"Are you sure about this? Once you decide, there's no turning back," Count Daniel said, his expression grave as he looked at Clobber.
Though this was Daniel's first time meeting his grandson, he already felt a strong fondness for the boy, who reminded him so much of Lilith. On top of that, Clobber's exceptional talent and respectable demeanor only deepened the count's desire to nurture him.
"The archduke's knight corps does offer attractive benefits," Daniel continued, "but how much opportunity do you think you'll have to distinguish yourself there? The archduke is the continent's most powerful Dragon Knight. You'd only be serving as part of the facade."
"And when you grow older or lose your good looks, you'll be forced to retire, leaving with nothing more than a few coins and a set of equipment. Those rewards might seem generous to minor nobles, but for a family like ours, they're practically worthless."
Daniel laid out the pros and cons clearly, offering the kind of silent care that only an elder could provide to their younger kin.
Clobber listened with apparent thoughtfulness, though in truth, he had already prepared his arguments to persuade the count.
"Don't worry, Grandfather. I've made up my mind," Clobber said with quiet determination. "Joining the archduke's knight corps is the right decision for me. I can't just rely on the family's resources without contributing something in return. This way, I'll be doing my part, and you and Uncle Adam won't have to feel burdened by my presence."
Clobber knew his role well. To secure more resources from the Goldrose family for his training, he had to play the part of a dutiful, gifted, and loyal grandson. Only by becoming stronger could he rise to greater heights, gain more power, and ultimately give back to the family in a meaningful way.
Inwardly, however, Clobber couldn't help but scoff at the archduke's so-called knight corps. A "personal knight corps"? More like a glorified honor guard. At best, it was a parade squad. At worst, it was a collection of pretty faces meant to flatter the archduke.
But as long as the resources were good, Clobber didn't mind playing the role of a decorative vase. After all, he had the looks and the talent to pull it off. Why not make the most of it?
Seeing Clobber's resolve, Daniel sighed deeply. While he was proud of his grandson's sense of responsibility and loyalty to the family, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. He had hoped to offer Clobber a better path, one that would make up for the guilt he felt toward Lilith.
"Well, my original plan was to have you work as Adam's second-in-command. You could have earned some quick military merits during wartime, and I could have easily arranged for you to be knighted. From there, you could have slowly built your own influence."
"But since you've decided to contribute to the family this way, I won't stop you. I'll write to the archduke and recommend you for the Dragon's Breath, her personal knight corps."
Daniel patted Clobber's shoulder, a bittersweet smile on his face. Though their reunion had been brief, he was heartened by his grandson's ambition and drive.
"Go get ready. Tonight, we're hosting a banquet at the castle. Let those idle fools see what the younger generation of the Goldrose family should truly aspire to be."
This last remark was directed at Baron Adam, who nodded and left the study to make the arrangements.
Meanwhile, Clobber stayed behind, chatting with Daniel about family matters.
There was truth to the saying: grandchildren hold a special place in their grandparents' hearts. While much of Daniel's affection for Clobber stemmed from his late daughter Lilith, part of it was also due to Clobber's own exceptional qualities—his talent, his charm, and his intelligence.
The two talked for what felt like hours as night fell, wrapping the castle in darkness. Outside, the flickering torchlight resembled scattered stars, illuminating the blackened world.
Eventually, it was Baron Adam who interrupted their conversation.
"Father, the banquet is ready. Everyone's waiting for you and Clobber to arrive so we can begin."
"Very well," Daniel replied, nodding before turning to Clobber.
"Even though you'll soon be joining the archduke's knight corps, it's important for you to meet more of our family. After all, blood ties matter."
Daniel had already formed a clear impression of Clobber during their time together. He was mature, steady, and highly intelligent, though hints of youthful inexperience still showed through now and then.
His demeanor was impeccable, a shining example of noble decorum, and Daniel couldn't be more pleased with his grandson.
But there was one flaw he couldn't ignore: Clobber was deeply cautious—bordering on distrustful.
This might have something to do with Clobber's childhood environment. Though he appeared to trust everyone around him, Count Daniel, with his years of experience as a noble, could easily see the mistrust Clobber held deep within his heart toward the family.
Daniel suspected that only Foster, who had cared for Clobber since birth, had truly earned his trust. Perhaps Adam, too, was on that list—but anyone else, including Daniel himself, was still up for debate.
But this wasn't something that could be rushed. Daniel had originally intended to let Clobber stay at the castle for a while, hoping that time would help him develop a sense of belonging to the Goldrose family. As it stood, Clobber's attitude toward the family was more about gratitude than genuine attachment. It wasn't yet a sense of kinship.
"Damn that Kral!" Daniel thought, his frustration mounting. He instinctively blamed Baron Kral for this mess. He could guess what was going on inside Kral's head.
But it was exactly because he could predict Kral's actions that Daniel felt such disdain for him. Myopic and short-sighted—he was so focused on securing his eldest son's inheritance that he pushed away a prodigy who could have taken the family to new heights.
Greed—it was always greed. Kral wanted to enjoy the power that came with being part of the Goldrose family, but he also wanted to control it. Daniel had already sent people to investigate the information Adam reported. Based on his knowledge of Kral, Daniel was certain it was Kral who had orchestrated an incident aimed at undermining the Goldrose family's influence in the Deepwater Territory.
