Chapter Sixty-Six: Origins

By the time the Daniel couple arrived after receiving the news, Andy was already seated in the manor’s drawing room. The chubby boy was enthusiastically pouring tea for Andy at his side. Seeing his son so thoughtful, Daniel couldn’t help but reveal a look of gratification, though Mrs. Daniel’s brow furrowed slightly.

Andy wasted no words and stated his purpose directly. He produced a document he had long prepared—it was the deed for the manor and the surrounding farmlands. He told Daniel bluntly that he was heading to the royal capital to study sorcery, and thus was entrusting the Charles family estate to the Daniel couple’s care.

With that, Andy handed the deed, light as a feather but making Mrs. Daniel’s eyes go wide, straight to Daniel.

From the fragmented memories of his predecessor, Andy knew this uncle had treated him fairly well. As for the aunt who hadn’t, Andy couldn’t be bothered—just another troublesome relative. In any case, he had no intention of ever returning to this small town after leaving. He might as well give the manor to Daniel as a small compensation for Andy Charles’s former self.

After giving them the deed, Mrs. Daniel became unexpectedly warm toward Andy, insisting he stay for a meal. But Andy had no interest and declined, saying he had to hurry on his journey.

However, Daniel seemed to have something for Andy and asked him to wait. After rummaging through the house, Daniel handed Andy a small box, saying it was a relic of Andy’s parents.

Andy didn’t check it immediately. Instead, he climbed into the carriage with Catherine. Only after they were on the road did he open the box, discovering a curious bow-shaped jade pendant and a letter placed alongside it.

The letter was from his mother, addressed to Andy Charles. It explained some matters concerning the Charles family.

It all began with his grandfather, who had once been a scion of the Charles family in the capital. Dissatisfied with the marriage arranged for him by the family, he had eloped with Andy’s grandmother to the city of Dallas. At the time, this had made the Charles family the laughingstock of the capital.

The family hadn’t expelled Andy’s grandfather, but from then on, they ignored him. Even when local nobles maliciously seized his assets, no help was offered.

Though he had left the family, Andy’s grandfather grew more nostalgic for his roots as he aged. On his deathbed, he urged Andy’s father to strive for a distinguished future and then return to the capital to reclaim their family standing in glory.

Sadly, Andy’s father died in battle. In her letter, his mother urged Andy that if he ever achieved the rank of knight or great knight, he should take the pendant as proof to the Charles family in the capital and reclaim his heritage. There, he could learn advanced combat techniques and breathing methods.

“How utterly melodramatic!” Andy sighed softly as he finished reading, setting the letter ablaze with a simple ignition spell.

He toyed with the bow-shaped pendant for a moment, then tossed it carelessly into his spatial pouch. He had no interest in going to the capital just to acknowledge ancestors and be treated like a grandson; his grandfather’s dying wish meant nothing to him.

Besides, if he really needed advanced techniques, he could always “borrow” them with the magic mirror—after all, that’s how he’d learned the “Dominating Body” method.

It was said there were four great families in the capital, known as the “Four Pillars of Eran.” Andy decided that once he reached the capital, he’d find a way to earn enough magic stones and collect all their secret techniques.

So, as he traveled, Andy recounted tales of Andy Charles’s childhood to Catherine, hoping she’d open up to him about her own past. Yet Catherine showed no reaction—she even yawned when hearing about the mistreatment by Andy’s aunt.

Frustrated, Andy stopped his story and began to meditate in the carriage.

As Andy entered his meditative state, Catherine gazed intently toward the manor they had left behind, showing none of her previous boredom. She suddenly traced a circle, then stabbed her little paw into its center…

The next morning, Daniel was roused from deep sleep by terrified screams. He rushed out to find his wife sobbing uncontrollably before a mirror, her face buried in her hands. Peering through her fingers, Daniel saw that his wife’s face was now covered in pockmarks.

…

Meanwhile, in the royal palace of Prondela, the capital.

A middle-aged man in noble attire entered Linda Eran’s chambers with utmost caution. He was Adrien, the palace steward.

“Your Majesty.” Adrien bowed with flawless precision.

“So it’s Uncle Adrien. I haven’t ascended the throne yet; just call me Princess, or Linda if you prefer,” Linda Eran replied, withdrawing from her reverie.

“Yes, Princess. The preparations for your coronation are complete. However—”

“What is it? Is it about the First Prince?” Linda asked. In the Kingdom of Eran, the title of First Prince was only used when a queen took the throne, referring to the queen’s husband. Once a queen ascended, choosing a consort became the kingdom’s most pressing issue, for the succession of heirs was vital to the stability of royal power.

“Yes. By tradition, the queen’s consort is always chosen from among the outstanding young men of the Four Great Houses.”

“Hmph! Tradition, always tradition. Do these hidebound old men intend to cling to their ancestors’ coffins forever?” There was a chill in Linda’s eyes that even Adrien, a Silver Knight, found oppressive.

He was about to speak when the pressure abruptly vanished. Linda said, “Never mind. We’ll follow tradition this time.”

Adrien exhaled in relief and promptly presented a sheet of red paper covered with names. “Here is the list of all male heirs under thirty from the Four Pillars. Those underlined below are the key candidates identified by the council for your consideration.”

Linda scanned the names—many were familiar, at least by reputation. The underlined ones were indeed the most outstanding of their generation.

She casually added a few lines beneath those she remembered favorably and crossed out a couple who left a poor impression. Her pen paused at one name.

“What’s the story with this Allen Barr? If I’m not mistaken, he’s a notorious playboy in the capital. Who suggested making him a priority?”

Feeling the renewed pressure, Adrien hurried to explain. “Allen Barr may have been frivolous in past years, but he’s reformed. Not long ago, he distinguished himself in Dallas and was nominated for barony by Marshal Vaughan himself—the council has already approved, awaiting only the royal decree. He’s truly among the best of his peers. The review committee has already set out to assess him in Dallas…”

Linda listened in silence. Suddenly, she pointed to the name below Allen’s. “And this Andy Charles? Why do I have no impression of him? Is he an illegitimate child?”

Adrien thought for a moment before replying, “Not at all. He is of the main Charles line. Years ago, his grandfather eloped with a merchant’s daughter to Dallas, causing quite a scandal. Because it was a family disgrace, it’s seldom spoken of now.”

“As you said, these are hidebound men. Despite their displeasure with this branch, they still entered Andy Charles into the family register.”

Linda had little interest in the Four Houses’ gossip. “Oh? So this man is also in Dallas? Then let the committee already sent there evaluate him as well.”

Casually, Linda drew a line beneath Andy Charles’s name, then placed a large cross over Allen Barr’s.

“As for Allen Barr, let him continue his playboy life!”