episode_0073

After Katlena packed her bags and left for good.

The Duke sat down in his seat, feeling a deep sense of emptiness in the empty room where no one was present.

‘Katlena… How could Katlena say something like that?’

A story that pierces through his shortcomings, coming from the mouth of his 10-year-old daughter.

It felt… fatal to Duke Radu, who had lived every moment only for the Empire and the Padishah.

‘I never thought a little child like that would say something like that to me… My beloved daughter… would say something like that to me…’

He had heard countless stories from Elios, and most of all from his wife.

But at this moment, having his past pointed out precisely by his beloved daughter was causing him great pain.

It felt as if my entire life, the life I had lived up until now, was being completely denied by myself.

Even the fact that the person he was talking to was a young girl who could see the situation with extremely pure eyes, even though she was still ignorant of the world, was an even greater shock to him.

‘Have I… lived my life wrong? Up until now, I only thought that living for the country was the most important thing…’

While feeling such deep pain in his heart, the Duke was unable to sleep at night due to another problem that was even more troubling.

‘Katlena left like that… If it goes on like this, it will be absolutely impossible to nominate that child as successor.’

Even if we come now and find that child and bring him in, it is already too late.

The news that a meeting would be held to elect a successor had already been spread throughout the country by order of Rosetta.

The issue of the successor had become completely public, and soon the high-ranking nobles of the duchy, the leaders of the demon race, the witches and sorcerers would flock to Sofia to discuss this matter.

‘Now that it’s come to this… it’s safe to say that this has in fact taken on the appearance of a war. However, even the person involved has now left… and furthermore, it’s safe to say that there are almost no people outside of my immediate aides who would support the youngest and heir apparent, the child…’

Of course, the final decision-making authority in this matter lies with him, but that does not mean he can completely ignore public opinion in a public setting.

This is especially impossible if his wife, who has just as much legitimacy as he does, is on the other side.

‘In the end… the biggest problem is that Roseveta is completely supporting Elios… With the legitimacy as the eldest daughter and Roseveta’s power, connections, and authority combined in the current situation… no matter how hard I try, there’s no way to turn this situation around… That’s true, but no matter how I think about it, Elios becoming a duke…’

Although he was hurt by Katlena’s words, Confucius’ loyalty to the empire remained strong.

At the very least, he could never do anything that would create the Empire’s worst enemy with his own hands.

‘There has to be a way.. a way to move Rosetta, the most important thing in this matter…’

The duke ponders over a method while in deep thought.

Although he was completely out of the woods, he was still a seasoned politician.

Finding solutions even in difficult situations was his specialty.

*

war.

It is not limited to the human race, but it inevitably occurs among species that live in groups and form societies.

An action to force one’s will by using force.

However, it inevitably involved a lot of bloodshed on both sides, so they developed new methods of warfare to reduce the bloodshed even a little.

A war where one subdues the opponent by swinging justification, power, and logic, rather than weapons like swords and axes.

This is what people call the war that was agreed on the surface not to be bloody.

politics.

And the troops used in that war called politics.

People gave it this name.

power.

That is the background against which politics and power emerged in the world, and when viewed in this way, the background to their birth itself cannot be seen as bad at all.

However, apart from that, the fact that this was also a war remained unchanged, and people were not picky about the means and methods to achieve victory, which was no different in politics or war.

And in that respect he…

Duke Radu Constantino Dragona was a very capable strategist in this war.

Although he could not be said to be a famous general who won every battle.

He too has had his share of failures and has suffered many blows as a result.

However, he had one terrifying strength that others did not have.

That is… he never, ever, creates a complete defeat.

Even if his allies were annihilated and the castle was given a white flag, he had the ability to concentrate tremendously and leisurely escape having obtained what he wanted.

After everything was over, the man was always smiling.

That was the assessment that Rosetta had given him as his wife and long-time colleague, and because of this, Rosetta could never be at ease about the current situation.

“That’s it, everything is ready, Mom.”

“Yeah, you worked hard, Elios.”

After checking the final situation, Elaos spoke, and Rosebeta answered with a soft smile.

Victory was quite certain.

Although the final decision-making authority rested with her husband, the Duke, most of the Lords of the Duchy of Dragona and their representatives were currently gathered in Castle Sophia to attend the inquiry requested by Rosetta.

In this situation, even if he was the monarch of the duchy, he would not be able to unilaterally decide on such a huge matter as appointing a successor.

‘The successor story should be formally discussed at the meeting. If that happens, even if he is my husband, I will have no choice but to nominate my eldest daughter, Elios.’

It was Elios who was the eldest daughter and had proven her abilities.

On the other hand, Senel, although capable, is already well known to have no interest in this area, and Katlena is young and the daughter of a concubine.

In fact, it can be said that there is no other candidate besides Elios, and public opinion has also solidified to that extent.

In this situation, even if he was a duke, it was Rosetta’s thought that he could not forcefully nominate Katlena, and this was indeed the case.

‘But why is it… Even though I’ve prepared this much, I still feel uneasy…’

To be honest, at the point when Katlena refused, the odds of victory could have been in Roseveta and Helios’ hands.

But even so, the feeling of insecurity that her husband might somehow hit them in the back of the head still lingered around her.

Trying to shake off the worry she felt inside, Rosebetta looked at Elios, who was showing a complicated expression on his face.

“But, are you really okay? Although I think I can somehow help you become the successor..”

“It’s okay. It’s enough for me that my mother has stepped forward like this.”

Elios looks at Rosebeta with a smile

But as she watched this, Rosebetta began to feel a part of her heart ache.

Because she could feel the sadness in the smile that Elios was showing now.

‘The dukedom is a problem, but… what that child really wanted was his father’s love… I don’t think that will be solved by continuing this way.’

Although she felt so sorry as a mother, on the other hand, because of that, Rosebetta was even more motivated about this matter.

Since the child’s father had essentially abandoned his eldest daughter, the only person who could protect her was herself.

Although there were limits to what she could do, Rosebetta steeled herself once again, determined to at least do everything she could as a mother.

“Don’t worry, baby, everything will be okay..”

“Yes.. I’m sure it will be like that, Mother.”

With those words, Rosebetta gently hugs Elios’ body.

Then, Elios gathered his emotions again and surrendered himself to her embrace for a moment.

Although he did not receive his father’s love, Elios had a mother who always loved him unconditionally.

Feeling that fact once again, Elios briefly collected his emotions that had subsided and steeled his resolve.

‘Yes.. I don’t need things like fatherly love. I have a mother who always supports me like this..’