The young master had seen through the facades.
His change was like a storm.
It was unpredictable and it felt…strange.
He had lent the keys to the Archduchy to Micah.
Micah knows that this was the culmination of the trust given to him.
The trust of the Archduke of Ortiz had finally awakened.
The late Archduke was confident that one day his son would regain his wisdom.
He was right. The young master regained his wisdom and was now working to better himself.
The desire for authority and his lust for women had been reduced to nil.
Angie stayed with the young master. Her devotion was worthy of praise.
Nonetheless, she was also someone who had twisted said devotion.
Especially with the young master's look. His appearance was worthy of the name of Ortiz.
There was a time where the young master had such a face before something broke him. It became the cause of his…reclusion from society. The few who had seen the young master's state had thought of it as unfortunate.
To see the young master in such a prime state, no, there was no way that his form would ever change. His body is now limited because of the sacred sword's benevolence. His constitution allows him to enjoy the six-layer of power. However, there was a price for this. He had observed that his prana was empty, no, it was being drained by his very soul.
The prana reservoir of the young master was the size of a great lake. Now it was a withered lake that was continuously supporting his existence. He had great strength and this sacrifice had given him this form. A refined form that was meant for a man. Of course, the prana reservoir within him could be harvested, but it was only at the level of an advanced layer of prana who could provide healing for himself.
Some may call it cheating. Some may call it unfair, but that was the effect of a sacred sword. The sacred sword that he holds could no longer do what had been done. It was merely a sword that could cut through plate armor without tearing. But it was a decorated sword that acted as a symbol for the family. The relic could only be used by a descendant of the Ortiz Family after it had regained its form.
The young master had given him the right to wield the authority of the Archduchy. He had explained that he needed someone to watch over the Archduchy, a responsibility that he had already been upholding ever since. It changes nothing to his position other than he had no power over the Archduchess herself. The young master would support the young heiress but would let Micah decided on which funds the Archduchy would hand over.
If things were different, the land itself would have been split. But by formally making him the acting-archduke of the Archduchy, he now held power over the Archduchess's funds.
The Archduchess is a woman of ambition. She had the power of a fifth-layer sorcerer and the ability of an advanced swordswoman. She was a step away from advancing her powers as a sorcerer and a woman of the sword. Her talents lie in combat and education.
She was worthy of the seat. If anything it was the Archduke who was not worthy of her.
It was…tragic how she had believed that they were still the same. The Prince-like figure who came to her rescue when they were young turned out to have become such a horrible sight.
Her heart broke at the sight of her 'Prince' turning out to be such a pig.
Her heart broke naturally. The man she thought would become perfect became a detestable pig. A monster who treated her like a thing to satisfy his lust. To serve such a man had reduced her opinion of the young master to the lowest.
A well-respected woman to be reduced to such a state was a blow to her. But due to the overwhelming size of the young master that it was hard for her to get pregnant. Her exercises and training routines made it was difficult for her to bear a child.
When she had gotten pregnant she had left immediately. The young master had been angered by her 'impudence' that Angie and her maids had to satisfy the Archduke. The Archduke had many mistresses over the years. There were those who were able to come and make use of their bodies to get money from the Archduke. It was easy to sell their bodies to the Archduke who commanded such wealth.
But the Archduke spent his time dictating on the affairs of the land. Though he may have been unfit to be called a Son of the Ortiz. He still did his duty through Micah's hands. The Archduke worshiped the ground that his parents and brothers walked.
To save the Archduchy the former archduke and heirs marched to battle. The young master despaired at the sight of the dragon who had become to the Archduchy. Through the efforts of the archduke and the heirs that the dragon was subjugated and the Empire was preserved.
The death of the archduke drove the archduchess to his death.
He was the only one left. The young master was the only one who could rule and Micah was the one who held the seat of power while the Archduke grows.
Insects crawl everywhere.
The young master had to fend them off.
He became cruel.
He abstained from his work and one day he broke and secluded himself.
He had no blood relation left that was close to him other than the royal family who could care less about the autonomous Archduchy. The Archduchy was big enough to be called an independent nation by itself. However, there was a chance that it would fall apart.
Micah felt rewarded for his efforts. He believed in the young master that one day he would awaken. He had ruined himself and became a monster to some people.
The young heiress ignited something inside the young master.
A fire that burned so brightly.
