The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 43

It seemed she suspected he might be associated with the Warlocks of Chaos.

The eldest son of a ducal family who, after being on the brink of death from a fever, miraculously recovered and suddenly displayed exceptional talent.

Didn’t he exude the aura of a puppet villain revived by some hidden force?

Considering that, her suspicion wasn’t unfounded.

Aden shrugged.

“Well, even if I spoke honestly, would it matter? Would you believe me if I said I wasn’t in league with those Chaos guys?”

Niketa stared at Aden without saying a word, giving a silent affirmation.

In this situation, no matter what Aden said, it wouldn’t mean anything.

Seeing her reaction, Aden chuckled.

“Right, it would be meaningless to speak without trust.”

Aden continued.

“But I can assure you of this. I don’t want to make you my enemy. I want to maintain a friendly relationship.”

Niketa scoffed momentarily at Aden’s words.

“A noble from the founding family of the Empire wants to be friendly with Warlocks?”

A founding family meant the descendants of the pioneers who destroyed the nation of Warlocks and established the Empire.

The Empire was founded by destroying their kingdom.

Aden corrected her.

“It’s a declining frontier family.”

What did being a founding family matter when the territory was weak and powerless?

The title of a founding family had long lost its value.

Understanding this, Niketa frowned slightly.

She was contemplating whether Aden was sincere or not.

Aden spoke to her.

“I said I wanted to establish a friendly relationship first, so I’ll give you a gift as a gesture.”

“A gift…”

She looked at Aden as if to see what he had to offer.

Her expression showed no great expectation.

“In three months, there will be a severe drought in the Barken territory.”

“…!”

But as soon as she heard Aden’s words, her eyes widened.

Barken territory.

It was an agricultural estate that accounted for thirty percent of the Empire’s total grain harvest.

Known as blessed land, it always had abundant harvests.

But a drought there?

Aden told her.

“Before being a Warlock, you’re the head of an information organization and a merchant. You know the value of this information.”

If it were true, knowing in advance could yield unimaginable profits.

The complete conquest of the underworld, which seemed years away, could be achieved quickly, and their power would grow stronger.

And it would bring the Empire one step closer to destruction.

“It’s a hard story to believe.”

Niketa was wary, doubting the truth of Aden’s words.

“Can you prove it’s not a lie?”

At this, Aden smiled inwardly.

Her reaction showed she wasn’t dismissing it as mere nonsense, meaning she had already taken the bait.

“There’s no immediate way to prove it. But time will tell if I’m telling the truth.”

“…”

“However, I promise there isn’t a shred of falsehood in my words in the name of Ternia, the God of Law and Truth.”

A promise made in the name of the God of Law was not just an abstract promise.

Breaking a promise made in the name of Ternia would later result in divine retribution.

If the one who broke it was a priest of Ternia, the punishment would manifest through their divine power.

If a non-priest broke it, they would face severe punishment in the afterlife.

But Aden didn’t care.

‘It’s true anyway.’

In three months, a drought would occur in Barken territory.

It was a definite fact.

There was no reason to hesitate.

Such promises made in the name of gods were usually not used, as they implied the person couldn’t gain trust without divine help.

It was a humiliating method, used by criminals or prisoners.

‘But there’s no reason not to use it when it’s beneficial.’

Experience had shown that leveraging a god’s name was much better business than maintaining pride.

As expected, making a promise in the name of a god eased Niketa’s wariness somewhat.

Niketa looked at Aden with a complex expression.

From her perspective, Aden was not just a ruffian.

He exuded an aura like a well-sharpened blade.

She asked Aden, seemingly puzzled.

“Why do you want to establish a friendly relationship with us?”

“I hate Warlocks.”

“What?”

She felt momentarily taken aback by his blunt statement of dislike for Warlocks in front of their leader.

Aden continued.

“The current Warlocks have forgotten the essence of dark magic. I know that dark magic is a power for humans, not a power to harm them.”

“…!”

Niketa flinched at Aden’s words.

What he said was the origin of dark magic that everyone had now forgotten.

“I dislike Warlocks who corrupt that power for evil deeds. And I also dislike the current Empire. Is that answer sufficient?”

He hated Warlocks who committed evil deeds and the Empire, hence he wanted to ally with her faction.

Niketa fell silent, lost in thought.

‘An imperial noble who acknowledged the essence of dark magic.’

Imperial nobles all despised dark magic.

But Aden acknowledged it.

That dark magic was also a power for people.

This sentiment struck her deeply.

An imperial noble acknowledging dark magic.

It was something she had longed for but also realized was impossible.

– I know that dark magic is a power for humans, not a power to harm them.

She never imagined hearing these words from an imperial noble.

Could his words be genuine?

Could he be trusted?

It was so sweet that it raised her guard.

Yet, the sincerity in Aden’s eyes made it hard to dismiss his words as pretense or lies.

She felt her mind becoming confused.

Aden, guessing her feelings, spoke with a relaxed expression.

“Right, it’s suspicious. Then keep watching.”

Trust is difficult to build quickly.

Especially when you know little about the other party.

Therefore, Aden said this.

‘Keep watching.’

“See if my words are true or not. Keep observing, Niketa Florence.”

She had no choice but to accept Aden’s words.

* * *

Aden and his entourage left the capital and headed towards the Remes estate.

There was no reason to stay longer after the banquet ended.

While in the carriage, Aden was asked by Curse.

