The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 37

Aden arrived at Immortalitium, the heart of the empire, after traveling for a month by carriage.

Immortalitium, meaning ‘Land of Eternal Immortality.’

True to its name, the capital was bustling.

Aden headed to the mansion owned by the Remes Ducal family.

Passing through the front gate of the mansion, he saw a spacious garden, a fountain, and a luxurious four-story mansion.

In the garden in front of the mansion stood a statue of an enraged black bull, the symbol of the ducal family, raising its front legs.

‘This is indeed a declining border family. Is this it?’

The number of floors in the mansion represented the authority of the family.

For a ducal family, a building should have at least six floors.

However, having only four floors meant it had the wealth and authority of a count family at best.

‘It’s laughable to call a family that gives pocket money in platinum coins a declining family.’

Thinking so, Aden stepped out of the carriage through the door opened by his attendants.

He saw the servants who came to greet him.

“Welcome to the capital, Young Master Aden Remes!”

The servants bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

They greeted him with excessive formality.

It was like watching Viscount Timon, tense in front of Border Count Tiried.

The mansion’s servants were quite nervous.

Who was he?

Aden Remes, notorious as the ducal family’s scoundrel.

But such a person had awakened sword aura.

There were rumors, though uncertain, that he had even killed a troll.

What did that mean?

‘Absolutely don’t get on his bad side…’

‘The worst scoundrel.’

Having a scoundrel’s temperament combined with sword aura, the conclusion in their minds was that he was the strongest and worst scoundrel no one could stop.

‘Not Lord Carl, but Lord Aden…’

Ever since they heard that Aden was coming, they had been on edge.

They were hoping not to provoke Aden in any way.

“Oh, right.”

Aden replied absentmindedly.

He didn’t know what they were thinking and didn’t care.

Aden followed an elderly man who seemed to be in charge into the mansion.

Then he lay down on his bed in his room.

“Indeed, nobles live comfortably.”

No matter how comfortable a carriage was, sleeping in it was always uncomfortable.

There’s a saying that a bed isn’t furniture, but magic for a reason.

As always, noble beds were on a different level from those in roadside inns stuffed with straw.

‘I might hesitate to go back to my old self because of the bed now.’

With such a futile thought, Aden got up and looked out the window.

Beyond the window, a grand castle was visible.

The Imperial Palace.

The residence of the royal family that had prospered for nearly half a millennium, and the heart of the empire.

Aden was scheduled to enter there tonight.

From high-ranking noble children to various delegations, many would enter to celebrate the crown prince’s birthday.

And tonight, the banquet hall would become a bloody scene.

Warlocks who had infiltrated the palace would cause a commotion, hiding their identities.

Many would be injured or killed because of this.

In his past life, it was only after a long time that it was revealed that the warlocks were the culprits.

Aden planned to use the incident tonight to his advantage.

‘Knowing the future, I can use anything to my benefit.’

Aden smiled meaningfully.

—

In the evening, when the banquet at the Imperial Palace began, Aden entered the Crown Prince’s palace.

He looked at Lowe, who accompanied him as a guard, with pity.

“Hey, Lowe. Relax a bit.”

Lowe’s gait and expression were stiff like a wooden puppet.

“I never thought I’d set foot in the Imperial Palace in my lifetime… But it’s your first time here too, isn’t it, Aden?”

“Do you think I’m like you?”

Aden felt a pang of guilt at Lowe’s words.

It was the first time for Aden Remes, but in his past life, Aden had attended the Imperial Palace banquets several times after gaining a title.

He didn’t like such occasions, but he was used to them.

The banquet took place in a magnificent hall at the center of the Crown Prince’s palace.

Sweet music played.

The tables were laden with rare foods.

The central nobles of the empire, young nobles invited from the borders, and representatives from other countries gathered, each engaged in conversation.

“Haha, isn’t that Prince Gilbert? Long time no see.”

“It’s been a while, Lord Ardon.”

However, no one approached Aden to greet or pretend to be friendly.

Despite being the eldest son of a ducal family.

‘As expected, the scoundrel prince.’

It seemed the owner of this body was notorious even in the capital.

The expressions of those who occasionally glanced at Aden were similar.

Repulsion, or ridicule.

The former didn’t want to associate with a mad dog.

The latter mocked and scorned the scoundrel from a declining border family.

Aden’s senses picked up the whispers about him.

“Is that young man the scoundrel prince?”

“I heard he killed a troll.”

“Pfft, no way. He must have stolen someone else’s achievement or dealt the final blow.”

Some knew rumors about Aden, but they considered them exaggerated or false.

They thought it was a stunt by the ducal family to appear competent, laughing at the notion.

Originally, it would be impossible given the status of a duke.

But Aden’s family, at best, had the status of a count.

