the acting head’s office has exceptional security…”
“By the way, you said he’s the same age as our Ralt, but that physique and height are unbelievable. Is he really 14?”
“We sent someone urgently to confirm, and it’s true. He was born in the same year and is indeed Lady Callen’s son.”
“Huuu~ For such a variable to appear from a place I never expected…”
Madam Meira frowned, imagining what Beonald and her husband might have discussed.
The immediate problem lay with her son Ralt, who had been arrogantly seizing gifts meant for the Count as if they were his own, but she saw no issue with that behavior at all.
Thus, she had no clue what the two might have talked about.
“What on earth did they discuss? What is he thinking now, that man!”
“According to our informant among the vassals, he is likely considering a ‘competitor education’…”
“Competitor education… Meaning, pitting that child against Ralt?”
“Yes. To do that, he would first need to raise his ‘status,’ so he might adopt him or arrange a marriage with one of the major subordinate nobles.”
“Why on earth is he doing this? What is lacking in our Ralt!”
Unlike the acting head Rengell, Madam Meira shielded her child, believing he was merely being mischievous.
Born into a wealthy Viscount’s family, she had married into the Callermain Earldom for political reasons, becoming the second wife. However, with two sons already from the first wife, she was essentially just a decorative flower, or a contract between families.
Although it was another family’s house, as a valuable ‘contract,’ she had no issues with livelihood. Yet, without a real ‘married life,’ this place remained merely someone else’s home.
Like being trapped alone on an island. The only companions to console her loneliness were a few knights and attendants she brought from her own family. None of them were family.
The only family she had was her son Ralt, whom she bore in pain. So it was no wonder she doted on her son.
“That wretched woman died, and finally, my era! Finally, our Ralt became the heir… and now he’s up to something again!”
“However, Young Master Ralt’s reputation is worsening by the day. Even nobles from our faction, the Delmain Viscount faction, as well as Baron Zelkerd’s faction, are expressing concern. He doesn’t follow etiquette, shows no focus on either arts or martial skills… he just relies on authority to oppress others…”
“Quiet. He’s still young, so it’s possible! He’ll mature in time!”
“But he’ll come of age next year. Depending on the situation, he might even be sent to the Capital Academy, but in his current state…”
“I’ll handle it! So you just investigate that damn half-breed or whatever named Beonald!”
The problems had already been pointed out by her vassal, Sir Gess, but Madam Meira made no effort to improve them.
Part of it was cherishing her only flesh and blood, her family, but having never enjoyed freedom since arriving at this mansion, her stubbornness was also a major factor.
And now, her sole goal was to seat her son as the heir and dominate this prison-like Callermain Earldom.
“I finally got the chance and seized it, and I dealt with all the other boys that came after!”
“Madam, your voice is too loud. Even if only your vassals and attendants are around this room, please lower your voice. That matter must never be discovered.”
“Grrr! Fine. Anyway… the heir is our Ralt. I can’t let the son of that woman who clung to a rootless mercenary aim for that position!”
“So what will you do? Assassination, as you’ve done before…?”
“No, since he’s decided on ‘competitor education,’ eliminating him now might just bring in another opponent. If we’re not careful, a more troublesome enemy could appear. Leave him be for now. First, I need to talk with him and consult with Viscount Delmain and other nobles. Send a messenger tomorrow.”
“Yes!”
Madly in love with her son, opinionated, and stubborn, but she wasn’t completely foolish either.
Within the grand premise of protecting Ralt’s position as heir, she racked her brains to the fullest. Believing she could handle it through ‘heir education methods,’ she immediately sent messengers to gather opinions from other nobles.
‘…But can we really block the education method?’
Sir Gess inwardly expressed such concerns while recalling Beonald, whom he had investigated on orders.
An appearance that didn’t look 14—not in a bad way, but rather with a presence that surpassed even current adults, and strangely, an inexplicable dignity and grace flowed from his actions.
‘In a way, it will be a stimulus for Young Master Ralt.’
Thinking of the young master who had shut himself in his room since the incident, Sir Gess hoped this would be an opportunity for him to become more like an heir.
Half of his blood came from Madam Meira, but the other half came from the acting head Rengell, so he believed there was some potential.
A few months later, Dustycloak Territory.
After attending the Count’s birthday celebration and returning to the territory, Beonald’s daily life became peaceful again.
Mana breathing techniques, swordsmanship training, herb cultivation and medicine making, treating the illnesses of the territory’s people, inspections, hunting food for Alterio, and territory affairs including harvests and gathering game—before he knew it, everything had begun to pass through Beonald’s hands.
“Alterio! Chase it!”
Piiiiik!
The once small and tiny Alterio had grown quickly, reaching the size of a large dog, and was now running to chase a rabbit at Beonald’s command.
Being a griffin, a creature naturally larger than humans, growing quickly was perhaps to be expected. However, due to the disability in one wing from birth, he still couldn’t fly. With the other wing folded, he ran like a feline predator, chasing after prey.
Piiiiik!
“Oh, you failed. But!”
Twang!
Alterio failed the hunt, but meanwhile, Beonald shot an arrow at the exhausted rabbit, succeeding in the hunt.
He then ordered Alterio to retrieve the rabbit, recovered the arrow, and handed it to Alterio. But whether he knew he hadn’t caught it himself or felt sorry for failing the hunt, Alterio hung his head, looking disappointed.
Piiiiii…
“It’s okay. Failure is possible. You can’t be skilled from the start. Here, eat up.”
Knowing that Alterio was ultimately a monster, Beonald focused on educating him—sometimes gently teaching, while ensuring he didn’t attack people or act recklessly.
Since the territory’s people might fear him, he especially needed to instill a rejection of human flesh and blood.
Pii?
“No. I was just thinking for a moment. Anyway, let’s continue hunting.”
Pii!
“Yes, you’ll do better this time. Alterio.”
Having paused briefly to think, Beonald began traversing the mountains again with Alterio to search for other prey.
Since there wasn’t much time left to act this carefreely, Beonald decided to work even harder on the preparations and training he could manage.
After all, once he became the adopted son of the acting head Rengell, he would have to enter the ruthless, tearless political arena of the nobility once more.
‘I should think of this as my final rest. Phew~’