Heir of the Carpoem House
“Abi! Abigail!”
“Lady!”
Smoke shrouded their figures from view. When I turned toward the voices, Ren had cloaked himself in invisibility magic. Only his voice reached me.
“I tried to minimize the damage as much as possible, but this was the limit. I'm sorry.”
“It's fine. It was my fault from the beginning anyway.”
This was the terrifying power that had turned the building into a pile of ashes. Even Ren couldn't have blocked it easily. Cursing the dragon inwardly, I pushed my way out of the ruins.
“Father?”
“Abi!”
I looked at him with a dazed expression. The duke's face was as pale as if he'd seen a ghost. The moment he spotted me, he came running like a madman.
“Abi! Are you alright?”
“Y-yes. I'm fine.”
“Oh, thank the gods.”
Then he pulled me into a tight embrace. I'd never been held like this by anyone before, so I flinched in surprise. But the more I tensed up, the tighter he squeezed me into his chest.
“Gods above, I give you my deepest thanks.”
“……”
Even knowing his worry wasn't truly for me, my eyes grew hot and misty. But now, I had no desire to push him away. I placed my hands on his back and hugged him in return.
“I'm okay now, Father.”
I could do things Abigail never could. There was no need to fear the shadow of someone who no longer existed. For the first time, I felt ready to become the real deal.
“I thought something terrible had happened to you.”
“Father……”
Behind the duke, I saw Serrian Sinus and Jade Mare. Both let out sighs of relief upon seeing I was unharmed. They issued orders to a few knights to extinguish the still-burning building.
I glanced back at the ruined structure collapsed into rubble. Thanks to Ren's protection, the spot where I'd stood was miraculously intact. The building was still ablaze with the mana I'd unleashed, flames roaring fiercely.
It was a fearsome power. The dragon's strength would surely incinerate any enemies who dared stand in its way, just like those raging flames.
From within my father's arms, I gazed at the inferno.
* * *
The building I'd turned into a wasteland belonged to the 1st Knight Order. Deep down, I felt profound guilt toward them.
It was a massive incident that could have turned the Carpoem Ducal House upside down, but it was swiftly buried. The duke had stepped in to seal everyone's lips. Fortunately, most witnesses were knights with unyielding loyalty, so they obeyed without question. The knight order's building was written off as a simple fire, and servants were already calling in workers for cleanup.
“How's your body holding up?”
“It's fine, Father.”
After returning to the mansion, I rested for a while. Ever since absorbing the Dragon's Mana, my body hadn't felt the same, leaving me disoriented. Strength overflowed uselessly. The slightest pressure shattered teacups and bent forks. I stayed in my room until I could control it.
So I spent the day eating meals brought by the maids, training to manage my mana whenever Ren or the Magic Tower Master visited. After a few days, the duke came to see me. He regarded me with a gravely serious gaze.
“Have you met him?”
“You mean the dragon?”
“Yes.”
I recalled the dragon from my dream. He'd appeared as a boy about Abigail's age, with black hair and red eyes. He looked just like what a Carpoem son might be.
“Yes, he came to me in a dream. A boy with black hair and red eyes, looking like he belonged to the ducal house.”
“A boy, huh. That's how he appeared to you.”
“Did he look different to you, Father?”
I tilted my head, and he nodded.
“I met him as a tall young man. I was on the cusp of my coming-of-age ceremony then, so he might match the viewer's age.”
“Ah, so he takes on a form matching one's peers.”
Honestly, I didn't have a good impression of the dragon. Forcing his power on me when I said I hated humans? His overbearing attitude made me frown just thinking about it.
“Are dragons always such bad-tempered creatures?”
“Heh, he wasn't particularly kind to me either.”
“He was awful.”
I wanted to vent a string of curses, but I held back in front of the duke. He watched me for a moment with an amused smile before speaking.
“He's been involved with the ducal house for ages. They say it's due to a contract with the first duke, his son, but the truth is lost to time.”
The duke's eyes narrowed, as if recalling his own encounter. I pictured the dragon, impatient and eager to dump the power and leave. They probably hadn't talked long either. The dragon was a profoundly suspicious being.
“So no one's seen the actual dragon?”
“Right. As you know, dragons are mythical creatures of legend. Yet the one who bestowed the Carpoem name continues appearing in heirs' dreams to grant power.”
“Ah, so his name……”
“Some say Carpoem was originally the dragon's true name.”
Next time, I'd ask if it was true—but I doubted I'd meet him again. He only showed briefly to heirs. If I'd known beforehand, I would've asked more.
