The next day, Jared, who had asked Trane the previous night to inform Duke Alway of his desire to visit that morning, was riding in a carriage provided by the ducal family.
For Jared, who usually preferred to travel on foot, the cityscape seen from the carriage was a novel experience. After swaying in the carriage for a while, they arrived at the ducal family’s residence.
“Good morning, Jared. I apologize for the short notice,” the Duke said, greeting him personally. Surprised that the Duke himself had come to meet him, Jared hastily exited the carriage and knelt to offer his respects, but was stopped.
“It would sadden me if my future son were to kneel before me,” the Duke said with his usual casualness. Jared thought he resembled Olivier greatly. Olivier, when they first met, had been distant due to his circumstances and caution, but recently he had become very approachable, perhaps because he had gained Jared’s trust. Jared found it admirable that he didn’t build relationships based on titles or status.
“Have you had breakfast yet?” the Duke asked.
“Yes. I had breakfast with Olivier.”
“I see… I’m envious of you, Jared. It’s been so long since I last shared a meal with Hanne and Olivier.”
The Duke’s shadowed expression showed genuine loneliness, and Jared found himself at a loss for words. He had once resigned himself to becoming estranged, prioritizing Hannelore’s safety by moving them to a separate residence. Olivier’s heart had drifted away from him too, and as a father, he must have been heartbroken. However, Olivier had recently learned of the Duke’s intentions and they were slowly reconciling. For this very reason, the current situation must be frustrating for him. If he were to openly reveal that he was protecting Hannelore and Olivier, he wouldn’t know what the consorts might do. If only they would act more obviously, he could handle them, but it wasn’t without its risks. The Duke would likely not go to such lengths as to discover the mastermind’s true identity. While it sounded good to call him kind, his excessive kindness could also be seen as a weakness. Jared couldn’t discern which was the correct assessment.
“I’ve been speaking of trivial matters. Konrad is waiting at the training grounds. He became so excited when I told him he’d be meeting Jared that I ordered him to calm down with some exercise. Come, I’ll guide you.”
“Please.”
Guided by the Duke, they headed towards the training grounds. They entered the mansion once and walked through the corridors to the back. Along the way, they passed by servants who greeted them. Jared had been worried about running into Emilia, whom he had met yesterday, but the Duke seemed to have anticipated this and given Jared a wry smile and reassured him when he noticed Jared’s unusually wary demeanor.
After walking for a while, they reached the training grounds, an open area located in the spacious rear of the ducal estate. While called a training ground, it was simply a cleared space with no obstructive obstacles. A small building was adjacent, which Jared judged to be an armory. Since the mansion housed the members of the ducal family and their retainer knights, this was likely where they trained daily. It also appeared to be equipped for magic countermeasures, as Jared could sense the presence of magic power and spirits.
“My son, Konrad, is over there, doing sword swings,” the Duke said, pointing to a boy diligently swinging a long sword. The boy with flaxen hair, bare-chested and drenched in sweat, continued his practice swings. He was slightly small for his age but had a well-trained physique. Though not muscular, he was slender but not frail.
“He’s fourteen. Even though he has magic power, we don’t know what kind of magician he’ll become, so I’ve had him focus solely on swordsmanship. You might disagree, Jared, as you are an excellent magician, but magic isn’t everything. Especially on the battlefield, having multiple ways to fight is always better.”
“I agree. I also practice swordsmanship and physical combat, though only as a hobby.”
“Forgive my bluntness, but I heard you have no talent for swordsmanship?”
“It’s true that I have no talent for swordsmanship. I’m likely inferior to my younger brothers. However, lacking talent doesn’t mean I should reduce my repertoire.”
The Duke nodded with satisfaction at Jared’s reply. “You understand combat, Jared. As expected of Baron Daum’s grandson. Many magicians in this mansion, unlike you, are rigid in their thinking, believing that magicians should only focus on magic.”
“Due to possessing magic power that other humans lack, magicians tend to have a slight sense of superiority. Of course, not all of them, but they do have pride in possessing something others don’t.”
“I understand their feelings, but I want my son to have a way to protect himself and his loved ones, not just through magic. I don’t mind magicians being devoted to magic, but I want my son to be more flexible. You can laugh at me for being a doting father.”
“Not at all. If one has other means of fighting besides magic, then one should utilize them to a reasonable extent.”
Though Jared had no experience in war, he had fought magical beasts, bandits, and occasionally other magicians and adventurers. Whether it was a one-on-one battle or a free-for-all, there were many instances where brandishing a sword was faster than using a difficult spell. This was true for spells requiring short incantations as well, and he suspected there would be many more such situations in the future. He had also witnessed magicians who could only use magic being torn apart by magical beasts. Jared himself had faced many situations that magic alone could not overcome.
“I’m relieved you say that. If possible, I want Konrad to continue with swordsmanship, even if he has talent as a magician.”
“I believe that’s the best course of action.”
