Chapter 9
Arelon was silent for a moment.
As a trained warrior, his emotions and expressions did not show on the outside, but he was quite surprised.
He finally understood the true meaning behind the Youngest Grand Duchess suddenly attending the teachers’ classes and dismissing four out of the six teachers.
Everyone had thought that the Grand Duchess, who loved her younger siblings dearly, had fired those who were unqualified to teach them.
If not that, they thought she had become angry because those teachers had acted arrogantly and disrespectfully toward the precious young master, who had openly been treated as the heir of the Grand Ducal family while standing behind Baron Arenta.
Arelon had thought the same.
But that was not the reason.
The Grand Duchess had not dismissed the teachers because of their lack of ability or their shortcomings.
The Grand Duchess was preparing for the future.
The future of Winter that she envisioned.
She wanted the young master’s teacher to be someone who could educate her younger siblings according to her wishes and create the future she desired.
“Someone with the rightful bloodline of Winter can create any future for Winter that they desire.”
Arelon spoke in a low voice.
It was something decided from the moment he became an official knight of the White Sword Order and swore his loyalty to the Grand Duke.
His predecessors had done so.
He would do so.
And his successor would do the same.
The future of Winter was their future.
Giving their loyalty to the descendants of Winter was the pride that moved the White Sword Order.
“I see. Good.”
The corners of Eliana’s lips curved upward into a graceful smile.
Beneath the gentle smile that bloomed like a flower was an unwavering determination and certainty.
“Please continue to serve as Hestin’s teacher.”
“It is only natural. The young master will become a lord who leaves his name in Winter’s history.”
“I hope so too.”
Eliana replied.
A lord who would leave his name in Winter’s history.
It was not a bad thing.
Hestin loved Winter.
He loved her and Elena.
He loved the people of Winter.
She knew that would not change even as he grew older.
She knew the future of Hestin, who would become the Grand Duke.
And she knew Hestin, who even after becoming the Emperor, still thought of Winter as his hometown.
“May I dare ask you one thing?”
While Eliana was thinking about Hestin’s future, Arelon asked.
“Of course.”
“May I ask why you suddenly made such a decision?”
Arelon asked carefully in a low voice.
It was famous that the Grand Duchess cherished her younger siblings.
But that alone could not explain many things.
Even before she fell into her sickbed, the Grand Duchess cared for her siblings.
Before the Grand Duchess’s death, before Count Winchet and his wife passed away, and before the Grand Duke fell into despair and neglected his duties.
Of course, after the unfortunate deaths of the Grand Duchess and the Count couple, she became their sibling, guardian, and teacher.
Even then, the Grand Duchess never crossed the line.
She always made sure others understood that her place was only as the eldest daughter, and that one day she would leave the North as the Crown Prince’s wife.
She never crossed the boundary she had drawn herself.
As if she wished to remain only their older sister forever.
But was there another reason why she had decided to involve herself in Winter’s future under the justification of protecting it?
Perhaps her long time spent bedridden and her awakening had caused a change in her heart.
If that change was not a good one, and if the Grand Duchess had an improper goal, what should he do?
Should he simply follow her?
Or should he offer advice?
Thoughts chased after thoughts, and questions created doubt and choices.
“The reason…?”
“Yes.”
“Are you curious?”
“If it is not disrespectful, then yes.”
Eliana’s eyes moved around.
What should she say?
She could not reveal the truth.
She needed to choose her words carefully.
Something that would make him understand and become even more loyal to Winter.
And it had to be sincere.
Although he was a warrior, she did not believe that a man who had been raised as a noble from birth would fail to notice empty words or lies.
“I want the person with the rightful qualifications to become the master of Winter.”
“……”
After a brief pause, Eliana slowly continued.
Rather than showing her emotions as a sister who loved her siblings, she needed to make him understand first.
“That position which rules the entire northern region of the Empire. It is only natural that the person sitting there must be someone who understands and can carry the height and weight of that responsibility.”
One movement of a ruler’s hand.
One word from their mouth.
The lives and deaths of ordinary people could be decided.
Because it was a position responsible for countless lives and countless futures, the weight of that responsibility and duty was never light.
That was why rulers were required to possess abilities close to perfection.
Even while knowing that a perfect person could never exist, people demanded and pursued perfection.
Unfortunately, that was what it meant to hold a position where one was responsible for the lives of others.
A land ruled by an unqualified leader would become barren.
The lives of its people would be filled with suffering.
It could not be declared with absolute certainty, but was it not already proven through countless examples in history?
In that sense, Baron Arenta, who was trying to steal his nephews’ position because of his inferiority complex and obsession with power, had no qualifications.
Even if it was not the position of Grand Duke, she believed he lacked the qualifications to lead and embrace any group.
“I want to protect the person with those qualifications until they grow, understand that responsibility and burden, and are ready to willingly accept them.”
So that someone who had no qualifications would not dare covet it.
So that such a person would not throw the children’s future into the flames of hell.
At the very least, she wanted to do that much.
“And…”
Eliana let out a small breath.
The true reason she wanted to protect the children’s position.
Her sincerity.
And her change.
“…I want the children to be happy.”
Eliana smiled gently.
This was her true feeling.
She did not want the children to walk the thorny path of Winter’s law.
She wanted them to be a little happier.
It would be nice if life only had flower-filled roads, but that was impossible.
