***
After my participation in the war was decided, there were many conversations among the family members, but they were mostly emotionless, businesslike talks.
The scale of the troops and the selection of staff officers and support personnel, including attendants.
Advice on the departure ceremony the day after tomorrow and the route to take after setting out.
The position I would assume upon joining Western Command, precautions to take, and so on—all topics related to the campaign.
No one expressed concern for my well-being, which made Mother's face grow even darker.
"If Father's decision is final, then so be it, but if you tarnish the family's honor, I won't let it slide."
Cedric's advice dripped with condescension.
At 23—25 in Korean age—he wasn't exactly young anymore, yet I couldn't fathom why his behavior felt so immature.
Was it because he'd been spoiled rotten?
"I'll do my best."
He seemed displeased with my half-hearted response and opened his mouth to add something, but Father timed his interruption perfectly to cut him off.
"Adrian, let's talk for a moment."
The study was filled not only with family but also numerous attendants and retainers.
Sensing Father had something private to say, he even dismissed my guards and led me out to the outdoor balcony.
Gazing at the night view of the territory spread out below, Father spoke.
"Once this crisis settles, I plan to relocate you and Silvia to the royal capital. If there's a city you prefer, let me know. I'll provide ample support."
An unexpected proposition.
This time, war provided the excuse, but would Anna, who loathed the idea of me moving beyond her sight, truly allow it?
"Think of it as compensation for deploying in Cedric's stead. From now on, you can live freely, doing as you please without worrying about others' eyes."
It seemed he'd already discussed it with Anna.
But with my trust in Anna and Cedric at rock bottom, I couldn't take Father's offer at face value.
I doubted whether Father, who was so beholden to her family, could rein her in if she stirred up trouble.
"Understood. I'll think it over."
So I responded formally, without attaching much weight to it.
But then again, parents know their children best?
Father gave a wry smile at my reaction.
"You don't trust me, do you?"
I had no choice.
His response to the poisoning attempt when I was seven had been utterly disappointing.
"Trust aside, all this only matters after I return safely from the battlefield, right?"
"True enough."
"Thank you for your concern. We can discuss the rest after I get back."
Nodding in agreement, Father reached into his pocket and handed me two rings embedded with blue gems.
"What are these?"
"Artifacts containing a 5th Circle Autoshield and a 7th Circle Great Shield."
High-grade artifacts that would greatly enhance my survivability.
An artifact with a 7th Circle spell was nothing short of a treasure.
It was quite valuable, so I made sure to show genuine surprise.
"Thank you."
I accepted the two rings without refusal.
These days, battlefields came standard with spatial interference systems, making escape via Blink or Teleport nearly impossible.
That's why Father gifted me defensive artifacts.
"You'll need to act shrewdly to survive."
"Yes."
If luck held, it might end in localized skirmishes, but if it escalated to full-scale war after the opening moves, I'd have to fend for myself.
Even without the Croysen Empire, the Reinhartz Kingdom was a recognized power on the Defteron Continent.
Allies would form a united front this time too, so even if it went full-scale, it wouldn't threaten national survival.
"Let's head back inside."
As we turned from the balcony toward the room, I caught sight of Anna and Cedric staring intently our way.
Our eyes met, and Anna flashed a warm, affable smile.
A loathsome grin, but I returned it with one of my own.
Father regarded her cautiously before speaking.
"You needn't worry about Silvia. Go with peace of mind."
He'd disappointed me time and again, but of everyone here, Father was the only one remotely trustworthy.
I shot him a loaded gaze and replied coldly.
"It had better be that way. I'm counting on you, Father."
". . . Yes."
* * *
Once Adrian, who had remained composed to the end, and Silvia, who had glared with resentment, returned to their mansion, only the Viscount and Anna remained in the lord's castle study.
"Don't forget—you're not to interfere with those two."
"You . . ."
"I sincerely hope you don't disappoint me further, my lady."