But in the end, Kral had gone too far. The incident had caused Lilith's death during childbirth. And to cover up his actions, Kral had resorted to all sorts of underhanded tactics.
The Castle Hall
The atmosphere in the Goldrose family's Crown Castle was a far cry from the cold elegance of Moonlight Castle. The architectural style was unmistakably military in nature, with a solid, imposing structure built from yellow-brown stone. The castle included a training ground, a watchtower, an armory, and guard rooms—spanning an area about the size of two football fields from Clobber's past life. According to Count Daniel, this was the first castle the family ever built, so it was a bit smaller, but still impressive.
Clobber noticed the subtle, but frequent shooting holes and spear windows that dotted the castle walls. This fortress could likely withstand twice, even three times the number of soldiers of equal strength, and could hold out against five times the force for a long time.
The Goldrose family members had long since heard rumors of a talented young member who had been adopted back into the family after years of wandering. Many were curious about the mysterious young man who was so frequently mentioned, but whom no one had actually met.
As Clobber entered the hall with Count Daniel, all eyes immediately turned to him. His golden hair shimmered like a waterfall, cascading down his shoulders. His well-tailored attire perfectly showcased his long, lean frame, while his fair skin was like polished jade, radiating health and vitality. His youthful face, still carrying the traces of boyish innocence, hinted at a young man on the brink of adulthood—but the raw, fiery energy of his elemental magic pulsed beneath the surface, reminding everyone that they shouldn't underestimate him just because of his age.
Facing the eager gazes of the crowd, Clobber took his seat to the left of Count Daniel. This was the position designated for him, the guest of honor, at tonight's banquet.
Unlike other noble banquets, the Goldrose family's gatherings were refreshingly free from excessive formalities. Once Count Daniel declared the feast officially open, the atmosphere immediately shifted to one of carefree enjoyment. People raised their glasses, laughing and talking, their voices mingling in a jubilant chorus.
As expected, many guests made their way toward Clobber, offering him toasts as a sign of respect. Clobber knew this banquet was an excellent opportunity to make connections and expand his network. He had resolved to take full advantage of it and ensure he left a good impression on everyone. He greeted every guest with open warmth and generosity, accepting their toasts without hesitation.
However, since Clobber was still underage, he couldn't drink alcohol according to the rules. So, instead of wine, he clinked glasses with everyone, sipping milk instead. Despite this, the mood remained unchanged, and people admired the young family member even more for his composure and poise.
Through the course of the evening, Clobber began to notice the differences between the Goldrose family and the other noble families, or perhaps more specifically, between them and his former family, the Oat family.
The Goldrose family had a far more relaxed approach to life. They were much less strict with etiquette, even compared to Clobber's early lessons in noble manners. But this gave Clobber a strange sense of warmth—he could feel the trust they placed in him, and he realized that it wasn't just his talents or his name that made him welcome, but the very blood flowing through his veins.
Goldrose.
The name itself symbolized a powerful sense of unity within the family. And as Count Daniel had mentioned earlier, the people in the hall were most of the family's members.
"Oh, by the Dragon above…"
There were about fifty people in the hall, some with families in tow, others alone. If you counted the noble ladies married into the family, the total number of adult males in the family—Clobber included—was barely twenty. With those who were away on missions or serving elsewhere, the number likely didn't exceed thirty or forty.
For a count's family, that was a startlingly small number. Even a small family like the Oats, who had only passed down two or three generations, had more than three or four direct descendants, and countless illegitimate children. The Moonlight Mushroom family was even more prolific—rumor had it they could field a full cavalry unit of sons.
Given that there were few entertainment options in this world, especially for nobles, it wasn't surprising that having children was practically the only pastime. As long as the children's inheritance rights were secure, illegitimate children were common.
It was said that the nobility's illegitimate children were the backbone of their family's military forces. The Marquis of Shadow Serpent, a distant figure from the eastern part of the duchy, had fathered over a hundred illegitimate children.
His mistresses were all housed on the same street, and as long as they gave birth to a child, they were rewarded with enough wealth to live a carefree life. That street was affectionately known as Mistress Street or Illegitimate Child Street, though the official name was Heavenly Street.
Clobber's thoughts began to wander, but he quickly reined them in, returning his focus to the lively banquet before him. It was a night to celebrate him, and he intended to enjoy it.
End of Happy Banquet Time
As time passed, most of the guests were drunk, and servants began escorting them to their rooms. Clobber, who had stayed sober thanks to his milk, was stopped by Count Daniel, who had also managed to stay clear-headed.
"Well, how's it feel?" the count asked, genuinely hoping Clobber was beginning to feel at home with the family.
"It's good, Grandpa," Clobber replied with a small smile. "I can tell the family doesn't hold any ill will toward me. It's… a little hard to get used to."
He paused for a moment before adding, "But… I do feel the family's love."
Count Daniel burst into laughter.
"Ha! You think we're a bunch of short-sighted fools? If we couldn't even protect our own people, our own family, what kind of nobles would we be? We'd be better off tossing aside our titles and living as commoners!"
"Remember this, Clobber. We may be ruthless, we may be kind, but when it comes to our kin, our own family—"
"We stand together, no matter what!"