“It would've been nice if you'd told me earlier.”
“……”
My petulant tone darkened his expression. It was an offhand comment, but his pallor unsettled me.
“Father?”
He looked up at me, his face grave.
“I didn't want to tell you. I hoped you'd live freely, ignorant of dragons and awakenings and all that. I didn't want to burden you with the ducal house's chains.”
“……”
The duke hadn't wanted Abigail to suffer. Gaining the dragon's power and succeeding the house meant joining regular subjugations, living a life battling monsters. That was the duke's fate. He avoided it now due to illness, but once he'd been endlessly busy fighting for his people.
If I became his heir, I'd shoulder what he couldn't. And he dreaded that.
“It's the same now. Even though the dragon chose you, if it's not what you want, I won't make you heir. Abi, live freely as you desire.”
“Father……”
Surprisingly, he hadn't simply abandoned Abigail. Had he kept his distance to let her escape the ducal fate? Unaware, she'd thrown tantrums. They were a father-daughter pair sorely lacking in communication.
“I understand your feelings, Father.”
I decided to acknowledge his heart first. But I had no intention of obeying.
I had to seize this chance. Abigail had lived freely as she wished, only to die miserably. Her status relied on him being alive. Though the sole legitimate child, without power or followers, she was nothing. Once betrothed to the crown prince, the annulment stripped her bare. With the house shaken and opposition from the vassals, she became nothing more than a figurehead.
I couldn't end up like that. What I needed wasn't freedom, but power. Absolute power to protect myself, even if the duke fell. The dukedom itself.
“But there must be a reason the dragon chose me. I don't want to squander it.”
“Abi, but……”
“And above all, I want it. I want to be someone who serves our house. To make you proud, Father.”
I met his eyes earnestly.
“Recognize me as the Carpoem heir.”
A formally acknowledged heir was titled sub-duke, wielding near-ducal authority. With imperial recognition, they'd grant baronial status at least. The palace might resist due to the engagement annulment, but the duke's word alone would earn sub-duke treatment in the north.
“Is that truly what you want?”
“Yes.”
I nodded, meeting his gaze. His eyes were deep pools of concern. Even when Abigail went astray, he'd let her be for freedom's sake. He worried for the daughter facing a harsh path and wanted to dissuade her sincerely.
“Don't worry. I'm a Carpoem too. I can handle it. And you'll help me plenty, right, Father?”
Truthfully, I was anxious myself. I'd been an ordinary person before possession—a mere 'background pedestrian No. 1.' But I'd do better than original Abigail. With her memories as a cautionary tale. Above all, I had reliable allies now: the duke, Knight Order Commander Serrian, sword instructor Sir Jade, ever-helpful maids, and improved relations with the staff. Unlike isolated Abigail.
“Alright. I understand.”
“Ah, and one more thing.”
I remembered something else to request.
“Please proceed with annulling my engagement to Crown Prince Michael as well, Father.”
“You intend to break it off with His Highness?”
“Yes. If I'm formally succeeding the dukedom, wouldn't it be best?”
“Hm.”
It was the perfect opportunity.
“Very well. Perhaps finding a suitable son-in-law from a good house would be wiser.”
“A son-in-law sounds great.”
“Are you truly fine with it? Didn't you adore His Highness?”
I had no plans for engagement or marriage anytime soon. Nobles here wed young, but not me. Pre-possession, I'd been a committed singleton—marriage-free life was bliss. Romance held little appeal; I'd delay it as long as possible.
“Honestly, His Highness's face is getting a bit tiresome.”
“Tiresome...face?”
I recalled the crown prince's dazzling features. Too soon to tire; I hadn't even fully appreciated them. Abigail had chased him for that beauty. But my life came first. Survive now, find a handsome equal later.
I nodded solemnly.
“Yes. As a child, I chased after him because I liked him, but not anymore. And people aren't just their looks, right?”
“Heh, hahaha. True.”
Amused by my diss on the prince, the duke chuckled heartily.
“Best to announce it at the upcoming Magic Festival.”
“Ah, I think so too, Father.”
Perfect idea. The Magic Festival was open to commoners too—no class barriers for magic talent. Northern events allowed plebeian participation to scout talent. The duke naming me heir there would make waves, forcing recognition across the north.
“Then rest now.”
“Yes, Father.”
After seeing him off, I immediately summoned someone: Magic Tower Master Benjamin Wall. He appeared in the room's center, frowning deeply at my call.
“Didn't I tell you not to summon me like a dog?”