The Consequences of Choice
Once again, I found myself seated at the long table surrounded by various shades of golden hair, wondering how on earth I was going to kill time. Last time, I had tried ignoring the Eighth Prince's constant badgering by counting the wood grain patterns on the table, but that hadn't been very effective. I couldn't understand why they insisted on summoning over twenty people for an event where only three actually ran the show. The others sat there with solemn expressions, as if they never grew tired of the same old routine. It was truly no different from the last ceremony. Oh, wait. There was one difference. This time, the Eighth Prince, Selos Abaran, had joined this tedious gathering. It was the first family ceremony held since the hunting festival.
My obnoxious half-brother hadn't said a single word to me today, likely because of the promise we had made regarding formal speech. If he spoke to me, he would have to use polite honorifics to the Seventh Prince in front of everyone. Desperate to avoid that at all costs, Selos kept his mouth shut and did nothing but glare at the table. The sheer tension radiating from him was so palpable that a few people couldn't help but steal glances at him.
Of course, if the Eighth Prince suddenly started calling me "brother" and speaking to me formally, it would cause far more than just a few side-eyes. Since I didn't want that kind of attention either, I chose not to provoke him. So, did this mean I could finally count the wood grains in peace without his pestering? Good grief, to think a day would come when I actually missed that brat's obnoxious attitude, even a tiny bit. As I crossed my arms, amused by my own ridiculous thoughts, a voice laced with laughter drifted from behind me.
"You all look dreadfully bored."
Startled by the arrival of someone they would normally never dare look at, those sitting at the far end of the table instantly straightened their already rigid postures.
"G-Greetings, First Princess."
It was the First Princess, Meltin Abaran, her wheat-colored hair elegantly swept up to reveal her slender neck. This was our first face-to-face meeting since the hunting festival. Her blue eyes sparkled as she scanned the room, her gaze lingering on me for a brief moment before she offered a sly smile.
"Yes, well, this is a meaningful family event, so even if it is a bit dull, do try not to make it so obvious."
Having no other apparent business, she left them with those words and walked gracefully toward the head of the table. Meltin's playful tone left the surrounding nobles flustered, and they quickly bowed their heads. I had no choice but to follow suit. As I slightly raised my head, my eyes met hers. She gave me a mischievous, crinkly-eyed smile before turning away. She just came to tease me.
Watching her act like an older sister chiding her bored younger brother, I felt a wave of relief. It seemed she had concluded that my words at the hunting festival weren't a lie. This meant she had accepted me as a member of the family, and for the time being, I didn't have to worry about her suspecting me. Since one of my biggest anxieties had been resolved, the corners of my mouth twitched upward. Did she actually look into the customs of the eastern nomads I mentioned?
Still, I needed to keep a low profile for the time being. There was absolutely nothing to gain from getting further entangled with her before the protagonist arrived. It would be a massive headache if she kept approaching me to play the doting older sister. Please, just stay away for the rest of the day. As I made that silent prayer, the voice I had briefly missed just moments ago called out to me.
"What is your deal?"
I turned toward the Eighth Prince, who had finally spoken for the first time since entering the banquet hall. And here I thought he'd ignore me all day. Selos was staring at me with a look of utter bewilderment. He looked like a child who had just had his favorite snack snatched away. He was undoubtedly overthinking things again, probably wondering what kind of connection I had with the First Princess.
"What do you mean, 'what'? I am your 'brother,' just as the First Princess is your sister."
When I teased him, his brow furrowed slightly before he snapped his head away. I couldn't tell if he was annoyed by the word "sister" or if "brother" grated on his nerves, but his reaction was delightfully simple. Though, compared to how he used to be, it seemed he had learned a modicum of self-control.
"You can call me that whenever you like, you know."
Despite my prodding, he kept his head turned away, his lips pressed into a tight line. His sheer determination to remain silent rather than speak to me politely made me chuckle. What a child. And honestly, acting like a child suited him best right now. I would be even more grateful if he kept it up in the near future.
When Tollin Crysa finally opened his eyes after being unconscious for a full day, the Fides Duchy had changed completely. He was no longer the Duke's aide, but the Acting Duke. He now bore the burden of protecting the duchy and the Young Duke of Fides from the pack of hyenas eager to tear the unstable estate apart following the Duke's sudden death. Everyone whispered, wondering what the Duke had been thinking when he entrusted the position of Acting Duke to the timid, soft-spoken Tollin Crysa. They sneered, saying he was far too small a man to fill the Duke's massive shoes, that the Fides Duchy would crumble in an instant, and that the young heir would end up penniless on the streets.
