Chapter 56: Attitude

“Just now… what did you… say?”

“Hoo. It must be very sudden and shocking, but please stay calm and listen. So, to put it again, Eileen is carrying my child. She’s not alone anymore.”

“What the hell is that…?”

“Don’t worry too much. I will take proper responsibility and make her my wife. From now on, the Devellion family will take care of the Starlight family as ‘family,’ I promise.”

“Uh… uh, uh, uh…”

Richard muttered with a face of disbelief.

He seemed to have lost his words, unable to speak.

He was so shocked that he kept repeating monosyllables like a broken machine, pitiful to see.

‘This is quite regrettable.’

The news of my daughter, who just entered the academy, being pregnant.

If we consider the time before possession, it’s like my twenty-year-old daughter, who just entered college, is having a child.

Of course, in this world, it’s not that strange for Eileen to have a child at her age.

Still, the sudden declaration of ‘your daughter is amazing’ was too much.

But then, Richard, who had just regained his language system, flashed his eyes at Eileen.

“E, Eileen, is what the Grand Duke said true?”

“Uh, uh. That is…”

“Speak up! Now!”

But perhaps because the words were too shocking.

Richard asked Eileen with a serious face.

Hmm. Eileen also had a very flustered expression.

I wonder if she can answer properly.

‘There’s no other way.’

I have to help a little.

I held Eileen’s hand and gently squeezed it.

Crunch-

“…..”

“Let’s be honest, Eileen.”

“Th, Grand Duke…”

“Yes. I’m here by your side. Don’t worry.”

‘It’s sudden, but please follow my lead. This is the only way to pull your family away from the 1st Prince. I’ll take responsibility afterward.’

“Eek. You’re taking responsibility for me…”

Hearing my telepathic message, Eileen blushed.

Her pink lips fumbled as she tried to say something.

But somehow, the conversation seems to have gone slightly off track.

Is it just my imagination?

I had doubts, but there was no time to dwell on them.

Richard has been staring at us intensely since earlier.

This is bad.

At this rate, instead of cooperation, we might get kicked out.

“I understand…”

Finally, Eileen nodded and murmured faintly.

Seeing the determination on her face, it seems she fully understood my intentions.

Then, she looked at Richard with unwavering eyes and said.

“His Excellency is right. We are already together. I’m sorry for not telling you earlier, Lord.”

“Is that true? Can you swear that it’s true?”

“Yes.”

“Hoo. A child who has never lied in her life is saying this. So, you two have truly shared feelings without any formal engagement…”

Richard said with a desolate expression.

Surprisingly, he didn’t get angry or blame us, perhaps because there were too many shocking events today, he seemed to have calmed down.

[The master is really impressive. Boldly declaring in front of the father that he got the daughter pregnant. Such a manly figure is bound to be admired.]

‘Shut up.’

[Hoot! This sense of self-awareness is thrilling. As expected, the master’s charisma is the best.]

‘Damn it. I trusted this guy’s words and ended up doing this. It’s all my fault. My fault!’

[Hey. Don’t be too disheartened. There probably wasn’t a better way.]

‘Well. First, we need to get through this situation.’

I wrapped up the chit-chat with Cheonryeo and observed Richard’s expression.

He was frowning deeply, perhaps his forehead was throbbing.

He must be thinking about whether to side with me or Maximilian now.

Although it might seem like he’s wavering, the fact that he’s showing such hesitation already gives the answer.

He will eventually join hands with me.

But he will ask questions to understand me better, so I need to respond appropriately.

After a while.

Richard opened his mouth with difficulty and looked at me.

“Grand Duke. It seems too many things have happened today, and my head is spinning. Please understand.”

“Hmm. I understand. It must be confusing. If there’s anything you want to say, feel free to speak. I will listen.”

“…Alright. Then, I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“Earlier, you said the Devellion and Starlight families would become family, right?”

“That’s right.”

“And you said you would make Eileen your wife.”

“Of course. I will take responsibility and make her happy.”

The translation of the sentence is:

“Then, I am asking because I want to be a father, even just a little, but is the Grand Duke’s wife only my daughter?”

“…..”

This is insane.

Why is he asking this all of a sudden?

Even though he forced Eileen to dress as a man for the family’s sake, is he really a father?

I swallowed my saliva as I looked at Richard, who was asking seriously.

What should I do? 

Eileen is also watching, so it’s awkward to answer.

There was a way to lie while being cautious, but I didn’t want to hide the fact that Lucy and the other women would become my wives.