His words were those of a warrior who had stood on the battlefield both before and after inheriting the Alway ducal title.
“I can clearly feel magic power from Lord Konrad. Each time he swings his sword, his magic power surges within his body, so his magic capacity must be considerable. I don’t need to teach him; he can become a magician on his own.”
“Is that so! Well, confirmation from you, Jared, puts my mind at ease.”
The Duke nodded happily, but then his smile vanished, and he looked at Jared intently. “Ideally, I would entrust my son to you, Jared, someone I can trust. It is a pathetic confession, but even among my retainers, there are factions. Some follow me purely, but many follow my wives.”
“If you’ll permit my rudeness, I would like to ask one thing.”
“Certainly, go ahead.”
“Is there a possibility that Lord Konrad’s mother is targeting Hannelore?”
“None.”
Jared’s eyes widened slightly at the Duke’s emphatic denial. He hadn’t expected such a definitive answer.
“Combining what I’ve investigated with what you recently learned from Pfeil has narrowed it down to two of my wives. In fact, even before that, Konrad’s mother had no reason to target Hannelore.”
“What do you mean?”
“Konrad, despite being a candidate for heir, has no desire to become the head of the ducal family, nor any ambition to rise by stepping on others. His mother is aware of this, so she directly consulted me about nurturing his talent as a magician.”
“And that’s why you came to me?”
The Duke nodded and continued, “Once he awakened his magic power, Konrad naturally became interested in magicians and, by chance, came to admire you, Jared. Jared Murphy, who began monster subjugation at fifteen and quickly became famous within the Mage Association. Since the origin of your magic training is unknown, you’ve captured the interest of even adults. It was only a matter of time before my son became captivated by you.”
Jared quietly waited for the Duke to finish speaking, saying nothing himself. The Duke might have known his entire history, but Jared couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
“When you became Olivier’s fiancé, Konrad was delighted. He thought he might have a chance to interact with you, and perhaps, reconnect with Olivier like they used to. And when he learned you were chosen as a Court Mage Candidate, he was as excited as if it were his own achievement. That’s why I wanted to entrust him to you, Jared, someone with flexibility, rather than a rigid magician. Of course, I also believe he will listen attentively to someone he admires. Above all, it’s because I trust you, Jared, and can leave my son in your care with peace of mind.”
“Thank you.”
Finally, Jared understood a little about why he had been chosen as Konrad’s mentor. Konrad himself admired Jared, and considering the possibility of the consorts influencing other magicians, the Duke had judged that Jared, as Olivier’s fiancé, would be more trustworthy. As the Duke had stated unequivocally, if Konrad’s mother wasn’t targeting Hannelore, there would be no problem in having Jared interact with Konrad.
“I know you are worried about Olivier and the others, Jared. As a father, I am deeply grateful that you are protecting my family.”
“Olivier and the others are also important to me, so I want to protect them as much as I can.”
“I appreciate that. However, if possible, please do not tell Olivier and the others that we have narrowed down the suspects to two. We still need time as we lack definitive proof. If you can meet with Pfeil and identify the client, who is one of my wives, that would be sufficient. But if Olivier acts before then, it will be a disaster.”
Indeed, Jared agreed with the Duke’s reasoning. If Olivier, who genuinely cared for Hannelore, were told that the culprit was one of the two consorts, his actions would be predictable. But that, conversely, would provoke the consorts. It would be ideal if they could catch them red-handed, but it would be problematic if they became wary due to unnecessary provocation. More importantly, there was the possibility that they might become desperate and put Hannelore in danger.
“Understood. I will not tell Olivier. Also, if possible, may I meet with Pfeil today?”
“I’m grateful; I hoped you would suggest that. And there’s one thing I want to tell you alone.”
“What is it?”
“Please be careful around Emilia. Emilia was the one who spread malicious rumors about Olivier, and her mother, Cornelia, is one of the two I am watching.”
“—!”
Jared was utterly surprised, having never imagined that Emilia, whom he had met just yesterday, was the source of the malicious rumors about Olivier. He had never expected his own sister to have done such a thing to Olivier. Furthermore, if Emilia’s mother was targeting Hannelore, it was beyond reprehensible for both mother and daughter. Jared now understood the Duke’s reason for asking him not to tell Olivier, and it made perfect sense.
“Oh, it seems Konrad has noticed us. Let’s end this conversation. As I mentioned earlier, you don’t need to worry about Konrad’s mother, so I leave him in your care.”
“Understood.”
“Well then, I’ll call my son. Hey, Konrad! Come here!”
As the Duke waved him over, Konrad sheathed his long sword, which he had placed on the ground, and ran towards them. Konrad, arriving in an instant, had a charming face for a boy who still showed signs of freckles and youth, and he broke into a wide smile.
“Offer your respects.”
“Y-yes, Father! H-hello, Jared Murphy! I am Konrad Alway. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Older Brother!”
