Episode 59

Returning to the estate from the Grand Duke’s residence, I couldn’t shake the lingering curiosity.

‘What could the request concerning me possibly be?’

I had no idea.

One thing I learned at the Grand Duke’s residence was that Raven had pledged his loyalty to Ludwig even before he became the Grand Duke. While the Council of Elders had been manipulating and exploiting them as pawns, Raven had been quietly lending his support to Ludwig, the legitimate heir.

The recent exposure of the Karsian Council’s corruption was also largely due to the intelligence gathered by Queensbury.

It felt as though Ludwig’s reason for enlisting Queensbury even before becoming Grand Duke was somehow connected to that mysterious request.

As I pondered, I noticed a man standing by my door.

“Father!”

I ran to him and leaped into his arms.

Since becoming the Viscount, my father had become increasingly busy. He was frequently occupied with meetings and gatherings with influential figures necessary for establishing his power base. It was rare to see him at the estate these days, so it was a pleasant surprise to find him here today.

“Have you been well, Sierra?”

“Of course! And you, Father? Have you been well?”

He smiled warmly and nodded.

As he did, I caught a glimpse of a familiar mark on the back of his neck—a red flower insignia.

I widened my eyes in surprise.

“Father, is that… the Blessing of Terium?”

The mark, a symbol of the head of the family, had been etched on the back of my grandfather Thergon Drenihan’s neck for decades. And now, it was on my father.

“Yes,” he said, gently touching the mark on his neck. “Your grandfather has passed it on to me.”

“My goodness.”

The transfer of the Blessing of Terium could only mean one thing—his succession was imminent.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen your new room yet. May I come in?”

“Of course!”

I led my father into my room and asked Nella to prepare some light tea.

Father settled into the sofa, his eyes roaming over the spacious and elegantly furnished room.

“So, this is the heir’s room. It’s my first time seeing it as well.”

“It’s still so big that I haven’t gotten used to it yet.”

“Haha, it’s understandable. Everything happened so suddenly.”

Father took a sip of the tea Nella brought before he spoke again.

“The Blessing of Terium will soon be passed on to you.”

“To me…?”

That meant he intended to name me as the official heir of Drenihan. I had always assumed he would adopt a child from one of our vassal families to serve as the successor, so his words came as a complete surprise.

Seeing my shocked expression, Father smiled gently and continued.

“It’s partly my desire to secure a position for you that no one can challenge, but it was also your mother’s wish.”

“Mother’s wish…?”

It was rare for Father to speak about Mother. In fact, he almost never did.

He had never fully recovered from the grief of losing her, and I, in turn, had never pressed him on it, not wanting to reopen his wounds.

But this time, he spoke of her first.

“Sionna wished for you to receive the Blessing of Terium ever since you were in her womb. She believed it would grant you great strength.”

“……”

“Her words were always right, guiding me in ways that seemed almost miraculous. So I won’t take her wish lightly.”

The Blessing of Terium was not just a symbol of the head of the family; it also bestowed mystical powers. These abilities varied from person to person—some experienced an enhancement in their innate abilities, others gained the power to halt aging, while still others acquired a range of extraordinary skills, such as heightened perception, incredible strength, or the ability to glimpse the future.

“Father, are you considering passing the Blessing to me… because of my illness?”

“The Blessing of Terium can make the impossible possible. It might even be able to cure your illness.”

He wasn’t certain, but there was a strong hope in his voice.

Mother had helped guide our family with her remarkable wisdom, judgment, and intuition, and it seemed that Father still held onto that belief.

And it wasn’t completely unfounded. The Blessing of Terium had always exceeded human expectations.

‘So that’s why Father suddenly sought the position of head of the family….’

Despite countless efforts to develop a cure for Lisbeth, no substantial progress had been made. This was likely his last resort.

“But there will be strong opposition.”

Anyone who received the Blessing of Terium was obligated to become the head of the family, and once bestowed, the blessing could not be returned to the previous holder. Announcing that the Blessing would go to an unmarried daughter with a terminal illness would undoubtedly provoke backlash from the vassal families and others.

