Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Another Family Meeting (2)
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“I didn’t want to go in with you.”
Grumbling beside me was my cousin Sena.
“We came in the same carriage, so isn’t it natural to enter together?”
“That’s because I have to be compared to you…”
“You worry about the strangest things.”
Somehow, we’d ended up riding the same carriage from Holy Knight Order headquarters all the way here.
I’d thought Sena would come with her father, Serxes, but it seemed she’d traveled separately.
“You’re a peerless knight who achieved tremendous feats at just sixteen. How could I not care?”
Even as she grumbled like that, Sena didn’t seem genuinely upset.
She’d once agonized over feelings of inferiority toward me, but it looked like she’d gotten over it now.
“You’ve arrived, Lady Sena. Sion.”
“We were waiting!”
Approaching us then were Cain and Robel.
Both were dressed in sharp formal attire. Had they picked it out themselves, or had Helena chosen it for them?
“Lady Sena, you look stunning today.”
“The new dress really suits you—it’s a whole new look.”
“R-Really? Sion didn’t say a word.”
Sena glanced at me with an awkward expression, and Cain and Robel’s eyes widened.
“Hey, Sion! How can a gentleman say nothing like that?”
“Not complimenting a lady in a dress? No wonder you won’t be popular with girls later!”
“Are you two popular with girls, then?”
“…”
“…”
I’d just responded without thinking, and Cain and Robel bit their lips, staring at the ground.
I hadn’t expected that reaction…
“I think Lady Sena is beautiful as always, so I didn’t feel the need to point out that she looks different.”
“W-What?”
“As a holy knight in full gear or in a dress, Lady Sena is Lady Sena.”
“…”
Sena fell silent, at a loss for words.
“No, Sion. Even so, saying it like that comes off wrong. It sounds like she looks the same no matter what she wears.”
“Yeah! You’re dressed pretty sharp yourself right now! If someone said it doesn’t matter how much effort you put into it, wouldn’t that bum you out?”
“My subordinates picked out my outfit, so I wouldn’t know.”
When I’d said I had nothing suitable for the family meeting, Lieselotte had dragged me to the market with the female knights from the 13th Unit.
I’d spent the whole day being their dress-up doll, and it had left me exhausted…
“Look at this guy. Where does he get off lying like that?”
“Haven’t you noticed all your cousin sisters stealing glances at you? You clearly put effort into looking good today.”
“Don’t mind it.”
As we bickered with our cousins over our outfits, some people approached us.
“What’s all the commotion?”
“Everyone’s here.”
It was Sena’s father, Serxes, and Cain and Robel’s mother, Helena.
“Do you all think you’re still children? Don’t embarrass yourselves.”
“S-Sorry.”
At her husband’s rebuke, Sena immediately bowed her head, and Cain and Robel hastily followed suit.
“Sion, is this your first official attendance?”
“Yes, I was only twelve four years ago.”
“Carry yourself with the dignity befitting a member of the Aleyas family. Don’t shame your father—or the family head.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Tch…”
Serxes clicked his tongue, apparently displeased with my response.
Helena spoke up from beside him.
“Don’t be so hard on him, brother.”
“Don’t coddle him, Helena.”
“Dignity is fine, but being too quiet isn’t good either. Especially not today.”
“…”
Serxes scowled.
But he said nothing more and walked off.
Watching his back, Helena muttered to herself.
“He still doesn’t like you, huh. Even after you brought them victory.”
“I wish Uncle treated me with as much affection as you do, Aunt.”
“Who’s loving who? Don’t say creepy stuff like that. Ugh, gives me chills.”
Helena glared at me, eyes narrowed.
“But Lady Helena, what you just said…”
“Oh, that.”
Helena lifted her chin at Sena’s question.
“Look over there.”
“Ah…”
In the direction Helena pointed.
A good number of people had gathered, chatting amiably.
At the center stood an elderly man with a sharp gaze.
[Who’s that?]
‘Gretus Aleyas, head of the southern branch.’
A memorable figure.
Ianus’s cousin’s younger brother, one of the loudest voices in the Aleyas family.
He oversaw the Holy Knight Order’s southern branch and effectively commanded all the regional knight orders deployed across the south.
“Remember that massive rebellion in the south last summer? He crushed it, and apparently got an audience with His Imperial Majesty for his medal not long ago.”
“An audience with His Imperial Majesty…!”
The Emperor was the supreme ruler of the Sacred Empire, which held dominion over this continent.
The position was largely symbolic, but meeting the Emperor in person was still a tremendous honor.
“And I hear all his kids advanced a circle each this time.”
“All of them? So then…”
“Yeah, three at 7-circle became three 8-circle knights.”
“Impressive.”
“That’s why they’re acting like the stars of this family meeting.”
So that was why Serxes and Helena were irritated.
With the main house sidelined, the southern branch strutting around was bound to annoy them.
“There’s even talk they might bring up opinions on the next Knight Order Leader at this meeting.”
“What kind of opinions?”
“What else?”
Helena didn’t elaborate on Sena’s question.
But I could guess.
[He wants a shot at next Knight Order Leader for himself?]
‘Probably.’
The next Knight Order Leader was expected to be one of Ianus’s children: Serxes, Helena, Estrid, or Kurt.
But if Gretus threw his hat in, it would shake up the race dramatically.
“Is that even possible?”
Helena frowned at my question.
“Can’t say. Depends on what stance Father takes.”
