Solidifying the Foundations
Silina Restis irritably flipped through the mountain of documents piled on her desk. Dark fatigue shadowed her eyes.
The news that Cael, the family's thorn in the side, had returned alive. And not just that—he'd declared his intent to exterminate the headache called Legnum, play the hero, and thrust himself back into the succession race.
The old Silina would have immediately mobilized her assassination squad or private soldiers to sabotage him before he even set foot in the main estate. She was never one to sit idly by and take it.
But now, Silina had no choice but to suppress her rage toward Cael and tread carefully. In just two weeks, the head of house, Arjen Restis, would return to the main estate after completing his monster subjugation.
No matter how absolute her power as acting head, even Silina couldn't breathe freely in front of the true master of the family. If she stirred up a bloodbath akin to civil war within the household while the head was away, his blade might turn not on Cael, but on her. That fear shackled her ankles.
Above all, with the estate's administration already on the brink of paralysis just preparing to receive the meticulous, perfectionist head of house, she had no bandwidth for more.
Silina glared at the distant territory entrance visible through the window, her lips twisting coldly.
Yeah, do I really need to handle it myself?
The more she thought, the more convinced she became that the current situation worked in her favor.
The head loathed the sickly and incompetent worse than beasts. Cael, that bloodline discarded long ago after collapsing from poison, now strutting back to eye the successor's seat after catching a few Legnum small fry? According to reports, the Legnum matter succeeded only because Oden the knight joined. To claim successor status, he'd need to prove himself—to the head himself.
Hahaha! He'll trip over his own schemes. A whelp barely risen from his sickbed challenging the head directly with force?
Impossible. For Cael, already ousted once as successor, to regain the right to challenge, it'd take extraordinary talent or ability to sway the head. And her own son? Word was he was on track to graduate top of the continent's premier academy. Years of topping the best academy versus Cael, fresh from his bed? No comparison.
Esler would return home around the same time as the head. And if compared to Cael? No way the head would acknowledge Cael's challenge.
Judging that Cael would invite the head's wrath and walk his own path to ruin, Silina saw handing him off to the head's hands—without staining her own—as a brilliant move. She continued signing documents.
At that moment, Cael's group rode leisurely in their carriage along the wide central boulevard toward the main estate.
Inside, Cael quietly observed the passing commoners through the window. As the ornate carriage emblazoned with the ducal crest appeared, pedestrians hastily prostrated by the roadside. They trembled without daring to lift their heads toward it.
No respect or awe in their eyes—only primal terror of merciless power.
Hmm, they really fear the ducal house. Just the crest makes them bow heads to the ground... damn.
Overwhelming violence and power they couldn't even glance at. That seemed the ideal the Restis Ducal Residence pursued in ruling this vast territory.
Cael rested his chin, gazing at the prostrated commoners' crowns, and let out a small chuckle.
Feels just like when I first became Heavenly Demon.
He too had once crushed underlings with fear, enforced discipline with killing intent. But Cael knew loyalty forged solely in terror crumbled at the slightest crack.
Leaving the shivering citizens behind, Cael passed through the firmly shut iron gates of the main estate. The triumphant return of the young lord after completing his mission.
Yet the acting head Silina's welcome was lukewarm and dry.
"Mission accomplished safely. Acting Head."
Cael gave a light nod in greeting.
Silina glanced at him over her stack of documents, her expression unchanging.
"Well done, Young Lord. You must be weary from the long journey—rest well."
For her, an exceedingly bland reception.
"Then I'll take my leave. Acting Head."
"As you wish, Young Lord."
With that curt, icy exchange, Silina turned without a backward glance and headed to her office. Watching her back, Cael's lips curved into a slight smile.
Soon, overhearing the estate servants' whispers, Cael instantly grasped why Silina held back so sharply.
Right—the head's return schedule has her on edge.
The head's homecoming. The pinnacle of the ducal house returning kept Silina from rash moves.
Intense interest and ambition flickered in Cael's eyes.
Then these two weeks are my opportunity.
While Silina watched her step for the head, it was the perfect time for Cael to expand his influence and solidify his footing in the main estate.
Back in his quarters, Cael stood by the window overlooking the training grounds. At his side stood Roben Banis in spotless silver armor, rigid at attention.
"Roben."
At Cael's call, Roben responded with crisp discipline.
"Yes, sir! Young Lord!"
"In that short time outside the territory, traveling and fighting with me—what did you feel?"
Roben's eyes filled with admiration. Crushing the back-alley black market in one go, subduing Knight Oden, even forcing a demon beyond human limits to kneel—his lord had done the unbelievable, and Roben had witnessed it all firsthand.
"I felt it in my bones, Young Lord—you're not just fit for the ducal heir's seat, you're greater, more magnificent! Fighting at your side was the greatest honor of my knightly life!"
Cael smirked at the earnest praise.
"Good. Glad a knight like you was so moved. Then tell me—will you serve and follow me for the rest of your life?"
Without hesitation, Roben slammed a fist to his chest and shouted.
"Y-Yes! If you permit it, Young Lord, I'll guard you with my life!"
"Ho, even if it means getting kicked from the Blue Wolf Knights?"
Knight. How he'd longed for that title since academy days. For a moment, hesitation crossed Roben's face, but he steeled himself and bellowed.
"Yes!! No regrets about the order!"
"Isn't that a waste?"
"Pardon?"
Cael turned slowly to face him squarely.
"No need to abandon the knight title. Fine. Here's your first mission."
Cael placed a heavy hand on Roben's shoulder.
"Go secure the Blue Wolf Knights' oath of loyalty. Bring the entire order under me."
"......Pardon?"
Roben's jaw dropped. He was the lowest rookie apprentice in the Blue Wolf Knights. Demanding he make dozens of full knights and the captain surrender? More absurd than breaking rock barehanded.
"What, can't do it?"
At Cael's low query, Roben sweated bullets, stammering.
"Uh... w-well... Young Lord, for someone like me to subdue the whole order physically..."
"Never said go alone. Take whoever you want."
That casual permission sparked lightning in Roben's mind. Take others—Weger, Ella, Knight Oden, and the strongest subordinate, Oliver.
Alone, egg against rock. Together? Unstoppable.
Roben's eyes blazed with fierce confidence.
"Ah! With those terms...! I can do it! No, I'll definitely bring their oath!!"
Cael smiled satisfiedly and waved him off.
"Good. I leave it to you."
"Understood!"
Roben snapped a smart salute and bolted like lightning toward the training grounds for Weger and Oden.
Watching his retreating back, Cael sipped his tea leisurely.
Hmm... Blue Wolf Knights, eh... What martial art should I teach 'em to make it fun?
He pondered what techniques to impart for maximum effect.
Then—
Knock knock.
Hm? Who is it?
"It's open. Come in."
The door flew open, revealing someone Cael hadn't expected.
"Brother!!!"