Yet, before long, the rumors took a completely different turn. People began whispering that the loyal hound protecting the duchy had turned into a rabid dog, that anyone who dared touch the Fides Duchy would pay in blood, and that the Young Duke of Fides was a pitiful child destined to be raised under the iron fist of Tollin Crysa. In short, everyone agreed on one thing: Tollin Crysa had gone completely mad.
Knock, knock.
"Acting Duke, it's Jack."
"Come in."
At the brief, cold, and sharp response, Jack, the Knight Commander of the duchy, swallowed hard before opening the door. Tollin, whose blue hair had grown long enough to cover his neck and was now loosely tied back, was scanning a stack of documents.
"How is the mood within the order?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the papers.
"Yes, sir. As you ordered, we found those in the Second Order who were spreading rumors about the Young Duke. We severed their thumbs and index fingers as punishment before expelling them. The atmosphere remains tense, but we expect to restore order shortly."
"Good. I hear some of those who left of their own accord are trying to crawl back. Do not let a single one of them return."
"Understood."
Jack looked at the icy Tollin with a heavy heart. Knowing that pity would do Tollin no good, however, he simply saluted at the dismissal, his armor clanking as he turned and left the room.
Agoni Fidus was dead. Executed at the hands of the Imperial Family. The blow this dealt to the duchy was catastrophic. For a long time, Jack had been devastated by the fact that Agoni Fidus, a man who had been his idol, had met such an ignominious end. Agoni Fidus was the loyal sword of the Empire and the proud pillar of the Fides Duchy. Having witnessed his death firsthand, Jack had spent many days in a daze, barely functioning.
But Tollin... Tollin didn't even have the luxury of grieving. Rising from his bed after just a single day, Tollin had transformed into an entirely different person. The timid aide who had smiled awkwardly at the hunting festival, claiming he had tripped over a rock and hit his head on another, was gone. He made decisions swiftly, handled matters ruthlessly, and exacted merciless vengeance.
Within less than two weeks, half of the duchy's servants were dismissed. They were spies and turncoats sent or bribed by those wishing to feast on the wealth and reputation of the leaderless Fides Duchy. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, it was a necessary measure, but Jack was still stunned—and deeply saddened—that the once timid and faint-hearted Tollin had carried it out.
In truth, the duchy was taking more active political strides than ever before, seemingly prospering in a completely new way, so Jack had no reason to grieve as the Knight Commander. Yet, as an old colleague, he couldn't help but feel a quiet sorrow that he would never again see the flustered Tollin who used to be teased by the servants. Among those who had worked alongside Tollin for a long time, there were a few who secretly harbored the same forbidden grief.
"Baron Jones, who owns the neighboring territory, will likely claim ownership of the coal mine discovered in the south. He has an outstanding debt to the duchy from long ago, so tell him we will exchange it for that. Under the law, he has no choice anyway if we threaten to demand immediate repayment."
"Yes, sir. I will see to it."
Nodding at the ruthless command, Tollin's aide, Pale, was also someone who missed the old Tollin. However, because he assisted Tollin directly by his side, he was slightly different from Jack in that he had small opportunities to glimpse the cracks in Tollin's cold facade.
"Also, clear my schedule for this morning so I can visit the temple and check on the progress of the construction."
"Understood."
Pale replied softly and left the office. Ever since the former Duke had passed, Tollin had been living like a machine rather than a human. Yet, there were still moments where his old self shone through—the bitter, unguarded expression that crossed his face whenever he looked at the Young Duke of Fides, or small acts of kindness and lingering attachments like this.
The street orphans, often referred to as the pests of the streets. Instead of cursing and blaming his former master for foolishly throwing his life away for those "pests," Tollin chose to protect the very things his master had died for. Pale believed that this was the last piece of Tollin's true self remaining within him.
Tollin had his carriage stopped along the street during his brief lunch break, gazing out the window at the bustling construction site. Construction was labor-intensive work. Along with a handful of skilled professionals, Tollin had hired those who had lost their livelihoods, wandered the streets, and resorted to petty crimes. It would be slow and expensive, but it would save many lives.
In truth, Tollin still could not comprehend the will of his former master, Agoni Fidus. He did not know if the people the Duke had chosen over his own life and the Fides Duchy were truly worth such a sacrifice. He simply did not want his master's death to be in vain. This endeavor, which was practically a charity project, was his way of honoring the deceased Duke, as well as proof of his vow to protect the Young Duke of Fides. Perhaps it also carried a stubborn resolve not to let things go easily according to the First Prince's wishes.
After receiving a progress report from the supervisor and issuing a few instructions, he ordered the carriage to turn back. All the while, he remained completely unaware of the black bird watching his every move, taking in every single detail.