"Commander Robert Aston was defeated and died, young duke!"
Robert's jaw drops from the way the knights brought the news about him.
"Don't they know how to filter things for the sake of the child?" Robert shouted as he stomped his feet, but he lightly laughed when Christopher's eyes landed on him.
"What's happening, uncle?" Christopher asks Robert, as he gets confused, why it's the Knight reporting to him but not Robert, who is just standing idly at the back.
"Y-you can see me?"
Robert felt relieved that Christopher would not be devastated in the event of his death. "Thank God the spell didn't work on you!" Christopher approached Robert and hugged him in relief.
At the same time, the knights that were watching Christopher talking into the air thought that the young lord was too young to handle such an ordeal and began to have delusions.
A knight asked, "Y-young lord, should we call the crown's family for help?"
This question caused Robert and Christopher to look down at the knight with a frown. Although it is wise for the knights to ask for the crown's help, because, from their point of view, the only remaining lord of the territory was a thirteen-year-old child. The crown prince has knowledge about dragon berserk and blood that can greatly help Tope, and it is better to join forces with the crown's family than to be seen as an enemy to the throne because the current Esclamado could not take another attack. A lot of skilled aura-user knights had died from fighting the dragon, and they didn't know if the young lord had the ability to manage the dukedom.
Robert and Tope know the wariness their people are having, but they don't want to surrender yet because Mila and Robert are still alive. Tope was not alone, unlike what everyone was thinking.
"Are you really suggesting that? Crown's family might be behind all of this." Christopher responded while expressing his disappointment towards the knight.
Esclamado, Masaoay, Dwight, and Aston are the four main royal families of the kingdom of Soleil or more known as the four ruling houses. These Four ruling houses are well known for their various abilities: Esclamado for Aura and Strong Knights, Masaoay for Commerce, Dwight for Mages and Magic, and Aston for Beauty and Art. But the most common among the families is their dragon blood. They are the direct descendants of the dragon that founded the Soleil.
The Dwight family took the crown after their heir experienced its dragon form and will be succeeding the current king, King Rupert Aston. The three families have been taking turns succeeding in the crown depending on who will awaken its dragon form. The sudden appearance of two awakener, on the other hand, threw the entire kingdom into confusion and chaos.
Who will be the next king?
Knowing that the current enthroned crown prince would not allow his seat to be taken away,
Tope and Robert had already assumed that the ambushed and assassins sent to them were from the crown, which is why they did not desire to seek help from them.
"I... I apologize, young lord, but I think it's best to surrender to them earlier than to experience more attacks from them. There is no one who could help or guide you in managing the dukedom. Some of Duke Romero's close aides and subordinates also died. We need help."
Robert acknowledged the bravery of the knight in expressing his opinion with honesty, but he could not agree. He could not believe the remaining knights were all cowards and weak.
Christopher coldly stated, "Your opinion is not needed. Get out if you're done with your report." He went back to his father's office table and rested his head on the top of the table.
The knights looked at each other worriedly, and they looked at Tope with anxiousness before they left.
"Uncle, what is happening?"
"I don't know either." Robert responded with a low tone as he rubbed his hand on Tope's back to comfort him. "I didn't know who killed your grandparents, and I didn't know where your mother went either. I am sorry."
Robert gloomily apologized, then Tope looked up at him and exclaimed, "No uncle! Out of all the people here, you are the only one I can rely on! I don't know why everyone expects you and mother to be dead, but I don't care about their opinion! The important thing is that the two of you are alive!"
Robert keeps his gaze on the child that is obviously exhausted and the child's words ring in his head like a bell.
"Tope! I mean, young lord! I have an idea! Can you hold on for a few more days? I will return alive!"
Christopher didn't like the lively tone in Robert's voice and squinted his eyes while saying, "Don't do anything dangerous, uncle. You are the only one I have."
"Don't worry. If this worked, Mila could be saved as well!"
"What are you trying to say? Uncle?"
"I'll tell you later. You can hold on for days, right? Wait for me and I will return with your mother." Robert held onto Tope's shoulder and looked at him with determination.
"I.. I can, but please tell me what you will do."
"I'll tell you after I succeed."
Robert walked away from Tope and he opened one of the drawers of the late Duke Romero and asked permission after he took out one teleportation scroll from it. "May I borrow this scroll, young lord?"
"Yes, but to where?"
"To Aston territory, young lord. Your mother's family can help you." Robert shared with confidence, but the expression became complicated.
Tope knows that Robert is an outcast in the Aston family and worriedly asked, "Are you fine going back there?"
"They can't see me, so it's okay."
Tope stared at Robert for a moment before giving him permission to leave. Robert smiled lightly before he disappeared with the scroll.
Upon Robert's arrival in the duchy of Aston, Robert went straight to a huge room filled with canvas and paint.
Robert stands in front of the man who has somewhat the same face as him. The man was sitting on the floor while working on a painting, and the same with the others, they couldn't see or hear Robert even if Robert talked to them. Robert glared at the painting before saying,
"Hey twin brother, Time to die."
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Hello! Author here. I apologize for the lack of updates. I am actually spending my summer vacation and having a short break from writing because I just finished three volumes of my other work. (So I need to breathe. lol) My vacation will end on the 20th, so I will update more after that. Thank you for patiently waiting and thank you for the continued sending of power stones. I promised to work harder!
Thank you!
Special thanks to: (power stone voters)
Howlsjks, Alice_Degrimmor, and Fredmatitay.
I love you all!