The next day, as the Dragonhearts toured the surrounding area, they passed by an orphanage. Gray had planned to visit with the children. He had something important to teach them.
Before stepping outside, he turned to Ashborn.
"Son, how do you think your life has been until now?"
Ashborn smiled. "Really nice! I get to enjoy every day, play with Aelwyn… I'm grateful to have such a good life." But as he spoke, he could already sense where this conversation was heading.
Gray nodded. "That's good. Gratitude keeps you grounded." He gestured toward the children at the orphanage, they laughed while playing. "See them? Their lives are much different from yours. Some lost their families to war, others were abandoned, some got separated… and many never made it."
His voice carried a weight of sorrow, his expression darkening as memories surfaced. He, too, had lost his parents young. But he had been fortunate that others had been there for him. He saw himself in those kids.
"Sometimes, when you live a better life than others, it's easy to feel superior. But that path… it leads to Ruin!"
"Many nobles are guilty of that," Ashborn murmured.
Gray met his eyes. "Exactly. They forget their duty. They start mistreating their people, believing nobility makes them above others."
His gaze turned distant as he spoke, but his words were firm. "Being a noble does not make you superior. No matter how high your rank, you are still just human, one creature among many. Even with dragon and elf blood in your veins, your essence is no greater than that of any other."
His voice grew softer, yet carried a profound deep meaning. "Compared to the vastness of the universe, your existence is nothing. And yet, in that vastness… your existence is precious. Just like any other being, human or any other."
The carriage slowed to a stop. As Gray stepped out, he looked up at the endless sky, as if speaking to something beyond.
"Do you know how this empire was formed?"
Ashborn shook his head.
"It was through unity. People working together, protecting each other, surviving as one."
His gaze hardened. "And in that unity, some were chosen to lead, not because they were better, but because they were capable. Nobility was once a position of respect, honor, and duty. And that is how it should be."
Turning back to Ashborn, he placed a hand on his shoulder. "A true noble serves his people, not the other way around."
Ashborn clenched his fists, determination burning in his chest. "I understand, Father. I will serve my people with honor."he said with a smile.
Gray smiled, with a hint of nostalgia in his expression. The same words had once been spoken to him.
That evening, the family spent time at the orphanage, talking and playing with the children.
Ashborn even made a friend—Mark, a boy a year older than him. A thin scar ran across Mark's left cheek, a reminder of the war that had taken his parents. He was shy, quiet, carrying the weight of fear on his small shoulders. But Ashborn's warmth reached him, and for the first time in a long while, Mark had opened up to someone.
As they played, they ran beyond the orphanage, toward the town road. It happened in an instant.
Mark, distracted, accidentally bumped into a noble.
Baron Garfield. A bloated man, infamous for his greed.
His face twisted in disgust. "You filthy little mutt!!!"
Before Mark could react, Garfield's hand shot out, grabbing his hair.
"Ahhh!" Mark screamed, struggling against the noble's grip.
A crowd gathered, murmurs spreading like wildfire.
"Again? That fat pig is at it again…" someone whispered. But no one dared to step forward.
Garfield sneered. "Bring me the whip! How dare this—"
"OI!"
A voice cut through the air like a blade.
Ashborn stepped forward, his eyes blazing. "What the hell are you doing grabbing a kid like that!?"
Garfield's face contorted in rage. "HOW DARE YOU! I'll KILL YOU—"
He swung his whip—
But it never landed.
Something stopped it.
A pressure swallowed the street, suffocating, heavy.
A tall figure stood behind the noble, fingers wrapped around the whip.
The crowd gasped.
It wasGray Dragonheart.
His golden eyes bore into Garfield's soul.
"BARON GARFIELD."
The voice alone sent a chill down the noble's spine. His body locked in place.
"L-Lord Gray! I-I was just—"
"What exactly are you doing?" Gray's voice was low, but the weight of his presence was crushing.
Garfield stammered.
Gray's lip curled. "You truly have no honor."
Then, loud enough for all to hear:
"For the crimes of fraud, tax evasion, drug trafficking, attempted manslaughter, and dereliction of noble duty—I, Duke Gray Dragonheart, sentence you to death."
Garfield's breath hitched. His eyes darted in desperation. He had always thought of himself as untouchable. His greed had made him powerful, for which he committed various crimes. But now—
Now, it had led him to his end.
Darkness surged from Gray. The air thickened, the crowd's vision blurred.
"Son. Cover the boy's eyes."
Ashborn obeyed, shielding Mark.
The last thing he saw—
Was Garfield's head rolling to the ground.
The aura dissipated. The body was gone.
Gray turned to the crowd. "Baron Garfield is dead. His land will be reassigned under my watch. You may disperse."
The people stared, then slowly, relief washed over them.
"Finally… that bastard's gone."
Mark had fainted.
After everything was settled, Gray and Ashborn sat in their carriage, silence thick between them.
Ashborn stared at his hands.
"…Are you alright, son?" Gray finally asked.
Ashborn hesitated. "Yes… Just a little surprised, I guess. It's the first time I've seen someone die." His voice wavered. "I hope Mark will be okay…"
Gray sighed, gazing out the window. "Don't burden yourself with guilt. That man's end was inevitable. I just expedited the process."
Ashborn clenched his fists. "Didn't you say every life is precious? Then why…?"
Gray closed his eyes for a moment.
Then, softly—"Because some people throw away that preciousness."
His gaze turned sharp. "As a ruler, your duty is to protect your people. And sometimes… that means blood must be spilled. You will understand it better as you grow."
He placed a hand on Ashborn's shoulder. "One day, you too will have to make these choices. You must be strong enough to carry their weight."
Ashborn didn't reply.
As they reached the capital mansion, he quietly made his way to his balcony.
Alone, under the vast night sky—
He sat.
His heart heavy.
[Authors Note]
Hello Guys a real quick update! The novel is going on a break till 18th of Feb,2025. My (Author) exams are here so uploading a novel chapter everyday is no longer possible so until then...
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