A fire that made the Archduke determined enough to suffer for seven days and seven nights.
It was nothing more than torture to the body and the soul.
He expected little of his survival and yet the young master did it.
The filth of blood, mucus, oil and impure matter had been shredded.
It was more rewarding for Micah to see that the young master could conquer such a ritual.
It only usually takes a day for such a cruel ritual. This was no secret to those who worked closely with the Ortiz House.
But seven days and the drained sacred sword made it clear that there was more to it.
#
The change of the young master was about to be told by the young master. They had to know that their young master had changed.
Angie led the maids to the master bedroom.
"Did you wear yours?"
"I don't really think we need it. The young master only likes garters and stockings when we are naked."
"Hey, did you bring that?"
The maids entered the room. To their surprise, they saw the cold blue eyes of a tall young man with a dashing appearance. His form was perfect and there were many muscles that made him look cool and dashing to the man. Such appearance stunned the maids. But at the same time, they understood who the man was upon one look in the eyes of the man.
"Angie?" the voice of the man was familiar. The maids felt delighted and happy at this change. In their heads, they thought to themselves that they would not mind sleeping with the young master's current form. He was tempered and had the look of kindness that the young master did not have.
"You…have served me well," the young master began. He offered the same rewards that he offered Angie. Among the maids, there were three of them who had agreed to take the reward. The rest of the maids remained to serve the young master.
They knew that there was a loss of interest in the eyes of the man. He had this look that was pointed to another face. Angie stood next to the young master with a renewed loyalty. Like Micah, she felt like she was given the reward for her suffering and effort in serving the young master.
The rest were convinced that it was some sort of test.
After the visit with the young master, they were given instructions that they would be in charge of guarding the quarters of the young master.
#
Micah had informed them of his thoughts.
That what had happened to the young master was nothing more than him being freed by the curse that had gripped him. It was the last vile act of the dragon who had tried to destroy the Archduchy. They brought the story that Micah had prepared and through this story the young master could finally seclude himself to recuperate.
It didn't take long before the 'maids' who were freed from the service spread the rumors of the change. That the curse of the Archduke had been vanquished.
It was a tale that reached the ears of the vassals.
They demanded to know if these rumors are true.
Micah appeared in front of the vassals holding the awakened sacred sword of Ortiz. The sword symbolized the authority of the land. Micah held the power and seeing this the Archduchess wondered if there was merit. The last time she saw the Archduke was when she introduced her daughter to that man.
There was a strange calmness in that man. This was also the first time that she heard of such rumors. A curse that had been with the Archduke ever since he was young. It would explain the violent lashings and the abnormal form of blood that was supposed to be so strong and perfect. She could not imagine how a man could grow that big.
Butler Micah had become the true representative of the Archduchy. His authority had been solidified and the vassals could do nothing more than bow their heads at the commands of the acting-lord of the Archduchy. As the Archduchess was about to leave she was stopped by Micah.
"What is it?"
"My lady," he began with his eyes trained outside. "The Archduke had demanded of me that the funds for his daughter would be used properly. That she shall be raised with the finest educations and the upbringing that she deserves as the future ruler of this land."
"Is that…really his order?"
"Hmm, yes, it is the desire of my lord that she shall be taken care of."
"I demand a meeting then. To see it for myself."
"No. The Archduke is in seclusion. He shall not appear and interfere with you. The Archduke is tolerant of you because of his daughter. But I am not as tolerant as my lord. Archduchess, it is best if you abandon your desire of taking hold of my vassals and the control. You are the mistress of the Archduchy and despite it all. The Archduke was once fond of you. My lady, I assure you that your daughter is loved. Perhaps…it was what changed the Archduke as well and free himself from the curse that he had inherited."
Micah started to walk out of the room.
"The love of an Ortiz could even slay dragons," Micah said casually. "I hope that you care for the young lady with all of your heart, but if it's you then I do not have to remind you."
Carwyn's love for her daughter was dangerous.
It could spell disaster for the Archduchy if her love for her daughter was tested.
The door was closed. Carwyn stared at the door wondering if she should continue her schemes. She felt like all the plans that she had prepared were just throw into the fire. But if the Archduke truly was willing to support her daughter, then there was no need for elaborate plans to gain authority and the resources of the Archduchy.
"No," Carwyn shook her head.
She simply could not believe so easily about that convenient excuse.