(Klaus's Pov)
I don't know why that fool, the 3rd prince, is against me but it worked well for me in the end. There is still a matter of competition in two years but that is a future problem.
I had a feeling that agreeing to fight would lead to something good and my instincts were right. I heard the familiar sounds when my father agreed to my business.
I wanted to check but I still don't know if others could see the status panel. Even if it is invisible, I would look like a fool if I stare into the air. I remember grinning when I heard the notifications for the first time years back. If my face exhibits the same reaction, people would think I went marbles.
This would not be good for my reputation which is a must for a merchant. So I postponed checking my gains for later.
After that small fiasco, the party continued as if nothing happened. Things were going better when a twist happened. This one I didn't think would happen, not today of all days.
The celebration went great and the nobles left one by one. The ones who remained at my house are members of my house and another noble family, the House of Vitren.
Vitren family is one of the dukes under my father. Their territory borders the Duster Kingdom. They used to be a count family before we merged with the empire. After the boost from the empire, some borderlands that belonged to the Duster Kingdom were occupied by us.
I wouldn't say that they truly belong to the Duster Kingdom. These lands used to sway between both of us. As the lands which saw a lot of wars, no civilian village nor town existed in those lands until we took them back.
With the help of the empire, we took the lands but our family wasn't sure of holding for long. There were many attacks but all are quelled. The last attack took place almost a century back. So we started to develop the lands bit by bit for the past fifty years.
All these occupied lands became part of the Vitren family and around fifty years they reached the rank of duke.
I have a bad feeling that they stayed back. Staying back would only mean that a war is about to happen. A war is going to happen but not what I thought, but a different one which I learned later.
Three members of the Vitren family arrived for my party. Two of them are the duke and duchess and the third is their daughter, Selya. She is one year older than me and would be attending the academy this year.
Any awakened can attend the academy but should be at the age between sixteen and eighteen. They wouldn't accept anyone above eighteen. The age of sixteen is because it is when one is considered an adult in the empire.
Though here it is sixteen, it is not the same for the entire world. The higher age would only be in nations that are strong. I heard that there are many nations where thirteen-year-olds are also conscripted into the army. Some nations are in worse situations where even ten-year-olds have to join the army.
This is not only because these are surrounded by enemy nations but also because they border monster territories.
When we were alone, the reason why the Vitren family stayed behind came to light.
The reason is my marriage, more exactly it is about my marriage contract.
The marriage contract is common among nobles. The child of one noble would be tied to another noble's child. This is usually done long before the children become adults.
Duke Vitren has two sons and a daughter.
My family is closely tied to the Vitren family by marriage. My grandfather and Duke Vitran's mother are siblings. As the Vitren family stood as a shield against our enemy, they were one of the closest families by marriage.
Today I learned something about myself that I didn't know.
When I was young, my father and the duke made a marriage contract between me and Selya.
Things became clear why my father invested in my idea. I know though it was a great business idea, failure was always an option.
The Duster Kingdom seemed to gain some allies and seemed to be in preparation for war.
In addition, there are some disturbances in the sea and the black forest. The news of disturbances in the black forest is not new to me. Kralin is one fortress away from the Black Forest. The news about the sea is new though.
It seems that my father wanted to create a waypoint. Kralin fills the bill perfectly and I essentially came up with an idea. So he invested in me. I am only one plan of many others.
A marriage contract with Vitren would solidify the house control and at the same time, it would also look like a reward.
When I heard, though I felt a bit betrayed, I didn't show. My father's decision was to protect his people. It also didn't look bad but I wondered why they are telling me now. Are the attacks going to happen soon?
The Duke's next words cleared not only my thoughts but also my father's thoughts.
Since Selya is sixteen, the duke and the daughter went to the capital to register at the academy. At the time they came across the third prince who was already a student at the academy.
When the idiot saw her, he was immediately mesmerized by her beauty. He immediately proposed on the spot to become his concubine. He didn't even show the respect that the one is duke's daughter and her father is in front of them.
Though angered the duke refused politely explaining about the marriage contract.
The prince who used to get whatever since born was infuriated. He tried to flaunt his power but only refusals came. He wanted to do more but someone from the royal court appeared and pulled the prince away.
Apparently, the matter reached the emperor. He immediately ordered to pull his son back to the palace.
Now it became clear why the prince showed hostility to me.
This feels like I am in a cliche novel and it seems I met my first stepping stone.