"When I was little, my eldest brother told me that father worked very, very hard for the sake of the Family's prosperity, so we should try not to bother him.
So, even when others bullied me, I never said a word…
When I was little, my mother told me that father was the greatest head the Narcissus Family had ever seen; it was him who restored the family's former glory.
So, even though I barely saw him once a month, my heart was still full of admiration…
When I was little, Dale told me that the Family head cared deeply about the futures of us siblings, so he brought in the best teachers to personally guide us.
So, I began studying earnestly, learning how to become an outstanding Trainer…
Luckily, I had talent."
Joseph's voice flowed like a gentle stream, calm and measured. Even those who weren't paying attention at first slowly found themselves drawn in. Watching the elegant youth on stage, they couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
'That kid is really something!'
Mars also smiled as he looked at Joseph, and even "allowed" a tear to glimmer at the corner of his eye, as if feeling guilty for not taking better care of Joseph and the others.
Joseph smiled as well, then continued.
"Unfortunately… I don't like it!"
----
Down below the stage, the crowd -who had been smiling along- suddenly froze. Judging by Joseph's serious expression, it didn't look like he was joking.
Before they could even recover, Joseph's voice rang out again.
"Father, I don't like the identity of being a Pokémon Trainer!"
Hiss~
A chorus of gasps echoed through the crowd. Beneath the shock in many people's eyes was a clear glint of excitement.
The rebellious Sixth Young Master… he was back!
And among the few who already knew what Joseph had planned, their eyes burned with anticipation… and a hint of admiration.
Truly, geniuses always had their own way of standing out.
"…My son, I didn't quite hear that just now. If you're not feeling well, why don't you go rest first?"
Mars looked at Joseph with a fake smile, barely able to contain the fury surging inside him. Unfortunately, the tears still clinging to his eyes only made him look like the one being bullied.
"You heard right. I don't like being a Trainer. What I want to become… is a Pokémon Breeder."
Joseph smiled, his voice calm yet firm. Ignoring his father's glaring eyes, he continued.
"Today is my coming-of-age ceremony, and also the day I speak frankly to you, father. I came back this time only to reclaim what my mother left for me."
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
Mars could no longer hold back. He roared with rage, his eyes filled with fury as he looked at Joseph.
Joseph remained calm. He had anticipated everything that might happen today, so he simply ignored the shocked, skeptical, and gossip-hungry gazes from the crowd.
"Father, do you still remember the Narcissus Family code? There's a clause that states:
If the father remarries and the youngest son has already come of age, he may apply for separation from the main family. If his birth mother is deceased, he may fully inherit her share of the estate."
"Oh~~~"
The audience watching the drama suddenly understood. A Family with such a long history truly was different, they even had rules like that.
In fact, back centuries ago, the Kingdom of Kalos had retained the system of polygamy[1]¹.
To protect the rights of wives and their children, the Queen herself had issued a decree: any family that took on two or more wives must comply with this rule.
And though the Narcissus Family had suffered multiple declines, they had always managed to endure.
That's also why they cherished their thousand-year family reputation so much. It's what made the eldest brother's dream of becoming a chef seem so outlandish and rebellious.
Precisely because of this, when Joseph invoked the words "family code," even though Mars's face darkened to the extreme, he was momentarily left speechless.
What terrified him even more was the realization that it wasn't just Joseph who had this right… his five older siblings also had the same right.
And in the very next moment, Mars's fears came true.
Joseph's second brother and third sister suddenly stepped forward and said loudly, "Father, we also request to split from the family. The eldest brother already knows about this and agrees."
Immediately after, Joseph's fourth brother dragged along their timid fifth sister and stepped out as well, stating, "F-Father, w-we also apply for separation from the family!"
The eldest brother, second brother, and third sister shared the same mother. The fourth brother and fifth sister had another mother. Joseph's mother was Mars's third wife and only gave birth to Joseph.
As for his fourth wife, Mandy, she had no children.
Now, with all six children requesting Family separation in a single day, if the Narcissus Family were to follow the Family code, the main Family branch would practically cease to exist!
Mars looked at the children who had each betrayed him, then turned his gaze toward Joseph -the one clearly orchestrating all of this- so furious he nearly passed out on the spot.
Unfortunately… Mars was in excellent health!
Aside from his flushed face and bulging eyes, after gasping for air for a long while, not even his legs gave out.
Once he cooled down a bit, Mars immediately realized that Joseph had delivered him an impossible dilemma.
If he agreed…
Then this seemingly prosperous Narcissus Family would instantly return to the struggling state it was in decades ago.
All the enemies they had made over the years would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to kick them while they were down. It would only get worse!
Though Mars never admitted it, the reason the Family had flourished under his leadership was not unrelated to the fact that he had taken four wives and secured support from four influential in-law Families.
But if he refused…
Then the Narcissus Family's thousand-year reputation would be utterly destroyed. That would be even more disgraceful than Siebold wanting to become a chef.
The mighty Narcissus Family, coveting and embezzling the meager inheritance left to a motherless child?
Imagine the scandal. After that, what noble family in Kalos would still dare consider marrying into the Narcissus line?
And yet, the current prosperity of the Narcissus Family was built exactly on the dowries brought by each Head Wife!
What a brilliant move! Undermining the very foundation…
Mars was speechless with fury. He pointed at Joseph and the other children for a long time, but in the end, all he could squeeze out were three words.
"Why… is… this!"
The smile on Joseph's face finally faded. He looked coldly at his biological father, who now seemed somewhat pitiful.
"Back then, my mother was always in excellent health. I don't believe she could've drowned by accident. You might not even know this, but the reason she agreed to marry a man nearly twenty years older than her wasn't because she coveted the title of Head Wife of the Narcissus Family.
It was because she loved the ocean…
She loved the mature and charming version of you at the time. She dreamed that one day, you would take her on a romantic voyage across the sea on a Lapras. To that end, she practiced swimming diligently, even reaching a Pokemon Athlete's level.
But of course… you never once took her."
When Joseph finished speaking, another wave of noise erupted from the audience. The revelations this time were far darker.
Mandy turned pale, and had to be supported by the servants beside her to keep from collapsing.
And some of the older Family members, after thinking carefully, realized… indeed, the Narcissus Family's first three wives had all died in accidents. And each time, their deaths had coincided with a development wall or crisis within the family.
Chilling, the more you thought about it…
.
.
¹. Chill, no harem.
[1] CHILLLLL… no harem!