I took a good look at him. Neatly slicked back dark blue hair that was similar to my own, cruel eyes which held hatred for me, lips in an ugly sneer and perfect clothes with no wrinkles. His boots looked like he had walked in the rain but other than that, he looked like a perfect noble.
"Are you implying that you, an illegitimate child of all people might be a a potential heir candidate?" He let out a laugh that obviously sounded fake, even to himself, but the others laughed along with him. Only a few had the sense to stay quiet.
I stayed quiet too. I didn't want to waste my energy to get rid of this one. People would be here soon anyways.
He chuckled lightly.
"We both know that isn't happening as long as the Elder is here. He has the sense to not let tainted blood ruin the bloodline." He smiled, observing me as if trying to start something. Little did he know, that he said the exact words I was hoping to hear
A door upstairs shut with a bang. The Marquis, with the Elder right behind him, walked downstairs with angry footsteps. They were looking right at us. Theodore's face paled as he realized what had just happened.
Even though I was an illegitimate child, I was still registered along with the main family and he, with no title to his name, just insulted me in front of an audience, which included the current and previous head of the family.
In short, he was screwed.
I gave him a sweet smile. He should have known I was upto something the moment I provoked their group. If he wanted to be the patriarch, he should at least have had that much sense.
I knew I could go ahead and pick a fight with anyone the moment I saw another carriage in front of me with the main family symbol on it, meaning that they were already in and knowing those two, they were probably monitoring the people gathered till the council started.
Of course they would have entered discreetly to make a grand entrance. This idiot Theodore, who had been attending the balls and banquets the lord hosted with them should have anticipated it.
"Theodore Crescente, look at me and repeat what you said to my daughter just now," The lord ordered calmly, nothing showing his anger except his clenched jaw.
I watched calmly as the show went down. He surprisingly wanted to hold his ground too.
"I was merely stating a fact My Lord, even tho you cherish your daughter very much, you can't possibly entrust the Marquisate to someone who barely knows of its affairs and is of uncertain birth," He said, trying to retain his composure.
"And what gave you the right to judge or question my judgment? Get out of here before I make the guards drag you away."
This broke his facade of calmness a little.
"But I am one of the candidates-"
"You are not anymore after we witnessed such vulgar behaviour. Guards, take the Young Master Theodore away."
I had to hold in a laugh as Theodore immediately turned to glare towards me.
"You-" He started but his voice was cut off suddenly as he was taken away by the Guards.
The Duke stepped forward, I got that the silencing was his doing.
"I feared that had gone for long enough. Am I right Marquis?" He asked.
"Thank you for stepping in, Duke Ignatius." The lord gave him a slight smile and a node towards him in respect.
The Duke was a tall handsome man with neat black hair and blue eyes. He was an Iktenis of the highest caliber. The knight standing next to him was of a similar build, but his face and entire body was covered in light armor so I couldn't really get a feel for which one of the knights of the Duke it was.
As I was standing there, openly observing the Duke, my family had already came to my side.
"You should have said something, why did you stay quiet? You never have problems being snarky with me, you brat," The Elder whispered to me.
I just gave him a shrug in return which was sure to piss him off. Me and the elder stood on each side of the lord as he started his speech for the gathering.
I… was too lazy to listen to it, I was more of a reader than a listener so all I heard was "mourning [enter words], my son [enter words]." I started paying attention as soon as I heard the word heir.
"Hereby I declare that my daughter, Elynora Crescente shall be the heir to the Household of Crescente." I sighed. I thought that the old man would have changed his mind but no, it really came to this.
People started to murmur, and there were even shouts of protest from various people.
"The Lady knows nothing about managing the affairs of the household!"
"She avoided war and abandoned her responsibilities as a noble!"
"We will not pledge our loyalty to someone who has done nothing for us!"
All those reasons were valid honestly.
So I decided to support them.
"I too ref-" I started before being cut off by the lord.
"Silence." That one word silenced everyone in the room including me.
"This was the last wish of Elias, and I agree with it. So I hope you take this into consideration before you protest. Elias was a wise man, perhaps even wiser than me and The Elder despite his age, which is why I ask you all to trust in his last decision." He took a deep breath before continuing.
"Even if you don't, it is of no consequence since this has already been decided upon by both myself and the Elder which overrules all your opinions."
I had a lot of respect for my brother even if I didn't even meet him once because of all the deeds I heard he had done but, this was one decision of his that I had to disagree with.
I tentatively raised my hand like a dumb school girl.
"You may speak, Elynora," He sighed as he watched me, suspecting I was about to do something stupid. Which was fair, but I was going to do it anyway.
"What if I were to abdicate my position as heir, father?"