– Are you really going to ignore those stares, Dragon Slayer King?

“Yes.”

Curse was referring to the familiars Niketa’s side had placed to monitor Aden.

They were watching Aden from afar in the form of birds or mice.

Curse sensed their faint dark magic and felt uncomfortable under their prying eyes.

But Aden didn’t show any reaction.

‘They would have placed surveillance on me regardless of my proposal.’

From the moment Aden defeated Taion one-sidedly, the information White Moon had about Aden would have been proven wrong.

They would have tried to extract information in some way.

‘And from the moment she accepted my proposal, half of my goal was achieved.’

Now, until she was sure Aden was an enemy, she couldn’t oppose him.

When the drought in Barken territory became a reality, she would have no choice but to trust Aden’s words.

‘And we now have a direct communication means through the familiars.’

While it could be seen as surveillance, it also meant he had a hotline with the leader of a great faction.

So this was quite a significant gain.

Philip shouted to Aden.

“Master Aden! We’re almost at the Remes estate!”

In a few more hours, they would arrive at the Remes Ducal family’s mansion.

Philip grinned happily.

“Everyone will be delighted to see the gifts you prepared, Master.”

Aden had bought gifts for the family members of the ducal household as a souvenir from the capital.

He had extorted a considerable amount of money from the imperial family this time.

With a full pocket, he naturally had the leisure to prepare gifts.

A fountain pen for Duke Fried, perfume for the Duchess, a sword for Carl, and a new rare alchemy catalyst for Cassie.

He also prepared wine and sweets as gifts for the knights and servants.

Aden suddenly thought of Joseph’s young daughter, Elise.

Of course, he had also prepared gifts for Joseph and his daughter.

‘She’ll surely like it since she’s a child.’

He imagined her eyes sparkling with joy.

The thought made him chuckle softly.

Aden returned to the Remes estate in a rather satisfied mood.

However, upon arriving at the mansion, Aden couldn’t laugh.

“…Repeat that.”

Aden asked Duke Fried with a hardened expression.

With a devastated, shameful expression, Duke Fried spoke to Aden again.

“The Inquisitor of the Sacred Fire Order suddenly visited and took them away.”

Aden received a piece of news like a bolt from the blue.

Joseph and Elise had been taken by the Sacred Fire Order.

* * *

To summarize the story, it went like this.

A week before Aden’s return, the Inquisitors dispatched by the Sacred Fire Order visited the estate.

They came to the mansion, demanded Joseph and Elise’s presence, citing the authority of the Inquisitors.

They claimed they were taking back those who had escaped from the Order.

The ducal family was taken aback.

They couldn’t refuse the demands of the Sacred Fire Order regarding their guests.

“We tried to stop them in any way possible.”

The Sacred Fire Order was one of the three major churches in the Western Continent.

Opposing them was not a good idea.

But the Duke refused the Inquisitor’s demands.

They were formally accepted guests, considered family by the ducal house.

Even if it meant going against the Order, they couldn’t hand them over.

Then the Inquisitor requested a private meeting with Joseph.

Unable to refuse, the Duke asked Joseph for his opinion and reluctantly allowed the meeting.

After the conversation, Joseph agreed to follow the Inquisitor and was taken to the Sacred Fire Order’s main sanctuary with his daughter.

Duke Fried spoke weakly.

“I am ashamed, Aden.”

If the Remes Duchy had the authority of other ducal families, they wouldn’t have been taken so easily.

The Duke blamed his lack of power for everything.

After hearing the whole story, Aden said nothing.

His lack of reaction made it even more chilling.

Aden’s mind turned cold.

‘Joseph escaped from the Order ten years ago.’

He didn’t know what Joseph had done to flee from the Order.

Aden had taken it lightly.

Everyone had secrets, so he didn’t pry.

He thought the Order wouldn’t seriously look for Joseph after ten years.

Joseph agreed with this opinion.

So Aden accepted him as a guest of the ducal family.

But the Sacred Fire Order found Joseph. And they used an Inquisitor to do so.

An Inquisitor was practically an agent of the Order for execution.

They used such a significant figure to take Joseph and Elise.

‘Joseph probably didn’t want to burden the ducal family anymore.’

Though rarely used due to severe repercussions, an Inquisitor had the authority to forcibly search noble residences and use violence.

Joseph, having been part of the Order, would have known this well.

That’s why he followed them.

The fate of those targeted by Inquisitors seldom ended well.

Aden clenched his fist.

‘How dare they, on whose authority?’

Aden asked Duke Fried.

“They said they were taking them to the main sanctuary of the Order?”

“That’s what I heard.”

Aden made a decision.

“Father, please prepare a horse.”

“Huh? Why a horse all of a sudden…?”

The Duke looked puzzled at Aden’s words, then flinched.

Aden was smiling, but his eyes were glaring sharply.

With veins popping on his forehead, Aden spoke as if it was obvious.

“I need to go and visit the Order right now.”

When Aden first dealt with Joseph, Joseph had said this.

He would stake his soul if Aden saved Elise.

Since Aden had rescued Elise, they were now his people.

Both Joseph and Elise were under Aden’s protection.

And someone dared to take his people away? Who did they think they were?

He would go and bring Joseph and Elise back immediately.

If anything had happened to them, or if the Order refused to release them…

‘I’ll crush the Order to pieces.’

At this moment, Aden was genuinely furious.