Humans were creatures who created their lives while suffering, grieving, loving, and hating.
Even so, if she could wish for something…
Even if they could not walk only on flower-covered paths, she hoped the lives ahead of them would not be a road through the fires of hell.
That was the wish of Eliana, who had loved her siblings.
And it was the wish of Eliana, who had come to love these children.
“I understand.”
Arelon nodded.
“I will do my best so that your wish may come true, Your Grace.”
Arelon answered.
There was no falsehood or deception in his upright eyes.
After seeing his expression, Eliana pushed back her chair and stood.
Then she bowed her waist.
“!!!”
Arelon was startled by the sudden action of the Grand Duchess and hurriedly stood up.
He wanted to stop her and tell her not to do this, but he could not casually touch the Grand Duchess.
He could neither move nor say anything.
Eliana straightened her body and wore a gentle smile.
“I could see how well you have taught Hestin during this time. Please continue to take good care of Hestin in the future.”
“I will repay this honor.”
Arelon knelt on one knee and lowered his head.
He wanted to help create the future of Winter that the Grand Duchess envisioned.
The Grand Duchess was a capable person.
And she was an upright person.
A land ruled by a fair and righteous ruler brought prosperity.
What kind of future would this land have when ruled by a lord taught by someone capable and wise?
There was no need to think about it.
The future that would arrive for the Grand Ducal family…
He could not even dare imagine it.
He was greatly looking forward to it.
After Arelon left the reception room, Eliana remained alone.
She looked at the teacup across from her, which had not a single drop of tea left.
After staring at the empty teacup for a long time, the corners of Eliana’s lips slowly curved upward.
‘Good.’
She recalled the man with dark brown hair and black eyes who had just sat across from her and drank tea before leaving.
Eliana had known him even before she attended Hestin’s classes.
That was because Arelon was a person who appeared in Winter’s Law and had left a very strong impression on her.
Arelon was the eldest son of the Melitier Viscount family, one of the vassal families of the Grand Ducal household.
The Melitier family had originally been responsible for the military forces of the Grand Ducal family, and their loyalty ran deep.
Their ancestor was Arkel Melitier, the friend and comrade-in-arms of the first Grand Duke.
Melitier and Winter had always treated each other with loyalty and friendship.
His ancestors had served as commanders of the White Sword Order for generations.
His father and grandfather had both been commanders of the White Sword Order.
They were the swords of the Grand Ducal family.
Like his ancestors and predecessors, Arelon had faithfully served the Grand Ducal family.
Therefore, he opposed Baron Arenta becoming the Grand Duke despite not possessing the blood of Winter.
To them, seeing someone without the blood of Winter sitting on the Grand Duke’s throne was more horrifying than death itself.
The position of Grand Duke was not something one could obtain simply because they desired it, because they were the smartest among the children of the Grand Duke, or because they were chosen by the previous generation.
For a successor to be recognized as legitimate, the agreement and loyalty of the vassals were essential.
That was why Baron Arenta first tried to persuade the vassals.
For a baron who did not possess the blood of the Grand Ducal family to be recognized as the rightful successor, the agreement and loyalty of the vassals were absolutely necessary.
Even if he suppressed opposition through threats and bribery and sat upon the Grand Duke’s throne, the moment someone exposed his origins and lack of bloodline, his position would weaken.
Some families were convinced by Baron Arenta’s persuasion and recognized his succession, swearing loyalty.
However, the remaining families refused to acknowledge his succession until the very end.
Some even submitted petitions to the Imperial Family, saying that if there were no more descendants of the Grand Ducal family, it would be better for the North to belong directly to the Empire.
Faced with opposition from some of his vassals, Baron Arenta began purging the families that opposed his succession.
The vassal families that opposed the Baron’s succession were eliminated overnight, leaving behind only traces of blood.
The empty positions were filled by granting titles to the second sons of families that had agreed to support his succession.
Witnessing this scene, Arelon disappeared with all the knights who followed him when Baron Arenta gave him his final deadline.
The knights of the White Sword Order and Arelon had originally intended to choose death.
However, because of the final words left behind by Eliana, the legitimate heir of the Grand Ducal family and the most rightful successor, they decided to stay alive.
“The Grand Duchess told us not to throw away our lives. She valued our lives more than Winter’s honor and asked us to survive so that we could become strength for the young master in the future. As knights who failed to protect our lord, we are ashamed to continue living. However, since it was her final wish, please forgive us for abandoning Winter and running away to survive.”
The scene where he secretly came after hearing that Hestin was alive and begged for forgiveness was one of the most memorable scenes.
There had been countless comments saying they wanted Hestin to live happily with Lucilla while they took Arelon away.
Together with the knights of the White Sword Order, he hid their identities and used the unparalleled swordsmanship and strategies of the North to create a mercenary guild.
It took less than a year for that guild to become greatly successful.
After hearing that Hestin, whom everyone believed dead, was alive, he secretly met him and swore to help him inherit the position of Grand Duke.
In the end, he became the loyal subject and founding contributor who helped Hestin ascend to the throne as Emperor and establish the new imperial era.
He was granted the title of Marquis.
A man like him could be trusted.
He would become Hestin’s excellent teacher and loyal vassal in the future.
And the North ruled by those two would achieve unprecedented prosperity.
Eliana could confidently believe it.
Without a doubt.