At the Viscount's declaration to cease all threats against Adrian and Silvia, including surveillance, Anna clicked her tongue sharply and rose from her seat.
"Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, I understand!"
As Anna stormed out in irritation, the Viscount sank deeply into the sofa.
"Urk."
But then, an excruciating headache struck him, too intense to endure.
The butler, who had entered to relieve Anna and noticed the Viscount's unnatural state, rushed over in alarm.
The Viscount raised a hand to halt him and spoke coldly.
"Leave me."
"But . . ."
"Ahem!"
"Y-Yes, sir."
Once the butler fled the study, the Viscount, now alone, fiddled with the ring on his right index finger.
"Pain relief."
A blue glow emanated from the ring, enveloping his body, and his expression gradually eased.
Moments later, the Viscount—who had been slumped like a corpse on the sofa—rose as if nothing had happened, slicking back his disheveled brown hair.
"So he was only pretending to be mediocre, after all."
Approaching the bar, the Viscount poured whiskey into a glass as he thought of his second son, Adrian.
The boy who had devoured knowledge voraciously, earning him the label of prodigy.
Even after the poisoning stripped him of that title, the glint in his eyes during their talk about Silvia's safety outshone anything the heir Cedric had shown.
It had made even him, ruler of a territory, flinch.
Had Anna caught that look, she would have deemed him a threat and moved to eliminate him.
"That boy . . ."
It wasn't a gaze one should direct at one's parents, but the Viscount's mood was quite pleasant now.
Late interest in his second son might stir a tempest in the household, but the Viscount found himself increasingly intrigued by Adrian.
* * *
Upon returning to the mansion, Mother finally let out the tears she'd been holding back.
She apologized profusely for being too lowly to help, as if my deployment were entirely her fault.
"You all, out."
I comforted her and ordered all the attendants from the room.
"Pardon? But we . . ."
"No need to worry if it's from Grand Aunt's orders. Even if I vented on you all, she'd turn a blind eye right now."
A few Anna had planted lingered hesitantly, but when I glared murderously, they bolted like they'd been scorched.
My anger now was entirely justified.
With me heading to war in Cedric's place, Anna had no reason to get on my nerves.
Confirming the attendants gone, I smiled at Mother.
"Mother, no need to worry. You know your son handles himself well."
"But what if they drag you far away just to harm you . . ."
Mother knew the loss of my brilliance wasn't a poisoning aftereffect.
She believed I'd hidden my abilities and played the fool—one Anna and Cedric would approve of—to survive, all because her own background was insignificant. That's why she reacted this way.
"If they do, it'll actually work in my favor."
"What?"
Perhaps my response during our talk didn't match her expectations?
Mother wiped her tears, her face puzzled.
"The more crimes I can pin on those two, the better, right?"
A line that shattered Mother's assumptions.
Her sky-blue eyes widened, and she gasped in shock, shoulders heaving.
"Ad-Adrian? What do you mean by that?"
She glanced around frantically, worried someone might overhear.
"Don't worry. Arcia's guarding the door."
"Even so . . ."
No need to fret over listening devices or surveillance cameras.
Even while feigning incompetence, the one thing I never permitted was those.
I was adept at finding them and calmly reported each discovery to the territory's security office.
No matter how powerless I seemed, when the lord's son filed a formal report, they had to produce results.
It would surely reach Father's ears.
Anna, caught off guard by my reports, scrambled to cut off tails, scapegoating innocents just like with the poisoning.
She repeated this every time a device was found, inevitably spreading bad rumors among the territory folk.
In the end, Anna abandoned the equipment and resorted to human surveillance.
In other words, she kept tabs but respected certain boundaries—we'd reached a silent accord.
"I have no intention of just taking it lying down. It won't be long now. Just hold on a little longer."
"You, what in the world . . .?"
Had the innocent son she knew vanished?
Or was it the declaration of war against Anna and Cedric?
With tears dried, Mother flapped her mouth like a carp before breaking into hiccups.