Parents’ Concern

11 years ago.

Duke Skyroad, who had nearly died at the hands of unimaginable monsters, was saved by a boy of unknown identity.

“What’s your name?”

Duke Skyroad asked with a gentle smile toward a black-haired boy.

“What do you need to know for?”

The young boy answered sarcastically and asked back.

“I want to express my gratitude for saving my life. Could you perhaps tell me where you stay?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Hmm?”

“I said I don’t have such a thing.”

The boy’s eyes were empty as he said this.

“Could it be that you live alone?”

“Yes. I wander here and there.”

The boy answered Duke Skyroad, who asked in surprise, and turned away.

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. I’m just going to walk somewhere, anywhere.”

Seeing the boy with no destination, Duke Skyroad asked.

“Then how about coming to our home?”

House Skyroad was waiting for Theodore’s contact.

Today was the first day Theodore would be attending classes after going to study abroad at Minst Academy.

“Though that child will do well on his own, I still worry.”

The Duchess Skyroad said, thinking of Theodore.

Though she hadn’t given birth to him herself, he was a son she loved like her own child, and he was extremely talented.

Considering that he was the real Chosen One, such talent wasn’t surprising, but apart from that, the existence of such an excellent son was a matter of pride for her.

Duke Skyroad felt the same way.

“What worries me is that he might do too well.”

But he was worried in a different sense from the Duchess Skyroad.

“Dear, what do you mean by that?”

“Sigh, exactly what I said. Our Theo will do well without any problems. But if that happens, how much trouble the Britannia Empire will give Theo…”

Theodore had gone accepting all of that.

But as soon as he arrived, he got entangled with William, and the Duke and Duchess Artin, and now if he demonstrated his abilities, there would be people on the Britannia Empire’s side who would guess his identity.

And there, he had reunited with his blood sister Reina Artin, whom he had never seen before.

“And Reina Artin. That child is in such a pitiful situation.”

“Indeed. Like our Theo too, why can’t those people properly take responsibility for the children they gave birth to… I really can’t understand.”

Was it because they had a daughter just 1 year older than her?

The Duke and Duchess Skyroad, upon hearing about Reina Artin, felt extremely sorry for her and thought that if she were to leave House Artin, they would accept her as their adopted daughter and love her like their own child.

Judith also was happy with the idea of getting a younger sister if Reina came, so the family was unanimously in favor.

All that remained was Reina Artin’s choice, hers alone.

“Hmm?”

At that moment, a rectangular screen appeared in front of Duke Skyroad.

And soon Theodore’s face appeared on that screen.

He bowed his head respectfully in greeting and said.

[Father, I’m sorry for contacting you again at such an early hour.]

They had briefly talked during lunch time, and although barely more than an hour had passed, he was contacting them again.

Theodore apologized for this, but Duke Skyroad shook his head.

“Don’t say that. What father would be bothered by his son contacting him?”

Of course, even as Duke Skyroad said this, several fathers who would be bothered came to mind, though he was not one of them.

But at the very least, he was not one of them.

“So, Theo, is there something important since you’ve suddenly contacted me like this?”

And Duke Skyroad, apart from his own feelings, sensed that if Theodore was contacting him again in such a short time, he must have something important to say.

[Yes. It seemed like something important that I should tell Father and Mother about in advance.]

“Tell me what it is.”

Not only Duke Skyroad but also Duchess Skyroad quietly waited for Theodore’s words.

[The Britannia Empire, having noticed my excellence, has sent the Imperial Princess to start making moves. If things continue like this, it seems everything will be revealed as expected even without doing anything.]

Duke Skyroad nodded at Theodore’s words.

It was as expected.

And because of that, he felt somewhat bitter.

“Are you okay with that?”

[There’s no problem with that. I was merely showing some of my excellent abilities to brilliantly illuminate the name of House Skyroad. It’s just that there’s another concern.]

“…What is it?”

Duke Skyroad had a guess but asked Theodore to hear a definite answer.

[Reina. I’m somewhat concerned about that child.]

“Reina?”

[Yes. It seems that her existence is bigger than I thought. So I needed to inform Father in advance about what I’m going to do from now on.]

Duke Skyroad noticed what Theodore was planning to do from his words.

“Don’t tell me? You’re thinking of dropping hints to make them notice your identity even faster?”

[Yes, Father.]

Theodore nodded and said.

[I’m also thinking of advising His Majesty. Now the Arcan Empire no longer needs to stand by and watch the Britannia Empire gain benefits by presenting a false Chosen One.]

Duke Skyroad looked at Theodore’s face visible in the video as he said he would advance the moment his identity as the real Chosen One would be revealed.

“Are you really okay with that?”

“Yes, Theo. Will you be alright?”

The Duke and Duchess Skyroad asked Theodore simultaneously.

As his parents, they were worried about him.

How much trouble would House Artin give him?

How much trouble would the Britannia Empire give him at a national level?

Among other concerns, they worried if their son Theodore might receive emotional wounds from the ugly faces of their greedy desires.

[There’s no problem.]

However, Theodore was not swayed by his parents’ discouragement.

He had already firmly made up his mind.

“Theo, is this what you want?”

Seeing Theodore’s determined appearance, Duke Skyroad asked if this was what he wanted.

[Yes, this is what I want.]

When Theodore answered that it was what he wanted, Duke Skyroad closed his eyes momentarily, controlled his emotions, and said.

“If you’re concerned about our Arcan Empire suffering diplomatic losses… don’t worry about that. I will speak to His Majesty separately.”

Duke Skyroad’s words were not what one would expect from the head of House Skyroad, loyal to the Arcan Empire.

Considering how much diplomatic loss the Arcan Empire was suffering because of the existence of the fake Chosen One put forward by the Britannia Empire, the existence of Theodore, the real Chosen One, should have been revealed eventually.

But he thought it would be better for his son to commit a slight sin rather than suffer emotional wounds.

It was the parental heart not wanting to use their son strategically.

[That’s also what I want. I no longer want to see the sight of our Arcan Empire suffering losses due to someone presenting a fake.]

But Theodore himself had already made up his mind about everything.

The country he had chosen to pledge allegiance to and live in was the Arcan Empire, not the Britannia Empire where he was born and had only bad memories.

And as the heir to House Skyroad, he intended to use his position as the Chosen One for the benefit of House Skyroad and the Arcan Empire.

He would also use it as a weapon of revenge.

“…I see. I can’t dissuade you anymore. Sigh, still, be cautious just in case.”

[Yes, Father. Father, Mother. I’ll end the call now.]

“Alright.”

“Take care.”

With that, Theodore’s contact ended.

The Duchess Skyroad, who had been quietly watching since it was also a family matter, sighed.

“Haah, dear. It seems we might have to go to Theo.”

“Yes, I think so.”

The Duke and Duchess Skyroad thought they should visit the Britannia Empire directly under the pretext of being parents.

And it was likely that they wouldn’t be going alone on this visit.

“If we go, House Arsein will also go.”

“Yes, it seems so. The Duchess Arsein would probably run there immediately.”

The couple smiled bitterly as they remembered how upset the Duchess Arsein had been when she heard that William Artin was targeting and trying to kidnap Yuria after she was sent to the Britannia Empire.

William Artin and the Britannia Empire, who were about to lose the false shield of the Chosen One that had been protecting all their crimes so far, would now face a major upheaval.