Compared to Alan's uncertainty, William, who carries the Hellfire bloodline, truly represents the bright future of the family.
Thus, Shuster said seriously:
"Alan, let's put an end to this farce today."
"From now on, your position as seneschal is suspended. You will spend a year in church for penance and reflection!"
"Although you are no longer the family heir, you will receive treatment equivalent to William's, and we will no longer pursue your past reckless actions."
After he finished speaking, the seneschal and others furrowed their brows slightly, but quickly relaxed. Although this punishment seemed severe, it was largely a way of smoothing things over.
"Why?!"
Just as the seneschal nodded in acceptance of this outcome, Alan suddenly questioned coldly.
He could see that Shuster was siding with the seneschal and William.
Clearly, like the elders of the family, they valued William's talent.
But why?
Why should his hard-earned position as heir be handed over so casually?
His sister had done nothing wrong yet was beaten and humiliated by the seneschal's people?
He could not accept it!
"Alan, don't act impulsively. I am also thinking of the bigger picture. You are young, and suffering a setback is not a big deal. I've seen it all!"
Shuster was quite displeased with Alan's attitude, after all, he was the head of House Roan. But with many forces present, he swallowed his anger and tried to maintain a friendly demeanor.
Alan lowered his eyelids, knowing that Shuster would absolutely not seek justice for himself and his sister. He then turned to the side, preparing to slip away quietly, and coldly addressed William:
"Since this is a life-and-death duel, let's settle everything after the duel!"
Seeing no one would advocate for him and his sister, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
As Alan looked at William, Shuster and the others felt something was amiss. Sure enough, the next moment, Alan stepped on William's back, ready to kill him.
Clang!
Shuster's eyes flashed coldly as he furiously blocked Alan's attack with his staff. "Do you have to kill the hope of House Roan before you will relent?"
"Am I the head or are you? Step back!"
"If you do not obey my orders, do not blame me for being merciless!"
However, as Shuster's increasingly cold words echoed, Alan did not retreat. Instead, he focused his mind, and his eyes shimmered with a soul light. Suddenly, William, who was preparing to sneak away, felt his body sink.
Looking back, he saw his feet sinking deep into a swamp, and a blazing fireball descended from the sky, threatening to incinerate him!
A wave of panic surged in William's heart as he sensed the breath of death; he never expected Alan to audaciously attack him even under the patriarch's blockade.
Moreover, the manipulation of elemental magic was clearly the means of a magus!
How could Alan perform such magic?!
Before William could articulate his shock, the onlookers, who had been quietly observing, suddenly became restless, rising in alarm and staring at the seemingly conjured swamp and fireball!
Magus!
This was the technique of a magus!
Alan was actually a magus!
At that moment, many people felt their scalps tingle, realizing they had underestimated Alan from the very beginning!
He was a hidden magus!
After a brief moment of shock, the seneschal and others quickly moved to help William fend off the fireball.
They acted swiftly, and the fireball soon dissipated into black smoke.
But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, a shining sword suddenly fell from the dissipating fireball, piercing through the air and striking at William's chest with incredible speed.
However, William, sensing the imminent danger, managed to twist just in time, avoiding a fatal blow to his heart.
Thud!
He coughed up a mouthful of blood mixed with internal fragments.
The seneschal and others were horrified and rushed to William's side, assessing his grievously injured body.
When they realized his heart was still beating, albeit his organs were damaged, they finally relaxed; with William's special bloodline and his tier-bronze level of magic, this kind of injury could heal with some rest.
Instantly, they turned their darkened expressions back to Alan.
"Patriarch, Alan has disobeyed orders and attacked the heir; this is a crime punishable by death!"
"Kill him without mercy!"
"Kill him without mercy!"
Other elders echoed the sentiment.
Alan's display of magus power only intensified their desire to kill him.
They now stood opposed to Alan, knowing that if he were allowed to grow, it would be extremely detrimental to their interests; he could not be allowed to live!
As the voices of the elders filled the air, Shuster glared at Alan with a darkened expression,
"You've gone too far! You dare to disregard my commands as lord? It seems you've been coddled far too much in these years!"
With that, he waved his hand, and the House Roan guards once again closed in.
"Coddled? You all know how I earned my position as the heir, yet how have you treated me and my sister?"
"Since you all despise me and my sister so much, from now on, I sever all ties with House Roan!"
The guards, who were advancing on Alan, stared at him in shock.
They never expected him to directly sever ties with the family!
"In that case, you can't be left alive!"
The seneschal interjected, his anger boiling over as he launched an attack on Alan.
New grudges and old grievances combined; he wanted Alan to repay him tenfold!
However, at that moment, a terrifying pressure swept over the land, approaching swiftly.
Everyone who sensed this pressure trembled, instinctively feeling fear.
"That's… it's Duke Alice!"
Upon realizing this aura, many turned to look in the direction it emanated from and saw Alice, clad in silver armor with a golden blade, looking gallant as she rode in on an aether steed.
With her arrival, all attention shifted to her.
"House Roan's lord, Shuster greets Duke!"
"House Quixote's lord, leading the family, greets Duke!"
"House Black's lord, leading the family, greets Duke!"
"…"
Though they did not know why such a prominent figure had suddenly arrived, these lesser nobles eagerly rushed to pay their respects to Alice, hoping to earn her favor.
Even a mere glance from her was sufficient.
However, Alice paid no attention to their flattery. Instead, she dismounted from her aether steed and approached Alan, raising her golden sword high.
"You and I shall duel!"
In that instant, the onlookers were stunned into silence, unable to believe what they were witnessing!
This legendary Duke of the kingdom had actively challenged Alan!
Although they had heard whispers that Alice was heading to Roan Castle, she had barely stayed and then left, seemingly believing William was not worthy of being her opponent.
It was known that with Alice's talent and strength, she was invincible among the younger generation of Plantagenet Kingdom, with no rivals!
Even the surrounding kingdoms were overshadowed by her reputation!
To be challenged by her was the utmost honor among peers, signaling that one's talent had gained the recognition of this imperial rose!
But why would someone considered a waste be so valued by Alice?
Many were puzzled.
However, Alan understood; he knew that her challenge at this moment was also indirectly helping him resolve the crisis.
"Alright! You and I shall duel!"
Alan was not one to hesitate; he nodded in agreement without delay.
"Oh my, Alan is so confident! Alice is a Duke of the empire, and he dares to accept her challenge?"
"Could it be that he really is a magus?"
Many spectators were shaken, recalling Alan's earlier attack on William.
"Magus are exceedingly rare and precious; what Alan just performed must have been some special technique. There's no way he could be a magus!"
"Magus are extremely rare and powerful. Given the vastness of the empire, magus are few in number and hold esteemed status. Alan could not possibly be a magus; otherwise, I'll read my name backwards!"
Many doubted Alan's status as a magus, as magus were simply too rare and formidable.