“And… we would also need Grandfather’s permission.”

Though the Blessing now belonged to my father, the head of the family was still Thergon Drenihan. While he had shown me kindness, I couldn’t imagine someone who loved the family as much as he did would easily agree to such a decision….

“Your grandfather has already given his blessing.”

“What?”

“In fact, he was the one who suggested it first.”

“Grandfather…”

I hadn’t expected that. If both of them had already united in their resolve, it would be difficult for the vassals to mount a strong opposition.

So now, my father was seeking my approval.

The Blessing came with significant responsibilities, beyond the powers it granted.

“I…”

But I also wanted to honor my father’s efforts and, more importantly, fulfill my mother’s wish.

After a moment of contemplation, I nodded.

“I’m willing.”

Father’s face brightened with my response.

“However, please don’t pass it on to me immediately. Once you officially become the head of the family, name me as your successor and transfer the Blessing to me according to the proper procedures.”

“Of course. You’ve made a wise decision, Sierra.”

“I’m sorry. I must always be a source of worry for you. Your burden is always so heavy because of me.”

“That’s not true. I’m incredibly happy that you are my daughter. I always will be.”

For some reason, Nella, who had been standing quietly behind me, dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief and then blew her nose.

Soon after, Father left the room, returning to his duties.

“We’ll see each other again soon.”

“Yes, but please don’t overexert yourself, Father.”

He tousled my hair playfully and left the room with a lighter expression on his face.

That night, sleep eluded me.

Eventually, I stepped out onto the terrace to catch the cool night breeze. As I looked out, I noticed a lone figure wandering through the expansive garden.

It was Grandfather, Thergon Drenihan.

Even tonight, he was taking his usual evening walk, lost in thought as he strolled for what seemed like an eternity.

* * *

The next morning, I received an invitation from the Imperial City.

“[As a witness and involved party in the events of the recent soirée, your cooperation in the ongoing investigation is requested.]”

A brief note from Theodore accompanied it.

I was already aware that after a prolonged interrogation, Orzen and his wife, along with the Marquis and Marchioness Crea, had finally confessed to their crimes and were awaiting their punishment.

It seemed they hadn’t divulged anything about the dark magic.

‘Of course, they wouldn’t say a word about it. The moment they do, they’d lose their heads.’

“Nella, please prepare the carriage. I’ll be heading to the Imperial City.”

“Yes, my lady.”

I quickly prepared myself and headed for the waiting carriage.

Before I could step in, Sir Desar, who had been following behind me, moved to the front and offered his hand.

This time, I didn’t forget to accept his escort as I climbed into the carriage.

With Desar by my side, the carriage began its journey toward the Imperial City.

“It still feels like a dream, everything that happened two weeks ago. Even the attack by the assassins.”

I looked at Desar as I spoke.

“When I think about it, it’s amazing we survived. Even though they knew my location, I never expected them to find us so quickly.”

The distance from the banquet hall to the forest had been significant. Yet they had managed to find us in that short span of time and fend off the assassins.

‘As expected of the son of the Tower Master.’

Desar responded to my remark.

“A bodyguard who fails to protect their master is unworthy of the title.”

“Hmm, come to think of it… When we first met, you said my grandfather was your only master, but now you’re calling me your master as well.”

I teased him with a playful smile, causing Desar to stammer a bit as he replied.

“Th-that was… The situation was confusing at the time….”

“I know, I’m just teasing you. So, do you acknowledge me as your master now?”

“Of course.”

In truth, Desar wasn’t someone meant to serve as a mere subordinate. His real father was none other than the Tower Master.

It was well-known that the Tower Master, despite his vast power, had left the position of his successor vacant, still waiting for his lost son to return.

Once Jenna came back, Desar would likely find his rightful place as well.

“I will serve both the family head and you, my lady, no matter what happens,” he said, his eyes full of sincerity.

His words carried a depth of loyalty that left no room for doubt.