“…”
Was it possible Ianus would pass over his own children and name Gretus as next Knight Order Leader?
Coming from Helena, I couldn’t dismiss it.
[What a mess.]
As Igzard said, it felt like the Aleyas family’s power struggle was getting even more tangled.
* * *
In the grand banquet hall, I took seats with Sena, Cain, and Robel when someone approached right away.
“You must be Sion.”
He was a dignified man in his sixties.
Recognizing his face, I bowed deeply.
“Greetings, Hamilton Branch Head.”
“Hm? You know who I am?”
“I remember you on stage at the family meeting four years ago. I memorized faces then.”
Hamilton Aleyas was Ianus’s second brother’s son and led the Holy Knight Order’s eastern branch.
For reference, the Order had three branches: eastern, western, and southern. The northern region fell under the Dialogue Church’s sphere, so headquarters managed it directly—no separate branch.
“I’m glad you remembered my face.”
Hamilton nodded with a gentle smile.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. They say you played a key role in the recent subjugation?”
“I just followed Branch Head Serxes and Grand Master Estrid.”
“Modest too. Impressive.”
With that, Hamilton patted my shoulder.
“They say you’ve reached 8-circle mana.”
“Yes, it just happened that way.”
“Once you become a peerless knight, you can’t keep leading a single knight brigade under the Independent Knight Brigade like now. You’ll need a new position.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“What do you say, Sion?”
Hamilton placed a hand on my shoulder.
“How about joining the eastern branch? With Marquis Klaus’s fall, we need to reassign regional knight orders there. I’d love if you came.”
“You mean lead a regional knight order?”
“That’s no different from your current Independent Knight Brigade leadership. I’d like you to take command of a knight brigade overseeing that sector.”
Sena, Cain, and Robel, who’d been listening, looked stunned.
“Knight Brigade Leader?”
“Commanding multiple regional knight orders at once?”
“That’s regiment commander level at headquarters…!”
Regional knight orders were deployed across the land.
A knight brigade commanded several at once; each branch had 3 to 5.
Hamilton was offering me leadership of one.
“Sixteen—no, turning seventeen soon? True, no one’s ever led a brigade at seventeen. But becoming a peerless knight at seventeen is unprecedented too.”
“Yes…”
“What do you say, Sion? If you’re interested, I can speak to the Knight Order Leader right away…”
Right then.
A deep voice came from behind.
“No cutting in line, Brother Hamilton.”
Turning, I saw a burly middle-aged man with rippling muscles.
“Who decided to scout Sion already?”
“Newyork, what are you talking about?”
Newyork Aleyas.
He led the western branch.
I recalled he was Ianus’s third brother’s only child.
We’d clashed on the battlefield a few times before; as his build suggested, he was a power fighter wielding immense strength.
“Sion, don’t go east.”
“Branch Head Newyork, this is so sudden…”
“Come west. I’ll make you deputy branch head.”
Deputy branch head.
Sena, Cain, and Robel completely flipped out at that.
“D-Deputy branch head?”
“Right below branch head?”
“T-This is insane!”
Deputy branch head was exactly what it sounded: the number two in the branch.
He was offering me the spot right below him.
“Hey, Newyork. Isn’t that overkill?”
“I believe Sion has what it takes. That’s why I’m offering—and it’s not overkill.”
“Even so, deputy branch head at sixteen—no, seventeen…”
“Didn’t you just say age doesn’t matter, Brother Hamilton?”
“Er, uh. Well…”
“What do you say, Sion?”
Newyork gripped my other shoulder—the one Hamilton had patted.
“Tempting, right? A chance to claim deputy branch head at seventeen.”
“I’d need to think about it…”
“Experience as deputy will be huge for your future. Especially if you aim for Knight Order Leader someday.”
At “Knight Order Leader,” Hamilton flinched and stared at Newyork.
“H-Hey, Newyork! How can you bring up Knight Order Leader already!”
“Why not? Sion could aim for the one after next.”
Newyork swept his gaze over Sena, Cain, and Robel as he said it.
“These kids are probably gunning for it too.”
“…”
No one could argue.
All three harbored ambitions as Aleyas family members, separate from their parents.
“Hey, you lot. Jealous of Sion?”
“We…”
“No need to answer.”
Newyork ruffled Sena, Cain, and Robel’s hair one by one.
More like messed it up wildly.
“If you’re jealous, use it as fuel to train harder! The successor race is far off, and by then you might outpace Sion!”
“Y-Yes…!”
“Got it!”
“We’ll train harder!”
After their responses, Newyork turned back to me.
“And to keep ahead of these kids, Sion, coming under me is your best bet.”
“Hey, Newyork. That’s a logical leap.”
“Perfectly logical, brother. Don’t nitpick.”
“This guy…”
Tension between the two escalated.
Onlookers watched worriedly, but no one dared intervene—both were 8-circle peerless knights.
“Enough, Lord Hamilton. Lord Newyork.”
I stepped in, unable to stand it.
“Thank you for the offers. But I haven’t thought about my path yet. I need time to consider.”
“Hm, still, the eastern branch is best. I can arrange something besides brigade leader.”
“Come to the western branch! Guard the west’s peace in sync with me!”
“So anyway…”
As I pondered how to mediate the still-glaring great-uncles.
Another voice came from above my head.
“Branch heads, don’t fight over my son.”
Looking up, a sturdy man behind me rested a hand on my shoulder with a smile.
“I’m not giving him to anyone.”
My father, Kurt.