Dennis Beckman repeatedly apologized inwardly to Jared. He felt immense guilt for involving the boy, who was still underage, especially at a time before he was appointed Court Mage.
The boy who saved not only the Ducal Family but the entire kingdom should have been hailed as a hero. However, due to the sensitive nature of the incident, he was only recognized as a skilled magician who resolved a certain case. It was a small consolation that the Alway Ducal Family, Daum Barony, and Olivier Alway’s reputations had improved more than ever thanks to him.
(However, I never imagined that the Progenitor could be revived. Now I understand why Lord Rasmus knew successive kings.)
Cassandra Hagedorff’s sudden, violent act. To Dennis and his team, who had been tracking her actions, it was an act of finally making a move. Nevertheless, this incident was incredibly troublesome.
The original plan was to use Jared, knowing he would be involved, as bait to expose her scheme. Even under the current circumstances, it was possible to strip her of her position as head of the Ducal Family, but Dennis thought that wouldn’t be enough. As long as her motive remained unknown, she might repeat her actions even after losing her title. If it involved the Progenitor, it was something they absolutely could not overlook.
(Still, I can’t just talk about the Progenitor.)
Even in the Wethered Kingdom, the Progenitor was regarded as sacred. Many nobles in this country carried the blood of the now-defunct Magician Empire. Therefore, there were quite a few who revered or researched the Progenitor. Faith in the Progenitor was particularly strong among families that produced magicians.
(I myself researched the Progenitor when I was a student.)
But he never could have imagined that the Progenitor could be revived. Nor did he ever dream that he would be on the side to prevent it.
(However, if Cassandra plans to revive the Progenitor, simply stripping her of her position as head of the family is not enough.)
If there was a possibility of causing chaos in the nation, her punishment should be severe from the moment she took action, regardless of the outcome. Even if she were a Duke, treason against the nation would not spare her from the death penalty. —However, since information about the Progenitor could not be revealed, her punishment would likely be lenient. Dennis himself knew Cassandra Hagedorff well, and he genuinely wished for a less severe penalty.
(To be honest, I was also concerned about Cassandra’s safety after she lost her position as head of the Ducal Family… but the situation is much more serious.)
Cassandra’s siblings were in a precarious situation. While the details were unclear, given how she had treated her younger sister, they had brought it upon themselves. However, her siblings’ mother and those around her were not appeased. A defeated party in a family dispute had little say, but persistent individuals would do anything. It was easy to imagine what would happen to Cassandra, who had been targeted multiple times in the past, if she lost her position as head of the family.
(I asked the King to guarantee Cassandra’s safety, but it has become difficult.)
His greatest concern was the boy in front of him. No one who had opposed him had emerged unscathed. Some had lost their position and their lives. He did not blame them; it was an expected outcome. However, it was unbearable to think that Cassandra might meet the same end as those who came before her.
(…Even though I might lose my own position because of this incident, I couldn’t just stand by.)
Initially, he thought her erratic behavior stemmed from her desire for revenge against the Ducal Family. Her difficult childhood, the death of her mother, and the separation from her father, who had been her only ally. The higher a noble’s aristocratic title, the more troubled family relationships tended to be. The Rüdiger Ducal Family was perhaps the only one where family relations were harmonious. Others were usually in a state of conflict.
However, he heard that Cassandra, who had won the family dispute, had taken revenge on the brothers she had sidelined. He also heard that she had expelled their mothers from the mansion. But her struggle was not over. The mothers tried to exact revenge for their children by dispatching assassins. Some were caught due to carelessness, some were eliminated, and others continued to relentlessly pursue her.
Rumors then emerged that she was tired of this exhausting daily life and was planning to plunge the Ducal Family itself into a crisis. It was difficult to stop her in advance, and her movements were impossible to track. When they finally got a grasp on her, she committed numerous acts of violence against the unrelated Alway Ducal Family and, on her own initiative, captured Jared Murphy, the King’s favorite.
What surprised Dennis, who had infiltrated to investigate the internal affairs, was Cassandra’s ambition to revive the Progenitor. It was no surprise that he was astonished by this fact, which was far beyond his expectations.
(…I apologize to Master Murphy, but I have no choice but to ask for his help in saving Cassandra…)
He felt guilty for using him, even though it was circumstance. He would have to pay for his sins, for deliberately overlooking the situation that led to Jared’s involvement. But before things became irretrievable, he had to stop Cassandra.
(I will not let the Progenitor be revived. If that happens, Cassandra will have nowhere to go.)
First Seat Court Mage Dennis Beckman wanted to stop his former fiancée, even if it meant relying on the boy he trusted.
