Elias’s stomach felt as though someone had driven a hammer into it. But the worst pain was somewhere else.
His pride.
Elias wiped the blood from his mouth and gave a bitter laugh.
"Predictable..."
Perhaps Lucian was right.
He was weak.
Worse, he knew he was weak.
But knowing that didn’t mean he intended to accept it.
Elias planted one hand against the ground and pushed himself upright.
He had barely managed to stand when another set of footsteps approached.
"Young Master Elias."
Elias turned.
A maid stood near the entrance of the training grounds.
She bowed respectfully.
"The Head Lady requests your presence."
Elias’s expression changed.
"The Head Lady?"
"Yes."
Palensia Crimson, the duke’s first wife.
The woman who held authority over the entire Crimson Ducal household.
The Duke might be the head of the clan, but within the household itself, the Head Lady’s word carried enormous weight. The Duke had five official wives, each with her own influence and faction, yet all of them ultimately answered to the woman who had been given control over the internal affairs of the clan.
Elias had seen her countless times from a distance. But he had never been summoned to her private residence.
"Right now?" He said while glancing at his own state.
"Yes," the maid said.
Elias sighed and nodded.
"Understood."
He placed the wooden sword back in the rack, wiped the remaining blood from his mouth, and followed the servant through the estate.
The farther they walked, the quieter the surroundings became.
Eventually, they arrived at a luxurious residence located in one of the most secluded sections of the manor.
Elias couldn’t help looking around as he entered.
He had lived in the Crimson Ducal estate for twenty years, yet he had never been inside this part of the household.
Everything here seemed different.
The walls were decorated with expensive paintings, magical artifacts were displayed behind glass cases, and even the furniture looked as though it had been crafted by a master artisan.
Elias suddenly became aware of how plain his own clothes were.
The maid stopped before a set of enormous wooden doors and bowed.
"The Head Lady is waiting inside."
Elias nodded.
The doors opened.
"Come in."
A woman’s voice came from within.
Elias entered.
The first thing he noticed was the woman sitting beside the large windows.
The Head Lady was beautiful, though it wasn’t the youthful beauty that immediately attracted attention. Hers was the kind of beauty that came from years of confidence, authority, and knowing exactly where she stood in the world.
Her golden hair fell elegantly over her shoulders, and her sharp black eyes immediately settled on Elias.
"Sit."
She gestured toward the chair opposite her.
Elias obeyed.
"Do you like tea?" She asked in a soft voice.
"Y-Yes," Elias stuttered, flustered by the unexpected question.
She chuckled and gave a glance to the servant standing in the corner.
The servant stepped forward, poured tea into two cups, and placed them before both.
The Head Lady lifted her own cup.
"This is moon spirit tea, known for refreshing the person’s mind and body."
Elias looked at the cup with awe.
"Try it," the Head Lady said as she took a sip.
He nodded and picked up the cup before sipping it.
A hot yet cold, soothing taste spread across his mouth and slid down his throat, slightly relaxing his heavy thoughts and the fatigue from training and sparring.
Unknowingly, he finished the tea within moments and set the cup down before glancing around the room again with an embarrassed expression.
The Head Lady noticed the curiosity in his eyes and mumbled, "You’ve never met me personally, have you?"
Elias shook his head.
"No."
She smiled faintly.
"I suppose you hate me for that."
A brief silence followed as Elias said nothing.
Then she asked, "Why do you continue training?"
Elias looked at her with a frown and a confused expression. The question caught him off guard.
What should I say?
"Tell me the truth."
She rested her cup on the table.
"You know you have no talent."
Elias gritted his teeth, his expression dark.
The Head Lady continued.
"Your physical talent is mediocre, your mana aptitude is poor, and your swordsmanship after years of training is barely worthy of being called competent."
Her words were blunt, but there was no mockery in her tone.
She was simply stating facts.
Elias stayed silent for a long while, then his lips parted, and words escaped from them.
"I know."
"Then why?" She pressed, a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
Elias thought about the question.
He could have given a dozen answers.
Because he wanted recognition.
Because he hated being looked down upon.
Because he wanted to prove his family wrong.
Because he wanted to become strong.
But none of those answers felt quite right.
In the end, he looked back at her, his expression resolute and his eyes sharp with determination.
"As long as I’m alive, I’ll swing the sword."
The Head Lady’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Elias continued, his voice steady.
"I know I have no talent. I know there are people I’ll never surpass. I know that no matter how hard I train, I might remain weaker than everyone else."
His fingers curled into a fist.
"But as long as I’m alive, I’ll keep swinging."
He paused before adding,
"If I stop simply because I’m weak, then I’ll definitely remain weak."
Silence filled the room for a long while.
For some time, the Head Lady simply stared at him, then her expression changed.
A bright smile spread across her face, reaching her obsidian eyes.
"Well..."
She leaned back in her chair, seemingly pleased, and said softly,
"The time to prove yourself useful is already here."
Elias froze, his eyes wide.
Useful?
His heartbeat suddenly quickened.
For the first time since entering the room, his exhaustion disappeared beneath a surge of curiosity.
He leaned forward, his eyes shining with excitement.
"What do I have to do?"