The meeting between Conrad Alway, Therese, and her son. Hearing that her cousin, Yeny Daum, might come to live with them, she felt thoroughly exhausted.
With Pfeil’s escape, new Waalthe assassins, and more, his mind was constantly occupied, leaving him no time to rest.
Olivier was optimistic, stating that she wouldn’t fear unseen enemies. Jared was genuinely pleased that his presence was one of the reasons for her positive outlook.
Although he resolved to emulate her, he resented the constant need to react to situations.
Jared was more inclined to attack enemies rather than be attacked. To put it bluntly, he had a side to him that couldn’t feel at ease unless all clear enemies were eliminated.
Therefore, the current situation, where he had to accommodate the enemy’s schedule despite not fearing them, was frustrating.
After finishing dinner, Jared spoke with Olivier. He informed her that Conrad showed an aptitude for Fire Attribute Magic and had the potential to become a significant talent as a magician if he developed his skills. He also asserted that he would never target Conrad or his mother, Therese, as Therese had once been under Hannelore’s care, and he felt a sense of debt.
“I see… I never truly suspected Therese?”
“I heard you were close with him, including Conrad, in the past.”
“We have many memories. From my perspective, Father was close with Mother and Therese. However, I may not have been particularly close to the other consorts, though we weren’t on bad terms.”
She speculated that the harassment towards Conrad and Therese, including the targeting of Hannelore, might have ultimately stemmed from jealousy.
While the Duke might not have consciously shown favoritism, it was likely that Hannelore, his childhood friend, and Therese, the sister of his friend, were naturally easier to approach. The fact that those two became close would only have amplified this.
However, from the consorts’ perspective, they must have felt singled out. This would have been especially true for those who had sons they wished to see inherit the family’s position, as Conrad would have been seen as a significant threat.
Looking at the origins of the situation, it was difficult to pinpoint who was at fault.
However, attempting to take Hannelore’s life was undeniably wrong, and the harassment of Conrad and his mother was equally so.
“It’s not a new phenomenon for the main wife to be disliked by concubines; it’s the same in every household. While there are families where everyone gets along, that’s rare.”
“Indeed.”
“I have pleasant memories of Therese, but when I try to recall the other consorts, only unpleasant things come to mind. But I see, Conrad has also been going through a difficult time.”
“If he trains in swordsmanship, he’s accused of currying favor with his father, and if his magic power is revealed, he’s met with jealousy. What exactly are they supposed to do, those siblings?”
Jared and Olivier sighed in unison.
Frankly, they had no solutions. Olivier had to prioritize matters concerning her mother, and she didn’t want to be implicated as an associate of Conrad because she defended him. Jared, being completely outside the family’s affairs, couldn’t interfere. Even now, the fact that he was teaching Conrad magic meant he was already somewhat involved, which was a dilemma. However, meeting Conrad, seeing his character, his ambition, and his efforts to be positive, he found him worthy of respect and wanted to help him.
Most importantly, simply knowing that he was friends with Hannelore and Olivier made him want to extend a hand.
Needless to say, the other consorts were likely aware that Jared was teaching Conrad magic. Furthermore, they probably viewed Jared not only as Olivier’s fiancé but also as someone on Conrad’s side, who they considered an enemy.
If they learned that the Duke had facilitated this connection, it could further fuel suspicions that Conrad was the heir. However, there was no way to stop it.
“I wouldn’t know either. Even though they are siblings, I have had almost no contact with anyone other than Conrad. Ah, but Emilia used to always pick fights with me.”
“—!”
At the sudden mention of Emilia’s name, Jared almost cried out.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing. By the way, what kind of person is Emilia?”
“She’s my sister. Because our mothers were childhood friends, we used to play together with Conrad when she was little. However, Cornelia, Emilia’s mother, dislikes my mother and me. I could tell by her attitude. And it was true. We soon drifted apart from Emilia, and I have almost no memory of talking with her brother.”
Jared was surprised that Emilia had played with Olivier in their childhood. Their circumstances must have been different then. Still, it was saddening that sisters who once played together had fallen out.
“To be honest, if I had been a man, all this trouble likely wouldn’t have occurred. As the son of the main wife, he could inherit the family’s position unless there was a significant reason otherwise. But I am a daughter, not a son. I’ve never regretted being a woman, and while there are women who become the head of a family, I sometimes wish I could protect Mother more if I were a son.”
“But if Olivier were a son, we probably wouldn’t have met.”
“That’s right. We wouldn’t have met. Then, it’s fine to remain a daughter. I am a daughter, and though I cannot inherit the family’s position and have no intention of doing so, I have no regrets.”
Although she said she had no regrets, Olivier must have struggled with being a daughter. It was understandable to consider “what if I were a son,” especially when circumstances forced them to think that way.
“Regarding the succession, I wish Father would quickly decide on an heir.”
Jared silently agreed. That alone would alleviate the negative feelings directed at Hannelore and Olivier.
Instead, the focus would be on whoever was chosen as the heir. In that case, those targeting Hannelore’s life would no longer have the luxury of paying attention to them. Those willing to kill to achieve something would likely not tolerate anyone other than their own child inheriting the family position.
Of course, he didn’t genuinely wish for someone else to be targeted in Hannelore’s place.
Yet, he couldn’t stop himself from hoping that Olivier and the others’ situation would improve even slightly.
However, if the son of the person trying to harm Hannelore became the heir, Olivier and her family’s danger could potentially increase.
While desiring change, he also feared it.
He couldn’t help but wish that a straightforward and earnest boy like Conrad would become the heir, which would bring a sense of security.
“But it seems Father has no intention of deciding on an heir yet.”
“Why is that?”
“One reason is likely that Father is still active, but it’s also because there are still underage children, including Conrad. Father will surely be energetic until the youngest, Conrad, reaches adulthood, which is about four years from now.”
He understood.
In a ducal family, the responsibilities of the head of the household were immense, and their influence was significant. While it might not be impossible for an underage individual to become the head, it would be difficult as long as the father was active. Therefore, if they waited for the youngest, Conrad, to reach adulthood and then chose the heir fairly, age would at least not be a factor.
However, for those who had already reached adulthood, even if the succession was in the future, they would want assurance that they were the heir. But, given the current circumstances, they couldn’t receive that, leading to accumulating dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction might be manifesting as harassment towards their youngest brother.
Jared didn’t know what kind of people Olivier’s other brothers were, besides Conrad, but he didn’t care about those who were maliciously harassing a younger boy.
He might meet them someday, but his interest was low.
For now, he could only hope that the situation for Olivier, who cared deeply for her mother, and the earnest Conrad would improve even a little.