If it were an actual count family, it wouldn’t be this bad, but being a duke with lower status made them a laughingstock.

People enjoyed seeing someone higher in status appear incompetent.

Aden sipped his wine, ignoring their words.

What did it matter what they said?

As long as he achieved his goals.

‘There are three people I must meet tonight.’

Aden looked around, searching for someone.

Many were socializing with foreign delegations.

But some were isolated despite the ongoing socialization.

‘There he is.’

The first person.

A man in a robe, indicating he was part of the Anguis delegation, was drinking wine alone.

The man with a mustache and messy hair had a rough-looking demeanor.

He seemed to be an outcast within the delegation.

Aden recalled the information he had written in his journal.

Gustav Dora.

A pioneer in magitech, and the worst terrorist of the Mage Tower.

An eccentric who lived by the creed, ‘Art is explosion!’

Originally a mage affiliated with the central Mage Tower of Anguis, he was expelled.

His attempts to produce experimental results led to a massive explosion, causing his mana to be sealed and permanent banishment from Anguis.

He lived in seclusion in the capital’s slums. Four and a half years after the warlock purge order, he executed a terrorist attack on the Mage Tower with his magitech inventions, destroying a third of it.

However, he was stopped within five minutes by the Archmage Shaura and executed.

Despite this, his magitech knowledge gained recognition, laying the foundation for the creation of magitech golems and weapons that played a significant role in the war against Demon Lord.

If encountered, recruit him or, if not possible, kill him to prevent his knowledge from spreading to the Mage Tower.

Gustav Dora.

A mad scholar who created the new discipline of magitech, distinct from alchemy or magic.

An elite who reached the fourth circle at a young age but was ostracized and mistreated due to his obsession with magitech.

In this period, magitech wasn’t even properly recognized.

The knowledge was undeveloped, inefficient, and unstable.

Aden approached Gustav and greeted him.

“Mage Gustav Dora. It’s an honor to meet you. I am Aden Remes, the eldest son of the Remes Ducal family.”

“…Do you know me?”

Gustav furrowed his brows and blinked, puzzled.

Aden gave a fake smile.

“Of course. Aren’t you the author of ‘Stabilization of Magitech Circuits and the Potential of Magitech’?”

“You, you’ve read my book! Really?”

Gustav’s initially indifferent attitude changed instantly.

His face lit up with surprise and joy.

Aden nodded.

“Indeed. It was a fascinating read.”

Of course, it was a lie.

Aden had chosen any of Gustav’s books to attract his interest, but it was so dull he struggled to stay awake while reading it.

There was no better sleep aid.

“I could clearly see that once commercialized, there would be no superior and useful magical discipline.”

Despite this, Aden had read the book to the end.

‘There’s no better way to get close to a creator than praising their work.’

As expected, Gustav’s mouth curled up into a wide grin.

“Haha! To recognize the greatness of magitech, you have a keen eye, Prince Aden!”

Gustav, unasked, began to talk endlessly to Aden about his theories and magitech.

He also vented about other mages who disregarded his research.

Aden half-listened, occasionally nodding in agreement.

“Thinking that way is indeed remarkable.”

“Haha! You flatter me!”

Simply nodding or giving slight praise was enough for Gustav to talk at length.

He was easier to handle than expected.

After about an hour of praise for magitech, Gustav cleared his throat.

He had talked so much his throat hurt.

“Cough. I got too excited. It’s the first time I’ve met someone who understands me like you do, Prince Aden. The idiots at the Mage Tower just don’t get it.”

“That must have been tough. If you ever face difficulties, come to me. I’ll assist you as much as I can in the name of the Remes Ducal family.”

“Cough. Thank you for your words, Prince Aden. You’re truly…”

Gustav seemed touched by Aden’s words, his eyes moistening.

His gaze towards Aden was filled with affection.

‘Damn it, stop looking at me like that.’

Aden shuddered at the thought of a hairy man looking at him with a sticky gaze.

Aden barely managed to get away from Gustav, sighing in relief.

“He really can talk nonstop.”

It felt like he had cast a speed spell on his mouth.

However, thanks to this, Aden had established a connection with the magitech engineer Gustav.

When he was expelled from the Mage Tower later, he would surely seek out Aden.

Then Aden would fully possess his knowledge.

Aden smiled in satisfaction.

At that moment.

“There you are! Aden Remes!”

“Hm?”

A loud voice interrupted, and Aden turned to see who it was.

A young nobleman, about Aden’s age, approached with a fierce look.

“Ah…”

Aden couldn’t help but sigh in a mix of surprise and admiration.

‘What’s this? A mini border count?’

Before him stood a young man who looked just like Border Count Tiried Sedus.

Even the stubborn eyes and lips were identical.

The young man, identical to the border count, glared at Aden.

“How dare you wear the treasured sword of the Sedus family! You fraud!”