“However, the situation changed completely thanks to Jared. I no longer have to live in fear of Cornelia’s shadow. Of course, I cannot announce it publicly yet, as I cannot predict how the consorts will react if they learn about Conrad, but I still wanted Olivier and Jared to know.”
Jared felt his heart stop from the sheer weight of the secret Harald had entrusted him with, a testament to Harald’s trust.
“…Father, who else knows about this?”
“I told Tobias and Hannelore the other day. Of course, Conrad, the person involved, knows, but Therese does not.”
“Mother knew too!?”
“I apologize. However, considering the circumstances, I wanted to proceed with caution.”
“No, I was surprised, but I understand, so I won’t blame you, Father. You don’t need to apologize. My dear brother must not be targeted for his life like we were.”
Olivier then averted her gaze to her fiancé and smiled.
“We had someone to protect us. However, Conrad and the others do not.”
“…Forgive my selfishness.”
Jared thought about Tobias’s astonishment when Conrad confessed to Rosa, and how Duke Alway’s reaction until then had seemed somewhat exaggerated. Now, he understood. Even though Conrad hadn’t been informed he was the successor, he had fallen in love without knowing it. It was bound to cause concern.
Conrad himself was unaware he had been chosen as the successor, and had no intention of competing for the position. Therese, too, prioritized her son’s happiness over him becoming the successor. Harald and Tobias must have been at their wits’ end.
“To be perfectly honest, I didn’t initially intend for Conrad to be the successor from the start.”
Harald confessed.
“All of my children studied the management of the territory, and I had no doubt they would be suitable successors. No matter how much I told them to learn swordsmanship, they all said it wasn’t necessary for the future and that they wanted to study to inherit my position. While I’m happy they genuinely want to succeed me, what use is it to only learn territory management?”
“Um, Duke, you entrust the management of your territory to others, not yourself?”
Jared knew that except for emergencies like the recent Dragon Species incident, Harald usually resided at the main ducal family residence, not living in the Alway Ducal Territory.
“That’s right. My uncle is not skilled in martial arts, but he is the most suitable person to entrust with territory management. Of course, I make the decisions that only the head of the family can make, and I am the lord, but day-to-day operations are left to my uncle.”
The Alway Ducal Family bore the responsibility of defending the Capital City, so they couldn’t just protect their own territory like other nobles.
It would be meaningless if the person responsible for defending the Capital City left it. While not strictly necessary to be proficient in martial arts to defend the city, it was unacceptable to have never even held a sword. Only someone like Harald, who had experience in the Knights, could mobilize the Royal Knights when necessary and had their trust.
In contrast, his sons, with the exception of Conrad, were focused on territory management and seemed indifferent to the Alway Ducal Family’s role in defending the Capital City.
“You understand, Jared. At the very least, what is necessary for the head of our Alway Ducal Family is not territory management. Of course, it’s better if they can do it, but there are other important things.”
“I understand, I do… but, forgive my rudeness, why doesn’t anyone realize this on their own?”
When he asked, he was met with a deep sigh.
“I wish I knew. Initially, I watched hoping they would realize it themselves, but they never changed, and even when I offered advice, they didn’t understand. My wives, even Cornelia, are convinced that the head of the family’s top priority is managing the territory.”
“Even I understand the importance of the Capital City defense duty, so it’s astonishing that even with advice, they couldn’t grasp it.”
“Only Hannelore truly understood the role of the Alway Ducal Family. No, Therese is the same. However, in her case, she pretends not to understand so as not to involve her son in the succession struggle.”
It was ironic. The wives who understood the importance of defending the Capital City had no intention of having their children become the head of the family, and the children themselves had no desire to become head. Those who wished for the position did not understand what the ducal family entailed.
Honestly, Harald seemed pitiful.
“If Conrad continues to grow like this, he will likely join the Knights or the Mage Corps. I can’t say anything about his magical abilities, but if that doesn’t work out, joining the Knights is certain. Conrad is the only one doing what a successor should be for my aspirations.”
From what he heard, if any of his sons other than Conrad became the head of the family, the Alway Ducal Family would be in trouble. As for Tobias, he seemed to understand the importance of defending the Capital City, but he was excluded from the succession candidates as atonement for his mother’s actions.
—Indeed, it might be impossible for anyone other than Conrad-sama.
Jared couldn’t be certain about his other siblings, as he hadn’t heard Olivier speak of them, but since the Duke hadn’t mentioned any other children, he believed it was likely true.
“I’ve been teaching Conrad swordsmanship since he was young. The other children have no interest in fighting and have never even properly held a sword. Tobias used to learn swordsmanship, but he isn’t good at physical activities in general. It’s precisely because Conrad has magical power, dislikes conflict, and is forward-thinking with ambition that he is suitable to be the head.”
Jared understood the importance of the Alway Ducal Family’s role in defending the Capital City, but he couldn’t fully grasp the burden Harald carried. However, if he, as the head of the Alway Ducal Family for generations, deemed Conrad suitable as his successor, then it must be true.
“Father, then what do you plan to do about Conrad and Rosa?”
“I need some time to think. Considering Conrad’s age, we have some leeway. If he absolutely wishes to marry Wahash’s daughter, I apologize to her, but I cannot let him become the successor of Waalthe.”
“I think that will be difficult. Rosa takes pride in being the successor of Waalthe.”
“…Is that so? If he doesn’t become the successor, it wouldn’t be impossible to make her my trusted clan’s adopted daughter and Conrad’s wife.”
It seemed Harald didn’t want to simply dismiss his son’s romantic feelings. While it would be unfortunate for Rosa, even if they were mutually in love, she wouldn’t necessarily have to be the main wife. In the worst-case scenario, she could become a consort while continuing her activities as the successor of Waalthe, and the damage to the ducal family would be less severe if her background were revealed.
“There’s no point discussing this here without Rosa.”
“R-Right. There’s no need to rush now. Olivier, I’m sorry to ask, but please try to speak with Rosa. I would also like to speak with her myself if possible.”
“Understood.”
“And Jared—if possible, I would like to speak with Wahash as well, but can you contact him?”
Jared shook his head. He hadn’t seen Wahash since resolving the incident surrounding his mother’s death the other day. He had no means of contacting him, nor did he wish to. Rosa, Pfeil, or his grandfather might have a way to contact him, but Jared certainly did not.
“I am sorry, but if you wish to contact Wahash, I believe it would be faster to ask my grandfather.”
“I see. I will try that. I apologize, but I would appreciate your help for a while. Especially you, Jared—if possible, I would be happy if you could act as a good consultant for my son, or rather, as an older brother.”
“For me to be an older brother—but I accept. I am personally concerned about Conrad-sama, so I will help as much as I can.”
Harald expressed his gratitude as a father for Jared’s positive response. Burdened by his troubles, the cooperation of a trusted individual was undoubtedly welcome. However, Jared, who had spent his life in combat and was unversed in romantic matters, wondered how much he could truly help. Olivier seemed to feel the same, and the two exchanged troubled smiles.