At that moment, seeing me unable to respond easily, Richard seemed to have guessed something and let out a short breath.

“Ha. I understand. If you’re a duke, there must be other women as well. So, is it two women?”

“…No.”

“Huh. Then, have you already had three women, including my daughter, by your side?”

“That’s not it.”

“Not three? Then, four?”

“…..”

“Don’t tell me! Five!?”

“…..”

“…..”

A heavy silence fell in the reception room.

In the suffocating air, Richard’s face twisted like a demon.

After a long time.

He opened his mouth.

“The Grand Duke. I challenge you to a duel.”

* * *

‘This is insane. What kind of situation is this?’

Richard challenged me to a duel, and as time passed,

When the sky was getting dark, we stood facing each other with swords in the Starlight family’s training ground.

I stood in the wide open space and looked up at the sky blankly.

‘Wow. The weather is nice.’

Perhaps because we’re in a territory far from the capital.

The sky seemed clearer.

The white Milky Way flowing across the black background.

And around it, shining dots were beautifully embedded.

Then, Eileen came close and whispered.

“I’m sorry. I never thought my father would challenge you to a duel…”

“It’s okay. That’s how a father’s heart is.”

“It seems more like he wants to get to know you by crossing swords rather than a fight to decide the outcome. Please don’t be angry.”

“A swordsman speaks with his sword. I understand.”

I looked up at the night sky and responded to Eileen.

I already knew Richard didn’t challenge me to a duel out of emotion.

No. Maybe there was a lot of emotion involved.

But surely, he must have considered many other things before challenging me.

Perhaps he wanted to see my strength directly before breaking his loyalty to Maximilian.

Or, as Eileen said, he wanted to have a conversation through swords.

A swordsman of Richard’s level would know.

That swordsmen who have reached a certain level pour their mindset into their swords.

What mindset am I pouring into my sword?

The mindset I’ve been pouring into my sword on the path to becoming a Grandmaster.

I just need to show that honestly to Richard.

If we get through this situation well, I can get both the Starlight family and Eileen.

‘Good. Then, let’s give it a try.’

As Eileen headed to the edge of the training ground.

I focused on the duel and looked ahead.

There, about ten steps away, Richard stood with a longsword drawn.

The longsword, shining faintly under the starlight.

After a while, he spoke.

“I apologize for being late due to meetings with vassals. I kept Grand Duke waiting.”

“It’s fine. Dueling under the night sky has its own charm.”

“…Before we begin the duel, there’s something I want to say.”

“What is it?”

“The Starlight family has pledged loyalty to Grand Duke and his Highness the Princess.”

“!”

I tightened my grip on the sword as I listened to Richard’s words.

Did we finally do it!

Although it was a drastic method, it worked, and I’m glad.

Richard continued.

“However, I have two requests.”

“Requests. Speak.”

“First, it might be presumptuous, but I want to see the mindset in Grand Duke’s sword.”

“The mindset in my sword. Can you elaborate?”

“I heard that the Grand Duke plans to have many wives. So, I want to see what kind of person you are.”

“That’s quite presumptuous. You need to know more about me to be sure?”

“Yes. The sword is a swordsman’s means of conversation.”

Richard said as he poured mana into his sword.

Soon, a pure white light shimmered on his sword.

A longsword wrapped in a distinct, though not flamboyant, aura of stars.

That is Richard’s aura.

It seemed to show his mindset, so I unconsciously focused on it.

What mindset has he had towards Eileen?

I gazed at the star aura for a moment and then looked away.

“I see. And the other?”

“My son, Luke’s illness has not been cured. Because of that, it’s difficult to leave the 1st Prince’s side now… It’s shameful, but I need help with this.”

Richard said in a self-deprecating tone.

The fact that the family’s eldest son is struggling with illness must be his greatest concern.

But there’s no need to worry.

I already have a plan prepared to solve that concern.

‘Let’s see. If we rush from the headquarters of the church, it should be about time to arrive….

“Lord!”

At that moment, a female servant rushed in from the entrance of the training ground.

She must have come in a hurry, her hair disheveled.

Her face showed urgency, and she was breathing heavily.

We all focused our gaze on her, wondering what was going on.

“What is it? I told you not to disturb me while I have an important matter with His Excellency.”

“Th, that is… there’s something urgent to tell you…”

“Urgent at this hour? What is it?”

“The highest-ranking priest of the church, Millinarize Whitewell, has arrived!”

“What!?”

Richard was startled by the unexpected visitor.

I smiled with satisfaction at the awaited news.

She’s here. 

My divine power pouch.